“I have sent for some; it should be here soon.” The corner of her mouth twitched into an uncertain smile.
Callum nodded. “Ye should take more breaks. I cannae use ye as a bride if ye are worn down to the bone.”
Eleanor suddenly began to laugh, shaking her head as she glanced at him.
“Why are ye cacklin’?” He grew slightly annoyed, not understanding the amusement she was seeing.
She let out a heavy sigh as if the moment of respite had relieved some of her strain. “Ye are a wonder, Callum Fraser.”
He cocked his head to the side and faced her, leaning one hand on the map beside the pins and neatly aligned ink stars. “Why do I think ye didnae mean that as a compliment?”
Her laughter echoed through the study this time, making something stir beneath his ribs. “I am nae a monster, ye can stop for tea.” He tried to explain, still not understanding why she was laughing.
Finally catching her breath, she turned to him with a rare smile. “I didnae say ye were a monster, Callum. I just daenae ken what to expect from ye all the time. Ye blow colder than the wind in a storm, then ye ask me if I had tea.” She continued to shake her head in agreement.
Callum bristled a little as he came up straight. “I am nae cold, lass, I can keep ye quite warm if ye ask.”
Her face fell instantly as she opened her mouth, her cheeks filling with color.
That is more like it.
He smirked at her as he took a step toward her and trailed his hand along the map until he stopped. “Are ye nae scared of me, lass?” He began to enjoy the look of uncertainty in her eyes.
“I…” she stammered as he drew closer to her, towering above her like a pillar.
His hand itched to touch her, but he kept it placed firmly on the map. “I told ye before, lass, and I will tell ye again, if ye ever need anythin’ from me, ye need only ask.” His eyes dropped to her lips again, but swooped lower this time as he took in the swelling of her perfect breasts.
The milky flesh drew him in, beckoning him to act upon his desire to draw his tongue over the mounds and explore the clefts. But instead, he tore his gaze away and drew his eyes up her slender neck until he was looking into her eyes again. “And that includes bitin’ or keepin’ ye warm.” He drew out the last word in a drawl and smirked at her.
The look in her eyes was anything but defiant as her lips remained parted in a silent gasp.
Does she want me to kiss her?
Heat flooded his body, pooling in the pit of his stomach before moving to his loins with a rush. He would have given anything to kiss that neck and run his tongue over the dip at the base of her throat. He leaned in a little closer, releasing a deep growl from his throat as he tightened his fingers into a fist.
“Callum…” she began, but paused when she accidentally placed her hand on top of his.
Feeling his breath catch in his chest, Callum looked down, noting the softness of her skin on the roughness of his hand. She had small, delicate hands that would have gotten lost in his if he ever wrapped his fingers around hers. The warmth of her handcontinued to seep into his skin until it forced him to look up again.
What he saw in her eyes made his heart still as he began to regret his actions.
She is yearnin’ for touch.
Possibly not even his, but any kind of human contact that would replace the yearning that she more than likely felt for her family. It was not a yearning that he allowed himself to feel, not ever since his mother had died.
He had been quite young back then, but he could still recall the stillness in the house after his mother and sister had died. It had been a stillbirth, but it was almost as if the house itself had stopped breathing for that one moment in time. It was then that his father taught him the most valuable lesson he had ever learned. Never show weakness.
Callum could still recall how his father had shut down and carried on as if nothing had happened. Had he become just as cold and distant as his father? Unable to show even the smallest amount of affection to those who need it?
Do I really want to be like me father?
The center of his palm twitched as he began to turn over his hand.
“Here is yer tea, Mistress!” Marion came waltzing into the study, utterly oblivious to what was happening.
“Marion!” Eleanor exclaimed before swiftly removing her hand from his and heading toward the main study desk. “Allow me to just make some space for ye.”
The maid seemed almost startled as she took a step back. “Are ye feelin’ ill, Mistress?” She narrowed her eyes, not seeming to notice Callum at all.
