This is dangerous.
She should push him away.She should tell him to back off.She should remember every reason this is a bad idea, this man, this castle, this moment.
Instead, she tilts her chin up and meets his gaze.
“You don’t know what I need,” she says, her breath whispery soft.
Callum’s voice drops.“I know what you’re afraid of.”
That does it.
The control snaps.
Isla surges forward and her lips land on his.They’re soft, and warm, and oh God, tremors rack her body.It’s been so long.
The kiss is not gentle.It’s not careful.It’s a collision, her mouth crashing into his, her hands fisting his shirt as if she’s anchoring herself to something solid.For one heartbeat, Callum is stunned.
Then he kisses her back.
Not with restraint.
With heat.
His hands slide to her waist, firm and grounding, holding her like he understands exactly what this is, not romance, not comfort, butrelease.The kiss deepens, urgent and raw, tasting of anger and want and something dangerously close to hope.
Isla gasps against his mouth, the sound half-sob, half-laugh.
She pulls back abruptly, breathless, eyes wide.
“No,” she says, shaking her head.“No, that was?—”
He pulls her to him tightly, his mouth covering hers, and for a second, she relaxes against him.The feel of him hot against her has a moan escaping from her throat.
She pulls away.“We can’t.”
Callum stills instantly, hands dropping.“Isla?—”
“That can’t happen,” she says, pressing her fingers to her lips as if she can erase the feeling.“I don’t do this.I don’t lose focus.”
“You weren’t losing it,” Callum says softly.“You were breaking.”
That terrifies her more than the kiss.
Isla turns away, heart pounding, and yanks open the next drawer.
“This means nothing,” she says fiercely.“Nothing.”
Callum doesn’t argue, but he reaches out and rubs his hand down her back as if to reassure her.
He says quietly, “Keep looking.”
She does.
And this time, this time, the evidence finally appears.
Chapter13
The castle sleeps like a liar.
