Part 30 (1/2)

Maggie looked up as Braden s.h.i.+fted his body. ”Braden?”

He flashed a dimpled smile as he stretched out beside her with his head toward her feet. He positioned his hips even with her head.

”Don't stop,” he said, his eyes warm and wicked.

Before she could respond, he nudged her thighs apart and buried his lips against her.

Maggie closed her eyes and moaned at the feel of his tongue delving deep inside her.

Oh, it was incredulous. Never had she experienced such unbridled pleasure. Wanting to feel more, she opened her legs wider. He took her invitation.

She bit her lip and groaned deep in her throat, then returned to the tender ministrations she had been giving him.

The mutualness of it touched her profoundly. This equal sharing, equal giving. It was splendid. Heavenly.

And if they survived the MacDouglas, she was going to find some way to keep this man with her. No matter what it took.

She was a fighter. Would always be a fighter, and she wouldn't give up on Braden. Never. Not until he belonged to her both heart and soul.

Braden's head spun as he again felt her mouth and tongue close around him. He cupped her hips to him as he ran his tongue over her and felt her s.h.i.+ver in his arms.

She was incredible. And to think, all these years he had never once given her a second glance.

You were a fool!

Aye, he surely was. But not anymore. He would never again be blind to her.

Never again ignore her.

And the possessiveness he felt toward her scared him even more. Because at this moment, she had captured his heart in a way no other woman ever had. In a way he knew no other woman ever could.

She alone could destroy him. She alone held power over his heart, and he trembled at the newfound knowledge.

Maggie couldn't believe what was happening. Where she found the courage to do these things with Braden, she didn't know. But oh, how wondrous. The mutualness of their union touched her all the way to her soul. It was so deep, so fulfilling, so incredible that she never wanted this moment to end.

The heat of his mouth seared her as he teased and suckled. And even more incredible was the feel of his fingers plunging inside her. In and out and around. Her body quivered and jerked as her head reeled from the sensations.

She closed her eyes. It was too much for her. And just as she was sure she would die from it, her body exploded.

Maggie threw her head back and screamed out in release as the world spiraled and careened around her.

Never, never had she experienced such a thing.

And still his tongue tormented her.

”Oh, Braden,” she sighed.

He laughed almost evilly as he kissed her thigh. ”I'm not through with you yet,” he said, his tone warning and yet somehow playful.

He rose up between her legs and positioned his body over hers. Maggie reached up and buried her hands in his hair as he used his knees to spread her legs wider.

He brought his lips down upon hers, then plunged himself deep inside her body.

Maggie froze as pain overrode her pleasure. ”Braden?”

”Shhh,” he whispered against her lips. ”Give it time.”

He leaned back away from her ever so slightly and reached his hand down between their bodies until he found her nub. Maggie quickly forgot the pain as he gently toyed with her body, building her pleasure again.

He was so thoughtful and kind. From what she'd heard of other men, she knew most didn't care whether or not they hurt a woman her first time. But Braden did.

And it was what she loved most about him.

Instinctively, she rubbed herself against him, impaling herself even more deeply than before.

Braden bit his lip as he felt her moving against him. ”Aye, my love,” he said, closing his eyes to savor the warm, tight heat of her body around his. ”That's it.”

His breathing ragged, he let her take control of the moment as she milked his body with hers.

Never had he felt the like.

Opening his eyes, he saw the look of wonder on her face. Aye, she liked being in charge.

Ever one to please her, Braden rolled over without withdrawing from her.

Maggie sighed as she found herself on top of him again. She stared in awe of him and at the strange feel of his body inside hers and between her legs.

His eyes dark and gentle, he reached up and cupped her b.r.e.a.s.t.s in his hands. She covered his hands with her own, then lifted her body up, drawing herself down his shaft.

”Aye,” he breathed. ”That's it.”

And then his hand returned to cup her between her legs as she rode him hard and fast.

And this time, when she came, he joined her.

Sated and exhausted, Maggie stretched out on his chest and simply enjoyed the feel of his arms around her as his breath stirred her hair.

Braden leaned his head back, shaken by what had occurred between them. He had known she would be a firebrand, but never had he guessed the full depth of her pa.s.sion.

And worse, he was far from sated.

If anything, he wanted her more than ever before. Because now that he'd experienced her love, he knew she truly had no equal.

And that scared the devil out of him.

Maggie lifted her head up to look down at him.