Chapter 26 - Zandra #2
Fuck it. Crawling over his center console, I climbed into Callum’s lap and threw my arms around his neck. “Thank you for coming to get me. I should’ve been able to deal with them myself, but—”
“No, I’m glad you texted me. Anytime you need me, I’m there.”
“Because that’s what friends do?”
“Yeah,” he said softly. “But I think we gave away that we’re sleeping together. It could get back to your grandfather.”
“Maybe Grandpa wouldn’t care that much. He’s never been a traditional thinker.”
“Wouldn’t care that I’m boning his beloved granddaughter? I doubt that very much.”
“Well, definitely don’t describe it as boning.”
But he was right. This could hurt Callum’s chances to get the job, and I would never want to be the cause of that.
I cared about Hearthstone. But after weeks of doing this job together, it was hard to imagine one of us doing it alone. One of us “winning,” and the other “losing.”
Callum was nothing like Ian. But money and competition had a tendency to get in the way of friendships.
“I don’t care what Ian or my parents think about us. I’m just embarrassed I gave so much to him in the past.” I rubbed my eyes again. “I can’t believe my mother tricked me into coming over there.”
He cupped my face with both hands. “None of them deserve you.”
“Why are you so good to me?” The words just slipped out. Couldn’t hold them back. But I didn’t think I was ready to actually hear the answer.
So I kissed him.
This man who’d come for me exactly when I needed him. Who always stood up for me, at least when I let him get close enough.
The kiss turned heated in seconds. Tongues clashing. Hands roving. “When you walked into the room earlier, I was tempted to jump you right then,” I said.
“Would’ve been a nice show for Ian.”
Ugh. “Please don’t say his name. I’m done with him.”
“Alright. But I wouldn’t mind claiming you in front of any other man who wants you. Make sure they know you’re mine.”
I knew that was just sex talk, like always, not some big declaration. But I still couldn’t help the flutters that rushed through my stomach and seemed to brush all over my skin.
“Claim me right now.”
He cupped the back of my neck and pulled me forward for more deep, toe-curling kisses. Then said, “Good thing my truck has an extra large cabin.”
I tugged at his shirt, and he reached for the back of his collar to yank it off. His hat knocked off in the process.
I grabbed the cap. “Put this back on. You’re sexy in it.”
“You think so?” With a crooked smirk, he fit it backward over his messy hair again.
He laid back the driver’s seat. It took some maneuvering to slither my jeans off. Callum unzipped his and shoved them down along with his boxer briefs. His erection popped free, red at the tip and ridged with veins.
“Hold on.” He reached for his wallet, producing a foil packet from inside. An involuntary frown darkened my expression as I suddenly wondered how long he’d had that in his wallet. I mean, of course a guy like Callum carried protection with him at all times, just in case there was an opportunity.
But how often was he needing to replace those?
Just because we had an arrangement didn’t mean…
“Hey, don’t scowl like that,” he said in a teasing tone. “I’ve only got a rubber in my wallet to use it with you.”
“Okay.” I sounded calm. As if the thought of him sharing his body with other women didn’t make me want to go nuclear. As in tear-her-hair-out, break-all-her-bones feral.
“Sunflower.” He brought his hand to my chin to keep me from turning away. “I haven’t even looked at another woman since you rejected me that night at the bar. I’d rather have your scowls than the smiles any other woman has to offer.”
My lips twisted. “I haven’t been with anyone else either. I’ve told you already I don’t want anyone but you.” In fact, I was probably giving away too much by saying that.
It was his turn to scowl. “Better not. If I find out some other guy touched you, I’ll spit in his beer next time he’s at Hearthstone. And then I’ll lace it with cyanide.”
“That seems extreme.”
“Don’t test me.” The glint in his brown eyes was only half joking. “This sweetness belongs to me.” I gasped when he shoved the thin cotton of my panties aside and pressed a finger into my slick opening.
“You,” I moaned.
“Want me to own you?”
I nodded.
“Say it.”
“Own me with your cock, Callum. Please.”
With his eyes locked on me, he tugged his hand free and sucked his finger into his mouth.
After suiting up, he slid my panties out of the way again and pulled me down onto his hard length. I put my hands on his bare, smooth chest and just held on for the ride.
I didn’t understand how he could be so perfectly rough with me, filling me just the way I needed, owning me, while also touching me so gently at the same time. Brushing my hair from my face. Ghosting his lips over my temple, hot breaths on my skin while he bucked his hips so hard the truck shook.
With Callum, I felt safer and more supported than I’d ever been. But he also knew exactly how to turn me out.
When we were together like this, breathless and moving in sync as he brought me to ever-greater pleasure, I could imagine—for a little while—what it might be like to truly be his.