Callum shuts his eyes and sucks in a long, slow breath. Once he’s gathered himself, he looks back down at me. “Though it pains me, you speak truly as always.”
Sparks flash in his eyes.
“But as always”—smooth as a hawk with its prey, he snatches my hand and sweeps us into a run—“I ken better.”
By the time we reach the barn, we’re both laughing and tripping over each other. He swings me inside, and before I can blink, I’m pressed against the wall, and he’s kissing me. This kiss doesn’t ramp up slowly like our first one. This kiss is hard and deep, instantly shooting my pulse through the barn roof.
When he pulls away, he rests his forehead on mine as we both catch our breath.
“Wow,” I say.
“Indeed.” He gently sweeps strands of hair from my face, tucking them behind my ear. “I’ve had much time in which to consider that kiss. I dedicated my entire night to it.”
It reminds me—his night, of course. “You crazy boy. Did you get any sleep at all?That dagger. I love it.”
“Do you?” The smile he gives me is sweet, shy, and so unlike his usual cool, confident self. “I’d been working on the steel already. When you first arrived, I anticipated youmight have need of a wee blade. But the gorse, that took the night.”
“It was beautiful. The most beautiful, most perfect gift I’ve ever gotten.”
“’Twas nothing. I’ve known but one beautiful, perfect gift in my life.” He cups my face in his hands. “It cuts keener than any blade, I assure you.”
I open my mouth, but Callum has quite literally rendered me speechless.
“Beware, lass.” His thumb brushes my lower lip. “Close your mouth or I might kiss you again.”
“I might let you,” I whisper.
He tilts his head, eyes searching mine, serious and intent, as if awaiting permission for something greater than simply one more kiss.
He leans down, slowly this time, so slowly I’m desperate to close this space between us. But I’m even more desperate to see what he might do. He’s studying me so closely, his eyes devouring every inch of my face as he closes in, as if committing me to memory.
I feel more than hear his low groan as his lips finally touch mine. They’re so soft this time, barely grazing mine before pulling away to skim along my cheeks, up to my eyelids, to the tip of my nose. His kisses trail down my neck, and heat floods through me.My neck, oh, my neck—how did I not know every nerve in my body ended right there?
My fingers curl into his shirt, then find his shoulders, digging in. Control—the one thing I never lose—is ebbing away. I trust Callum, but letting go like this is terrifying. Thrilling.
I want more. But I’m afraid.
I must make some sound, because he lifts his head.Nuzzling into my hair, he asks, “Are you well, Rosie-love?” The words are the barest whisper of heat at my ear.
Just…wow, the ear.
“This is just…I’ve never…this is new to me.”
He murmurs something in Gaelic, switches to English. “Oh, mo chridhe. For me as well. It’s new, yet not.”
He draws back and presses a hand to his heart. “What’s in here—it feels ancient. Like it’s been hidden inside me forever, waiting for you to wake it.” His voice drops to a whisper. “Only you.” Then he laughs, sudden and bright, as he dips to kiss my neck. “And now you’re in for it, Rosie-love.”
I squirm, but he holds me fast, tickling and nipping until I’m giddy with laughter. I finally wriggle enough space to pant, “You are so dead.”
A slow clap echoes through the barn. “She speaks truly.”
I jolt, twisting toward the sound. Hamish leans lazily against a post, eyes gleaming in the dim light.
Instantly, Callum angles his body, placing himself between me and Hamish. But this battle is mine to share, so I step out and stand beside him instead. “You really need to stop sneaking up on people. How long have you been standing there anyway, perv?”
He bursts into laughter, spewing a cloud of rank alcohol breath right at us.
“Oh gross.” I wave a hand in front of my face. “You smell like frat boy piss.”
