To Tame a Highland Warrior

When the door closed behind them and they were finally alone, Gavrael and Jillian gazed at each other across the downy expanse of a wide mahogany bed. A fire leapt and crackled in the hearth while fluffy snowflakes fell beyond the window.

Grimm regarded her tenderly and his eyes slipped down, as they’d frequently done lately, to the scarcely noticeable swell of her abdomen. Jillian caught the possessive glance and gave him a dazzling smile. Ever since the night of the attack, when she’d told him they were going to have a baby, she’d caught him smiling at odd times with little or no provocation. It delighted her, his intense delight about the baby growing inside her. When she’d told him, after they’d returned from the caves to Maldebann, he’d sat blinking and shaking his head, as if he couldn’t believe it was true. When she’d cradled his face in her hands and drawn his head close to kiss him, she’d been stunned by the glimpse of moisture in his eyes. Her husband was the best of men: strong yet sensitive, capable yet vulnerable—and how she loved him!

As she watched him now, his eyes darkened with desire, and anticipation shivered through her.

“Adrienne said we might get snowed in for a while,” Jillian said breathlessly, feeling suddenly awkward. Being chaperoned these past weeks had nearly driven her crazy; to compensate, she’d tried to push her unruly steamy thoughts into a secluded corner of her mind. Now they resisted their confines, broke free, and demanded attention. She wanted her husband now.

“Good. I hope it snows a dozen feet.” Gavrael moved around the bed. All he wanted to do was bury himself inside her, reassure himself that she was indeed his. This day had been the culmination of all his dreams—he was married to Jillian St. Clair. Gazing down at her, he marveled at how much she had changed his life: He had a home, a clan, and a father, the wife he’d always dreamed of, a precious child on the way, and a bright future. He, who had always felt like an outcast, now belonged. And he owed it all to Jillian. He came to a stop inches from her and flashed her a lazy, sensual smile. “I doona suppose you have any noises you’d like to be making while we’re snowbound? I’d hate to disappoint our hosts.”

Jillian’s awkwardness melted away in a flash. Skirting all niceties, she slipped her hand up his muscular thigh and tugged his plaid away from his body. Her fingers flew over the buttons of his shirt, and within moments he stood before her as nature had fashioned him—a mighty warrior with hard angles and muscled planes.

Her gaze dropped lower and fixed upon what must have surely been nature’s most generous boon. She wet her lip, a wordless gesture of desire, unaware of the effect it had on him.

Gavrael groaned and reached for her. Jillian slipped into his arms, wrapped her hand around his thick shaft, and nearly purred with delight.

His eyes flared, then narrowed as he moved with the grace and power of a mountain cat, dragging her down onto the bed. A rough sigh escaped him. “Ah, I missed you, lass. I thought I was going to go crazy from wanting you. Balder wouldn’t even let me kiss you!” Gavrael worked swiftly at the tiny buttons on her wedding gown. When she tightened her fingers around him, he quickly secured her hands, trapping them with one of his. “I can’t think when you do that, lass.”

“I didn’t ask you to think, my big brawny warrior,” she teased. “I have other uses for you.”

He tossed her an arrogant look that clearly warned her he was in charge for the moment. With her distracting hands temporarily restrained, he lingered over her buttons, tracing kisses over each inch of skin as it was revealed. When his lips returned to hers, he kissed her with a savage intensity. Their tongues met, retreated, then met again. He tasted of brandy and cinnamon; Jillian followed his tongue, caught it with her own, and drew it into her mouth. When he stretched full length on top of her, muscled body to silken skin, her softness accommodating his hardness in perfect symmetry, she sighed her pleasure.

“Please,” she begged, shifting her body enticingly beneath him.

“Please what, Jillian? What would you like me to do? Tell me exactly, lass.” His heavy-lidded eyes glittered with interest.

“I want you to …” She gestured.

He nibbled her lower lip, drew back, and blinked innocently. “I’m afraid I doona understand. What was that?”

“Here.” She gestured again.

“Say it, Jillian,” he whispered huskily. “Tell me. I am yours to command, but I follow only very explicit instructions.” The wicked grin he flashed loosened the last of her restraints, leaving her free to indulge in a bit of wickedness of her own.