Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
F iona
Clutching the blankets to my chest, I stare down at the ring—a beautiful emerald-cut solitaire set in a simple platinum band. The diamond glitters brightly and is clearly of phenomenal quality.
I never thought I would be proposed to by a man I barely know, a man who looks like a Viking and has a love of BDSM in—and out—of the bedroom, a dangerous man with powerful ties.
A man who made a dark, devious plan to use my father’s weaknesses against him. To pile on the debt, then use me as payment. But in his way, he did it out of love, or infatuation that turned to love, wanting to have me, care for me, and protect me from the moment I refused him that dance.
No, he’s not the man I pictured myself marrying .
And yet, here we are.
"Will you marry me?" Callum says again, an earnest pleading filling his voice.
One I’ve never heard before.
“Marry you?” I repeat.
“Aye…”
I can feel my heart racing, and my mind is in a whirlwind trying to make sense of it all. Every fiber of my being is drawn toward saying yes, tempted by the electrifying chemistry between us and the thrill of our sex lives.
Yet, a part of me holds back, questioning if this is just another display of his need for control. We’ve only just made amends from our first fight. Is it too soon to accept his proposal?
I look up at him, studying his handsome face and those green eyes for any hint of ego. But all I see is genuine affection and desire. He truly wants me to be his wife.
And all I see in those eyes is that he belongs to me.
And suddenly, the answer becomes clear. Despite my doubts and reservations, something deep inside me yearns for the passion, protection, and intensity that Callum offers.
He may be a monster. But he’s my monster.
"Yes," I say breathlessly, feeling a swell of emotion in my chest.
Callum's face breaks into a wide grin as he buries his face in the pillow with relief. “God, girl, ye just about gave me a heart attack there! ”
I laugh as he slips the ring onto my finger. I’m not even surprised when it fits perfectly as if it was made just for me. Everything he’s ever bought me has been perfect.He pulls me closer and kisses me deeply, sending sparks flying through my body. As we break apart, his eyes shine with excitement.
I feel so happy. He’s made me so happy. The ring is gorgeous.
I’ve nothing for him. “Can I make you a cup of tea,” I offer.
“We’ll have the rest of our lives for tea,” he says. “Would you mind getting dressed instead?”
“Of course. But what for?” I ask.
“Come outside. I’ve got something to show you.” He stands to leave the room, adding, “I’ll make the tea while you dress.”
He walks out into the kitchen, allowing me a few moments to prepare. Twisting my hair up in a bun, I have a quick rinse before searching my closet. I settle on a simple blue dress and sweater, as it’s a bit chilly.
He’s been so lovely—I swipe on a bit of makeup. I hear him putting the kettle on. I’m ready in ten minutes, but I spend a few extra moments stopping to stare at the ring. It is beautiful. Mam would love to see it. A tear pops up in the corner of my eye. I press it away.
Today is for happiness.
Callum’s not in the living room.
“Callum?” I call out.
The front door is wide open. “Out here! ”
I step outside the front door to find him standing on the wide expanse of my front yard. The sun hangs heavy in the sky, just about ready to retire for the day. He hands me a mug with tea. “Milk and two sugars.”
“Thanks.” I take a grateful sip. “What have you got up your sleeve, Callum Burnes? Why are we outside?”
“For that.” I follow Callum’s gaze to where it rests, across the way in the Baynes’ field. I have to step around him to get a better look.
There’s a massive, bright-pink hot air balloon, its basket hovering over the ground.
“Is that for us?”
“Aye. I’ve heard through the grapevine you admired the ones we had at the party last year. Those remained tethered to the ground, being nighttime and all. This one, though, will carry us all over our wee island.”
"I can't believe we're getting married," I breathe. “And we’re going on a hot air balloon ride!”
Callum chuckles and tucks a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "Believe it or not, I hate heights," he says with a teasing gleam in his eye.
I laugh along with him, feeling more at ease now that the tension has been broken. "I’ll take care of you, my big bad beast.”
“You’re the one who unleashes the beast in me.” He gives me a devilish smile. "Just wait until our wedding night."
“Callum,” I chide .
Eager to begin the experience, I leave the mug on the front stoop. We hurry over to the grazing field, hand in hand, as the pink hot air balloon slowly descends from the sky. I can't believe my eyes; it's like something from one of my sweet romance novels.
"Is this even real?" I ask, still in shock.
“Aye.” Callum chuckles. "As real as it gets, love."
Before I know it, we're climbing into the balloon basket and taking off. The view is breathtaking, and I can't help but feel like we're floating in our own little world.
The massive man beside me clings to my hand like a child.
Only further solidifying the fact that he would do anything for me. Here he is, terrified, yet sailing above the earth in a hot air balloon. A bright-pink one, no less.
We glide over the lush greenery of the Scottish island, the vibrant shades of emerald grass and moss-covered rocks blending seamlessly below us. The sea spreads like a vast, shining sapphire, the waves gently caressing the rugged coastline of jagged cliffs and hidden coves.
A flock of sea birds takes flight, their wings catching the sunlight and casting shimmering reflections on the water's surface. As we drift higher, the clouds form a soft pillow beneath us. The air is crisp and clean, carrying the scent of wildflowers and salty sea spray.
We pass the Kings Castle, a renovated cathedral of gray stone. The fenced-in fields where Bayne keeps his horses, the Romani Cob, amongst the grass. Kitt and Bayne’s white, Scandinavian-style home, Bayne’s red Toyota truck parked in the drive .
Two figures stand in the yard, waving at us.
“It’s Bayne and Kitt!” I peer safely over the edge of the basket. “Did you tell them to be outside, or is this a coincidence?”
“I may have made a call.” Grabbing my waist, he pulls me back. “I told them I hoped we’d be flying over in a bright-pink hot air balloon,” he says, touching the diamond on my finger. “If ye’d said yes.”
"I can't believe you did all this for me," I say, turning to face Callum with a wide smile on my face.
"‘Tis just a small token of my affection," he says, his eyes sparkling with adoration, his hand still clinging to mine.
"So this was your plan all along?" I ask with a grin. “Proposal and then a balloon ride.”
“If you said yes.” He nods. " But I’ve been sick with worry all day. About you saying no and then me looking like a total ass, a bright-pink balloon floating toward us, me with a face like a slapped ass being denied by you?—”
I offer, “But you decided it was worth the risk.”
“I wanted our engagement to be special. "
"Well, you definitely succeeded," I say.
As the sun begins to dip toward the horizon, painting the sky in a wash of pinks and oranges, we share a bottle of wine and reminisce about my first time coming to his house.
"So tell me, Callum, what do you want for the wedding? Any special requests?" I inquire, lifting my gaze to meet his.
“When I’d first stolen you away, I wanted a big do, a proper do. One to show off how important I was, how beautiful the bride I claimed.” Callum gently takes my hand, his thumb tracing over my knuckles. "But now that I know what it means to be with you, to make ye happy, I want it to be simple and intimate," he says, gazing into my eyes. "With just our closest friends and family around us. I want to see the joy in their faces as they celebrate with us, and I want them to be a part of our love."
“I’m happy to have a big celebration,” I say, thinking of all the people I love. “But I would like to have it here, on the island, instead of in the city, if you don’t mind.”
“Whatever you want, my love”—he lifts my hand to his lips, kissing it softly—“you’ll have.”
“Thank you.” A warm glow spreads through my chest at his words, and I can't help but feel an overwhelming sense of happiness and gratitude.
Callum eases into the experience, slowly enjoying himself. The ride is magical, and we spend the whole time cuddling up together, taking in the stunning scenery and enjoying each other's company as the sun sets. The colors are like paintbrush strokes across the sky.
Callum has yet another surprise for me as we land back on solid ground. He leads me to a private picnic he had set up earlier in the day.
When we reach the beach, it’s dark, and the sand is lit by flickering torches. A blanket is spread out on the sand, and wine chills in a metal ice bucket. There are platters of food and fruit.
Kitt and Bayne come walking out from the shadows into the light.
“Don’t mind if we join, do ye?” Bayne asks, giving a wide, white grin .
“What a surprise!” I clap my hands in delight. “Join us!”
“Oh, Fiona! This is amazing!” Kitt comes rushing over to hug me. She squeezes me so tight that I have trouble breathing.
“Kitt. Can’t. Breathe.”
She releases me, covering her mouth with her hand as she laughs. “Oh, God, sorry! I got a little overexcited there, didn’t I? I haven’t seen you since the honeymoon. And now I hear you’re getting married!”
The four of us sit on the blanket. Callum pours wine into little clear jars for all of us. We wait to taste the wine as he raises his glass in a toast. “To my bride-to-be, Fiona. The woman who won my heart ages ago but taught me patience.”
“Cheers!”
We clink glasses, sipping the wine. Kitt makes us plates, serving us slices of her homemade bread with slabs of cheese and cups of fresh fruit. They tell us funny and exciting stories from their honeymoon. Callum and I discuss where we might travel for ours, Kitt and Bayne weighing in on different ideas. We laugh and dine late into the night, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore background music to our conversation.
Afterward, he drives us home.
Despite our unconventional start, there's something undeniably real between us. And by the end of our picnic, I know that marrying Callum is the right decision for me.
This time, when we pull up to Norse Garden Estate, we’re together, hand in hand, inside his sleek sports car, and I think of it as our home.
“Can we keep the front door black?” he asks.
“Yes,” I laugh.
We snuggle up on the couch in front of a roaring fire. The sparkling ring on my finger catches my eye once again, and I can't help but admire its beauty. "I never thought someone like you would come into my life," I say softly.
"I feel the same way," Callum replies, kissing my forehead.
We spend the rest of the evening lost in each other, planning our future and talking about the family we hope to have.
"You know, when we were flying earlier, I was thinking about how many kids we want to have," I say, breaking the warm silence between us.
"Oh?" Callum raises an eyebrow, his gaze flicking to mine. "And what have you decided?"
I shift closer to him, my arm draped over his lap. "I think I want a big family. I picture us filling this house with laughter.”
A smile spreads across Callum's face. "I picture me filling your belly with lots of wee ones. "Shall we start practicing now?”
Callum's eyes darken with desire as the fire crackles, casting a warm glow over us. His hand gently trails down my back, sending shivers down my spine as he pulls me closer to him. The anticipation in the air is palpable, charged with the raw energy of our love and longing.
Without a word, our lips meet in a hungry kiss, igniting a passion that has been simmering between us for so long. The taste of wine lingers on our tongues as we explore each other with a fierce urgency, each touch setting our bodies ablaze.
I feel the heat of the flames against my skin as Callum's hands roam over me, awakening every nerve ending with his tender caresses. Our clothes become barriers that need to be shed, and soon, we are lost in a tangle of limbs and desire.
What we do then is a chapter out of Freya’s naughty romance novels.
The world outside fades away as we become lost in each other, consumed by a primal need that only the other can fulfill.
The intensity of our lovemaking is matched only by the raw emotion we share. We become one, lost in the moment, unaware of anything beyond the pleasure we derive from each other.
As we collapse onto the soft rug in front of the fireplace, I can't help but marvel at the beauty of our connection. I lay there, reveling in the afterglow, with Callum cradling me in his arms. His warm breath rustles against my skin, and I can't help but feel as if I'm floating on a cloud of pure bliss.
"I love you," I whisper, pressing my lips softly against his lips.
"And I love you more," he says.
“Can’t be.” Remembering how fun it was to be in charge, I grip the base of his neck. “There’s one more promise I need you to make.”
“What is it?” he asks .
“You have to lift your silly pet ban.” Brave, I know. I press on. “I want a kitten.”
“Aye. You’ll have your kitten.”
I squeal with glee. “Really!”
“I told you. I’ll give you anything you want.” He grabs my hand, pinning it behind my back as he flips over on his knees behind me. “But we’ve got to make one thing clear between us.”
He kisses my lower back, a nipping bite sinking into my ass. I gasp. “What?”
“I’m the one in charge.”