Taunting Callum (Big Sky Royal 3)

“I’m the one who cut you.”

“I healed.” She pushes away from the doorway and walks to me. “I was surprised the day I saw the tattoos on your arm. You’re the bad boy prince, aren’t you?”

“I’m not a direct heir to the throne,” I reply and have to swallow hard when she drags her fingertips up the arm in question, currently covered by my long-sleeved shirt. “And I do cover them when I’m in an official setting, out of respect. But my body is my own.”

“Is that why you didn’t finish the sleeve all the way to your wrist? So it’s easy to cover?”

“That’s right.”

I can smell the citrus in her hair as Aspen raises her gaze to mine. You could cut the sexual tension in this room with a bloody knife.

“Are you ever going to kiss me?” she asks. Her voice is rough, her eyes pinned to my lips.

“Hell, yes.” I’d be a bloody idiot to make her ask again. I swoop in and cover her mouth with mine, drinking her in. Her hands dive into my hair, and she holds on tightly, giving me as good as I give.

I want to tear her clothes off and have my way with her. I remember, in great detail, what it feels like to be buried deep inside her, where I don’t know where I end, and she begins. To be consumed by her.

I spin her around and guide her back to the bed. I need a taste of her.

I push her T-shirt up her belly and nibble the soft, smooth flesh revealed, delighted when goosebumps break out over her skin.

“You’re so damn responsive,” I mutter and move up between her breasts. I fucking love the way she feels beneath me. The way she smells.

Every bloody thing.

But I’m just starting to gain her trust back, and I won’t take the chance of ruining everything now—because I plan to have Aspen in my life for a very long time.

For the first time in my life, I can see myself married, perhaps with children.

And I want it with Aspen.

I nibble a bit on her neck and then settle in to kiss her softly, slowing things down. Her lips are soft, plump, and wet. She’s every dream I’ve ever had.

I place a kiss on the tip of her nose and lean back to smile down at her.

“Why did you stop?” she asks.

“Because we have time.” I link our fingers and kiss her hand. “I’m not here just for sex. We’ll get there. I want much more than that with you, and I don’t want you to think that I’ll bed you and leave you again.”

“Bed me?” She snorts. “You didn’t bed me the first time.”

She laughs, an all-encompassing belly laugh this time, and I can’t help but join her.

“Bed me,” she says after she takes a deep breath. “That’s hilarious. This isn’t 1677, Your Highness.”

“You know what I mean.”

“You’re not going to fuck me and forget me again.” There’s no anger in her voice, but I wince. Having that tossed in my face will likely always sting.

“No. I’m not.” And hearing the words crassly spoken in that way angers me. I sit on the side of the bed and push my hands through my hair in agitation. “And one of these days, you’ll finally believe me.”

“I believe you today,” she says, sitting next to me. “If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have been ready to get naked just now.”

I cup her cheek. “We’re getting there.”

“I’ll cook you dinner,” she offers. “I was thinking of putting together some chef salads.”

“I think I’ll call it a day,” I reply and soften the rejection with a deep kiss. “I have a couple of calls to make before London goes to bed. I’d like to see you tomorrow, though.”

“I’m available all day.”

“Make no mistake,” I say when I see the confusion in her gorgeous eyes, “when you’re ready, I’ll take us both to bed for days, surfacing only for food. I want you more than I want my next breath, but I have to make sure we’re on the same page, Aspen. It’s imperative.”

“Why?”

“Because you matter. This matters. At that’s why I’m treading carefully.”

She blows out a gusty breath. “Well, how am I supposed to argue with that?”

“You can’t.”* * *She brought me BBQ crisps. Not just one kind. Or two. But three bags of my favorite snack.

I’ve already blown through one as we lounged around my flat all day, watching movies. I tried to get her to watch European football with me, but after fifteen minutes, she started to fall asleep, so we changed things up.

“I love that you’re here with me today,” I say as I pull her legs up onto my lap and press my thumb into the arch of her foot.

She moans beautifully, making my cock stir.