Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
No, no. No mooning over his strength. Not again. Focus on the important stuff. The chance of acquiring the potion from Tavish might not be zero. That was a reason to celebrate.
“Why didn’t you stick around to find out if you succeeded or not?” Walking away before reaching the finish line seemed like a very un-berserkery thing to do.
“I remembered what awaited me at home and delegated.”
Parts of me tingled, and I gulped again. He might as well have walked straight out of the pages of my favorite book.
“I’m pleased my two girls got along so well in my absence.” He gave me a look I couldn’t interpret.
The tingles collected in a single location. His girls? “Well, Mirren is pretty wonderful.”
“I am, aren’t I?” The little princess performed a twirl.
Callen and I shared a soft smile, and it threw me. I backed up a step.
“I’ll get Mirren settled,” he said, his tone gentle. “Go to our room, Elle. There’s something we’re going to do.”
My stomach hollowed as I shifted from foot to foot. Like, say, punishment? Or the mark? But I hadn’t made a decision!
He motioned to my guards, who stalked my way. One positioned himself in front of me, the other behind.
“You are beyond frustrating.” I tossed the words in Callen’s direction. Left with no other choice, I followed Buzz out of the wall and inside the castle with Ponytail on my heels. They all but caged me in with their muscles, herding me into Callen’s bedroom. It didn’t feel like mine. Not while his scent saturated every fabric.
Alone, I threw myself onto the mattress and breathed. Thora no longer lounged on a pillow. Dang. She would’ve calmed me. My own personal fated one. What was about to happen? What, what?
Minutes bled into another until I feared something had happened to him.
Knock, knock.
My heart skipped a beat as I jolted upright. Eek! He was here already? But why had he knocked and not come right in?
With trembling legs, I crossed the room. My fingers shook as I opened up…
Oh my hotness. Awareness infiltrated every cell in my body. Callen was incredible. He’d changed into a tighter T-shirt and a kilt! Finally. An actual, honest-to-goodness kilt.
My hand fluttered to my mouth. A Highland laird. My high school dream man. Okay, yes, even my adult dream man. Also, the main reason I’d waited tables after school and weekends and saved every extra penny I’d ever earned or been gifted to visit Scotland.
“Am I drooling?” I asked, fanning my overheated cheeks.
The corners of his mouth twitched, and he manipulated his signet ring with his thumb. “Yes. You are.”
I hurried to dab at my chin. When I encountered dry skin, I snorted and slapped him on the shoulder. “Will you please be nice to me today? I had a rough start this morning. No sleep and currently fueled by less than half a muffin.”
He leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms over his chest, sliding his gaze over me. Slowly. “I will be verra nice to you.”
His gravelly timbre roused a hot flush in my skin. His flirting only added gasoline to the fire. I should protest. Or roll with it.
Ignoring a pulse gone wild, I mimicked his pose. “Be honest. Are you mad at me for visiting the wall and questioning your protective prowess? Which wasn’t my intention. If anything, I proved my confidence in your strength. I was certain everyone would be too afraid of you to push me over.”
He chuckled warmly, pinched a lock of my hair, and sifted the strands between his fingers, tickling my scalp. “Do I appear upset? I know why you went up top.” His voice dipped low and softened.
I pffed a breath. “I’m listening.”
“You still hope to leave me,” he said, watching me with a near tender expression.
I almost melted into him. What had brought about this astonishing change? Then his last statement registered, and I stiffened. “I’m not saying you’re right, but why aren’t you furious by the possibility?”
“For the first time in our acquaintance, you are responding to me emotionally and physically.” He combed his fingers through my waves and gently tilted my head back. His eyelids hooded. “It scares you, and I understand.”
Our gazes locked, and the most delicious aches erupted in a thousand different places. “Go on.”
Smoldering at me, he said, “Part of you continues to see me as the enemy. That is my fault. For too long, I played the role well. I laid all the blame squarely at your feet, but my brother made his choices, too, and I have learned…” The muscles along his throat worked.
“Yes?” I rasped.
“I have learned that forgiveness has benefits bitterness can’t offer.”
My jaw slackened ever so slightly. What was even happening right now? He’d forgiven me? Or rather, Isobel? Because more and more, this was seeming like an all-out declaration to win me over.