Chapter 17 #2
"Don't tell me you're planning on backing out now after all the commotion you just made about going up it."
Aaron rubbed the back of his neck as his eyes narrowed. "And what will ye give me if I reach the top?"
"What do you want?" He eyed her with such scrutiny that it made her regret asking such a question.
"Let's see here," he answered. "I want a kiss."
Izzy glanced to the sky to reassess the height. She folded her arms over her chest and gave a nod. "I'll give you a kiss if you reach the top."
"Done." Aaron darted for the cliff. Izzy's chest tightened as he climbed higher and higher up the face of the cliff. He moved with speed and precision showcasing just how well he knew the crag and nooks of the needle. Izzy stepped back, raising her hand to her brow to shield her eyes from the sun.
"Aaron?" she called, her voice barely rising over the wind.
Terror ripped her apart as she realized she had lost sight of him.
Even if he had made it to the top, there was no way for her to see him from where she was.
Racing to the edge of the loch, Izzy turned to find Aaron dangling from the last peak of the needle.
Her heart fluttered at the sight of him dangling so precariously over the edge. "Don't fall. Don't fall. Don't fall."
The words came out like a rushed mantra as she rooted for Aaron to pull up to the top.
She clamped her hands over her mouth to stifle the gasp as she witnessed Aaron's plummet into the placid waters of the loch below.
Her scream rippled through the valley as she charged for the other side of the loch, hunting the waters for any sign of Aaron.
With each passing moment, her chest tightened.
Panic engulfed her as she scanned for any bubbles or signs of Aaron disturbing the water.
"Aaron?" she called out as panic jabbed at her, threatening to pummel her to the ground. Where was he? The water had practically stilled from the time he dropped into it. And now, with the depths unclear, Izzy pulled her cloak from her shoulders ready to jump in herself to save him.
"Aaron!"
"Nay need to shout," Aaron said from behind her as his arms enclosed around her. Beads of water fell on her as he scooped her into his embrace.
"Where did you—" she managed to get out as he nudged her closer to the water's edge. "Aaron, don't you dare."
"Ye were just about to jump in, were ye nae?" he teased as he moved her ever closer to the ledge of the rocky bank.
"I thought you were in trouble," she answered as she squirmed to free herself.
"Aye, but now ye're the one in trouble," he said in such a sultry voice it taunted Izzy's darkest desires.
"No," Izzy cried as Aaron launched them into the stillness of the loch. . Water swirled around her as her lungs begged for air. Just as her panic shifted to terror, Aaron pulled her out of the frigid water.
"What was that?" he teased as Izzy tried to wrap her head around the fact she wasn't drowning. She pushed him away from her, and she made her way to the bank of the loch. Water poured down her face, and no matter how many times she wiped it away, more came. "I daenae think I heard ye right."
"I would like to go back to the castle if it's all the same to you," she said refusing to taint or mask her ire.
"Come now; ye're nae really mad at me, are ye?"
"I just watched you fall. I thought you had died. That wasn't funny," Izzy said, trying to fight the tears. She had never been so scared for someone in her life. Aaron's arms were around her like a bear trap, holding her captive to his will.
"I'm sorry," he said as he turned her in his arms to face her. "I was tryin' to impress ye."
"Well, you did a poor job," she huffed as she adverted her eyes to everything but Aaron's face.
"Aye, I can see that. But I did reach the top," he pointed out, tilting his head to catch her eye. Izzy pursed her lips and shook her head.
"It doesn't count."
"But ye made a promise. Ye said I could have a kiss, and I'm claimin' me prize."
Izzy turned to face him. She kept her face stoic as she watched his eyes sparkle with mischief. Puckering her lips, she closed her eyes and waited for Aaron's lips to crush against hers. Her heart fluttered the second she felt her skirts lift and a cold breeze embrace her ankles.
"What are you doing?" Izzy asked as she pushed her skirts back down.
"Kissin' ye," he answered.
"And just where do you think you're going to do that?"
Aaron's lips curled at the corner as his eyes shifted to her skirt. "Trust me."
"As far as I can throw you," Izzy answered as her chest rose and fell rapidly. Every nerve in her body tingled as she watched Aaron fill the space before her. He pulled her to his body and guided her to the mossy bank. The ground was softer than Izzy had expected.
"Relax," Aaron whispered as she felt the tips of his fingers graze over her bosom and down her torso. Her body quivered under his touch. With his eyes locked on her, he slowly hoisted the fabric of her dress over her knees.
"Aaron?"
"Shh. Just one kiss," he whispered as he pulled her legs apart. She licked her lips and studied him as he nestled his body between her legs. How her body ached for him. Despite not knowing what he was about to do to her, she knew she wanted it. "But ye need to relax. Close yer eyes."
Izzy let her eyelids flutter close, allowing the world to shift to darkness. All other sensations seemed to come alive. The earthy smell filled her nose as Aaron's fingers grazed over her inner thigh. Tingling followed by a light sensation rippling over her skin made her shift and jerk.
"So, ye're ticklish. That'll be useful later," Aaron observed, his hot breath crashing against her inner thigh. Izzy breath caught in her throat as Aaron's wet tongue slipped over the tender bulb of flesh between her legs. Her eyes popped open as his tongue pressed down harder.
"Oh my," she gulped as he started lapping her clit, teasing and taunting the flesh until Izzy's legs began to twitch uncontrollably.
"What was that?" Aaron asked as he pulled away. She looked at him nestled between her legs with her dress drawn around his neck like a scarf. "I couldnae hear ye."
"More," she pleaded as her hands shot to his head.
"Did I nae tell ye, ye'd enjoy this?" Aaron said as he disappeared under the fabric of her skirts. Izzy threw her head back as Aaron's tongue tormented and teased her. Time slipped by as the sun moved lazily across the sky.
"Oh, yes," Izzy cried out, letting her voice bounce off the face of the needle. She gasped as her body was introduced to Aaron's fingers, and they pushed deep into her. Izzy's body was no longer hers.
"That's it," Aaron whispered against her leg. "Submit to me. Ye ken ye want to."
His voice was sultry and just as seductive.
Izzy's body rock with a violent tremor that ripped her in half.
It was a sensation she wanted to understand and explore.
How did one person have the power to break her so effortlessly and mend her into a new creation?
Opening her eyes, she found Aaron staring at her.
His flashed her a crooked, sleepy grin that melted her heart.
"Now then, that wasnae so bad, was it?" Aaron asked as he removed his fingers from her and drew her skirt down. She gulped the air as she watched the clouds drift through the afternoon sky.
"More," Izzy pleaded as Aaron crawled over her to plant a kiss on her forehead.
"All in good time," he answered as her body trembled once more. "All in good time."