Hero: Malcolm Mackenzie. Youngest of five brothers. Wild, unruly highlander with a heart of gold. I adore him.

Heroine: Lady Marry Lennox. Bethrothed to someone else, but can’t keep her eyes off of Malcolm. He woos and courts her until he wins her heart.

“Am I hurting you?” she asked, worried. Malcolm raised his head, his face more relaxed that she’d ever seen it, even in sleep.

“I’m fine, lass.” He closed his large hand around her small one where she gripped him. “You keep doing that. Doesn’t bother me at all.”

The fact that he reacted to what Mary did pleased her. A warm throb began between Mary’s legs, beating in exact time with her heart.

She squeezed him again, liking his smooth, taut skin.

She’d have gone on simply gripping him, but he moved her hand gently with his, showing her how to draw it to the tip and then back down to the base. Another soft groan escaped Mal’s lips, and then he pulled his hand away, letting her play with him on her own.

Mary licked Mal’s shoulder again as she copied the movements he’d showed her, taking her hand to the blunt tip and then back down the shaft. Her fingertips brushed tight balllike projections, and Mary explored those too. Malcolm went back to supporting his forehead with his hand, his hips moving a little as Mary touched him.

The warm quiet rendered what Mary did even more exhilarating. Malcolm made little noise, except the occasional soft moan, punctuated by ripples of water.

Mary nibbled his shoulder, enjoying his salty taste. Her nibbles turned to little bites, which made him make a raw noise in his throat. Mary lifted her head, observed the small red mark she’d left on his skin, then closed her mouth over it and sucked.

Malcolm rose out of the tub like a whale coming to the surface, water sloshing everywhere.

Mary found herself being rolled backward, but Malcolm caught her in his strong arms. Mary’s laughter grew muffled as he kissed her, then they landed on the floor on the soft and now soggy oriental carpet. Mal’s hair dripped water to her face like tears, which he wiped away.

“Mary.” He nuzzled her then kissed where he’d nuzzled. “Ye don’t understand how passionate ye are, do you?”

“Is this passion?” Mary asked, her mind happily hazy in this not-world. “I believe I like it.”

Malcolm’s laughter was low. “Ye warm me heart, lass. I’ll never tire of it.”

Book 8 (all stand alones) in the Mackenzie series, Jennifer Ashley takes us back to 1745 and introduces us to Malcolm and his four brothers. A really fun book. Releases Tuesday. Goodreads l Kindle l Jennifer Ashley Reviews