Chapter 5 #3
“Alasdair. You’ve had a shocking day. I want a kiss. It’s as simple as that. I’m not going to grope you. This isn’t going any further. It’s just a kiss. Once and done.” She arched an auburn eyebrow. “If you have a problem with that, you can stop holding me so close.”
I didn’t move a muscle.
A satisfied smirk took the place of the teasing, and she brought her lips back to mine. At the first touch, my eyes closed of their own volition.
Just a kiss. Once and done.
Scarlet slid right, tilting her head to get a better angle. I followed her lead—an unusual change for me, as I’d typically be the one gunning for action. She moved in cautious pecks, keeping it sweet.
My wayward brain stopped its myriad thoughts and focused on the connection between us. For weeks, I hadn’t been able to concentrate on anything, but now, this gathered every loose thread. It stilled the frantic ping-ponging of synapses and quietened my headache.
For a long moment, nothing existed but the careful, gentle kiss.
I might’ve whimpered in relief.
I definitely held her tighter.
Scarlet drew a shuddering breath. Then she ramped up the pressure. Her tongue touched the seam of my lips, and I opened my mouth.
The real fun began.
A hot slide, a tasting. She owned my mouth. Still so slow. A glacial pace. Her hands took two fistfuls of my shirt, then skimmed my shoulders and gripped my head. Keeping me in place.
She explored, casually driving heat through my veins.
I had never, ever, let a lass kiss me like this. Never ceded control.
A desperate sound wrenched from my throat, eliciting an answering moan from Scarlet. Hunger rose. My blood ran hot.
A car horn blared.
“Fuck.” I tore my mouth from her and found the car. “That’s Wasp.”
“Wasp? What’s he doing here?”
“I thought it was a good idea to invite him and Taylor to have a drink with us. But that was ages ago when I wasn’t kissing you and wanting the rest of the world to disappear.”
Scarlet giggled, peeking over my shoulder. “They’re staring.”
“This might take some explaining.”
Together, we stumbled to the car.
“Oh my God.” Taylor cracked open her door. “Were you two…?”
“Yes, there was kissing. Just pretend you didn’t see it.” I gave them both a wave. Maybe I wasn’t as sober as I’d thought.
“Hey, Scarlet.” Wasp popped the rear passenger door. “You two seem pretty hammered. How about we just take you home?”
“I’m not going to the castle. I can’t handle Callum right now.” I climbed into the seat and closed my eyes, reaching out for Scarlet’s hand. She leaned on me, the pressure nice.
“I’m going back to the castle. I need to at least say hi to my family,” Scarlet muttered. “Then I’m going to bed for a year.”
“Ally, are you going to be okay to take the kids out in the morning?” My twin’s voice held humour.
“What are you talk… Oh fuck! I’d forgotten all about it.”
“Forgot what?” Scarlet asked, her voice sleepy.
“I’m meant to be taking Lennox and Skye hiking.
Sebastian, too.” The three five-year-olds, two belonging to my brother and one to James, our family friend, had strong-armed me into agreeing to take them out on the mountain in the summer.
With work, I hadn’t managed it, and it was September now.
Leaving it any later would risk bad weather.
“James brought Sebastian up specially for this.” Wasp full-on laughed now. “Oh man, you are going to hurt.”
“I’ll do it. It’s fine.”
“I’ll come with you.” Scarlet snuggled closer, and I put my arm around her to support her. “I’ve always wanted to explore the estate.”
I didn’t answer, but the idea was a nice one, though I’d lay any money that she wouldn’t show.
Wasp drove us away from the bar, taking the loch road back home. In a few minutes, we dropped off Scarlet. I kissed her forehead, and she tottered inside without a backwards glance.
Then we travelled into the dark hillside and to Wasp and Taylor’s crofthouse.
They bedded me down on the couch, the place still being part-decorated and no other bedrooms yet furnished.
“Ally?” Taylor sat on the floor by my head.
“If it’s okay, can I see a picture of her?
Of your baby?” She glanced to Wasp who was turning lights off around the downstairs.
“We don’t want to stress you out about this, but I’d love to see her face.
We only got a fleeting glimpse from the woman in Inverness. ”
I unlocked my phone and handed it over. Scarlet had sent me the shot she’d taken.
“Oh, William, look.” Taylor held it up.
Wasp joined her and gazed at the screen, his mouth open and his expression hurting my heart.
“You’ve got her as your screensaver already?” he asked.
I did. I barely remembered setting it.
Taylor’s eyes filled with tears. She wanted a baby, and each month they didn’t get pregnant, she took it hard.
“It’s okay.” I brought her in for a hug. “Everything’s going to be okay.”
Wasp took her other side, and we shared an awkward embrace.
They went to their bed, and I lay on my back, thoughts of the bairn asleep somewhere mingling with the memory of Scarlet’s kiss.
Sleep wasn’t going to come easily tonight.