Both Sides Now (Seasoned Hearts Club)

Chapter 17

Chapter

Seventeen

KEEGAN

F rom the corner of my eye, I watch Calli walk down the hallway and out of my sight before closing the door. I lean against it and release a loud breath, scrubbing my face with my hands.

To say I’m stunned is an understatement. I never expected to see Calli again after that night at her house. I may have only shared one glass of whiskey with her, but I drank a quarter of a bottle once I got home.

Not that it numbed the pain. Not even close.

The only saving grace of being on Long Island, in a high-profile position, is the lack of free time I’ve had over the last few weeks. No one demanded I stay in the office, poring over case files until ten at night, but what did I have waiting at home?

Hell, I don’t even have a home. Not yet. I’ve looked at several beach houses, in search of the perfect one, but the thrill was gone.

Now, that thrill just shocked the hell out of me, standing in my exam room and pacing the floor in typical Calli fashion.

And I let her walk away. I don’t know why. Pride? Fear? I know it isn’t because I don’t love her. I adore every stubborn cell of that woman’s body.

She was different today. There was a strength there, a steely determination I hadn’t seen before. Sexy as hell, too, even though I hid the fact well.

Then she poured her heart out to me, so there was no mistaking her intentions. Telling me, in no uncertain terms, that I was her choice. Her only choice.

Hell, she fucking proposed to me.

And I let her walk away.

“What the hell is wrong with you, Keegan?” I mutter under my breath as I bolt from the exam room.

“Dr. Russo, your next patient is waiting.” Patty, my receptionist, motions to a room further down the hall.

“Stall her. I need five minutes.” Dashing out the office door, I make a beeline for the elevator, but it’s already on the move.

So am I.

I yank open the door to the stairwell and take the steps two at a time down to the main floor, bursting into the lobby just as the elevator doors open.

Panting, I push a stunned Callista against the elevator wall before closing the door and pressing the stop button.

I’m going to receive a stern lecture for this stunt. Not that I give a damn. I’ll pay whatever fine they want to toss my way.

Calli’s eyes widen with shock, their glassiness proof of the depth of her emotion. “What are you doing, Keegan?”

“What does it look like?” I crush my mouth against hers, knotting my fingers in her hair as our tongues tangle. I pour every emotion into that kiss, every moment I spent without her by my side. Calli, never one to hold back, gives as good as she gets, fisting my shirt between her hands and wrinkling the hell out of it.

We pull back, our breath mingling as our hearts settle.

“I thought I’d lost you. You said you needed time.” Calli’s hands, unwilling to remain still, glide along my chest as her mouth presses tiny kisses to my jaw.

What I need is to bury myself inside her, but that will to have to wait a little while longer. “I figured it out in the amount of time it took for you to walk from my office to the elevator.”

“And?” Her gaze holds mine, and for the first time since our incredible evening in Mystic, I know all the love living there is meant for me.

“Yes. To all of it. I’m going to owe you a really amazing proposal and a ring, but?—”

My words are cut off as her mouth claims mine, her hands twining round my neck. Her tongue teases me, beckoning me to play, as her body presses close.

Will I have sex in an elevator?

Damn straight, I will.

“This is security. Is everything alright in there?” A stern voice blasts through the elevator speaker.

Busted.

I chuckle and press the intercom button while maintaining a firm grip on my woman. “We’re fine. We’re moving now.”

Callista releases a groan, leaning her head on my chest. “You have a patient waiting, don’t you? Or was that just an excuse to get rid of me?”

“I’m never getting rid of you.”

That line earns me another kiss, and I’m tempted to press the stop button again. “Damn but I love that, although you didn’t answer my question.”

Shit. Back to reality, at least for a moment.

“I do, but then I’m done for the day. Will you wait in my office?”

God, I love Calli’s smile. I will never tire of that sexy smirk. “Can I do dirty things to you after hours?”

Yes, please .

My dick springs to attention at her words. “How dirty are we talking?”

Calli rises on tiptoe, her mouth hovering against mine. “Filthy.”

The elevator doors open to reveal a perturbed looking Patty on the other side, her collagen enhanced lips pursed into a pout. “Dr. Russo, there you are. I was coming to look for you. We didn’t know where you’d gone.”

Patty has spent the last few weeks making it known that she is willing to go above and beyond in her duties, and I don’t mean typing.

She’s pretty, too, much like the women I dated before Callista.

But there was one giant problem. She wasn’t Callista.

And no other woman comes close to the one by my side.

I offer Patty a smile and tug a hand through my hair. “I had some important business to take care of.”

“That’s an understatement,” Calli replies, as she sets about fixing my tie. She grins up at me, reaching up to fix a stray curl. “Never would cooperate.”

Over her shoulder, I see Patty’s jaw slacken at our intimate gestures. “Do you two know each other? Aren’t you one of his patients?”

To be fair, it’s none of her damn business, but Calli winks at me, and I know she’s about to turn the woman on her head.

A coy smile cuts across Calli’s features as she extends her hand. “I’m Callista. Keegan and I know each other very well. He’s my fiancé.”

“Your what?” Poor Patty. She’s so shocked, a slight breeze could knock her down.

“I just asked him, and he said yes. Aren’t I the luckiest woman alive?” Calli slips her hand into mine and presses a kiss to my cheek.

Meanwhile, I’m barely able to contain my amusement .

“Your patient is waiting, Dr. Russo,” Patty huffs, before turning on her heel and stalking off.

Biting back a laugh, I glance at Calli. “Are you staking your claim?”

“Damn straight. I see how she looks at you. I know she wants you. Too bad. You’re mine.”

Any other woman? I’d be running for the hills with that string of possessive comments. But with Callista, they’re the most welcome words I’ve ever heard. “Don’t you get it? I’ve been yours since that day in my office.”

“Now you tell me. I bought a ring and everything.”

I can’t hold back the grin splitting my face. Offbeat, to be sure, but her determination is a definite ego stroke. “I thought that was my job.”

“You want to win the girl, you buy her a ring. You want to win the guy, you buy him one.” Calli leans in, pressing that luscious mouth to mine once more. “Which way is your office? Go tend to your business and then come tend to me.”

That garners my full attention, and my lady damn well knows it as she sashays down the hall, showing off her well-toned assets to the office.

Am I watching her walk away? Fuck yes, I am.

So is everyone else.

My receptionist shoots daggers in Calli’s direction, but she’d better used to the idea of her being around.

She’s here to stay.

I loosen my tie as I step into my office. Finally, I’m finished for the day. Without fail, an appointment that should have taken twenty minutes lasted twice that long.

But my patient left happy, and now, I’m about to be very happy .

“I hope you’re ready because I’ve been waiting—” My words grind to a halt as I catch sight of Callista, asleep on the couch, her legs tucked under her.

Chuckling, I kneel beside her, pressing a kiss to her lips. “What a gyp. Here I was, all cocked and loaded.”

A slow smile spreads across her mouth, her eyes still closed. But her hand loops around my neck, preventing any distance. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Before she can protest, I hoist her slight frame into my arms, pulling her tight against me. “Let’s go home.”

Those bright eyes pop open, studying me. “Home?”

“Granted, home is currently a hotel suite. But we can work on that. Effective immediately.”

Calli reaches up, her delicate fingers tracing along my jaw. “You’re wrong. Home is wherever you are. I realized that when I let you go. I won’t make that mistake again.”

Perhaps it’s her words or the fire burning in her gray depths, but the hotel suite is much too far away. I can’t wait.

Setting her on my mahogany desk, I push her legs apart, my hands running along her thighs. Then I grasp the edge of her lacy underwear and rip it from her body, earning a shocked scoff.

“Those were expensive.”

As if I care. I’ll buy her a hundred more, just for the chance to rip every pair from her body. “Now they’re on the floor. I told you that’s my favorite spot for all your lacy lingerie.”

A heated look crosses Calli’s features as her hand twines around my tie, drawing my mouth to hers. “I like this game.”

“You haven’t seen anything yet. I’m going to fuck you so hard, you’ll be shaking the rest of the night.”

A slow smile crosses her full lips as she leans back on the desk and hikes her skirt up to her waist. “What are you waiting for?”

Absolutely nothing now .

I fumble off my belt, my pants falling around my ankles. I’ll give her better later, love every inch of her body, but right now, I need to reclaim what’s mine.

I slide my cock against her slick skin and she moans, spreading her legs wider.

She’s as desperate as I am.

“Please Keegan, I ache for you.”

That’s all I need to hear.

With a grunt, I bury myself inside her, my hands gripping her thighs so tight they’ll leave marks.

But Callista is right there, riding the moment, so tight and wet around me. Huffed groans fly from her lips with each thrust, her body quivering around my cock.

Folders and pens slide from the desk as I pound into her, feeling the friction build between us. She clamps down around me as her body releases, and everything goes silent as I collapse forward onto my forearms, pouring myself into her.

My heart pounds like a freight train, threatening to infarct from the heated passion.

What a way to die, right?

Screw that nonsense. I have a ton of living to do, all with this sexy Brit splayed out underneath me, her body still shaking from the force of her climax.

Her throaty chuckle snaps me from my reverie. “Care to share?”

“Hell, no.” She breathes out a heated sigh. “I was just thinking I have the hottest husband-to-be in the world. So, no, Dr. Russo, I will not share.”

I nuzzle her nose, loving this possessive side of Calli. “Promise?”

“Oh, so many things, my love. Anything your heart desires.”

But I know the truth. She’s my heart’s desire, and she’s finally back where she belongs.

“Don’t even say it,” I joke, tossing a beer in my cousin’s direction. “Not a word. Not one word.”

“The man who swore he’d never get married is about to walk down the aisle. What would I say? That hell has frozen over?” He cracks open the beer, knocking it against mine in a toast. “Salud.”

This is why I wanted to get married on a beach in the Caribbean. No family to drive me absolutely insane. But my mother would have cried buckets of tears if she missed the ceremony, and Callista shocked the hell out of me by requesting a full-on affair. Turns out she and Charlie married at the courthouse.

With me, she wanted the fairytale scenario.

Who am I to say no to the woman I love? Even if I am stuck with a full day of ribbing from well-intentioned family members.

She’s worth it. The best part? She now knows that she’s worth it.

My cousin checks his watch and then downs the last of his beer, ending with a resounding belch. All the class. “Shake a leg. It’s time to get out there.”

“I’ve been ready.”

“Man, don’t tell anyone, but I was a wreck before my wedding. Are you nervous?”

“You were inebriated,” I remind him.

“Same difference. Fucking terrified, if we’re honest, but it all worked out. So, if you’re nervous?—”

“I’m not. At all. Slightly annoyed with you, but otherwise, fine.” I wrap my arm around his shoulder, giving him a brotherly squeeze. He knows I love him. He’s damn lucky, too. Otherwise, I’d have buried his sarcastic ass years ago.

We stroll into the outdoor chapel area, the air heady with the aroma of flowers from the garden. My cousin gives me a reassuring elbow, but he doesn’t need to worry.

I’m not nervous. Looking back, I realized Calli was meant for me from our first coffee date. Not that it was a date, but it was when I knew my heart wasn’t safe in any form from the tiny Brit.

Thankfully, she loves me back, and her love is fierce. When she finally allowed herself the space to grieve for what she’d lost, she came back stronger than ever. It’s almost amusing how possessive she’s become since our reconciliation, ensuring everyone knows I’m taken.

Not that I’d stray. It’s never even a thought. The woman’s sex drive is off the charts, and I’m soaking in every delicious moment. Hell, she wears me out several times per week, but I manage to hold my own.

Last night was no exception. I know, tradition says you shouldn’t see the bride the night before. Screw that shit. I wanted my woman in my arms.

So, I set out down the hallway to sneak into her room and ended up meeting her halfway. Turns out, she had the same idea.

We didn’t get much sleep but it was so damn worth it.

The music swells, signaling the start of the ceremony. It’s go time.

All my life, I never understood the stupid smile that grooms wore when they first saw their bride. Now, here I am, a goofy grin lighting up my face as Calli walks toward me.

My woman is gorgeous, no doubt about it. Even today, she embraces her bohemian side, wearing a light, flowing gown that highlights her auburn hair and pale skin. On her finger is a tanzanite and diamond ring that I designed, the color the closest I could find to match her incredible eyes.

But the most radiant part of her is the brilliant smile she’s wearing, meant only for me .

Her parents escort her down the aisle, and I count my blessings that they warmed to me immediately. Hell, I worried the idea of a new man might send them into a tailspin, but they were over the moon that their daughter had met someone to reignite her glow.

And she does glow. But only Calli and I know why. At least for the present.

That’s a surprise for another day.

Calli reaches my side and hands off her bouquet to Suzanne before clasping my hands, her entire being awash with love.

Love that belongs to me.

“Hi, my love. Are you ready?” she asks.

“More than.”

Anything life wants to throw at me, I’m ready, so long as I have her by my side.