Chapter 12
twelve
CALLAN
Bree stayed the night, and I’m still trying to wrap my head around it.
Her smooth, bare legs are peeking out from under the sheets.
She’s wearing my shirt and nothing else.
It’s damn near killing me how she looks so soft and completely at ease, curled up in the quiet morning light.
I should be embarrassed, watching her like a creep. But I can’t help myself.
I kept my distance last night, though. I didn’t want to freak her out or mess up whatever this is between us.
So, I stayed on the edge of the bed, practically hanging off it like a damn acrobat while I let her have her space and find comfort in her own time.
Now it’s late morning, and she’s still out cold.
Bree. The woman who’s usually buzzing around, talking a mile a minute, always on the go, acting like she’s got somewhere more important to be, snoozing like she hasn’t got a single worry in the world. It’s almost as if the universe hit the pause button on her for once.
Last night definitely didn’t go like I thought it would, but that’s not a bad thing. It was vulnerable. Real. And if there’s one thing I know, it’s that having her trust me is worth more than any impulsive moment of lust.
Not that I don’t want that, too. Hell, I want it more than my next breath.
But watching her and really seeing her struggle?
It actually fucking wrecked me. Bree, who’s always so strong, so ready to face everything with a smile or a joke, struggling in a way I can’t even begin to understand…
All I wanted was to make it better for her.
I would’ve done anything to take away her hurt, even if it was just for a second.
I would’ve taken on the world if it meant she didn’t have to carry that weight anymore.
My whole life, I’ve been the one who steps outside the lines.
Always looking for something to break the monotony, always pushing myself a little further than I probably should.
It’s like I can’t sit still, so I fill the space with distractions.
Sometimes, I wonder if I’ve been doing it just to avoid feeling too much.
I always seem to find myself testing my own limits.
Knox was always the protector growing up.
The steadfast one who always had his shit together.
Lucy was sweetness personified. And then there was me.
The wildcard. I was barely three when Dad passed, so I don’t remember much about him.
What I do remember is Mum and Knox, and the way they struggled to keep it all together.
So, I did my own thing. Always have. It’s easier than dealing with the unspoken stuff.
But with Bree? It’s different.
The few times I’ve been with her, I haven’t craved the chaos. And that’s what really messes with my head. How many other women have I sat with in hotel rooms, watching rom-coms? Zero. None. With her, I did it without even thinking about it.
Just…being near her is enough. Her presence alone gives me a rush but not the usual adrenaline-fueled kind. I care about her. I want to be her safe place. I find myself simply wanting more of her. I don’t usually do this…emotional stuff. And that’s what scares the hell out of me.
The sheets rustle, and I glance over in time to see her eyes fluttering open.
Most people would call them blue, but they’re not.
Not really. They’re the shade of blue you see in the sky right before dusk, shifting with every little emotion and every change in her mood.
It’s like her eyes have lived a thousand lives and held a million secrets.
Damn, that’s some sappy shit right there. What is she doing to me?
“Good morning,” she murmurs, her voice still wrapped in sleep, but somehow, the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard. The whole room gets brighter, like the sun’s just decided to show up.
“Morning, Sunshine,” I say, a little too much affection slipping into my voice. “Sleep well?”
She stretches beside me, and my shirt rides up her thighs in a way that’s almost criminal. For a split second, my gaze dips. I mean… I’m only human. I drag my focus back to her face. Pay attention.
I did sleep, eventually. After hours of lying there, her soft breaths in the quiet darkness replaying in my mind. Every second of last night is etched into me, like it matters more than anything else ever has.
“Mm, very. Your bed is dangerously comfortable.”
I chuckle. “Aye, it’s a struggle to leave it most mornings.
” And right now, that’s the truth. There’s something about her lying here at ease in my bed that makes everything else seem less important.
The world outside could burn down, and I wouldn’t care as long as I could stay right here, next to her.
Her blonde hair is a mess across the pillow, strands spilling in every direction, and damn if it doesn’t wreck me in the best way. She belongs here. This is exactly where she’s meant to be. The thought sneaks up on me, wedges itself somewhere deep, and I have no clue what the hell to do with it.
I should shake it off and make some cocky remark, but instead, I just stare at her like she’s the first bit of peace I’ve seen in a long time.
“Are you hungry?” I finally ask.
“Starving…” She rolls over onto her side to face me. “For food that is.”
I can’t help myself—I lean in to steal a quick kiss. Just a brush of my mouth against hers, but it’s enough to make my pulse stutter and my self-control falter.
I reluctantly pull back and haul myself out of bed, forcing my legs to work as every part of me screams to climb back in.
I’ve spent the last few hours staring at the ceiling, wide awake, thinking about all the things I want to do to her because the truth is, I’m aching for her.
Physically, painfully aching. Have been since the moment she fell asleep, tangled up against me like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“I’m going to grab a quick shower before making breakfast,” I say, turning away from her and adjusting my boxers as casually as possible. My body’s betraying me in the most obvious way, and the thin fabric isn’t hiding a damn thing.
“Take your time,” she calls after me, her voice still husky with sleep.
I slip into the bathroom and close the door, leaning against it as I exhale slowly. My cock is painfully hard, throbbing against the cotton of my boxers. The pressure’s been building all night, through every innocent touch, every quiet breath beside me.
I turn the shower on, cranking the temperature to cold, hoping it might help. All I can think about is Bree in my bed, wearing my shirt, her scent all over my sheets.
“Fuck,” I mutter, stepping under the spray.
The water cascades down my chest, over my stomach, and still, I’m rock hard. I close my eyes, trying to think of anything else, but my mind keeps circling back to her.
I wrap my hand around my length but immediately stop. No. I can’t do this. Not with her just on the other side of that door. It feels…wrong, despite how badly I need the release.
I pull my hand away, gripping the shower wall instead, letting the icy water pound against my back. My body’s still throbbing, demanding attention, but my mind’s made up. I’ll suffer through it.
“Gentleman,” I mutter sarcastically to myself. This is Bree. She deserves better than me getting off while she’s innocently waiting for breakfast in the next room.
I stand there until my breathing steadies and my body calms down enough that I can function. The cold water helps but not enough. This is going to be a long morning.
When I finally step out, I wrap a towel around my waist and stare at my reflection in the steamy mirror. “Get it together, MacKenzie.”
I brush my teeth, splash more cold water on my face, and finally work up the courage to open the door.
I find her sitting on my bed, sheets pooled around her waist, scrolling through her phone. My T-shirt hangs loose on her frame, slipping off one shoulder to reveal smooth skin I’m desperate to taste. When she looks up at me, her smile nearly stops my heart.
I turn to grab a change of clothes from the dresser, towel still barely hanging onto my hips. “I’m just gonna get changed real quick.”
“Want me to look away?”
I glance over my shoulder with a smirk. “Not necessary. I’m fairly confident in my assets.”
She lets out a laugh, shaking her head. “Cocky.”
“Only when I’ve earned it.”
I grab a pair of boxers, jeans, and a plain tee, catching the way her eyes settle on me before she quickly looks back at her phone, totally pretending not to sneak a peek.
I shake my head with a chuckle and head back into the bathroom, changing quickly and trying not to think too hard about the girl in my bed wearing my shirt and absolutely nothing else underneath it.
Gentleman, remember? Gentleman.
I rake a hand through my hair and step back into the room, fully dressed and trying like hell to look composed.
“Feel free to use the shower and help yourself to whatever you need in the bathroom.” I gesture toward the en suite, my tone casual, though my mind is already running wild with all the things I could do with her in there.
“I’ll get the food started. Come down whenever you’re ready. ”
“Yes, sir.”
Fuck.
Two little words, and they nearly level me. Her voice is all sugar laced with mischief, and it lands like a sucker punch to every muscle in my body—especially the one currently doing all the thinking. My brain flatlines. Blood rushes south so fast I see stars.
I cock a brow, trying to play it cool, like I’m not seconds away from begging her to say it again. “You calling me sir now?”
She shrugs, all false wide-eyed innocence. That shirt of mine hangs dangerously off one shoulder, revealing smooth skin I could spend the rest of my life kissing. “I’m just following orders. You’re the one in charge, right?”
Christ.