I can’t help but think of how much both of our lives have been altered at the hands of people who brought us into this world. By people who are supposed to care for us.
“We aren’t them, Callum,” I say, angling my head up to look at him. His eyes are still focused intently at the fan circling above us. Moving my hand to the side of his face, I turn his head until his eyes are once again back on mine.
“You are not like your father, Callum Reid.”
Nodding his head, he leans forward and presses a kiss against my lips. They are soft, but commanding. I can feel the emotion waging war beneath the surface. I don’t let him pull back, instead urging him on, moving my hand into his hair, deepening the kiss. I can feel his mouth open as his tongue seeks entrance, and I open up to him.
It’s as if everything goes right out the window and it’s only the two of us here in this bed. Callum lets out a growl from somewhere deep in his chest, and the sound reverberates through me, followed by the feeling of warmth rushing through my bloodstream.
Rolling over onto my back, I pull Callum’s body with me to avoid breaking our connection. As his tongue continues to duel with mine, I run my hand through the short hair at the base of his neck. Pulling back, he severs the connection but never breaks eye contact with me. He melts my insides with the words that come out of his mouth next.
“I would be a lucky fucking man to wake up next to you every day, Ellie. I want you to know that I won’t ever stop showing you how happy you make me. I’ll prove to you every day that being by your side is right where I want to be,” he says, leaning down, placing a soft kiss on my lips, moving his way toward his favorite spot on my neck and ending just above my heart.
Callum is still laying on top of the blankets, the sheet adding a layer of separation between us. Pulling them back, he slides beneath them and resumes his position above me. He doesn’t move closer, instead looking down at me as if he is silently asking for permission.
“I need to feel you,” he says, the words filled with so much need. “I could start a fire with the way my body burns for you.”
When his eyes meet mine again, I can see the desire in their fiery depths. Never taking my eyes off his, I run my fingers along his hip toward the waistband of his jeans. I can see the effect the movement has on him as his nostrils flare and his chest heaves as he struggles to control himself. I don’t hide the way my mouth turns up, enjoying the way he responds to my touch.
Lifting the hem of his shirt, my fingers continue their path as they curl around his waist, pulling him forward pressing him against me. The move catches him off guard as his eyes light up with surprise, followed by a low moan as his body connects with mine positioning him between my legs. I can feel his arousal pressed against me as I let out a shuddering breath.
“Mmm, now that’s better,” I hum, moving my hand up his stomach, over his chest, wrapping it around the back of his neck. Pulling him closer to me, I press my lips against his in a searing kiss felt through every fiber of my body as Callum lets out a deep groan. As if he is unable to control himself, he rubs his cock against me, causing my body to jolt as pinpricks spread across my skin.
“FUCK! Ellie, baby, you feel so good. So fucking good,” he moans, continuing to rock back and forth. The sound of his dirty words whispered in my ear and the feel of him rubbing against my swollen clit has me fighting for more as I run my hands down his back to his ass pressing him against me.
“I need more, Callum. I need you to give me more!” More of him, more friction, more of his lips pressed against mine. I need so much more and fear I will never get enough.
My legs tighten around his hips as if silently begging him to put me out of my misery.
Like a bullet shot out of a gun, he springs into action, leaning back pulling his t-shirt over his head, tossing it to the floor.
“Lift your arms,” he whispers, grabbing the hem of my shirt, doing the same to mine just before he adds it to the pile. This is different than the time I was with Cameron on the couch in his living room with only the television offering any lights in the pitch-black room.
Having my body laid out here for Callum and the vulnerability of the way his stare burns a path over my skin has me wrapping my arms around my chest, covering myself.
“Please don’t cover yourself up, baby. You have no idea, no fucking idea what you do to me.”
Sliding off the bed, Callum stands before me not breaking our eye contact as he unbuttons his pants, shoving them down his legs along with his underwear. Bending down, he picks up his wallet and tosses a condom next to me on the bed. Kicking his pants to the side with the rest of our clothes, he tosses his wallet onto the pile. I watch as he widens his stance, wrapping his hand around his aching cock as he continues to work himself over with a clenched fist.
Words escape me as my tongue darts out to wet my dry lips.
Holy shit.
“Don’t you see what you do to me? I fucking ache for you.” He groans, grabbing my face in a kiss so passionate I can feel it clear down to my toes. It starts out as a spark, which leads to a slow burn. If this is the fire he was talking about, I hope we burn this whole house down.
I feel like at any second I’m going to explode, ending this before we ever have a chance to get started. Her lips are so soft and commanding as if she is begging me silently to give her more. Keeping my hand wrapped tight around my cock, I squeeze the tip to hold off my impending release.
That is until I feel Ellie’s small and tentative hand wrap around mine, forcing my mouth away from hers as I let out a deep groan.
Her soft skin on my sensitive head has me biting the inside of my cheek as I struggle to keep all the blood from racing south.
“Callum,” Ellie whispers encouragingly, begging me to open my eyes. I can’t help but take in the way her hand wraps around me, her eyes bright with desire. Rubbing her thumb over the head of my cock, she swipes the drop of pre-cum before lifting her finger to her mouth.
“Holy fuck,” I grunt, forcing a step back as I watch her mouth tighten around her finger. This isn’t how I wanted our first time to go. I wanted to take my time with her, draw this out, and make her feel good.
“Give me a second, baby,” I beg, squeezing my eyes shut, trying to fill my mind with anything other than what I just saw.
“No. You don’t want me to cover up or hide from you, well I don’t want you distancing yourself from me. I need to see you, feel you, kiss you.”
Opening my eyes, I let them fall on her and rake them over her creamy smooth skin. Her hair is a mess, falling down her back in waves. Moving her hands so they are no longer covering her chest, she leans back on both of her palms. The move causes her chest to stick out further, forcing my attention to her beautiful breasts on display for me and only me.
Throwing the covers still wrapped around her torso to the side, removing every layer between us, I crawl onto the bed.
“Lay back, Ellie.” Her body trembles before doing what I ask.
Running my hand along the inside of her leg, I kiss a slow path up her stomach until I’m positioned above her chest. Using my tongue, I circle her stiff peak before trailing kisses up her neck to my favorite spot.
“I’ve thought about what it would be like to be with you a thousand times, to watch you fall apart beneath me.” Leaning back, I look into Ellie’s eyes, needing her to see and hear the sincerity in my words. “I want you to know how much it means to me, for you to give yourself over to me,” I say, leaning down to press a soft kiss against her lips.
Opening her mouth up to me, I find her tongue seeking entrance as I run my hand up the side of her face. “I’m yours, Callum. I want to be yours in every way,” she whispers. The words are nearly my undoing.
Sliding my hand down her stomach, I dip my finger in her warm heat, finding her wet and ready. Pulling out my finger, I add a second, hearing her soft moans.
“I can’t wait anymore, Ellie. I’m sorry, I promise next time I’ll take my ti
me, but I need to feel you.” My voice rough. I’m wound so tight, I feel like at any minute I could break into a thousand pieces.
Grabbing the condom off the bed, I quickly tear it open and roll it down my length. Rubbing the head of my cock along Ellie’s wet pussy, I press a hard kiss against her lips. Sliding the tip inside her, I let out a deep breath forcing air into my lungs. I can’t take my eyes off her as I pull out, before pushing my way in once again.
Dropping down to my elbows, I lean in closer as my hips thrust slow and steady.
“I want you to feel me, Ellie. Feel how your body comes alive beneath me. I don’t want you to ever forget all the ways I can love you.”
I can feel her body melt below me. She wraps her arms around my lower back as she digs her fingers into my ass. Raising her hips toward me, she urges me on.
Growling, my hips move faster as she clenches around my dick. She’s coming and it’s so tight, I nearly can’t breathe.
“I’m going to come,” I moan.
I can hear her whimper as she spreads her legs wider. Burying my face into her neck, I slam into her once, twice before following her over the edge.
All the emotions coursing through my body leave me feeling raw and exposed. What I didn’t expect is the love I feel for her to surge through me.
Everything in my life leading up to this point has taken another piece of me. Breaking it off, bit by bit. In this moment, I know Ellie is helping mend the pieces of my broken heart. Together, she will make me whole again.
I’m just walking out of my bedroom when I hear knocking on the front door. Padding down the hallway, I flip the lock and swing the big wooden door open. I can’t help the smile that takes over my face when I see the one greeting me.
“Morning, Ells!” Hudson says, his voice warm yet husky, holding up a bucket in his hand filled with what appears to be several tools.
Hudson reminds me of a big teddy bear, and he has a heart of gold to match. The day I found the ad on Craigslist and I called him from the phone outside the library, I hadn’t told him a lot about me except I was moving out of Garwood to start over fresh. I will never forget the concern he had in his voice as he told me to be safe and even offered to give me the job at Hudson’s to help get me on my feet.
After getting to know him, he’s become more of a father figure to me. I feel safe with him around, and I know he is looking out for me. He doesn’t know the details of my past, well at least I haven’t told him. He still knows me as Ellie Hayes, and with that tidbit of information, it wouldn’t be hard to dig up the past I’ve worked hard to keep buried.
“Good morning to you,” I say, smiling back at him. Stepping to the side, I wave a hand in front of me ushering him inside.
“You feeling better after your fall? June told me you injured it slipping on the water coming from under the sink. Does it still hurt?”
“Thankfully, my head felt a lot better after I got a good night’s sleep. My wrist is still a little sore, mostly when I try to bend it too much. I’m doing alright now though. Would you like something to drink? I have water, lemonade, or sweet tea. I just made the sweet tea yesterday, so it’s fresh,” I say as I walk over to the refrigerator.
“I’d love some sweet tea. Thank you, Ells!” He smiles as he bends down on his knees on the kitchen floor, looking up at me. “I’m glad to hear you’re feeling better, too. Callum seemed to be anxious when he called me up yesterday,” he says, moving things around underneath the sink.
“You talked to Callum about the sink?” I ask. I’m sure Hudson can hear the question in my voice. Growing up with Kinsley, I don’t doubt Hudson got to know Callum well. Why am I not surprised he reached out to him after the trip to the hospital?
“He called to ask if he should hire someone to fix it. I’m going to see if I can figure out what’s wrong with it. If not, I’ll have someone come by the soonest I can to get it fixed,” he reassures me, leaning underneath the sink, getting to work.
Taking the sweet tea out of the fridge, I pour two glasses, leaving one sitting on the counter near him. Heading over to the table, I sit down deciding to look through a magazine I picked up at Hudson’s last night during my shift while keeping him company in case he needs anything.
Turning the page, I see an ad where the model is standing in the middle of a forest, reminding me of what I found outside the house. The anxiety and fear I felt seeing the pile of cigarette butts is once again back. Callum had taken my mind off it to the point where I had forgotten it until now.
“I didn’t get a chance to tell Kolton thank you when he was over here last week. I think the mulch he put down around the trees and in the flower bed looks a lot better. Did he mention anything to you about the pot that must’ve tipped over behind the house?” I ask, the words coming out sounding more worried than I intended them to.
Hudson stops what he is doing, leaning back on his haunches before shooting me a questioning stare. “Didn’t Kinsley give you the message?” His eyes are burrowed in confusion as if he’s trying to piece together what I’m saying.
“About the pot spilling? Oh, it’s not a big deal.” I wave my hand at him, feeling relieved I was worried for nothing. Looking back down at the magazine, I flip to the next page. There is some gossip article about the recent Bachelorette couple splitting up. Do the people on those shows think their relationships are going to last? Seriously.
“Sorry, Ellie. I thought Kinsley had told you when you went to lunch the other day. She had stopped by before she was meeting up with you.” Hudson stops, continuing to look confused. “Kolton wasn’t able to stop by and do the lawn care last week. He had a test to take at school, so I came over and got the yard taken care of. Although I don’t know anything about a pot spilling.” He looks at me, searching my face as he waits for me to respond.
My hand stills as I’m turning the page, as my heart starts to pick up its pace. I tell myself there is nothing to fear. It’s not at all what you assume it to be. He is behind bars right now; there is no way it’s related.
My phone buzzes from where it sits on the dining room table. The sound and the vibration against the wood distracts me. Mumbling an apology to Hudson to give me a minute, I pick up my phone as a text message from Callum appears.
Callum: I can’t stop thinking about last night.
My body hums as I feel my face heat up thinking back to how amazing Callum was last night. It’s as if all the air has been sucked right out of me thinking about how good he made my body feel.
Callum: or this morning either ;)
I can’t help the goofy grin that takes over my face. Once again, it’s like all my fears are knocked right out of me. The sounds of Hudson resume as he works away not paying any attention to me.
Raking my teeth over my bottom lip, I focus my attention back on Callum as I quickly type out a response. While it has taken me awhile getting used to having a phone, it’s days like this when he is at work I’m glad to have this connection to him.
Me: I can’t either. I wish you were here.
Hitting the lock button, I look back over to Hudson bringing me back to the present. Callum is good at drowning out the world around me.
“Sorry,” I mumble, “Back to what I was saying. There was a flower pot out back and it looks like it had been spilled over outside of my bedroom. It was full of cigarette butts.” Letting out a slow breath, I take a second to prepare myself for my next question as I wrap my hand around my necklace. “Do you know who those are from? Besides Callum and Kinsley, you and Kolton are the only ones who are ever here.”
I feel like I’m holding my breath waiting for him to respond. Leaning back on his knees again, I can see the look of concern on his face. He must sense my fear, the way I clutch onto my necklace when I’m nervous is a dead giveaway.
“Ellie, no one should be here unless you want them to be. I’ll take care of it out back before I take off. I want you to know you can call me if you need anything, ya hear?” He grunts, making it cl
ear he’s serious. “If something’s wrong like your sink or somethin’s got you uneasy, you tell me. I don’t live far, and I can be over here in two minutes if I need to be. Plus, I know both Callum and Kinsley wouldn’t like it much knowin’ you’re worried.”
Raising his eyebrow at me, he’s calling me out, and I nod my head letting him know I hear him. He isn’t wrong; I’m good at keeping people at arm’s length.
“You got the day off today, why doncha head into town and see what Kins is up to?” he says, turning away and getting back to work under the sink.
“That sounds like a good idea.” The stress I hadn’t realized had been weighing me down lessened some just hearing him reassure me of the people I have in my life that I can trust.
Deciding to stop by the library to return my book I finished yesterday, I shoot off a text to Kinsley, asking if she’d be interested in grabbing lunch. Just as I snag my books and purse after saying goodbye to Hudson, a text comes through from Kins saying she’s wrapping up with a client and will be waiting.
After the last twenty-four hours, I really could use some time with my friend. I’m glad to have one to turn to.
I have so much on my mind the entire bike ride into town. Between the news from Hudson, Callum texting me, and my constant thoughts of last night, I’ve been on a rollercoaster.
To think it’s only been two weeks since the night at Champions, so much has happened. I can’t help but feel like last night changed everything between us. The way it felt to have him wrapped in my arms, to give myself to him. I’ve never felt more cherished and safe in my life. I want to open up to him about my past, but I’m scared of exposing the wounds of my past.
Where I Found You (Heart's Compass Book 1) Page 13
