by Debra Kayn
He pointed to the bed. "Sit for a minute and talk with me."
"I really don't have the time." She straightened the front of her shirt. "I need to go look for—oh, you don't know. There was a fire. The gas station and the trailer caught on fire and burned to the ground. That's why I'm here." She studied his lack of surprise. "And, I'm telling you something you already know, aren't I?"
He dipped his chin. "Curley called."
"Oh." She bit her lip. "That was nice of him."
She hadn't known Kent kept in contact with the Tarkio members after he'd left town. Another pang of disappointment hit her. He could've called her.
What had it been? Six months? Seven months? Not a word from him.
She squared her shoulders. There was nothing left to do but stop wishing Kent felt the same way about her as she did about him, find a job, and survive the latest devastation to hit her.
"Anyway..." She inhaled deeply. "I need to leave, but it was good to see you again."
He stayed in front of the door. She pointed, reminding him that she needed to go.
"Callie, we need to talk."
"Can it wait?" She needed two minutes away from Kent to catch her breath. "I'll probably be back this afternoon if you're going to stick around. I'll be here. At the clubhouse."
He approached her, taking her hand, and sat on the bed. She lowered herself to the mattress beside him. The urgency and seriousness on his face scared her.
"Do you have more bad news? Has something else happened?" She had nothing left to lose.
"We worked together every day, and I cared about you. I do care about you." He cupped her hand in both of his, swallowing her fingers. "I came to help you."
Her pulse accelerated. She replayed his words over in her head to make sure she heard him right. It was too important for her to get it wrong.
She wanted Kent to return because he had feelings for her, not because he promised her dad he'd look out for her.
"I'll take care of myself. Once I get a job—"
"It's your turn to listen to me." He shifted until she had nowhere to look but at him. "When I worked at the gas station, I planned to spend a few weeks in Missoula and figure out where I was going next. I had just come off a two-year job and needed some downtime. When your dad died, I stayed because I wanted to make sure you would be okay on your own. During that time, I found myself wanting to be with you, but I couldn't do that to you. With all the shit you were going through because of your ex, I didn't want you to think I believed the rumors. I also didn't want to take advantage of you when you were mourning your dad. When you hired that kid—"
"Reggie," she whispered.
"When you hired Reggie, I had an excuse to leave, and I took it because if I had stayed, I'd be sleeping with you and —"
"I don't do that." She opened her mouth again.
He put her finger over her lips. "Now isn't the best time to argue, honey. I'm telling you that I fell in love with you before I left. I had always planned to come back after you had some time to get back on your feet, clear your head, and figure out what you want. I know you might not be ready, but once I heard about the fire, nothing could keep me from coming back to you."
She blew her cheeks out. He lowered his hand.
"I thought I imagined how we were feeling toward each other because you left," she blurted.
He shook his head. "Because of everything that was going on, it wasn't the right time for me to start a relationship with you."
"It's not the right time now." She groaned, pulling her hand away from him. "There's more going on that you don't know about."
"Talk to me."
She stood. "There was no insurance on the gas station or house. I lost everything."
"Your dad didn't insure the place?" He frowned. "That doesn't sound like Ed."
"Oh, he had insurance. But I messed up after he died and the premium wasn't paid. The insurance had lapsed." She pressed her fingers to her temples. "The insurance company swears they sent the yearly premium to be renewed back in February. They claimed I had coverage until March thirtieth. I'm so meticulous with paperwork, payroll, bills. I've never once missed paying anyone. I swear, Kent. I never received a letter from them to renew the insurance, and of course, I can't prove it, because everything burned up. My dad had preached how important it was to have health insurance, home insurance, and car insurance. I would never go without it. Plus, I watched my dad go through his claim when the house burnt down years ago. Insurance was the only thing that helped him rebuild the business."
He rubbed her arms. "I'll help you figure this out."
"That's the thing...there's nothing I can do. The only option I have is to get a job, and then get an apartment. I can't stay here. Tarkio has already done too much for me." She blew out her breath. "I have to start all over."
"Well, you can't do that while living here." He walked over and opened the door. "Grab your truck keys. We're going to go get started on rebuilding your life."
"How do I do that?" She followed him out to the hallway. "Where will we be going?"
"The first thing we're going to do is rent a house, and you're going to move in with me."
She stumbled. He held her hand tighter, not letting her slow.
"I thought you had a van," she said.
"Sold it." His thumb caressed the back of her hand as he walked. "I knew I'd need something more permanent."
Had he lost his mind? Kent liked to travel. He was a drifter.
"You're really going to find a house to rent?" she asked, trying to make sense of everything.
"Just like when we bought the van, honey, you're going to help me. I figure when I arrive in a truck with a woman at my side, it'll be easier to rent a place." He gave her a wink.
"Kent." She hurried to keep up with him as he walked through the main room of the clubhouse. "This is crazy. You can't do that because of me."
"Nobody can tell me what I can or can't do." He stopped outside her truck. "Once I get you settled, if you want to go get a job after you figure everything out, you can do so without feeling any pressure."
"I can't let you—"
"You can." He opened the driver's door. "And you will."
She scoffed, looking at him twice. He was serious.
"Get in, honey."
She climbed up onto the seat, he shut her in and jogged around the front of the pickup. She stared at him, caught up in the whirlwind he'd created.
She knew it wasn't right that he was helping her again, but she couldn't stop feeling better having him around to support her.
Chapter 26
Kent
KENT PARKED IN THE driveway next to Callie's truck and looked toward the front window of the rental house. It would be their first night staying together.
He'd been able to secure them a rental house two blocks away from the Tarkio MC clubhouse. When he'd left earlier, Callie had planned to go shopping. He hadn't expected her to arrive home yet.
He undid the bindings to the sack on the back of his Harley, strode up to the door, and let himself in. "Callie?"
"In the bedroom," she shouted from the back of the single-story, two-bedroom house.
Walking through the bare living room, he went down the short hallway and peeked in the first room on his left. Callie searched through one of the numerous bags piled in the corner of the room.
"I didn't think you'd be back already." He stepped inside. "Did you find everything you needed?"
"I think so." She pulled out a pillow and pointed to two bags. "I just started making a pile of the things you needed. I wasn't sure if you had toothpaste but figured we could share a tube."
"I carry all that with me." He dropped the package he brought inside. "I picked up a sleeping bag for you at the sporting goods store, but I wish you'd let me go buy you a bed."
"No, this will do. Until I have a job and know how much money I'll be making, I don't want to dwindle my savings down to nothing. It helps a bunch that we're going to
be sharing rent."
"I'm not worried about that." He had no intention of letting her pay for a thing.
When he'd offered to help, he meant he'd take care of her in all ways. That was a man's job, and while he had no problem with her seeking employment, he never expected payment back.
"I'll get some furniture this week, so we have somewhere to sit." He looked through the bags she'd set off to the side for him. "Did you get some clothes for yourself?"
"A few things to wear every day and two outfits that are nicer in case my future job requires me to dress up. That should see me through until I start earning money." She sank back on her butt and looked up at him. "There was an ad in the newspaper this morning for a cafeteria worker at the high school. I might go over to the administration office this afternoon and fill out an application, but the job wouldn't start until September. I'd need to find something in the meantime."
"That's only five and a half months wait," he said.
"Only?" She scoffed. "I need something now."
He held out his hand. "Come here."
She slipped her fingers against his palm, and he hauled her to her feet. Cupping her face, he looked into her eyes.
"Take a deep breath." He waited. "Relax."
She inhaled and exhaled, indulging him and faking every second. The tension inside of her was strung tight enough to break. Amusement curled in his chest, and he used his thumb to ease the tautness around her mouth. She'd done everything possible to avoid the intimacy of them moving in together.
Whether that was her way of protecting herself or her desperate attempt to hold on to her independence, he couldn't tell. All he knew was that he wanted to enjoy her the way they should've been able to last year if her life hadn't been in turmoil.
"You have about five seconds to tell me I can't kiss you," he whispered.
She rubbed her lips together. "I can't—"
"Don't say that." His fingers trembled, waiting for that first chance at feeling her lips against his.
There was a closeness about a kiss that went deeper than having his cock inside of her. There were more sensations in his mouth, on his tongue. More taste, more sensitivity, than anything else he could get anywhere else on his body.
Sex was the goal, the end satisfaction, but having her mouth would be pure pleasure.
Her gaze warmed. "I was going to say, I can't think of any reason why you can't kiss me."
Her lips parted. Close enough to feel her warm breath against his skin, he tilted her head and forced himself not to hold her too tight. The possessive need to devour her almost too much for him to hold back.
"This is only the beginning." He inhaled swiftly. "I want everything you can give me, and when you think that's enough, I'll take more."
Her breath came out in soft pants, and she stared at his lips moving. His cock hardened, pulsating in anticipation.
He lowered his head and softly brushed her lips, pulling back. The desire to go slow rushed by the need to prove to her who she belonged to, who would take care of her, who would protect her.
"Please," she whispered, stretching to her toes.
He slid his hand to the back of her head, raising her higher, and captured her mouth. His chest expanded at the onslaught of arousal, and he closed his eyes to experience everything. The softness of her lips, the only comfort he'd had over the last year, stroked him higher.
Callie's hands fisted the front of his shirt. He wanted to rip off his clothes and let her get to his skin. He wanted her warmth pressed against him.
He nudged her lips apart and dipped his tongue. She met him halfway. The dueling of velvet on silk as they tasted each other for the first time curled his toes in his boots.
He slid his hand down her spine and settled in the small of her back. Holding her tightly against him, he kissed her deeper. Her low moan wrapped around his balls.
Needing more, he backed her against the wall, plastering his body against her. With her breasts pinned against his ribs, he planted his hands on the wall, trapping her in front of him.
She rubbed his sides, up and down. All the blood in his body rushed south.
Weak for her, he pulled back, breathing heavily. If he took it any further, he'd fuck her on the floor and scare the shit out of her. He'd been caged up too long, waiting for her. Only her.
"Jesus," he mumbled, kissing her again, then pulling back.
She scraped her teeth over her bottom lip. He'd left her mouth swollen, her cheeks pink from the roughness of his beard.
That was for him. Each mark, each breath, each lick.
He needed the validation that she belonged to him. Nobody was allowed to touch her. She was his.
"Do you know how beautiful you are?" He gazed into her eyes. "I'm not going to be able to keep my hands off you any longer."
"Can I tell you something without you taking it the wrong way?" She still breathed heavily, caught in the pleasure that consumed them.
"Always, honey."
"I've wanted to be with you since you made me hot chocolate one snowy night, but I was afraid if I told you or did anything about it, you'd think the rumors about me were true," she whispered. "They're not true, Kent. I swear on my life, the only man I've been with is my ex-husband, and he never once made me feel like I do when I'm with you. I want you to touch me all over and I want to—"
There was no holding back or stopping. He captured her mouth.
Chapter 27
Callie
KENT UNDID THE BUTTONS of Callie's shirt. She held onto his forearms, having wanted to touch them for the longest time. The muscles rippled underneath her fingers, the tattoos moved, and the veins in his arms bulged.
Thank God, she wore the bra and panties she had on the day of the fire, because they were her own, and they were pretty, even though they were white.
His hands stopped. She looked up into his face. His penetrating gaze warmed her.
"You shivered," he said.
"Nervous." She swallowed. "You're so big."
While his size was more significant than anyone she knew, and she wondered about the dynamics of having sex with him, she was more hesitant about showing her body. She'd seen how other women acted at the clubhouse—confident, free, loving.
She'd also seen the two women with Josh who used their bodies with a power she couldn't even imagine.
"We'll fit together." He finished undoing the rest of the buttons. "I'll go slow with you."
"I don't know if slow is better." Her smile shook. "I feel like if you touch me, I'm going to...explode."
His gaze dropped to her breasts, overflowing her bra as her shirt slipped off her shoulders. She lowered her arms to her sides and shimmied out of the top. He cupped her breasts with both hands and growled.
She sucked in her stomach. He had her quaking inside. She needed to touch him.
Hooking her fingers behind his belt buckle, she tugged, letting him know to take his clothes off.
"Do it for me, honey. I'm not moving my hands off you until I've memorized your tits." He undid the back of her bra, taking it off.
Her arms tied up in the straps, she contorted her body until she was free of the constricting material. Her fingers stumbled through figuring out how to unhook his belt. It was hard to concentrate when her skin tingled, and her breasts throbbed in his hands.
His hardness pressed against her wrist, impatient, too. She cupped him through his jeans, loving the way he arched his hips forward.
"I'm going to bust the buttons on my Levi's if you don't get my jeans undone." His low voice rolled through her.
Undoing his 501's wasn't easy. She struggled with each button until he brushed her away and singlehandedly ripped the front of his jeans open.
He cupped her head, stroking her hair. "Take my cock out."
She slid her fingers underneath the waistband of his boxers. His hardness pointed down and toward his pocket. Afraid of hurting him if she tried to take him out over the top of his underwear, she tugged hi
s jeans down to his hips.
The front of his shorts tented with the added room. She shifted, putting her weight on her other foot, the urge to rub her thighs together, to aid the pleasure between her legs, heightened.
"Don't be shy." He held one hand on the back of her head and the other kneaded her breast. Reaching into his underwear, she slid her fingers around his hardness. The warm, velvety skin heated her hand. She couldn't even wrap her fingers all the way around him, his cock was larger than she'd expected.
Exploring his length, she stroked him slowly, lightly. Her nipples peaked. She wanted to make love with him. Feel his hardness all up and down her body.
Kent's hand tightened in her hair. She lifted her gaze and found him watching her face, his attention to her breasts forgotten.
His arousal, heavy and alive in the room, sent her to her knees in front of him. He lowered his boxers. At the sight of him, she almost chickened out.
His cock stood out from his body, thick, intimidating, and yet beautifully enticing. She used both hands to stroke him, eliciting a moan from Kent.
That low sound brought wetness to her pussy. His quiet strength added to his manliness. But the moan—God, the moan— showed her a glimpse of his soul.
He couldn't control his desire, and at the moment, neither could she.
Leaning forward, she took the head of his cock in her mouth and sucked. Bringing her lips off him, only to go back and take more of him, she arched in front of him. Pleasure swirled deep inside her lower abdomen, and she grabbed his thick thighs, holding him still while she slid back and forth.
It was her time to moan. He was the most beautiful man. The size of him alone turned her on.
"That's enough." He scooped her under the arms and lifted her to her feet.
She whined at the loss of him, wanting to kneel in front of him again until she watched him come. God, she wanted to watch him.
He captured her mouth, her wish forgotten when the hair on his thigh brushed against her inner legs. She pressed and rubbed against him. He cradled her body and took her down.