Chapter 6 Callum
CALLUM
To keep myself from staring at the gorgeous woman curled up next to my brother and Nyx.
I stare at the glowing embers in the fire pit.
The fire is slowly but surely putting itself out.
The red and orange dances around from coal to coal, and the late October chill is making itself known.
Kyra pulls the hood of her jacket up over her blonde hair and the sleeves over her fingers.
“Cold sunshine?” I make eye contact with her when her head darts up to meet my gaze. She just nods her head and then looks back down, mesmerized by the embers, too, or just trying to avoid making eye contact with me.
Standing up from my folding chair, I take a quick moment to stretch out my long limbs.
Bringing my arms up above my head, I arch my back, feeling many vertebrae crack and pop.
I am like a damn bowl of rice crispy. The only light in the backyard is the twinkle lights my brother made Demitri hang up along the deck.
“It sets the mood.“ At least according to Graham.
Walking around the large built-in fire pit, I stand in front of Kyra for a moment before she realizes I am there.
“Holy Fuck, Cal. Where did you come from?” She brings a sleeve-covered hand to her chest. Just her brightly painted nails peek out of the end.
“Let’s get you to bed, Sunshine.” I stick my hand out to help her up. “Graham, you got this?”
He nods to me before standing up and setting a sleeping Nyx on Dee’s lap.
These boys are such goners for her. I have never once in my life seen Dee look longingly at anything, let alone a woman.
I am happy for them, I really am. It’s just time for me to figure my life out, and that includes getting this ray of sunshine to admit she needs me just as much as I need her.
With her small hand in mine, we head into the house.
“Wait, do you stay in the house too?” She stops standing in the little breakfast nook. With a chuckle, I turn to face her.
“No. I stay in the pool house, but I want to get you tucked in safely before I go to bed.”
“That’s unnecessary.” Her hand pulls free from mine. “I can put myself to bed, thank you.” Kyra tries so hard to be stern, but she won’t win this battle.
“Don’t make me pick you up,” I say with a laugh. “I haven’t tested this knee yet with extra weight, but I will.”
“No, really, it’s fine.” Her voice shakes. Is she afraid of me? I can feel my rage at her fear. I’m not mad at her, I’m mad at whoever made her afraid to be around men in general.
“I swear I will not touch you. Well, unless you ask, beautiful girl.” I hold my hands up on either side of my head, like I’m being arrested. “In fact, I will promise you right now that my hands, or lips, will not touch you until you beg for it.” My voice sounds playful but still deep.
I see a shiver run down her body. It could be from the cold, sure, but I’d like to believe she is reacting to me. To my closeness. Kyra pulls her sleeves down to cover both of her hands again. She takes a few calming breaths and looks up at me.
With the lights on in the house, I can see her forest green eyes staring back at me, and my world tilts on its axis.
My heart stops beating in my chest, my breath hitches, and I am so thankful I couldn’t truly see her eyes when we were in the dark.
She’s been beaten down, maybe not physically that I can see, but emotionally.
Someone has destroyed her confidence in the world, in men, and herself, and that is not acceptable.
Even if she never gives me the time of day or the chance to show her what it’s like to actually be cared for, to be cherished, and to have someone to walk through life with them, not behind them.
I will build her confidence back. I swear this on every single twinkling star I saw her watching tonight.
This is my promise to no one other than myself, yet it’s the one promise I know I will never break.
“It’s fine, gorgeous girl,” I say softly.
“I will walk you to the base of the stairs and say good night.” Making my way to the stairs, I can hear her soft feet pad behind me.
Looking down at her, I smile and lean to press a soft kiss to the top of her head.
“Good night, sunshine. Sleep well, and hopefully I’ll see you in the morning. ”
She nods her head, pulling the hood up over her hair, and heads up to her room. I watch her, my eyes never leaving her until she opens the door to the guest room and walks in.
Fuck, I am in trouble.
I set the alarm on the wall by the front door and leave the house.
It would be easier to go out the sliding glass door out back, but I wouldn’t be able to lock it and set the security system for Graham.
If he found out I didn’t set the alarm, I would be a dead brother, and I can’t win over Kyra if I’m murdered.
The walk to my little house is quick and quiet. Allowing the scanner to read my thumb print, I open the door and flip the light on. I need to change out of these smoky clothes and take a quick shower.
Heading for my en-suite bathroom, I drag my clothes off my body.
Too tired but too wired to really focus on what I am doing.
My body is buzzing like a live wire. Her touch still lingers on my flesh, and I can feel every single place her fingers and lips touched me.
My cock is happy to be able to harden without the constraints of my jeans.
Turning on the shower, I let it run for a few seconds to warm up.
Sticking my hand in the rain coming from the shower head to test the warmth.
It is the perfect balance of warmth to relax all my muscles, but not so hot that it melts the skin from my bones.
My mind wanders back to the ray of sunshine, whose smile could bring sun to the gloomiest February day.
My cock twitches at the slightest thought of her.
Allowing the hot water to pour over my shoulders, I reach down and take my length in a firm grip.
A long stroke from root to tip causes my body to shiver, and I close my eyes.
Instantly, the blonde goddess appears before me, her green eyes looking up at me from below her long lashes.
It’s nothing to imagine her pink lips wrapped around my cock. After kissing her, I could get lost in her mouth. Focusing on my tip sending my legs shaking, and I lean my other hand against the shower wall to help support my body weight.
Fuck.
Just the thought of her on her knees in front of me has my orgasm pushing at me already.
Normally, I wouldn’t mind a little edging, but tonight I don’t want to hold it off.
Increasing my speed, I stroke rough and fast. The only thing on my mind is getting off to this woman and climbing into bed.
Hoping she comes to visit me in my dreams.
“Fuck, Kyra.” The groan leaves my lips as my seed paints the shower wall.
I finish my shower, making sure to rinse the evidence down the drain before climbing out and drying my body off. Without thought, I get into the king-sized bed completely naked and fall asleep with her eyes on my mind.