by Levine, Nina
“I never gave much thought to what marriage actually was before I got married. The ups, the downs, the never-ending daily grind it can turn into. The woman I married was not the woman I ended up spending most of my marriage with. It only took her six months to change. We fought all the time—about money, my mother, Sean, my work and the fact I had to work two jobs to support us, about this house that my mother gave us and the car she also gave us so we had something safe to drive Sean in. Fuck, Callie, my marriage almost killed me; it sure as fuck killed my soul. Jolene was never happy with anything, but she particularly held a grudge against my mother. After years of me studying and then taking on a job that didn’t pay much, we never had spare cash, and I refused to allow Mum to pay our bills. So Mum gave us things instead of money and Jolene felt like she was always interfering. I ended up taking on a night job in a bar to supplement our income, and Jolene never let me forget that she was raising Sean all by herself.”
He takes a breath as he paces the room. I stay quiet. I want to give him the space to say what he needs to.
“Instead of spending what little time we had together, Jolene chose to shut me out. She was either fighting with me or giving me the silent treatment. Then she began refusing to have sex with me. In public, though, she projected this happy image. Anyone would have thought we were the happiest couple out there.” He stops pacing and his eyes find mine. I suck in a breath at what I see there. His memories are killing him. “I thought I loved her. I spent every day trying to get through to her, trying to fix our marriage. Trying to figure out what the hell she needed to see or hear to know that I loved her. But you know what? You get to a point where you don’t know how you feel anymore so you just keep feeling the way you think you should be. I always swore I’d give my child two parents. I know now that’s what I was fighting for. I wasn’t fighting for Jolene, because how can a man who’s fallen out of love fight for a woman who doesn’t even know how to love?”
I have no answer to that.
I remain silent, waiting to see if he has any more to say.
He does.
“My mother decorated this house. Jolene wasn’t interested because it came from Mum. And I had no desire or time. I was too damn busy just surviving. Work, fatherhood and marriage were enough for me to deal with. Mum and Jolene fought as much as Jolene and I did. And in the end, I let them go for it. I stopped trying to get the two women in my life to even be able to fucking agree on what colour the sky was.” He takes hold of my arms. “This is not the bed I slept next to Jolene in. The week I discovered the truth, I went out and bought a new bed.”
“That’s not what this was about, Luke,” I say softly.
“I know.”
He’s given me more than I thought he would. And if I thought my heart hurt for him before, it hurts more now. I reach up to touch his face. “You’re a strong man. Thank you for telling me all that when I know you don’t want to revisit the past.”
“I just want us to move forward, Callie. I’m willing to do whatever it takes for that to happen.”
I move into his arms and pull his face down to mine. Brushing my lips across his, I say, “It’s happening, Luke. I want this as much as you do.”
“Thank fuck,” he says, lifting me into his arms.
I cling to him while he carries me to the bed. When he places me down, I sit and watch as he rips his shirt off and then removes the rest of his clothes. The mood between us has shifted from fun to intense. We need each other more now than earlier; we need this to continue moving forward.
He sits on the bed in front of me and strips his shirt off me. He then repositions me so I’m sitting on his lap with my legs wrapped around him.
Skin to skin.
We join in a way we haven’t yet.
Deep.
Sensual.
Slow.
Luke kisses me as if he will never have enough from my lips. It’s slow and it’s thorough, and it blazes need along every one of my nerve endings.
I feel the same way.
I squeeze my arms around him as if I never want to let him go.
Because I don’t.
Luke is mine now.
“I want you without a condom,” he says when he finally stops kissing me. “I’m clean.”
“I am too. And I’m on the pill.”
His lips find mine again in another slow and intense kiss while his hands move to massage my breasts. I could get used to these kinds of kisses. They might be slow, but they’re almost more demanding than when he kisses me hard and fast. These kisses are deliberate and exacting—they’re wringing every last ounce of pleasure from our lips.
I begin rocking against him, more than ready to have him where I want him. His erection is pressing against my pussy, teasing the hell out of me. Driving me wild with want.
Just when I’m about to drag my lips from his to beg him to fuck me, he grabs my hips and lifts me so he can position me to sit down, taking him inside as I do. His movements are slow as he tests how ready I am for him, but as he fills me, I can’t help myself—I push down to take him all the way.
“Fuck,” he growls, placing his hands on my ass and pulling me close to him.
I wrap my arms and legs tightly around him, grinding slowly.
Oh, God.
So good.
While I’m grinding and rocking on him, he grips my hair into a ponytail and pulls my head back. He then drops his mouth to my neck so he can kiss and suck my skin.
When his teeth sink into me, I moan and rock a little harder. My fingers claw at his back. “Luke…” I moan again.
He doesn’t stop.
He continues sucking and biting my neck, causing chaos in my mind. Between the rocking and grinding we’re both doing, and his mouth on my neck, and the way he’s pulling my hair, I may come sooner than I usually do.
Luke owns me completely.
My body.
My thoughts.
My heart.
They’re all focused intently on him.
He lets my hair go and his mouth leaves my neck. His hands move back to cup my ass and he pushes into me harder. All the while, his eyes hold mine. “I’m falling, Callie,” he says as he tries to pull me even closer to him.
“I don’t think you can get me any closer,” I say softly while I think about what he just said.
I’m falling too.
He kisses me. “I’ll always try to get you closer.”
Oh, God, I’m falling.
I rock a little faster, desperately wanting this sooner. And yet, all I want is to make it last forever.
“Don’t speed it up, baby,” he says, his hands on my hips as he tries to slow me down.
“You’re always about delaying shit,” I murmur.
He smiles before catching my lips again. Nipping at them with his teeth, he says, “I’m all for finding ways to keep you in my arms.”
My heart bursts.
Finally.
I’m sure of it.
It’s in my chest in pieces.
I move my mouth to his ear and whisper, “I think I’ve already fallen.”
His hands grip my ass harder.
His breathing slows.
And we come together as he rocks faster with me.
Skin to skin.
Heart to heart.
Soul to soul.
We’re together in this.
22
Luke
I pull Callie closer to me and grind my dick against her ass. Fuck, this woman is everything. I had a moment of panic last night when I thought she was going to leave. The fact that Jolene can fuck with me from prison pisses me off. I just want her out of my life so I can get on with it.
Callie moans in her sleep as I take hold of her breast and continue to grind against her. Having her sleep next to me all night is something I could get used to. Something I want to get used to.
She stirs. “Luke…”
I press my mouth to her ear. “Morning, baby.”
S
he stills, and then she turns in my arms, a frantic look on her face. “Shit, did we fall asleep last night?”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
While I’m busy trying to get inside her, she’s busy pushing me away. Eventually, she gently slaps at my chest. “Luke!” she hisses. “Sean might come in. And I should not have slept over. Don’t you think it’s a little soon for me to sleep over?” She’s fucking adorable when she rambles.
“It’s not too soon. You need to calm down.” I grin. “And you need to let me fuck you.”
Her eyes widen. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
I roll onto my back and blow out a breath. “Fuck, Callie, since when is it not a good idea to have sex? Do you have any idea what you’re doing to me here?”
She props herself up on her elbow. “I’m just trying to look out for your son.” Still hissing. She’s definitely pissy at me.
I roll, this time on top of her. Positioning her arms above her head, I lift myself up so I’m not squashing her. “My son adores the hell out of you. He’s not going to care if you sleep over. And besides, he needs to get used to it, because as far as I’m concerned, it’s going to be happening a lot.”
Her breathing slows. “Really?”
“Yes, really. To all of that.” I bend to kiss her, not giving a fuck about morning breath. “Now, I’m going to—”
“Daddy, can you please turn the TV on?” Sean interrupts us right when I’m about to have my way with my woman.
I drop my head and mutter, “Fuck.”
Callie snickers and I lift my head to glare at her. “You’re missing out on something here, sweetheart. It might be your only chance today at this,” I say as I push my dick against her pussy.
She sucks in a breath and I nod before rolling off her to look at my son. “Can you give me a minute, little man?”
His eyes dart between Callie and me. He settles his gaze on her and cocks his head. “Why did you sleep in here?”
This will be interesting. I turn to face her. Red stains her cheeks as she stumbles over her words. “I was… Ummm, I was really tired, Sean, so your daddy said I could sleep over.”
I do my best not to laugh and am just about to help her out when he speaks again. “We’ve got another bed, silly. You want me to show you where it is?”
She seems relieved. “It’s okay. I don’t mind sleeping in this one.”
Wrinkles line his forehead. “Why don’t you want a bed all to yourself?”
I slide my legs out of the bed and reach for my pants on the floor. As I slide them up, I say, “Callie’s going to sleep over more often and she’ll sleep in here with me, okay?”
His eyes meet mine and he nods. “Can I sleep in here, too?”
Fuck.
This is all new territory for us and I haven’t put enough thought into how to deal with it. I mess his hair. “There’s not really enough room. Callie’s a bed hog. Besides, you’ve got Elmo to keep company in your room.”
He thinks about that and nods again. “Yeah. He’ll miss me too much.”
I guide him towards the door and turn to give Callie a grin. She’s mouthing something smart at me. I ignore it and say, “Breakfast?”
“Toast, please,” she says as I close the bedroom door and give my attention back to Sean.
Best start to the day.
Me: What are you doing?
Callie: Is that code for what are you wearing?
Me: That could work, too.
Callie: I’m not telling you. You called me a bed hog this morning.
Me: I’ll go first then. I’m not wearing anything.
Callie: You don’t play fair, Luke Hardy.
Me: You love playing with me.
Callie: Dude, you haven’t even seen my A-game yet.
Me: I’m free on Saturday.
Callie: Really?
Me: Yeah, Paris is taking Sean out.
Callie: You’re on.
Me: What are you doing tonight?
Callie: I’ve got a hot date.
Me: Who the fuck with?
Callie: Settle. It’s with my neighbour. She’s cooking me dinner. Roast.
Me: You’re cheating on me. I’m your roast dealer.
Callie: What can I say? She makes it so good.
Me: I bet she doesn’t follow it up with your favourite dessert.
Callie: No one makes that dessert as well as you.
Me: Drop by the bar before you go home.
Callie: I don’t think I’ll have time.
Me: Make time.
Callie: I was wondering where bossy Luke was hiding.
Me: I’ll see you then.
“Make me a Cosmo please, Luke,” my mother says as she settles on the stool in front of me. Dumping her handbag on the counter between us, she adds, “It’s been a bitch of a day and I need a drink.”
I raise a brow. “You haven’t had one yet?” I find that hard to believe.
She purses her lips. “Don’t be a bastard to your mother. I’ve only had a few, and that was at lunch.”
Avery moves behind me and says, “I’ll make it, Estelle. Luke’s been a moody asshole for the last hour.” She avoids my glare as she makes the cocktail.
“Why are you moody?” Mum asks.
“No rea—”
Avery cuts me off. “Oh, here she is now.”
I follow her gaze to see Callie walking towards us. When she is standing in front of me, I say, “You’re late.” She’s at least an hour late, if not more. I actually expected her not to show now.
She drops her bag on the counter next to Mum’s and takes the stool next to her. “It’s been an atrocious afternoon, Luke. You need to make me a vodka.”
My mum is watching her with great interest. When she mentions vodka, Mum nods and says, “A woman after my own heart. Make her a vodka, Luke, and make it snappy.”
Callie faces Mum. “Thank you. Finally, someone who bosses him around.”
I smirk and make the drink.
I’m not even getting involved in this. I want to see where it ends up.
“Oh, honey, I’ve been bossing him around for twenty-eight years. Anytime you want something out of him, you just come to me.”
Callie’s eyes widen and she coughs. “Oh, my goodness, are you Luke’s mother?”
“I am. And I presume you’re dating my son?”
Callie’s wild eyes meet mine. “Make that a double, buddy. You did not prepare me for this.”
Mum laughs and places her hand on Callie’s arm. “In his defence, he didn’t know I was dropping by tonight. I have to say, I’m impressed with your skills.”
“Which skills would those be?” Callie asks.
“Getting a double anything out of my son is impressive. He usually refuses to give me any alcohol, let alone a double.”
“Tell me what you want and I’ll order it for you.”
Mum extends her hand. “Estelle Ashcroft. So pleased to meet you.”
Callie takes her hand. “I’m Callie, and it’s lovely to meet you, too.”
I place Callie’s vodka in front of her. “I’m rationing these tonight. Now tell me, why was your day bad?”
She takes a long gulp. “Mrs Harper had a fall. I had to get her to the hospital, which meant I had to leave work early, which means I’m behind on my article. I’ve got a long night ahead of me now.”
I frown. “Mrs Harper?”
“My neighbour. She’s about ninety. They’re keeping her in hospital for a few days at least to monitor her because she hurt her hip pretty badly.”
“Ah, so no roast for you tonight,” I say.
She pokes her tongue at me. “No roast, smarty-pants. And no dessert either.”
I smirk again. “Definitely no dessert. You’ve had a rough day today. Nothing good for breakfast and no dessert.”
She takes another long gulp of her vodka. “Oh, screw you, Mr Hardy. I might go home and make my own dessert. And send you a photo.”
&n
bsp; Mum chokes on her drink. “Callie, you and I must really get together one day. Any woman who is willing to take on my son is a woman I need to get to know.”
Callie holds her drink up to clink my mother’s glass. “We can drink cocktails and swap notes.”
“Jesus,” I mutter.
I leave them to their conversation to go and take care of some waiting customers. When I return twenty minutes later, Avery has made them both another drink and they’re getting on like a house on fire.
I pull Avery aside. “No more drinks for either of them.”
She pulls a face. “Really, Luke? You’re going all caveman now?”
“If I see them with a drink after this one, I’m gonna be pissed off, Avery. Mum’s had enough for today and Callie needs to get home to do her work.”
She rolls her eyes and wanders away muttering some shit I can’t hear.
“Well, look at this cosy little party.” I turn to find Tyler standing between Mum and Callie; his arms draped over their shoulders.
“Have you called your father, Tyler? He’s been looking for you this afternoon,” Mum says.
“No, I’m avoiding him,” he says, annoyance flashing across his face. “And you should stop seeing him if that’s what is going on.”
“I’m not seeing him. Why do all my sons think I’m seeing him again? I’ll have you all know right now that I have a new man.”
I lean on the counter. “Really? Why haven’t we heard anything about him?” Whenever she has a new guy, we’re the first to know.
She sips her drink. “Because I’m serious about this one and I wanted him to myself until I knew for sure.”
“Knew what for sure?” Tyler asks.
“That he’s the one.” Her shoulders straighten as she says this and her face lights up with happiness. I’m not convinced, though. Estelle Ashcroft meets “the one” at least twice a year.
“How long have you been seeing him?” Tyler demands.
“Four months and seven days.”
Tyler scoffs. “That’s a blink. How can you know anything in four months?”
Callie joins in. “Time means nothing when love is involved.”
Mum raises her glass to Callie. “Thank you, Callie. I wholeheartedly agree with that. I met Luke’s father when I was nineteen and knew within a week that I loved him.”
