To Have A Heart (A New Adventure Begins - Star Elite 7)

In the silence of the moonlit night, peace swirled around them. Like dancing wind, it teased and tugged the memories away leaving a soothing glow that healed the deepest of wounds.

Callum’s past on the battlefield faded into darkest history while Mallory’s more recent ordeal began a new chapter of her life; one in which she was far stronger than she had ever been. Consequently, she was bolder than she knew she ought to be when temptation proved too much.

Without saying a word, she stood on tiptoe and placed a gentle kiss against the corner of his mouth. At first, he didn’t move. Callum was bound by the tug of something infinitesimally moving that it snuck up on him, rendered him incapable of exerting caution, and instead made him follow her when she lowered herself back onto her feet. In turn, Mallory found her lips captured in a kiss that was as gentle as the shimmering moon bathing them in its silvery glow.

At first, the briefest of touches was enough to elicit a shivered response. Neither of them was even sure if what they were doing was at all wise given their current location. But as the minutes ticked by, the doubts faded and were replaced with a certainty that neither of them questioned.

Callum tightened his arms around her until she had no choice but to step closer. Mallory clung to his shoulders for balance when her world swirled around them. When she opened her eyes all she could see was him. In that moment, Callum was her world, the reason she was there. Mallory knew she would never be the same again. Not after this.

As a gentle breeze began to build around them, tugging at their clothing, urging them silently inside, Callum and Mallory clung to each other. Their need to be together wasn’t based on fear, or doubts, or insecurities, but was driven purely by an attraction that was compelling. Neither of them could fight it or hid from it. Instead, they explored, the sensations, the emotions it brought them, while they each contemplated what needed to change so they could keep it. Being together as they were was like a bonding; a union. It forged a new venture in their life which included being together as a couple. What that meant Mallory wasn’t sure. She didn’t think she could ever cope with life as Callum’s wife only to have to wait at home while he ventured out to fight people like Melrose. While she could understand why he did the job he did, she would never forget what Melrose had done to Sir Hugo. Callum mattered to her too much for her to ever accept something like that possibly happening to him as well. The very idea was so disturbing that Mallory clung to him just that little tighter and savoured each moment they were bound together just that little bit more.

“Time is precious,” she whispered.

“I know,” he murmured. “I know.”

“We barely know each other,” she added, when he began to pepper kisses down her neck.

“I know.” He lifted his head and looked down at her. “I know, but I feel as if I have known you my entire life.”

“I know,” Mallory breathed.

Callum knew that his time with Mallory was nearly over. While they were temporarily distracted by Sir Hugo, the men would realise Mallory and Callum hadn’t returned to the house and would soon come out to look for them. All Callum could do was memorise every moment he had alone with Mallory because he had no idea if they would be alone again.

“We have to stop this. I am supposed to be keeping you out of Melrose’s clutches, not posing a danger to your virtue.”

Callum shook his head ruefully at her and tutted chidingly when she smiled at him.

“I think I can fight you off,” she teased.

“Oh, you think so, do you?” he countered with a smile.

Before she could issue another taunt, Callum covered her mouth with his and kissed her the

way he truly wanted to. This wasn’t any gentle persuasion, this was a deep, drawing kiss that compelled her to surrender. This kiss was possessive branding, which left Mallory in no doubt of his need of her. It was bold, it was brash, it left her in no doubt that he cared. This was natural, without any restraint, barriers, or hindrance.

It was honest. It was them.

Words failed her. The ability to step back and put some distance between them disappeared completely. All Mallory could do was give herself over to his masterful kisses and cling to him while she revelled in the moment. In just a few precious minutes, Callum had made her feel more of a person than anybody had since her parents had died. She had never felt this protected, this cared for, this wanted by anyone in her life, and it left her aching for more. She wanted to feel this way all the time, but only with Callum. Only he could make her feel so safe, she was sure of it. It was stunning, but at the same time slightly worrying because she had no idea where it would lead her, and what it meant for her future, especially if she had to face that future without him.

We are just sharing a few kisses. I cannot expect more from him.

But she did because this was no ordinary kiss. The slide of Callum’s lips against hers tugged at something within her. A part of her didn’t care where this would lead her, or what would happen next, she just didn’t want Callum to step back. She didn’t want these wonderful feelings to ever end. She wanted them forever.

She wanted him forever.

But it has only been a day.

Mallory felt wanton, reckless, foolish even, but was honest enough and brave enough to be able to face her emotions. Callum created emotions within her that were instinctive, natural, she could never regret them. She could never regret this.

When Callum moaned and edged closer still, Mallory felt something warm and tender begin to flourish deep within her heart, in a place where she had never felt emotion before. When her hands slid up along the broad expanse of his chest, along the rigid length of his heavily muscled shoulders, so her fingers could slide into the soft tendrils of his hair, she half expected him to object. Instead, he groaned again, and tipped his head even more so he could deepen the kiss for a moment before sliding his lips down the long column of her throat again.

Mallory shivered as the warmth in her chest began to expand throughout the rest of her until she was sure she was glowing. She didn’t care that his hands copied hers, and in doing so scattered pins everywhere. When her hair slithered over her shoulders, she tipped her head back, allowing him greater access to explore as he wanted. When he tugged her head back up so he could kiss her once more, she clung to his shoulders with tighter arms and narrowed any lingering gaps between them until they were bound together as tightly as possible. Breaths blended and swirled, hearts thundered and echoed each other. Hands scoured flesh, savouring, memorising, teasing, until the barriers became frustrating.

“We have to stop,” Callum pleaded, his breath in short pants.

Mallory sucked in a breath and dutifully tried to steady herself.

Callum knew he was lost to her. With her head tipped back, the long tresses of her curled hair shimmering out behind her, she looked like a Goddess, as wild and free as the winds that now swirled around them. He half expected her to vanish; for her to be a figment of his over-active imagination. How she looked now was only something he had ever seen in his wildest dreams. At no point in his life had Callum ever anticipated that it – she - might become a reality; that Mallory might be in his life.