by Pamela Ann
Chapter 112
Callum
The soft sway of her hips compelled me to look her and I halted everything with a flick of my fingers. Lars, my Irish trainer, paused as he checked where my gaze had landed.
Lars simply grunted, knowing full well how seductive Stella looked as she came towards me; hips swaying and face clear of makeup with a short, silk dress on. She looked every bit the luscious woman and I realized just then that I wanted to sample her sweet tasting lips again.
“Hi,” Stella shyly greeted me, blushing, eyes all on me with one thought in mind; lust. She might’ve greeted me shyly, but there was nothing shy about how she looked at me now. She hungered for me. Blatantly.
“Hello, my sweet.” I grinned, coming out of the ropes and hopping to the ground, standing before her. “Missed me?”
I saw her contemplate the question. I knew she missed me. It was written all over her. All I wanted was confirmation, for her to say the words out loud.
“A lot,” she whispered, unwavering. “I missed you quite a bit.”
My self-restraint dissolved immediately. Like a hormonal teenage boy, I pulled her against me and kissed her as if she was the air I breathed.
From the background, my ears perked up when I heard the glass door close with a soft thud. Lars took his cue and left me with my enchantress. “I’m taking you out on a date.”
“Really?” she panted, taking my lips again as her arms encircled my neck before she spontaneously hopped and jumped onto my hips, locking her legs around me while her hands cupped my face, kissing me with pure, unadulterated hunger.
My hands cupped her bottom, squeezing it as I did so, matching her passion with abandonment. “Christ, you’re so gorgeous.”
Stella started to rub up against me. The heat from her pussy felt wonderful against my stomach. “Fuck me in the ring, Cal,” she pleaded, voice packed with desire.
Hell. It was the first thought that had popped into my brain the second she wafted through the doors, looking the way she did. She looked like the first bloom of spring; fresh and un-plucked. It was pure, simplistic beauty. “I would love to, darling, but I promised to myself that I would take you out on a date this time before I try to snake my way into your hot,” I suckled on her bottom lip, “slippery and enticing pussy.”
Stella pouted. “Please?”
Jesus, the woman was set out to strangle my cock. A promise was a promise and I was going to take her out, even if I was to run about London blue-balled and in dire pain. “Not a chance, milady.”
She raised her brow at me, curious. “Where are you taking me?”
That was a surprise. One I hoped she’d like. “Goodness, woman. Let a man take you out on a date without the whole interrogation,” I teased as I nibbled on her earlobe. God, I wanted to sink into her wet cunt… even just for a few seconds, however I knew seconds wouldn’t be enough to quench my hunger.
After last night—the stint with Zara, Derek and Hugh—I knew I had to start paving our foundation. I didn’t want a shaky relationship with Stella. I wanted her to know that during our time together—the entire duration—I was hers.
Besides, I needed another excuse to see her smile. There was something about her smile that made me feel as if I was doing something right in my life. For some reason, a big part of me hoped that, someday, I wouldn’t be the man who would diminish that glorious smile of hers.
After what happened with Zara yesterday, I had so much to make up for. Apart from that little snide remark she mentioned last night, she hasn’t said anything else and based on my experience with past lovers, this was a bad sign.
Women would pout, act extremely bitchy, not to mention clingy atop all the who’s prettier questions and the who’s better in bed drill of insanity. These were the most common epidemics of women needing reassurance that they were fine and secure on the relationship front.
Stella never did all that, so it was normal for a man to worry. I wasn’t sure if her reaction was based on the fact that she was above all of these petty, churlish acts and platitudes… or it could simply be because she simply didn’t care about me…
Both were fine, really, but I wasn’t going to deny that I was hoping that the first one was the most valid.
I cared for Stella. Atop the fact that she was Richard’s baby sister, I also started to care about the person that she was, the woman beneath the surface.
Stella was remarkable. She lost her brother and her parents and yet, she wasn’t one to dwell and make everyone’s lives a living hell because she was going through a tough time. She was wealthy in her own right, yet she didn’t flaunt that like other women easily did. Most of all, she had a heart. When she talked about her best friends, her work and other people she cared about, her face would light up, animated. These were all admirable things and I wanted to be a part of that circle later on. I wanted her to care for me the way she did with her friends.
I knew I wanted it, but the reasoning behind the very fact was still baffling to me. Pondering much about the subject didn’t get me anywhere. I wasn’t in love with her, but I wished for her to start caring for me.
It really was odd.
When Stella emerged an hour later, dressed to torture me all night long, my thoughts ceased to exist.
The tightening of my chest surfaced as I stared at her. Gray eyes infiltrated my thoughts. “Stella,” I uttered her name and the feeling in my chest intensified. The urge to kiss her senseless and take her to bed was so inviting that I had decided not to touch a bit of her in fear that I might not be able to control my libido. I was becoming a glutton when it came to her body. Each time I took her, the addiction sharpened. Magnified. How could a man stay away from a barely touched, nubile body? Let alone a very responsive, sexy, gorgeous woman that made moans that hardened me in a flash? Never in my life had I been this libidinous—body so unquenched that I was half-aroused most of the time—thinking only of Stella.
This was well and all, but I wasn’t bothered by it since it was all physical. The needs of the flesh could always be doused one way or the other, but the emotional and mental ones were the hardest to forget.
Tonight, I wasn’t going to allow the ghost of Zara to interrupt us. Stella deserved my one hundred percent attention.
Half an hour later, we finally reached our destination.
Let’s see how I fair in this test, I challenged myself.
Chapter 113
Stella
A loud gasp came from me when Callum parked and I saw where he was taking me. “Wow. You go all out, don’t you?” I was beyond impressed.
The man simply gave me a smirk before he let himself out, rounded to open my door and offered his hand to help me out of the vehicle. “It’s our first date. A man’s got to take extra care to make the first impression last a lifetime.”
He was guiding me towards the entrance of the London Aquarium. It truly was nice. “Well, you’ve definitely accomplished just that.” I leaned over and kissed his lips. It had been over twenty-four hours now from our first make-out session, and still, I couldn’t get over the fact that I loved kissing him whenever I felt the need to be close to him.
Two personal staff greeted us at the door. We were then escorted towards a dark room with several lit candles on a dining table with the large wall-to-wall aquarium next to us. The soft azure glow it gave to the room made it cozy, intimate and beyond a doubt enchanting. The heady smell of candles and their incandescent glow just added more to the effects of intoxicating seduction and romance.
Now seated, Callum took charge of serving the chilled Magnum. “I don’t think I’ve romanced anyone like this.” He grinned as he handed me a flute with the bubblies in it.
“I should feel special then,” I murmured before taking a lengthy sip of my drink.
“You should,” Callum mused, looking like a ravishing beast out on a hunt.
What did I say to that? Thank you? Breaking our eye contact, I decided not to respond to him. Callum was a di
fficult man to read and I’d rather not get into the habit of trying to break into his thoughts because I’d inevitably lose.
Nursing my drink, I focused on the soft sounds of Chris Botti echoing in the background while I watched the fish dance about their way in the large tank.
Callum remained silent and, before long, our servers carried out the first course.
We were on our second course when I noticed something different about Callum. In fact, he had totally abandoned his meal, much to my confusion.
What I found most disconcerting was the fact that he was leaning against his chair, staring at me with a whimsical look on his face.
“What?” I asked before I took a bite of the scrumptious meal. When he didn’t respond, I carefully placed my utensils on the sides of the plate as I cautiously inserted the stem of my flute in between my fingers and slightly shook it in tiny circles.
“I’m watching the candlelight’s reflection as it dances on your face,” Callum finally found his tongue.
Great. Was he making fun of me? “Lovely,” I muttered as dryly as possible.
“It is. It highlights your face superbly…” Our gazes locked and I felt the air leave my body when he finished his sentence. “I’m mesmerized by its beauty.”
Gah… how the heck was I supposed to swallow this lamb chop in my mouth without choking? He was making me beyond aware.
I was so aware that I could feel the heat of his gaze stroking my face. It was diffusing my brain. It was uncontrollably liquefying my vagina. I was thrilled and petrified when he looked at me with that predatory gleam in his eyes.
“More champagne?” he broke my running thoughts.
I could only nod.
Callum’s eyes danced as he took note of my reaction to him. The smug bastard even smirked when he refilled my flute.
Damn him. He knew the effect he had on me and he was using that to drive me insane. Couldn’t he have waited until after the meal? It was hard enough to concentrate on anything, let alone focus on getting through course after course with a sex-god of a man across the table, undressing you before his very eyes.
“Hungry for some more… or dessert, darling?” Callum went on, hidden meaning and all.
He sure was having a ball. Well, I suppose I could enjoy this meal the way he did as well.
“I’m always hungry for anything sweet and creamy, Callum,” I responded provocatively.
His eyes darkened as they dropped towards my breasts, probably noticing the outline of my constrained peaks. I was a jittery mess while Callum looked completely menacing.
When servers came to gather our dishes, not once did he lift his eyes off me.
When one of the waiters came back to ask what we wanted for dessert, Callum interrupted him mid-sentence.
“Anything sweet and creamy should do. Right, darling?” Callum’s gaze was unwavering.
The waiter opened his mouth then closed it again while I blushed from the root of my hair to my toes. “Right away, sir.” Thank goodness the waiter was able to compose himself.
I was beyond mortified.
Those formidable darkened orbs didn’t leave me when he decided to stand up and circled the table to stand before me, offering his hand. “I believe you still owe me a dance.”
That made me grin. Rejecting him for Hugh was still unforgotten. “Lead me away,” I said as I accepted his hand.
He led us close to the fish tank, holding me in a tight embrace. My body swayed with his, but I couldn’t hear the music because my heartbeat was becoming so erratic, it reverberated loudly in my ears.
“Do you know how you affect me with your teasing?” He placed his leg in between mine, pressing it against my heat so I could feel his erection. “I can’t get enough of you, Stella,” Callum declared before capturing my lips, kissing me senseless.
Mother hell, he was becoming too much. Small doses were good. Large doses were somewhat manageable, but this, this was frightening. I loved the man but if he kept going like this, I might end up thinking that he was reciprocating my feelings. I couldn’t have that. Caring for me was what I wanted and aimed for, but his heart belonged to Zara, simple as that.
s
“Where are you going?” Callum tugged me back against his chest when I tried to break out of his embrace. It was barely seven in the morning and I needed to get ready for work.
“Work.” I yawned, melting against his body. He was so warm and I felt so little when he wrapped his large frame around my body.
“But it’s Sunday.” He kissed the back of my neck, one hand cupping my breast, the other making slow circles around my stomach. “Take the day off and spend it with me.”
It was tempting, but… but what? My mind countered. Let go and enjoy this time with Callum. You might never have the chance again. The damning thoughts continued to flow out of nowhere.
“Um, let me think about it.” I contemplated some more.
Callum was making out with my ears and it was distracting, not to mention that he lazily kept poking about, seeking for entrance—with one or the other—wasn’t helping me at all.
“Come on… besides, we have to meet friends for lunch.”
I shifted my position so I could face him. “I didn’t know we had a lunch date.”
“I forgot to mention it, but we are. We’re meeting Dimitris and his Lindsey for lunch.” He caressed the bottom of my lip as he said these words. “I’m still waiting on my good morning kiss, Stella.”
“So is Dimitris Kosta really that good looking in real life?” I wondered out loud. I’d read stories about him. I’m not going to lie, but I’m a tad more excited about meeting him in person than going to eat lunch.
“You’re a fan of his?” He studied me intently.
“I saw his last movie with Luciana.”
“And? You got hot and bothered?”
Shit. “Maybe, yeah.” I licked my lips. “Okay, I was turned on. The man signifies the word sex. Pair that with a man like Bass Cole and it was a feast for us women. It’s like Magic Mike without all the dancing.”
“You watch films like Magic Mike?” Callum’s reaction was laughable. “Goodness, woman, what have I gotten myself into?”
I snorted as I tried to get away from him, but he was too fast and captured me again, rolling me onto my back as he hovered above me. “I don’t think I like you fantasizing about other men. I want to be the only man to dominate your mind.” His face never left mine as he entered me with one rough thrust, making me gasp loudly at his harsh invasion. “Your body.”
A pleasured cry came from my lips as he crucially plowed me senseless. “Do you like it when I fuck you like this, my love?” He was intense. Too intense as he questioned me without giving me any room nor air to reply to him. He was so massive that each stroke made me come and convulse. He knew how to stroke my body well, owning my body as he’d promised.
“Look at me, Stella.” His voice was gentle, a total contrast to the way he was handling my body.
One thing I had learned about him, when he was serious, he’d never leave your face. He’d memorize each movement the person took so he could analyze it, break it down as he intimidated the person, slowly cutting down their barriers without the effort of speech.
“Callum.” I leveled with his gaze.
“Who are you thinking about now?” he pestered on, watching me moan and gasp from his thrusting.
Who else? The man I loved. “You.”
Something passed his eyes. “Only me?”
“Only you.”
My world shattered around me when he kissed me whilst fucking me into paradise. Somehow, amidst all the fucking, I realized too late that we had shifted from fucking and were already making love. What took me aback was how Callum treated me. He kissed me like a man in love. So I let my imagination run riot with my heart. Even for a day, I could live in an imaginary world without it hurting me.
s
Unfortunately the lunch date had to be cancelled.
What came out of Callum’s mouth next shook my world. I knew, right then and there, that nothing was going to be the same again.
“My father is dead,” he said without any emotions. “I think I killed the blasted fucker.” Callum was so detached that I was starting to wonder if he was making it up.
“Oh, Cal, I’m sorry. Aren’t you going to see him or something?” I went towards him and gave him a comforting hug. I knew most people would touch the body, say their goodbyes before it was taken away.
He somehow looked lost for a moment before he finally nodded as if understanding what he had to do. “I have to go. Zara called and she was hysterical.”
His Zara? I nervously pressed my lips together. Our time was done. With his father dead and Zara’s intent on getting Callum back, I had no chance with him. “Do you need me to go with you?” I offered, knowing that this was difficult for him.
“No. I think it’s best I do it alone.” The immediate withdrawal from Callum was felt. He couldn’t even look me in the eye.
So I stood back and watched as he got ready to leave. When he was done, he stood there, contemplating if he was to kiss me or not. “I have to get going.” Callum finally moved and managed to kiss my forehead.
“Be safe.”
He nodded before walking out of the bedroom, looking somber and in good need of a hug. He looked so lost and I wanted to badly be there with him, but he didn’t want me there.
For the rest of the afternoon and evening, I kept my phone next to me while working through my projects just in case he decided to call or text. When dinnertime came and I hadn’t heard from him, I tried to convince myself that he was all right. Besides, Zara was there, so technically, I wasn’t all that needed.
I fixed myself a sandwich to eat before taking a long bath. It was almost ten o’clock when I slid into bed. I was in and out of consciousness most of the time because I wanted to be awake when Callum came back.