Melody curled her fingers into fists. She longed to lean forward and pushherface intohis, to show that she wasn’t afraid, but if she did that, they would be all but kissing.
No! Don’t think of kissing, you fool!
“I am nae yours,” she managed at last.
He snorted. “Nay? Well, mebetrothed, then.”
“That’s alittlebetter. And as for embarrassing you, well, I only spoke the truth. If anything,youare the one who embarrassed me, dragging me out of the Hall as if I were a naughty child.”
“If ye daenae wish to be treated like a naughty child, then daenae act like one.”
Now it was her turn to growl in frustration. “You are not serious.”
“Oh, I’m deadly serious, lass. While ye are in me keep, under me rule, ye will behave. Ye will do as I say. Oh, and one more thing—try and avoid laughin’ with other men, will ye? It’s nae becomin’ of Laird MacDean’s bride.”
Oh, he was insufferable. Melody bit her lower lip hard enough to taste copper and leaned forwardjusta few inches so that the tips of their noses brushed before he moved back. She felt his breath, warm and tickling, drift over her chin.
“Well, who else am I to laugh with, if Laird MacDean refuses to even smile?”
He stared back at her, face unmoving, for a long moment. Then, quick as a flash, his hand shot forward, fingers curling around her chin. She gave a squeak of alarm, finding that she could not easily jerk her face away. His grip was not bruising, but itwasfirm.
“Daenae toy with me, lassie,” he breathed. His eyes were very wide and dark in the gloom. His fingers were cool, and when he parted his lips, the tip of his tongue flicked out, diving into the corner of his mouth and then retreating again. Melody found herself tracing the movement, transfixed.
He’s going to kiss me, she thought wildly. Why else would he bring his face so close to mine?
She could not manage a snappy retort of any kind, and indeed only gave a faint, breathy sort of squeak.
What will I do if he kisses me?
A respectable lady, of course, would pull back atonce. She would retreat from the situation and probably tell her mama or papa, even if itwasher betrothed.
But perhaps a respectable lady would not feel a rhythm, hot pulsing ofwantin her chest, curling downward from around her heart right to the meeting of her thighs, a powerful tug that made her shiver and swallow hard.
No, that was not a feeling that any Proper London Lady would encounter.
Callum’s gaze sharpened, darkening. His fingers shifted on her chin.
And then there was a burst of stifled laughter in the distance, and the sound of approaching footsteps.
At once, Callum released her and stepped back, putting space between them. Melody let out a ragged gasp, suddenly aware that she’d been holding her breath altogether.
“Go to yer room,” Callum ordered shortly. Without waiting for her reply, he turned on his heel and strode back through the narrow doorway, leaving her alone in the corridor.
10
The midpoint of Callum’s shoulders itched, as if somebody was staring at him so intently it made him flinch. He longed to turn around, to look back at her, but forced himself to stay straight-backed and rigid. The door slammed shut behind him. He imagined the tapestry flapping back into place.
Melody did not come after him, which doubtless meant that she’d chosen the wiser path of obeying him. He was glad about that, or so he told himself. Having her here was… it was a distraction. She spoke without thinking, asked too many questions, and her presence seemed tocomplicatethings, even without her uttering a word.
Yes, it was better that she wasn’t here. He didn’twanther to be here.
Neatly sidestepping a pair of nervy-looking ambassadors for two separate clans, Callum strode straight to the drinks table.
“Whisky, double,” he ordered sharply. The servant in charge of the table mutely poured the drink, then watched in sharp horror as Callum drank it down in one long gulp.
“Another,” he demanded, setting down the glass with a clack.
“Steady on, man,” murmured a familiar voice. Callum gave a quick glance at the man standing beside him and gestured for the servant to pour the drink.
