Highland Moonlight by Teresa J Reasor Page A

chest. The muscles in his arms
    bulged. Her mouth grew dry just looking at him. Perhaps she really was
    unchaste. “Did I do something to make you believe I would welcome you in
    my bed, before we were wed?”
    “Nay, Mary.” He shook his head. “You did nothing wrong.”
    “Then why did you come to me?” Her voice cracked and she struggled
    to retain her composure. When he hesitated before answering, her hands
    fisted at her sides.
    His gaze fastened on her face. “You did nothing other than be the
    woman you are. I wanted you to be my wife because of it, more than the
    agreement between your clan and mine. But I did not think you would agree
    to the match, and Collin meant to break the agreement.”
    So he had come to her.
    She swallowed against the painful knot in her throat. Her gaze
    wavered from his face in an attempt to retain her composure. She had loved
    him so, the thought of holding back had never occurred to her—but she had
    never expected him to treat her with anything save respect. Now at least,
    she understood his motives, but it did not ease the terrible sense of loss
    the knowledge brought her.
    To occupy her hands, and still their trembling, she moved to the
    washstand to retrieve her brush then sat on the bed to tidy her hair. She
    started as Alexander unbuckled the girdle from about his waist and allowed
    his trews to fall to the floor. She stared at the muscular tautness of his
    buttocks, thighs, and calves, and then quickly looked away. The many hours
    on horseback and training at the art of war had honed his body to a state of
    sleek, masculine perfection. The movement, as he bent from the waist to
    wash his legs and feet, brought into play the muscles of his back and arms
    and drew her attention despite herself. She forced her eyes away, her face
    burning at the immodesty of her interest.
    “Will you fold my fresh kilt for me Mary? ‘Tis in the chest.”
    Grateful for the distraction, she quickly finished braiding her hair. She
    rose to find him offering her his girdle. With her gaze carefully averted, she
    snatched it from his hand. She placed the wide leather belt on the bed and
    arranged the sheath for his sword and the leather sporran in which he
    carried his possessions. She spread the kilt over the girdle and folded the
    pleats in place. She sensed Alexander’s movements behind her and
    straightened.
    He moved close beside her, a shirt in his hands. The thick swirls of
    auburn hair covering his chest tapered into a thin line past his navel, to
    blossom into a thatch at his groin. His member protruded, long and flaccid,
    from the center of it. Even as she watched, it grew in size and length,
    stiffening straight out.
    A feeling of helplessness raced through her. She stumbled back
    surprised, embarrassed ,and turned to flee.
    Alexander caught her about the waist, and pulled her back against
    him.
    “‘Tis a natural thing, my wanting you, Mary. I can not help the way I feel
    about you anymore than I can stop breathing, but it does not mean I am
    going to force you to serve me.”
    His cheek, cool and beard roughened, pressed to hers. His breath,
    warm against her ear, sent strange shivers up her spine. “I have not
    touched you in any way you do not wish, have I, lass?”
    “Nay.” Fear had nothing to do with the feelings running rampant
    through her. Her hands ached to stroke the muscular forearms holding her.
    The feel of his large male body fit so familiarly against hers had her breath
    coming in ragged gulps. Her body grew weak with longing as he moved
    against her. She wanted to turn against him and bring his lips to hers. Her
    body ached to be closer in a way she found both exciting and confusing.
    A fist pounded on the door. Duncan’s voice came from behind the thick
    portal. “The MacNaughtens have struck the east pasture and stolen a small
    flock. I’m going with David to see to it. Will you be coming, Alexander?”
    He drew a deep breath. “Do you wish me to go,