* * * * *
However, Sonia didn’t find a way to end it.
Instead, she had breakfast with Maraleena and Callista in the kitchen again and they spent that time teaching her queenly etiquette and protocol and doing it hilariously. Callista acted out the silent part of the queen while Maraleena acted out the domineering part of the king and all three of them giggled until their sides hurt.
When she arrived at the door to Callum’s study, he was already striding across the room. Sonia barely got her mouth open before he took her up the stairs for her injection and then he said they were off to explore the wood.
Before she could say another word, they were off to explore the wood.
That was the worst because it was the best.
Tramping through the snow and the trees, the brisk air in her lungs, the cold on her face, the warmth in her active muscles, she could smell the wildlife, hear it and sense it all around her.
And she loved it.
It reminded her of being out with her father all those times when she was a child. She hadn’t done it since he’d died and she forgot just how much she loved it.
No, how much it felt right, like she was where she belonged, like she’d come home.
And being there with the sweet, tender Callum. Feeling that with him, while Callum held her hand as they trudged through snow. Stopping her every once in a while to place his hand under her jaw, tilt her head to his and brush his lips to hers (and sometimes it was far more than a brush). Coming to a rise which exposed a new vista and both of them halting, standing close and just experiencing the view. She allowed herself to pretend. Just that once, she allowed herself to be where she always loved to be with the man she wanted for so long to be hers.
So, when they returned, without demur, she ate lunch seated in his lap and, after lunch, she made out with him in his desk chair that was turned to face the roaring fire. She didn’t make a peep when he picked her up, walked her to the couch and set her down.
Arranging the woolly throw over her, he murmured in a tone filled with regret, “I’ve work to do, little one.” He framed her face with his hands and touched his mouth to hers. “We’ll finish in a bit.” Shafts of tawny sliced through the blue of his eyes before he whispered, “There’re a few things I want you to do to me in that chair.”
Sonia felt the throb pulse between her legs and she also heard the soft moan that caught in her throat.
The gold took over the blue when he growled with approval, “In heat.”
Then he kissed her, harder, longer and wetter before he let her go and went back to his desk.
Once Sonia emerged from her pretend world of enchanted castles and fairytale kings you met in your dreams, she realized that she’d been in Scotland for three days.
She didn’t intend to go to Scotland at all but she’d been there three days, met people she liked and fell in love with the village and the woods.
She didn’t intend to have sex with Callum again but they’d had sex six times, not passable sex, not good sex, but (as usual) fantastic sex.
But she did intend to get a few things straight which was the only thing she didn’t do.
And she had to find the courage to do it, and soon. Or she was going to be doing things to Callum in his chair, things her mind was making up on its own, things that were making that throb beat between her legs and her br**sts swell. Things that, the very thought of them, when Callum wasn’t even looking at her or speaking to her, were deeply affecting her.
And she was, she decided, in serious, serious trouble.
So deep was Sonia in her thoughts, when she heard the front door open, miles away (well, not exactly, just two floors of winding stairs and a long hall, but still), she didn’t even think to stop from looking toward the door.
She thought about it when Callum said her name.
Her body tensed but she looked toward him.
He was studying her closely again, eyes narrowed, brows drawn.
His ominous look.
Finally, he asked, “Did you hear that?”
Oh good goodness.
She’d forgotten to hide her gift. Her father told her never, never to forget.
She tried to cover. “Hear what?”
Callum answered instantly, “Regan and Ryon arriving.”
She stared at him.
She knew it was Regan and Ryon too, she could hear their voices and they were getting closer.
How did he –?
He interrupted her thoughts, “Answer me, Sonia, did you hear that?”
She didn’t have time to think about him hearing the arrival of his family. She still had to cover.
“Ryon and Regan are here?” she asked, tossing the throw aside and standing.
“You didn’t hear it?” he returned as he, too, stood and started toward her.
She considered running.
Instead, she lied, “No.” Then she cocked her head and went on lying, “Oh. I hear them now.”
Anyone would, they were coming up the stairs.
Callum stopped in front of her and looked down at her. “If you didn’t hear them, why did you turn your head the minute the front door opened?”
“You can hear the front door open from all the way up here?” she asked immediately, shocked and extremely interested in this news at the same time still hiding her secret.
“I can,” he replied tersely, stepping closer, making her tilt her head back to look at him and feeling the heat from his body then he finished with, “And so can you.”
Her eyes flew wide, her mouth opened to deny it and Regan came through the door.
“Cal! Sonny! It’s so good to be home!” she cried, rushing in, her face wreathed with smiles.
Ryon was following her, his eyes were on both Sonia and Callum and they were wary like he felt the tense air.
Callum turned to face his mother.
“I hate that plane ride. It’s so long and you’re so pent up. There’s nowhere to roam,” Regan declared while placing her hand on Callum’s bicep, giving his cheek a kiss and then giving Sonia a hug.
After Regan moved away, Sonia tried to step away from her mate.
His arm slid around her shoulders.
Sonia stopped moving.
Callum tucked her into his side.
“But I’m home now!” Regan announced gleefully before turning to Sonia. “And I want to know how you’re getting on, Sonny, but the very first thing I’m going to do is change my clothes and take a walk. Then I’m going to ask Drogan to light a fire in the knitting room and you’re going to tell me everything. Oh, I do hope Callum took you to the village. They have the best bakery in the world and I’m French so that’s saying something!” She grinned, looked between them and teased, “Then, I suppose, I’ll let Cal have you back for dinner.”