Growling, he tossed his head, his black mane spilling like dark silk over her skin. “Och, nay, lass, I doona think so. A bath will hasten your recovery.” He prodded her in the thigh, hard and ready. Did the man never tire? she wondered blissfully.

Despite her extreme soreness, desire flared, hot and greedy, stirring all those battered nerve endings to life. He made her feel insatiable. Having sex with him made a woman feel like she was doing something forbidden somehow, and she could get downright obsessed with it. Though she felt bruised and tender, if they had the time, she’d be all over him, or rather, he’d be all over her, for he certainly liked the dominant position. “You heard Nell. We’re not getting a bath. Silvan wants us.” Chloe felt a sudden flush of embarrassment. She’d slept with Silvan’s son in Silvan’s castle. Though she hadn’t felt awkward about it with Nell at the door, for some reason she felt uneasy about it when she thought about Silvan, perhaps because he was of her grandda’s age.

“Doona worry, lass,” he reassured her, guessing at her thoughts from her expression. “Silvan saw us come in last eve. He’ll no’ think less of you. Verily, he’ll be delighted. I’ve no’ had a lass in my chamber before.”

“Really?” she asked a bit breathlessly. When he nodded, Chloe smiled radiantly: At least here in his bedroom, she was the only one. Though not what she’d prefer (like a declaration of undying love or a request that she have his babies), it was something. Then her eyes narrowed. The sun was spilling in the window behind her and Dageus’s eyes were golden, dappled with darker flecks. Smoky and sensual, fringed by thick dark lashes, but gold nonetheless. “What is with your eyes?” she exclaimed. “Is it part of being a Druid?”

“What color are they?” he asked warily.

“Gold.”

He flashed her another unguarded smile. It was like basking in the sun, she thought, tracing her fingers over his beard-shadowed jaw, smiling helplessly back.

He prodded her again. “You’re good for me, lass. Now get off your back woman, lest I start something you refuse to let me finish.” He sat up, bringing her with him, kissing her, nipping at her lower lip. The kiss turned heated and fierce while he was trying to stand and they fell out of bed, so she landed on the floor atop him. He promptly rolled her beneath him and kissed her till she was gasping for breath.

He gave her a cocky smile a few moments later as he helped her to her feet. “I’ll wager you won’t be sore long,” he purred.

Definitely not, she thought, damn the teasing, torturing man! Muscles in the inner parts of her thighs she’d not known she had, protested when she tried to walk. And still, she wanted more.