Chapter 6
Chapter Six
F iona
He follows up his threat with, “You deny it now, but you will want me soon enough.”
There is a palpable tension in the air, a veil of electrifying fascination that is as raw as it is enticing—giving truth to his words. The intensity of his stare sears into me, igniting an inner fire that I struggle to comprehend, let alone control.
He wraps his arms around me tighter, pulling me flush against him. His…cock…presses against my body, firm and wanting. I’ve never felt a man before, and shame floods me, a flash of heat covering my entire face, making me dizzy.
My heart staggers at the contact, my breath hitching in fear. His grip on me is possessive yet gentle, masterful yet respectful...an intoxicating blend of dominance and consideration that confuses me .
His masculine scent engulfs me – earthy like freshly tilled soil after rain and supple leather. It awakens an unexplored universe within me. Powerless in his arms, I close my eyes, drinking in this intoxicating blend of sensations.
I feel the heat from his chest emanating through the soft fabric of his shirt, seeping into my skin and kindling a slow-burning flame in the pit of my stomach. A gasp escapes my lips as he brushes his knuckles ever-so-lightly across the exposed skin of my collarbone, sending shock waves of pleasure rippling through every fiber of my being.
It's such a simple touch but a possessive one I’ve never experienced before. Fear has captured me, along with an elixir of eager anticipation mixed with intense curiosity. There’s a whole world between men and women I’ve never visited, and now, with his heat and power pressed against me, I find a wave of desire filling me.
“Fiona,” he murmurs lowly, his voice a sinful whisper that caresses my senses like fine silk. “Do ye think you can resist me?”
"Yes," I stammer out breathlessly.
Forgive me, God, if I’m telling lies. But I know I will try to resist this man who may have piqued my curiosity as much as he’s peaked my tightening nipples.
“I know you’ve never been with a man,” he says.
“You’re no detective,” I shoot back.
This makes him laugh, a deep chuckle that vibrates through his chest. The feeling deepens the desire that threatens to take over the fear .
“Because the entire island knows. The Golden Girls keep tabs on everyone’s love lives on our wee island,” I say.
“Aye, they do. But they don’t know yer mind.” He strokes my cheeks with the back of his knuckles. “Have you ever thought about what it would be like to be with a man?” His knuckles stroke softly down the exposed skin of my neck. “Maybe even with a man like me?”
“N—no. Of course not.” I want to pull away, but his embrace is too strong. Too warm. He smells…too good.
Of course, there have been lonely nights I’ve lain awake in bed, dreaming of being with a man. Wondering what it would feel like to have him touch me…kiss me.
Fumbling to unbutton one another’s clothing under the covers, the dream man is good, kind, and as inexperienced as me.
Callum is none of those things.
"You will," he says, his tone confident as he seals the promise with a chaste kiss on my forehead.
Finally, I attempt to push him away. “I don’t know about that.”
He pulls me closer. “We’ll be needing to go over my rules for this place. Rules you must obey.” He tightens his hold on me again— more demanding this time, possessive even. My mind races wildly at this unexpected intimacy, my skin tingling where his lips have just brushed.
“Alright…” Breathless under his gaze, my hands keep pushing against his chest.
He says, “It’s important for your safety that you do as I say. ”
“I understand,” I say.
The Hoax could be our neighbors. I’ve never stayed in a city before. Shielded from danger and crime, I grew up wandering the hills alone, picking flowers on our wee island.
“I’m happy you understand,” he says, his arms still tight around me. “But there’s more I must warn you about.”
“Aye…”
“If you were to disobey one of my rules, which I highly doubt you will, being such a good little lass...” His eyes hold mine as he reaches up, gently stroking a lock of hair away from my face. “But if you did have a naughty streak somewhere inside that little red head of yours, you’d be punished. Thoroughly.”
Shock settles in, but words slip out. “Punished…how?”
He cups my face in his hand. “There are many ways to punish a naughty girl. Pain, yes, a good hard spanking on a bare bottom, but there are other ways, too. Ways that seem pleasurable at first but then become pure torture. Ever heard the term orgasm denial?”
The thought of what he speaks of makes my face burn with shame. And a curious wet heat creep between my thighs. Breaking our gaze, I shake my head, pulling my face from his grasp. “You know very well I haven’t heard of such things.”
“An innocent virgin. Exactly what I need for my bride. I’ll happily teach you the ways of the world. And I’ll take my time doing so.”
It’s too much. The heat of his words, the warmth of his embrace, worry, fear, and that underlying current that never seems to go away around him—something deeper, darker, thrumming with life and energy—all tangle in my mind at once.
I back away, wriggling out of his muscle-laden embrace. This time, he lets me go. Each pump of my heart beats with fear. He’s a dangerous man. And those calloused hands of his, rough from work, are massive, as much capable of causing pain as they are of creating pleasure.
I’ve been alone for so long. Curious about sex for so long. I can’t believe I’m even contemplating the idea of staying. The question is, do I want to stick around and risk the pain to feel the pleasure?
Or do I run the first chance I get?
He reaches out for me but stops as we hear footsteps and his name called out. “Callum?” His arms drop to his sides. Someone is heading toward this room.
Smoothing my hands over my skirt, I will the flush to drain from my face.
He steps back and calls out, “In here.”
“Finally found ye. So, it turns out the gold will take weeks to arrive. Do we want to wait or—” Freya’s eyes widen as she enters the scene.
I was standing there, face all peely-wally and flushed, him so close to me he could reach out and grab me.
Freya tries to recover from stumbling in on us. “Och! Hello there. Cheffie told me Callum was in here. Sorry. Didn’t realize you weren’t alone.”
“Let’s wait for the gold if it’s what you want.” Callum clears his throat, running his tattooed fingers over his beard as he addresses his sister. His gaze turns back to meet mine. “All good things are worth the wait. Aren’t they, wee one?”
An awkward moment passes.
“Gold it is!” Freya offers me a tight smile, retreating with her heels clicking as she goes.
“And Freya?”
“Yes?” Stopping, she turns her blonde head over her shoulder to face him.
Callum’s voice is low, the tone threatening. “Close the door as you leave.”
“W—why do we need the door closed?” I take a few shaky steps backward till I bump into the table's edge.
“We have more to discuss.” He steps toward me. “And I think you’d prefer privacy for this chat.”
“More to discuss…” My words trail off, my mind going into overdrive as I study his face.
Freya shoots me a look. “K.”
I can’t quite read the glance she gives me as she goes. An apology from one woman to another? Still, she’s made it clear where her loyalties lie. With the wallpaper sample book clutched beneath her arm, she does as her brother asks, closing the big oak doors one at a time.
My pulse races, perspiration prickling at my skin. I’m shaking, the cool air rushing over my bare legs. I should run. Tendrils of fear crawl down my spine, making chill bumps rise on my flesh. Glancing past him, I gauge the path between me and those double doors that lead to freedom.
And I take off running for them.