"How is the wee Tara?"
"Living it up on her Hawaiian honeymoon." She hesitates, seeming uncertain of what to say next. "Tara asked me to give you a kiss for her."
I feel my mouth tighten and curve upward in a half-repressed smile. "Did she now."
"Mm-hm." Calli slants toward me, bringing our mouths to within inches of each other. "Can't let my cousin down, can I?"
I shake my head.Thank you, Tara.
Calli touches her lips to mine in a chaste kiss. "That was for Tara. The next one's from me."
Gazing into my eyes, she moistens her lips with two long, slow passes of her tongue. I let my lips fall open, my breathing suddenly labored, excitement rushing over my skin with electrifying effect—all because Calli implied she's going to kiss me. She lays a palm on my chest and urges me to lean back into the sofa, then she climbs astride me and plants her hands on the sofa's back on either side of my shoulders. I let my head fall back onto the cushions.
Leaning in, she hovers her mouth so close to mine that our breaths mingle, and I swear I can taste her. "I really want to kiss you, but I'm afraid things might get out of hand."
"Then maybe you shouldn't have climbed on top of me."
"Fair point. But I'm already here."
I settle my hands on her hips. "I promise not to take any liberties. Unless you beg me to."
"Beg?" She flicks her tongue out to tease my lower lip. "Not going to happen."
"What if I beg?"
Her brows lift, and she tips her head to the side.
"Please," I say, my voice low and rumbly, "kiss me, ahm begging ye."
She brushes her lips over mine, and I experience the barmiest sort of thrill from that simple contact. Why does Calli Douglas always make me so excited for a kiss from her? She nips and licks at my lips, teasing and tempting me, and it takes all my willpower not to seize control and ravish her like the Don Juan she used to think I was. I coast my palms up her back to splay them over her shoulder blades.
And I murmur one word: "Please."
Calli sinks deeper into my lap, rubbing her groin against my cock with only our clothes separating myslatfrom her flesh, which I know will be hot and wet for me. She seals her mouth over mine, our lips fused while our tongues thrust deep, tangling and questing, hot and silken and rife with hunger.Bod an Donais, she tastes so bloody good. I explore her mouth with abandon, not even trying to temper my lust, though I move my tongue in slow swipes and languorous glides, taking intense pleasure from sampling every inch of her. With my hands on her back, I urge her to nestle more snugly against me, the hardness of my erection trapped between us. I want her like mad, but I promised I wouldn't take any liberties, which means I can't do what I need to the most. Her rigid nipples scrape across my chest while she writhes on my lap, grinding her body into me.
My mobile rings with the sound of bagpipes and vibrates inside my jeans pocket.
We both freeze, our lips still glued to each other. I peel my lids apart to find Calli already gazing at me. She looks faintly dazed, like I imagine I must too. The last thing I want to do is answer my mobile.
But it rings and vibrates again.
I fumble to get the mobile out of my pocket without dumping Calli off my lap. I keep one hand on her hip while I answer the call with a gruff hello.
"Are you sitting down, Aidan? If not, you should."
"Jamie?" I say.
"Aye, it's me. Your ex-girlfriend rang me. Seona says you're refusing to take care of her the way you promised to do. What's going on, Aidan?"
"She what? Rangyou?"
"That's what I said. I met her once, and she barely spoke to me. Why is Seona calling me now to tell me what a bastard you are?"
Calli, still squatting on my lap, has no choice but to overhear my part of the conversation. She glances around, shifting her hands here and there like she's unsure of what to do with them. At last, she rests them on her thighs.
"Ignore her," I tell Jamie. "I'll speak to Seona myself."
My gaze falls on Calli, and I pull in a long breath. How am I meant to explain this to her? She doesn't want to share her problems with me, so I don't feel like I can share mine with her even if I want to.