Chapter Six
Garrett
Sleep evades me entirely. I lie awake, staring at the shadowed fabric ceiling of the tent, acutely aware of Callie’s gentle breathing mere inches away.
Every tiny sound, every soft exhale, every subtle shift she makes pulls at my focus, twisting my thoughts into knots I’m not used to feeling.
Frustrated by my restlessness, I finally slip quietly from my sleeping bag, careful not to disturb her, and unzip the tent to step outside.
The night air is refreshingly cool, washing away some of the lingering tension. Stars scatter across the sky in brilliant clusters, untouched by city lights, sparkling like scattered diamonds against velvet darkness. The storm has passed entirely, leaving behind an almost surreal peace.
I gather some of the firewood Callie and I prepared earlier, effortlessly coaxing a gentle fire to life. The familiar task soothes me slightly, the warmth and crackling sounds comforting in their simplicity.
“Can’t sleep?” Callie’s soft voice breaks into my solitude, and I glance over my shoulder to see her carefully emerging from the tent, favoring her injured ankle.
“You should be resting,” I remind her gently, moving instinctively to offer my support. She leans gratefully against me, her closeness reigniting that dangerous awareness that seems to simmer constantly beneath the surface.
“I tried,” she admits softly, settling beside me in front of the fire. Her eyes lift to the stars, a small smile curving her lips. “But it’s too beautiful out here to sleep.”
I nod silently, following her gaze upward. We sit quietly for a while, comfortable in the silence, the firelight flickering warmly between us.
“Garrett,” she eventually whispers, breaking the quiet. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.” My voice is cautious, unsure of what direction she’ll take.
She hesitates, biting her lip thoughtfully, eyes fixed on the dancing flames. “You mentioned leaving behind a stressful job and a marriage that fell apart. What happened?”
I sigh deeply, rubbing a weary hand over my face. Normally, I’d deflect, avoid digging into painful memories. But something about Callie’s gentle presence, her genuine interest, and the quiet of this moment beneath endless stars compels honesty.
“My ex-wife and I married young. We thought we knew what we wanted, but we didn’t know ourselves, let alone each other.
” My voice is low, no longer filled with old bitterness tempered by time.
“We drifted apart, both chasing our careers, until one day we looked at each other and realized we’d become strangers. ”
Callie listens attentively, compassion softening her expression. “That sounds lonely.”
“It was,” I admit quietly, surprised by the relief honesty brings. “It made me realize I preferred solitude. At least that way, I wouldn’t be disappointed.”
She shifts closer, her presence a comforting warmth beside me. “I understand feeling like you’re safer alone. My problem is the opposite. I jump into things too quickly, trusting too easily. I guess that’s my way of avoiding loneliness.”
Her vulnerability tugs sharply at something protective within me. “There’s nothing wrong with hope, Callie. It’s admirable.”
She chuckles softly, a note of self-deprecation coloring her voice. “Maybe. Or maybe it just makes me reckless.”
I turn slightly, facing her more fully. “It makes you brave. It’s one of the things I admire most about you.”
Her eyes widen slightly, warmth flooding her cheeks. “Garrett…”
“I mean it,” I interrupt gently, sincerity deepening my voice. “You’re bright, fearless, full of life. It’s refreshing, and honestly, a little terrifying.”
“Terrifying?” she repeats softly, her gaze locked on mine.
“Terrifying,” I confirm, voice roughening with emotion. “Because it makes me want things I swore I’d never risk again.”
Her breathing quickens slightly, and her eyes search mine with intensity. The air between us thickens, charged with unspoken longing.
Slowly, almost hesitantly, I reach out, gently cupping her cheek. Her skin is soft and warm beneath my roughened fingers. Her eyes flutter closed briefly, and she leans into my touch with a quiet sigh.
“Garrett,” she whispers again, her voice husky and emotional.
My thumb brushes gently over her lower lip, the soft intake of her breath nearly unraveling my restraint entirely. “Tell me to stop,” I murmur roughly, my voice betraying how close to breaking I am.
“Please don’t stop,” she breathes, eyes locked on mine, openly pleading.
Unable to resist, I close the remaining distance between us, capturing her lips in a slow, gentle kiss. When our mouths meet, warmth explodes through me, a mixture of relief, longing, and fierce protectiveness.
Callie responds eagerly, her hands sliding tentatively to my chest, fingers clutching at my shirt as she deepens the kiss.
It’s intoxicating, her mouth’s sweetness and her body’s softness pressed closely to mine.
The crackling fire and the stars above fade away until there’s only the sensation of her in my arms, surrendering to the undeniable pull between us.
Eventually, we part slightly, breathless and dazed. Her eyes flutter open slowly, hazy with desire and something deeper, something tender that resonates profoundly within me.
“I’ve wanted to do that since the moment you walked into my shop,” I confess softly, my voice heavy with sincerity.
Her smile is radiant, shy yet brilliantly beautiful. “Me too.”
The passion between us quickly intensifies, our kisses growing deeper, hungrier. Breathless, Callie pulls back slightly, her eyes glittering with desire. “Garrett,” she whispers urgently, tugging gently at my shirt, silently urging me to follow her.
Without hesitation, I scoop her carefully into my arms, mindful of her injured ankle, and carry her back inside the tent.
The fire crackles low, casting flickers of orange over Callie’s flushed cheeks.
She’s lying beside me on the blanket, head tilted back to stare at the stars, her hair fanned out like a halo of temptation.
“You ever think about what you’d be doing if we hadn’t run into each other?” she asks softly, voice lilting with curiosity.
I grunt. “Probably fixing a broken shelf and eating a cold sandwich.”
She laughs, eyes glinting. “Sounds thrilling.”
I roll onto my side, bracing on one elbow, and look down at her. “This is better.”
Her breath catches. She hears what I mean, even if I don’t say it straight. The air between us crackles, charged with heat and something more dangerous. Want. Need.
She lifts a hand to trace my jaw, fingers featherlight. “Then kiss me, Garrett.”
I don’t need to be asked twice.
Our mouths meet with slow heat, deep and unhurried, but it doesn’t stay that way. Her fingers slide into my hair, tugging, her hips arching toward mine like her body knows exactly what it wants.
I roll over her, settling between her legs, bracing myself so I don’t crush her. Her thighs cradle my hips, her breath coming in shallow pants. She rocks up against me, and I can feel how ready she is through both our clothes.
“Fuck, Callie,” I groan. “You keep looking at me like that and I’m not gonna be able to stop.”
“Then don’t.”
She pulls me down again, our mouths clashing, tongues sliding together in a messy, hungry kiss. My hand moves beneath her shirt, fingers splaying across the bare skin of her belly. She moans when I brush the underside of her breast, and I swear it shoots straight to my cock.
I sit back just long enough to yank her shirt off, tossing it aside, then drag my hands up her sides, over her bra. Her nipples are hard through the fabric, and I lean down to suck one through the lace while she whimpers, clutching my shoulders.
“Take it off,” she breathes.
I do, slow and deliberate, unclasping the bra and pulling it away, revealing perfect, soft curves I can’t wait to taste.
I kiss her chest, her ribs, the dip between her hips.
Her jeans are next. I pop the button and slide them down her legs, leaving her in nothing but pale blue panties that are already damp.
She reaches for my flannel, fingers fumbling with the buttons. I help her, dragging it off and tossing it to the side, followed by my T-shirt. Her eyes roam over my chest, wide and full of need.
“Garrett…”
“You’re still wearing these,” I growl, tugging at her panties with my teeth.
She gasps, laughing breathlessly. “God, you’re dirty.”
“You like it.”
“Yeah,” she moans as I peel them off and settle between her thighs. “I really do.”
My fingers slide through her slick heat, teasing her until she’s squirming. Then I dip my head, licking her slowly, savoring every whimper, every roll of her hips. I suck her clit, lap at her entrance, and slide two fingers deep inside until she’s gasping my name.
“Garrett, I’m gonna—”
I keep going until she cries out, shuddering around my fingers, thighs shaking.
When I finally rise above her, I’m already naked, cock thick and hard, dragging through her slick folds as she stares up at me with wild eyes.
“Please,” she whispers. “I need you.”
I push inside slowly, groaning at the feel of her. Tight. Hot. Wet. She gasps and arches, wrapping her legs around my waist as I bottom out.
We move together, finding a rhythm, her nails scraping down my back, my mouth everywhere—her neck, her breast, her lips. I thrust harder, deeper, grinding against her clit until she’s trembling again.
“You feel so good,” she pants. “So fucking good.”
I grab her thigh, angling her just right, and she cries out, clawing at me as another orgasm crashes over her.
That’s all it takes. I follow with a broken groan, spilling into her, hips jerking as everything inside me unravels.
After, we lie tangled together beneath the stars, skin slick with sweat, breath mingling in the cool mountain air.
And for the first time in years, I don’t feel alone.
As we reach the peak of passion, Callie clings to me tightly, her eyes locked on mine, filled with tenderness and longing. “Garrett,” she breathes, her voice thick with emotion, “I’ve never felt anything like this.”
“Me neither,” I admit roughly, capturing her mouth in another searing kiss.
Eventually, spent and sated, we remain entwined, wrapped in each other’s warmth, hearts beating together. I finally accept the truth in this quiet, perfect moment—I no longer want solitude. All I want is Callie, forever.