“I had Elspeth pack up a meal. I thought ye might enjoy an afternoon at the loch. I ken I wouldnae mind a dip.” He offered her a crooked smile but knew she wanted to question him about his conversation with Elizabeth. He decided it would be best to just tell her rather than letting her imagination set to work. “Mo neach beag, she stopped me to ask if we had set a date.”
He might not need to tell her the entirety of his conversation with his former lover.
Siùsan nodded her head as her eyes continued to follow Elizabeth as she moved to her preferred spot at the table closest to the dais. Normally, she enjoyed it when Callum called her his little one but somehow it seemed trite in that moment. She tried to shake off her sense of impending doom, but there was something in her intuition that told her there was more to Callum’s passing conversation than a pleasant inquiry about their yet to be determined wedding.
Callum offered her his hand and she looked at it for a moment. She reached out and took it. She realized that she felt calmer already simply from the contact. They made their way through the bailey and out of the postern gate. They chatted about the change in the weather from the downpour of the day prior. Siùsan had started to help the village healer as she had considerable knowledge of herbs and medicinals. Callum helped her gather some plants that she found growing along the path. When they reached the loch, Callum spread out a blanket for them and Siùsan unpacked the basket.
They sat down across from each other, but Callum was not content with the distance between them. He felt it keenly and knew it was more than just physical. Siùsan was retreating into herself as she had done the first couple of days after she arrived. Callum felt they had made such tremendous progress, and he cared for her deeply. Seeing her remoteness made his heart ache. He may not have planned to talk to Elizabeth and he certainly would have avoided Siùsan seeing it if he could, but he would not allow the harpy to ruin his time with his beloved.
Beloved? What? She isnae ma beloved. Why did that come to mind? But as he watched Siùsan, he realized that it was true. He was falling in love with his unexpected and initially unwanted bride. I willna have that retched bitch ruin our afternoon. Callum reached across the food and grasped Siùsan’s waist. He lifted her off the blanket and hoisted her across the food. He settled her in his lap.
Siùsan had been looking down at the wheel of soft cheese when she felt Callum’s hands about her waist. She did not have a chance to even look up before she felt herself plucked from the ground. She landed on his lap with a squeak.
“This is where ye belong, mo chridhe.” Callum tested out the new term of endearment and found that it felt right. She was his heart and was quickly becoming a part of his very soul. Siùsan looked into Callum’s deep brown eyes and saw the sincerity of his words. She had been wary of using any terms of endearment and thought that Callum’s were just passing phrases. He had called her little one and sweetheart countless times now and assumed that he was just free with his petnames. This time it seemed to mean much more. He ran the pad of his thumb over her cheekbone and brushed his lips against hers in the softest kiss imaginable. It was one of deep affection not lust. Siùsan lifted her chin and pressed her lips against his and returned the feathery kiss.
“Mo ghràidh,” she whispered against his lips. She tested out the term of affection. It was not as uncomfortable to say as she thought it might be, but she was not convinced that ma darling was manly enough for Callum.
Callum responded by cupping the back of her head in his hand and deepening the kiss. He had not realized how badly he longed to hear anything that might hint at her feelings for him. His heart began to beat faster, and he felt his cock harden. He, for once, was pleased that his sporran kept Siùsan from feeling his desire. He did not want to ruin this moment by making her think that it was lust that made him speak. Siùsan opened her mouth wider and stroked his tongue with her own. She pressed her breasts against Callum’s chest and he could feel her hard nipples through the fabric of her kirtle. She had not brought her arisaid as the weather was so pleasant. He ran his hand along the smooth skin of her neck and feathered his fingertip across the exposed skin of her throat. He pulled away and kissed a trail down the side of her neck. He nibbled where her neck and shoulder met. He licked his way back up to the shell of her ear. She moaned softly as he took her earlobe into his mouth alternating between tugs with his teeth and suckling.
Callum felt her hands on his chest. After she loosened the strings on his leine, her hands explored his shoulders and neck. She massaged his shoulders and sighed beside his ear. A shiver ran through him when he felt her breath. She turned her head and freed her own ear so that she might return his ministrations in kind. She ran the tip of her tongue over the shell of his ear. She dipped it into the well of his ear and then sucked gently on his lobe.
Their touches were still gentle and loving, but their passion was sparking. Callum shifted them so that he could lay above her. He rested his weight on his elbows as he pulled one of her sleeves from her shoulder. He reached behind her and tugged at her laces. Once her kirtle was loose enough, he freed one of her breasts. He suckled her like a starving babe. His hand found the end of her gown and bunched up the hem. She bent her knee, and he ran his hand from her ankle to her thigh. Callum felt Siùsan tug at his leine. She freed it from his belt and ran her hands up and down his back. She loved the feeling of his muscles flexing under her hands.
Abruptly, Callum stood up and brought Siùsan with him. He lifted her gown over her head and let it fall to the ground. Left in only her chemise, stockings, and slippers, Siùsan reached to unpin his plaid from his shoulder. She dropped the pin into his sporran and then unfasted the belt that held both his sporran and plaid in place. She eased the long length of material to the ground. Callum reached down to untie and kick off his boots and stockings as Siùsan removed her own shoes and stockings. Callum untied the shoulders of her chemise, and it dropped to the ground, pooling at her feet. Siùsan pushed his leine as high as she could reach, but Callum had to pull it over his head. He flung it aside as he looked at Siùsan’s bare form for the first time. He had seen much of her through her transparent and clinging chemise when they had swum at the loch more than once. However, this was the first time that he could see everything. He reached out tentatively but was unsure. He did not want to frighten her by moving too fast. This was a new element of intimacy between them. Even though she had seen him bare, she had always had the protection of a thin layer of clothing.
Siùsan ended his hesitation when she grasped his hand and brought it to her breast. Callum groaned, lifted her off the ground, and dipped his head to take her other breast into his mouth. His bare cock rubbed along her bare mound. He ached to thrust inside of her and finally totally claim her. His hand slid to the back of her thigh and lifted it to wrap around his hip. His iron rod pulsated as it slid along her wet seam. She pressed her hips forward to gain more pressure on her pleasure button. She moaned as she ground herself into him. Callum felt his control slipping away. He desperately wanted to wrap her other leg around him and drive himself into her over and over. It was only when he felt himself leak along her moist skin that he forced himself to slow down. She must have sensed it too for she dropped her leg and pulled back her head.
“I think we best go for a dip and cool off.” Callum muttered.
“Aye,” Siùsan agreed breathlessly.
They walked to the shore and waded in. When the water was shoulder deep for Siùsan and barely mid chest for Callum, he pulled her into the circle of his arms. He could not resist holding her as he watched her breasts float just below the surface. His cock rested against her belly as he gripped her buttocks.
“I dinna ken how much longer I can restrain maself. One of these days, I will give in to ma temptation and not listen to reason. I dinna want to do anything that ye will regret, Siùsan, and I dinna want to dishonor ye by taking yer innocence before we are wed.”
“What are ye saying, Callum? Do ye not want t
o touch me anymore?” Siùsan shivered even though the air was warm, and the water was less cold than it had been just weeks earlier.
“Nay. I am saying that I want to set our wedding date. I want to make ye ma wife in truth.”
“Ye want this so that ye can bed me?” Siùsan pushed away from his chest and dove under the water. She felt ashamed that she had thought that he felt more for her than just lust. She had thought that he cared about her and might even be falling in love with her. She knew that she was in love with him. She had not realized it as it gradually creeped up on her, but she found herself drawn to him more and more each day.
She scrambled up the beach and ran to her clothes. She tugged on her kirtle and pulled the laces closed as best she could.
Callum followed her up the shore and grabbed her wrists. He held them pinned against her back. His wet body dripped on her already damp gown.
“That isnae what I meant at all. Ye ken I want to make love to ye, but that isnae why I want to set the wedding date. I think ye want me just as much I do ye. I would wed ye because I dinna want anyone else ever again. I would wed ye to give ye ma name and ma protection for the rest of our lives. I would wed ye so that I can fall asleep with ye in ma arms in a proper bed rather than only on a sandy beach. I would wed ye so that I can wake to ye every morning and have ye be the first and last person I see each day.”
Callum waited for Siùsan’s response. Her heaving breaths pushed her breasts against him. He ached from his pent up need, and he knew she could feel his cock twitching. She slowly allowed her body to relax. She looked up to see the intense look that he sometimes had when he gazed at her. She saw the determination in his eyes. She knew they would wed one day, and she was tired of sneaking around with him. She felt ready to pledge herself to him.
“I will wed ye as soon as the bans are done being posted. Father Paul has read them once, so we can be wed in two weeks.” She smiled up at him. Callum relaxed immediately and released her hands. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he lifted her off the ground and planted a hard kiss. He set her back down gently and stepped back for his leine. His aching cock and bollacks were not pleased to realize there would be no release any time soon. He reached for his breacon feile and began to fold it. Siùsan watched him as he lay on the ground and wrapped the large plaid around himself. Callum looked up and saw that Siùsan’s gown was becoming soaked through from her skin and hair. It would soon verge on indecent.
“Lass, ye had better hurry to ye chamber and change into something dry.” He nodded his head in the direction of her kirtle. She looked down and immediately understood what he meant. “I will be up in just a moment. Perhaps it would be better if ye returned ahead of me. I dinna want people to talk about us.” Callum stood and gave her one last kiss. “We can announce our plans at the evening meal tonight.”
Chapter Fifteen
Siùsan had just reached the top of the hill when the last person she wanted to encounter stepped out from behind a tree.
“Ye ken ye are not the only one he brings to the loch for a dip. He has dipped his wick with me here many a time.” Elizabeth purposely bumped into Siùsan as she pushed past and trotted down the hill to Callum.
Stunned, Siùsan turned to watch Elizabeth approach Callum. Callum had turned to stare out at the loch and could not have seen Elizabeth approach. Siùsan watched Elizabeth wrap her arms around Callum’s waist from behind. She felt ill when she saw Callum reach behind him and pull the evil woman into his embrace. She was only mildly comforted when he stepped back from her embrace when he saw who it was.
Siùsan could not help but watch. She was drawn to the scene like a moth to a flame. She could not hear Callum’s voice but saw him shake his head. She watched in horror as Elizabeth’s hand ran over the bulge beneath Callum’s plaid and cup his rod. Once again, Callum stepped back, but this time Elizabeth followed and thrust her hand under his plaid.
Siùsan thought she would be ill as she watched Callum stand there with his cock in Elizabeth’s hand. He grasped her wrist but did not draw away. Siùsan’s heart crumbled as she watched Elizabeth pull apart the front of her gown and bare her breasts to Callum. She held one up to him, but he would not look at it. Siùsan could see that he was looking over the top of her head and did not see her drop to her knees until her head ducked under his plaid. He let out a startled noise, but it was Siùsan’s whimper of despair that had him swinging his head in her direction. The look of shock and guilt was enough to make Siùsan turn around and bolt for the keep.
Callum thought it was Siùsan who had returned to him when he felt a pair of slim arms wrap around him from behind. He was just pulling the woman around to him when he caught the tell-tale scent of roses and knew immediately that it was Elizabeth and not Siùsan. He stepped back and shook his head. He was not prepared for Elizabeth to reach for his cock and take hold. He caught her wrist as she applied pressure that almost made him groan.
“Ye are hard and ready. Just as ye always are for me.” Elizabeth cooed.
“Ye ken it is not from ye and not for ye.” Callum growled.
“I dinna care. I am here and she isnae. I can help ease the ache. Ye ken nay one can do what I can with ma mouth. Ye’ve said as much.”
Callum tried to step back again, but her hand was too fast, and he felt her bare skin on his. She stroked him quickly, and he could not stop the small dribble of seed that came from his tip. She grinned as she bared her breasts to him.
“Taste these first, then ye can feast on the rest of me next.”
Callum refused to look down at her. He held her wrist as tightly as he dared. He feared that he might snap it if he was not careful. He continued to look over her head, so he was unprepared to feel her sink to her knees and dive under his plaid. He felt her tongue on his bollacks as she lifted them. Then her tongue darted out to lick him from stem to stern.
He could not hold back the groan as his body ached for release. His mind and his heart wanted nothing to do with the woman at his feet, but his aching cock and ballocks seemed to think otherwise. He went still when he heard a whimper from the hill above the loch. He looked up to see Siùsan watching. The look of pure heartbreak on her face was enough to make him cry out. He grabbed his plaid and pushed Elizabeth away. He did not care that she fell backwards as her cackle followed him up the hill.
“Ye are too late. She willna forgive ye for this. Ye could have stopped me but ye didna. Ye ken ye would have let me if she hadnae ruined it.”
Callum bolted up the hill with Elizabeth’s words ringing in his ears. He knew that he absolutely would not have allowed it. He had tried to diffuse the situation by not giving her the attention she desired. He had grossly underestimated what she was willing to do to have her way. He knew in that moment that Elizabeth had planned all of this. He also knew that there was no way that Siùsan would believe that he was not allowing it from what she had seen.
He watched her dart through the postern gate. He was surprised to see just how fast she could run in her skirts. She had hoisted them to her knees and jumped over several puddles as she stormed into the kitchens.
Callum chased her, calling her name. He followed her into the kitchens, but she was already gone. Elspeth stared at him and then frowned. She shook her head and pointed towards the door that led to the back servants’ stairs. Callum weaved through the kitchen and pushed through the door. He saw Siùsan bound up the stairs two at a time. She was just reaching the second floor landing when he began taking the stairs three at a time. She was already making her way up to the third floor when he made it to the landing. She had not slowed and was moving further away from him. He made it to the third floor and sprinted to catch her before she made it to her door. He was so close to catching her when she had to stop to open her door. He reached out to grab anything he could reach when she slipped through and slammed the door shut. He heard the lock turn and the bar drop.
He pounded on the door with his fist and leaned his forehead against it.
“Siùsan! Siùsan! Let me in. Let me explain. It isnae what it seemed. I swear to ye. I didna want to antagonize her, but I underestimated her.” He continued to hammer on the door, but there was no response. He stopped and listened. He could not hear anything from the other side of the door. It was silence. There was no sound of crying or moving about. There was no sound of angry muttering or things being thrown. The complete void of noise scared Callum far more than any ranting would have.
“Siùsan, please. Let me in. Please.” He tried again to no avail. He waited for what seemed like forever but never heard a sound. Finally, he gave up and decided to give her time and space. “I will leave ye now, but I will return for ye before the evening meal. If ye dinna open the door then, I will kick it down.” He turned and walked away.
~~~
Callum made his way down to his father’s study and knocked before entering. Once look at his son’s face and Liam Sinclair cleared the room of everyone but Callum. He poured his son a healthy dose of usquebagh, or water of life. If anyone needed a strong shot of whisky it was the morose man in front of him.
“She saw me with Elizabeth.” Callum said as he dropped into a chair by the fire. He did not even look up when his father handed him the whisky.
“Just what did she see?”
“Entirely too much and heard not nearly enough. Siùsan was returning to the keep after we had just agreed to set a wedding date and announce it tonight. She must have passed Elizabeth on the way because she stopped at the top of the hill overlooking the loch. At first, I thought it was Siùsan who had come back down for something. I quickly realized it was Elizabeth and tried to tell her no. She reached out and grabbed ma cock. It was already at full attention from being with Siùsan. I stepped away, but she stuck her hand up ma plaid. She grabbed hold and began to stroke. I grabbed her wrist, but she was tugging her kirtle off her chest. I told her nay, but she dropped to her knees and ducked under ma plaid. Bluidy hell. Siùsan saw all of it. She whimpered like an animal caught in a trap. The look on her face will torment me as much as seeing Mairghread tied to that bed at the McDonnells’.”
His Bonnie Highland Temptation (The Clan Sinclair Book 2) Page 12