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Dallis rested on the window seat with the pane cracked open. A cool breeze wafted in turning the room chilly. The cold went unnoticed as she stared into the dark night. Stars lit the sky, reminding Dallis of childhood stories of how the stars guided the warrior’s home after their long battles. Dallis made a wish on the first star she saw. The act was foolish, but all the same she tried. Somewhere in the universe something hopefully would make her dreams come true. She traced a pattern on the window, picturing her wish. She imagined Rory's passion-filled eyes as he enticed her into his arms. Lost in her fantasy, Dallis wasn’t aware the window had opened wider and he hung onto her windowsill.
Dallis gasped, “Rory?” She wondered if she only imagined him.
“Dallis.”
“Are you real?”
“As real as you wish me to be.”
Dallis reached out to touch him. Her palm curved around his cheek feeling his warmth. He was real—and he hung from her window. How? She reached to pull him in and he lost his grasp, hanging on with one hand. The muscles in his arm bulged through his shirt as he gripped the sill. She cried his name in fear.
“Shh, love. Before you awaken your grandmother. I want to live.”
“But you are about to fall.”
“Stand back, honey,” he ordered, swinging his body. He pushed the window open further and tumbled inside. He made enough of a racket to wake the dead. Lucky for him, her grandmother was a sound sleeper. Dallis prayed that none of the servants saw Rory either. Or else her reputation would definitely be ruined and she would be sent home to wed a groom hand-picked by her father.
“You know, love, you are a sight for sore eyes. You are wearing exactly what I hoped you would be.”
“Do not call me your love, Rory Beckwith.”
“Ahh, but you are.”
“Are you drunk again?”
“Come here.” He laid on his back, smiling at her, and crooked his finger.
She shook her head and backed away.
“You need to leave right this instant.”
“After I get a kiss.”
“No! Now.”
Rory hooked his finger on the hem of her nightgown and tugged. Dallis lost her balance and fell right where he wanted her to—in his arms.
“Mmm, now this is better.”
“You, Rory Beckwith, are a scoundrel of the highest order.”
“I only want one kiss, Dallis.”
“Then after you get your kiss, you will want more. All the while, my reputation will be torn to tatters and where will you be? But absent as always.”
The tone of Dallis’s voice saddened as she reprimanded him. He hurt her deeply by staying away. Rory never meant her any harm. At first he thought she deserved better than him, after that it was one crisis after another which prevented him from courting her. Rory came tonight to declare his intentions and perhaps steal only a kiss or two. Maybe three, because she felt so delightful in his arms. All right, four, then he would leave.
However, after the fourth kiss, he didn’t stop. He lost count how many times he sampled her delicious lips. The kisses turned to soft caresses as he slid her nightgown up. Her body was softer than any silk. The aroma of strawberries inflamed his senses. He wanted more from Dallis. Rory wanted to strip her bare and lay with her as he kissed her everywhere. Long slow kisses that lasted a lifetime.
Dallis swore she wouldn’t let him anywhere near her again. But when she fell into his arms, it was as if she fell into home. His embrace gave her a sense of security. His kisses made her crave him. They set her on fire with a need for Rory to show her what happens when passion ignites. The cool breeze caressed her legs as he tugged the nightgown around her hips. Rory’s fingers stroked across her buttocks, pulling Dallis into his hardness, and she released a moan.
He pulled her core into him and rotated his hips. His cock was hard and aching to be inside her. Rory wanted to slide into her warmth and lose himself forever. When she moved her hips along with his, he almost spent himself. His Dallis was a fast learner. He couldn’t wait to teach her how wonderful they could be together. He rolled her over so that Dallis lay underneath him. Rory saw the desire shining from her eyes and knew Dallis wanted him too. When he slid his hand between her thighs she opened for him. Rory’s hand moved higher and his fingers sunk into her wetness, and her eyes darkened into a deep forest of green. As he slid inside her core, she closed her eyes and moaned with pleasure. This time he'd promised only one kiss, but his need to savor Dallis replaced all common sense.
Rory kissed a trail along her legs until he reached her wetness. He spread her thighs apart, dipping his head in for a nibble. Ahh, the temptation of strawberries whetted his appetite, his tongue sliding slowly across her wetness. Dallis moaned his name as he went in for another taste. Rory could no more stop at one kiss than he could stop breathing. His tongue stroked in and out of her wetness as his thumb flicked across her clit. He wanted Dallis to come undone under his mouth. He slid his tongue out and flicked it back and forth across her hard clit, coaxing her to lose control. Dallis’s body tensed underneath him.
Rory’s mouth did the most delicious acts. She never wanted him to stop and held back her screams as he pleasured her with his mouth. Her hips pressed against his mouth as he continued to drive her over the edge. Dallis held on, wanting Rory to ease her ache. And when he started to use his mouth and fingers on her wetness, she lost control. Dallis’s body flew over the edge, his kisses dominating her senses.
Rory caught Dallis as he brought her to her fullest pleasure. Dallis's body went soft in his arms. Her hair tumbled around them, the red strands dark alongside the white of his shirt. When she lifted her eyes to him, her real beauty blew him away.
“You are so beautiful, Dallis.”
She blushed, shaking her head in denial. Dallis knew she held no true beauty, not the kind that made men fall at her feet. But she felt special from Rory’s attentions—from his looks, to this touch, to the kisses he bestowed upon her body. How could she not feel beautiful when he worshipped her? She only hoped this latest episode wouldn’t result like the other ones. Dallis couldn’t take any more heartache.
“Do not hurt me anymore, Roderick Beckwith. I could not stand it, if you do.”
“Ah, love. Please allow me to explain.”
“No, I will not listen to your excuses. I only want you present. If you cannot be, then I will return to Scotland.”
“No!” His voice rose as he rolled her over again. “You are not leaving me.”
“Then give me a reason to stay.”
“Don’t cry, Dallis. I am a fool.”
Tears streamed down Dallis’s cheeks as he wiped his fingers across them. He leaned over and gently pressed a kiss on her lips.
“I love you, Dallis MacPherson.”
“How? You do not even know my character.”
“I know all that I need to, and I will learn the rest after we wed.”
“Wed? You cannot even court me properly,” Dallis scoffed.
“You want to be courted? I will show you courting, my lady.” He pulled Dallis up, sliding her nightgown back into place.
Rory stepped away from Dallis, causing a void. The loss would only be for a short time. He would give her a courtship to make her swoon.
“Well, consider this to be the first round of courting, my dear.”
“This is not appropriate courting, Lord Beckwith. This is your final chance to ruin me.”
“Ahh, Dallis that is not fair.”
“Humph. Good night, Lord Beckwith. I do not want to set eyes upon you unless it is proper.”
“How am I supposed to court you, when your grandmother has forbidden me to cross her doorstep?”
“You appear to be a clever fellow. I am sure you will think of something. Now leave.” Dallis pointed to the window.
“Ah, lass, you drive a hard bargain, but one I am game for.” He gave her a quick peck before he escaped out the window.
Dallis smiled, watching him disappear into the darkness. She'd only pretended to be disappointed with him, because she enjoyed it when he teased her. Her excitement grew, anticipating what he had planned for tomorrow. How would Rory convince Nanna to let him court her? Rory didn’t know that Dallis had warned Nanna off interfering.
Perhaps, Dallis should have Nanna make Rory fight to enter.