“Is that not too heavy for the horse?”
“Nae on a short trip. Thunder’s strong. Ye should be more worried about yer own discomfort. Come, I’ll help ye get up. Here I thought ye were afraid of nothin’.”
He added that last part almost as a taunt. As expected, Melody’s eyes flared, and she lifted her chin.
“You’re right,” she muttered. “I can do this, I’m sure. I can… I can do this.”
Callum grunted in approval. He smoothed his hand along Thunder’s flank, just to reassure the horse that they were there. Then he hauled himself neatly into the saddle, settling in properly. He caught Melody staring up at him with a strange expression in her eyes. It was gone before he could properly identify it, and she offered a weak smile in response.
“Are you sure I can’t walk?”
“Entirely sure,” he responded shortly. “Give me yer hand. I’ll pull ye up.”
“Don’t I have to pull myself up, like you did?”
“Ye could,” he acknowledged. “But this will be easier.”
“What will be eas…. Oh!”
Grabbing her arm by the elbow, he hauled her up off her feet, just enough to wind his arm around her waist. From there, it was easy enough to lift her up in front of the saddle, where she could perch uncomfortably until they reached home and safety.
“There,” Callum said. “Nay harm done. See, ye can even sit sidesaddle if ye like.”
“It’s uncomfortable.”
“Aye, it will be. Saddles are made for one.”
He reached around her for the reins, but as soon as he took his arms away, she wobbled. Sighing, Callum wrapped one arm around her waist. He would have to steady her all the way home. Clicking his tongue and clutching the reins with his free hand, he urged Thunder on.
Patient and cool as always, the horse began to plod forward. Melody gave another gasp and bumped backward, resting against him.
At once, Callum understood what a mistake he’d made. Unused to riding and uncomfortable in the saddle, Melody reached for whatever she could to steady herself, and that just so happened to be him. She clutched his forearm with both hands, her cold fingers squeezing tight. Worst of all, because she leaned back against him, the curve of her back fitted neatly against his chest, her backside on his hips. The rolling, rocking movement of the horse pushed them against each other. A familiar heat rose in Callum’s chest.
Oh, nay, nay,he groaned internally. Ye must be jokin’. Nae now!
Her hair, inches from his face, smelled of bonfire smoke and crushed grass. It was tempting to lean forward and nudge his nose into her tangled locks. He could feel the warmth of her skin underneath her dress, her ribs curving beneath his palm.
Ye are in a prison of yer own makin’,lad, he told himself mournfully.Ye could have both walked alongside the horse, could ye nae?
It was too late now. He could hardly stop the horse and insist they get off. It would look odd, and what if she noticed any…physicalsigns of his arousal? For now, the bunched material of his kilt and her dress formed a protective layer between them.
She leaned back without warning, tipping her head so that the back of it almost rested on his shoulder, and gave a low, breathy sigh of pleasure that he had a feeling would haunt his dreams for a while.
“Oh, look at those stars! In London, it’s getting hard to see them in places. Aren’t they beautiful? Look at them, Callum.”
“I’d rather keep me eyes on the road,” he responded testily.And me mind on gettin’ us back to the keep in one piece, and nae on more…intimate concerns.
“I’m sorry to distract you. What was it you wanted to talk to me about, anyway? You said that it was important.”
Of course, she wanted to talk at a time like this. Ofcourse. Callum clenched his teeth and tried to think of cold things, or things likely to cool his desire. He imagined an ice-cold pool, or falling from the keep walls, or Lucas.
That helped a little, allowing him to breathe a little more easily. Some blood was freed up from his groin and went back to his head.
“I wanted to ask ye if ye were afraid of me,” he answered heavily. “It seems like somethin’ we should discuss, considerin’ that there is apossibilitythat our betrothal will end in marriage. Nae that I’m promisin’. I’ve made nay decisions.”
She twisted as if to look back at him, wobbled, and thought better of it, settling down again to stare ahead between Thunder’s ears.
“I see,” she responded thoughtfully. “That is a strange question, don’t you think?”
