Page 64 of The Ruthless Laird's Virgin
Feeling her breath catch in her throat for the briefest of seconds, she hesitated before answering. “Aye, thanks to Bran.” She forced a teasing smile and looked up into his eyes.
These eyes.
She could still recall the first time she had seen them beside the road. Things had been so different back then; it felt like a lifetime since she stumbled across him. His eyes were darker now, deeper than a coal mine and far more soulful now that she knew who he was.
Cupping her chin in the familiar gesture that made the pit of her stomach knot, Callum lifted her face toward his. “Ye foundsomethin’ and ran away from the meetin’ to yer death?” He practically growled the words, making Eleanor uncertain if he was relieved or angry.
She nodded again through a sharp breath. “Aye, Donald Stewart is the man named in all of me brothers’ letters. I didnae tell ye before, but I brought all of those letters with me. There has to be somethin’ that we are nae seein’. I just ken it.”
Callum’s brows knit together in a frown as he stared down at her. “I have checked, and I daenae ken any man by that name. None of the clans near ours, or even our enemies carry that name. We are at war, ye ken?” His voice held little to no reproach this time, only concern, and the realization sent a shiver down her spine.
His thumb drew a line over her chin and down her neck as his other hand sought her waist, gently kneading her flesh through the fabric of her dress.
A silent gasp escaped her lips when he pulled her closer, almost pressing her body into his. His gaze claimed hers, silent and demanding as she lifted her hands and hovered with her fingertips just above his chest.
Her chest suddenly clenched with indecision as she lowered her hands. Torn between loyalty to her brother and the pull of the man she desired, she let out a breath. “I chose to live here, only to help Andrew at yer request,” she reminded him quietly, torn between her duty and the aching deep within her.
His lips twitched at the corners, adding even more uncertainty as he almost smirked. “Aye, but ye are here as me decoy lass. I cannae let ye go, nae when we are so close, and yer presence serves a purpose. I promised ye that I would offer ye protection.”
Is that the only reason?
“Aye, ye promised to protect me, but it was Bran who did yer job. And here I thought ye cared,” she half-heartedly teased him, feeling her resistance thin with every passing moment.
Her heart pounded furiously in her chest as she stayed pressed against him. Had he truly not grown to care for her more than her place as a decoy? She felt her pulse fluttering again as his smirk widened into a smile.
“I do care, lass, why do ye think I was at yer side before anyone else?” His smirk suddenly faded as he looked into her eyes and once again tilted her chin toward his. “How is yer arm?” His voice was deep and low, lower than she had ever heard it before.
“It is…” she managed to breathe before getting out the words when his lips came down on hers. The kiss was soft and gentle at first, a mere brushing in passing as it had been in the stables. The softness, however, was short-lived as he dropped both of his hands to her waist, caressing her hips as his tongue sought hers.
Giving in to temptation, Eleanor opened her mouth, allowing Callum to explore the warm depths. Their tongues jousted together as she moved against him, feeling his body hard and warm against hers.
Callum groaned deeply, pulling her against him until her legs were almost parting.
Gasps of pleasure filled the air when she leaned her head back, allowing him to kiss a path down her neck. “Callum,” she whispered his name as his hands moved up her sides, stopping just short of her breasts as his thumbs gently teased the underside of the ample mounds.
I want him to touch me.
All thought, along with the remnants of her final reservations, flew out the window as she gave herself over to the pleasure of his hands cupping her breasts. His thumbs teased her nipples through the corset, creating new sensations that drove her wild. Her breath began to come in short bursts as he kissed over her chest, licking and nipping at the delicate flesh.
The pit of her stomach coiled deliciously when his hands moved from her breasts to her hips, pulling her against him as the evidence of his desires pushed into her thigh.
“Callum, I want ye,” she breathed.
Lifting her up in his arms, he turned her around and placed her on the bed, hovering above her as he lifted her skirts. “Tell me how it feels?” he growled before moving his hand up her skirt and kneading the delicate flesh between her thighs.
“It feels…” she gasped for breath as his fingers moved to her core. “It feels wonderful!” He suddenly began to move in circles over the little bud of pleasure at her apex.
A warm sensation of ecstasy moved up her thighs and coiled in her core, creating a sensational warmth that was hard to ignore.
“Do ye like that?” He teased her with his thumb, moving faster and slower at regular intervals.
“I…” she gasped again, arching her back this time when he picked up the pace. Opening her eyes, she saw him staring down at her with a wild look in his eyes.
I want more.
She almost gasped out loud, but moaned instead as she shut her eyes and propped herself up on her elbows.
The sensations ended all too quickly as he removed his hand, forcing her eyes open with cool disappointment.
