They rode a good distance before Duncan began to slow. Despite the jarring ride and her own curiosity, Iliana had nearly dozed off when they finally broke from the trees into a clearing. It was the horse being drawn to an abrupt halt that caught her drifting attention and made her gaze sleepily around as Duncan slipped from the animal. She was yawning indelicately as she took in the beauty of the spot when she felt his hands at her waist. He plucked her from the horse, allowing her body to slide down his until their faces were on a level. Iliana immediately tried to cut off the yawn that had her mouth wide open, but was too slow. Her husband, taking advantage of this sign of exhaustion, covered her mouth with his own, his tongue sliding past her lips, and delving inside.

Weariness dropping away, Iliana quickly joined in the mating of their mouths, only to moan with disappointment when he drew his lips away.

“Da is mad at me because he kens why I brought ye here.”

Iliana opened her eyes slowly at his amused words, confusion plain on her face.

“Why did you bring me here?”

“To make ye scream. With pleasure.”

She blinked at that announcement, her weary mind slow to grasp his meaning until his hands rose from her waist to cup her breasts.

“I’ve a mind to taste me wife’s passion again,” he murmured, squeezing the round orbs he held before running his thumbs over the suddenly erect nipples that were pressing against the restraining material of her clothing.

Iliana stared down at the hands gently kneading her and swallowed. “Here, my lord? Out in the open?” she asked thickly.

“Here,” he agreed.

“But what if someone should come along and—”

“But nothing,” he murmured, pausing to kiss her again when she raised her head. Releasing her lips a moment later, he brushed his mouth along her cheek to her ear. “Nothing on God’s green earth could stop me from—”

When he stiffened suddenly, Iliana went still as well, then gasped in surprise when he suddenly dropped one hand to cup her womanhood through her gown.

The ungiving hardness of thick leather and its metal lock that had met his touch repeatedly until the day before were blessedly absent and Duncan relaxed, a wry smile curving his lips as he admitted, “Well, almost nothing.”