Page 29 of One Forbidden Kiss with the Laird (The Cinderella Shepherd Sisters #2)
‘No,’ he said, not looking up at her, intent on his task.
Selina felt her eyes widen as Callum pulled out a knife and then cast around on the ground for the right sort of stone.
He had laid some dry grass on the top of the pile of sticks and now he was flicking the knife against the stone, patiently repeating the action over and over until there was a big enough spark to light the grass.
As soon as the grass caught alight he bent low, sheltering the fledgling flame from the wind and then as it took hold blowing on the fire gently.
Only once he was satisfied that the sticks were starting to burn did he rise up.
‘Another skill you picked up in your time in Canada?’
‘If you couldn’t make a fire you were a dead man,’ he said with a shrug. ‘I learned fast.’
Selina crouched down in front of it, feeling the first glow of warmth from the small fire.
‘You need to take that dress off.’
‘Undress? Out here in the forest where anyone could see.’
‘I doubt there is anyone but us for miles.’
‘If someone came across us with me in a state of undress, no matter how innocent it really was, they would assume the worst.’
‘True.’ Callum nodded and then whistled for Hamish who had been exploring the woodland nearby. ‘Stand guard,’ he ordered.
The little dog immediately stiffened as if standing to attention and then moved a distance away, ears pricked and head raised.
‘Hamish was bred as a hunting dog, but he is an exceptional guard dog. He will bark before anyone can get within fifty feet of us. Enough warning for you to quickly dress again.’ He shrugged. ‘It is your choice, but that material is thick and I doubt it will dry with you still in it.’
‘Will you help with the fastenings?’
Callum didn’t move for a minute and then stepped forward, motioning for her to turn around.
His fingers were gentle at her back, unlacing gently until the material of her dress loosened.
A couple of times his fingers trailed against the skin of her neck, sending a shiver of anticipation through her body, but Selina did her very best to ignore it.
It would be so easy to turn around, to take a step closer to Callum and raise her lips to his.
There was something magical, other-worldly, about this spot in the woods, as if they were shielded from reality, but Selina knew that was just an illusion.
Anything they did here would have far-reaching consequences.
She glanced back over her shoulder and her eyes met his, lingering for a long moment.
There was longing in his eyes that matched her own and he raised a hand to trail across the sensitive skin at the nape of her neck, but just as soon as she felt his touch it was gone and Callum had stepped away, clearing his throat.
‘I will give you some privacy,’ he said, his voice gruff.
Carefully Selina slipped her dress off, shivering as the air hit her exposed skin. She was far from naked, with her chemise and stays and petticoat, but they were all white cotton and had become soaked in the loch, giving them a translucent quality.
‘Take my jacket,’ Callum said, holding it out to her, still studiously looking in the other direction.
Selina took it, grateful for the warmth it provided as she slipped her arms into the sleeves, and then crouched down by the fire.
It did not take long for her to start warming up. The day was not cold and the fire was blazing now, consuming the wood they had piled high.
Callum approached, rolling over a mossy log for her to sit on, positioning it so it was close to the fire but not so close she risked setting her petticoats alight.
She thought he might sit next to her, but before he joined her he gathered together a few sturdy fallen branches, leaning them together to make a triangular structure and then draped her dress carefully across it, close to the fire.
Only then did he sit down, right at the other end of the mossy log.
‘Thank you,’ Selina said quietly. ‘I will be dry in no time at all, or at least dry enough to make a dash for it up the stairs of Taigh Blath to my room.’
‘It is my pleasure,’ he said, his voice low. Selina longed to narrow the gap between them, to feel his body pressed against hers, his arms wrapped around her, but she did not move. This was for the best, even if it meant awkwardness between them.
For a few minutes they sat in silence, watching the fire burn and listening to the sticks crackling in the heat.
Selina felt mesmerised by the flames and at first she barely noticed the tickling sensation on her leg, only looking down when it moved a little higher.
Curious, she lifted the hem of her petticoat only to feel a jolt of pure panic.
A large spider was crawling up her leg, its body hairy and legs thick.
She felt a wave of revulsion and screamed, frantically brushing her legs, hoping to send the spider falling to the ground.
Callum was by her side immediately and, sensing her terror, he gripped hold of her arms and held her until she calmed.
‘It was only a little spider, lass,’ he said, trying to keep the smile from his lips.
‘That was far from little. It was a beast.’
‘It’s gone now. Scuttled back to wherever it came from.’
She looked suspiciously down at her legs, pulling the wet material of her petticoats up to inspect her knees.
From next to her she heard Callum groan. ‘You’re trying to bewitch me.’
She looked up indignantly, but saw the smile on his lips and relaxed.
‘Scotland is a land of legends,’ he said as she rearranged her petticoat, content that there were no more spiders lurking nearby. ‘We have many creatures of myth, those that lure poor sailors or farmers to their doom.’
‘You’re comparing me to one of these creatures? I suppose you are meant to be the poor farmer boy?’
Callum laughed. ‘No, but I do sometimes find myself wondering if you are some sort of selkie.’
‘What is a selkie?’
‘There are many interpretations, but in local folklore selkies are creatures that can take the shape of a seal or a human. They spend most of their time in the water, in their animal form, but once every seven years they can walk upon the land. They are said to be incredibly beautiful and enchant any human who comes across them.’ He paused, his eyes flicking over her before he quickly looked away.
‘Our stories tell of men obsessed by the selkie’s beauty, stealing her sealskin so she cannot turn back into her animal form.
’ He cleared his throat and then looked at her again.
‘You are beautiful, Selina. You have this radiance that shines from you. I find myself unable to look away.’
‘For such a practical man that sounds very fanciful.’
It was a few seconds before he replied, his expression serious, ‘I find I lose sight of huge parts of myself when I am with you.’
He held her gaze as wave upon wave of feeling passed between them. Slowly he moved towards her, his hand coming up to her cheek, his eyes searching hers.
‘I know I cannot kiss you, yet I can think of nothing else.’
Selina swallowed hard. More than anything she wanted to surrender to the desire that pulsed inside her.
She swayed slightly, her shoulder brushing his arm, allowing herself to imagine what might be if they put their own needs and desires first. It would be exquisite, yet even as she allowed herself to hope for one moment she knew it could not be.
Callum would be giving up too much if he chose her over the promises he had made to his people.
‘Callum,’ she said quietly, taking his hand from her cheek and holding it tightly.
‘I know,’ he said, giving a tight smile.
They sat on the log side by side in silence for another ten minutes.
Selina was acutely aware of Callum only a few inches away.
Her body throbbed with anticipation, screaming at her to stop being so foolish and to reach out and take what she wanted.
Surely it could not be too big a mistake to give in to the desire that was thrumming through her body, just once.
Even if she knew there was no future for them, at least then she would have the memories to sustain her.
Before she could reprimand herself for such foolish thoughts Hamish let out two low, controlled barks.
Callum stiffened, immediately on alert, and held a hand out to tell Selina to remain quiet.
Slowly he stood, his eyes darting to the left and right as he tried to work out what Hamish was barking at. Selina couldn’t see anything, but after a moment Callum moved to stamp out the fire, and then took Selina by the hand and led her to a spot behind an old tree with a thick trunk.
She opened her mouth to whisper a question, but he anticipated her and shook his head before leaning in, his lips so close they brushed against her ear.
‘There’s two people about twenty feet away, walking through the forest.’
They stood, bodies pressed together, up against the tree trunk for what felt like an eternity. Only when Hamish came trotting up did either of them relax.
‘Have they gone?’ Selina whispered. ‘Who was it? What did they want?’
Callum did not answer, taking his time to survey their surroundings. ‘They’ve gone,’ he said eventually. ‘I could not see who it was, probably just two locals out for a walk.’
‘You’re sure they’re gone.’
‘Yes, we’re safe.’ He crouched down and stroked Hamish behind the ears. ‘Good boy. There will be some chicken for you later tonight.’
‘Thank goodness for Hamish.’
Selina’s heart was still pounding in her chest and as Callum straightened she felt a rush of relief mixed with recklessness.
She had nearly had her reputation ruined by being caught in the woods dressed only in a translucent chemise with the Earl of Leven.
No one would care that they had actually been completely and utterly chaste.