Chapter Seventeen
Over the next few weeks, Aedan showed Abby the rest of his estate, his land and tenant farms. Scotland in this time, its raw beauty, was like nothing she’d ever experienced, and she was in love with it as much as she was in love with Aedan.
Sleeping under the stars, with only a few of his guards, gave them plenty of time to enjoy the quiet and solitude the weeks afforded them. Having left Black Ben and Braxton, along with Gwen, in charge of Druiminn, Aedan had taken her away to recover from her injuries, both physical and mental, from Rory Kirk.
With each passing day, the more time they spent in each other’s company, Abby became more sure of her heart. She’d fallen for him, absolutely and without doubt.
To live in this time with the man she loved was a dream come true. Nothing had ever been so exciting in her life. Yes, it was hard, cold, and damp, but it was also wonderful and beautiful. Aedan warmed her soul, thawing any chill the Highland wind brought with it. He was caring, a loving lover, and adored his family. It was like he’d stepped out of a fairy tale.
She watched him as he beckoned her into the small pond that they’d found on their return home to Druiminn. It’d been a couple of days since they’d bathed, and the day was surprisingly warm, but as she dipped her toe into the water, she gasped as the chill seeped into her skin.
“It’s so cold! I’m not getting in there with you.” She stood at the edge, Aedan waist deep, grinning at her, a devilish light in his eyes.
“Yes, ye are, now dinna make me come out and get ye, lass. I’m naked.”
She bit her lip, the thought of what was beneath the surface warming her enough to dive in, but she wasn’t stupid. “Naked as a wee babe?”
He laughed at her teasing.
“Have I ever told ye how much I love it when ye talk to me in my accent.” He walked toward her. “Come now. I’ll keep ye warm.”
Abby cringed as she pulled off her light shift and jumped in, pulling her legs up and cannon-balling Aedan. He may as well get as wet as she was.
“Minx.” He went to grab her but she swam away.
The water bit into her flesh, and she shivered. “Oh my God, it’s so cold. Please tell me that it does get warmer at some point during the year.”
“Ye do know you’re in Scotland, no?”
He pulled her against him, and she wrapped her legs about his hips, the hardness of him pressing against her core. Desire thrummed between them, Aedan’s hot, hooded gaze making her pulse race.
“I’m pretty sure I know where I am.” She slid against him, smiling wickedly. She wrapped her arms loosely about his neck, watching him watch her with an intentness that she’d forever remember. “In fact, I really like my current location.”
“Really,” he said, raising his brow. “Perhaps we ought to move ye south, north, and south again for the foreseeable future. Could be enjoyable.”
Abby clasped the hair at the back of his nape and pulled it a little. “You’re so naughty. Whatever will I do with you?”
“I could think of a lot of things.”
“Why don’t you tell me, then?” Abby raised herself and slid slowly down his shaft. His member filled her completely, causing her need for him to flame with a fire that was never extinguished.
His jaw clenched. “I want ye like this. I want ye on my bed, in my private chambers, on top of the heather on a grassy hill. I want to taste every inch of your body, to love, learn, and worship all there is to love about ye. I want to feel your mouth wrapped around me, loving me to completion. In fact, I want you to do that while I do the same to you.”
Abby shut her eyes, as she continued to love him with her body. His dirty talk, the low timbre of his voice, the delicious accent was almost too much. She tightened her core about him, and he swore. “What else?” she asked.
He swallowed. His Adam’s apple bobbing against his throat. “I want to bend ye over, lift ye skirts, and take ye wherever we are and whenever I see ye. I want to touch ye, hear your sweet voice, and smell your beautiful scent, whenever I can.”
Tears pooled in her eyes, and she kissed him. His soft lips meshed with hers with a ferocity that scared her. The emotions he pulled forth in her, what he made her feel, were terrifying yet liberating. He jerked her hard against him, one hand helping her ride his cock, while the other guided her mouth. The kiss deepened, turned hot, demanding.
She broke the kiss, held on as he pushed her to orgasm quickly, taking her repeatedly. She loved it. When Aedan was like this, she glimpsed the hardened Highlander who made her quiver with need.
Rough sex, raw and hard, was too addictive by far. With a growl, he too followed her to orgasm, her body clenching in exquisite aftershocks.
His forehead was against hers, and he watched her as they both tried to calm their rapid breathing. “I mean every word I say, lass. What is the term you would use for a man in love with a woman? A modern expression, say?”
She pushed some hair off his face, running her hands over his jaw as he placed her back on her feet. “That you’ve fallen for her. We still use the word love.” She laughed.
He sobered, all mirth wiped from his visage. “Well then, I’ve fallen for ye, lass. I love ye. What say you?”
“You have no idea how hot you are when you talk in my type of language.” She bit her lip. How lucky could one girl be? “I love you, too. Utterly besotted with you, actually. Aren’t we blessed?”
“Very blessed,” he said, taking her lips again and showing her how blessed he was—in water and out.