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

“God, you are something, do you know that?” he hissed. “Do you have any idea how close you came to being shot by one of his men?”

“Do you have any idea how close to getting shot by one of his men you came?” Mallory countered.

Her breath came in short pants, but she made no apology for it. Callum stirred her and made her want to taste him some more.

“No,” he said when she leaned up to kiss him once more.

Mallory glared at him in annoyance that he was already trying to put some distance between them.

Callum saw her baleful look and sighed. He too had been shaken by the force of emotion that had just slammed into them but knew they were not able to relax just yet.

“We have to get out of here,” Callum breathed.

“What’s the rush?” Mallory demanded. “Melrose is dead, isn’t he?”

Callum nodded. “But his men aren’t. Those who didn’t follow Melrose here don’t know their boss has died yet. The danger they pose to us is still real, I am afraid. Besides, we must get out of here. While Sir Hugo has done what he needed to do, he is still injured and has to get to Cornwall.”

Callum didn’t add that he wanted to complete the journey so he and Mallory could sit down and decide upon their future.

Emotion fuelled by growing adoration and passion made Mallory incapable of being annoyed with Callum for very long. While thwarted in her passionate endeavours, she was still held tightly against his side and that would have to suffice for now.

“Do you have any idea how we are going to look if we are caught?” Callum growled, throwing her a rueful look. “How I am going to look? You are wearing a sodding beard.”

Mallory began to laugh. She had worn the false beard for so long now that she had forgotten it was still on her face. Tentatively, she reached up to touch its bristles and looked at Callum with eyes that twinkled with mischief.

“God, you are going to have me arrested,” he hissed. “Melrose’s men are going to think I am a little unusual.”

Mallory began to laugh. “Can I take it off now?”

“I don’t suppose you would want to keep it on, would you?” Callum asked.

Mallory lifted her brows at him. “Oh? You prefer me to wear it?”

“Well, it does remind me that I shouldn’t touch you,” he grumbled.

Shaking his head in disbelief at just how easy it was to tease her and accept her teasing, Callum caught her hand in his and led her toward the waiting carriage.

“We have to get going,” he announced.

Happy to go anywhere with him, Mallory dutifully followed but as she did so, eased the makeshift beard way from her face. Tucking it into her cloak pocket, she tried not to look at the area mostly because she had seen enough death and carnage to last her a lifetime.

“What happens now?” she asked.

“Now, we continue our journey to Cornwall.”

“What happened to the farmer?” she asked.

Callum stopped and pointed to the bridge where the farmer was deep in conversation with Oliver.

“I must thank him,” Mallory murmured.

“The Star Elite will thank him for you. We are not going back there.”

Callum had no intention of allowing Mallory to see where Melrose lay. He didn’t doubt that Melrose was what Oliver and the farmer were discussing.

“Wait for me,” Will called. He

grinned when he joined then. “Onwards we go, eh?”