Poison and Wine

Chapter Twenty-Eight Caterina

As I floated into consciousness, a painful awareness filled me. Someone or something was smashing a hammer into my head. Fluttering my eyelids, I peered around trying to decipher where my assailant was. And then last night’s events came rushing back at me so hard I shuddered.

I had gotten completely and ridiculously drunk. And no one was hitting me–I was experiencing my first hangover.

With a groan, I rolled over to find Callum’s side of the bed empty. I glanced across the room at the grandfather clock. It was after nine. He’d already left for work. A pang entered my chest that he had left me alone to fend for myself through my first hangover. I don’t know why I let it bother me. Callum was an Irish clan leader. He didn’t have time to nurse his wife through a hangover.

Sighing, I rolled back over in bed and threw my hand over my eyes. At the sound of footsteps on the hardwood, I said, “Oh Lorna, please don’t turn on the lights. Just let me lay here and suffer.”

Her response was to throw open the curtains. With a groan, I threw the covers over my head. “Too bright.”

“What’s wrong, Kitten? Drink a little too much last night?”

Oh my God. It was Callum, not Lorna. He hadn’t left me alone. Although pleasure surged through me, I peeked out from the covers to glare at him. “Bastard,” I muttered.

He had the audacity to chuckle. “Such language.”

“Please just go away and leave me in pain.”

He eased down beside me on the bed. “What kind of husband would I be if I didn’t take care of my dear hungover wife in her hour of need?”

Although I was thrilled he stayed, I still couldn’t help wondering why. As I pulled the covers back down, I stared suspiciously at him. “What’s the catch?”

“There’s not one.”

“I don’t believe you.”

He held out a mug to me. “This will help you get back on your feet.”

I pushed myself up in bed. “What is it?”

“An Irish hangover cure.”

As I took the mug from him, I peered down at the steaming, pale contents. When a whiff of the concoction entered my nose, I frowned. “It smells awful.”

Callum chuckled. “It tastes awful, too. But it’s the only thing that will keep you from being miserable today.”

After blowing rivulets across the drink’s surface, I leaned forward to sip cautiously. As soon as the contents hit my stomach, I gagged. “Oh God,” I muttered.

“Trust me, I know.” He jerked his thumb at the bathroom. “I’m going to grab a shower. You better empty that mug by the time I’m done.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “And what if I don’t?”

“Then I’m going to take you over my knee and spank your stubborn arse.”

I gasped. “You wouldn’t dare!” I winced the moment I shouted as it sent pain echoing through my head.

“Try me, Kitten.”

When he turned his back to go into the bathroom, I very maturely stuck out my tongue. Although I was mildly curious about whether or not he would really enact his threat, I decided for my overall well-being it was better to drink the tonic, even though I gagged with each and every sip.

After I was done, I leaned over to set the mug on the nightstand. When I rolled back over, my eyelids felt too heavy. The next thing I knew I was sliding back into sleep.

When I woke again, it no longer felt like I was being assaulted with a hammer. I didn’t feel nauseous anymore, nor did my body ache all over. Callum hadn’t been lying about the drink. It was a miracle worker.

“Feeling better?” a deep voice questioned.

I opened my eyes to see Callum sitting across from me wearing gray sweatpants and a shirt. He pushed his computer off his lap and rose to his feet. My mouth ran positively dry as I watched him close the distance between us.

“Much better. Thank you for the drink.”

He smiled. “I’ve had to use it more times than I can count.”

After pushing myself up in the bed, I frowned. “Why do I feel sticky all over?”

“The drink makes you sweat the alcohol out.”

“Oh.”

“Do you want me to draw you a bath?”

My heart thrummed wildly in my chest at his kindness. “That would be nice.”

He nodded before walking into the bathroom. For the life of me, I couldn’t keep my eyes off of him in those sweatpants. Since I needed to pee, I threw back the covers and padded across the floor. When I got inside, Callum was bent over the tub adjusting the taps. A delicious lavender scent floated back to me as foamy bubbles rose in the water.

After sitting down on the toilet, I stared curiously down at my thighs. Furrowing my brows, I ran my fingers over my skin.

“Bath is ready,” Callum pronounced from the doorway.

I quickly wiped and flushed before going over to the sink. After washing my hands, I turned back to him. I hiked up my short robe to reveal my legs. “Did I spill something on me?”

After Callum’s gaze dipped down to my thighs, a dark, lustful look entered his eyes.“Do you remember anything about last night besides getting drunk?”

Tilting my head, I concentrated on remembering my time at the club. When I remembered one memory, I narrowed my eyes. “I was ready to slap a woman for laying her hands on you.”

He chuckled. “You were.”

As I searched my mind, my hand flew to my mouth as I gasped. “You almost strangled a man to death because he touched me,” I whispered.

The amusement faded from Callum’s face. “Aye, I did.”

I swallowed hard. “You really scared me.”

Callum brushed the hair back from my face. “I’d like to say I’m sorry, Kitten, but I’m not. That’s who I am.”

“I know…and I understand.”

His thumb traced over my bottom lip. “You are mine, and no one touches what is mine.”

I rolled my eyes. “That’s so over the top.”

His shoulder lifted apathetically. “It’s who I am.”

“Then tone it back for me.”

“I can’t make that promise, Kitten. You drive me crazy.” As the words left his lips, something else dark glittered in his eyes. “Do you remember what happened after we left the club?”

“Not really.”

“Try,” he encouraged, his voice impossibly deep.

I remembered him carrying me out of the club like I was a sack of potatoes. I remember the car stopping for a bit. And then an illicit reel of images flickered through my mind. My hips rising and falling as I thrust my fingers deep inside me. Callum’s fist jerking up his shaft. An orgasm blasting through my core like a runaway train.

Mortification sent warmth across my cheeks and all the way down my neck. Bringing my hands over my mouth, I murmured, “Oh God.”

Callum pulled me against him. Taking my hand in his, he rubbed my fingers up my thighs. “Ask me again what this is?”

“What is it?” I whispered.

“My cum.”

A shiver shot straight through me before heat coiled in my center. “You…” I couldn’t bring myself to say the words.

“We came together, Kitten. While I wouldn’t lay a finger on you, I couldn’t help but mark you as mine.”

“Did I beg you to touch me?”

“Aye, you did.”

I cocked my brows at him. “Why wouldn’t you?”

“You were ridiculously drunk, and I refused to take advantage of you.” The corners of his lips pulled up. “But if you were to ask me now to touch you, I wouldn’t refuse.”

My heartbeat accelerated in my chest. Did I want him to touch me? Considering how long we’d been married, he’d been more than patient with me. Although I didn’t think I was ready to fully consummate our union, it couldn’t hurt to give in a little.

With my gaze locked on his, I took two steps back from him. My shaky fingers came to the sash on my robe. I loosened it, baring my breasts.. Need flashed in Callum’s eyes at the sight of my bare breasts, but he didn’t make a move. “Will you touch me?” I asked.

A strangled noise came from deep within Callum’s chest. “Fuck, Kitten, I thought you’d never ask.”

To my surprise, he didn’t immediately go for my breasts. Instead, he cupped my face, brushing his thumbs across my jawline. A reverent look entered his eyes. “For all my sins, I should never have been blessed with such beauty.”

My chest heaved under his words and the sincerity with which he said them. “You flatter me,” I said softly.

As his hands trailed down my neck, he shook his head. “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.”

A shiver ran down my spine as fingers slid along my collarbone with feather soft touches. I sucked in a breath when his hands dipped down my breastbone to tease along the tops of my breasts. My nipples peaked in anticipation as an ache began to grow between my legs.

Sensing my reaction, Callum’s gaze dipped from mine to my breasts. “When Seamus showed me your pictures, the first thing I thought was what a waste of a body on a nun.”

I playfully smacked his bicep. “My body has nothing to do with my faith or my desire to serve.”

A smirk curved his lips. “Your body has everything to do with serving me.”

“Keep talking like a caveman, and you’ll be back to serving yourself,” I countered.

With a chuckle, Callum nipped my bottom lip with his teeth before bringing both hands to my breasts. At my whimper, his amusement continued to rumble through his broad chest. His calloused fingers weighed and squeezed my hyper sensitive flesh, causing the inferno between my thighs to grow. When he pinched my nipples, I moaned–my fingers pressing into his muscled forearms.

Surprise flooded me with Callum”s groan. “You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to touch these.”

“Is now when you ruin the moment by telling me I have a fabulous rack?”

He snorted. “I was thinking more of a fabulous pair of tits, but I can live with rack.”

At my huff of disgust, he twisted both nipples, which sent a shocking jolt of pleasure through me. My huff turned into a pant of need. “As much as I’ve wanted to touch them, I’ve wanted to do this more,” Callum murmured.

When his mouth closed over my nipple, a moan rippled through me. As his tongue swirled around the hardened tip, I jerked my fingers through the strands of his hair. “Mm, Callum,” I murmured.

“Do you like that, Kitten?” he questioned, his breath warming my aching breast.

“Yes,” I murmured.

He kissed a wet trail over to my other breast. As he suckled and teased my nipple, I feared my nails were going to leave marks on his arms.

“Callum, please,” I panted as I scissored my legs to ease the ache.

“Please what, Kitten?”

“I need…” I licked my lips. “More.”

“You want my fingers or my mouth.”

A flush of embarrassment entered my cheeks. When I didn’t answer, he kissed back up my chest to meet my mouth. After a moment of our tongues battling together, he pulled away to surmise me with eyes hazy with lust. “Do you need my fingers here?” At the touch of him at my center, my hips bucked involuntarily. “I would say that’s a yes,” he replied with amusement.

I realized at that moment he was still fully dressed while I was practically naked from the waist up. When he reached for me, I placed my hand on his chest. “Take your clothes off.”

“My pleasure,” he practically purred.

Like a barbarian, he ripped open his shirt, scattering buttons along the floor. Although it was incredibly sexy, I rolled my eyes. “Did you have to ruin your shirt?”

He flashed me a wicked grin. “Surely you can’t fault a man for obeying his wife?”

“Is that what you were doing?”

As he stripped the torn fabric down his arms, he nodded. “I’m so desperate to touch and taste you, I’ll do anything you ask of me.”

“Anything?” I questioned as his fingers came to work on his belt.

He momentarily paused. “Aye,” he replied with heat blazing in his eyes.

I didn’t know why the sinful words that formed in my mind flowed so easily from my lips. “Get on your knees.”

The shock on Callum’s face would’ve been humorous in any other situation. But then his hands froze on the button of his pants. Without taking his eyes from mine, he sank slowly to his knees before me, causing my body to tremble.

As he gazed up at me, he cocked his head. “What would you ask of me now, Kitten?”

I truly didn’t know. I’d never thought he’d actually take my command seriously. The ache between my thighs had grown almost painful. At the realization I still stood with my robe open to the waist, I closed the gap between us. “Take off my robe.”

He quickly brought his hands to my waist, and his fingers deftly undid the silky sash. Once he opened it, Callum leaned up to gently slide the robe off my shoulders and down my arms. When it pooled around my feet, I bit down on my lip as I stared at him. His gaze left mine to trail down my body.

When he reached my lace-clad center, he grinned up at me. “I’m glad to see you’re not wearing Nun’s Knickers anymore.”

A nervous laugh burst from my lips. “Excuse me?”

“That’s what I named the panties you were wearing the night I took you.”

I gasped. “You saw my…” I gulped, “underwear?”

Callum rolled his eyes. “Don’t act like I didn’t tell you. I had to change you out of your wet nightgown, remember?

“Oh, that’s right.” I challenged, “Surely you didn’t expect me to be wearing something like these in the order.” I motioned to my skimpy thong.

“Of course not.” His finger dipped into the waistband of the lace, causing me to gasp. “Of course, I’d prefer from now on out, you don’t wear any underwear. Period.”

“Let me guess. You’d prefer I only wore skirts and dresses.”

“That too.” He pulled my thong down over my hips and down my thighs. Once it joined my robe on the floor, he winked at me. “I want easy access to your pussy.”

I nibbled on my bottom lip. “Do you always say such things?”

“I do.” Winking, he added, “You’ll grow to like it.”

“We’ll see.”

As Callum ran his hand over the trimmed pubic hair on my mound, he grinned up at me. “This is unexpected.”

I blushed at his meaning. “I got waxed at the spa.”

“I like it. I wouldn’t have minded a full bush.”

“Maybe if you’re a good boy, I’ll grow it out for you,” I teasingly replied.

“Mm, Kitten, your mouth is so sassy today.”

Before I could argue that I wasn’t sassy, Callum’s hand slid between my legs, causing me to gasp. His fingers rubbed along my lips before his thumb found my clit. As he began to circle and tease it, I gripped his shoulders. My hips began to move of their own accord, desperately seeking out friction.

“Do you like that?” he questioned, his voice deep and husky.

“Mm, hmm,” I murmured, as I bit down on my lip.

“I’d have to agree as wet as you are.”

When he slipped two fingers inside me, I sucked in a breath. “Is that okay?” he asked as his fingers swirled within me.

I whimpered in response, which caused Callum to chuckle. His thumb continued rubbing my clit while his fingers pumped in and out of me. I should’ve been embarrassed by the noise of how wet I was, but all I could focus on was the pleasure. Soon my pants and moans of pleasure joined the squelching sound of his fingers.

As I gripped his shoulders harder, I raised my hips against his pumping fingers. “That’s it, Kitten. Take it all,” Callum urged.

I’d made myself come with my own fingers, but it was nothing like the feel of Callum’s calloused ones. When they curved against my g-spot, I shrieked and clawed at him. When the first waves of my orgasm hit, it felt like a bomb went off inside me. “Callum!” I cried, as I pinched my eyes shut. Overwhelmed with feeling and emotion, I let my head fall back as my arms twitched and my legs felt like jelly.

When I came back to myself, Callum had me by the waist and was guiding me back to sit on the top step of the stairs leading into the tub. As I pushed my hair out of my face, Callum winked at me before sliding the fingers that had been inside me into his mouth. “Mm. You taste amazing.”

I flushed both on my cheeks and between my legs at his compliment. “I can’t believe you say such things.”

He chuckled. “Like I said before, you better get used to them. I’m a very dirty talker.”

As he knelt before me again, I brought my hands to his face. “I never imagined it could be that amazing.”

Callum gave me a genuine smile as he turned to kiss one of my hands. “Oh, Kitten, I’m only just getting started.”

“What else are you going to do to me?” I questioned in a whisper.

“Give you even more pleasure.”

My brows shot up. “More than what you just did?”

“Much more.”

I sucked in a breath as Callum brought one of my legs up to begin kissing and licking a trail up my calf. After doing the same to the other leg, he placed my calves on his shoulders before his hands gripped my thighs. After he widened my thighs, his hungry gaze honed in on my center. When he licked his lips, a shudder ran through me.

He gave me a cocky grin before dipping his head. After flattening his tongue against my core, he licked up my seam. A moan erupted from my lips. His tongue began to lazily trace in and out of my folds before coming back to my clit. He flicked it with his tongue before pressing his lips to my sensitive flesh. When he sucked my clit, I cried out. If I thought he was masterful with his fingers, I had no idea just how amazing he could be with his tongue and lips.

Callum continued sucking and licking me. He ate me like he was a dying man, and I was his last meal. My hips rose and fell while my fingers trailed through the strands of his hair. Sweat broke out along my forehead when he thrust his tongue inside me. “Oh God,” I moaned as he swirled it around my slick walls.

His voice vibrated against my center. “I think it’s best to leave our savior out of this.”

“Don’t be blasphemous!”

Callum peered up at me from between my thighs. “You’re the one calling out his name when it’s my tongue fucking you.”

As his thumb took up rubbing my clit, my head fell back. “We’ll both need to go to confession after this,” I panted.

“Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. I finally got to feast on my wife’s pussy.”

“Callum,” I warned.

He chuckled before thrusting two fingers inside me. Although I wanted to moan another “Oh God”, I managed to curse instead, which of course caused Callum to laugh again. The more he suckled my clit and pumped his fingers in me, the more I cursed.

I pumped my hips against his fingers. Gripping his hair, I jerked him closer to my center. While I should’ve worried I was smothering him, I didn’t even care if he could breathe anymore. I just wanted the pleasure to go on and on. I couldn’t believe what I’d been missing all these years.

At the grazing of his teeth against my clit, another orgasm set off like a locomotive charging through me. My thighs, which cushioned Callum’s head, trembled and shook. When at last the world stopped spinning, Callum eased my feet down off his shoulders. My cheeks warmed when he began to lick the wetness off my inner thighs. When he finished, he licked my pussy one last time before rocking back on his feet.

As I gazed down at him, I shuddered at the sight of my arousal coating his lips and chin. With my mind shattered, I not so eloquently said, “That alone was worth leaving the order.”

Callum threw back his head as a laugh rumbled through his chest. After wiping his chin, he winked at me. “I’m so honored to be the one who could corrupt you.”

My lazy gaze dropped to his lap where his erection tented his pants. The orgasms I’d received made me brazen because I leaned forward to grip him. “I want to make you come.”

Callum groaned. “Those words on your lips are beautiful torture.”

“It’s the truth.”

He cocked his head at me. “What would you like to do to me?”

“I want to touch you and taste you.”

Callum’s chest rose and fell. With his eyes locked on mine, he rose from the floor to stand before me. “Then take me, Kitten.”

I eased off the side of the tub to kneel before him. Although my hands shook, I brought my fingers to the waistband of his pants. Staring up at him, I unbuttoned his fly and ripping the waistband of his pants and underwear, I pulled them slowly down his thighs. I sucked in a breath when his erection bobbed before me.

At the thought of taking it in my mouth, least of all my body, I swallowed hard. “You’re so big,” I eloquently stated.

A laugh bellowed from Callum as he stepped out of his pants and underwear. “While I’m flattered at your assumption, would you truly know?”

I scowled up at him. “Yes, I would.”

“Seen many cocks, my sweet virgin?”

“I wasn’t in the order my whole life, you know.” Lowering my voice, I added, “I’ve watched porn.”

A wicked gleam burned in his eyes as he began to stroke himself. “Did you enjoy it?”

“Some of it.”

“Did you watch it while you touched yourself?”

Heat flushed through my cheeks and down my neck. “Maybe.”

With his free hand, Callum brought my hand to cover his own on his erection. Slowly, he began to work our hands up and down his length. “Did you use your fingers or a toy?” he questioned in a hoarse voice.

“Just my fingers. I was too afraid of the maids finding a toy and telling my father.”

Callum stilled our movements. “Why the fuck should your father have cared if you were getting yourself off with a toy?”

“Because I could’ve ruined my virginity for my future husband.”

Disgust filled Callum’s face. “That’s fucked up.”

“Everything about being a woman in our world is fucked up.”

“It doesn’t have to be anymore. Not with me.”

I squeezed our hands on his cock, causing him to hiss. “How can I show you my gratitude?”

“You’re going the right way.” Callum removed his hand, leaving me to wrap my hand solely around him. Although I didn’t know what I was doing, I mimicked what he’d shown me before. I marveled at the silky smoothness of his skin over the hardened flesh.

“How does it feel knowing you can bring me to my knees with just your hand?”

“I could do more with my mouth.”

He threw his head back with a groan. “Fucking hell, Kitten.”

“Would you like me to?”

“I’d fucking love for you to do that.”

Without any hesitation, I dipped my head and brought his cock to my mouth. Although I still had serious doubts about his size, I suctioned my lips around the tip. He tasted salty like the sea. I wondered if I’d be okay with more of the taste in my mouth like when he came.

Slowly, I slid him further in, which caused him to groan. “Fuck, Kitten,” he grunted.

My hand continued working up and down while my mouth took him deeper and deeper. When he bumped the back of my throat, I gagged. With my eyes watering, I kept bobbing him in and out of my mouth. Callum’s hand came to the back of my head. After tangling his fingers through my hair, he began to guide me. I could tell he was restraining himself to truly take my mouth like he wanted.

Staring up at him, I shivered. He was so sexy and manly looming over me. I loved the look of him biting down on his bottom lip as pleasure etched across his face. More than anything, I loved that I was the one responsible for giving him that pleasure.

He stared down at me. “Mm, Kitten, I’m close.”

I nodded, but I kept sucking him hard. A shudder went through Callum. “If you don’t move, I’m going to come in your mouth,” he gritted out.

I hummed my acceptance around his cock. “Fuck!” he barked as his hips bucked forward. At the first warm drops of come on my tongue, I jerked back in shock. Callum continued to spurt along my lips and chin as I worked him with my hand.

When he finished, he stared down at me with hooded eyes. Now that I was used to his taste, I darted my tongue out to lick him off my lips. Callum’s gaze heated before he reached out to wipe my chin with his thumb. I dipped my head to suck his thumb into my mouth. When I swirled my tongue around his thumb, he grunted. “Christ, Kitten, you’re going to have me hard again.”

I grazed his thumb with my teeth before guiding his hand from my mouth. “You’re insatiable.”

He chuckled as he helped me to my feet. “Even more so since I’ve had to wait so long to touch and taste you.”

My hands came to cup his face. “I can never thank you enough for being so patient with me. You’ve truly been a saint.”

Callum smiled genuinely at me. “I think that’s the first and only time I’ve ever been called a saint.”

I laughed. “That doesn’t surprise me.”

After bestowing a gentle kiss, Callum said, “We need to get you clean.”

After turning back to the tub, I dipped a finger in the water. “It’s cold now.”

“We could always warm it up,” he suggested.

“Or maybe we can take a shower together.”

He grinned down at me. “I like that idea. Very much.”

Just as we started across the marble tiled floor to the shower, a knock came at the bathroom door. “Go away,” Callum growled, his voice echoing through the room.

“I wish I could. Dare says it’s important,” Kellan’s muffled voice replied.

With a frustrated grunt, Callum stalked naked over to the door. When he jerked it open a crack, I squealed before diving to snatch my robe off the floor to cover myself “This better be life or fucking death,” Callum snarled.

Through the crack, Kellan’s face turned crimson. “I’m sorry, Cal. He just told me to find you since one of the shipments came up short. I don’t think he realized you’d be…” He swallowed hard.

“Fucking my wife?”

A shriek of horror escaped my lips. “That’s not what we were doing!” I protested.

Callum threw a wicked look at me over his shoulder. “I’ll forgive your innocence and assure you what we’ve been doing is certainly considered fucking.”

I smacked his arm. Hard. “Respect me enough not to broadcast it to your brother.”

“I agree,” Kellan said.

Callum turned back to his brother. “I didn’t ask you.”

Kellan sighed. “Look. Just come downstairs sooner rather than later, okay?”

“He’ll be down as soon as he can throw on his clothes,” I assured Kellan.

As Kellan hurried away from the door, Callum’s head whirled around to pin me with a questioning look. I jerked my chin at him. “I’m taking a shower. Alone.”

Amusement swirled in his eyes. “Am I to assume I’m being punished for my comment?”

“Your brother needs you.”

“My cock needs you more,” he argued.

I shook my head with a laugh. “Go on.”

“You’re a cruel woman to give me a wee taste and then shut me down again.”

“Just for right now.” I placed my hands on his chest. “Be a good boy, and I’ll reward you.”

“I’m holding you to it,” I replied. With a growl, he pushed past me to grab up his clothes. As he hopped into his pants, I headed into the shower. “You’ll need another shirt,” I called as I turned on the water.

With a grin, he replied, “I’ll just go without one.”

I frowned. “But then the rest of your brothers will know what we’ve been doing.”

A sinfully erotic look burned in his eyes. “Even if I put on a shirt, they’d still smell you on me.”

Shrieking in both horror and mortification, I snatched a hand towel and tossed it at him. “Wash your face.”

A devilish chuckle came from deep in his chest. “I’m wearing you as a badge of honor.”

He winked and headed out of the bathroom, leaving me alone to die of embarrassment.