Page 99 of Scotch on the Rocks

Juniper’s lashes lifted as her nails dug into my back, tugging me flush against her until I felt the imprint of those gold bars on my chest, sighing my name exactly the way I dreamed it. And just when I thought I couldn’t ask for anything more … she screamed it, trembling in my arms, every perfect line of her taut with pleasure.Mypleasure.

I owned it now.

My name on her lips was the final shove and I went off like a fucking gunshot, bucking wildly through every rendering pull.

I love you.

I love you.

I silently repeated the word with my every groan into her throat.

This woman had broken me a long, long time ago. Hairline fractures that could be patched and melded.Covered with grins and charm until I resembled something semi-functional. But now … she’d completely and utterly ruined me.

Ignoring the cum cooling in my boxers, my groans turned to kisses. “That was perfect.You’reperfect.” I said. My hands unlatched from her hips, lacing into her hair to hold her to me. “You own me, sweetheart. Entirely.”

She brushed a stray curl away from my sweaty forehead. “You might own me a little bit too.”

30

Callum

Heather: Alistair came by my house to ask why you’re acting so weird. You need to tell him!

Callum: Planning on it.

Callum: And, he thinks I’m acting weird? I saw him this morning and barely got a word out of him.

Heather: I assumed he was brooding because Juniper won’t take his calls.

Callum: How many times has he called her exactly?

Heather: God, I hope for his sake no more than twice.

“Are you certain tonight is a good idea?”

“It’s a perfect idea.” Given my current view from where I lounged on Juniper’s bed, it might have been the best idea I’d ever had.

Arse in the air, scarves and shoes flew over her head as she rummaged through her messy wardrobe. “I know they’re here somewhere … aha!” She spun on bare knees, holding the black shoes – which looked exactly the same as every pair of shoes she owned – triumphantly.

Her glee was short-lived because she scowled at where Shakespeare had curled up on my lap. “I hate you both.”

She stomped over to the table, and I followed, scooping Shakespeare into my arms. The cat had certainly grown attached in the past few weeks, much to Juniper’s ever-growing annoyance.

“You’re being cute again.”

“You’re being cute again,” she mocked, proving my point as her voice dropped into what I assumed was a derogatory impersonation of me, but only reminded me of the rasp of her voice right before she came.

I wasn’t surprised to discover everything about Juniper appealed to me. From the way she ate her breakfast cereal, taking one spoonful of milk to every crunch of the sugary hoops, to her fifty-seven-step nighttime routine.

She dropped the shoes with a shaky exhale. I set down Shakespeare, moving to clutch her hands. “Maybe we should stay in tonight, they won’t miss us,” I said carefully, worry starting to gnaw at my gut. It was a Saturday, so I had an afternoon shinty game before the ceilidh tonight. We’d agreed to arrive separately so as not to rouse suspicion, meaning I wouldn’t even have a chance to check in on her before it started.

My tone must have given me away because she finally looked at me, teeth gnawing her full lower lip. “Have you changed your mind about telling Alistair?”

I smoothed my thumb over the small dent she’d made. “Of course not.”

And I hadn’t.

Me and Juniper together.For real. That was all I’d ever wanted. But now I had her, the fear of losing her had become a physical weight that kept me up at night. If someone asked me a month ago, I would have replied witharrogant certainty that I’d accept all or nothing when it came to Juniper Ross. But now, I knew I’d deceive everyone I cared about for the rest of my life if it meant keeping this slice of perfection with her.

---