by Kara Griffin
He settled his mouth on hers, and Violet reveled at the hardness of his lips against hers. She entwined her fingers in the short locks of his hair and moaned. Desire swarmed to her womanhood and she brazenly roved her hands over his shoulders, down his arms to his hips. He perused her with his gentle touch, but their kiss heightened and their caresses verged to a need neither of them could refute.
Callum pulled at her garments and kissed her exposed shoulder. “You’re soft and I want to kiss you everywhere even here,” his breathy words tickled her skin.
She giggled when his lips trailed from her arm to her wrist.
“Should we lie on the grass? Then I’ll kiss every inch of you.”
Violet sprinted across the field and Callum chased after her. She fell back on the grasses and sprouts of buds and laughed. He fell next to her and pressed her with his large body. Callum removed her gown, tossed it aside, and gave her a devilish grin. He roved his hand over her stomach and the curvature of her breast. His mouth covered her nipple and he lavished his full attention on her. She grew dizzy at the effect of his kisses.
Violet wanted to feel his nakedness against her and she tugged at his upper tartan until it came free. Between kisses, she managed to remove his tunic and belt. He tore away the tartan that covered his lower half and rolled with her on the soft grass. Callum leaned over her and held her face. His eyes smoldered with desire and made her eager to be with him.
“The sun looks bonny on your face.” He pressed a light kiss on her lips.
“If you don’t take me soon, I’ll scream.”
His grin turned sultry. “Aye? You’ll scream, lass, but only with pleasure.” He pressed between her legs and moaned. “You’re ready, are you not?”
She nodded, but couldn’t voice the words. Violet moaned at the sensation of his touch caressing her. He wouldn’t relent and nearly sent her to oblivion with the thrust of his fingers.
“Please, I need you. Don’t tease me, Callum.”
He chuckled and rolled between her legs. His mouth moved over her breast and as he laved his tongue over her sensitive skin, he entered her. Their bodies joined and the blissful moment paralyzed her with pleasure. Violet squealed as he thrust and groaned. He rolled and forced her to settle atop him and he splayed his hands over her hips. She took her pleasure and rocked against him.
“You have no notion how wild you make me,” he rasped.
Callum’s muscles tightened and his hard length drove into her. She mindlessly met his thrust and the culmination shook every part of her. Violet gasped and squeezed her eyes closed at the wondrous endless throbs and delightful aches that washed over her. He rolled her beneath him again and his urgency drove his movement.
She couldn’t hold a thought or do naught but touch him, kiss where she could reach, and whisper how much she liked what he was doing.
Callum gasped and his arms shook. He stilled and his breath ceased. She caressed his face and smiled at the vigor of his undoing. He collapsed next to her and rasped. She lay beside him and peered at the bright sky above. At that moment, everything was right in the world.
He rubbed his leg against hers and set his arms behind his head. “You are the bonniest lass.” He leaned over her and kissed her cheek. His eyes grazed her body and he laughed.
“What is so humorous?”
He picked pieces of dried grass from her hair. “You look well-loved.”
Violet shoved him back and set a smattering of kisses on his chest. “Do I? But probably not as pleased as you look,” she said with a shine in her eyes.
Callum handed her gown to her. “You’ve kept me from my duties long enough.” He didn’t sound displeased by it and his eyes shown with mirth.
“We should return,” she said and dressed hastily. She stood beside him as he folded his tartan around his waist. Violet fixed the swath of fabric over his shoulder and smoothed a hand over the material. “You’re too handsome.”
“Aye but not as bonny as you.”
They walked hand in hand back to the keep. Callum didn’t say much on their return and she didn’t want to intrude on his thoughts. At least she’d pleased him, even if a little.
Clive met them at the gate. “Laird, Neil wants you to come to the soldier’s training this afternoon. He means to run his methods by you and he said he needed to speak to you.”
Callum squeezed her hand before he set off and followed Clive.
Violet ambled along the courtyard and smiled at the progress she’d made with Callum. The more she was in his presence, the more drawn she was to him. Perhaps a future was possible, if only they got past the turmoil of her exile and his family discord.
She neared the keep but continued to walk along. It was too fine a day to return and she wanted to be alone for a few minutes before she searched for Gussy.
Behind the keep, beyond the garden she started, she ambled toward the cottages. Violet waved in greeting to several women who stood by their homes. She’d never traipsed this far beyond the keep and neared a sloped hill. Afar, a good number of men trained at arms. She wanted to watch but needed to return. She noticed Callum stood with a soldier and Clive, but they were too far away for her to discern their conversation.
Violet turned when someone grabbed her arm. “Hawisa.”
“Lady Danvers, Violet, there you are.” Her greeting sounded akin to an expletive as if she despised to speak her name. “I’m surprised to see you about. Your maid said you were ailing. You didn’t look well when we took the midday meal the other day.”
“Please, release me.”
Hawisa gripped her and held tightly to her arm. “You deem to come here and ruin everything.”
“I have done nothing.” Violet tried to gain her release, but the woman held fast and dug her fingers in her arm.
She forced her to the ground and held a dagger to her chest. Her face fixed with anger and her eyes darkened. Violet tried to push her away, but the dagger forced her to still.
“What do you mean by this? You poisoned me, didn’t you?”
“Aye, but I didn’t give you enough to finish the job. My mistake.”
Hawisa held her arm against the ground and sat upon her. Violet jerked her arm free and Hawisa leaned on her chest, but Violet forced her off her when she jerked her body upward. She rolled on the ground and gained her feet. Hawisa backed her to a tree behind her and stood too close for her to dash to safety.
“What do you mean by this? If you plan to hurt me…” Violet tried to settle her breath, but it came heavily as she realized the jeopardy she was in.
“I rid him of his wife, only to have you come. You’ll ruin everything.” Frustration grated her words and Hawisa kept the dagger pointed at her.
Violet stilled but needed to call for help. The woman was deranged and perhaps maddened. “Please, whatever you believe I did… I never meant to upset you. We should be calm and discuss this. We can reach an accord. I’m not angry with you and you shouldn’t be with me.”
Hawisa sneered. “Be quiet. It’s too late for that. There will be no accord between us. Lydia had Callum, the daft cow, and threw him away as if he was nothing. But it worked to my favor.”
“You killed her, didn’t you? She didn’t die in childbirth.”
An odd-sounding laugh came from Hawisa when she stepped forward. “Lydia was my friend. I was deceived by her, just as she deceived Gavin and Callum. When she had labor pains, at first, I tried to help her and pitied her agony. But her screams tormented me. The bairn was coming too early. She was losing blood. Even as she lay there in pain and dying, she boasted how she would marry the laird.”
“But she was married to Callum.” Violet drew a harsh breath when Hawisa stepped back.
“She said Gavin promised to rid her of her husband. Lydia rubbed my face in the fact that I would never reach the position she had. I was enraged that she would boast such to me, and I had to put her out of her misery. Her screams, you see, instigated my hand. I couldn’t let her live. If
Callum thwarted them, he would have forgiven her transgressions. Why he would, is beyond me. She was an unfaithful harridan. She had to go. So I took the pillow and held it over her face until she moved no more.”
“You must’ve been angry.”
“I was until Gavin was murdered. I realized if he had Callum slain, my father would be named laird. Still, Callum didn’t deserve what they planned.”
“You speak in riddles. Callum is a good man. Surely you don’t want to hurt him. I know you don’t. If you harm me, you’ll upset him. He’s had enough grief. Please, don’t do this.” Violet shot her gaze beyond Hawisa and hoped to alert someone she needed aid.
“He was always kind to me. Callum didn’t deserve her or you. You both would have made him happy. I couldn’t allow that—”
“I don’t understand. Why don’t you want him to be happy?”
“My father should’ve been named as laird when my uncle died. But nay, the clan sided with Gavin that arse. I was glad someone killed him. Aye, because then my father would lead us and my position would’ve gained me a good husband. That’s all I wanted.”
“You can have any husband you want. Why would your father being the laird change that?” Violet scowled as she considered how to appease the woman. She darted her eyes around her and hoped to spot someone close.
“I wanted a marriage of wealth and prestige, but nay… All I get is proposals from farmers and soldiers. I want to be the lady of the castle, as is my due. I will not be a lowly wife for any man.”
Violet sighed and held up her hand. “Hawisa, I’m not Lydia.”
“Nay, but you deem to take my place as the laird’s wife. I know I couldn’t marry Callum, but his brother supposedly took care of that. He sent men to kill him, but Callum thwarted them. When Callum returned, all my hope dashed. At least, being the laird’s daughter might put me in a position to marry a laird from another clan. Nothing went as I hoped.”
“Please, put down your dagger.” She gripped the tree behind her and her eyes darted beyond her in hopes to alert someone nearby. But no one stood at the top of the hill.
“Callum would have given up the lairdship if you hadn’t come. He would’ve gladly let my father take the position.” She gripped the dagger, raised it, and pressed it at her chest. “Perhaps he still might if you’re gone.”
“That’s not true. I had nothing to do with his acceptance. You can find happiness with a man you love, regardless of his position. Believe me, I married a man who had wealth and security, but little it did me. I was miserable. I am happier now with nothing, not even marriage for security than I had ever been with Charles.”
“All women must marry. I had hoped to make it beneficial for me, but what has love to do with it. Marriage is nothing but an agreement.”
“You cannot believe that. Love is the most important thing you can hope for in a marriage. Even if Callum never professes to love me, I care for him. It is worth it, to give your heart to someone you care for. Trust me, Hawisa, you don’t want to marry someone for any reason but love.”
“I want love, but I don’t want to be cast aside. Oh, why did Callum have to return? If only he’d stayed by the border a few more weeks, my da would have gained the position and none of this would’ve happened. I don’t want to hurt you, Violet, but it’s too late.”
“No, it’s not. If you harm me, Callum will be angry. I promise you, and I don’t want him to punish you for hurting me. Please, think of that. I can help you.”
Hawisa squeezed her eyes closed and nodded. “How?”
“Give me the dagger and we’ll figure it out.” Violet glimpsed Callum and Clive approach from the top of the slope. They walked along and didn’t notice her until she waved her arm. Hawisa held up the dagger and was about to hand it to her, but a whizzing sound came and she propelled forward.
Blood splattered the front of her garments and Violet screamed. Hawisa fell against her and they fell to the base of the tree. She clasped Hawisa in her arms and blood soaked the front of Hawisa’s gown. It seemed as if time stilled and nothing moved.
Hawisa gasped and huffed at the agony of her wound. Her eyes widened with terror and pain. “I’m…sorry.”
“Hawisa, stay still. I’ll get help.” Violet held her.
“Nay… It’s too late…” Her eyes fluttered and she slumped against her.
Violet shrieked at the sight of all the blood that now covered her too, and for a moment, she thought she’d been pierced by Hawisa’s dagger. She shook her and tried to roust her. “Hawisa… Please, oh no.” She closed her eyes and wept. The poor woman died in her arms. She looked up and found Clive crouched behind Callum. “She’s dead. You killed her.”
Callum pulled Hawisa off her and gently placed her face-down on the ground. He took her in his arms and scowled at Clive. “Violet, are you hurt?”
She set her arms around him and shook her head. Her body trembled from the shock of the sight of blood and what happened. “I’m afraid to look.”
“Her dagger didn’t strike you. Your garments are intact. The blood is not yours. God Almighty, she would have slain you.” Callum leaned his head against hers, his body tensed and his hold protective.
She glanced at Hawisa, who lay on the ground a few feet away with an arrow pierced in her back. “Why, oh why did you strike her? She was going to give me the dagger. I talked to her and she was contrite―”
“I’m sorry, Milady, but she looked to be threatening you. I couldn’t let her hurt you and I had to kill her.” Clive yanked his arrow from Hawisa’s back and stood.
“Come, Violet, we should get you inside the keep.” Callum helped her to stand and kept an arm around her.
She glanced at Clive and shook her head. He didn’t appear remorseful at what he’d done. “She was your…cousin, family…and I—”
Clive shook his head adamantly. “She was a black-hearted shanty bent on bringing ruination to our clan. She deserved to die.” His words were spoken with such vehemence that she frowned. Clive never spoke so harshly.
Violet set her head on Callum’s shoulder when he lifted her in his arms.
Callum kissed her cheek. “We should’ve known she’d try to harm you. It’s not your fault or Clive’s for her death. She caused her own peril.”
Clive walked beside them and frowned. “Gussy told me what happened to you last eve. I just told Callum of it and we set out to find you, to assure you were protected in case she tried something.”
Callum tightened his hold. “I’m sorry, lass, I should’ve protected you. She could’ve slain you with her poison. From what Gussy told Clive it was a close call.”
She sighed because it was her fault. She should have called out and told them all was well before they approached. “I should tell you, Callum, Hawisa confessed to killing Lydia. Your wife didn’t die in childbirth. She said many things―”
Callum stopped walking and pressed a light kiss on her lips. “Shhh. We’ll discuss that later, sweetheart. When I thought she’d kill you, I—”
She turned his face to look at her. “You what?”
“I thought I’d lose you. It crushed me and I wanted…you safe.”
“You do care for me,” She whispered and caressed his neck.
“Of course I do and I have since I first laid eyes on you.”
Chapter Seventeen
Callum stood at the window by his desk and peered at the garden below. Violet knelt next to Dela and planted a row of greenery. Their antics lightened him as he watched them. Violet tried to pull a weed, but it held fast and she fell back on her bottom. Dela knelt in the dirt and focused on her task of planting the seeds. Frang dug in the dirt next to Dela and covered her as the dirt flew in the air. She screeched, but Frang wouldn’t cease until Violet tossed him a bone and got him to leave Dela. Violet wiped away Dela’s tears, brushed the dirt from his daughter’s garments, and appeared to scold Frang.
He chuckled to himself as he watched them. As much as he wanted to join them, it wa
s best he stayed where he was. Callum wanted to be near Violet, to hear her bonny voice, to see her lips wide with mirth, but with recent events, he was more unsettled than he’d ever been.
Over a fortnight passed since the incident of Hawisa’s attempt to murder Violet. He kept his distance and his guilt tugged at him. If it wasn’t for his family’s dysfunction, Violet would have been safe, and she wouldn’t have been in peril at his cousin’s hand. That Hawisa tried to stab her, unsettled him beyond sense.
He made the right decision to distance himself. It was for Violet’s safety, he did so. Until his brother’s murderer was found, he and those he cared for were at risk. He’d commanded Violet, Dela, and his gran, to stay within the castle or in the garden. They’d worked hard and the garden now showed with greenery. Even his grandmother spent time outside and enjoyed their company.
Callum was lonely, but he’d subject himself to whatever was necessary, as long as his family remained safe. For nights, he lay and peered at the ceiling and wished Violet was beside him. His reveries were a constant reminder of the times she’d spent in his arms when they’d made love. Not only did he enjoy being with her, but she brought a sense of comfort to him, one of which he hadn’t ever experienced. Regardless of his desire or need of her, he had to focus on clan matters and finding out who wanted him dead.
The days he spent on the training fields did little to allay him or to cease his thoughts of her. All morning, he sparred and defeated one soldier after another in his misguided attempt to get her from his mind. If only things hadn’t gone to hell, he would have enjoyed wooing her and winning her affection. Callum wasn’t a young lad free to do as he wanted. He needed to remind himself of that, and use sound reason to keep himself from finding her and kissing her.
“Laird,” Clive called from the door.
“Aye, what is it?”
“We haven’t found Elias yet. I set a group of men to continue the search, but he’s nowhere within the walls. The sentry will keep an eye out for him.”
“I need to question him.” Callum hoped the soldier he’d set to trail his uncle returned with news, but as yet, Neil told him the man hadn’t returned. He hoped the soldier wasn’t harmed while on the mission. Who knew what his uncle would do, when faced with a threat?