Page 91 of Never a Duchess
Ye’re a damn clodhead, Callan!
“The water is shallow here,” he reassured her, desperate to make amends. “There’s nae danger.”
There was no danger of eating poisonous berries in the woods, yet he paid Jenkins to clear the paths every few months.
He climbed out, shivering against the cool breeze, and hauled her against his wet body. “Can ye forgive a pea-brained idiot?”
She sagged against him, hugging him around the waist.
“In my eagerness to make love to ye in the pool, I’d nae considered asking if ye were afraid of the water.”
“I—I can swim,” she muttered into his damp chest. “Adam insisted I learn for he wished to avoid another tragedy.”
Callan cradled her face between his palms and forced her to look at him, his heart nearly breaking for making such stupid assumptions. “But ye hate the water?”
“No, but I’ve not been in a pool for years.”
“Then what left ye so shaken?”
She gulped. “When you jumped in, I suddenly realised I could lose you, too. That what exists between us is as fragile as the threads of a spider’s web.”
He brushed his lips over hers, caressing more than kissing, relishing their softness. “I’ll never make ye worry like that again. Let me get dressed and we’ll—”
“No. I’m tired of living in fear.” She ran her hand over his wet arm as if loving the feel of the firm muscles. “I want to enter the water, Callan. I want to enter the water with you.”
He doubted he’d ever meet a braver woman in all his life.
Love filled his heart.
Love brighter than any star shining tonight.
“Then undress while I stoke the fire.”
Despite throwing on more logs and poking the embers, he didn’t linger near the flames. Entering the water at the shallowest point, he waited for her to strip down to her chemise.
Lillian padded towards the pool, her auburn hair draped around one shoulder, every curve visible through the sheer undergarment.
Callan straightened, the water lapping at his waist, so she might gauge the depth. “Sit on the edge, take my hands and slide in. ’Tis shallow here.”
Like a woodland nymph intent on seduction, she drew her chemise over her head and dropped the garment on the ground. “I’ve no wish to be encumbered.”
Callan’s mouth was dry.
Lillian stood before him, a wondrous vision in her nakedness. In the moonlight, her skin had an ethereal sheen. Her blue eyes looked fairy-like, fragile yet so arousingly inquisitive.
Never had he seen anything more beautiful. The need to bury himself deep inside her body hardened his cock.
Coming to sit on the stone edge, she squealed as she dangled her legs in the water. “Good Lord. It’s freezing.”
“I know of a way to warm ye.”
He pushed between her soft thighs, snaked his arms around her waist and drew her slowly down into the water. Settling his hands on her bottom, he encouraged her to wrap her legs around his hips.
“Callan, no!” She shivered against him.
“Hold on to me, lass.” He was trembling, too, from lust and love and the need to sate this clawing hunger.
“Callan, do something.” Her teeth chattered, and she clutched him tightly. “Kiss me before my blood freezes in my veins.”
