Chapter 28 #2
Arrogant Scot. “Do you want me to accept this proposal?”
The wide, teasing smile stayed on his face, and love gleamed in his eyes. “Aye, so get on with it, woman.”
“Then let me say something. I’ve never been in love with anyone. I didn’t even know what it meant. Then you came along, all seven feet of you.”
“Six-ten.” He rolled his eyes.
“And you swept me off my heels.” A pressure in my chest threatened my composure, so I rushed on. “I am completely in love with you, Callum McRae. I love your family, your Highlands, and how you’re this beautiful shining star in the middle of it all. A pillar of strength to all around you.”
His smile settled to being almost wistful. “I do what I must. But even pillars need support.”
“I’ll do more than that.”
“Mathilda?” he asked, taking my hand in his.
My heart fluttered, and a happiness I’d never anticipated made itself complete inside me. I had everything I wanted, even things I had no idea existed.
“Marry me.”
“Yes.”
With a huff, Callum pulled me to him and kissed me, his hand on the back of my head, letting me know he was in charge now.
I liked it so much, this powerful man, so used to ordering people around, managing a huge swathe of land, wanting desperately to dominate me, yet if I said one word, he’d leap to my command.
He owned my mouth, showing me just how hungry he was. Then he slowed. “Last thing,” he said. “Before I forget.”
The case displayed a beautiful old ring. Yellow gold with a delicate design, an oval diamond within the band. Callum plucked the ring out. “It’s not exactly high fashion. It was my mother’s, and it means something to me.”
I loved it, just like I loved him. “It’s perfect.”
Together, we slid it onto my finger.
Callum stared at the ring, his breathing slowing.
In the background, the ballad came to an end, finishing on a drawn-out note.
The lamplight glowed, and I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect proposal from this man.
In private, within the safe walls of his castle, after he’d just dropped everything to come for me.
Our troubles weren’t over, but we’d won the day.
“Will you tell me about her some time?” I guessed he was thinking about his mother.
He blinked. “Who, Ma? Is that where you thought my head was at? I’ll tell you anything you want to know but I have to admit I was counting down the seconds to make this respectable enough before I carried you to my bed. Are we good? Because engagement sex has got to be amazing, aye?”
My laugh filled the room, and Callum leapt up and carried me to the bed. “I love you.” He laid a soft kiss on my lips.
“I love you, too. Endlessly.”
“How many bairns do you want?” His fingers feverishly worked the buttons of my shirt while he kissed my neck.
“Um, I don’t know. Two?” We could fill the castle with babies if I got to have Callum for the rest of my days.
“Or five? Can we start now?” He dragged my top off and let his eager eyes take their fill of my breasts.
Heat consumed me. “Sure.”
“I’m serious.” Callum hauled down my bra cup with one hand and kissed his way to my nipple. He sucked hard, and I threw my head back and squirmed on the bed. A groan rumbled through him and he palmed and moulded me.
Then he brought his weight down between my legs, forcing my thighs wide to accommodate him. “How fast can you organise our wedding?” he said his breath warm on my skin.
I laughed all the more, and he set his attentions to my other breast, this time, his hand running down to lift my skirts.
“Jesus, you’re soaking.” Callum pulled my underwear aside and slowly sank two fingers into me.
“Oh God,” I gasped. We’d had sex this morning, and I still ached from the size of him, but I needed him more than ever.
“How quick? A week?”
“Three months.”
“No deal.” He added a third finger and stretched me, readying my body to receive his.
I moaned, writhing, pleasure sparking across every nerve ending. Here, in the highest level of the castle, no one could hear me. There were stone floors and acres of space between us and our family. Callum was going to make me scream.
“Three weeks.” Callum’s belt rattled as he used his other hand to undo his jeans. A frantic note hastened his words. “I can’t wait. I need you to have my name. I want everything with you and I want it yesterday.”
“I need to organise invitations, caterers, choose a dress,” I began, but Callum’s cock sprang free, and he stroked his hard length twice before bringing it to the soft, welcoming centre of me. He circled my clit, and my jaw went slack. Oh, how good his actions felt.
Out-of-this-world incredible.
“Oh, fuck,” he said, his booming voice dropping to a whisper. He slid his tip over my entrance. Pressing and testing but not slipping in. I wrapped my legs around his waist, so, so ready and impatiently waiting. “Fine. You can have a month, but I need to make love to you now.”
“Tell me again.” I screwed my eyes tight shut. So close already from his hands and mouth. Ready to explode with lust and love for my mountain man.
“Tell ye what?” he spluttered, almost vibrating with his need. Like we hadn’t just agreed to marriage, babies, and a whole life together.
“That you love me.”
Callum thrust once and filled me. He paused then jacked his hips, working every inch until our hips met. He rested his forehead on mine.
“Open your eyes,” Callum commanded. He stared down at me and rolled his hips, making love. “I love you.”
“How much?” I teased, gasping when he hit the spot. There was no doubt left in me. Callum was pure heart and openness.
“With every part of me. Most of all, in this second only, this one.” He thrust harder now, holding on to my hips, his fingers digging into my flesh.
Long strokes, over and over. A wicked glint filled his eyes, and he halted and dragged his jeans down to his ankles, planted a knee on the bed, then grabbed my thighs and hauled me to the edge.
My skirt rucked up around my waist; we were too frantic to stop and strip.
We kissed, and he set a fast rhythm, slamming into me and demanding my love with his body.
I gave him everything I had. In minutes, I was gasping for breath, the angle perfect and my emotions creating a whirlwind.
I called his name. Raked his bulky shoulders through his shirt with my nails, and I clasped him to me, almost sobbing.
Pleasure spiralled through me and electrified my body.
I came in glorious bursts of light, sparkling colours, and true love.
“I’m going to come.” Callum gritted his teeth. “I can’t wait.”
“Do it.”
He gave a ragged gasp then used those massive thighs for all they were worth, pounding and straining until the muscles of his neck stood out in stark relief and his forehead shone with earned sweat. Then he arched his spine and threw back his head. His cock pulsed, and I yelped at the sensation.
“You’re mine,” Callum choked out, gripping on to me like his life depended on it.
“I’m yours,” he added and dropped down, banding his arms around me so we were as close as close could be.
He brought his demanding lips to mine, I ran my fingers into his damp hair and, as we cooled, I made him look at me.
“I can manage a wedding in a month.”
“I can wait a wee while longer, if you’d prefer. But,” Callum shifted his hips, moving his still-hard cock inside me, both of us groaning, “we dinna want to wait long. If we have bairns on their way, any dress you buy won’t fit.”
I grinned at the thought. Mathilda Storm, who planned everything to a finite degree, could end up not caring about the baby/wedding order. “I’ll stop taking my pill, but you’re awfully certain about yourself.”
“Aye, and it’ll be twins, too.” He pulled out and dove down to kiss my belly, unzipping my skirt before he dragged it off.
I took my bra off and he removed the last of his clothes then settled once more on the bed.
We hugged, naked, Callum squeezing me to him, my soft body against his hard one.
“I want that,” I whispered. “Or one, at least.”
“You’ll have everything you want. Always.”
“We need to go downstairs in a minute. Sort the kids out.”
“Aye, the world didn’t stop turning just because we fell in love.” He rolled onto his back and pulled me onto his broad chest.
I could stay there for days, just hearing his heartbeat and trusting him to care for me.
“Is it okay if I invite my father here tomorrow?” I asked, forming a plan on the spot. Dad would be having a fit right about now, assuming he’d spoken to Mom, but I would never again tiptoe around him. Not anymore.
“Mathilda,” Callum replied, his voice lazy and sated in the best possible way. “Dinna ask for what you already have the rights to. Everything I own is yours. Bring the man here. Let another Storm hit my castle, and we’ll quell that one, too.”