Mary swooned while she held tight to Donald, kissing him as fervently as she possibly could—put all her emotion into the kiss, praying she had garnered enough experience to impart the depth of her affection. She followed his lead as he backed her into her chamber.

Clutching her arms around him, she took in a sharp inhale. “I don’t want you to go.”

A seductive grin spread across his lips—the dark shadows around his eyes making him look all the more devilish. “I’ve no intention of going anywhere,” he growled, lifting her into his arms and carrying her toward the bed.

Mary’s body trembled and she drew her hand over her mouth. “We mustn’t,” she forced herself to say, knowing she’d never be able to resist if he lay beside her.

Through the dim light cast by the fire, the seductive glint in his eyes made her heart flutter. “I mightn’t be able to take your innocence, but I will show you pleasure…and then…”

“Then?” she asked breathlessly.

“Never mind.” His breath became labored as he set Mary on her feet and held her at arm’s length. “Forgive me. I would be no kind of gentleman if I didn’t first ask you if you would prefer for me to go.”

Mary’s throat constricted. “I…uh.” She glimpsed the bed, turned down by Hattie hours ago. Dear Lord, he couldn’t leave. Not when a fire smoldered deep inside her core. “Stay.”

His tongue slipped out and grazed his top lip. Pulling the sash from her robe, his hungry stare raked from her face down to her breasts. In one fluid motion, he pushed the dressing gown from her shoulders.

Heaven help her, she’d never felt so desired—and never felt so impassioned.

The man’s lips parted as he cupped her breasts in his hands. His breath grew labored.

A rush of moist heat radiated between Mary’s legs in the most sacred part of her entire being. Powerful longing took control of her body. Urgent need made her want to arch toward him while he untied the bow at her neckline.

“I’ve wanted to bare your breasts and suckle them ever since the day I wrestled you into my arms and realized you were a lass.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Bare?”

He looked up. “Aye.” Taking her wrists, he gently tugged her arms open. “Trust me.”

Nodding, Mary couldn’t speak. This man had ridden to her rescue and had taken her across the Highlands to ensure her safety. She would trust him with her life. She would follow him to the ends of the earth if he asked.

He pulled her shift from one shoulder, then the next, sending the last garment of modesty cascading to the floor. Mary wanted to cross her arms, but he held them open, and stared, his gaze drinking her in as if he were assessing a masterpiece.

A low moan rumbled from his throat. “God in heaven, you are more beautiful than my wildest imaginings.”

He raked his gaze to her eyes and she smiled. “I...”

But his lips covered hers before she had a chance to refute his claims. The rush of longing grew stronger, begging for more as Mary wrapped her arms around him, kissing him with everything she had. Donald trailed kisses down her neck as gooseflesh pebbled across her skin. His hand again moved to her breast and kneaded.

Thrusting her hips forward, she craved friction as he ground his hard manhood against her. She nearly shattered when he moved to her side, his warm lips trailing lower until he covered her nipple with his mouth. Deft fingers swirled down to her navel, then to the triangle of red curls that thrummed with heat.

Oh God.

His finger slipped between her legs—lightly brushed the most intimate place on her body.

Mary’s thighs shuddered. “What…?”

“Open.”

“Here?”

“Aye, just a wee bit.”

As she slightly parted her legs, Sir Donald slid his finger back and forth along her slick womanhood. Holy fairies, how on earth this could feel so exquisitely good, she had no idea. His fingers had to be magical. Just when Mary thought she couldn’t possibly be more impassioned, he slipped a finger inside her—inside! The place where she craved for him to insert his manhood—to join with her as if they were husband and wife. Her entire body shuddered as her fingers grew a mind of her own and stroked him. Stroked the hard, long column of flesh that filled his breeches all the way up to his waistline.

In and out, his finger worked her into a writhing frenzy. “I cannot take anymore,” she blurted breathlessly.

“Och aye, you can and you will.” With a chuckle he straightened and lifted her onto the bed. “I want you.”

Oh, God, was this really happening? She should pull the bedclothes over her naked body and insist he go. But doing so would cast her asunder. “What about your clothes?”

He glanced down at his soot-stained shirt and breeches—looking entirely desirous, but nothing like the polished baronet from earlier that evening. Opening the neck, he pulled the shirt from his head.

Good Lord, the man’s abdomen and chest rippled with undulating muscles. His arms were nearly as big around as Mary’s thighs. Who knew a man’s body could be more beautiful than anything she’d ever seen in her life?

Her gaze dipped to his silk breeches. The tip of manhood now peeked above the thin fabric as if teasing her—a single eye winking at her. Licking her lips, she rubbed her finger across the tip. A deep moan rumbled from his throat. A moan filled with such longing, Mary knew he loved her. No matter what Sir Donald said or did, he loved her as much as she loved him.

Then he climbed onto the bed, a knee pushing against hers. With the force of his movement, Mary had no choice but to open for him. Oh Lord, he kneeled between her legs.

Her head buried in the pillows, Mary crossed her arms over her chest. “Sir Donald?” Yes, she wanted him more than life itself, but he’d scarcely uttered a word since her shift had fallen to the floor.

“Close your eyes and let me take you to the stars.” For the love of holiness, such a voice could melt gold.

“But.”

Leaning over her, he tapped her lips with his finger. “Wheesht, mo leannan. I’ll not take your innocence, but I will show you passion.”

First his breath caressed her womanhood, making Mary pant with unfettered abandon. Then his tongue licked—kissed her with sizzling hot moisture. Stars crossed her vision. Her hips couldn’t stop rocking. She sank her fingers into his hair and worked her hips against him. “Donald, Donald, I want you so much.” As the words escaped her lips, a high-pitched cry followed with a throbbing burst of euphoria.

Chuckling, Donald smoothed feathery kisses up her body, making the tremors within her body shudder all the more. “How do you feel?” he asked, ending his trail of kisses with a warm caress of her lips.

“Unbelievable.”

“And your maidenhead is still intact.”

He grinned—a devilishly sinful grin. “I didn’t know it could be done—ah—with the mouth.”

“I suspect there are a great many things you don’t ken about love making.”

She liked that he used the word love.

As he rolled to her side, the hard column of his manhood pushed into her hip. Donald’s eyes rolled back with his groan.

Mary’s gaze meandered downward. Oh dear, the passion that had released only moments ago returned full-force. “But I haven’t given you pleasure.”

“I am content with your release,” he mumbled, nuzzling into her neck.

“Can I? Can the mouth be used similarly?”

Rising to his elbow, the man’s jaw dropped. “I—ah. I could never ask a lady to do such a thing.”

Mary grinned, her fingers trailing down his incredibly hard abdomen. “What of a Highland lass who pulls the stopper from the powder horn with her teeth?”

“But—”

She untied the cord securing his breeches and with that tug, he sprang forth in all his male glory. Goodness, he was hard and beautiful, and Mary couldn’t stop herself from wrapping her fingers around him and stroking.

“Good God, woman, have you done this before?”

“Never.” But no one need tell her what to do. She longed to taste him as he’d tasted her. She licked him. Donald’s thighs trembled. Grinning, she tested different things, memorizing the strokes and kisses that made him shudder and moan the most.