“There’s that fire,” he murmured, almost to himself. “I have to admit, I admire that in ye. I daenae often see it, though.”
She flushed. “I spoke thoughtlessly. Do forgive me.”
“Forgive ye? I willnae.” He straightened up from the desk, prowling toward her. Melody had a mad image of herself darting away, running around the desk with him in pursuit. It was a nonsensical idea, almost comical.
In reality, of course, she did not dash away. She merely stood where she was, heart beating in her mouth, and watched him approach.
“In fact, I think ye should be punished, Melody. There—I said yer name. How does it feel?” Callum murmured, his voice a deep drag in his throat.
How did it feel? It felt strange. Hearing her own name drawled across his lips sent a tingle of awareness down her spine. The bubbling ache in her chest was back. Her guts clenched as if she were facing something terrifying but thrilling, like jumping off a high building into water.
What a strange idea. Where did that come from, I wonder?
He was close enough to touch her, now. Callum reached forward, almost carelessly, and seized her chin. His fingers were warm, and he tilted up her face a little more, the knuckle of his forefinger directly under the pointed bone of her chin.
“Melody,” he whispered again, rolling her name over his tongue like a marble. The pad of his thumb brushed across her lower lip, and almost without thinking, Melody’s tongue came out, chasing its path.
Heat flared in Callum’s eyes, so intense and so unmistakable that her knees almost sagged. His grip tightened, and he lunged forward, fitting his lips to hers. It was a harsh kiss, almost bruising. She tasted mint, tastedale, and a strange saltness that made her shiver. The tip of something hot and heavy ghosted across the join of her lips. Was that his tongue?
An arm wrapped around her waist, firm enough to lift her off her feet. Melody gave a strangled squeak and reached up to wrap her arms around his neck. The ache in her chest exploded into a red-hot pulse, thrumming through her body.
Is this what desire feels like?
She knew the answer to her question almost as soon as she thought of it.
The room spun, and Callum lifted her up into his arms, as easily as if she weighed nothing. She landed with athumpon the desk, firm enough to knock the breath out of her body. While she was gasping, his lips fit against the side of her neck, just beneath her jaw. There was something strange about that place, something that sent joyful pleasure flooding through her. His warm palm ghosted along her side.
Touch me,Melody thought giddily, her heart thumping so hard she could hear its roar in her ears.Touch meproperly.
She had a vague idea that if she wanted such a thing, if she wanted anything, she had only to ask. The edge of Callum’s teeth slid along the skin, firm enough to prick but not to wound, and she let out a shuddering gasp.
And then, quite clearly, she heard the key click in the lock.
13
Callum jerked back from her as if he’d been burned, spinning around to face the door.
Sophie stood in the doorway. Ofcourse,it was Sophie. She stared at them both in turn, her jaw hanging slightly slack.
To her own amazement, Melody found her voice first.
“Well, don’t look so surprised,” she managed. “Was this not the reason you locked us in here?”
Sophie made a startled choking sound. Callum strode toward her, eyes blazing.
“I have told ye a thousand times, Grandmother, stay out of me life,” he growled. “Ye cannae do this!”
“I have done it because I guessed that ye were nae serious,” Sophie managed at last. “Do ye think I’m a fool, Callum? This is a pretend betrothal to get the council off yer back.”
“And ye would like it to be real, would ye?”
“Aye, I would! And now that ye have kissed her, kissed a delicate English lady with such a fragile reputation, ye willhaveto marry her.”
There was a triumphant edge in Sophie’s voice now. She shot Melody a grin over Callum’s shoulder. Melody did not dare return it. Instead, she inched forward, sliding off the desk and feeling somewhat foolish.
How could I have been such a fool?
“The time for games is over,” Sophie continued, lifting her chin. “Ye have to marry her, Callum. If ye daenae, it will be an insult to her sister’s husband and the MacLeon clan. Ye cannae risk war with them.”
