Where I Found You (Heart's Compass Book 1)

by Brooke O'Brien

  “Oh my gosh, Callum!” she yells, laughing. “This is so much fun!”

  There is an exuberance in her tone and I can’t help but grin at how happy and carefree she sounds. Wanting to hear more of Ellie’s infectious laugh, I rev up the engine and shout back, “You better hold on real tight, baby. We’re only getting started.”

  The next hour is spent riding the trails. I’ve become addicted to Ellie’s laughter and I promise myself to spend all my days working to hear that very sound. With one hand on the gear shift, I run the other over Ellie’s hand wrapped around my waist.

  I don’t care that we are both caked in mud right now. I love having her close.

  After her antics in the truck and having her body wrapped around mine, I should’ve known better than to think she wouldn’t try it again. As if it isn’t hard enough to focus, I can’t ignore the feel of her soft breasts pressed against my back. The water from the puddles causes my shirt to cling to me like a second skin. Ellie’s hand runs along my chest as the muscles in my stomach clench.

  Not wasting any time, I pull off into an alcove on the side of the trails and park where no one could see if they’re driving past. Turning off the engine, I slide my helmet off and hang it from the handlebar as Ellie does the same.

  “Come here, baby,” I grunt, unwrapping her hands from around my waist and helping her move to step off the side of the four-wheeler. Sliding back further on the seat, I pat my lap inviting her to sit as I raise my eyebrows suggestively. She returns the smile that has nearly taken over my face before looking around checking if anyone can see us, but I don’t even give her a chance to overthink it.

  “No one will see us out here, I promise.”

  Her eyes light with desire, and I’d be damned if I’d let someone get a glimpse of her like this. Ellie steps up onto the footrest and slides her leg over, positioning herself facing me on my lap. Running my hands up her thighs towards her ass, I pull her closer to me once again so there isn’t even an inch separating us.

  “Hi,” she whispers, as her warm heat connects with my straining cock.

  “Is this what you wanted earlier, baby?” I ask, hoping like hell I didn’t misread her cues. Looking me dead in the eye, I can see everything in the depths of her glittering green eyes. She runs her gaze over every inch of my face before landing on my mouth.

  “Kiss me, Ellie,” I say, needing to taste her. Running her hands through my hair, she pulls on the strands, causing my head to tip back.

  “You know I don’t like being told what to do, Callum.”

  There she is, that fiery, passionate woman she likes to keep hidden. With my hands pressed against her ass, I grind my cock up, letting her feel me rub against her as her eyes start to close with the weight of her desire.

  “Ellie, you may not think it now, but when we’re like this, when you’re in my arms and you have that sexy as fuck look in your eye, you are mine.” I can feel her body tremble against me as she fights against her reaction to my words. “So, when I tell you to kiss me, I want you to give me those lips, baby,” I command.

  As soon as I say the words, her lips connect with mine in a punishing kiss. Weaving her fingers through my hair, she tugs on the ends as I let out a deep moan. Opening my mouth, I feel her tongue connect with mine as I run my hands up her back, sliding under her wet t-shirt feeling her soft skin beneath my hands.

  It’s as if the sound of my moan spurs her on as she forces her aching core down, grinding on top of my dick, her breath coming out in heavy pants. Keeping my forehead pressed against hers, I break the kiss and force air into my lungs.

  “I can feel your heat through the denim of your jeans, sweetheart. If you keep rubbing against me like this, I am going to lose all control and end up taking you right here.” I groan, running my palm over her rib, grabbing a handful of her breast. Her nipples pebble beneath the cotton of her t-shirt as I run my thumb back and forth over her tightened peak, letting out a strangled moan.

  “That feels good, Callum. Please,” she breathes heavily, throwing her head back in pleasure. “Please keep touching me. Don’t stop.”

  It’s as if she’s lost all her inhibitions and is driven purely by the need racing through her bloodstream. Hearing her take control of her pleasure, telling me what she wants, is the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. My cock is straining against the zipper of my pants. As much as I want to take this further, to give into the arousal, I know she deserves better than this. I want our first time to be special.

  That doesn’t mean I can’t give Ellie a taste of what we could be together.

  Sliding my hand back down between us, I run my hand beneath the fabric of her shirt lifting it up to expose the black lace of her bra. I can see her rosy nipple straining against the fabric as Ellie leans back, bracing her hand on the handlebars, offering herself to me.

  “God damn, Ellie. Look at you!” I groan, leaning forward to wrap my lips around her puckered flesh as Ellie unleashes a series of curse words.

  The shy and tentative woman she was before is gone.

  Tangling her fingers back through my hair, she presses my face into her chest as she says my name over and over in a chant.

  “Callum, I think. Oh, fuck,” she moans, “I think I’m going to come. Please, I need to come.”

  My fucking pleasure.

  She continues to grind against me seeking her own release as I use my teeth, biting softly against her tender flesh. The unexpected pain sends her catapulting over the edge as her body trembles against mine. I can feel her arm start to give out as I wrap my arms around her. With my head tilted back, she leans forward and presses a deep kiss against my lips while she continues to ride out the high.

  I know without a shred of doubt that I’m lost in Ellie. Now that I’ve gotten a taste of her, I won’t ever be able to let her go.

  Mine.

  “Let’s hear it for the boy, let’s give the boy a hand.” I sing along to the “Footloose” CD blaring from the speaker in the kitchen. The smell of the sugar cookies baking wafts through the air as I clean up the chaos that I’ve created. Cookie dough sticks to the counter and the inside of the mixing bowl. Scraping what is left onto a spoon, I take a heaping bite, smiling as I continue to dance.

  Callum is coming over today and I decided I wanted to do something nice for him. In fact, he should be here any minute.

  Piling the spoon and utensils into the mixing bowl, I dump them into the sink. While the cookies bake and the dishes are soaking, I move my hips along to the beat of the music, sweeping up the mess I’ve made on the floor. Things have been so busy lately that finding days to get things done around the house have been few and far between.

  The song changes to “Footloose,” bringing back a flood of memories from my childhood of my mom and dad dancing together in the kitchen. I remembered when they would hold me in both of their arms as they danced around the small dining room. The smile on my mom’s face would be so big and bright, it nearly split her face in half.

  I shuffle my feet on the floor, singing along to the lyrics. Letting the beat flow through my body, I rotate my hips imitating moves I’ve watched on “Dancing with the Stars.” With an extra bounce in my step, I slide my foot across the linoleum floor. The movement takes me by surprise as my feet slip out from under me. Sticking my hand out, I try to brace for my fall. The sound of skin smacking fills the air as I land hard on my side, cracking my head again the cupboard in the process.

  Sitting up, I groan through the sharp pain pounding through my skull leaving me dizzy. Wrapping my fingers around my left wrist, I apply pressure in hopes to dull the ache. That’s how Callum finds me as he makes his way around the corner and into the kitchen. I hadn’t heard him walk through the door over all the commotion.

  “Ellie, what happened?” Callum shouts over the music, rushing to me as he bends down next to where I’m sitting. Even over the loud music, I can still catch the panic in his voice.

  “It’s okay, I’m fine,” I say, ope
ning my eyes to look up at him. I wince from the brightness of the lights shining above, forcing my eyes closed again as I rub my fingers over my forehead.

  “That didn’t sound like everything is fine. I walked inside because when I knocked, instead of hearing you respond, I heard what sounded like a slamming.” Callum is upset, causing his nostrils to flare and his jaw to tick. If I had to guess, it’s over my lack of concern of me sitting on the floor in pain.

  “I was dancing and fell. I uhhh—” I grunt, shifting my left hand to the floor. Releasing the pressure on my wrist causes a throbbing pain to shoot up my forearm. The pulsating in my wrist matches the pounding in my head.

  “I landed funny on my wrist, hitting my head against the cabinet in the process.”

  Making a move to stand up, I set my non-injured hand on the floor only to land in something wet.

  “What the hell,” I mumble to myself, holding up my palm as I survey the floor. “Something must’ve spilled.” I can hear the confusion in my voice as I look around for what it could be.

  “C’mere,” Callum says. “Let’s get you up off the floor first. I’m more worried about you and that pretty head.” Leaning over, he slides his arms underneath my legs just below my knees, wrapping his other arm around my lower back. My arms curl around his neck as he lifts me up, moving effortlessly to set me on the counter.

  It briefly crosses my mind how messy it still is with cookie dough caked on top of it, but my worry doesn’t last long when the incessant pain in my eyes forces my eyes closed once again. Resting my forehead against Callum’s shoulder, I let out a quiet groan.

  “I know, baby,” Callum says, “I’m going to check you out.”

  Once he has me seated and is sure that I’m not going to move or injure myself further, he takes a step back to survey the damage. Crouching in front of the sink, he opens the cabinet as he shuffles the cleaning products I have stored out of the way.

  “Uh, Ellie, it looks like your sink is leaking.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Yeah, it looks like the water is coming out from this pipe down here. Has it done that before?” Callum asks, looking up to me with questioning eyes.

  Without thinking, I shake my head no. As my vision gets a little fuzzy, I rub my fingers across my forehead.

  “When I first moved in, Hudson came by and said he needed to fix the sink but I haven’t had any problems,” I mumble, rubbing my hand against my forehead trying to ease some of the tension.

  “Just a second, sweetheart. Let me get this turned off,” he says.

  He jumps up quick and disappears down the hall, only to return with two big bath towels from the hallway closet. Once he has them spread out on the floor, he is back standing in front of me.

  “How you feelin’, sweetheart?” he asks, brushing the hair back from my face.

  “Like I just about put my head through the cabinet door,” I whine. “And I can hardly move my wrist.”

  Callum grabs my right hand, running his fingers over the swollen skin. It’s growing more and more stiff as the seconds tick by. Even through the pain, his touch still causes electricity to course through my body. I can’t help the groan that escapes, which comes out sounding more like a moan. I can hear Callum’s sudden inhale at the sound.

  The song changes and the music continues to drone on. When they sing, “C’mon, baby, make it hurt so good,” Callum lets out a deep laugh.

  Struggling to hold back a smile, I glance up at him. A look of concern is on his face, and if I’m not mistaken, a hint of desire is hidden under there, too.

  “Footloose,” I say, explaining the reason for the music.

  Callum shakes his head at me as he leans over to turn down the music.

  “Just a little too footloose, I’d say.” He snickers. “Thankfully, I don’t think it’s broken, just a sprain I’m sure. I’m more concerned about your head. I think we should go get you checked out.”

  “Whoa there, I don’t think that’s necessary. I’m a klutz, I fall all the time. You’d think you would know this by now,” I joke, referring to the time we met when I so gracefully fell into his arms, hoping to reassure him.

  “Can’t we just go lay down for a little bit? That sounds like a lot more fun. I’m sure we’d both feel better about this after a nap.” Looking up at him beneath my lashes, I hope to convince him while trying to hide my nervousness at the thought of going to the hospital.

  It’s not like I’ve been forthcoming about who I truly am, at least not to everyone in Arbor Creek. Hudson promised to keep my secret and all the bills under his name, understanding why I didn’t want a trace leading to where I am.

  When I left Garwood, I did more than say goodbye to my home. I also said goodbye to Ellie Hayes, the real me.

  “Ellie, could you imagine if I hadn’t shown up here just now? You don’t even have a cell phone. What could you possibly do in that situation to call me, Kinsley, or Hudson?” The tone of his voice changes just thinking of something happening and not having a way to reach out for help.

  “Oh, please!” I scoff, not wanting to do this with him right now. “You know how I feel about cell phones. It’s not like phones have been around since the beginning of time.” I admonish, crossing my arms over my chest, being mindful of my injured wrist, holding my ground.

  “See, that’s the thing. I don’t want you to have to do this on your own anymore. I want you to let me in. I haven’t had a chance to talk to you about it, but if we get this job I’ll have to go out of town in a week and I’ll be gone for five days. What am I supposed to do then?” he asks, his voice laced with both determination and exasperation as he rubs his palms up and down my thighs.

  As hard as it is for me to admit it, he is right about the first part. I can feel my resolve chipping away just a little bit more, thinking about how much I want to continue opening up to Callum. Knowing he is going to be gone for almost week only makes it more difficult to say no to him.

  I run my palms over the top of Callum’s hands, ignoring the stiff pain in my wrist as I peer up at him.

  “I’m sorry, I know you want to take care of me. What you need to understand is it’s hard for me to let go. I’ve been doing this on my own for so long. Just thinking about you being away for that long with no contact,” I admit, letting out a sigh. “It’s hard to even think about.”

  Moving to stand between my legs, he runs his hand along my cheek, brushing his thumb down my jaw. The pounding in my head hasn’t lessened but I don’t say anything, fearing that he would move away from me. Instead, I just close my eyes and soak in the warmth of his skin against mine.

  “Good, I’m glad, sweetheart, because none of this was up for negotiation anyway. I’m taking you to the hospital to get checked out whether you like it or not. Then tomorrow, after I get off work, I’m taking you to get a cell phone.”

  Opening my eyes, I find his staring back at me. I can see the intensity in his gaze as he waits for me to respond, to challenge him. There are so many things I want to say, just on the tip of my tongue. Before I get a chance to say them, he’s there pressing his soft lips against mine, taking all the fight I had left right out of me.

  It took some coaxing but I convinced Ellie to go to the hospital to get her head and wrist examined, especially after I told her we would have to make a trip to Everton, which is where the nearest hospital is located. When she asked if she could wear my sunglasses inside, I realized she was with me in the decision to come here to ensure everything was okay.

  They had us fill out some registration paperwork when we got here. Since Ellie doesn’t have insurance and I was the reason for dragging her here, I gave them my credit card not wanting her to have to worry about the bill. I could tell it made her uncomfortable, but she realized quickly that it wasn’t something I was going to give in on.

  Now here we sit in the waiting room with her forehead pressed against my neck. We’ve been sitting here for a little over forty minutes now, the wait to see a
doctor on the weekend is taking longer than either of us would like.

  “Ellie Ryan,” a woman in a nursing uniform announces cheerfully.

  “Come on, sweetheart, let’s get this over with. Then we can get you back home to rest,” I urge, standing up and turning to help Ellie do the same.

  “That’s us,” I say with a small wave to the nurse. The smile on her face matches the sound of her voice, but I don’t miss the way her eyes rake over me.

  Wrapping my arm around Ellie’s shoulder, I kiss the top of her head and usher her along behind the nurse, down the hallway toward the examination rooms. Helping her get seated on the bed, I run my hand along her back.

  The nurse takes a seat on the chair and looks up at us, “So, I understand you had a fall, hitting your head and injuring your wrist. Is that right?” she asks, letting her eyes linger on me.

  Ellie nods her head, dropping her hands into her lap as she lifts her head. “Yeah, I was doing the dishes in the kitchen. While I let the dishes soak, I was dancing.” Ellie laughs. “Apparently, the sink had started to leak without me knowing. I slipped and fell, trying to catch myself in the process. I landed on my wrist and ended up hitting my head on the cabinet door.”

  The nurse grits her teeth sympathetically as if picturing the whole thing going down. “I understand, I hope you’re okay.” She continues to ask Ellie more questions about the symptoms she is experiencing while going through the routine of checking her blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and heart rate.

  “I will let Dr. Sahls know. He should be back here in just a few minutes,” she says with a warm smile as she finishes typing up her notes on her tablet, before making her way toward the door.

  It takes a minute for me to register the name before it clicks into place.

  Dr. Sahls… Jeff Sahls.