Chapter Twenty-Two
Charlotte
I ’m stunned.
Simultaneously turned on and horrified at my behavior. The things we got up to in that bathroom weren’t right. They were somehow worse than the stuff Ryan and I did, but this time, I felt like I was in control. I had the power to stop it. I did stop it, after Cal’s begging, and he made love to me like he treasured me.
So why do I feel sick to my stomach?
He seemed disgusted at himself, which makes me disgusted at myself. I don’t know if I’m supposed to comfort him or give him his space.
The shower turns on and I decide the space will only create a division I don’t want. I want to feel close to him. We need to talk about this. Clear the air. Make things right. Sliding out of the bed, I wince at the pain in my ass. Everything’s sore, but in a good way. As I walk to the bathroom, his cum runs out of me, coating my thighs with his essence. There’s something incredibly primal about the way he took me. I loved it. So why does he seem to hate it?
He’s already in the shower by the time I make it into the bathroom. I pull back the curtain to find his head bowed as he stands beneath the spray of the water. My heart twists painfully. I feel like I’ve hurt him somehow. Broken him in a way that’s unfixable. I step into the shower and wrap my arms around him from behind, resting my cheek on his back.
“I knew this would happen,” he mutters. “I’m too fucked up with you. I want…”
I release him, stepping around him so I can get under the spray with him and face him. Tilting my head up, I look at his gorgeous face. “What do you want?”
His green eyes darken. “To hurt you. After all the shit you went through with Ryan, it’s the last thing you need.”
“But it’s what I want,” I argue, frowning at him.
“But it’s fucked up,” he snaps. “ You’re fucked up, Charlotte.”
“So?” I bite out. “It’s better than the alternative.”
Perfect lips curl into a cruel, hateful smile that makes me flush. “What’s the alternative?”
“Breaking. I would rather be fucked up, warped beyond belief, than to be broken. I refuse to be broken.”
“You’re letting me break you,” he growls. “You want me to do it. Begged for it.”
I shove him back, putting distance between us. “It’s different with you. I don’t know how many times I have to tell you that. It’s mutual. I consent to it. You’re just as fucked up as me. That’s why we fit.”
He steps forward, his hand gripping my throat. “We’re not supposed to fit. Two fucked up people need to stay far away from each other because someone will get hurt.”
“I can handle it!” I shriek. “Ryan put his hands on me so many times. He hurt me and made me cry. I hated every second of it. Now you’re acting like I’m some weak, delicate flower. I am not fucking weak!”
I’ve begun to sob, which argues that fact, much to my horror.
His thumb strokes my throat. “I’m worried about you hurting me , Charlie girl.”
“You’re untouchable, Hornet.”
“Not physically,” he murmurs, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. “I’m afraid you’re going to rip my fucking heart and soul out. That I’ll be left an empty husk when you finish with me. I’ve lost so much because of Trey. If I lose much more, I won’t be me anymore.”
Guilt chokes me. I tremble, wanting to break our stare so he doesn’t see it. I’ve said I was sorry countless times, but it’ll never feel like enough.
“Cal,” I murmur. “I won’t hurt you. I’m not the villain you think I am.”
“And I’m no hero.”
I hold his stare until the tension bleeds away. Slowly, his features soften and the amused smirk he wears so well twitches at his lips.
“You fucked my thumb, English.” He laughs, boyish and cute. “Kinky bitch.”
I arch an eyebrow and cock out a hip. “Guess now you’ll have a new appreciation for the thumbs-up emoji.”
His grin is wolfish. “Indeed.”
I stand on my toes, kissing his mouth. “Are we good?”
“Yeah, loser, we’re good.”
I wake in the middle of the night to hot kisses on my breasts. A smile tugs at my lips. Last night, after our shower talk, we fell into bed naked and contemplative. He held me close, like if he let up, I might run away. It felt good to be pressed up against his chest. Safe and warm. I fell asleep easily in his arms.
I’m not sleepy at all. Not with Cal’s devilish mouth trailing along my stomach. He lingers, kissing the flesh softly. I hold my breath wishing he’d move on. It’s like he can see inside my mind. Wonders about my sudden tension. Whenever he touches my stomach, it makes me think of what I lost.
My baby.
Sadness threatens to consume me. I chase pleasure instead, gripping his hair and pushing him lower. He chuckles, his voice raspy from sleep, and continues on his trek. His nose nuzzles my pussy, his hot breath tickling me. I whimper, spreading myself to give him better access. Lazily, he laps at me with his wet tongue.
“I like the way you taste,” he mutters. “Like something forbidden. Maybe it’s the whole student teacher thing.”
I laugh and playfully tug at his hair. “Enough talking, Mr. Hutton.”
He nips at my pussy lip and then sucks on my clit. I gasp at the sensation. His smile can be felt on my skin as he eases a finger inside me. “This pussy is so tight. My very own pretend virgin.”
“You’re annoying. You talk too much.”
“Needy, greedy girl,” he chides. “You know I give you what you want if you beg.”
“Please make me come.”
He sucks on my clit again, making me see stars. Another finger joins the first and he curls them up, rubbing deliciously against my G-spot. When we’d had sex, his piercings took turns rubbing against it with each thrust. It was the most wonderful feeling. Again, he takes me to new heights.
The moment I orgasm, my world of reality shatters. I dance among the stars glittering in the dark room and ride the wave of pleasure. I’ve barely come down from my high when he slips his fingers out of me and rolls me onto my stomach. He kisses his way up my spine and then his pierced cock is sliding against my wet lips between my thighs. We both groan when he enters me from behind, his cock driving deep inside of my pussy.
He grips my neck, squeezing slightly as he fucks me. It’s rough and claiming, but not painful. My hair is messy and covering my face as I fist the sheets. I suck hair into my mouth as I gasp for air. Cal is relentless, fucking me like it’s his last day on Earth.
“Fuck,” he grunts. “You fucking kill me.”
His hand breaks from my neck so he can grip my hair. I’m hauled up by my hair until I’m on my hands and knees. From this position, he pistons against me, his balls slapping against my pussy.
It’s wild and raw and I love the way he takes me like I’m his.
“Touch yourself, Charlie girl. I want you coming on my dick.”
I obey him, fingering my swollen clit as he loses himself to fucking me like a madman. It doesn’t take much before I’m crying out in pleasure. He follows me with a guttural sound that leans more toward animal than human.
He pulls out, his wet dick flinging cum against the back of my thighs. I collapse face first onto the bed, completely spent. His body covers mine, his lips finding my bare shoulder for a soft kiss.
“In case there was any doubt, you’re mine.”
His words wrap around my heart and squeeze.
“There was never any doubt, Cal.”
Somewhere, a phone rings.
It feels too far away.
Like a dream.
I manage to crack my eyes open, trying to make sense of my surroundings. As soon as I become aware of the giant, sleeping man wrapped around me, I remember with a smile.
Cal.
I spent the night with Cal. My body is sore, but it feels good to be claimed so brutally. I feel like we were stripped emotionally bare only to put pieces of each other back on our own souls. We’re linked now. It’s strange to feel so connected to someone, but I like it. I’ve never felt anything like this.
Running my fingers through his thick, dark hair, I wonder what happens now. Are we a couple? Is Cal Hutton my boyfriend? Do we keep dancing around us, never meeting in the middle, or are we officially partners? I want to crawl into his lap and demand all the answers. I settle for stroking my nails along his scalp.
Lips press against my breast. I smile at the morning kiss that’s so Cal. His hand wanders up my thigh, searching for the place he owned all night. It’s daunting to think about taking him again considering how sore I am, but I’m up for the challenge. He almost makes it to my pussy when the front door of his cabin flings open, slamming against the wall.
“Cal!”
I shriek in surprise. Cal jerks the blanket over my body, barely covering my breasts before Jordy fills the bedroom door, his eyes wild and frantic. I panic, overcome with worry for Roux.
“Goddammit, Jordy,” Cal snaps, sliding out of bed to grab a pair of sweats from a drawer. “I was fucking busy.”
Jordy scrubs his palm over his face, glancing over at me briefly while Cal throws on his sweats, and then pins him with a crazed stare.
“Is Roux okay?” I choke out.
Jordy frowns, but nods. “It’s not about Roux. It’s…”
“Spit it the fuck out,” Cal snaps.
“Trey. He…” A pained expression crosses over Jordy’s features.
Cal falls to his ass, ripping at his hair. “No.”
Pulling the blanket around me, I rush over to him, hugging him from behind. This will break him. Trey can’t die. He just can’t. Cal’s body trembles as I start to cry.
Jordy snaps out of it and squats down in front of Cal. “No, man, he’s not dead.”
“What the fuck?” Cal growls. “What—”
“He woke up.”
A beat of silence.
Jordy smacks Cal’s cheek. “He woke up. Trey woke up. Let’s go. Roan’s almost here. He can drive your truck. Get ready.”
Trey woke up.
Oh my God.