Ghosted

Chapter Twenty-Nine

At two minutes past seven, my intercom crackles to life.

I press the button. ‘You’re late,’ I say, laughing.

‘C’mon,’ Callum says. ‘It’s like two minutes.’

‘I’m coming down.’

‘No. Buzz me in, I wanna come upstairs and get you.’

‘Callum.’

‘Buzz me in, Holly.’

I buzz him in.

‘Who is it?’ I tease, when he knocks on the door.

‘Are you always going to be this much work, Daniels?’ he calls to me.

I laugh again as I turn the lock. ‘You know I’m hard work.’

He pushes the door open, swoops in, gathers me in his arms and says, ‘Lucky I like to work.’ He presses his mouth to mine.

When we finally part, he smiles down at me, positively radiant.

‘I think you just ruined my lip gloss,’ I say, patting my lips.

‘It was delicious. Strawberry?’

I roll my eyes and point at the flowers in his hand. ‘Are those for me?’

‘Beautiful flowers for a beautiful woman.’

‘Oh, shut up and give them here.’ I take them to the kitchen, grab a glass from the cupboard, fill it with water and jam them in.

Callum frowns. ‘Remind me to bring you a vase next time.’

‘Don’t judge me, I’ve never needed one. I can’t think of the last time someone bought me flowers.’

‘I’m going to have to change that,’ he says as he looks around.

‘My apartment isn’t as big as yours,’ I quickly say, ‘or as nice. And it’s messy, sorry, and I don’t have lots of degrees on my walls, or art.’

I watch him take it all in. The brown leather couch that fills up most of my living room and the cute retro kitchen table with the pale blue chairs. He admires the photos of New York that stretch down one wall, then points at a tiny green shrub in a pot on the kitchen counter.

‘Is that a plant I see? I thought you said you weren’t good with the living?’ His lips twitch at the corners.

‘Shut up. Maggie gave it to me for Christmas. The card said she thought I needed something to take care of other than myself. I’m not sure, but I think it might have been her not-so-subtle way of saying I’m a loner.’

Callum laughs. ‘Ouch. I always thought it would be fun to have a sibling, but now I’m not so sure.’

‘It’s been hard at times. But I’m still glad I have her. We’re going to catch up for dinner soon with Dad. It’s a new development. And you’ve got Jason,’ I add, ‘he’s like your brother.’

‘True. He came over last night. Crashed at my place, listened to my tragic story. Gave me some perspective. He’s always been good like that.’

‘Are you okay?’

‘Honestly, no. But right now, I’ve got far more important things on my mind.’ His eyes lock to mine. ‘Holly, I’m so sorry about everything.’

‘Callum, you already—’

‘Please let me get through this.’ He blows out a soft breath.

‘I know that after all that’s happened, I’ve got a lot of work to do to earn your trust back, but please know the only thing that I’ve ever thought you are is amazing.

I’ve never lied to you about that. Ever.

I swear it. I know I’ve failed you twice now, but I will not do it again.

You make me feel like I belong somewhere, and I intend to cherish that, and cherish you. I’m so sorry that we lost two years.’

He stops and takes another shaky breath.

‘Callum, we don’t—’

‘Just one more thing, please, I need to clear up one more thing. I don’t want to be like the Westerns, I don’t, but I’d be happy to be like you.

I’d consider myself lucky if I was even half the person you are.

Kind, patient, strong and determined. I will never put you in danger like that again.

If you let me, I will keep you safe forever. I promise.’

He looks at me with fear and hope and love, so open I see it shining clearly in his eyes. I see the whole world in his eyes.

I’m so tired of hiding and always expecting the worst. I don’t want to do that anymore. I want to be the person he thinks I am. I want to be the hope in his eyes. Feelings are messy, but I’m not going to shy away from that any longer.

I rest my hand on his cheek. ‘How about we keep each other safe, and move forward from all our stuff? No more hanging onto the past.’

He kisses into my palm and whispers, ‘Thank you.’ And as I look up at him, the warmth in his smile tells me this is right.

‘So, forward,’ he says. ‘I like forward, it happens to be my favourite direction. Shall we start by moving forward to dinner?’

I bite my lip. It’s time to get messy.

‘Or…’ I say.

‘Or?’ He tilts his head.

I grab the waistband of his jeans and tug him closer. ‘Or we could move forward up the hall to my… bedroom.’ My knuckle grazes the warm skin of his belly and his breath hitches in surprise.

‘I’d need… to cancel… our reservation,’ he says, in a halting voice.

I shove my hand deep into his front pocket and fumble for his phone. He gasps.

‘Jesus,’ he mutters as he takes the phone from me, his eyes locked to mine as he dials.

‘Mrs Chen? There’s been a change of plans.

I’ll bring Holly by another night. Sorry for the late notice.

’ He stifles a laugh. ‘Oh yeah, I’ll make sure I eat something.

’ He hangs up and tosses his phone to the couch.

‘You are a bad influence,’ he says with a devilish grin.

‘That woman is like family, and now she’s worried I’m going to starve. ’

I squeak as he lifts me into the air, my legs instinctively hooking around him.

He nuzzles the crook of my neck. ‘Is this more what you had in mind, Daniels?’ he murmurs against my skin.

I shiver. ‘It’s a start, Jefferies.’

We giggle like teens as we stumble up the hall, bumping into the walls, my legs still wrapped low on his hips.

He gently lowers me to the bed, and I watch him strip his T-shirt over his head, a cheeky smile across his preposterously handsome face.

My gaze drifts over him, taking in his smooth pale skin and tight stomach, his broad chest, that tantalising strip of hair disappearing into his jeans, and his smile.

That smile that makes my heart leap from my chest like something from a cartoon.

‘So, we’re doing this?’ he says, with one perfectly arched eyebrow.

I pull him onto the bed beside me. ‘You promised me when we got back to the city…’

He laughs. ‘And I don’t want to break any more promises to you ever.’

I nip a tiny kiss on his throat just below where Edward Western’s silver dagger nicked him, then trace a finger along the edge of the bandage on his arm. My touch drifts down to the wound dressing beneath his ribs.

‘Are you sure you’re up to this?’ I ask.

‘Oh, Holly, I’m up… to it.’ His grin is the widest I’ve ever seen, and I laugh. ‘Just be gentle with me,’ he adds, laughing too.

I pop the button on his jeans. ‘I’ll do my best.’

I pull his zip down nice and slow.

He watches me, his lips pressed tight together, his chest shaking with each trembling breath.

‘You’re not going to help at all?’ I ask. My heart is thumping against my ribs.

‘I was waiting to see where this was going.’ He gently tugs at the bottom of my sweater.

‘May I?’ I enthusiastically fling my arms into the air and he laughs, saying, ‘I’ll take that as a yes.

’ He swiftly slips my sweater over my head, then lets his gaze linger on my body. ‘Goddamn, Holly. You’re gorgeous.’

He leans in and I close my eyes, enjoying the sensation of his soft lips tickling my skin as he kisses along the edge of my bra. Then he slips a hand behind me and unhooks the clasp in one smooth movement.

I hold my breath as my bra falls away. He moans loudly, his eyes alight with desire.

He tugs me towards him and I fall against his chest, skin on skin, so much heat.

Then, holding me tight, he rolls me slowly onto the mattress.

Dipping his head, he places a quick, tender kiss on my lips, before his mouth finds my neck, then my shoulder, then the delicate skin of my breast. He lingers there, the heat of his mouth making me quiver, until, ever so slowly, he sucks me in.

My gasp turns into a soft moan as his tongue swirls and teases one nipple, while his thumb rubs back and forth over the other.

Then his kisses move down to my stomach.

‘I love a plaid skirt,’ he says. ‘This one’s super cute.’ He pulls the side zip down, and I lift my hips. ‘Looks even cuter when it’s sliding off.’ His voice is already pure gravel.

I squirm; his hands soft on my skin as he very slowly wiggles the material down. Then he does the same with my underwear, until I lay naked in front of him.

He sucks in a breath and whispers in what sounds like wonder, ‘Wow.’

I push up on my elbows and ask, ‘How come I’m naked, and you’re not?’

He grins, sliding backwards off the bed, kissing my thighs, my knees, my ankles along the way. Then he stands and with one quick movement, he shoves down his jeans, steps out of them and stands in front of me in his boxer briefs.

‘Oh. Hi there,’ I say, as I stare at the thick, rigid outline in the soft black material. His already wide grin spreads ear-to-ear.

I wriggle to the end of the mattress, hook my fingers into his waistband and drag his briefs down over his thighs, my eyes on his.

Then, as his last piece of clothing falls to the floor, I dare to look down.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen a man naked. Callum is magnificent. Thick and long and… I touch his length, and his stomach tightens. I run a finger along a vein and he lets out a ragged breath.

‘Wait a sec,’ he says.

‘What?’ I say, looking up.

‘Hang on.’ He digs out a small, slightly crushed box from the pocket of his puddled jeans and with trembling hands, pulls free a strip of condoms. ‘Okay, I know this looks bad,’ he says with six condoms hanging from his fingers, ‘but I stopped on the way here. I was being responsible. We don’t have to use them all. ’

I snatch them from him. ‘I think we should try.’

I inch back on the mattress, and he whispers ‘fuck’ as he crawls towards me.

His eyes are all pupils again, just how I like them, and he smoulders down at me, his hand gliding over my stomach until it’s between my legs, finally.

He cups my heat, crushes his lips to mine and slips his fingers inside me.

I arch up, moaning against his mouth, lifting my hips to meet his hand as he gently moves in and out.

I gasp when his thumb finds just the right spot, pressing down in circles, coordinated in expert precision with his fingers curved within me, until I’m making noises I never knew I could.

My eyes squeeze shut as the pleasure builds and builds, every muscle tensing, every breath now a gasp, every bit of me on fire, until I let go with a cry, grabbing at his back while my toes stretch out.

My body goes limp, my hands shaking as they fall to my sides.

I blink open and I see his eyes, his beautiful eyes.

I still have the strip of condoms clutched in one fist.

I lick my parched lips. ‘Let’s get one of these on you.’

He sits back on his heels looking slightly stunned, and I tear open one of the small packages. I pull the condom out and hold it in my still shaking hands.

‘Do you want me to do it?’ he says.

‘Maybe. I’m feeling a little weak right now.’

He chuckles as he takes it from me, and I watch as he slowly rolls it down his length.

We stare at each other for a long moment, at least fifty beats of my racing heart, then I put my hands to his chest and press him back onto the mattress.

His eyes widen, blinking over and over as I straddle his hips, take him in my hand and lower myself onto him.

A groan rumbles from his throat, my name on his breath, his grip tight on my waist as he sinks deeper into me and we start to slowly move.

I like him like this, because I can see him. His eyes, his lips, his whole face, neck and chest. I can look down and watch him moving in and out of me, and I can watch him watching that too, his eyes flicking from my face to the spot where our bodies meet.

We’re gentle at first, a slow roll, languid and smooth.

But I need more, so I pick up the pace raising and falling faster and faster.

I watch him watching me, his tongue flicking over his lips until I can’t keep my eyes open anymore, because a shimmering heat is building inside me.

My stomach tightens, my thighs tremble, all my already tender parts are filling back up with pleasure.

Then I’m coming again and I’m gripping his arms, my body stretched around him as needy sounds pour from my open lips.

I don’t have time to refocus before he’s growling out, ‘Oh fuck, Holly,’ his hands sliding up my back as he flips me carefully to the mattress.

‘Is this okay?’ he asks.

I just nod, no words forming, barely any breath left.

Maybe this is how I like him, because I like his weight on me, heavy, solid, real, here, and I like him looking down at me with fierce eyes, and I like his thrusts. I like them a lot.

He gently pulls my knees up beside his waist, one at a time, sinking so deep, I cry out.

Lights pop behind my eyes and I’m not sure if this is something new or if I’m still reeling from the time before, because it can’t be happening again, but it is, and it thunders over me, so intense that I have to clench my jaw to stop from screaming out thanks to the universe.

I grab at the sheets, bunching the soft material into tight fists.

He groans again, slamming his mouth to mine, and I kiss him as if I can’t get enough – because I can’t.

He breaks our kiss with a sharp hiss and presses his face into the crook of my neck, breathing out tiny grunts.

I squeeze him tight to me, not wanting this to stop, not wanting it to ever stop.

His idea about us disappearing into a bedroom for months suddenly seems like the perfect plan.

I’m sore and I’m sweaty, and it feels so good, the best I’ve ever felt in my entire life.

He lifts his head and looks at me, smiles and touches his lips softly to mine.

Then his hips stutter, and the sound that he makes is the most beautiful thing I have ever heard.

Callum opens his eyes with a series of blinks as if he’s trying to focus.

‘Wow,’ he breathes out all ragged. ‘We’re really good at this.’ He has a giant smile and his voice is deliciously rough.

‘I bet we’re even better the second time,’ I say, my own ragged breaths matching his.

‘Imagine the third.’

‘The fiftieth.’

He laughs, and it’s all husky and sex-soaked. ‘I can’t wait to find out.’

If I had enough energy left, I’d swoon.