“I do not want to hurt you,” he said.
“You hurt me more by delaying, my need for you as great as yours,” she argued.
He kissed her quickly and roughly, her words encouraging him and as he moved his lips off hers, he slipped into her.
She welcomed him with a soft moan and squeezed his arms, then her head shot back, and she cried out as he plunged fully into her.
He tried to slow and ease his thrusts not wanting to hurt her, but it was more than a need he felt… he felt as if he had found a piece of himself that had been missing. He felt whole joined with her.
Bliss soon matched his powerful rhythm. It came naturally and was filled with an intense passion that had waves of pleasure flowing through her. But then she loved her husband and she believed that made all the difference.
Rannick always kept in control when he coupled, but not this time. Passion overpowered him or maybe it was love that made him lose control, either way he could not contain his need. He was close to bursting.
“Rannick!”
He was relieved and pleased to hear the pleading in her voice and he urged, “Hold on tight, mo ghràdh.” He moved rapidly taking them over the edge and into the oblivion of pure pleasure.
Bliss let out a scream as the world exploded around her with such intensity that she feared she might faint from the endless bursting pleasure. She shivered when her husband let out a roar, sounding more like a majestic beast than a man, and she feared it echoed throughout the keep.
Rannick collapsed on top of his wife, his arms unable to sustain his weight. Never had he had that happen to him, but then never had he had experienced such extreme pleasure and never had he been in love.
He rolled off her, giving her room to breathe, having felt her chest heave against him. He hadn’t wanted to return to their bedchamber after the skirmish that had become more of a battle. Anger had ruled him. Anger that the night with his wife had been disturbed, anger that someone dared attack on clan land, anger that more than one clan plotted against him and now his wife. With anger ruling and the aftermath of battle prevailing, he should have dismissed any thought of returning to his wife, let alone making love with her. Yet he could not stay away, and he was glad he hadn’t.
Rannick turned on his side to face her, slipping his arm across her middle to hook his hand at her side. “I did not hurt you, did I?” Her soft laughter was like a gentle melody, and it relieved his worry as did her response.
“Hurt me? You made me feel the best I have ever felt. It was simply magnificent.” She turned on her side and he inched closer to her, and she eagerly snuggled against him. “I am so glad I took the chance and wed you. I not only found love,” —she chuckled— “I found a husband who knows how to make me scream with complete satisfaction.”
“I can make certain you do that often,” he said with a brief chuckle of his own.
“Promise?” she asked after a quick kiss to his lips.
“You have my word on it.”
His lightheartedness began to fade, and she hastily rubbed at the lines deepening between his eyes. “No worries or serious thoughts. The rest of the night is ours to enjoy. Morning will come soon enough, and we will face whatever is needed then, but tonight is solely ours and it is filled with love.”
Rannick tucked his wife against him, resting his brow to hers. “I do not think I will ever be able to tell you enough how much I love you.”
She grinned. “But you can try.”
“I do not have to try, saying I love you comes easily, naturally, truthfully. I am grateful you had the courage to marry me, and I hope you never regret it.”
She pressed her finger to his lips and repeated, “No worries or serious thoughts. And never, ever will I regret marrying you or loving you. You have my love and my heart forever.” She grinned again. “Though perhaps you will regret marrying me.”
“Only those times you disobey me,” he said teasingly.
She poked him playfully in the chest. “We can talk about that another time.” Her poking turned to a caress, and she reminded, “Tonight is for us.”
With a faint brush of his thumb over her lips, he whispered, “And I intend to make it memorable.”
CHAPTER 21
Bliss glanced with disbelief at the wounded men enclosed in a pen behind the keep. Blood-soaked garments and makeshift bandages covered most of them. Death appeared near for a few, and she ached to rush into the pen and help those she could. Unfortunately, guards stood everywhere, their eyes on the prisoners and the surrounding area. She knew without asking that she would not be permitted to enter.