Page 69 of Highlander’s Hope

Oh God, would he even fit inside of her without hurting?

He kicked his breeches off and pushed them to the floor. He lowered himself on top of her and supported himself with his elbows on both sides of her shoulders. His weight was pleasant and welcome on top of her, and she wrapped her arms around him. He cupped her face with both his hands and looked deeply into her eyes. There was heat, and anguish, and adoration in his gaze, and something that resembled love. Her heart squeezed.

“I have never wanted a woman more than I want you,” Konnor said. “My Highland queen.”

There it was again, the words that brought her hope. He kissed her, spurring a new wave of desire through her veins. There was such hunger, as though he’d die if they stopped. She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him closer to her, wanting to dissolve in him and become one.

He positioned himself at her entrance, gently stretching her. He withdrew slightly and locked his eyes with hers. He sank into her slowly, gently filling her like an empty vessel, she nearly fainted from the pleasure spreading through her. He dove deeper, till he reached the very end, and there was no pain, nothing but profound connection and bliss.

“Marjorie,” he whispered hoarsely.

She drowned in the blue intensity of his eyes, diffusing in him. But it wasn’t enough. She needed more. She urged him to go on by digging her fingers into the tight flesh of his buttocks. He withdrew and plunged again, faster, and Marjorie gasped from the bolt of pleasure. He withdrew and thrust back into her, and she moved her hips to match his rhythm. He groaned softly, and his plunges grew faster, and the same feeling of tightening and building up took her over. She breathed erratically, and so did he. He devoured her with his gaze as though he’d seen spring for the first time in his life.

And then she fell apart in cascading waves of pure sunlight that ate every last piece of darkness. A pleasure that she’d never known slammed through her. She was unravelling, peeled open, cleansed, and finally free. Her mind went blank as she convulsed over and over in delicious, soul-shattering shakes.

Konnor stiffened together with her, cried out her name, bucked and lost himself, coming on her stomach and finding his release.

He collapsed by her side, taking her into his arms. He pulled the blanket on top of them, and as she was drifting into sleep, a realization shot through her in an arrow of aching pain. She was falling in love with Konnor, the man from the future.

She prayed to Jesu and Mary that he would change his mind and stay with her. A life of love and happiness with Konnor and Colin was the hope she fought for now…

Chapter 27

Konnor brought Marjorie closer to him. He was warm and heavy and melted together with her. He’d never seen anyone as beautiful as her during her release.

He’d call her a queen.

No. She was more like a goddess. A Highlander goddess, free and perfect and powerful. There was this light in her, this strength he didn’t think he had.

Seeing that he done that to her, that she’d unraveled because of him, that he was the one who’d given her this positive experience after what she’d been through…

He nuzzled against her head and took a lungful of the scent of her hair. He felt like he was flying, like he’d just brushed against the sky.

He put his leg over her hip to bring her as close as possible. What if every day could be like this, be full of this closeness and this light? Full of taking care of her, playing soccer with Colin, doing something useful with his hands. What if every day could feel like he’d just touched a miracle?

Him? A miracle?

Something dark twisted in his gut. He wasn’t supposed to touch a miracle. If anything, he was on his way to hell.

A shard of fear pierced his heart at the thought. Nothing could change the facts. Nothing could change who he was. He knew nothing of happiness and love. He had no idea how to be a good father and a husband. There were no miracles for him.

As though sensing the shift in him, Marjorie stirred and twisted in his arms to turn and face him. He met her luminous almond-shaped eyes and kissed her briefly on her soft, sweet lips. She reached out and ran her fingers through his short hair, and he closed his eyes, enjoying the touch.

“Konnor,” she said.

“Don’t,” Konnor said. “Please. Don’t.”

She kept silent, and when he opened his eyes, he hated himself. Her carefree, sunny expression was gone. Her shields were up, guarding that magic from him.

“What?” she said. “Ye dinna ken what I was about to say.”

Their bodies disconnected, and cold crept into Konnor’s heart. He sat up, sorry he was leaving her silky, taut body.

“Whatever you were going to say, I should never have done this. I should never have listened to this urge. I should’ve stayed away from you.”

She sat up, too, holding the blanket to her chest. The hurt in her eyes twisted his heart.

“Do ye regret what happened?” she said.