Melody licked her lips, swallowing hard. She was suddenly afraid that he’d move back, and that idea seemed extremely,extremelybad.
“W-What?” she ventured. “What do I make you want to do?”
“Ye make me want to live,” he breathed. With his back blocking out the light of the room—it was only the fire casting light through the space, in any case—she could not read his expression. His eyes were dark. “Ye make me want to dothis.”
Before she could respond—not that Melody would have trusted herself to venture a word at that moment—he leaned forward and kissed her again. It was a rough, almost fervent kiss, one that sent tingles right down to her toes. Hands skimmed up her ribcage, and she was suddenly reminded of sitting on the front of Thunder’s saddle, jogging up and down uncomfortably, with Callum’s warm hand curled around her side.
Fingertips brushed the underside of her breast, and she gave a startled gasp. It felt strange to be touched there, even fleetingly.
Not the bad sort of strange.
Callum gave a low chuckle, breaking the kiss. He pressed his lips against the front of her throat, a tickling sensation that spiked the warmth in her chest. Then, quite abruptly, he sank to his knees in front of her.
Melody wobbled a little at the lack of support, and he lifted his left hand, curling around her hip and holding her in place.
“What… what are you doing?” she whispered. Her voice cracked.
“Ye will see,” he breathed. She still could not read his face correctly, no matter how she strained her eyes in the flickering firelight.
His right hand slid down from her other hip, pressing against her thigh. She could barely feel anything but pressure beneath the layers of fabric. It was a fleeting touch, and his hand quickly fell away. She heard rustling, and then warm fingers ghosted against her calf.
Melody licked her lips. They had suddenly gone very dry. She wished she had some of that wine.
Fingers danced upward, over her stockings, up and up. She pressed the backs of her shoulders against the wall whenhe touched bare skin. His warm palm pressed against her thigh, just above her knee, and Melody could have sworn that goosebumps broke out in the wake of his touch.
Surely he’s not going to…the thought dissipated into nothing when he reached the top of her inner thigh. With a slow, teasing movement, he dragged one forefinger along the join of her legs. Her world narrowed to the simple movement and the chaotic sensation it provoked. She let out a shuddering gasp, and he grinned. It was a wide, glittering grin, and Melody thought hazily that he had never looked as wolfish as he did at that moment.
He repeated the movement, slowly at first, then faster and with greater pressure. There was nothing, nothing at all that Melody had ever experienced which could be likened to it. The first shuddering gasp that broke the silence of the room made her flinch, and it was a little shocking to realize that it washer.
She reached down, seeking something to steady herself, and found her hand resting against Callum’s forearm, his hand still gripping her hip. He glanced up at her, eyes alight, and grinned again.
His hand worked furiously between her legs, sliding and pushing with an expert touch that she had never even considered could exist before. Slick sounds filled the room, mingled with her own rough gasps. He gave a low, amused grunt in his throat and leaned forward, pushing her further back. She had no idea what he meant to do, not until his lips grazed the side of her thigh.
She twitched, stiffening further. He let his fingers keep working and placed his mouththere. Juddering warmth spread through her, increasing with every movement of his lips and fingers. She closed her eyes, screwing them up until she saw lights inside her lids.
Pleasure built up inside her, the pressure increasing until Melody threw back her head—knocking the back of her skull on the stone wall as she did so—and let out a stifled cry. She had a vague vision of falling from somewhere high before her climax struck her, making her legs shiver.
For a moment, they stayed as they were, with Callum kneeling in front of her, one hand on her hip and the other buried under her skirts. He was breathing heavily, too, she noticed.
He moved back gradually, eyes fixed on her face, and withdrew his hand from beneath her skirt. A knuckle brushed against her leg as he did so, making her shiver. She swallowed hard, trying to work moisture into her mouth and words into her head. She should say something, shouldn’t she?Anything.
“That…I have never felt anything like that. I…rather liked it,” she said blushing. “Should I…ehm…I want to…do the same for you. What was it, anyway?” She asked, breathless, and sure that she was bright red by now.
“That,” Callum said at last, his voice heavy and scratchy, “was a mistake, lass.”
20
It was like having a bucket of cold water dumped over one’s head, Melody reflected. She swallowed hard, trying to steady herself. Her legs refused to stay still, and she was terrified her knees would jackknife without warning, folding up and depositing her unceremoniously on the floor.
“What?” she quavered at last. “Why was it a mistake?”
Callum rose to his feet, backing away from her. Raking a hand through his hair, he turned away before she could get a good look at his face. It would be sensible to walk forward, probably, to touch his arm. Tosay something.
But Melody could not quite make herself move forward or suggest any of this. Instead, she stayed where she was, pressed against the wall, the last thrums of pleasure just starting to fade away.
“What have I done?” Callum whispered, so quietly she barely heard it. It was probably not a comment meant for her to hear.
Abruptly, he turned back to face her. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected to see on his face. Anger, perhaps, or shame.
