Page 31 of Kiss Me, Macrae

He was tempted to dive for her lips, wrap his arms around her, and draw her snug into his body. But he took a slow breath first, allowing the sense of rightness to fill him as desire roared through his blood, hardening him in a rush.

Though everything in him strained to claim her, he took a moment to look at her.

So beautiful. So confident and fierce and intense as she stared back at him. Her eyes were darkened by desire and overflowing with warmth and longing, showing nary a hint of doubt. And the pulse at the base of her throat was fluttering wildly in anticipation.

Intently holding her gaze, he leaned forward and he pressed his mouth to hers.

She seemed to sigh with her entire body. Her lashes fluttered as her eyes fell closed. A soft, gentle moan slipped from her throat. Her fingers slid from his jaw into the hair at his nape and her lips parted eagerly beneath his.

Aye! Finally!

Sweeping his tongue past her teeth, he tasted the lushness within. Honey and fire.

A groan rolled from his throat as he braced his foot to leverage himself off the floor. He needed to be closer. She seemed to agree as her arms went around his neck and her legs shifted. Still devouring her mouth with heated thrusts of his tongue, he laid her out on the sofa and brought his body over hers.

Her sigh was weighted and soft, her warm breath spreading over his lips.

Baird lifted his head to look into her warmly glowing eyes. A pretty blush pinked her cheeks and her mouth was softened and glistening from his kiss. She was smiling.

He couldn’t help but smile, as well. “Och, lassie, I’ve been dreamin’ of havin’ ye just like this.”

“Lying beneath you?”

“Soft and smilin’.”

Her eyelids lowered over her gaze as she shifted her legs and gently arched of her spine to press her breasts to his chest. Lust shot through him in a jolt, going straight to his already thickened groin.

“And aching for you.” Her voice was sultry and smooth. She was doing nothing to hide her desire from him and he savored it. Loving how it felt to finally have this moment with her.

He couldn’t resist the opportunity to tease her a bit. “Is there something more’n a kiss ye’re wantin’ from me, then?”

The sound of frustration that rose from her chest was accentuated by the fierce little tug of her fingers fisting in the hair at his nape. “So much more, Macrae,” she admitted with a bold gleam in her eyes. “I want it all.”

Bringing his hand to the side of her face, Baird brushed his thumb over the seam of her lips. “I’ll give ye the sun and the stars, lass, and everything between.”

“As long as that includes you.”

He chuckled softly. “Ye’re not likely tae get rid of me now.”

She tightened her fingers against his nape. “Good.”

It was just one word, but it revealed more to him than she might have intended. The murmured sigh of her voice spoke of her longing. It was an acknowledgement that what was between them wasn’t a fleeting thing. It was deep and honest and real.

He’d known it all along. And now she did too.

Her eyes darkened and she lifted her head to press her mouth softly to his before pulling back again to say softly, “I love you.”

A jolt of pure emotion shot through him and he released his breath in a rush before flashing a wide grin. “And it’s about time ye admitted it.”

Her brows tilted into a frown. “I know. It’s difficult for me to admit when I’m wrong. I have a contrary nature and I can be a bit arrogant.”

“I’d say ye’re more prideful than arrogant. Ye’re a passionate woman with a mind of her own and a heart worth winning.”

She tightened her arms around him. “I’m not good at needing people, but I do need you.”

Pressing his face to the curve of her neck, he breathed her in—her warmth and strength and love. “Ye’ve got me. Now and forever,” he murmured thickly.

She placed a kiss to the sensitive spot below his ear, drawing a rough growl from his throat. Her lips curved against his skin. “I like the sound of forever, but presently, I’d like to focus on the now.”