My Savage Heart (The MacQuaid Brothers) (11 page)

The kiss was deep and carnal, like nothing she ever imagined existed. And it fanned anew the spark of desire left tamped but smoldering beneath the surface.

Her hands tore at his shirt, pushing the cotton off his broad shoulders, reveling in the feel of his hot skin. And all the while he kissed her, feasting upon her lips, plunging his tongue to the deepest recesses of her mouth. His fingers dug through her hair, framing her face, holding her head still for his onslaught.

But her body would obey no civilized rules of conduct. Beneath his weight she wriggled and writhed, rubbing against him. Uncontrollable.

A muscle-corded thigh straddled her waist. Pulling away, he savagely jerked the shirt over his head, tossing it across the room. His leggings were next. Firelight sent wild shadows dancing across his smooth skin as he bent back toward her. Then she felt his weight, the heat of his body, as he lay in the cradle of hers.

Raising onto his elbows Wolf studied her face for a moment before again attacking her mouth with his. “This may hurt.” He whispered the words into her hair, but he doubted she heard him. He doubted she was aware of much but the consuming passion that shined in her light eyes.

His hips spread her thighs. He was hard and aching, had been since he walked in on her while she changed her clothes. Yet he hesitated. Was it conscience that kept him poised so near he could feel the heat radiating from her? Wolf didn’t know. But he couldn’t deny the doubts about doing this... to her.

“Please, oh, please,” she begged, her voice barely more than a sob. Caroline didn’t know what it was she wanted, but her body was as tense as before. She knew there had to be something he could do to relieve the savage hunger. Her body slid lower.

The control he’d worked hard to keep slipped as her moist heat skimmed the tip of his manhood. He thrust. Gently at first, then when he encountered the delicate barrier, more strongly. She made a low whimpering sound when he rent her maidenhood, and Wolf froze.

“Hush now,
Agehyaguga
. It is the way of men and women.” He bent down and kissed her moist lips. “But only the first time, I swear it.”

She looked up at him wide-eyed... trustingly. A hint of a smile was obviously to make him feel better for the pain he caused. It didn’t. But Wolf soon forgot all but his desire to bury himself inside her. She lifted her hips in an instinctive move that made him surge forward.

Deeper and deeper he went, losing all thought, everything but the desire to mate with her. Each driving thrust was more powerful than the last. His pace quickened, and beneath the consuming passion was the knowledge that she met each sensual stroke, and reveled in them.

Instinct told him when she neared her release. Her body stiffened, and her breathing came in short, shallow gasps. He plunged again as she tensed, waiting till she jolted, her fingers digging into his back before allowing his own searing release.

When Caroline regained her senses enough to open her eyes, she found him staring down at her, his expression dark... unreadable. Her heart raced and she didn’t know if she’d ever stop trembling. Still she smiled. He didn’t return the gesture.

Instead his brows lowered in a frown. “I’m sorry,” was all he said, but it was his tone that made Caroline’s skin prickle.

“’Tis nothing to apologize for. There really wasn’t much pain.”

He levered himself off her, rolling to the side, his arm thrown across his eyes. “I’m glad,” he finally said. Without looking at her, he drew a blanket up over them. “It is time we went to sleep.”

But slumber came to him no easier than to her. Wolf lay on his back staring at the flickering shadows on the low rafters, knowing she did the same. God, he should say something else to her... something soothing and sweet. Something to take the sting from his actions.

But he could think of no words that would erase the deed. Nothing to soften the blow of taking her virginity. And he could not stop thinking of how good it felt to make love to her. He wasn’t supposed to enjoy it so much. Nor was she, he thought ruthlessly. Revenge was not to be tainted by pleasure.

“Raff.”

His name, though barely whispered in the half-light, made his body tense.

“Are you still awake?”

“Yes.” Reluctantly he rolled his head to look at her. She stared at the ceiling, her profile clean and beautiful. Wolf took a deep breath. “Did you wish something?”

There was a slight hesitation then he heard the movement of her hair against the bear fur as she shook her head. “’Tis nothing really.”

He should leave it at that. Leave her to think what she may. In the long run that might be easier on her. But Wolf found it impossible to lie there, the distance between them farther than the span of an arm separating their bodies.

Telling himself he’d do as much for a whore who’d sold her body, Wolf reached out. His expression was grave as he gathered her into his arms.

She came without question, snuggling onto his shoulder, molding her small frame against his body... fitting perfectly. Wolf shut his eyes and silently cursed his father. If only the old man weren’t such a bastard. If he hadn’t cheated and lied to the Cherokee. If he hadn’t lied to Wolf’s mother, and hurt her. If he hadn’t sent to England for Lady Caroline Simmons. God, if he just hadn’t done any of those things.

“Is something amiss?”

“No.” Wolf answered too quickly. He could feel her eyes on him, but didn’t turn his head to face her. “What makes you ask?”

“I don’t know. You seem...” Caroline couldn’t imagine what made her so bold. But then nothing she’d done this night was like her.

“Tired is what I am,” Wolf finished for her. “Now go to sleep, Caroline.”

But despite his words, slumber was a long time coming to Wolf. He lay, her sleeping body in his arms, and he tried not to think.

He must have finally dozed for he awoke near dawn. Woke from an erotic dream to find it wasn’t entirely a product of his imagination. She’d shifted during the night and now one of her long, creamy smooth legs rested over his thigh, inches from his aching manhood. Her arm was flung across his waist, her cheek against his chest. And God he wanted her.

But revenge against his father was met.

If he took her again it would have naught to do with avenging his mother. And everything to do with desire.

The battle within him was short-lived and lost before it began.

His hand followed the curve of her hip, the gentle slope of her bottom. When his fingers skimmed down to her womanhood, he found her already hot and moist... perhaps she shared the dream that just woke him.

But she wasn’t dreaming when she raised her leg higher giving him better access to her heat, or when she moaned, a deep, sensual sound that made him throb.

“Are you sore?” He had a firm enough grip on reality to ask that.

“Nay.” There was a catch in her voice as his finger entered her. “What you do to me, it feels...”

“What?” Wolf rolled so he could look down at her, his hand still cupping her body. “How does it feel?”

“Wonderful,” she breathed. “You make me feel wonderful.”

She breathed the last word into his mouth as his lips crushed down on hers. She opened for him and his tongue found the sweet haven, its rhythm the same as his finger.

Her body tightened almost immediately. More responsive than any woman he’d ever known. He lifted his head, watching her in the soft pewtery light as she rode the waves of ecstasy. Satisfied for the moment to give her pleasure. To see the pearly skin flush, her small, ruched, rose-colored nipples, reach out to him. He tasted one, then the other as she drifted back to earth.

“Mmmm, wonderful,” she whispered and Wolf chuckled, the sound vibrating against her stomach.

When she could summon the strength, Caroline lifted herself up on her elbows. The sight of his dark head resting on her body tightened her chest. “What of you?” she asked. His hair brushed across her skin as he turned his head to look up at her.

“What about me?”

“How does—” Caroline raised her hand, then let it tangle with his raven locks. “How does this make you feel?”

His smile, a flash of white teeth, brought color to her cheeks and Caroline was thankful for the dim light. He shifted his attention, moving slowly up her body till she had no choice but to lie flat again. Leaving a trail of nibbles and aroused skin.

“You take my breath away. I want you so badly, I—” Wolf stopped and rolled to his side. Taking her hand he guided it down his body. She didn’t resist as he wrapped her fingers nearly around his hard length. “I ache for you,
Agehyaguga
.”

Her hand remained after his left to touch her.

“What does that mean,
Agehyaguga
? You said it last night, too.”

“Did I?” Wolf hadn’t noticed saying it either time. “Moon woman.” His fingers tangled in her curls. “Your hair is the color of moonbeams,” he whispered. But he did not tell her that he had begun to think of her as
Agehyaguga
.

Caroline reached for him. His weight was welcome as was his first thrust, and his next, and all the others that surged faster and deeper. His powerful body plunged into her, sending her soul soaring, filling her completely. Making the word wonderful inadequate.

“What do these mean?” They were lying side by side, Wolf’s elbow bent, his head propped in his palm. He tucked his chin to follow her finger as it traced a line of tattoos across his chest.

“I did not realize you were such an inquisitive little thing,” Wolf teased, bending forward and nestling a kiss between her breasts. He straightened and took her hand. “Most of them do not really mean anything. They are just symbolic of my tribe or family.”

“I like them.” Caroline skimmed across one that traversed his ribs, surprised when he squirmed.

She tried it again and got the same reaction. “You’re ticklish.”

“No,” he insisted, but he couldn’t stop wriggling when she did it again. “If you do not stop, I will—”

“You will what? Oh!” His movements were so fast she barely had time to gasp. One moment he was lying beside her, the next he straddled her hips. His hands caught hers and stretched them high above her head. He looked fierce and wild looming over her, but Caroline wasn’t afraid. When she started laughing, he threw back his head and joined her.

“You have a pretty smile.”

His words surprised Wolf as much as they did her. They also made him realize he must stop this. No matter how much it pleasured him to continue. He agilely climbed off her and stood. “It is time we got up. I will build up the fire.”

Caroline couldn’t help watching as he laced up his leggings and donned a shirt. Then he was gone, closing the door behind him. Caroline scurried from the fur pallet. It was chilly this morning, and she quickly pulled on her shift. A boned bodice and quilted petticoat followed. The overgown was drifting down over her body when he tramped through the doorway. He dropped the split logs then set about stoking the embers to life.

“I told you I would start the fire up. You could have stayed in the bed until there was some heat.”

“’Tis not too cold for me.” Caroline managed to keep her teeth from chattering while she lied.

He simply glanced over his shoulder and shrugged.

“I could make us something to eat.” Caroline stepped forward cautiously. The way they were acting around each other it was hard to believe that she’d lain with this man. She longed to capture the comfortable feelings of before.

“Your Ladyship cooks?” His dark brows lifted skeptically.

“A little.” There was no sense lying when he would discover the truth soon enough. “But I’m anxious to learn.” She could imagine how it would be for the rest of their lives. He would hunt and fish, and she would cook for him. And every night they would share the bearskin bed.

“I’ll take care of breakfast this morning,” he said, motioning for her to sit in the chair.

She watched him, his animal grace, as he mixed cornmeal and water in a copper kettle and swung it over the fire. “How long have you lived here?”

“Since I returned from England.”

“I see.” He wasn’t being very communicative but at least he answered her questions. Caroline hoped as they became more used to each other, they could talk more freely. “I thought you might live with your mother.”

“You mean with the Cherokee?” He stirred the gruel.

Caroline nodded.

“I could, but my mother is dead, and I prefer it here.”

So did she.

Caroline had come up with a plan during the wee hours of the morning while she lay in his arms. It was obvious she could not marry his father now. She and Raff loved each other. At least she loved him, and she was sure if he didn’t feel the same, time would change that. She would live with him here in his cabin.

And she would send for Ned. She was sure Wolf didn’t have the money to keep Edward in school. Her brother would be angry at first, forced to leave his familiar surroundings, but he would soon learn to love it in the New World. Besides Wolf could continue her brother’s education with the books he had.

Best of all, they’d all be together.

Caroline was beginning to wonder if she’d done the right thing leaving Edward in England all alone. But it didn’t matter now.