Page 48 of Laird of Wrath

As always, she melted in his arms, letting go of everything else just so she could be in the moment with him. She surrendered to his touch, letting him pull her closer, wrap his arms around her, and hold her flush against him.

His closeness had always been enough to drive her crazy, but now she needed him more than she ever had, and she couldn’t help but curse herself for asking him for a month of courtship. As his fingers traced a gentle path down her arm, stroking her skin almost absent-mindedly, all she could think about was finally letting him claim her.

But she couldn’t ask for that. She had made herself a promise: one month for them to get to know each other. She had to remind herself that, for she hardly knew him.

His lips were like twin flames as they kissed a path down her jaw, her neck, leaving a trail of heat behind. She let her head fall back with a sigh, her eyes fluttering shut once more as she lost herself to the pleasure. His hands seemed to be everywhere—on her shoulders, down her arms, on the swell of her breasts—making her gasp for air.

He had touched her like this once before, when he had just returned from war. That time, Rhea had put an end to it, but now she didn’t want him to stop.

And she made sure to let him know.

“Daenae stop,” she begged.

Callum let out a low growl as his hands closed tightly around her waist, laying her down on his cloak. “Are ye certain?” he asked.

“I… I…”

Rhea didn’t know what she wanted, but he was quick to hush her with a kiss.

“I willnae claim ye,” he said. “Nae yet. Nae until ye’re certain.”

Rhea would be lying if she said she didn’t feel a pang of disappointment at that.

“But that doesnae mean I cannae pleasure ye,” Callum added.

Now she couldn’t help but frown, confused.

“Relax.”

The moment he said that, she tensed up, but he was patient with her. He kissed her lips, her cheeks, the crook of her elbows, peppering kisses everywhere he could reach until she finally began to relax, her body going limp.

Only then did he claim her lips once more, before kissing a trail down her neck all the way to the neckline of her dress, which he promptly grabbed and all but tore off her, pushing down the fabric until her breasts were bare.

Rhea gasped, half in surprise and half in embarrassment, her cheeks burning. Although Callum’s reaction was enough to replace her embarrassment with need.

He groaned, his palms coming up to cup her breasts. His hands were huge, big enough to encompass her entirely, and she couldn’t help but arch into his touch, her back bowing off the cloak.

When he lowered his lips to her breasts, sucking on her sensitive nipples, she was gone entirely. This was more pleasure thanshe had ever experienced, every sensation—from his hands on her hips, his lips around her nipples, his beard against her skin—seemingly amplified. Soft sounds escaped her throat; she couldn’t help it. Every touch, every brush of his lips, every swipe of his tongue felt too good.

Ever so slowly, Callum moved lower and lower, raising her skirts at the same time. She pushed herself up on her forearms, watching him, apprehension and need warring inside her.

What is he doin’?

Rhea didn’t dare ask. She only watched as he looked up at her, and she could have sworn that for a moment, a smirk curved his lips. And then his head disappeared between her legs, and his lips found her core, sucking on her sensitive flesh.

She let out an unbridled moan, her head falling back as her eyes snapped shut. Suddenly, the sensations, which were unlike anything she had ever experienced before, were too much and not enough all at once. Every slide of Callum’s tongue over her folds, every drag of it over that sensitive nub at the top of her slit, had her writhing in pleasure and rocking her hips, seeking more.

But Callum wouldn’t have it. His hands found her hips, and he held her down as he pleasured her, making her take everything he was giving her.

Pressure built in her core as he teased her. But when he focused on the spot that had her seeing stars, flicking his tongue over hersensitive nub over and over, it was only a matter of time before pleasure crashed over her.

She screamed his name, her voice echoing in the air around them as he worked her through the aftershocks, lapping at her until she finally went limp. Only then did he stop, pulling down her skirts until she was fully covered and tucking her breasts gently back in her dress. He gathered her in his arms, his fingers threading gently through her hair as she came back down from her high.

They were both quiet after that, simply enjoying each other’s company. Rhea wished they could stay there forever, without their problems, without everyday life weighing on them, but eventually, Callum stood and pulled her up with him.

“Let us head back,” he said. “We daenae want to be out when it’s dark, nae here. The paths are treacherous.”

He had barely finished speaking when his gaze darted away. Rhea followed it and saw smoke rising up in the air, thick and black. It wasn’t the kind of smoke that came from a chimney—there weren’t any chimneys around anyway. No, this was the kind of smoke that came from something burning.