the fire.
She thought of the second vial. Had he placed it under her pillow? Mayhap he had secured the blood in order to create the illusion he had consummated the union—transaction, she corrected.
Deryll rose abruptly, startling her. His back to her, he grabbed his shirt collar and pulled the shirt over his head.
77
The Pendulum
by Tarah Scott
Airin's mouth went dry at sight of his powerfully built shoulders and back. He was beautiful. Hard muscle moved beneath dark skin. She heard the light clink of metal and realized he was loosening the belt on his plaide. The plaide dropped to the floor as he tossed the belt onto the chair. Heat tinged her cheeks at sight of his tight, round buttocks gleaming in the firelight. He turned. Her eyes dropped to his groin. His jutting shaft pulsed as if in salute.
Airin jerked her gaze to his face. "I have done nothing!"
He threw back his head and laughed, then started toward the bed. She stared as he strode to her. She tensed when he lifted the covers and slid in beside her. He surprised her by turning on his side and staring at her.
"Have I displeased you?" she asked.
"Nay."
His gaze dropped to her mouth and the warmth that had started in her cheeks spread lower. He reached out and brushed back her hair, then stroked her cheek. His fingers trailed her jaw and along her neck to her shoulder. He slid his hand around her back and dragged her closer.
"Are you afraid?" he asked.
She snorted derisively though she knew her rapid heartbeat must betray her. He traced circles on her back and goose bumps raced down her arms. What was wrong with him? Cerdwin had said he could finish the deed in minutes. It seemed he had barely started. He shifted and she startled before realizing he only meant to kiss her. He paused, his mouth an inch from hers.
"Not afraid?" he asked.
78
The Pendulum
by Tarah Scott
She stuck out her chin a fraction. "Nay."
His dark gaze pierced her as he slid his hand down her back to her buttocks. He gently squeezed, then rubbed his hard length against her. Airin gave a startled cry, and he kissed her. Instinctively, she flattened her palms against his chest to shove him away, but paused when his tongue slid past her lips. Dizziness swept through her. His tongue slid over and around hers. Her nipples hardened. She threaded her fingers through the hair on his chest, kneading the muscles.
A low sound rumbled deep within him. He broke the kiss and dipped his head to her breast. She gasped as his lips latching onto a nipple and he suckled through the fabric.
Pleasure shot through to the core between her legs. His hand moved to her hip and he pulled up the shift. She jumped when his warm fingers slipped between her clasped thighs.
Deryll moved from her breast to her ear. "Do not fear, love," he murmured, and gently parted her legs.
He ran his tongue along her ear. Airin shivered. He slid a flattened palm up her hip and along her belly. She closed her eyes, amazed by a sudden need to feel his broad hands everywhere. He moved lower. She tensed, torn between a desire and fear. She had wanted men, had been kissed, had felt an ache, but not like this.
Deryll continued, slowly, gently, until he reached the blonde curls below. Warm fingers cupped her, then slipped between the folds. Her eyes shot open. Madeline had never spoken of this! What sort of depraved act was Deryll about to 79
The Pendulum
by Tarah Scott
perform on her? His thumb slipped upward an inch and gently rolled her nub.
"Deryll," she cried.
"Aye, love,?"
He gently flicked as he bent his head again and took a nipple in his mouth. Airin gasped. The brooch shifted, settling onto the curve her breast beside Deryll's mouth. The feel of his hands on the sensitive place between her legs made her wonder what his mouth would feel like against her bare breast without the barrier of the shift. Intense pleasure shot from her breast to the spot he caressed. He withdrew his fingers and began rubbing her
She thought of the second vial. Had he placed it under her pillow? Mayhap he had secured the blood in order to create the illusion he had consummated the union—transaction, she corrected.
Deryll rose abruptly, startling her. His back to her, he grabbed his shirt collar and pulled the shirt over his head.
77
The Pendulum
by Tarah Scott
Airin's mouth went dry at sight of his powerfully built shoulders and back. He was beautiful. Hard muscle moved beneath dark skin. She heard the light clink of metal and realized he was loosening the belt on his plaide. The plaide dropped to the floor as he tossed the belt onto the chair. Heat tinged her cheeks at sight of his tight, round buttocks gleaming in the firelight. He turned. Her eyes dropped to his groin. His jutting shaft pulsed as if in salute.
Airin jerked her gaze to his face. "I have done nothing!"
He threw back his head and laughed, then started toward the bed. She stared as he strode to her. She tensed when he lifted the covers and slid in beside her. He surprised her by turning on his side and staring at her.
"Have I displeased you?" she asked.
"Nay."
His gaze dropped to her mouth and the warmth that had started in her cheeks spread lower. He reached out and brushed back her hair, then stroked her cheek. His fingers trailed her jaw and along her neck to her shoulder. He slid his hand around her back and dragged her closer.
"Are you afraid?" he asked.
She snorted derisively though she knew her rapid heartbeat must betray her. He traced circles on her back and goose bumps raced down her arms. What was wrong with him? Cerdwin had said he could finish the deed in minutes. It seemed he had barely started. He shifted and she startled before realizing he only meant to kiss her. He paused, his mouth an inch from hers.
"Not afraid?" he asked.
78
The Pendulum
by Tarah Scott
She stuck out her chin a fraction. "Nay."
His dark gaze pierced her as he slid his hand down her back to her buttocks. He gently squeezed, then rubbed his hard length against her. Airin gave a startled cry, and he kissed her. Instinctively, she flattened her palms against his chest to shove him away, but paused when his tongue slid past her lips. Dizziness swept through her. His tongue slid over and around hers. Her nipples hardened. She threaded her fingers through the hair on his chest, kneading the muscles.
A low sound rumbled deep within him. He broke the kiss and dipped his head to her breast. She gasped as his lips latching onto a nipple and he suckled through the fabric.
Pleasure shot through to the core between her legs. His hand moved to her hip and he pulled up the shift. She jumped when his warm fingers slipped between her clasped thighs.
Deryll moved from her breast to her ear. "Do not fear, love," he murmured, and gently parted her legs.
He ran his tongue along her ear. Airin shivered. He slid a flattened palm up her hip and along her belly. She closed her eyes, amazed by a sudden need to feel his broad hands everywhere. He moved lower. She tensed, torn between a desire and fear. She had wanted men, had been kissed, had felt an ache, but not like this.
Deryll continued, slowly, gently, until he reached the blonde curls below. Warm fingers cupped her, then slipped between the folds. Her eyes shot open. Madeline had never spoken of this! What sort of depraved act was Deryll about to 79
The Pendulum
by Tarah Scott
perform on her? His thumb slipped upward an inch and gently rolled her nub.
"Deryll," she cried.
"Aye, love,?"
He gently flicked as he bent his head again and took a nipple in his mouth. Airin gasped. The brooch shifted, settling onto the curve her breast beside Deryll's mouth. The feel of his hands on the sensitive place between her legs made her wonder what his mouth would feel like against her bare breast without the barrier of the shift. Intense pleasure shot from her breast to the spot he caressed. He withdrew his fingers and began rubbing her
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