No wait, she did. Calli raced to the bedroom. In the corner were two rain sticks she’d gotten from her parents. Souvenirs from their trip to South America a few years ago.
She grabbed one and ran back into the living area, gripping the stick like a baseball bat. The seeds inside the stick “rained” their way down its interior, the soothing sound in direct opposition to the fear making her breath harsh and her skin prickle.
Suddenly someone banged on the door. “Calli? It’s Jonas Smith. Can you open the door?”
Calli inched over to the door and peered through the tiny view hole. A man was holding out a detective’s shield so she could see it. She unlocked the door and cautiously opened it.
“Calli?” Jonas asked at the same moment she saw the man he had cuffed and standing beside him.
“What are you doing here?” She hissed at Leo.
“I was trying to explain to this officer that I was just trying to find where you lived so I could talk to you. Explain—”
“I don’t want to hear anything you have to say.”
“Do you two know each other?” Jonas asked.
“No.” Calli said at the same moment Leo said “Yes.”
“So which is it?” Jonas asked.
Calli blew out her breath. “Yes, I know who he is.”
“Then this is the man who’s been stalking you?”
“Stalking?” Leo stammered. “I haven’t been stalking—”
“Why are you following me?” Calli cut him off.
“I told you, I wanted to—”
“Shut up!” Jonas barked. “Okay, now, let’s get this straight. You two know each other.”
“Yes,” Calli said sullenly.
“And he’s been stalking you?”
She started to say yes, but changed her mind. She might be mad as hell but that didn’t excuse telling a lie. “No.”
“Then why did Dini…”
“That’s my fault,” she interrupted. “I’m sorry. I didn’t recognize Leo’s car and I thought someone was following me.”
“So you don’t want to press charges?”
God it was tempting. She could have him tossed into jail. Sure, the charge would be dismissed, but it could cause him at least a night of discomfort. Still, when she glanced at Leo and how miserable he looked she couldn’t do it.
“No. I’m sorry to waste your time, Jonas.”
“It’s okay.” He uncuffed Leo. “Sorry, sir.”
“Just doing your job,” Leo said and rubbed his wrists.
“So we’re okay here?” Jonas asked.
“Yes. Sorry.” Calli replied. “Really.”
Jonas nodded then looked at Leo. “Mr. Thatcher. My apology.”
“No problem,” Leo replied.
He and Calli watched Jonas leave then he turned to face her. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I just wanted to find you. Talk to you.”
“We don’t have anything to talk about, Leo.” Suddenly she was tired. Too tired to argue, too tired to be hurt. She wanted it to just be over.
“Yes, we do. Calli, please. Just give me five minutes.”
It wouldn’t change anything, but she couldn’t refuse. She gestured for him to enter her apartment and followed him in, leaning against the wall by the door. “Okay, say your piece.”
“First, what you saw—me and that woman—it wasn’t what it looked like. She was just another of the hungry sharks looking for action and not knowing how to take no for an answer. I swear on my grandmother’s grave that I never touched that woman—well, except to peel her off me.”
“It doesn’t matter,” she said softly. And she realized she meant it. What difference did it make? She’d been the foolish one, thinking something could develop between them in just a few days. It was a juvenile, romantic notion and she should have known better.
“Yes, it does.” He walked over and took hold of her by the upper arms. “Calli, I know you said you didn’t want anything but a fantasy—a vacation fling—but what happened with us…it was…it was more than that for me. Much more.”
His words ripped away the protection she’d so carefully woven, tore through the fabric of her tightly knit shield and justifications. It destroyed her ability to protect herself from the pain that tore through her.
“Please don’t say that,” she whispered. “Please. Don’t play me, Leo. I’ll believe that you didn’t mean to hurt me, but don’t make things worse by lying to me now. Just accept that I believe you and let me be.”
“I can’t do that, Cal.”
“Why?” His touch was a torment, his nearness torture more severe than anything she could imagine. She wanted so badly to touch him, to feel his arms around her—to believe that there was something more than a vacation fling. But she couldn’t let herself be fooled that way. The hurt was too big. She couldn’t take any more.
“Because. Because I need you.”
Calli heard the word need and it stiffened her spine a little. “Need me? Come on, Leo. You can have your pick of women to scratch whatever itch you have. You don’t need me for that.”
“I’m not talking about sex!” he yelled. “Damn, how can you be so smart and so fucking dumb? I need you, Cal. Your beauty, your brains, your total lack of inhibitions in speaking your mind, your sense of humor, your curiosity… I need you. You.” He ended softly.
Calli was struck mute for a long time. Her eyes searched his, looking for the truth. And he didn’t back away. He met her, locked eyes with her. “Leo, I…I swear I want to believe you. I do. But I’m afraid.”
“I won’t hurt you.”
“You already have. Don’t you see? I’m not someone who knows how to play these games, how to turn feelings off and on. Either I care or I don’t. There’s no middle of the road for me. I’m…I’m scared of the hurt. I let myself care once before—let myself love someone. And he made a fool of me, played me. He never cared. I was just a convenient fuck—someone he was ashamed for his friends to meet. I can’t go there again. I can’t. And I know I said I only wanted a fantasy but that was because I was scared. You’re so—so perfect. Handsome and sexy, smart and successful. You can have any woman you want. How can I compete with that? I’m nothing. Just a librarian and a wannabe writer.”
“Don’t you ever speak that way again!”
The harshness in his voice and the way he leaned his face in close to hers made her draw back. “I mean it, Cal. You might have some warped notions about yourself but I see you. I see your beauty and intelligence and there’s no woman—not one—who can hold a candle to you.”
“Leo, I—”
“No, don’t say it. Look at me, Cal. Really look. Beneath this muscle you see now is a skinny kid who never had a date. All the way through college. Not one. I had brains, made the grades, and got a scholarship but never once did a girl give me more than a pitying glance. I know about appearances and how people use them and I don’t play that game. Beauty, real beauty is rare and you have it in spades. I do need you. I do. I-I really think I’m falling in love with you. Please, please don’t turn me away.”
Calli never thought she’d hear such words spoken to her. And certainly never dared to hope she’d hear them from Leo. Yet here she was, hearing it.
“You were a skinny geek?” She couldn’t even begin to digest all of it, trust it.
“Yeah, the class loser.”
“I’d have given you a glance,” she said softly.
“Just give me a chance now. Can you do that?”
She searched his eyes again, fear, hope and excitement battling for dominance inside her. “Yes,” she said as hope won out. “Yes.”
“Cal,” he whispered and pulled her to him.
The moment their lips met she knew he was being truthful with her. She felt it in his touch, in the way he held her. She clung to him, wanting that kiss to last forever. When it finally did end and he pulled back, she smiled up at him. “Are you hungry?”
Leo laughed. “For you? I don’t think I’ll ever
get enough of you.”
She smiled and went into his arms again. Suddenly her fatigue was gone. In its place was energy and new excitement. Life suddenly held promise. The promise of love.
Chapter Seven
Calli stopped at the kitchen door, balancing a tray of drinks. What a night this had been. Fenny was hosting an engagement party for Dini and Jonas. All of the girls and their men were present.
Calli was amazed at how well everyone meshed. Fenny and Michael were like the royal couple. Fenny was so elegant and beautiful and Michael, so handsome and sophisticated. And whether Fenny admitted it or not, they were just perfect together. Calli suspected Fenny had finally realized that, since she and Michael were planning to take his boat on an extended cruise down the east coast and back.
Eden and Sean were doing more than making a go of their long-distance relationship. They were getting rid of the long-distance part. Sean had accepted a position at MIT in order to be closer to Eden and she’d asked him to move in with her. Since she’d met Sean, Eden had done far more than add a little romance to her medical thrillers. She’d gotten a five-book deal on a medical romance series.
Dini and Jonas were the reason for this gathering. He’d whisked Dini off for a ride on the Vomit Comet, a zero-g environment, and had proposed to her. Everyone was stunned that she’d said yes. Now that she had, she was thrilled and happily planning the wedding and threatening to make all the women wear pink taffeta.
Cam and Dee had made it through the minefield that was Dee and he’d won her over completely. They were currently in the construction phase of a new home—arguing over every aspect, naturally—and breaking in each new board that was nailed down, it seemed. Dee had even stopped pretending that Cam didn’t own her heart and it was easy to see that he had no intention of ever letting her get away.
Her sister Stella had met her match in Dex. Calli had never seen Stella more happy or relaxed. She was enjoying working out of her home, and her legal practice had become something of a neighborhood hangout. Anyone within ten square miles who had a problem ended up on Stella’s doorstep. And Stella loved it. Not only had she found her place in the legal world, but she’d found her true calling in her writing. Now her books were infused with romance that tugged on the heart and made readers beg for more. Dex couldn’t be happier. His first CD had gone platinum but he still preferred playing the small clubs. Truth be told, he just didn’t want to be away from Stella one moment more than he had to.
And then there was Leo. Her Leo. Her “skinny geek boy in the body of a god” as she liked to tease him. She never dreamed she could love someone so much, or that she would feel so loved.
Calli smiled as she watched everyone laugh and talk. Dee looked up and saw her.
“What’re you doing, Calli girl?”
“Just watching. Enjoying.”
“Well set that tray down and come over here. Leo tells me you have some news.”
Calli placed the tray on the coffee table and wedged onto the sofa between Leo and Dee as everyone reached for glasses.
“So?” Fenny asked.
Calli looked at Leo. He smiled and took her hand. “Well,” she said and looked around at everyone. “Leo and I were offered a contract on the series we wrote.”
There were cheers, claps and a huddle from all the girls wanting a hug. “I’m so happy for you, Cal,” Eden said. “Is this the urban fantasy you were working on?”
“Yes.”
“What pen name are you using?” Dini asked.
“Calliope Leonard.”
“Very cool,” Dee said. “Did you get a good deal?”
Calli laughed. “Actually, yes.”
“Well hey now,” Dee raised her glass. “A toast. To all the women who bless my life and the men who give us all something to smile about.”
“And talk about,” Fenny added slyly.
“Definitely talk about,” Eden said with a chuckle.
Calli laughed, clinked her glass against everyone near her then turned and kissed Leo. Dee was right. Every person in the room was a blessing to her life. She’d never dreamed she’d have such good and true friends, or that she’d be living a dream. She was on her way to the career she wanted and she had the man of her dreams by her side, working with her.
Yes, life was better than she ever imagined. And it wouldn’t be if she hadn’t had the courage to take that step and have what Dee had so aptly named a “sexploration”. It just went to show, you never knew where it might take you.
About the Author
Ciana Stone has been reading since the age of three, and wrote her first story at age five. Since then she has enjoyed writing as a solitary form of entertainment, and has just recently come out of the closet to share her stories with others. She holds several post graduate degrees and has often been referred to as a professional student. Her latest fields of interest are quantum mechanics and Taoism. When she is not writing (or studying) she enjoys painting (canvas, not walls), sculpting, running, hiking and yoga. She lives with her long-time lover in several locations in the United States.
Ciana welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and e-mail address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
Tell Us What You Think
We appreciate hearing reader opinions about our books. You can e-mail us at [email protected].
Also by Ciana Stone
An Unwanted Hunger
Another Saturday Night
Hot in the Saddle 1: Chase ‘n’ Ana
Hot in the Saddle 2: Molding Clay
Hot in the Saddle 3: Scout ‘n’ Cole
Hot in the Saddle 4: Conn ‘n’ Caleb
Riding Ranger
Saturday Night Fever
Sexplorations: Finding Her Rhythm
Sexplorations: The Thing about Cowboys
The Hussies: A Taste for Jazz
The Hussies: All in Time
The Hussies: Maxwell’s Silver Hammer
The Hussies: Sin in Jeans
Wyatt’s Chance
Also see Ciana’s release at Cerridwen Press (www.cerridwenpress.com):
That Which Survives
Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer e-books or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.
www.ellorascave.com
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