Page 44 of The Lion

However, when his sex responded to her perusal, she realized the growing, hardening member would be shoved into her.

It was definitely going to hurt.

“Take yer clothing off. It is easier to enjoy one another when devoid of all clothes.” Darach neared and expertly untied the ribbons at the neckline and then slid her nightgown off.

He climbed on the bed and instead of coming over her, he lay beside her.

“Turn to me wife,” he said, and Isobel obeyed.

Their gazes met and she wondered if she looked as terrified as she felt.

“Ye have questions,” Darach stated.

Isobel wasn’t sure if she did, but she nodded. “I am nervous about how much it will hurt.”

His brows came together in a frown. “Ye are not a maid. Did ye not say ye had experienced relations before?”

“Once, aye, but I do not think he was… like ye are.”

He took her hand and wrapped her fingers around his staff. “It was the same I assure ye.”

“No,” Isobel replied, curious as to how soft his skin felt, yet under the surface, he was hard. “I never saw it, I can assure ye, but I know it was not this… thick.”

His lips curved. “I promise to make it pleasurable.”

“Do not lie to me, sir…” She stopped talking because he pulled her against him and took her mouth. Darach kissed her as if he were starving for her, as if she were a lifeline to a drowning man.

Wrapped in his arms, his hands slid down her back, cupping her bottom and pulling her against his sex.

She released him, placing her arms around him as the kiss intensified. Strangely, within moments, the feeling she’d had once before when kissed by him began to flicker. The longer his lips kept hers captive, the hotter the internal flame became.

Finally, she was gasping, barely able to breathe past the sensations that attacked. Darach released her mouth and licked a trail to her breasts, where he lavished one with attention before moving to the other.

Isobel pulled her legs together as heat pooled between them. She wanted relief but was unsure how it would come.

Lifting his head, Darach placed his mouth next to her ear. “I want to hear yer pleasure,” he whispered.

Before she could attempt to understand, he slid one hand between her legs, then he slid a finger into her sex, while at the same time stroking between her netherlips with his thumb.

“Oh!” Isobel tried to push his hand away, unsure if she liked the strange surges that traveled down her legs and up her belly. “What are ye…”

He took her mouth and continued to move his hand between her legs.

Suddenly, she could not withstand it anymore, something was about to happen to her body. Isobel gulped in air doing her best to keep it at bay.

“Relax. Ye will like it,” Darach whispered. She bit her bottom lip but then gasped for air.

His mouth took hers and his hand continued the assault until suddenly she broke in two.

Isobel cried out, losing all control.

She clawed at Darach as he positioned himself over her. Unsure of what he’d do next, Isobel prayed he would do something more to quell the flames.

His staff nudged at her entrance and she hungered for it.

“Yes,” she murmured. “Please.”

With a grunt, he seemed to hold back and then entered her slowly. Much too slow, Isobel thought.