Leaning her back carefully over the tub with one hand, I used the other to scoop water over her hair. The blond strands were so long they touched the bottom of the bath. Once the water ran clear, I wrapped a towel around her hair and carried her back to the chair. Grabbing a blanket off the foot of the bed I tucked it around her.
I would give anything to see the fire in her eyes again. Whatever trauma she had endured, I knew she needed time to heal. I would give her as much time as she needed. As long as she came back to me.
I sat on the stool across from her, my arms braced on my knees and watched the firelight dance across her face. I didn’t like the direction my thoughts were headed. I was already in too deep with this woman and I had only just met her.
My cousin Alec’s observation was correct. I was playing a dangerous game with this lass, by allowing her into my chambers and taking care of her myself. But there were powers stronger than mine at work here. If I let her stay any longer, I didn’t think I would be able to let her go.
Even if I damned my soul in the process.
7
Kari
The sound of splashing water filled my ears. I blinked as a strange room came into focus with a fire crackling in a large stone hearth next to me.
My body felt warm and relaxed—safe. I was still wearing the Scot’s plaid along with a thick blanket. Someone must have washed my hair too, because my scalp no longer itched and it was now wrapped in a towel.
My gaze took in the dim room, following the sound of splashing to find the Highlander naked and bathing in a shallow tub. I sucked in a breath as he poured water over himself and watched as it dripped down over his tight ass.
At the sound of my gasp, he turned, with his dick completely on display. He looked better than I could have ever imagined. I wanted to look away, but my mind suddenly filled with all of my Outlander fantasies.
Completely unaware of what I was thinking, his eyes softened in what appeared to be relief at the sight of me. I quickly averted my gaze, flustered at the emotions he sparked inside of me. How long had I been out? When he told me what year it was, darkness had crept in. My mind had shut down, not wanting to accept what I had known to be true.
When I looked up, I found him still staring at me, only this time desire flickered in his eyes. I found myself captured by his gaze, my chest heaving as my pulse raced. The ache in my chest had returned and I wanted him to touch me. I had never wanted anyone the way I wanted him. My Highlander.
A knock at the door broke the spell the Highlander held over me. A small smile curled my lips when I saw he was just as worked up as I was. His chest rising and falling as if he’d just run a mile. When he stepped out of the tub, he dripped water onto the wood floor as he walked to where one of his plaids was draped at the foot of his massive bed. Disappointment filled me when he wrapped it around his waist as he made his way to the door.
He opened it a crack and spoke in a hushed tone to whoever was on the other side. After a moment he closed the door and turned with a tray in his hands. The scent of warm bread filled the room, causing my stomach to growl in response. It was then that I realized I’d had nothing to eat since the night before when I went out with Peppermint. It was no wonder I had blacked out earlier.
The Highlander chuckled, before setting the tray on the table next to me. A loaf of fresh bread, a chunk of cheese and a crock of butter filled the tray. He tore the loaf in half, slathered it heavily with butter and handed me a piece. After he had settled back onto the stool across from me I asked, “What’s your name?”
“Callum.”
Callum. I liked the sound of his name. Now I could stop referring to him in my head as my Highlander. “I’m Kari.”
I unwound the towel from my head and began to work my fingers through my hair, carefully separating the tangled strands. I was saddened by the fact that I had missed such an intimate gesture when he had cared for me and washed my hair.
“Kari,” Callum repeated his tongue rolling the r. I liked the way he said my name, my belly flipping in response.
Callum poured some strange liquid out of a pitcher into a cup and set it in front of me. “Tis ale. Though ye might like the taste of the whiskey better.”
I took a tiny sip and frowned at the bitter brew. What I wouldn’t give for a bottle of spring water right now.
“Ye’ll get used to it.” He gulped his own and swiped the back of his hand over his mouth.
“What happened when I came upon you in the woods?” I took a bite of bread while I waited for him to respond. It was warm and surprisingly delicious. I’d had fresh bread before, but never fresh churned butter. It was so much better than what I bought at the grocery store.
Callum scrubbed his hand through his damp hair sending droplets of water flying. “I was hunting a pair of redcaps. Vicious little buggers who were originally believed to never stray from their homes. Only that isn’t true. They crave destruction and blood, and will even travel to wherever they can find it.”
I shivered and pulled the blanket tighter around me. To think I could have been thrown in front of one of those monsters instead of Callum.
“I had just killed one,” Callum continued. “And was about to kill the other when you appeared in front of me squeezing my cock with your hand.”
My cheeks heated at the reminder. “Why must you keep bringing that up? I had soap in my eyes and didn’t know what I was grabbing.”
“Like I said before, I did not mind.”
Warmth pooled in my belly at the idea of having sex with Callum. I wasn’t a prude. Still I’d only had a single one night stand in my life and it had been by my choice alone. There was nothing wrong with the guy, I just had an itch that needed to be scratched at the time and he happened to be available.
Only Callum wasn’t an itch to be scratched and no longer a box I needed to check on my bucket list of fantasies. Strangely he was more than that to me even though I had just met him. I had no idea how much time we had together, but I did know I didn’t want to have any regrets.
I dropped the blanket to the floor and stood. When he paused with a piece of bread halfway to his mouth, I released the plaid, letting it fall in a pile at my feet.
I squealed when he dropped the bread and vaulted from his seat. His arms wrapped around me, lifting me until I was flush against him. I barely had a chance to suck in a breath when his lips crashed against mine.
My hands dug into his hair, anchoring him to me as I deepened the kiss. My tongue swirling against his, Callum groaned into my mouth. That sound alone sent a wave of heat straight to my core.
Callum gripped my ass and lifted me. I wrapped my legs around his waist, realizing somewhere during our kiss that he’d lost his plaid. His cock hard where it pressed against my belly.
Breaking the kiss, I nipped at his lips, sucking and tasting, working my way down his neck while my hips rocked against his length. A searing heat swirled in the pit of my belly and spread to the apex of my thighs. I needed him inside me.
His breath warm against my ear as he rasped, “Lass, I believe I was right about ye. Ye are a naughty temptress.”
Crossing the room, Callum lowered me to the bed, then knelt between my thighs. Holding my hips, he entered me slowly, stretching and filling me inch by agonizing inch. When I tried to lift my hips to end this sweet torture, he shook his head and stopped.