Chapter 9
nine
CAL
“Harlow!” I yell, slamming the door behind me. I texted my dad and asked him to take Cora to hang out at Belle’s. So I know it’s just Harlow in the house right now.
I hear a small yelp coming from the kitchen. I smile and make my way to the fiery redhead that’s been under my skin all day. After she left the studio, we decided to make use of the space since it was already paid for and practice the songs we haven’t yet.
“Don’t hide from me, Firecracker,” I say, rounding the island and seeing her crouching behind it.
“Um, hi,” she says as she pops up from the floor.
“That’s all you have to say for yourself?” I ask, slowly stalking her as she tries to put space between us. She’s always beautiful, but right now, with her flushed cheeks and wide eyes. Fuck, she’s perfection and temptation rolled into one.
“I put panties on?” she says, still trying to keep the island between us.
“Did you? You don’t seem too sure. Should I check?” I smile, knowing I look every ounce the predator I feel.
“Cal,” she says, but then her eyes go impossibly wide as she trips over one of Cora’s toys and falls backwards. I grab her right before she hits her head on the floor. Pulling her into my chest, I watch as her eyes trace my lips before coming to my eyes. I feel her chest heaving against mine, her heart beating so loudly I can hear it. Or maybe that’s mine I hear.
I lean in, waiting for her to pull away. To tell me that this attraction is one-sided. Or hell, to be the logical one and tell me that it’s a line we shouldn’t cross.
But she doesn’t do any of that.
She grabs the back of my neck and pulls me the rest of the way. Her soft lips meet mine hesitantly. I pull her into me until I can feel the warmth of her body everywhere.
“More,” I whisper against her lips. The change is instant. The hesitancy is gone. Harlow wraps her arms around my neck and pulls herself up to wrap her legs around my waist. I turn so I can prop her on the counter. She gasps when the cool granite meets her hot skin.
Her tongue prods at the seam of my lips, demanding entrance. And fuck do I let her in. Her tongue tangles with mine in a dance for dominance that I never want to end.
I trace my hands up her smooth thighs until I get to the hem of her shorts. She changed out of the leggings she was in earlier into a pair of loose cotton shorts. I pause and pull away from her lips so I can meet her eyes. Those beautiful green eyes are unfocused, but she still sees the question in mine. She nods her head vigorously.
“Touch me. I need you to touch me, Cal. I’m so wet,” she pleads, trying to rub herself against me, needing the friction.
“Fuck, baby. No panties,” I groan as my fingers explore. “You’re so fucking wet.”
“Please,” she mutters against my lips before kissing me again.
I slip a finger inside her and groan. She’s so hot and so tight. I’m on the edge of my control. I’ve never lost it.
But I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want Harlow.
Being near her is intoxicating. Her laugh, her smile, the smell of her lavender shampoo in the air after she showers. I’m drunk on her.
I break away from her lips so I can kiss along her neck. I add another finger and rub her clit with my thumb once I find the pulse point on her neck.
“Oh god,” she says as she throws her head back. Her pulse races under my lips, encouraging me to keep going. “Right there, Cal. God. Don’t stop.”
“There are no gods here, Firecracker. Just me and it will be my name you scream.”
“Yes. Yes, Callahan,” she gasps. “Make me come. Please let me come.” Her hips grind against my hand, desperately seeking her release.
“That’s it baby, fuck my hand.” I curl my fingers inside her and put more pressure on her clit. I feel her walls contract around my fingers as she screams out her release. I keep my hand there as she slows her movements, letting her ride out the rest of her orgasm.
Once her breathing slows, I pull back, keeping eye contact as I slowly pull my hand out of her shorts and raise my fingers to my lips. Harlow gasps as I suck the evidence of her off my fingers.
“Why is that so hot?” she says and then laughs, still dazed from how hard she came.
“You taste so fucking sweet, Firecracker. Why don’t you see for yourself?” I kiss her before she has time to respond, caressing my tongue against hers so she can taste herself. She moans into my mouth, making my impossibly hard cock twitch in my jeans.
“Cal! Why the hell is your kid at my house, and you aren’t?” Kai’s voice echoes throughout the front of my house.
Harlow jumps and pushes me away from her. I stumble back, startled. She jumps off the counter and quickly straightens up.
“Cal!” Kai yells, closer than before. I ignore him and reach for Harlow, but she steps out of my reach. The small movement is enough to make my heart constrict painfully. Does she not feel this? Can she not see the connection we have? The pull towards each other that I couldn’t resist? I thought we were on the same page.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers and then quickly darts up the stairs.
“Dude. Are you deaf?” I hear Kai as he comes to stand next to me, but my eyes are on the stairs. “Why does it smell like sex in here?”
“Fuck off,” I tell him, but there’s nothing behind the words. I still haven’t bothered to look at him.
All I see are the stairs and the curtain of red curls as they ran away from me.