Reaching behind her back, she slowly pulled at the strings of her top until the fabric slipped below her shoulders.
“Are you sure about this?” Callum asked, his voice husky with desire.
“Yes. Please. I need you.”
A deep and guttural moan escaped his lips as his hands began to tear at the top that still covered her breasts. With one motion, the fabric was ripped from her body, exposing her skin to the cool night air and sending a shiver down her spine.
No one had ever looked at her like this before or seen her fully in such an intimate way. All she wanted was for him to see her. To have her. To take her.
“Please,” she begged as his lips moved further down her neck and over her torso. She didn’t quite know what she wanted, but she knew that whatever it was, she wanted it desperately.
As his mouth found her exposed breast, her head rolled back in pure ecstasy. His tongue rolled over her nipple and the small movement caused lightning to flash in her chest. All at once, she was lifted into the air as his arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her up to meet him. Unlike before, this time he laid her back down tenderly against the pillows as he reached down and pulled at the cloth that remained around his waist.
She had never seen a man naked before, not in this way, and she could hardly wait to see all of him. As he undressed himself, she pulled the dress down over her waist and kicked it to the side until she was clothed in nothing more than the cloth around her bottom.
As the remaining fabric of his fell to the ground, she looked up and saw him in all his beauty. His erect manhood was throbbing and larger than what she had imagined in her dreams.
He moved up on the bed and lay beside her as she reached out and touched him tenderly. He was soft, oh so soft, yet rock hard. He was even more beautiful than he had been in the images that had plagued her at night. She felt wetness begin to pool between her legs.
“Please,” she continued to beg. “Please take me.”
His fingers traced down the outline of her body until they hooked into the waistband of her loincloth. With one soft tug, he pulled them down below her ankles and threw them across the room.
The coldness of the night air hit her hard, and her legs closed themselves involuntarily. His hand, however, stopped them. Reaching between her thighs, he touched her for the first time.
“You are so wet,” he groaned.
“I need you. Now.”
“Be patient, lass,” he whispered into her ear. “If I’m going to have my way with you, I’m going to do it properly.”
His finger dipped inside of her wetness, and she began to experience things she had never felt before. A hunger that she couldn’t explain overtook her as he continued to touch her. His mouth found her breast again, starting softly and then slowly moving his teeth over the soft flesh until she was whimpering with desire.
All at once, his finger was inside of her, and she knew that she needed more. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she moved into him, pulling him forward until his manhood was all but inside of her.
“Are you sure?” he asked one last time.
“Yes. Please.”
This time, instead of slowing her down, he pushed into her until she felt him slowly take her. His member stretched her slowly until, with a deep thrust of his hip, he was fully inside of her. She had never felt so full in her entire life. Never been so satisfied.
A groan escaped his lips as he buried his face into her neck. “You’re so tight,” he whispered.
Slowly, they began to move together until they became one, both filled with such passion that they couldn’t stop. HIs thrusts began to quicken until he was deeper inside of her than she even knew possible. As he moved harder, her body began to tingle in an unfamiliar way, and her moans of passion became almost uncontrollable.
She felt his own body tighten as something began to build inside of her core—something overwhelming and unlike anything she’d felt before. It started slowly at first, but then she felt as though she might explode in pleasure.
All at once, her body began to convulse as she spasmed with ecstasy. Her fingers gripped his muscular back, and he slowed his motions to allow her to savor every last second of it. Her orgasm seemed to send him over the edge, and suddenly his body grew tense above her. With a deep moan that tickled her ear, he erupted inside of her with a few final thrusts before collapsing on top of her. His weight pressed down on her and engulfed her in a tender embrace. Being held by him felt somehow even better than she had imagined in all of her dreams, and she never wanted to leave his arms.
*****
Sophie woke the next morning out of the most peaceful slumber she’d had in weeks. As her eyes fluttered open, she all but forgot where she was. The world started coming into focus as she felt a warm hand grip her waist. She couldn’t help but grin into her pillow. Last night hadn’t been a dream after all.
Turning onto her side, she saw that Callum was already awake. His eyes bore into her, analyzing her, as if he was seeing her for the first time and didn’t want to scare her off.
“Good morning,” he whispered, his voice still filled with the husk of sleep.
“Have you been awake a long time?” she asked.
“Not too long. You were sleeping so peacefully that I could hardly wake you.” He reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair from Sophie’s face.
“Aye?” she asked, turning her cheek into his palm and kissing it gently. She could hardly believe that he was really lying in her bed, and she wanted to make sure she got the most of it while she could.
“Aye. I thought it best to let you get some rest. You needed it. You were beginning to look like a corpse—a pretty one though.” Callum chuckled as Sophie shot him a fake sneer. Rolling her body into his, she turned her attention back to the conversation she had been hoping to have with him since he disappeared all those days ago.
“So, are you ever going to tell me where you’ve been the last week?”
“Aye, there was a small scuffle.” He spoke the words softly and quickly, and Sophie had the feeling that he was trying to avoid making her nervous.
“What do you mean, a scuffle?”
“It seems your father didn’t take too kindly to me taking you
prisoner,” Callum sighed. “He and your brothers lead a raid on a small village on the outskirts of our claim. My men and I were sent to clean up the mess.”
“Are you all right?” she asked, running her hands over his chest and checking for wounds.
“Aye, I am. Your brother suffered a gash to the arm, though, but he’ll live.”
Sophie realized that for the first time, her immediate thought hadn’t been about her own brothers when hearing about a fight.
“Were you able to give word to my father?” she asked.
“Aye, and like you thought, he didn’t take kindly to my proposal for peace. It seems you know him well.”
“What did he say?” she asked, propping herself up on her elbow.
“Well, when I suggested a lasting peace after you’re safely returned, he told me that he would have my head on a platter. He said that if I laid one finger on you that he would chop the finger off. It seems I might be down a few after last night.”
“I hope he doesn’t take these,” Sophie smiled, kissing the tip of the two fingers that had gotten to know her so well the previous night. “I’ve grown quite attached to them.” Callum chuckled, but she could see the worry still lingering in his eyes. “So, what are you going to do with me now?”
“I don’t quite know,” Callum shrugged. “My older brother was always the one who handled diplomatic matters. I’ve never been good at that sort of thing.”
“I might have a solution,” she said timidly.
“A solution?” He cocked his eyebrow in surprise.
“A proposal more like.”
“And what is your proposal, Sophie Douglas?”
“I propose that we get married.” The words spilled out of her mout
h before she could even understand their weight.
“I don’t know what backward traditions you might have in Clan Douglas, but in my family it is the man who is supposed to ask that question,” Callum chuckled.
“Aye, it may not be the normal way of doing things, but this isn’t a normal situation, is it?”
“I suppose not.”
“Well, what do you say?” Sophie pressed.
“Are you serious?”
“Entirely,” she replied. “Think of it--it’s the perfect plan. My father will know that I’m safe, it can bring about the peace that both families need by uniting us, and best of all, no one will ever question my honor. No one but you and I will ever have to know that I was deflowered before my wedding. That you ravaged me all night long.”
“Aye, and well into the morning.” He reached his arm around her waist and pulled her tighter into his firm body. She felt the hardness between his legs and wondered how either of them had the energy to keep going, but they did. “Again and again and again,” he whispered, slipping his finger between her thighs and kissing her deeply.
Rolling on top of his firm body, Sophie wrapped herself around her new lover. The two spent the morning exploring each other in ways Sophie hadn’t even imagined. As the birds chirped in the background, the two rival clan members made love until they were both too exhausted to continue.
*****
After an afternoon of passionate lovemaking, Callum agreed to Sophie’s proposal. He instructed Sophie to prepare for a journey back to her home as he slipped out to inform his advisors of the plan they had concocted between their passionate sessions. They would set out for Sophie’s homestead and she would inform her father herself of the marriage proposal. As the clan leader, he would have the right to refuse, but Sophie assured Callum that her father would not deny their request once he saw that her hand was not being forced.
The two lovers shrouded themselves in cloaks to hide their identities and prepared for the long journey ahead. If they were going to make it to Clan Douglas’ fortress before the following sunrise, they had to leave soon. It would be dangerous for Callum to be caught wandering up to the castle in broad daylight.
The couple set out on their journey at high sun, which was not the most ideal time to ride as Callum had pointed out multiple times, but the two were on a mission and not even the heat of midday could stop them. Besides, it was far safer for them to ride under the cover of night once they entered Sophie’s homeland.
With their saddlebags packed to the brim with food and water, they made their way from Fraser territory into Clan Douglas’ claim. Before long, Sophie began to recognize the terrain around her. She could see Callum tense with anxiety as they entered her family’s holdings, but with her as their guide, he pulled his disguise lower on his head and remained silent in his fears.
“Do you think this will actually work?” Sophie asked, her nerves now too intense to ignore.
“I don’t know,” Callum sighed. “But it’s the only option we have.”
It took them less than a day to reach the Douglas Fortress. The sun was just beginning to peak out over the hilltops as they finally reached Sophie’s family home. Two guards rode up on horseback to meet them at the gate’s entrance.
“Who are you?” one of the guards asked gruffly. “What business do you have here?”
Sophie lowered her hood and revealed her face. “I’m Sophie Douglas. I need to speak with my father immediately.”
The two men looked at each other with shocked expressions. There was no doubt that they had heard of her disappearance, and yet here she was standing right in front of them.
“Aye! Right away!” they stammered. “Please come with us, Miss Sophie.”
The two men turned and led the young couple though the front gate and up to the main entrance. Dismounting their horses, one of the guards ran inside to alert Sophie’s father while the other helped the Clan daughter down from her horse.
“It’s good to see you, miss. We’ve heard such horrible stories about those barbarians in Clan Fraser. Your father was afraid we’d never see you again.”
“I had the same fears many times myself,” Sophie nodded. “But please tell everyone that I am back safely, and I brought with me a peace offering of sorts.”
The man turned his attention to Callum as if seeing him for the first time. “Is your visitor a friend or a foe?”
“It depends on who you ask,” Sophie sighed. “But please watch him and take care of him while I go speak with my father.”
As the man nodded his agreement and moved to stand watch beside Callum, Sophie slipped into the entrance hall just as her father came bounding down the stairs.
"Father, I missed you so much!" Sophie exclaimed as she reached out and pulled the older man into a tight hug.
"My dear, I have been so worried about you. How did you find your way back? Were you able to escape?” Her father touched her face tenderly as if searching for signs of injury, and for the first time Sophie realized just how worried he must have been all these days.
"No, quite the opposite,” Sophie shook her head. “Callum Fraser released me. In fact, he has accompanied me on my journey home."
"Good. That will allow us the opportunity to mount his head on a spike and show what happens to those who kidnap my children," her father smiled, seeming confident in his decision.
"No, father, you don't understand!" Sophie pleaded, taking his hand. "Callum has taken care of me this week. He had given me a proper room, maids to look after me, and all the honor of a guest in his fortress. He was kind to me, father. He was good."
"A good kidnapper, now that is something I've never heard before," her father threw his head back in laughter.
"His intentions were good," Sophie pressed on. "You have to understand that all he wanted was peace. All we both want is peace. Isn't it time we stop fighting?"
"Sophie, lass, I know you well enough to know that you’re up to something. Spit it out. What is going on here?"
Taking a deep breath, Sophie braced herself for his reaction. “Father, Callum and I have grown quite fond of each other. We have much more in common than I ever knew possible. This is all to say that he has asked for my hand in marriage. I know that such decisions are yours to make, but I hope you’ll consider my own happiness. I care about him, and I care about our clan. I think this way forward could finally bring us peace.”
“I don’t think I’m hearing this right,” her father stammered. “My daughter marrying a Fraser boy? What makes you think this is a good idea? That he’s not just using you? What does he gain from all of this, really?”
“He cares about me, Father,” Sophie assured the man. “I know it’s true. And I care for him too. He has watched out for me this past week, and I am willing to bet my life on the fact that peace is possible if we just come together.”
The older man paused, deep in thought. His face was so stoic that Sophie had no idea what to expect when he finally opened his mouth. “It seems that I will need to talk to this Callum Fraser. Go lass. Get cleaned up. You smell like the horse you rode in on.”
“And what about Callum?” Sophie asked, ignoring her father’s instruction. She wasn’t about to leave without knowing that he was safe.
“I won’t harm him,” her father promised. “But I won’t make a decision until I’ve had the chance to speak with the boy. You’re my youngest daughter, and I will not make any decision regarding your hand in marriage lightly. Particularly when the prospect is a boy from Clan Fraser.”
“Aye,” Sophie nodded. “I understand.” She made her way to the staircase before turning back around. “Father, please be sure to consider my happiness too.”
“I will,” he promised. Looking her over, he paused while he took in the sight of her home again. “You seem different—good, but different. I’m glad to have you back.”
*****
Sophie hadn’t gotten word from either man all day, and she was beginning to fear the
worst when a soft knock pulled her from her thoughts. Opening her chamber door, she was somewhat disappointed to see a young maid standing where she had expected Callum to be.
“Hello, miss,” the girl said as she bowed her head. “I hope I didn’t disturb you.”
“No,” Sophie replied, shaking her head impatiently. “What is it?”
“I was asked to deliver you a message. Your friend—the good-looking one—asked if you’d meet him by the stables. I think that is where they have him staying.”
Sophie’s heart leapt in her chest at any news from Callum. “Thank you, greatly,” she whispered to the girl. She quickly slipped out of her room and darted through back passageways to the stables. Even back in her own home, she was having to sneak through the halls in fear of being seen.
There was a small room behind the stable stalls where the clan housed traveling soldiers, the ones who didn’t meet her father’s standards for sleeping in the main house, and Sophie was sure that was where Callum was being held. Her suspicion was confirmed when she saw a guard by the door keeping watch.
“Hello miss,” the older man nodded. “It’s great to have you back under the Clan Douglas roof.”
“Thank you,” the girl nodded. “I believe you’re overdo for a break from your post. Perhaps a walk around the stable to get some fresh air?”
“I’m sorry, lass, but your father asked me to keep eyes on the prisoner at all times. I’m not to let anyone in or out of the room.” He looked at her sympathetically.
“I will keep an eye on him. Don’t worry,” she replied. “I did accompany him all the way here from Clan Fraser land, didn’t I?”
The guard looked conflicted, but in the end his sympathy won out. With a quick nod, he walked around to the back of the stable and out of view.
Inextinguishable Love: Firefighter and Interracial Romance Page 110