His Bonnie Bride by Hannah Howell (the beginning after the end read novel .TXT) 📕

walked alongside Tavis. He had stopped himself from making love to her, but he had not stopped wanting to. An excess of guilt over what he had done and still wanted to do plagued him. A grinning Iain refilled his tankard. Laughing ruefully, Sholto did his best to empty it.

Lying on his side, wearing only his braes, Tavis watched Storm wash up. She had risked all to come and save him. He suddenly craved knowing why, exactly what she felt for him. Neither cursing himself for a maudlin fool nor reminding himself that he had little to give in return did much to fully kill that craving.

"Storm?" he called softly.

"Aye, Tavis?" She padded over to stand by the bed, looking down at him.

" 'Tis an awful risk ye took coming after me as ye did." He reached out to play with a lock of her hair.

"I could not leave ye in Sir Hugh's hands. I understood his parting threat, ye see."

"I'm nay ashamed to admit I was in a cold sweat for a time there. Got a good keek at how they carry on. 'Tis a wonder ye came away from that unsullied."

"Am I unsullied, Tavis?" she asked softly.

"Aye, little one. It doesnae matter what I have done, that I have had my pleasure of ye."

" 'Twas my pleasure, too, Tavis," she murmured as she reached out and gently touched his chest.

"Shed your clothes, m'eudail," he ordered softly in a voice already thickening. "Nay, dinnae blush so. Put aside your modesty for what little is left of this night.

It could be my last," he said, mostly to himself.

Storm fell to her knees and placed trembling fingers over his mouth. "Do not speak so, Tavis."

He watched as her eyes overflowed with tears, and reached out a finger to brush one from her cheek. "And would ye grieve for me then, lass?"

"Aye, Tavis. Sorely."

Wondering why that should make it easier to face the dawn, he gently kissed her. "Undress for me, Storm. Stand boldly before me just this once."

Slowly, she got to her feet, jesting nervously, "I may be standing, but 'twill nay be too boldly."

Tavis smiled, knowing how hard she had to fight her innate modesty to fulfill his request and inordinately pleased that she would do so for him. His pleasure changed direction as she shed her clothes. Fire and candlelight glowed over her skin, and he thought her glorious. When she at last stood naked before him his gaze moved hungrily over her full, high breasts, tiny waist and slim hips, lingering on all his most favorite places. Reaching out, he took the same survey with his hand.

"Sweet heaven, lass, but ye are bonnie.

'Tis nay wonder that man went wild ere ye showed him these." He cupped each breast in turn, his gaze locked with hers. "They fit in a man's hands so perfectly, the tips rising quickly, begging to be tasted, rolled about on my tongue. Skin like silk," he said as his hand continued its journey down her body. "It caresses a man. Hips but gently rounded, and such slim thighs, but they cradle a man so weel, drive him mad. But this is heaven's gate, these silken, copper curls hide a haven a man would kill for. Undress me, little one, and take me into your warmth."

His hands, eyes and husky words were all caresses stirring her past caring about her nakedness. Her hands shook as she unlaced his braes. The continued movement of his hand over her body made her fear she would soon buckle at the knees. When he was as naked as she he pulled her down onto the bed. She had just begun to wonder how they would manage when he cocked her leg around his waist and eased into her, his mouth possessing hers hungrily as they became joined.

They rode to the height slowly and deliciously. It was a ride they took again and again, until sleep stole their need for each other. Tavis lay sprawled across her, his head nestled upon her breasts. One of Storm's slim legs was bent at the knee and resting against his hip. Her arms held him close even in sleep as her cheek rested upon his hair. Tavis's body was her only covering.

Getting no answer to their knock, Iain and Sholto stepped quietly into the room. They both stared at the couple upon the bed, each wishing it was he in such a soft haven. For them the time past had been spent curled up with a plaid. There was no sweet, loving woman to ease the wait for dawn.

"Ye would think his backside would freeze," Sholto whispered as he slowly approached the bed.

Iain chuckled softly. "Mayhaps he overheated it."

Opening one eye, Tavis looked at his brothers. "Humor at this hour is near to sacrilege." He grimaced when Storm murmured his name in her sleep, her small foot briefly caressing his calf and one small hand sliding down to rest at the base of his spine. "If ye twa fools will turn around a moment, I will rise."

"I suspicion ye already have," Sholto murmured as they turned, and Iain laughed.

Tavis grunted at the truth of that as he carefully extracted himself from Storm's embrace. The way she only turned upon her side, still asleep despite the disturbance, showed how exhausted she was. Even if he had the time, he did not think he had the heart to wake her up just to satisfy his lust again.

"Ye can turn round again," he told his brothers as he picked up his breeches.

"Dinnae ken why I bothered, an all I get to see is ye." Sholto's eyes danced at the plain evidence of Tavis's desire for his sleeping lady. "Greedy man, arenae ye." He laughed off Tavis's disgusted look.

"Aye." Tavis reached out and gently caressed Storm's tangled hair before he abruptly headed out the door. "Any sign that the enemy prepares a new attack?" he asked as they went down the stairs.

"The sound of their preparations echo