Chapter 5 – Callum
Chapter Five
Callum
Ilove the way Lacey’s nose wrinkles when she’s confused. I find it quite fucking cute, even if she’s busy looking at me like she has no idea why I’m in her apartment.
There’s no beer, so I settle for a bottle of water and make my way back to the couch. She turned on the heat when she first came in, but there’s still a light chill in the air. Sliding around the coffee table, I grab the blanket thrown over the back of the chair and bring it to the couch with me.
“Are you going to stretch out?” I ask, wiggling my eyebrows.
She came home from work in jeans and an oversized wool coat, but she changed into Christmas pajamas before she joined me to eat.
They’re patterned and soft. I have the overwhelming urge to ask her if she has a favorite stuffie. Probably better to save that question until later so she doesn’t shut down on me completely.
I’ve had it happen before.
I’ve got some specific proclivities that not everyone is down for. It’s blown up in my face more than once when I misread the signs. Hell, maybe it was wishful thinking or just straight-up desperation to find someone I clicked with.
That was probably it, now that I think about it.
I need control, meaning I do best with a partner who is going to hand off most decisions to me.
I’d be completely content if she would let me dress her, brush and style her hair, feed her by hand, and even handle any personal care she might need, like shaving, waxing, and brushing her teeth.
It’s an extreme level of autonomy to give up, but I would more than make it worth her while. I’d spoil the fuck out of her to the point she would never have to lift a finger.
I’m a caregiver, despite my profession and the way I look. I’m of the mindset of fuck those stereotypes. If you want to know what I’m like, spend the time to actually get to know me rather than making assumptions.
Lacey’s head tilts as she stares up at me from behind her dark lashes. “I don’t do scary movies usually. That’s just asking for nightmares.”
I chuckle. “I’ll protect you. Now lie down, pretty girl. I want to get comfortable too.”
Her lips push together, but she sure stretches out on the couch. She grabs the throw pillow, relocates it to rest behind her head, and gives me a look that seems to ask, what now?
If I were feeling extra cheeky, I would have laid down and told her to lie right on top of my chest, but I’m still warming her up to me.
I’m also gauging how she responds to gentle guidance.
Grim can thank me for that later. That fucker might pretend like he doesn’t crave control, but he’s lying to himself or us. He wants to boss Lacey all around the bedroom, including regular trips over his lap. Now, we just need to determine if the darling little omega will enjoy that in return.
Everything in me says she will.
Scent matches tend to be good life matches, and I have solid faith in the universe.
Plus, I’m pretty good at sniffing out naturally submissive traits.
It’s just a matter of determining if she’s willing to give up control outside of sex.
I’d be willing to compromise if she would.
I know I can be a lot, but even half an hour a day would help to settle a significant amount of my urges to control any and all situations.
Tossing the blanket over my forearm, I unhook my belt and tug it free of my belt loops one-handed.
Lacey watches with rapt fascination, her chest rising and falling in rapid movements.
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from offering to tie her up with it. It’s a fine line between testing the waters and pushing too far too fast. I wouldn’t mind if she wanted to brat back from time to time, but I have to warm her to the whole dynamic before the real Lacey will come out.
Dropping my belt on the floor next to my boots, I crawl onto the end cushion and stretch out over her on all fours.
“Face the TV, baby girl. That way, I can slide between you and the back of the couch.” I wink, and she follows instructions beautifully.
Working myself into place, I end up on my side behind her and lean up to pull the blanket over us. I keep my head held up on one palm while the other comes to rest on her hip.
Damn, that material she’s clad in is soft. I might have to get myself a matching set.
My nostrils flare, and I covertly huff hits of her sweet pear scent. It has hints of something lightly floral, and I fucking love it.
“Get to scrolling,” I murmur, patting her hip. “I did promise to protect you, after all.”
Lacey jolts, pulling her arm from under the blanket and pointing the remote at the television.
Goddamn.
She’s really fucking cute.
Wilder needs to nut up and make a fucking move, or he might find himself on the outside looking in. He may have been the one to order me and Grim into her life, but once I got a taste of her shy smiles and big hazel eyes, I was fucking done for.
Grim is even worse off than I am. That big fucker stalks her even on nights he’s not on shift. At this point, I’d be happy to simply share Lacey with Grim if Wilder keeps dragging his feet.
I get that it’s complicated, considering she’s his stepsister, but that’s about the most ordinary thing that could come up in our world.
Then again, Lacey is normal.
She’s not used to a life of organized crime.
Wilder was vague as shit when I asked him if that was why she distanced herself from his side of the family.
Wilder’s business is mild compared to most mafia families. He inherited the underground fight rings, but it’s not like he’s running drugs or guns.
He’s a fixer and the negotiator between the other families. It gives him a certain level of protection the others don’t have. Even with that buffer, it doesn’t mean Lacey will want to be tied to a life of living just outside the law.
As long as I’m alive, none of it will touch her, and I’m very good at what I do. That’s why Wilder recruited me in the first place.
Lacey picks the least scary horror movie I’ve ever watched, and she falls asleep thirty minutes in. She’s so damn peaceful with her long dark lashes fanning over her cheeks, and I spend the next hour watching her like a total fucking creep.
Is it still weird if she knew I was here when she fell asleep?
Probably.
Ehh, I’m not judging myself too hard. She’s far too snuggly for me to pass up the opportunity to press my body against hers. Her skin is soft under my palm, but I keep my hand on her stomach and avoid pushing any boundaries.
I wouldn’t mind teasing and tantalizing her into an orgasm or two as she slept. That would probably be crossing the line, so I’ll have to save that for when we’re in a relationship.
Fucking hell.
I’d love to slide my fingers down the front of her pajama bottoms to work her clit while she slumbers.
Would she grind her ass back against my cock?
I bet she would.
I’d make sure to get her nice and slick before pulling her bottoms down her soft thighs.
My knot pulses as my teeth dig into my lower lip. If I took my time, I bet I could fuck her without fully waking her. It would take finesse, but I’m patient when I need to be.
I almost snort.
Yeah, that’s a dirty lie.
I’m willing to be a whole lot of things I never would have found appealing if it means I get to keep Lacey. There’s something about her that has drawn me in since that very first meeting, and the more time that passes, the more my obsession grows.
If this wasn’t a joint venture between Wilder, Grim, and myself, I would’ve already kidnapped her sexy little ass. Okay, so I am known as a loose cannon in my professional life, but I’d take good care of her.
I just wouldn’t let her out of my sight until I had the chance to sink my teeth in… That way, she’d never be able to escape.
Lacey rouses in my arms as I pull back the blanket on her bed.
“Cal?” she mumbles sleepily.
“Yeah, it’s me. Don’t worry. I’ve got you,” I murmur, nuzzling my cheek to the top of her head. “You passed out on me during the movie, so I brought you to bed.”
My head swivels between the spot on the edge of her mattress and the door to her attached bathroom.
I flipped the light on when we came in because I didn’t want to run into anything, but now I’m realizing she never used the bathroom after we ate.
“You might want to close your eyes. It’s going to get bright.” Striding across the room, I turn and bump my shoulder against the bathroom door.
“Wait… What?” Her eyes pop open, and she squints at me in the mirror directly across from the doorway. “I thought you were taking me to bed. Why are we in my bathroom?”
I chuckle, turning sideways and stepping inside the tiny bathroom. “It’s always a good idea to pee before bed. You’re sleepy. I don’t mind helping.”
I step over in front of the toilet and place her on her feet, leaning her against my chest for support.
She grabs my arms as I bend to help pull down her panties and pajama pants. “I’m pretty sure this is a weird dream, but just in case it’s not, I can do it myself.”
I can do it myself sends a goddamn shiver down my spine. Once we have an established dynamic, she’ll only bust out statements like that if she wants to go over my knee. Well, that or she’s serious about wanting a moment to herself, and I would fully respect her safe word.
Bratting just to see what happens is another story entirely. She also didn’t flat-out tell me to fuck off, so I’ll take it.
“I figured you’d say something like that, but I had to try.
” I smirk, shrugging as her eyes widen. “Don’t forget to wash your hands.
” I step back slowly to make sure she won’t topple over and stride out.
Leaning against the wall just outside the bathroom, I pull the door to the frame without clicking it closed.
She doesn’t bother stepping over to close it completely, and I grin like a fucking lunatic.
Maybe she’s just too tired to fight me… Or maybe she’s the kind of person who craves being looked after.
I really hope it’s the second.
It doesn’t take long before the toilet flushes and the water at the sink turns on. I don’t wait for her to make it to me, I push the door open and peek in.
Lacey grumbles under her breath as she dries off her hands on a hand towel. I can’t make out most of it, but I think she rambles about being confused.
I’ll bet she is.
She spins around and exits the room, and I wrap my arm around her lower back. I should have reminded her to brush her teeth, but that likely would have woken her up fully to the point she wouldn’t be able to fall back to sleep easily.
We make it to the edge of the mattress, and she climbs on. Grabbing the blanket, I pull it up, tucking it around her sides.
“You’re going to leave after you promised to protect me from the nightmares?” she asks, frowning.
I’m not sure how anyone could deny her anything.
“Scoot over for me, sweet girl.” I nod toward the middle of the bed. “If you want me in your bed, I’m between you and the door. I can’t stick around all night. I’ve got work, but I’ll stay until you fall asleep.”
“Okay,” she says around a yawn as she flips over onto her side to face the middle of the bed.
I chuckle, climb under the blanket, and spoon her sexy ass all over again.
“Night, Callum.”
“Sleep tight, Lace.” I wrap my arm around her middle and remind myself I absolutely cannot fall asleep.
It’s five-fifteen in the morning before my vibrating phone wakes me. I have no desire to pry myself out of bed from next to the snuggly little omega, but I already know I’m in for it.
I shove my feet into my boots, without bothering to lace them, and toss my belt over my shoulder as I head to Lacey’s front door. I’ve ignored my phone for this long because I didn’t want it to wake her if I had to talk.
I pull the device from my pocket as I tug open her door, preparing to lock it behind me.
The last thing I expect to run into is Wilder on his knees with a lock-picking set in hand. I’m so distracted by him that I miss the meaty fist flying at my face until it’s too late to duck or block the hit.
Fucking Grim.
Jesus.
He didn’t even pull the punch like a friend should do.
My head whips to the side, and I struggle to keep my phone from going flying.
“You son of a bitch,” Wilder whisper-hisses.
Yeah, both of them are going to be mighty pissed. My assignment was technically to watch over Lacey with no close contact, meaning she was never supposed to know that I exist.
Only, that didn’t work for me.
Maybe this will encourage the two of them to get their heads out of their asses and finally make a move.
Or maybe they’ll try to kill me.
Oh, well.