Chapter 10

Evander felt his heart pounding, and his groin tightening as he stared down at May’s face, raised to his and lined in moonlight. It was hard to breathe, and time seemed frozen as his mind processed what she’d said.

She loved him and wanted him. There was a part of him that knew he should say something polite and put her to bed, then leave the room before either of them could face further temptation. She was a maiden, and he was a man betrothed to another.

But there was another part that was listening to the wild hope in his heart, the joy he’d not felt since he’d last been with her. The voice of reason was being rapidly drowned by the growing heat in his blood and the desire that surged through his veins at the feel of May so close to him.

He wanted more than a hand on his chest and soft words in the night. He was being offered everything he’d wanted, everything he’d dreamed of through the long nights of fantasies about May. He knew the chance would never come again. And he was powerless to resist his growing need in the face of her words.

He bent his head to kiss her, a gentle one that claimed her mouth and asked permission all at the same time. May tasted of sun and sweetness, her lips soft against his and her body pliant as she leaned against him.

“I want tae see ye.” His voice was hoarse, a plea rather than a demand. “I want tae see all of ye.” His fingers tangled in the laces of her borrowed shirt. “Will ye permit me?”

“Aye.” She looked up at him with trust and warmth in her eyes.

It was the work of a moment to loosen the ties that held up the trousers, and the loose garment fell to the floor. Evander took a moment to admire the slender legs that emerged from the hem of his shirt, then he guided her gently back to the bed, to sit on the edge as he slid the hem of the shirt up her thighs and across her hips. Evander felt his manhood stiffen as he beheld the small soft curls that adorned her sex, but he continued to draw the shirt up, until he was able to slide it off her arms, over her head, and look at her.

She sat before him, illuminated by moonlight, her eyes filled with nervousness, and he knew why. His hand reached up to trace a jagged line across her shoulder, curling around the top from the back.

She’d told him about the scars, but he’d never seen them before, save when he’d taken that one stolen glance in the cave. Now he was free to run his fingers over each of the marks, tracing the lines across her skin.

As he had noted afore, they were more extensive than he’d imagined. Lines marked her shoulders, upper arms, and torso. She must have faced the wolves for the first attack, he thought, then curled up with her back to them. “These must have hurt.”

“Aye. But I couldnae let them get Ava.”

Evander bent his head and pressed a kiss to the line he’d first traced. “They’re beautiful.”

“They’re scars…”

“Aye, and every one o’ them is proof o’ yer courage and yer heart. They’re beautiful because they’re proof o’ who ye are. Each and every mark is proof that ye care fer yer kin, and ye have the soul o’ a warrior. I could never think them anything less than amazing.”

He pressed his lips to another scar, and felt her shiver. Then her hand went to the waist of his trousers. “I want tae see ye as well.”

Evander nodded and moved to remove his shirt with quick, smooth motions, letting her drink in the sight of his upper body, well-muscled and marked with both scars and tattoos. His own testament of who he was, and what he was. He waited a moment, then loosened the ties of his trousers and let them drop to the floor.

It was a relief to loosen his trousers and free his straining erection from the confines of the fabric, even as he hissed at the feel of cool air on his heated flesh. He stood before her, waiting for her judgment, and May pulled him closer.

He guided her back to the center of the bed and lay down beside her, his hand tracing over her scars once again. When he was sure of his control, he leaned forward to kiss her again and trail his fingers down the side of her face. He could feel her pulse beating in the side of her throat, the skin soft beneath his callused fingers.

“Tell me if ye want me tae stop.” He waited until he received a small nod, then bent his head to kiss the corner of her jaw. Then her pulse point. Then her collarbone.

Then he bent his head and traced the line of that first upper scar with his kisses and his tongue, marking the lines with his mouth and nipping lightly at the end to leave a mark of his desire overlaid over the scars. May gasped and shivered beneath him.

He slid his mouth lower, tracing another scar with his fingers as he kissed across her chest to the hollow of her throat. Every fiber of his being was focused on her as he endeavored to memorize every little shiver, every gasp and quiver.

He shifted lower and took her right breast in his mouth. May gasped as he suckled on her breast, teasing the nipple with his lips and tongue until the soft flesh hardened and May was quivering and shifting restlessly beneath his hand. Then he switched to her other breast and repeated the process, listening as she panted and moaned softly as he teased the sensitive skin.

“Ye’re so soft.” He stroked his hands over her belly, following the trail of his fingers with kisses and noting every point that made her quiver or cry out. “So soft, and so responsive tae me. I love that.”

He flicked his tongue into her navel, and she arched against him. “Ye’re so sensitive, and I love it, because it lets me ken exactly how tae bring ye pleasure, May.”

“Evander…” His name emerged in a gasp.

“Just let me give ye pleasure. Will ye dae that?” He slid his hand down to stroke over the soft curls that adorned her sex. She was already damp, the short hairs slightly slicked with moisture, even as she shivered under his touch. “Part yer legs fer me.”

His groin was aching, his erection straining and hard, his shaft throbbing with need, but he forced himself to ignore it as she slowly spread her legs, leaving her most sensitive and secret places exposed and open to him.

Evander bent close, inhaling deep. The scent of her arousal filled his nose, and he groaned. “Ye smell so good, May.” He nuzzled his nose into the damp curls to take in the scent more deeply. “I love how ready ye are fer me, how willing ye are fer me.”

He flicked his tongue over the seam of her sex, and felt her jump in response. He put his hands gently on her thighs to hold her in place, then licked her, stroked his tongue over the lips of her sex to taste her. “Ye taste so good.”

May shivered, gasping as his tongue stroked over her again, his breath teasing the fine hairs in his passing. Evander waited a moment, then licked inside her, pressing his tongue inside her channel to stroke her the inner folds of her sex. May gave a cry and her hips pressed against his hands. “Evander…”

Evander pressed his mouth to the edges of her folds and thrust his tongue as deep as it could go, then began to lick her more firmly, his hands holding her open to his mouth as he licked and kissed and nibbled.

May writhed in his hands, her body responding to every touch of his mouth, and Evander took note of every reaction, repeating the different strokes of his tongue until she was squirming, back arched and legs flexing on either side of him, her breath coming in panting gasps and soft whimpers.

His tongue found the small nub of flesh and flicked it, and May arched her back with a cry. Evander licked her pleasure center again, and felt the quivering of her muscles as his tongue moved against her. He lowered his head a little more and kissed her there, suckling slightly.

May cried out and her back arched as she climaxed. Evander continued to lick her, lapping up the fluids of her release as she shuddered and came apart around his mouth. His own arousal pulsed and ached between his legs, and he shuddered himself as he held himself in check.

He wanted, more than anything, to bury himself in the soft heat of her, to sheathe his shaft in her welcoming body, but that was more than he could do.

May’s body softened, every muscle relaxing as she began to recover from her release. Evander shifted his weight, ready to leave the bed, to leave her to sleep.

He was stopped by May’s hand on his wrist, holding him in place. “Dinnae stop.”