Highland Dove (New Year's) - Elizabeth Rose

Prologue

“Duncan MacLean, dinna think yer kisses are goin’ to distract me from the fact that yer hands are on my arse!” Mari Stewart giggled and kissed her betrothed again, as they stayed hidden away from curious eyes, inside the mews of MacLean Castle.

“Och, Mari! We’re gettin’ married in a month’s time and I’m about to leave to battle the English. Give a randy man somethin’ to remember ye by.”

Mari felt her body go limp and her knees about to buckle beneath her as she basked in the embrace of the man she loved. If ever there was a time she wanted to push aside her morals and surrender her virginity, this was it. She reached up and kissed Duncan again, her body coming to life under his touch. The scents of woodsmoke and Highland heather permeated his body, teasing her senses. Her eyes drifted closed and her head fell back as his kisses trailed down her neck and stopped at the top of her cleavage. Purposely arching her back, she secretly longed for his mouth on her breasts next.

As he cupped one of her mounds right over her clothes, his thumb flitted over her nipple making her breath hitch. All she had to do was say the word and they’d be making love in the hay.

“Duncan,” she gasped in a seductive whisper, her chest heaving with each breath since she could barely control her passion. Lust coursed through her. The idea consumed her thoughts of throwing herself wantonly in the hay and spreading her legs in anticipation. “We should wait,” she said, holding back but inwardly cursing herself for being so timid. “After all, we’ll be married on Hogmanay, and that will be here before ye ken it.”

“Blethers, ye are drivin’ me mad, lass! I love ye, Mari Stewart. Do ye no’ understand that? This is no’ just a careless romp in the hay to suffice an achin’ need, but so much more.”

“Aye, Duncan. And I love ye, too. But I think we should slow down . . . for now.”

“Ye dinna ken what ye’re doin’ to me, lass. Here, let me show ye.” He took her hand in his, guiding it atop the front of his plaid, closing her fingers over his hard erection beneath it. Her heart sped up in excitement as his desire for her throbbed beneath her touch. Then her eyes roamed downward and settled at the bulge below his waist. Curiosity coursed through her. She found herself longing to see and feel his manly form without the barrier of the wool between them. Aye, she wanted to make love to Duncan right now more than anything in the world. But she also knew she should wait until they were properly wed. If they coupled before taking their vows, and her father found out about it, he would have her head. But then again, she could keep this a secret. After all, like Duncan said, they were betrothed to be married soon so it wasn’t really a sin. Was it?

He watched her with a hooded gaze now, already undressing her with his eyes. She liked that. It made her feel special. “I’m about to burst and willna be able to fight the Sassenachs unless ye help me get somethin’ off my mind first,” came his hot whisper in her ear. His tongue flicked at her lobe, causing her to tingle. He leaned in closer and pressed his body up against hers. A shudder of desire shot through her. She was losing her resolve quickly.

“I – I dinna ken, Duncan. We should probably wait until we’re married.” She said the words but was no longer sure she agreed with the idea.

“Losh me!” He released her and threw his hands in the air in aggravation, turning a full circle and blowing a whoosh of air from his mouth. Finally, he turned back toward her, seeming to fight for control. “We’re goin’ to be married in a month,” he told her once again. “A mere month, Mari! So tell me, does it really matter?”

Nay, it really didn’t matter in her opinion. Still, she was a virgin and that was something that made her apprehensive. She’d never been with a man before and wasn’t even sure she knew the proper way to please a lover. Or mayhap she did, but just didn’t want to admit it. Her older sister, Tillie, had told her more than she needed to know on the subject. Tillie was twenty years of age and two years