A Fierce Archer (Clan Ross Book 6) by Hildie McQueen (great novels TXT) 📕

“Where to?” Not that it mattered, but she was shocked to know as her mother had not mentioned it.

“He wished to speak to me about ye and about the situation that may present itself. He wanted to make sure I was prepared, for instance, if ye go back into seclusion.”

Her heart broke for her father. Of course, he was worried about her. After all, she’d spent an entire year sequestered in a small room after the attack.

“I hope ye reassured him.”

Ewan gave her a droll look but said nothing. He knew what to expect as he’d been there when she was still reluctant to be around people. Had even gone so far as to attack those who’d participated in hurting her.

It was redundant of her to ask, and yet, she wished for her father not to have any worries. There was already much he’d had to endure.

“I assured yer father,” Ewan, said meeting her gaze, “that I will never expect more from ye than ye can give and, in return, give ye all my faithfulness.”

A vow. It was spoken, however, as if he were telling her the weather outside. Without emotion. Had he said them thus to her father?

Finally, it was time for them to retire. Any thought other than what she intended to happen that night instantly evaporated.

Could she do what Esme had instructed? Was it indeed possible to have enjoyable relations with a man who cared little for one?

It had been almost step by step and quite descriptive. Just thinking about it made her cheeks hot.

When he joined her in the bedchamber and prepared for bed, she’d already climbed into bed. She lay on her side facing his wardrobe and watched as he undressed. “Ewan, are we to leave for Tuath Avon as soon as my family departs?”

He looked over his shoulder at her. Unclothed from the waist up, the muscles of his back mesmerized her as he continued preparing for bed.

“There is no need for us to continue here. I must return. There are many duties awaiting me there. The people have been without attention for far too long.”

“Yes, of course,” she replied and then lifted up to her elbow. “I will need another day. Can we wait? I am going to ask Maisie and her brother to accompany us. She as my personal maid and he to work at the stables. Ye see, they are family and I do not wish to separate them.”

His shoulders lifted and lowered. “Fine.”

When he joined her in bed, Ewan seemed surprised that she looked at him with expectation. Every night before, she’d kept her gaze down, waiting for him to begin the routine of kissing, before he turned away and fell asleep.

For a moment, it was a bit awkward, but he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her lips. It was a perfunctory kiss, not lingering or promising more. “Goodnight.”

Before he could roll over, Catriona cupped his jaw and held it steady as she inched up and close enough to cover his mouth with hers.

Then as Esme had instructed, she allowed her fingers to trail just over his skin down the side of his neck. She let out a sigh and parted her lips.

According to Esme, he would take it as an invitation to push his tongue into her mouth. After which, she was to suckle it gently.

Her heart skipped when he did just that, and she let out a soft moan to encourage him. Then following her precise instructions, she pressed her own tongue against his while at the same time running her hand across his shoulder.

She wore her nightshift and he a light tunic, but the heat of his body seeped past the fabric when he pulled her closer.

They’d gone this far several times, so she was prepared for it, responding to his touch, the lingering of his hand on her hip. But instead of remaining still, as she’d done every night, this time she moved her midsection forward until their bodies touched.

For a moment, she thought she had failed in her attempt at seduction because Ewan stilled. His breathing caught when she broke the kiss and allowed her lips to trail to his ear.

“Make love to me,” she whispered.

It was as if a dam was torn with a single hit, waters exploding forward without restraint.

Ewan took her mouth again, his wonderful body trembling with barely held back passion. He was holding back for her, doing his best not to bring her harm, while at the same time unable to stop from taking what was offered.

Inch by inch, his hand slid up her leg, past her thigh until her night shift was lifted to her waist on one side. She untied the fastenings and pulled the garment up over her head.

Ewan fumbled with his tunic and removed it until there was nothing between them.

Gently, he pulled her close until their bodies touched and then seemed to hold his breath. It was strange how soft his skin felt. At the same time, it was so firm and different. His sex twitched against her lower stomach and Catriona gasped.

Ewan rolled her onto her back. Lying beside her, his sex against her side, he maneuvered himself until his face hovered over hers.

Once again, he took her mouth. The kiss was hard, deep and passionate. At the same time, his fingers skittered across her skin. Each place he touched from the top of her thighs across her stomach was divine torture.

She lifted a bit when his hand lingered just above her sex. Esme had told her that one way a man prepared a woman for intercourse would be to slide their fingers down the center of her sex.

The anticipation made her squirm. Already, she ached for his touch, the heat pooling in her core