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Grace awoke to find herself sprawled across Calum’s chest. She glanced lower to see her legs entwined with his in a brazen display of wantonness. She wanted to moan at the soft caress across her shoulders and along her back. When he tangled his hands in her hair, she dared to raise her gaze. However, nothing prepared her for the depth of emotion in Calum’s gaze. He had truly meant his confession before he made love to her.
He loved her.
And she loved him in return.
But where did that place them? Nowhere but at a crossroads. She didn’t regret one second of their lovemaking, but they could only have this one night together. While she had offered her innocence in a moment of weakness, she wouldn’t offer Calum her soul for him to keep her in a hidden relationship. Nor would she expect him to acknowledge her otherwise. She refused to shame his family for her selfishness.
“Whatever is spinning around in your thoughts, you need to disregard them. I will have none of it,” Calum demanded.
Grace attempted to pull away, but Calum kept her firmly against him. “You do not hold the right to make such demands. Now unhand me.”
Calum lifted Grace higher until their foreheads touched. “If I did not make my intentions clear last night, I am more than happy to clarify them now.”
Grace shoved at his chest, but Calum only locked his arm around her middle with no resistance. “I do not hold your intentions to heart that were spoken in the heat of passion.”
Calum chuckled. “I will agree the passion between us almost caused a fire.” His expression turned stern. “However, I spoke from my heart and will not have you imply I spoke out of lust. Nor will I allow you to deny that what we shared is unique.”
He didn’t want to reprimand Grace, but she attempted to erect her walls to protect her emotions. If he didn’t declare how he saw their future, she would retreat into a shell he feared he would never crack again. Having to convince a lady of his love was unchartered territory. While he planned to marry her today, the start of their marriage would be a constant need to reassure her of his love. However, to do so would be no hardship on his part. He would find pleasure in showing her the depth of his love and leaving her in no doubt of his affection.
Grace curled her hand into a fist and landed it against his chest in a sorry attempt to take out her frustration on him. “Why must you be so defiant?”
Calum rolled them over and kissed the frown from her lips. “Why must you be so obstinate?”
Grace growled. However, it sounded more like a moan. Calum’s hard body pressed against hers so intimately, leaving her unable to comprehend a perfect argument for her defense. Add the tender expression he regarded her with and all she wanted to do was to wrap her arms around his neck and urge him to lower his head and kiss her senseless again. Her defense to keep her heart protected disappeared with each second she never responded with another point against why they shouldn’t be together.
Grace softened against him, unable to deny their chemistry. If he were a gentleman, he would rise from the bed to finish this discussion. However, the way Grace’s eyes blazed with unbidden desire left him only able to respond one way. He lowered his head for a kiss that quieted any disagreement she would utter. He groaned at the sweetness of her response.
Her lips opened under his with the softest of sighs. However, he had not expected the kiss to hold such passion. He matched her hunger with bold strokes. He lowered his hand to hold her breast in the palm of his hand, which only strengthened the intensity of their kiss. The minx may deny how they felt about one another, but her body responded with needy desire.
Her leg slid along his thigh until it locked around his waist. She pressed her hips against his in frenzied need. Once his cock encountered her wet core, he couldn’t hold back from claiming her again. He slid inside her in one thrust, driving deep inside Grace. She arched her back, her nipples scraping across his chest with each thrust.
He would not last long. Her core gripped his cock with each ripple coursing through her. Her juices guided his cock to push in until he buried himself so deep, he thought he would explode. However, Grace pressed her hips against his, dragging him deeper into the passion hovering on the brink of their existence. She amazed him with her determination to have them reach the pinnacle of no return together.
He lowered his hand to aid their journey. Each swipe of his thumb against her clit sent them soaring to the unknown. A strangled cry from one of them twirled them over the edge into blissful ecstasy.
Calum took Grace’s lips in a bruising kiss to make his point. He would never let her go, no matter how much she argued her point. Why she always had to push against him, he would never understand.
She had never stood a chance against Calum. No matter how much she resisted him, he only brought her back to his side. She was powerless to resist him, especially when he kissed her. His very touch soothed away her fears and gave her a sense of security she had never felt before. She didn’t even understand why she resisted him at every turn.
Before he stated his intentions, his kiss softened to a gentle caress of his lips brushing across hers. She closed her eyes instead of staring into his. She no longer held the energy to resist him. Grace would accept what fate dealt her as long as Calum kept her by his side.
Before he made another demand, a knock sounded on the door. Grace gasped, horrified at anyone learning of her bedding Calum. What they shared was between them. However, it would seem every rumor about her would become true. By sleeping with Calum, she proved herself a liar.
“Miss? The lord asked me to see to your needs this morning. I do not see him about, but I was told to bring you breakfast and help you dress. Are you ready, mum?”
Grace cleared her throat. “If you can allow me a few minutes.”
“Aye. I will go below and prepare your tea and a plate.”
Once the maid shuffled away, Calum rose from the bed. He found her nightdress and held out his hand to help her rise from the bed. A rosy hue flushed across Grace’s body at Calum’s uninhibited actions. He held no qualms about sharing intimacies with her. He swept her nightdress over her head and down her body. Grace hurried over to the chair and wrapped her robe tightly around her.
Calum smiled at her shyness. “Soon, you will not shy away from my help.”
Grace tightened the ribbon around her waist. “Highly doubtful, Lord Lockhart.”
His shoulders shook with amusement. “Must we return to Lord Lockhart?” He brushed his lips against hers. “I so enjoy when you call me Calum.”
“’Tis most inappropriate. As is your presence in my room.”
He pulled on his clothes, then sat on the bed to tug on his boots. “However, I much prefer when you are sighing and moaning my name more than anything else.”
Grace stomped her foot. “You must leave before the maid returns.”
“Aye,” he agreed. “We shall finish this discussion in the carriage.”
He swept out of the room before Grace voiced her argument about her return to Lockhart Manor. However, she would argue her point about leaving the country. She only hoped he would accept her decision. If not, then she would plead for the sake of his family. He must see reason eventually. Because he wouldn’t want his family to suffer from a mistake he had made regarding her.
A mistake he must never suffer from too.
~~~~~
CALUM AWAKENED HIS servants and kicked them out of the room he’d paid for. Then he dressed like a gentleman ready to escort his lady love to the marriage altar. While he preferred to wed Grace in a church surrounded by their family and friends, time wouldn’t allow them the luxury. They must wed and return to Edinburgh in haste to bury the rumors circulating about Grace.
He would find the culprit who had threatened Grace with vicious letters, then he would destroy him for attacking a defenseless lady with his slander. Only once he destroyed the coward would his fury subside. After they made their return, he would contact Courtland and Somerville to aid his search. Cameron would be an asset to rely on with his ability to coerce anyone into admitting their involvement.
However, he refused to allow any gloom to sour this day. Today was the day he would make Grace his bride. Their future started once they spoke their vows. It did not matter that no one they loved would witness the exchange. Today was about them and the love they shared. She may not have admitted that she loved him, but Calum understood Grace’s heart better than she did. He was a patient man who would wait until she felt secure enough to whisper the vow of her affection.
He would wait for an eternity.