When he finally forced himself to break the kiss, her hand snaked around his neck to hold him in place. "I really missed kissing you," Callie sighed. "Don't stop."
Hell to the fucking yes!
Ford kissed her, and kissed her, and kissed her again until both of them were trembling with need. He'd kept his hands on her face the entire time because if he had touched any other part of her body he wouldn't have stopped until he was balls deep inside of her. No matter how blue his balls turned, he refused to rush her.
"Mmm. I have to go," she said in genuine regret when her phone pinged with a text from her driver.
It took every ounce of willpower he had to make himself release her. One look into her desire clouded eyes and he groaned, "You have no idea how hard it is for me to let you go."
"I do," she countered as she rose. "And it makes me appreciate it even more."
Ford stood and pulled her into a hug that she returned. "Dream about me tonight, Callie," he requested. "Don't make me dream alone."
"You're such a romantic," she teased and kissed his chin before pulling free of his embrace.
"Only about you," Ford assured her seriously and went down to the lobby with her to introduce Callie to the doorman. "Fred, this is Ms. Rose. Please make sure she has access to my apartment at all times."
"Yes, sir," Fred agreed cheerfully. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Rose. My wife loves your designs. I bought her one of your dresses for our anniversary and she said it was the best gift I ever gave her."
"That's wonderful," Callie said and seemed genuinely pleased. She reached into her bag, pulled out a business card, and handed it to him. "Have her come to the showroom and ask for Amy. My assistant will set your wife up with a complete outfit free of charge."
The doorman's expression was priceless before he broke into a huge grin. "Thank you, Ms. Rose. This is sure to score me some major brownie points."
"I could use a few of those myself," Ford interjected in amusement and escorted her to the curb where Bruno was waiting.
CHAPTER NINE
Callie
"Ford has a son."
"Fuck. Me," Soraya said in surprise. "What about the mom? Is she going to cause problems?"
Callie knew exactly why that was the other woman's first thought. While she and Graham were dating, he had discovered that his ex-fiancée had his child. A child that his ex-best friend had raised as his since the bitch had been doing them both at the same time before Graham found out and kicked them out of his life.
As if that hadn't been bad enough, the selfish bitch had done everything she could to break the couple up after her husband's death in the hopes that they could be a picture-perfect family. The sad thing was that it had almost worked until Soraya realized that her being in Graham's life didn't mean that his daughter would suffer like she had when her father had remarried.
Her stepmother might have been a selfish bitch, but Soraya would never treat a child like that. Little Chloe now had two mothers who loved her and the girl couldn't be happier. "Fortunately, I don't have to deal with the BS that you did," she admitted. "His mother gave Ford complete custody and he doesn't even know who she is."
"He doesn't know? How does something like that even happen?"
"I have no idea," she replied. "He was born while Ford was comatose so she was someone he knew before he met me. I guess she must have thought he ghosted her like I did because she wanted to remain anonymous."
"Well at least you don't have to deal with a clingy ex," she groused. "So how do you feel about him having a child?"
"It was a shock, and it hurt like hell, but I don't have a problem with it," Callie confessed. "I've seen pictures and he's a beautiful little boy, but I'm terrified that he won't like me."
"I knew it," the other woman crowed. "You're going to give Ford a second chance."
"I'm considering it," she confessed.
"Listen, Cal, don't meet the kid until you're sure," she suggested.
"Why not?"
"Because letting him get attached to someone who isn't going to be around is just cruel," Soraya imparted wisely. "It's not fair to either one of them."
"You're right," she agreed. "It wouldn't be, so I guess I'd better know what the hell I'm doing before Ford suggests it."
"If he does, you'll know he's serious about having a relationship."
"He told me he loved me," she confessed.
"And you replied with..."
"I asked him not to make me fall in love with him again."
"How's that working out for you?" Her smart-ass friend asked facetiously.
"I think it might be too late," Callie admitted.
Ford
"She's not Scott's mother," Ford admitted glumly.
"You wanted her to be," the shrink deduced.
"I did," he confirmed.
"Why?"
"It would clear up yet another missing piece of my past," he admitted. "And give me a permanent link to Feathers."
"How so?" Dr. Wilkes queried. "If she signed over her parental rights, what would make you think that she would want to be his mother now?"
"If it had been her, and she thought I'd ghosted her, I can understand why she would have given up our child," he explained. "Now that I'm back in her life again, and she knows the reason why I disappeared, I had hoped that she might want to be a mother to our son. Since she's not, it’s a moot point."
"Have you considered how difficult this situation would be for her if she had been Scott's mother?" The shrink queried.
"What do you mean?" Ford asked in confusion.
"If the scenario you put forth had happened, and she was faced with the possibility of meeting a child that she voluntarily gave up," he elaborated. "It could have had devastating results for all three of you."
"How so?"
"The guilt alone could be debilitating for Feathers, especially if Scott resented her," Dr. Wilkes explained.
"Fuck," he muttered grimly because once again, his selfish actions could have hurt the woman he loved. "Finding out that I had a son hurt her bad enough. I never even considered how she might have felt if he had been hers."
"How did she handle the news?"
"I thought she was going to faint," he admitted. "But she did say it wasn't going to be a problem and even asked me questions about him over dinner. I took her interest as a positive sign and hope to introduce them before too long."
"For your son's sake, make sure she's invested in having a relationship first," the doctor suggested seriously.
"That's exactly what I plan to do," he confirmed. "Feathers might not have given him life, but I'm hoping she'll want to be his mother."
Callie
The week before New York Fashion Week was a whirlwind of activity and there never seemed to be enough time to get everything accomplished. Having her show on site had helped tremendously since it provided easy access to everything that was needed, and any emergency could be quickly rectified or averted altogether.
The entire top floor of the building had been converted for the sole purpose of hosting fashion shows which enabled Callie to create the perfect backdrop for every theme well in advance. Since this was a showing of her spring and summer collection, the décor was light and airy to showcase her designs.
To cash in on having the runway models on site, she had scheduled a fashion shoot with them wearing their assigned designs for her spring and summer catalog. It would be uploaded to her commercial website immediately following the show so the new line would be available for retail buyers to purchase afterward.
Ford had brought his camera to the photoshoot and made some surprisingly beautiful images himself. Unlike the professional photographer's sleek, glossy magazine cover style photos, his were more like works of art. They expressed the essence of her designs and she absolutely loved them.
He somehow managed to capture the soft, breezy flow of a skirt as it wafted around the model's legs and the gentle drape of a neckline as it caressed b
are flesh. The images were strikingly beautiful and she was so moved by his artistic talent that she fired the photographer and asked Ford to shoot her entire catalog.
The man had been ecstatic since photography was his passion, and he hadn't even needed persuading. He'd even offered to shoot the fashion show and she had happily agreed to let him. Callie was thrilled because her catalog images were going to look as fresh and exciting as the designs she had created.
It should have been frightening at the ease with which Ford had integrated himself into every aspect of her life, but it wasn't. Just like they had the first time, they flowed together as seamlessly as two halves of a whole. They had even regained the ability to share the same thought as if they'd never been apart.
Callie knew that they were meant to be together and always had been. But knowing something and embracing it were two entirely different things. She also knew that it was time to let go of the fear of the past, but it wasn't easy. There were too many things that could go wrong and she'd be left shattered again with no one to blame but herself.
Ford was being so sweet and patient in giving her the time she needed that it made her love him even more. Yes, she loved him. Had never stopped loving him, and she knew she never would. He truly was her soul mate in every sense of the word. In spite of the fact that he didn't remember her, he knew her on a level that no one else would ever reach.
Other than Bastion, he was the only one who had ever seen past the façade that she projected to the vulnerability hidden deep inside. Never knowing her father and losing her mother at a young age had left her with abandonment issues that Ford's disappearance had only exacerbated. He saw that and so much more.
He knew her. Inside and out. His dark, soulful gaze stripped away all of her defenses, but instead of feeling exposed, he wrapped her in a cocoon of love and safety.
Not to mention their sexual chemistry was even more combustible than before. At times it was so strong that the air fairly crackled around them. All it took was one look into those dark, intense eyes filled with hunger to rouse her dormant desire and send it rushing through her entire body like quicksilver.
He still loved touching her. Every time he trailed his fingertips lightly over her exposed flesh her heart kicked into overdrive. And his kisses. God, how had she forgotten how much she loved them? Ford would cup her face in both hands and his mouth would worship hers with deliciously mind-numbing kisses.
He wasn't above using their mutual desire to his advantage either. He no longer tried to hide his erections from her. Now the handsome devil was actively drawing her attention to them. He wanted her to know what she did to him. How much he wanted her. Effectively reminding her just how good they had been together.
How phenomenal they would be again.
Even so, he wasn't pressuring her to have sex. It was more like a deliberate tease and effective as hell. Callie knew it wasn't fair to keep them both in this state of limbo, so she had suggested waiting until the chaos of Fashion Week was over before they discussed progressing into a sexual relationship, and he'd agreed.
Which meant that tonight was the end of her reprieve.
Callie didn't need any more time to think about it. She loved Ford and wanted to be with him every day for the rest of her life. Once her show was over, she was going to claim her man. He'd be lucky if she let him out of bed in a week. But first, she had a show to prepare for, and if it went as well as the dress rehearsal, her world would be perfect.
Ford
Ford was a nervous wreck. He wanted the show to go perfectly for Callie because she damn well deserved it. The woman had worked night and day for the past week making sure that every minute detail had been carried out to her exact specifications. Her dedication and determination to make her show the biggest hit of Fashion Week was inspiring.
He had been thrilled when she asked him to photograph her amazing designs, and from what he'd seen, the woman had outdone herself. The clothing she had designed was sexy as fuck and he couldn't wait to see her in every last piece. Especially the lingerie. Just thinking about it had him harder than granite. His constant state around her it seemed.
He had offered to shoot the show as well, and now that the moment had arrived, he was nervous as fuck. As the official photographer, he needed to capture the perfect shot every time for the model's all-important pose at the end of the runway. A pose that only lasted between three and four seconds.
The lack of a traditional runway had given him a variety of locations to choose from. The models would descend a floating staircase and walk a circuitous path through the attendees before exiting beneath the staircase. After discussing it with Callie, it was decided that they would pause at the bottom of the staircase for his shot.
Ford had practiced during the full dress rehearsal so he knew what to expect, and it was going to require his complete concentration to get just the right shots. Once he had his gear set up, he made his way to the back of the house and into a scene that looked like complete and utter chaos even though he knew there was a method to the madness.
Portable clothing racks containing each model's outfits lined every available wall. Down the center of the room hair and makeup stations were set back to back forming two separate walkways around them. Stylists, dressers, and models in various stages of undress scurried back and forth like spastic ants.
The show's producer was going over last-minute details with the sound and lighting technicians. The design staff was checking and double-checking that each garment rack contained the right shoes, hats, handbags, and accessories required for every outfit. Yes, it definitely looked like bedlam, and he captured it all on film.
In the midst of all the commotion, the talented designer sat in a chair patiently having her hair and makeup done. Ford was once again struck by her beauty as he spied her through his viewfinder. He had no idea how Callie could look so calm and serene because he was practically sweating bullets by this point.
"You look a hell of a lot calmer than I feel," he commented.
She turned slightly glazed amethyst eyes on him and flashed the impish smile that he adored. "I always have to take a sedative before a show," Callie confessed. "Otherwise I'd be having a major anxiety attack right now."
"Wish I'd thought of that," he groused playfully. Her purple satin dressing gown gaped open enough to torment him with a glimpse of cleavage, so he brushed his fingers lightly over the lapel and teased, "Please tell me you're not modeling the lingerie. I can't shoot the show if I keel over with a heart attack."
Callie laughed as he'd intended and replied, "I'll be revealing a sneak peek of my haute couture collection tonight. If you think this show is overwhelming, just wait until we get to Paris and everything has to be done at the venue."
His heart leaped with happiness and hope because she'd included him in her plans for the future, even if they were professional. Ford had never wanted to kiss her more than at that moment. "Will she stab me in the eye with a comb if I smudge your lipstick?" He asked and nodded at the woman skillfully piling hair atop her head.
"No, but I will brand you with the curling iron," the hairstylist said with a grin as she worked a length of hair into a spiral curl.
"It would be worth it," he replied and shot Callie a wicked wink.
"Don't forget to take pictures of the crowd, Ford," she reminded. "The VIPs like to be seen."
"As you wish," he easily agreed and turned to finish up backstage.
"Callie, he's gorgeous. Please say I can have him," he heard the stylist say.
"Nope. That one is all mine," the woman who held his heart replied and it warmed the dark corners of his soul. She still loved him. He knew it. And he could barely wait to make her his. But first, they had a fashion show to pull off.
Ford made his way back into the main area and snapped photos of the attendees as they entered and mingled. There were a lot of familiar faces who were shocked to see him wielding a camera, but he didn't take the time to stop and explain. He had
a job to do and he was taking it very seriously. Callie was depending on him and he'd be damned if he'd let her down.
Coming face to lens with a particularly menacing expression had him lowering the camera to acknowledge, "Baines." This meeting had to happen sooner or later and now was as good a time as any.
"Fucking Hammersmith," the other man growled.
"Before you say anything, you need to know that I'm in love with Callie," he began evenly. "There isn't a damn thing you can do to get rid of me so you might as well play nice for her sake."
"You've sung that tune before," Baines bit out.
He knew that Callie had shared the reason for his disappearance with her partner, so the man was aware that it had not been intentional. "So I'm told," he agreed. "But this time around the only thing that will separate me from her is death."
That brought an evil smile to the hotelier's face and it truly was a frightening sight. He wasn't called the Dark Lord for his sunny disposition. "That can be arranged," he warned.
"It could," Ford acknowledged and didn't doubt that Baines could kill him. The bastard would probably even enjoy it. "But you won't because it would hurt Callie."
"Know this, Hammersmith," he bit out with quiet menace. "If you hurt her again, I'll destroy everything you have before I take you apart with my bare hands."
It was a well-known fact that Bastion Baines did not make idle threats. If the man said something, it happened. Period. In a tone equally grave, he replied, "I hope you would. Because knowing that I'd hurt her again would be a fate worse than death."
The imposing bastard actually gave a bark of dark laughter and replied, "Not the kind of death I'm thinking of."
It was time to put an end to this animosity, so he reminded, "You asked me once if I would die for her. I would. Happily. So give it your best shot, Baines. You know where to find me. I'll be by Callie's side where I belong." That said, Ford walked away and continued taking pictures of the crowd until it was time for the show to begin.
Once it did, he completely lost himself behind the lens. Ford's concentration was totally focused on the swirl and drape of the stunningly beautiful garments passing before him. Intent on getting the perfect shot each time. He wasn't even aware of the crowd around him or their reaction to what they were seeing.
Heartless Bastard (Rich Ruthless Bastards, #1) Page 10
