Ailsa was no coward and did not shrink from what was necessary. It would be mortifying to her pride and would hurt but it must be done, there was no point in delaying. Duncan had to think she was obedient and she could not hold him off with excuses forever. So she turned and faced her fate, hoping it would not be too awful.
The glow of the firelight against Ailsa’s rich curtain of hair made a warm halo around her head. The pure white of her shift did nothing to disguise the outline of her long legs illuminated by the firelight from behind. The sight of them sent Duncan’s pulse racing and suddenly he wanted her so badly he could barely contain himself. His manhood throbbed with his need for her. She was biting her lip nervously, even white teeth sinking into its full, pink softness, drawing his attention to her mouth. Did she have any idea what she was doing to his self- control?
She took a deep breath. ‘Best get it over with then. Please tell me what to do, how to place myself.’
He laughed, breaking the tension between them a little. ‘That is not how this should go,’ he said. ‘If you do not have me willingly Ailsa, then there is no point in you having me at all. You don’t have to place yourself anywhere for my pleasure. Don’t you realise what you do to me, how beautiful you are? So beautiful in fact that I would be content just to stand here and stare at you all night long. And believe me, I certainly don’t relish the prospect of forcing an unwilling woman into my bed.’
‘But I thought this is what you wanted?’
‘Not like this I don’t.’ He regarded her for a moment then took hold of her hand. His eyes were warm, kind even and her heart leapt a little when she looked into them.
‘When you kissed me at Morag’s wedding. What did you feel?’
‘I’d hardly own that to you.’
‘Tell me. We are husband and wife now and there should be no secrets between us. I want the truth now Ailsa.’
‘It felt pleasant in a strange way.’
‘Did you want me to stop?’
‘No, but you took advantage of me and that was not fair and you went too far.’
‘Aye, I did lose control of myself but you would do that to any man. I don’t think you know your own beauty. It is like a siren song, luring men to their doom. Those men at your sister’s wedding saw it and I saw it too. You were so lovely and I watched you all night as you danced, taking such pleasure in it and you were so free and happy. I couldn’t take my eyes off you and I still can’t and I doubt even the most pious of men could control himself around you. That is why I followed you outside, why I took you in my arms and kissed you. It was impossible to resist you.’
‘Do not speak so.’
‘There is so much to explore beyond that kiss we shared Ailsa, a whole world of pleasure and I can go slowly and teach you what you need to know.’
‘I cannot.’
‘Cannot or will not. There is no one here to judge you. Lay down your resentment of me, your situation and all the troubles you have been through. Forget everyone and everything else. There is only you and I in this room, in this moment so if we make each other happy this night what harm can it do.’
‘You can never make me happy.’
‘Why not?’
‘Because I do not want you.’
‘Well, your conscience may tell you that you don’t want me, but I think that some hidden part of you does.’
He moved closer and put his mouth to her ear, his hand on her waist. He whispered, ‘I think there is wildness in you Ailsa, some spirit that yearns for excitement, for adventure. You won’t own to it but sometimes it comes out and I see it. Why not set it free? Come to bed with me and let us be wild together.’ His voice, thick with longing, was terribly seductive. And she was sure that whatever wildness may lie in her was more than matched in him. She tried hard to resist temptation.
‘I can’t want you, Duncan.’
‘You can and you do. I am going to kiss you now and if you want me to stop you must say it.’
Gently he pulled the plaid from her shoulders, exposing their creamy whiteness. She did not resist and emboldened he pulled her close, taking care not to alarm her. He lowered his dark head slowly to hers.
‘Say it Ailsa.’ She wanted to say it but could not, it was as if she had been struck mute by a power greater than her. And when he kissed her there was nothing to be done but allow her mouth to yield to the gentle pressure of his. He was gentle, his tongue seeking hers, as she trembled under his touch.
She shut her eyes tightly but this just seemed to intensify the sensations aroused by his kiss. She felt her lips tingle at the touch of his tongue. ‘Stop, stop, don’t kiss me’ she thought, but she didn’t say it. Her hands placed hesitantly on his hard upper arms tightened their grip involuntarily as his tongue continued its confident invasion of her mouth. The heat of the fire on her back warred in her senses with the heat of his mouth on hers. She was now at the mercy of her own desire and if she didn’t conquer it he was going to do so much more than kiss her.
He moved lower, to her neck, lightly pinching her soft skin between his teeth as he pressed her to him. ‘Say it, tell me you don’t want me,’ he murmured between kisses.
Ailsa stood passively in his arms trying to ignore the delicious sensation which followed the progress of his mouth as he placed feather light kisses along her neck and up behind her ear. His jaw was rough with stubble but it excited her as it rasped against her skin. She had never been touched like this in her life and, though it was wrong, she did not want it to stop.
‘Gods you taste good,’ he breathed against her neck. ‘I want you so much Ailsa.’ Duncan had only really intended to kiss her, to gain her trust in the hopes of going further as they got used to each other. But his senses were inflamed by the taste of her mouth and the feel of soft curves beneath his hands and Duncan could hold back no longer. Maybe there was a devil inside crushing his conscience and maybe he was a brute after all. Duncan fought against his desire and simply lost. Firmly but gently he loosed the thin shift and slipped it over her shoulders; it fell softly to the floor revealing what he had always suspected, a lithe, graceful body of undeniable perfection which took his breath away and destroyed any last remnants of restraint and worthy intentions.