“I daenae ken what it is about ye, lass,” he breathed. “But I feel as though I am losin’ my mind.”
He pressed his lips to hers, firm and demanding, and Melody did her best to kiss him back. She was determined not to be paralyzed this time, to contribute. To that end, she lifted her arms, running her palms up the broad curve of his chest to his shoulders, then looping them around his neck. Men must enjoy being touched this way, must they not? She had felt as though she were on fire when he was close to her, so surely this…
“I daenae think so,” Callum barked, and abruptly grabbed her wrists. “Nay, lass, ye are bein’ punished.”
“Punished?” she squeaked.
“Aye. Ye said that I did nae want ye. That’s a serious insult, lass. So, ye must be punished.”
He leaned down, brushing his lips across hers. It was the faintest of touches, and when Melody tilted her chin to fit their lips more firmly together, he darted back, out of her reach. Chuckling at her frustration, he pinned her wrists down with one large hand and trailed the other down the curve of her plait.
“Ye daenae mind if I borrow this, do ye?” he enquired, tugging at the ribbon at the end of her plait. It came loose easily, and he immediately wound it around her wrists.
Melody could hardly breathe. Attacked by a combination of odd sensations—the grass blades tickling her skin, the cool ground against her back, and Callum’s heavy legs straddling her hips—she simply could not connect her thoughts with her lips. She could not have spoken, even if she tried.
Once her wrists were securely fastened, Callum glanced down at her, eyes narrowing.
“Are ye afraid? Do ye want me to stop?”
Melody’s eyes widened. Speech seemed impossible, but she could certainly shake her head. She shook it hard, indicating a firmno. A satisfied smile spread over Callum’s face.
He kissed her again, a little more gently this time, but in a more distracted way. One hand remained on her wrists, just above her head, keeping them in place. It was not a firm grip, but Melody did not think that she would be able to wriggle free if she tried.
His free hand curved around her cheek, one fingertip dancing over her skin. The delicate, prickling touch continued down the column of her throat, over the ridge of her collar.
For some reason, she had expected him to skip over her breasts. Instead, he placed his palm directly over her curves, applying theslightest pressure. Her breath hitched, and she felt Callum’s lips curve into a smile against hers.
“I had a feelin’ that would interest ye,” he murmured. “Perhaps now is nae the time, then.Later.”
Later? What a wonderful word! Suchpromise!
His hand slid lower, over her ribcage, and impatiently tugged at her skirt. Melody’s hands jerked to help him, but he chuckled aloud and held them in place. He tugged up her skirt, allowing cold air to touch her bare legs. She shivered, but the sensation of cold lasted for only a moment.
There was something hurried about his movements now. He turned his head, peering down at her lower half, and she was sure that his breath was coming harder than before. He ran a palm up the side of her thigh, nudging her legs apart, and briefly cupped the join of them, her core.
Melody closed her eyes, biting her lower lip to keep from gasping aloud. He touched her the same way he had before, with confident, slow strokes, growing in speed.
“I wish ye could see yerself as I do,” he grunted, a half-whisper that she was not entirely sure that she ought to hear. Then the sensations piled up again, more intensely than before, it seemed, and the same pleasure tightened her gut, spreading out from her core to her limbs like some kind of explosion.
She sucked in a breath once the peak was passed. Had she been holding her breath?
Callum removed his hand, glanced down at her, and thoughtfully placed two fingers in his mouth. Heat spread through Melody’s face.
“I… I…” she managed, breathless. Now was the time to say something meaningful, to offer… well, she was not sure what she ought to offer, but surely…
Before she could formulate words of any kind, Callum sat up, removing his hand from her wrists. He undid the ribbon’s loose knot and deftly returned it to the end of her loosening plait, tying it in a neat little knot.
“Another mistake, then?” Melody managed, gingerly propping herself up on shaking arms.
He gave a thoughtful smile. “I daenae believe I’ve ever wanted anythin’ the way I want ye.”
Her breath seemed to get caught in her throat.
“Come, lassie,” he turned back to her, extending a hand. “We have the council meetin’ tonight, remember? We had best head back in time for that.”
She gave up. Now wasn’t the time to press the matter further There was an inward-looking expression on his face whichhinted that she would get nowhere. Instead, she followed him meekly back to the horses on shaking legs, putting the beauty of the hidden clearing behind her.
24
