Highland Courage (Highland Brides) by Ceci Giltenan Page B

in ecstasy. Watching her reach her climax was the most beautifully erotic thing he had ever witnessed, and he ached with need for her. However, he waited, holding her close as she recovered.
    “Oh, Tadhg, that was—that was—what was that?”
    “Ye liked it?” He grinned.
    “Oh, aye, I did.”
    “That was your woman’s release.”
    “But, ye didn’t—we didn’t…”
    He chuckled, “We’re not finished, little one.”
    “Nay?”
    “Nay, but Mairead, ye are still a virgin.”
    “What? Nay, I can’t be.”
    “Sweetling, ye are.”
    “How do ye know?”
    “I could tell when I touched ye inside.”
    “I don’t understand. I felt him—there. It hurt.”
    “I know the bastard who attacked ye hurt ye, sweetling, but he didn’t break through your maidenhead. Perhaps it was his hand ye felt inside. He didn’t take your virginity.”
    She looked bewildered. “Mairead, I am only telling ye this because the first time might hurt ye. If ye want to wait, we can. I don’t want ye to be scared.”
    She looked at him silently for a moment, as if considering his words, then she said, “I don’t want to wait. I want ye to make me your wife.”
    Tadhg thought his heart would explode. This sweet, shy lass he had married was no mouse. After all she had been through, she wanted him to make love to her. “I’ll be as careful as I can. Ye can always tell me to stop.”
    ~ * ~
    Still a virgin? Mairead tried to wrap her mind around it but couldn’t. She couldn’t concentrate. Her husband began nuzzling her neck and kissing her again. The things his kisses did to her. Just as she had before, she writhed and purred under his touch. This was wonderful. All conscious thoughts fled and her world was reduced to pure sensation.
    Oh, dear Lord, he was touching her there again. Once more the exquisite tension was building as he stroked between her moist folds. Tell him to stop? Not likely . She arched against him, panting. He knelt between her legs and eased into her a little. She felt stretched, but no pain. He pulled out and pushed in again a little deeper. His hand slipped between them, and he massaged the tiny sensitive nub at her apex. He kept teasing her opening with just the head of his manhood. Finally, with one sharp thrust he breached her maidenhead.
    She gasped, and her eyes flew open at the sharp pain. He held very still, and continued the sensuous assault on her body, trailing kisses over her lips and breasts. The pain was already receding, and gradually the tension in her core built again. She wanted to move. She wanted him to move. “Please, Tadhg,” she whispered, pushing up against him, trying to urge him on. Only then did he begin to move slowly within her. Her movements become frenzied, driving him to increase his pace.
    “Let it go, Mairead,” he whispered and she shattered in his arms, crying out his name. As the waves of her release shuddered through her body, while still in the throes of her climax, Tadhg groaned, and his hot seed filled her. Panting, he rested his forehead on hers and whispered, “Mairead.” It was almost a supplication.
    He shifted his weight to the side and held her to him, still joined.
    She ran her hands lightly down his arms and across his chest. He captured one of her hands in his and kissed her fingertips. “Are ye all right?”
    “Oh, aye. More than all right.” Her voice still sounded breathless, and she felt a bit dazed.
    “I didn’t hurt ye overmuch?”
    “Nay, not that I remember.” She flashed him a wicked smile.
    He chuckled and kissed her again.
    Gently he pulled out of her and tucked her snuggly beside him, her head resting on his shoulder. He buried his head in her hair, inhaling deeply. “I love the feel of ye in my arms and ye smell heavenly.”
    “It must be the thyme.”
    “The time for what?”
    Mairead laughed. “Thyme, the herb, for courage. It was in my bath, my bouquet, and the wreath on my head.”
    “Oh, Mairead, were ye so afraid,