Chapter 28
CHAPTER 28
PARKER
Mama wrapped me in a gentle hug. “Oh, I wish we could see you again before we go.”
“If things are as dire as you fear, limiting contact for a bit is probably wise. You and Daddy are a lot more visible than I am.” I thought all of this was overkill, but if I could use the situation to buy myself some peace, I would.
It had already been decided that they’d head straight back to the jet waiting in Glasgow, rather than staying the night. The crew would spread a rumor that they’d stopped only for repairs of some kind before heading on to the Meridian Global offices in Berlin for a day or two to throw off anyone who might be watching them. Was any of that necessary? I had no idea. The only thing that mattered was that I wouldn’t be going with them.
Daddy was next. “We just want what’s best for you, Pumpkin.”
I pressed my cheek to his shoulder. “I know. And I swear I’ll be careful. I’m in good hands here.”
He pulled back to look at Callum, who was still giving off weird Twilight Zone country club vibes. “I’m trusting you with her, son.”
Callum gave his hand a firm shake. “I willnae let you down, sir.”
With one last round of goodbyes, they were finally gone, and it was down to Jade, Callum, and me.
I loosed a long, slow exhale. “Well, that was… a lot.”
Jade rubbed my shoulder. “I know we need to have a formal discussion about what all of this means, but for now, I expect you two have an overdue conversation that needs to happen.”
She wasn’t wrong. “Go ahead and take the car.” Unlike me, Jade had seen the sense in picking up a rental. I still walked where I could, but Callum lived too far out. “I’ll be home… eventually.”
That could be later tonight or tomorrow morning. I supposed it depended on how this conversation went. I knew how I wanted it to end. How I’d wanted it to end even before I’d arrived to find him in that mouthwatering kilt.
Jade nodded and turned for the door.
“Jade?”
She paused, looking back at me.
“Thank you.”
My friend flashed her gorgeous, fierce smile. “Anytime.” With a quick salute, she slipped out the door, leaving me alone with a man who’d incited far too many questions tonight. One who’d gone above and beyond to have my back.
Without a word, I closed the distance between us, taking his hand and dragging him over to the sofa. He sank down, tugging me onto his lap, exactly where I wanted to be. I slid my arms around him as I’d been wanting to do all night. He wrapped around me, and we both sighed.
“I get to stay.”
“Aye, you get to stay.” He pressed a kiss to my temple. “I wouldn’t have let them take you away, but I’m glad it didn’t come to that.”
I tipped my head back to look at him. “Do you really think that I’m in any sort of danger?”
“I dinna know, but we’ll find out.” He stroked the hair back from my face, rough fingers grazing my cheek. “Either way, I’ll keep you safe, no matter what.”
“I know you will.” I turned my face into the touch, soaking up the contact. “I don’t know how to express what it means to me that you have my back.” I found a smile for him as I nuzzled my cheek against his palm. “You did all of this—the house, the dinner, whatever this weird Stepford makeover was—to impress my parents. You hated all of it.”
He opened his mouth to protest, but I laid a finger over his lips.
“You hated all of it,” I repeated. “But you did it all anyway because you felt it mattered.”
He kissed my finger. “You matter. More than anyone ever has.”
My heart began to thud, slow and thick in my chest. “Callum.”
“I wouldn’t have done this for anyone else.” He twitched his shoulders, visibly dropping the mask he’d been wearing all night.
“You come from a world like mine.”
“Technically. It’s been a long time. I’m what you’d call the black sheep. As the eldest, I was expected to follow in the family footsteps, so when I joined the Royal Marines instead, it didn’t go over well. But I never had any interest in any of it.”
I straightened. “You have siblings?” He’d said almost nothing of his family in the time we’d spent together.
“One brother. William. He took on everything I rejected, which is, perhaps, the only reason I wasn’t fully disowned.”
I tightened my arms around him, not knowing exactly how his family had hurt him, only understanding that they had. “Have you seen your family since you retired?”
“Just once.” The way his body tensed told me that visit hadn’t gone especially well. “But I called my grandfather to do my own form of recon on your dad.”
If his world was like mine, then that kind of info gathering hadn’t come without strings. “What did you agree to?”
He dragged a thumb across my cheek in a gentle caress. “Nothing I’m not willing to pay. We got what we needed out of this. You get to stay here and live your life.”
I wanted to get started on some of that living here and now. Because this man had slain my dragons, and this princess wanted to celebrate. “Can I stay here tonight? With you?”
His hand stilled on my cheek, his eye going dark. “You can stay as long as you like.”
I smiled at that. “Good.” Then I leaned in and pressed my mouth to his, because I’d long since learned that in this I’d have to take the lead. He’d never push me. If I wanted him—and God, did I—I had to make it clear.
With a low hum in the back of his throat, he angled his mouth more firmly to mine, and his powerful arms circled me, somehow closing me in without pressing too tight. I loved how aware he was of everywhere we touched, not wanting to accidentally hit one of my trigger points. But I wanted to see what it was like having that absolute focus dialed fully to pleasure instead of pain.
“Callum?” I gently nipped his lip.
“Mm?”
“I want you to touch me. Everywhere.”
With a growl, he tightened his hold on me, pressing heated kisses along my throat. On a contented sigh, I dropped my head back, inviting further exploration with his mouth. His fingers worked their way under the edge of the neckline of my dress, testing the give of the fabric. When he found it had an elastic quality, he tugged, working it down from my shoulders to bare the top curve of my breasts. Wanting that greedy mouth on my nipples, I wriggled a little until the dress slid further down, baring my breasts fully. The almost feral sound he made had heat pulsing between my legs. I wanted his hands there, those massive fingers sliding into the heat he created. But before I could grab one to make it clear what I needed, he’d closed his mouth over one tight nipple. I cried out, spearing my fingers into his hair as he suckled. Pleasure spooled through me, making my limbs go warm and pliant.
I hadn’t realized just how badly I’d needed to be touched. Needed this man’s hands on me. Every inch of my body woke up and tingled, yearning for more. I wilted back, leaving myself open for him to devour anything he pleased. Callum feasted with his mouth and hands, inciting a riot of sensation with every kiss, every touch. And when my hips began to rock, seeking relief from the tension he built, he dragged one hand up my thigh, beneath the pooling skirt of my dress to cover my center.
On a cry of approval, I arched into the touch, spreading my legs wider, inviting more. His finger traced patterns over the silk of my underwear, driving me crazy while he continued to worship my breasts. Groping blindly, I covered his big hand with mine, pressing it close and moaning at the pressure that wasn’t nearly enough.
“Need your fingers,” I managed.
His good eye held a faintly maniacal gleam as he caught my gaze. “Aye, lass.” Then he nudged the fabric aside and drew one blunt finger through the gathered wetness.
My hips bucked, and I whimpered. “More.”
He eased one finger slowly inside me, and I thought I’d lose my mind. “Och, you’re so tight.”
“Been… long… time. Oh, God.”
He bent his head, capturing one of my nipples again, laving it with his tongue as he mimicked the rhythm between my thighs. My hips rose and fell, and I could only hang on for the ride as he drove me ruthlessly up, adding a second finger to the first. He felt so good filling me up. Yet it wasn’t enough. Not quite.
But before I could say a thing, he circled my clit with his thumb, the rough edges of the pad just grazing that sensitive bud, until I exploded with a cry. He held me through the rippling aftershocks, still working me with his fingers until at last I lay limp in his lap.
Feeling weak as a kitten, I stared up at him, taking in the look of adoration and total smug satisfaction on his face. A dreamy smile spread over my lips. “That was an excellent start.”
“Start?” He barked a laugh.
“This isn’t over tonight until we’re both naked and mindless.”
His good eye had gone black as midnight. “You’re fucking incredible, you know that?”
“I certainly hope you think so on the other side. I want you to take me to bed, Callum.”
He slid his fingers from me and scooped me into his arms. “As you wish.”