Callan: Outback Shifters #2

by Chant, Zoe

  She let out a cry as he jerked his hips forward, burying himself deep inside her. She could feel him, every part of him. Even their souls were twined together, deepening their bond.

  Ella could feel her climax building with every movement Callan made. Heat gathered between her legs, slowly filling up her entire body. She could feel her muscles clench and relax, her toes curling, mouth opening, her fingers scrabbling at his back.

  “Callan – Callan –”

  Her crying out his name made him shudder, as his cries grew hoarser and more desperate. She could feel how close he was, feel the desperation for release beginning to build within his body.

  At last, Ella felt it – the sudden rush of heat through her body, so intense and white-hot that it dimmed her vision, stars swimming across her eyes. She could hear herself crying out, and hear Callan’s groan in answer. Ecstasy swept through her, leaving her shaking and desperate in its wake.

  He shuddered above her as she clenched his hard length within her, as if trying to pull him in even deeper. In that moment, Ella felt like she never wanted to let him go.

  She wasn’t sure how long it took them to ride the wave of their climax together – sweaty, breathless, and clinging to each other.

  In those moments, it felt almost as if she could feel his heart beating next to hers within her chest, strong and steady, and unbreakably connected.

  Ella was still vaguely dazed from the force of her climax when she felt Callan’s kisses on her forehead and over her cheeks, before his lips found her mouth once more.

  She let out a slow, satisfied moan as his tongue slipped between her lips, her fingers playing through the sweaty hair on the back of his neck.

  “Still need that receipt?” he asked when he pulled back, propping himself up on one elbow.

  “Hmm. No. You’ve redeemed yourself. For now.” Ella grinned at him, trying not to feel too disappointed when he rolled away to lie beside her, his hand still resting against her cheek. “But I thought I heard something about room service?”

  “That you did.” Callan sat up, reaching for the menu and handing it to her.

  “Order lots,” he told her, as she began flicking through it. “I don’t know about you, but I intend to work up a pretty solid appetite.”

  She swallowed at the sound of the warm promise in his voice – and at the way his eyes darkened with lust as he looked at her.

  “You got it,” she said with a smile, reaching for the hotel telephone.

  Epilogue

  One week later

  Callan glanced at Ella as they stood together in the university carpark.

  “You ready to do this?”

  Ella’s lips tightened, and she shook her head.

  “No. But I’ll never be ready, so we may as well just get it over and done with.”

  The police and campus security had finally given Ella the go-ahead to look through her lab, and properly catalog everything that was missing. Callan knew she didn’t have much hope to find anything intact, and had been trying her hardest not to think about it.

  Though between spending time with her father and getting debriefed by the Agency, Ella had had more than enough on her plate without also dealing with her destroyed lab.

  Ella looked up at him. “All right. I can do it.”

  Callan nodded, and together, they walked across the carpark to the door of the lab.

  He opened the door, allowing her to go in first, noticing the cautious way she stuck her head inside, glancing around.

  “My section’s over here,” she said, once she appeared to have convinced herself it was safe. “Thank God only my stuff was affected when they broke in. I don’t know what I would’ve done if anyone else’s work had been ruined because of me.”

  “It wouldn’t have been because of you,” Callan said gently. “There’s no way you were responsible for what they did.”

  Ella nodded, swallowing. “You’re right. Still. I wouldn’t have felt very good about it.” She glanced up at him. “How are they, by the way? Are they – uh – are they still –?”

  Callan knew she was talking about the two men who’d attacked them – the men he now knew as Ant and Jason.

  “No. They eventually became human again. They’re still in Agency custody, of course. But they’re not talking.” He paused, taking a deep breath. “And… they can’t shift anymore. Not even into one different form. Whatever they did to themselves – or whatever they agreed to let Hargreaves do to them – it might have affected them permanently.”

  Callan shuddered. He didn’t feel sorry for either of them, of course, but he couldn’t help but feel an instinctive horror at the idea of losing his ability to shift. It had been bad enough not being able to find his diprotodon during the few minutes he’d experienced it at the warehouse.

  The memory of that emptiness in his chest haunted him. And it made him think of what Euan had confided to them, back at Hector’s farm, about his own lost ability to shift.

  I can’t imagine what that must be like, he thought, as his diprotodon rumbled in agreement. You might be a pain in the arse sometimes, but I don’t know what I’d do without you.

  Callan hadn’t said it out loud, but he’d hoped that whatever Doctor Woodson’s research had been about might be able to help Euan. He didn’t doubt that Euan would scowl and tell him to mind his own business if he ever did say anything to him, but Callan could be more forgiving now that he knew the kind of pain Euan must be in.

  And without being able to shift, he can say goodbye to his career as a field agent, too.

  The Agency had obviously decided Euan was too valuable to get rid of… but there was no way he’d be able to do the work he’d trained for years to do. If he never got his ability to shift back, he’d basically be chained to a desk for the rest of his life.

  There has to be a way to help him, Callan thought, clenching his jaw.

  And maybe there would be – one day. But right now, he knew he had to concentrate on helping Ella.

  “The biohazard team came through and cleaned everything up,” Ella said. “But they left everything in the fridges alone.”

  “You think there might be something in there?” Callan asked, coming to stand beside her.

  “I don’t want to get my hopes up,” she said. “I just have to remember that even without all my cultures, I still have my research notes, I have everything I’ve written. I’ll just have to hope that’s enough to convince someone to let me continue my work.”

  “They’d be stupid not to let you, for their own sake as well as yours,” Callan said, repeating the words he’d told her last night. Even if they found nothing left here, he was sure she’d be able to secure more funding, and he’d told her so. But that hadn’t stopped Ella from being up half the night worrying about it.

  Even if they do cut your funding, you think someone with your skills won’t get snapped up by someone else right away? he’d told her as they lay in bed together. You don’t have anything to worry about, Ella. I promise you.

  Ella hadn’t replied, but not long after, she’d leaned up to kiss him, before snuggling into his side and finally falling asleep.

  She’d been nervous when she woke up, though – too nervous for breakfast, she said, so she’d simply thrown down a cup of black coffee and then crunched on a handful of dry cornflakes.

  Callan had simply shaken his head at that, but had decided the solution would be to take Ella out for a good meal, once she decided she wanted one.

  Ella took a deep breath, her left hand resting on the handle of the refrigerator as, with her right, she punched in the security code on the door.

  “Moment of truth,” she said, looking up at him. She was trying to keep her tone light, but Callan could still hear the slight shake in her voice.

  Ella opened the fridge, peering inside. For a long moment, she said nothing. Callan could sense she was holding her breath, her eyes searching as she looked over first one shelf and then another, growing more and more
desperate the further along she went.

  Callan’s heart sank when he saw Ella swallow heavily, and then blink, straightening up from searching the bottom shelf.

  “Nothing.” Her voice was quiet, but her pain was clear. “I guess they were really thorough. They didn’t leave anything beh–”

  Cutting herself off, Ella leaned forward suddenly, her mouth dropping open.

  The diprotodon lifted its head, sensing the sudden surge in her hope.

  Callan almost didn’t dare to believe it as Ella suddenly leaned deep into the fridge, lifting her arms and reaching far into its recesses.

  He didn’t even need to see her face: his diprotodon could pick up on the vast, intense waves of happiness that radiated from the very core of her being.

  Ella withdrew, her mouth open, her eyes wide, as if she couldn’t quite believe what she was seeing – and clutched in her hand was a single petri dish.

  “I-it was right up the back,” she said, staring down at it. “It’s the only one – but it’s enough. It’ll be enough to work with. It’ll be enough to prove everything I’ve written in my notes is true, and it can work in practice.”

  Callan’s heart surged, his diprotodon all but frolicking, basking in the happiness of their mate.

  We always knew it. There was never any need for concern. Our mate can do anything.

  Speak for yourself, Callan told it – but he truly had believed what he’d said about the university allowing Ella to continue, no matter what. But this way, she wouldn’t have to start all over again from scratch. It wouldn’t be easy, but she had enough of her hard work left that she could continue her research.

  And if there’s anyone I know who’s capable of working miracles, it’s Ella.

  “I – I need to put this back,” Ella said, placing her petri dish reverently down on the shelf. She laughed nervously. “It would be horrible if I dropped it now.”

  “Don’t even think things like that,” Callan laughed, as Ella shut the fridge door. “Next thing you know you won’t be able to get it out of your mind, and you’ll be waking up in cold sweats dreaming about it.”

  “Oh God, I don’t want that.” Ella stared through the glass door at the dish. “Okay, from now on, positive vibes only, okay?”

  “Positive vibes only,” Callan agreed, as Ella turned to him, her eyes sparkling, her cheeks pink, glowing with joy.

  He swept her up in his arms, unable to help himself. She looked so happy – so beautiful – that the only thing he could do was lower his head to kiss her, wanting only to share in this moment of pure, undiluted happiness with her.

  Ella smiled into the kiss, returning it fully, her tongue eagerly slipping between his lips. Her arms wound around his back, pulling him closer, and –

  “Oh! Oh, my goodness – excuse me!”

  Ella and Callan leapt apart, as if they were high school kids who’d just been walked in on by their parents. Ella ran a shaking hand through her hair, neatening it as much as she could, while Callan resisted the urge to clear his throat.

  A young woman with long black hair and wearing a bright pink jacket and leggings stood in the doorway, her eyebrows raised. When her gaze fell on Ella, her face broke out into a massive grin.

  “Ella! You’re back! I didn’t recognize you behind the – uh –”

  Her eyes flickered to Callan, looking him over appreciatively.

  “Well, behind the very lucky man there,” the woman finished after a moment. She cocked an inquiring eyebrow at Ella, her face clearly saying, You’re going to have to tell me all about this later.

  “Priyanka,” Ella said, her voice a little embarrassed. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was back – I just wasn’t sure what to say.”

  “Oh, no need to apologize,” Priyanka said breezily, waving a hand. “Do not even worry about it. I’ll just draw my own conclusions about what you’ve been doing. Okay?” She raised her eyebrows twice in quick succession, winking.

  Ella’s cheeks immediately flooded with red and she opened her mouth, perhaps to deny it – but then she shot a glance at Callan and closed it again. Maybe it was because Priyanka wasn’t actually wrong, and she figured lying would only compound her blush.

  “I – I just came to check on my work, and see if there was anything left,” Ella said.

  Priyanka stared at her, before raising her hands, pressing her palms together. “And? Oh my God, Ella, don’t keep me in suspense.”

  It was clear to Callan that Ella couldn’t have done that if she tried. The smile that broke free across her face was like the sun breaking over the horizon – and it apparently told Priyanka all she needed to know.

  “Oh my God, Ella, I’m so happy for you!” Priyanka rushed forward, enveloping Ella in a hug. “Sorry, sorry, I know you don’t do hugs, but I claim my rights just this once!”

  “It’s fine, Pri, really,” Ella said, smiling at her as she pulled back. “Honestly, I’d be worried about you if you didn’t.”

  “Everyone loves hugs from Pri,” Priyanka informed her, nodding wisely as if she was imparting an age-old truth. “And honestly, this calls for a celebration. Nope, you’re not wriggling out of this.” Priyanka held up a hand as Ella began to protest. “Dave, Toshi, Gin and I have all been worried sick about you. And we could all do with a break from writing. So I’m taking us all out for a succulent Chinese meal. Got it?”

  Priyanka had her phone out of her tote bag and was scrolling through her contacts before Ella could even answer her. She glanced at Callan instead, biting her lip.

  “Seems like we have lunch plans,” she said. “You don’t mind, do you?”

  “Of course not,” Callan said, laughing lightly. “Anyway, I don’t think we’re getting out of this one. To be honest, I was hoping I’d be able to convince you to eat a proper meal.”

  Ella stuck her tongue out at him. “Like I haven’t been gorging myself on hotel room service this past week!”

  “True enough,” Callan said. “But you’ve been burning a lot of calories, too.”

  Callan wasn’t sure from Ella’s expression whether she wanted to kiss him or kick him. But before she could do either, Priyanka had tossed her phone back in her bag, turning to them with a smile.

  “It’s all arranged,” she said. “We’ll meet the guys at the restaurant. I’ll drive.” She came forward, linking her arms with Ella and Callan’s. “And on the way, you can tell me all about how you guys met.”

  * * *

  All about, of course, ending up being some extremely edited highlights of Ella and Callan’s adventures over the past week or so. Callan did most of the talking – he was used to skirting the truth without outright lying when it came to his job, and in any case, Ella’s habit of blushing bright red at the slightest provocation wouldn’t do them any favors.

  It was interesting to watch her amongst her friends, Callan thought. She was obviously shy and preferred not to talk much, but as the meal went on, she slowly became more and more talkative, even adding little details to his story of their first meeting.

  “Wow, who’d have thought the guy who stopped to help you at the service station when you had a breakdown would end up being so dreamy,” Dave sighed, leaning against the back of the booth of the Chinese restaurant Priyanka had driven them to. “And driving you back to town on the back of his bike – where do I sign up for a man like that?”

  “It must have been fate,” Ella said quietly, glancing at Callan. “That’s the only thing I can think of.”

  “Oh my God, stop, you’ll make me chunder – and I don’t want to waste all that amazing Peking duck we just ate,” Gin said, making an exaggerated I’m gonna throw up gesture, and earning himself an elbow in the ribs from Toshi.

  “Stop it. Just because you’re going to end up bitter and alone is no reason to shit on someone else’s happiness,” he said primly. “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.”

  “That’s right,” Priyanka said, lifting her bottle of beer.
“Don’t listen to him, Ella. He’s just jealous.”

  “I sure am,” Gin shot back, as he stole the last egg tart. “Who wouldn’t be? Look at that hunk of a man.”

  Callan laughed good-naturedly, even as Ella mouthed I’m sorry at him. He shook his head, hoping she knew he wasn’t offended. It was clear that Ella’s friends were used to teasing each other like this – and that he’d have to work hard to keep up with their easy banter.

  Especially since it was clear that they were all also fiercely protective of Ella.

  Just so we’re clear – if you break her heart, I’ll kill you, Priyanka had whispered to him the moment Ella had been out of earshot when they arrived at the restaurant. Her lips had been smiling, but the tone of her voice had been deadly serious.

  Thankfully, Callan could give her a completely honest answer when he’d said, You have my word – I never will.

  Then we’ll get along just fine, Priyanka had answered, her smile brightening once more, before she’d bounded away to greet the three men waiting for them outside the restaurant.

  Callan couldn’t help but shiver a little at the memory. He was lucky the mated bond meant he’d never even consider breaking his word. He had no doubt Priyanka had meant what she said.

  “Anyway, forget all of that,” Dave said, raising his glass. “I just want Callan and Ella to know I’m happy for them. And Ella, after everything you’ve been through recently, I’m so glad you finally found love. Here’s to you.”

  “To Ella,” Priyanka, Gin and Toshi all said together, raising their glasses.

  “To you,” Callan agreed, watching, amused, as Ella slowly turned a brilliant shade of pink.

  “I – thanks, you guys,” she eventually managed to stutter out, when everyone had finished their toast. “It really means a lot to me. I – well, I just –” She paused, swallowing. “Thank you.”

  * * *

  It was Callan who beat the others to the counter to pay for their meal and drinks, despite Priyanka’s insistence that she had been the one to invite them out. Callan had been so happy to see Ella eating a full meal – and then some – that he was more than happy to pay.