Chapter Six
“What did you do?” Bastian asked.
“What are you talking about?”
Evander had his gun-cleaning kit out and all the components of his weapon laid out in order. He was methodical when it came to his guns and their care.
Bastian scoffed. “I know you better than that. You look like the cat who ate the canary.”
He shrugged. “A man can’t be happy?”
“Not you.”
“Pass me the aerosol,” Evander said.
His friend passed it to him, then sat on the edge of the table. “Where’s the girl? The one from last week.”
“What girl?” He sprayed one of the parts and began wiping it down.
Bastian exhaled. “Did you kill her? I mean, it’s none of my business, and you can kill whoever the fuck you want to kill. I’m just curious.”
It had been a few days since he’d taken Callie’s virginity. He hadn’t attempted to have sex with her again, wanting her to fully heal. Not that he hadn’t wanted to. He knew he should have waited longer before bedding her, so he was trying to get his self-control in check as well.
Business had been suffering so he’d been catching up lately, sneaking in uncomplicated hits between his time with Callie.
He wasn’t sure how long he could keep this up, hiding a major side of his life from the woman who held his heart.
But he couldn’t risk losing her. She was too damn sweet and kind.
No way she’d settle with a criminal like him.
“She’s not dead, for fuck’s sake. Lay off.”
“Okay, okay. She’s back at Guy’s Titties?”
He ground his teeth. “I thought you agreed it’s none of your business?” Evander said.
“Just making sure you’re thinking things through. I mean, what’s Hitman 101?”
“Yeah, I know. I know. Never fall in love. Never have a family. Never get close enough that you’d trade something for their life.”
“Glad you remember. Wouldn’t want you walking around with a target on your back.”
He’d picked up the pace, putting his weapon back in half the usual time. Evander carefully placed it into the case and closed the lid, standing up at the same time.
“Well, as fucking lovely as the conversation has been, I’ve got to go.”
Evander grabbed the case and his jacket from the back of the chair. He began to walk toward the door.
“I’ll see you tonight?”
“I know the plan, Bastian.”
Then he left.
His friend was just caring about him, but it rubbed him wrong.
Because everything was true. Evander had fucked up falling in love with Callie.
She’d been a weakness because he’d bring down Heaven and Hell to keep her safe.
He should have walked away when he’d had the chance.
The many months of stalking were all on him.
And purchasing her apartment building may have gone a bit too far.
There was some pull Callie had on him from the very first look. He was helpless to the lure.
Now he was playing house and killing when he was supposed to be working at some respectable nonexistent job. He was living a lie and terrified of losing the one person who made life worth living.
Tonight, he had a bigger contract. He’d be handling it with Bastian and things could go sideways if they weren’t on their game.
He drove home to Callie. She’d been running a bubble bath when he left this afternoon to finalize the plans with Bastian at one of their safe houses. All he’d wanted to do was stay home and lick watery bubbles off every inch of her lush body. He’d behaved long enough.
Tonight, he’d be sure to enjoy her sweet, young body before heading out.
He didn’t want any sexually distracting thoughts when he needed to stay focused on the task.
The last thing he needed was more grief from Bastian.
He didn’t want the constant lectures. No matter what he had going on in his private life, he was always professional when on a contract.
When he pulled up to the house, he noticed something was off right away. He didn’t enter the secure garage, but stopped short on the long driveway and bound out of the SUV. There was a body on his front lawn.
He had a hand near his waistband, ready to grab his handgun. “What’s going on?”
Callie looked up from where she’d been kneeling forward at the front of his house. “Just doing a bit of weeding. I was getting stir-crazy.”
He exhaled, feeling the initial rush of adrenaline drain away.
“You can’t be out here, Callie.”
“Why not?”
Fuck, her innocence was adorable. He never wanted her to change. “It’s not safe. When I’m not here, I can’t protect you.”
She smiled, adding weeds to a small pile. “From the mailman? You live in a very nice area, Evander. I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Except your weeds.”
He squatted down next to her, trying to hide the sense of urgency he felt with her being exposed and vulnerable. His talk with Bastian had put him on edge.
“Thank you for the hard work. Now, how about I take you out to dinner?”
She smiled. “Oh, a real date?”
“Of course.” He stood up and offered her a hand, pulling her up to her feet. “It’s about time I wine and dine my lady.”
“Wow, I’m excited. I was starting to think you were hiding me away because you were embarrassed to be seen with me in public.”
“Never that.” He led her to the front of the house, locking the door behind them.
The only reason they’d never left the house was his fear of endangering her.
But he couldn’t keep her caged forever. She deserved all the experiences other women had with their men.
And if he kept her isolated, she’d start to resent him.
****
Callie breathed in the country air as they drove along the rural roads. She didn’t care if the wind from the open window messed up her hair a bit. It smelled like sweet hay and new beginnings.
“So, you don’t want to go to a fancy restaurant? I’ve never heard of anyone refusing a five-star meal.”
“I don’t have any five-star dresses at your place.
Well, not at my place either,” she said.
Her life wasn’t flashy. It had always been about survival and staying off the radar.
If she was honest with herself, she expected to be single for the rest of her life.
The past week had been a whirlwind, and she was still in shock at how her future changed because of that one night.
Evander was everything she dreamed of. He made her feel safe, wanted, and somehow made her insecurities fade away. He made her feel beautiful. That was something she never thought she’d feel until she lost half her weight.
“Well, I’ve never been to The Country Barn,” he said. “I think I’m scared.”
“Stop it,” she teased. “You’re just used to the best of everything. It’s good to see another side of life. And there’s nothing to be afraid of.”
The Country Barn was a place she’d been several times in her childhood.
Her mother used to take her there for a special treat when she had extra money.
That wasn’t often, so it was memorable. It felt like a lifetime ago.
Even though her mother hadn’t been perfect when she was alive, Callie tended to hang onto the good memories and push away the bad ones.
“What will we be eating?” he asked.
“Whatever you want. They have the best poutine, burgers, fish and chips, and I’ve never had a better chocolate milkshake.”
“Diner food?”
“I guess you could say that. Except there’s no diner. You eat outside at picnic tables and watch the animals.”
“There’s animals?” He looked over at her, his eyes crinkled. The man was so good-looking. He made her heart flip every time they made eye contact.
“Yes, Evander. Sheep and goats and geese. There are other animals too.”
He chuckled. “This must be love. I never thought I’d see the day when a nice night out meant sharing a burger with a goat.”
She swatted him. “You’re being dramatic. There’s a fence separating the animals.”
Even though she felt so at ease around Evander, she played his words around in her head.
Could he love her? Did he love her? It was too soon for that, wasn’t it?
As happy as she was being with him, that nagging fear that he’d tire of her wouldn’t let go.
She didn’t know much about love or relationships, so she had nothing to compare.
All of a sudden, he pulled over to the side of the road, gravel grinding under the tires as they came to a full stop. He turned off the car, the natural sounds from the fields immediately flooding the car. It was calming.
“Why are we stopping?” she asked. “Is the car okay?”
They were in the middle of nowhere. Only miles of fields in every direction. They hadn’t passed any other cars either.
“I just want to look at you for a minute,” he said, shifting his body to the side.
“I’m confused.”
He ran a hand through his hair. “I have to work tonight. Will you be okay at home alone for a few hours?”
“Yes, of course.”
“I don’t want you to think I’m avoiding you or anything.” He rested a hand on her thigh, tingles scattering along her skin.
“Why would I? No one’s ever been as good to me as you have. I know you have to work. Everything you have was earned, not given to you.”
“How can you be so understanding?” he whispered. “So fucking perfect.”
She gasped at his words.
He leaned closer, beckoning her to kiss him. She couldn’t resist, shifting closer but not kissing him just yet. He smelled so good, rich, masculine musk. Callie breathed him in as he kissed her shoulder.
“I’ve been thinking about the other night. A lot.”
“Oh?”
He’d taken her virginity. It had been a whirlwind of fear, nerves, and excitement. She’d by lying if she said she hadn’t been thinking of it too, wondering if it was going to happen again and if she’d disappointed him or not.
“Did you like it?” he asked. He reached between her legs making her take a staggered breath. “Are you still sore?”
She could only shake her head in response.
“That’s good. I never wanted to hurt you.” His fingers teased her pants right in front of her most intimate parts. Her breathing picked up, her pussy pulsing.
“You didn’t hurt me,” she said. Then she dared to say, “I’m a big girl.”
“Are you now?” He growled, a barely audible sound but it’s all she could hear being so hyperaware. The drone of the insects and the wind from the fields didn’t distract her. “Tell me you want more. Tell me and I’ll give it to you.”
“Evander…”
“Unbutton your pants. Slip them off.”
“What?”
“We don’t have a reservation at The Country Barn. Let me make you feel good.” He pulled away, opening the car door and getting out. She was left bereft, wondering what was happening. When the passenger door flung open, she gasped.
He not-so-gently swung her legs around to face him. “Lift up.”
She did as told and he tugged her pants off the curve of her ass and down her legs, hooking them on the back of her seat.
“Open,” he said, spreading her thighs. She only had on a pair of pink panties, part silk, part lace. She felt so exposed, the gentle breeze from the vast fields caressing her nudity.
Before she could question him again, he dropped down on one knee and licked the thin material covering her pussy.
She wasn’t expecting such an inhibited jolt of pleasure.
It was more than she felt the first time with him in bed because her arousal had been mixed with fear. Now it was all about carnal needs.
Callie cried out despite her attempt to keep some semblance of control. Evander slid her panties to the side, then used his tongue to tease her into oblivion.
“Oh my God,” she chanted.
Even though there were no cars, being out in the open in such a compromising position made it feel naughty, turning her on until she was thrusting up into his face.
“Such a dirty girl,” he said before sucking her clit again. “I could live between your legs.”
“Yes,” she cried, feeling the heat of an orgasm rushing to the surface. “Please…”
“Yes, beg me, baby. I’ll make you come. I’ll give you exactly what you need.” Then he ravished her cunt with his wicked tongue and lips in ways that had her spiraling out of control with blind pleasure.
She came violently, her entire body pulsing with wave after wave of pure bliss. Her eyes were closed, her back awkwardly against the center console, but she didn’t care. As the contractions eased and her breathing calmed a degree, she opened her eyes.
Evander was standing there, looking commanding and intense. She still had her legs wide open and suddenly started to feel embarrassment and wiggled up into a sitting position.
“We’ll continue this later,” he said, giving her a sexy wink. “Right now, we have a date.”
All she wanted was for him to unzip and fill her with his cock. She could practically feel him filling her and it was distracting. It would be hard to enjoy the goats and sheep on their date when all she’d be thinking about was the beast next to her.