Chapter One #2
I felt him smile. “No pinching necessary. Your warmth. The smell of your skin. No dream could ever compare.”
He was right. I was so happy it scared me. Every morning, I woke up to five men I loved more than life itself. Our days were filled with easy smiles, laughter, and a love so deep I often found myself getting lost in it.
“This is nice,” I said, enjoying the feel of him behind me. It brought a certain security. It brought butterflies too. Lots of them.
“Aye.” Callum grazed his teeth along my shoulder and dipped his hands beneath the water, sliding them to my front. As he took hold of my cock, I tilted my head back and softly sighed. “Is this nice as well?”
“Mhm.” I moved my hand farther up his thigh. “You’re an insatiable cinnamon roll.”
He lightly chuckled. “Ever since the night I first took you to my bed, my body needs yours like my lungs need air.”
“Sex addict.”
“Only with you.” Callum placed a soft kiss on my neck. “Today, tomorrow, and every day after.”
“Cal, I…” Emotion clogged my throat. Crazy how I’d been through this several times now with each of my men, but it still felt like the first time. The prickling pressure in my sternum, the flutter in my belly, and the need to feel his mouth on mine. To taste him and feel him as close as possible.
“Tell me what you need,” he murmured, running his lips over the shell of my ear.
What I needed couldn’t be conveyed through words.
I rotated my body and straddled his lap, causing water to slosh in the tub.
Callum’s lips parted, and he buried his hand in the back of my hair, bringing my face to his.
The moment we kissed, electric tingles shot through my veins, heating my blood and igniting tiny explosions in my chest, like fireworks lighting up a night sky.
A sign of our fated connection, that we were meant to be together.
Each glide of his hand and graze of his lips stirred something in my core, awakening a part of me that belonged only to him. When kissing and light touches weren’t enough, I reached between us and grabbed his erect cock, guiding him into place.
“Ev.” A soft sound left him, and he broke from my lips, tipping his head back.
I accepted the invitation and kissed the base of his throat, loving the breathy groan he rewarded me with. My lips then found the scar on his jugular. A wound that’d nearly taken him from me.
He slid his palm to the burns on my chest, clearly in the same state of mind, both of us acknowledging how close we’d come to losing each other.
“Never again.” Brown eyes met mine, the skin tight at the edges. “I’ll tear apart anyone who tries to hurt you.”
“I’d do the same for you too, you know.” I glided a finger along his cheekbone. “Do everything I can to protect you and the others.”
“By batting your lashes at the enemy?”
“Or throwing muffins at them. If overbaked, they’d pack a punch. Then we’d have to add muffin warrior to my list of titles.”
Laughing, he pushed his face into the crease of my neck. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too.” More than I could put into words.
Soft kisses followed our confession. I rode him slowly, taking my time to savor every delicious inch of him. Vanilla bean mingled with the scent of lavender bubbles as he thrust up into me and nipped at my heated skin, eliciting tingles throughout my body.
Groaning, I put my arms around his neck and matched his pace, coming down on him harder.
The pleasure was mind-blowing. Physical intimacy with Callum might’ve still been new, but my body recognized his.
Like he’d been made exclusively for me. The Goldilocks of cocks, not too big or small and not too thick. Hitting all the right places.
I surrendered to the feeling, giving myself over to him completely.
No obsessing over the mercenary sitting in the castle dungeon or what would happen next.
Instead, I focused on what I felt—the cords of muscle as I ran my palms up Callum’s arms, the whisper of breath on my skin as he shoved his face against my collarbone and panted, so close to that euphoric release.
“Evan.” My name escaped his lips on a grunt. “I can’t… you feel…”
“It’s okay.” I threaded my fingers through the back of his short hair and quickened my pace, wanting him to come apart beneath me. “You can let go.”
“N-No.” He tipped his head back and peered at me through half-lidded brown eyes, a sluggish smile curving his lips. “You first.”
“Such a gentleman.”
He breathed out a raspy laugh. “I’m nothing… if not… chivalrous.” His eyes rolled back and fluttered closed. “Gods. What you’re doing with your hips… don’t stop.”
Keeping my pace, a familiar tingle worked its way down my spine, bringing me ever closer to that cliff.
The sensations were too intense. Deeper than the sexual pleasure, being connected with Callum like this set fire to every neuron, creating a delicious inferno that blazed through my entire nervous system.
The moment of detonation? Callum took hold of my cock and stroked, bringing our mouths together. The kiss shattered the last of my resolve, and I came hard, ass muscles quivering and thighs shaking. His cock swelled and pulsed before he joined me in release, his groans vibrating against my lips.
Spent, I slumped forward and rested my head on his shoulder, trying to catch my breath and hoping I didn’t break off into a coughing fit. He wrapped his strong arms around me and pressed kisses to my throat and jaw.
“Are you all right?” he whispered. “Your breaths sound short.”
“I’m fine.” I nuzzled his neck. “Just keep holding me.”
“As you wish, milord.”
We stayed like that for a while, wrapped up in our postorgasm haze.
The longer he held me, the more my soul soothed.
Because the truth of it all? I was scared shitless.
Scared of what the future had in store. One doom flag had been dodged—the mercenary nearly killing me—but others crept ever closer, waiting for me to make one wrong move and set another dark future in motion, just like Lupin had once warned me about.
But Callum calmed that whirlwind of anxious thoughts. He was this burst of sun that broke through the stormy sky, making everything around me lighter.
He kissed the edge of my brow and tipped my face up. “Emerald eyes and hair like gold, you have my heart in an unbreakable hold. My sword. My love. Every beat in my chest. All belong to you. Now and until my life is through.”
“Was that…” Pressure enclosed my sternum. “Did you write me a poem?”
I’d learned Callum enjoyed poetry. He didn’t write much of his own but loved reading it. It added an unexpected layer to him, showing a romantic soul beneath the hardened warrior.
“Aye. Not the best, I know.” He gave me a sleepy, sated smile. “But I mean every word.”
“I loved it.” My heart swelled. “I guess you’ve earned some muffins. A token of my gratitude.”
A light chuckle feathered over my cheek. “I have all I need right here.”
I burrowed more into him. “Me too.”
***
Steady chops reached my ears as Callum and I made our way into the kitchen, hand in hand and playfully bumping each other.
Lake stood at the counter, slicing an onion. Rice cooked in a large pot on the stove, and chicken breasts marinated in a sauce made from olive oil, lemon juice, and a medley of rosemary, sage, and thyme. Loaves of bread baked in the oven.
“Smells yummy.” I released Callum and stepped up behind Lake, pushing my face into his back. The scent of peaches came off his tunic. “Need any help? I can chop the peppers.”
Lake turned to face me, softness shining in his purple eyes. “Let me worry about supper tonight. You’re still recovering.”
“I feel fine,” I grumbled. “Let me help.”
My wolf shook his head. “You can help by sitting.”
“Uh-oh,” Rowan said. “There he goes again. Lookin’ like a sad toad.”
Callum coughed to cover up his laugh.
I brought my hands up to cover my chin. The meanies. Apparently, when I pouted, I tucked in my chin and frowned, reminding Rowan of a toad. The nickname had stuck ever since.
“No worries, little treasure.” Rowan hopped up on the counter, bringing one leg up. He examined the chopped veggies before popping a slice of bell pepper into his mouth. “I’ll help the pup cook.”
“You mean I’ll cook while you steal bites of everything,” Lake mumbled. He held me gently but securely.
“I’m an expert taste tester.” The corner of Rowan’s mouth hitched up. “Have to make sure it’s not poisoned.”
Lake huffed. “You’re a liar and a cheat, is what you are.”
“Still salty about our last chess match? Come on, pup. You can’t win them all.”
“You used magic to shift my pieces on the board.” Lake drew back from me and glared at our thief turned spy.
“Did not.”
“Did so. You moved my queen.”
“Can ya prove it?”
The front door closed, and steps neared the kitchen. A heavy thump of boots I recognized. Lake snapped his attention toward the doorway just as Maddox stepped through it.
“Captain.” Callum tipped his head to him. “Welcome home.”
“Lieutenant.” Maddox returned the gesture and undid the clasp on his white cloak, draping it over the nearest barstool. “I take it all went well today?”
“Aye. Our muffin came to no harm.” He grinned at me before facing Maddox again. “Did all fare well with the knights?”
I sighed, feeling like a damsel. The attack had shattered my protection stone, leaving me vulnerable. Definitely not helping their overprotectiveness. Per Maddox’s orders, Callum had returned home early to be with me.
“Yes.” Maddox faced me. “They’re all worried and wanted to come see you this evening. I told them no, that you needed your rest. Fair to say they all hate me now.”
“Can you blame them?” Callum lightly ruffled my hair. “Denying them such an adorable sight.”
“Maybe I can see them tomorrow,” I said, spirit lifting at the thought. “Briar wants me to come into the clinic for another lung treatment. I miss my boys. Duke, Baden, and my cute Quincy.”
“You think Quincy is cute?” Callum cocked his head. “Interesting.”