Chapter 10
Chapter
Ten
CALLISTA
I awaken to the sun streaming through the full-length windows. Fluffy clouds dance along the bright blue sky and birds chirp on the other side of the glass.
It’s a perfect day for a wedding.
For me, it’s shit on a stick.
Keegan never returned last night.
How do I know? I woke up every hour to check.
But every hour, the bed—and all other parts of the suite—remained empty. I don’t want to think about where he laid his head. Or any other body parts.
At this point, I don’t know what to do. Should I call a taxi and make a beeline for the train station?
I grab my phone, hoping for a message from Keegan, but aside from a photo of Domino playing with Shawn, it’s radio silence.
Painful, terrible silence.
The keypad beeps, and Keegan enters the room, his face a mask of calm. The same face he wore in his office after our fateful kiss.
Not a goddamn emotion in sight .
He clears his throat and jerks his chin at me. “Good morning.”
“Morning.” I focus on the comforter, trying to squelch the growing nausea in my stomach.
“Have you eaten?”
“No, not yet.” Wonderful. Cordial banalities.
He strides across the room, grabbing the room service menu. “What would you like? They have omelets, waffles, mimosa.”
What I want to know is where the hell he spent the last several hours. But it’s not my place. I don’t have a place in his life. Not anymore.
All thanks to me and my stupid attempt at levity.
“I’m not hungry,” I mumble.
“I’ll order you some food, regardless. The reception doesn’t start until three, and you’ll likely be starving by then.”
How kind of him.
Here I thought he’d be as torn up as I am last night. Turns out, he’s downright chipper. Likely because he got his dick sucked by any number of willing participants. I’m no fool. I saw the women eyeing him since our arrival, just waiting for their chance.
What do I do?
Hand him over on a silver platter.
And now, our stilted dialogue is downright painful. Best cut to the chase, so I can cut out of here.
“I wasn’t certain you’d still want me to attend the reception.”
A muscle jumps in his jaw, but he maintains a staring contest with the menu. “Why wouldn’t I want you there?”
Oh, we’re playing it that way. Now, he’s going to act like he never said anything.
See? I worried he would say something born of a drunken stupor .
Judging by his behavior this morning, I was right.
How fun.
With a huff, I toss back the covers and storm past him into the bathroom. “Can’t imagine why, Keegan.”
My shower is near boiling point, but it’s icy compared to the temperature of the blood in my veins. Images race through my brain of Keegan, his mouth pressed against some beautiful woman’s neck as he pumps in and out of her, whispering how inside her is the only place he wants to be.
Whispering words that belong to me.
Or at least they did, before I mucked it up.
When I emerge from the bathroom, the suite is empty.
Again.
I spy a note on the table and snatch it up.
Had to run a couple of errands with my cousin. Your food should arrive soon.
I’ll be back in a bit.
K
That’s it. Straight and to the point, with nary an emotion in sight.
I don’t want to stay here. I want to escape, returning to the house I hate and crawl under the covers, never to emerge.
I’m not equipped for human interaction today.
But I’m an adult. I made a deal with Keegan. I will not storm out like some spoilt child, leaving him to explain what occurred.
Moreover, I refuse to ruin his cousin’s day. They seem like a lovely couple, and I’m sure as hell not going to be the black mark on their celebration.
Chin up, old girl. You’ve muddled through worse. Besides, there’s an open bar and whiskey a plenty.
Pivoting before the mirrored wall, I examine my reflection. I may not always be beauty pageant ready, but today, I’ll hold my own. The dark blue cocktail dress hugs my curves, complete with a leg-flashing slit that’s barely this side of legal.
Classy with a sassy edge. I’ve curled my hair, letting it cascade in waves down my back, and for once, I took some time with my makeup.
Throw in a pair of four-inch heels, and I’ll give any of those women Keegan boinked last night a run for their money.
Is it false bravado? Absolutely.
But as upbeat music streams through the suite, I’m determined to maintain a sunny disposition. I just might need copious amounts of alcohol to maintain it.
Particularly if any of Keegan’s conquests make an appearance.
“Wow.”
That single word makes me spin around, my breath catching at the sight of Keegan.
I hate the man—truly—although I mean it in the most loving sense of the word. It’s just that no one should look that good in a tuxedo. He puts James Bond to shame. “Wow, yourself. You look wonderful, Keegan.”
He smiles, but I feel the tension from across the room. There’s a canyon of space between us now. “Are you almost ready?”
I nod. “Let me put on my necklace, and I’ll be good to go.”
“Allow me.” Closing the distance between us, he takes the chain from my hand, his fingers setting off waterfalls of feeling as they brush against my skin.
Control my breath. Breathe in, breathe out. Find my calm. My center.
Screw this. My internal mantra doesn’t stand a chance. I drag my eyes up to meet his in the mirror, our gazes holding, the emotion crackling between us.
“Thank you for doing this.” He slips his fingers away from my skin, and I feel cold without their weight.
“Don’t thank me yet. There’s still time for me to upend a server and crash into the wedding cake. I have aspirations, you know.” I laugh despite the absurdity of our situation.
Something about the man makes me giddy, and I will always find solace in a good giggle.
Keegan’s solemn expression slides away as he chuckles in agreement. “I’ll have my camera at the ready. Shall we?”
He offers his arm, but I miss the teasing touches of yesterday.
This is staged. Rigid.
And I’ve no one but myself to blame.
It was a lovely ceremony.
Okay, that’s a crap statement. I don’t have a clue what the preacher said. I was too focused on my handsome groomsman … and the lithe blonde bridesmaid who kept eyeing him like a triple-decker sundae.
Keegan, for his part, maintained a neutral gaze, but I caught their whispers as they walked down the aisle together.
No, I’m not jealous.
I’d just like a moment or two of blondie’s time. Long enough to hogtie her until after the reception .
Instead, I call on every facet of my English upbringing to maintain a calm facade to his family and friends.
I’m failing miserably.
I can’t help it. I came as Keegan’s date, but I’ve hardly seen the man the entire day.
He’s involved in a wedding photoshoot that threatens to stretch on for eternity, complete with an endless array of poses, all of them far too close to his favorite bridesmaid.
Hard to believe Keegan told me he loved me last night when today he barely looks at me.
The more I ponder it, the more conclusions I reach regarding our argument. Trust me, none of them are good.
One option is that I hurt him with my cheeky question. A second is that he was drunk and didn’t mean the words he said. The third is my personal favorite. He ran into blondie in the bar and spent the night coaxing orgasm after orgasm from her.
In all episodes, I come out on the losing end.
A young server gestures toward the door where people are filing in from the patio. “Miss, they’re opening up the cocktail hour, if you’d like to head inside.”
I turn my head, shielding my eyes from the afternoon sun. “Is the bar open?”
“It is.”
“That may be the best news I’ve heard all day.”
I walk into the reception area, offering a smile to the myriad of guests wandering the area. The upside to a wedding where you know no one? You can people watch to your heart’s content. The downside? You’ve got whiskey for company.
“There you are, Callista. I asked Keegan where you’d gone.” Louise joins me at the bar, flashing me a smile. “I apologize about the photographers. They need about a thousand more photos. They might be finished by next year. ”
I chuckle, accepting my whiskey from the bartender. “By Christmas, at least. You look lovely, if it’s any consolation.”
“It most certainly is, although I need something to drink. I’m parched.” She motions to the bartender, who pours her a glass of champagne. “Why don’t you join us in the garden? I’m sure Keegan misses you.”
I doubt that fact highly, but choose to keep that morsel of information to myself. “I’ll be out in a few minutes.”
Louise grasps my forearm, her smile as endearing as her son’s. “I’m so glad he’s found you.”
With that final blow to my heart, she walks away, leaving me to bleed out in solitude.
Am I being dramatic? Hell yes, but I’m upside down in emotions—a place I don’t enjoy visiting.
The reality is that Keegan and I are faking a relationship—per his request. The issue is we've crossed that proverbial line in the sand, and now I have no idea where our boundaries lie or how far past them either of us will traverse again.
Only one way to find out. I may be his fake girlfriend, but until Monday, I have a role to play.
One that does not involve skulking in corners.
Grabbing my drink, I wander outside in search of the bridal party, pausing for a moment to appreciate the beauty surrounding me. The weather continues to cooperate, gifting the happy couple with sunshine and spring blooms.
Spring has officially sprung, but this is the first time since Charlie’s death that I’m able to appreciate it again.
Before Keegan, I resented every gorgeous sunrise. Every flower popping through the lingering snow. Every?—
It hits me like a ton of bricks. Before Keegan, my world was shrouded in darkness. Since knowing him, my world has been brighter, as if he turned on the light in my dark cave of grief.
I stride toward the section of lawn where the wedding party is gathered. The urge to be near Keegan keeps growing stronger, or maybe I’m just weary of fighting it.
Fighting the idea of us.
No one can deny there’s something between us. Hell, his own mother commented on how different the man is with me.
Somehow, that gives me the strength I need for my next mission.
Locate Keegan and let my feelings be known, as well.
It wasn’t some drunken admission last night, spurred on by too many cocktails. It couldn’t have been. He meant what he said but he’s scared—an issue I plan to rectify immediately.
Brilliant plan.
Turning the corner, I screech to a halt, not ten steps from the group. Keegan stands off to one side, the blonde bridesmaid running her hand through his curls.
Oh, hell no, she isn’t.
Feeling a surge of jealousy I refuse to ignore, I storm over, my whiskey sloshing over the edge of my glass.
Keegan glances up from his private chat when I clear my throat, my arms crossed over my chest, and a ‘you’ve got some explaining to do’ expression on my face.
“Hi, Calli.” He waves off the blonde, dragging a hand through his hair and mussing up any semblance of a style. “What are you doing out here?”
My foot taps out an erratic rhythm on the ground as my blood pounds in my ears. “Better question is, what are you doing out here?”
His brows furrow in confusion before a look of realization passes over his face, and he releases a chuckle. “I assume you’re referring to Nadia?”
“I don’t care what her name is. Why was she touching you?”
“She was fixing my hair for the photos.”
“Sure she was. ”
I shouldn’t be this angry. Keegan is not my boyfriend. At this juncture, he’s barely my friend.
But I swear unto everything that is holy, I will rip Nadia’s hands from her body if she touches my man again.
Keegan grasps my elbow, leading me to a secluded corner. “While I appreciate the overt demonstration of the jealous girlfriend, it isn’t necessary. I plan on telling my family about our arrangement.”
“Why? So you can screw Nadia?”
Am I being louder than necessary? Of course I am.
I’m a woman scorned, and all logic has flown from my brain in lieu of a billion tangled emotions.
He bristles at my biting remark. “I have no intention nor desire to screw Nadia.”
“Then why are you telling your family anything?”
“Because, Calli, it wasn’t fair of me to drag you into this situation. It was a stupid idea on my part. One I plan to rectify.”
“It was a great idea and I came willingly.” Grabbing his hands, I skate my thumbs along his skin, trying to figure out what to say without looking like a possessive maniac. “I don’t like her touching you. I’m not kidding, Keegan.”
His expression, so guarded since our fight, softens into a smile. “Are you jealous?”
My gaze shifts to the ground as a flush spreads over my cheeks. The truth is, I’m far beyond jealous, but I’ll be damned if I let him in on that secret. I pride myself on being cool and collected, not in danger of exploding like Mt. Vesuvius.
Keegan’s fingers grasp my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. “Hmm. Jealousy looks good on you.”
I jerk my chin away, offering up my best glare. “I’m not jealous.”
“No? So you won’t mind if I take Nadia up on her offer of a drink after the reception?” His eyes dance in the sunlight as he bites back a smile.
The bastard. He’s caught me, and he knows it.
“I don’t recommend it if you’d like to keep all your equipment in working order.”
Keegan backs me against the stone wall, his arms caging me in place. “Admit you’re jealous.”
My anger gets the better of me, and I’m certain there’s one hell of a storm brewing in the gray depths of my eyes. “Fuck you, Keegan.”
His hand wraps around my throat, his thumb forcing my chin up, his lips centimeters from mine. “Gladly, Calli.”
He slants his mouth over mine, silencing any argument. Just like all our other moments, we pulsate with barely restrained passion. But this time around, I stake my claim, and I hope everyone at the reception sees us. Our tongues tangle as I lock my fingers in his belt loops, pulling his body flush against me.
Screw blondie. This man is mine.
But then, as the kiss intensifies, the world beyond falls away. Any vindictive or jealous thoughts dissipate as our hunger takes over.
I skate my hands along Keegan’s ribs and up over his shoulders, rising on tiptoe in a desperate bid to be closer.
Never close enough.
Even when he pulls back slightly, I curl my hand around his lapels and drag him right back into the moment, nibbling his lower lip until he obeys my demand.
“Keegan, do you plan on coming up for air anytime in the near future?”
His cousin’s high-pitched laughter across the patio cuts into our intimate rendezvous. Still, we break apart slowly, as if our mouths can’t bear the idea of being apart .
Keegan presses a kiss to my forehead, and I take the opportunity to breathe him in, loving how safe I feel in his arms.
“I’ll be finished soon. Do you want to stay out here and watch the debacle?”
“You mean chaperone? No, after that kiss, I need another drink. Either that or I drag you to a darkened corner, and you forgo the rest of the photos.”
He ducks his head to nibble my neck, earning my coo of approval. “That’s the most tempting offer I’ve ever heard.”
“Too bad you can’t take me up on it.”
“Who says I can’t?”
I giggle, motioning over his shoulder. “Your mother, who is headed in this direction.”
“Damn, and I refuse to rush. Not where you’re concerned. I plan on taking all the time I need to explore.”
His words send a jolt through my body and I fan myself, shooting him a mock glare. “You don’t play fair.”
“Never claimed to.”
I run my hand through his curls, fighting to keep one stubborn strand in place. “Tell Nadia to keep her hands to herself. I’ll see you later.”
As I stroll inside, I cast a glance over my shoulder, and blow a kiss in Keegan’s direction.
Time to scope out some darkened corners for later.
Maybe today won’t be a total loss.
Or … not.
When Keegan walks back into the cocktail area an hour later, I’m stuck in conversation with the most tiresome woman on earth. I’m not joking. If I have to hold this fake smile much longer, my face will crack.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Jones. It’s been a while.” Keegan grips my shoulders, his thumbs moving in lazy circles against my skin, as he interrupts the elderly woman’s diatribe about radish varieties.
I wish I were joking. An hour-long discussion centered around radish seeds. If I ever see a blasted radish again, I’ll set the damn thing on fire.
“Your girlfriend and I were just having the most wonderful chat,” Mrs. Jones proclaims, giving Keegan a warm grin.
Of course, she’s overjoyed to have such a compliant ... captive.
As for me, I’m searching for a hasty retreat.
I force another smile, my fingers reaching up to squeeze Keegan’s hand. “That we were. I never realized there were so many ways to grow radishes. Very intriguing, indeed. I do have to excuse myself, Mrs. Jones. I need to discuss something with my boyfriend.”
We barely make it to the bar before Keegan dissolves into laughter, earning a side-eye glare from me.
“So happy you’re amused.”
“Just glad it wasn’t me,” he replies with a smirk. “To be fair, she’s a sweet woman, but she can drone on endlessly.”
“Tell me about it. I’ve never wanted to be deaf so much in my life.” I chuckle as the bartender hands us our drinks. “But it’s all behind me. I’ve lived to tell the tale and now, it’s time to celebrate. How about a toast from the most handsome groomsman on earth?”
Keegan winks at me, no doubt appreciating my compliment. Not that the man is hurting for female attention.
He raises his glass and clinks it against mine. “To new beginnings.”
My smile slips. Is he referring to us? The bride and groom? A generality for the day’s festivities?
But I shoo away my overactive brain. For once, I refuse to read into it .
“To new beginnings.” From the corner of my eye, I spy Nadia leaning against the wall, her glare burning holes into me. “Did you two date?”
Keegan follows my gaze before offering a slight shrug. “I don’t know if you’d call it dating.”
“So you fucked?” So much for going with the flow, as my jealousy meter careens into the red. Again.
“I’d rather not talk about her. It was a minor tryst. It meant nothing.”
Now I’m really curious. Where and more importantly, when, did this tryst occur? Ten years ago or ten hours?
“I don’t think she agrees with your take on the situation.” I swig back some more of my whiskey, the warmth traveling down my throat. “Were you two together last night?”
No, I don’t want to know, but I need to know.
Keegan’s bright blue eyes widen as he sputters his drink. “God, no. I spent the night with my cousin, feeding him ginger ale and crackers. I had to ensure he survived the ceremony today after drinking half the bar.”
The relief flows through my body like a cool breeze, my sigh audible. “When you didn’t come back to the room, I figured…” I let my words trail off, unsure how much more I’m ready to admit. But one glance at the searching expression on his face, and I know I have to get it off my chest. “Please don’t do that again. If we fight, please don’t walk away.”
His fingers glide along my chin, a small smile on his lips. “I didn’t realize it bothered you. I figured you went back to sleep.”
“I did, after waiting ninety minutes for you to come back. I also woke up every thirty minutes or so, hoping you’d returned. I even scoped out the bar area, but you weren’t there.” With a tearful shrug, I take another sip from my glass. “I can’t fix it if we don’t talk. ”
Keegan pulls me to him, enveloping me in an embrace. “I promise. I won’t do that again.”
I prop my chin on his chest, the beating of his heart a soothing rhythm. But across the room, one lovely bridesmaid is sending me optic daggers as I revel in Keegan’s arms. If Nadia was ticked off before, she’s at catfight levels now. “Blondie knows we’re together, right?”
“She knows you’re my date for the weekend. Why does Nadia bother you so much?”
The whiskey has loosened my tongue, allowing all my secrets to slip by unbidden. “Because she wants you.”
“Question is, do you want me, Calli?” Keegan’s tricky and talented hands grip my waist as he presses my body against the smooth wood of the bar. When his fingers trail down my thighs and catch the hem of my dress, I whimper and close my eyes.
Who needs a darkened corner? I’m happy right here, out in the open. Let the world watch.
“Well?” he urges, his whisper husky in my ear.
I force my eyes open and meet his gaze. Do I want him? I’m damn near at implosion point.
“How much longer do we have to stay?”
His eyes alight with an inner fire, his hands tightening around me. “We can go now.”
“Thank God.”
Keegan deposits our drinks on the bar before gripping my hand and making a beeline for the exit. He punches the button on the elevator, his fingers caressing my palm as I try to maintain some semblance of balance.
Sorry, balance. Hormones are kicking your ass today.
The doors open, and I drag Keegan by the lapels into the empty elevator, barely managing to push our floor button before seizing his kiss .
Our bodies are a tangle of activity, desperate to rip off every piece of clothing.
With a grunt, Keegan lifts me into his arms and I wind my legs around his waist, my skirt hiked up to very unladylike levels as he grinds against me.
The elevator doors open on our floor and I hear the surprised gasp of a fellow partygoer. No doubt we’re the most interesting thing they’ve seen so far.
But if my handsome doctor notices the onlookers, he ignores them as he strides down the hall with me secure in his embrace.
He tears his mouth from mine as he attempts to balance me while fumbling the keycard from his pocket.
But I’m aching for his touch, and my hands and mouth will not behave. They have a mind of their own as I rake my teeth along his neck, delivering playful nibbles to his skin.
“You are not making this easy,” Keegan breathes, licking his lips as he tries in vain to open the door to our suite.
“Good. I prefer you hard.” And he is. His length presses against me, sending courses of electricity through my body. “Put me down so you can open the door. But don’t be surprised if I drop to my knees and take what I want right here in the hallway.”
His eyes widen at my dirty innuendo.
But I don’t care. My heart throbs, my pulse races. I’ve never felt more alive or desperate in my life.
The door beeps and Keegan barrels through, kicking it shut behind him.
My back hits the wall, my grip tightening around his waist as he frees himself with one hand. Reaching under my skirt, he tears the underwear from my body, his fingers finding their mark as they push deep inside me.
“You’re so wet. So fucking tight. I want to taste you. ”
“I want you , Keegan.” I grind against his palm as he teases me open.
He rubs his cock against me, teasing me, while his teeth sink into my shoulder. Just that is enough to bring me to the edge and I ride his hand, desperate for more.
Desperate for everything.
“I need you inside me,” I beg, my fingers digging into his jacket as he continues to deliver the most delightful torture.
Keegan glances toward the bed, but I grab his chin, returning that intense gaze to my face. “I need you now. ”
Releasing a strangled groan, he buries himself in me as his mouth covers mine hungrily, swallowing any arguments.
I squeeze around him as he drives himself into me, our breaths arriving in harried pants. Again and again, he plunges inside me, my entire body lighting up as pleasure shoots through every cell.
He tangles a hand in my hair, our gazes holding as the sensations continue to build. Gasping with each measured thrust, I moan, lost to the moment. Unable to hold onto any thought, all I can do is feel everything.
Blinding waves of light rip through me as I dig my nails into his shoulders. Keegan claims my mouth, his tongue dancing with mine as he mutes my screams with his kiss.
His body strains, desperately fighting his own release, as his hips piston against me. He comes with a shout, before collapsing against me, sweat trickling down his brow.
But I’m not letting him off that easily.
I graze my fingers down his cheeks and across his lips, earning low grunts of approval as I continue milking his cock, pushing him further past the edge.
"You're beautiful, Calli." He mumbles the words against the column of my throat before raising his head to meet my gaze. The inferno in his baby blues is gone, replaced by tenderness .
The tenderness unhinges me more than the raging desire did.
I press my lips to his, releasing a sated sigh. "Well, that was incredible."
Resting his forehead against mine, he lets out a low chuckle. "Fuck, you feel good."
My hands slide along his chest as I attempt to redo a few buttons that popped open during our sexual gymnastics. "Ditto, sir."
The truth? I've never felt anything remotely close to the emotions currently coursing through my body. There's something about the way we fit together. The way we move together. It's just right.
It's also hot as fuck, and if I don't stop thinking about it, I'll never let Keegan leave the room.
Apparently, I'm not the only one feeling the afterglow.
He gently lowers me to the ground, but he’s not willing to let me go yet. Keeping me backed to the wall, he slides his hands up to cup my face before claiming my mouth in a bone-tingling kiss.
There’s no demand. No urgency.
All I feel is love and I respond in kind. The man will consume me, body and soul, and I’m ready to burn for him.
Keegan’s hands slide up my thighs to grip my ass, and I squirm against him. If he’s ready for round two, so am I.
A devious spark glints in his eyes as he glides his tongue over his lower lip. "I really want to forgo the rest of the wedding. Do you think they'll miss us?"
I wink at him, sending off a cheeky grin. "Better question, do we care?"
Unfortunately for our unquenchable erotic thirst, Keegan will be missed, so we have no choice but to return to the reception .
The last thing we need is his relatives at the door, demanding to know where we’ve been for the past two hours.
I doubt I’d remain a family favorite for long that way, although his cousin Jane would certainly approve of our antics.
Ten minutes later, after a quick clean-up and wardrobe adjustment, we stroll back to the party. Even though our outfits are the same, our mannerisms are entirely different. Earlier, our affections were sedate—holding hands or linking arms.
Now, they ooze the same fire I feel in my belly, as Keegan loops his arm around my shoulder, his fingers tickling along my collarbone.
There's no doubt to anyone watching that we're together, and I couldn't be happier.
Looks like my fake boyfriend is becoming very real indeed.