Unravel Me. Lynn Montagano

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СКАЧАТЬ switch from stoic to tranquil was subtle. He stared out in an almost dreamlike state. I was fascinated.

      “It belonged to my mum’s parents. They were from Scotland and bought this cottage shortly after they married. I never met them. They died before I was born and left it to her. Years went by before anyone thought to do anything with it. I remember my parents talking about having it renovated so we could spend summers here. Obviously that never happened.” His shoulders slumped. “When I turned eighteen and finally got the keys to the place I drove out here to see it. I’d never been before. It was rundown and needed loads of work to be livable. I hired some contractors, told them what I wanted and here we are.”

      Every layer I managed to peel away held an intriguing nugget of information.

      “You never considered selling it?”

      “No.” His voice tightened. “Not an option.”

      “So, you’re part Scottish then?”

      A huge smile brightened his face. “Aye. My being a ginger didn’t give it away, lass?”

      “At least your attempt at a Scottish accent is better than your American one. What other tricks can you do? Got any kilts in your closet?”

      Raising an eyebrow, he grinned wickedly. “You’d like that wouldn’t you?”

      “I like you just as you are now; half naked in your jeans, relaxed and playful. This cottage has an amazing effect on your whole being. It makes me happy to see you this way.” The words tumbled out of my mouth faster than I could employ some sort of filter.

      “I feel safe here,” he said quietly, not breaking eye contact with me. “For someone like me, that’s rare.”

      The strength of his admission hit me hard. This was his sanctuary, a place to lock out the world and be himself. I studied his body language, looking for any signs of withdrawal. He sat calmly, hands resting in his lap. I half expected him to start meditating.

      “Is that why you brought me here?”

      Staring darkly, he repositioned himself to kneel in front of me. Every muscle moved with controlled precision. I sat up on my knees so we were eye to eye. He still seemed relaxed but there was a hint of danger in his eyes.

      “We all want to be understood, to find that one person who needs no explanation when they look at you. I’ve wandered through most of my life shutting out that possibility. And then I met you.” He paused, tracing his finger along my jaw. “Nobody has seen me so completely. We’re two sides of the same coin, Amelia. I am yours and you are mine. Always.”

      A pleasurable shiver ran down my spine.

      “I told you once that you made me feel so much, it hurt. Even now, in the safety of this cottage, it hurts. I don’t understand it but I know I can’t live without it.” He used both hands to cup my jaw, fixing a stare on me so hot the intensity burned straight to the pit of my stomach. I grabbed his waist, pulling him closer.

      “I hate to break it to you, Holden, but you have it bad for me.”

      “Is that so?”

      “Yup.”

      “Your way with words is stunning as always, Meyers.”

      “I love you, too.” I leaned in, brushing my lips on his. “The thing I mentioned before about you being so goddam sexy?”

      “Yes?”

      “Thought I’d, you know, bring it up again.”

      He kissed my forehead. “Tell me what you want. I’ll give you the world if you asked.”

      “I have everything I want right in front of me.”

      He slowly traced his fingers along the contours of my body, savoring each curve with gentle strokes. “I’ll be right back. Don’t move.”

      “Why?”

      The atmosphere shifted as an unrelenting tempest of want and need gathered around us.

      “Because I said so, love,” he said in a low, commanding tone. Only the feral gleam in his eyes betrayed the outer shell of control. When he spoke to me like this my whole body came alive.

      I watched him saunter out of the room and trembled with anticipation. Not even the stress of the past week could derail the frenzy of lust that continued to build. I became more attuned to my deepest, most intimate desires with him. He brought out a side of me I’d never allowed myself to set free with anyone else.

      I barely noticed the lights turning off as they were replaced by the flickering glow of candles. A haunting piano melody filled the room rounded out by a slow, seductive electronic beat. Alastair had me caged against the mattress and locked in a deep kiss as wisps of the lyrics floated through what was left of any conscious thoughts in my mind.

      “This song,” he whispered on my lips, “is called Bloodstream. It describes exactly what you do to me.”

      Too overwhelmed by him and how he covered every inch of me in magnificent kisses, I neglected to pay attention to the song.

       CHAPTER FIVE

      The mattress moved as Alastair stirred next to me, draping an arm over my stomach. His face held none of the dispassionate, guarded façade it did while he was awake. Sleep almost gave him a seraphic glow. My tragic angel.

      Carefully removing his arm, I almost managed to get up without waking him.

      “Lia,” he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. “Stay with me.”

      “I’m just getting some water,” I whispered, kissing his forehead.

      “Hurry back, love.”

      He was sound asleep before I left the bedside. I tiptoed to the living room. The cottage floors were old and creaky so I made sure to move as quietly as possible. I noticed the green light on my cell phone blinking from the coffee table. I grabbed it and took a small blanket from the couch. Taking a deep breath, I unlatched the door and went outside. A chilly breeze swept over my bare skin. Even in July Scotland had a way of reminding me not to get overly comfortable with the warmer temperatures.

      Hugging the blanket around me, I unlocked the phone. Several text messages from Nathan waited for me. I was about to respond when the phone vibrated in my hand.

      “What?” I hissed.

      “I thought you’d be sleeping,” Nathan drawled. “Did I wake you?”

      “No. Why the hell are you calling me in the middle of the night?”

      I heard him sigh in a way that suggested he was rubbing his hand over his face. I’d seen him do that a million times, usually when he was frustrated. “When do you get back to Orlando? I need to see you.”

      I scrunched my toes into the cool grass. СКАЧАТЬ