by Anna B. Doe
CALLIE
I must have dozed off again at some point because the next time I wake up the house is completely silent. Rolling to my stomach, I bury my head into the pillow, which as it turns out is Hayden’s. The pillow itself is cold, but I can still smell him on the sheet. That familiar scent of grass and open air that is all Hayden surrounds me completely, making me wish he was here so I could nuzzle into his neck and feel the real deal, but this’ll have to do.
Taking a few minutes to linger, I recap the events of last night. My body aches in all the right places and my lips still feel tender from his kisses. Absentmindedly, I trace the outline of my mouth. They’re tipped up in a smile and for the first time in what feels like forever I feel… content. Happy even. Not even the ever-present guilt can take it away.
Deciding to enjoy it while I can, I turn to my back and stretch my hands over my head. The sheet slips down my still very naked body but since I’m alone, I don’t bother covering up. Instead, I sit up, letting it fall down completely as I go in search of something to wear.
I feel better rested than I had in a long time, but my body is still craving some caffeine.
For a moment I stand there in the middle of Hayden’s room, thinking on what to do next. Should I put on my clothes and leave?
Stay, the determined, almost stubborn, way Hayden looked at me when he said that word rings in my mind. A shiver runs through my body. He’s not here, yet he can rattle me to my core.
Looking around his room, I take everything in. The king-sized bed is messy, the sheet covering the mattress pulled out on one side. All our clothes are scattered on the floor and then some. Laptop and books take up most of the desk, his backpack peeking from underneath it. One big duffle bag is pushed in the corner, and I’m sure I saw at least three pairs of sneakers lying around.
Shaking my head in silent laughter, I bend down to pick our clothes and lay them on the bed. Instead of putting on my own clothes, I slip his dress shirt from last night on. It’s so big it covers me completely, falling all the way down to my knees.
Only when I’m sure I’m completely covered do I peek outside the room. The house is deadly quiet, but that doesn’t mean anything. I heard something about a workout, but I’m not sure who all left and who might be still sleeping. Didn’t Hayden say his quiet friend doesn’t leave the house much?
Deeming the coast clear, I tiptoe outside. The floor is cold underneath my feet as I go to the kitchen. I feel like a thief sneaking around like that. Seriously, how do people do this regularly I’ll never know.
Like the rest of the house, the kitchen is also empty so I enter inside and look around to start the coffee. It takes me a bit but I finally find everything. Going on a whim, I pour more water and turn on the coffee machine.
As I wait for my coffee to brew, I notice the clock on the microwave.
10:13 am.
Huh, I don’t remember when the last time was I slept so late.
Feeling awkward, I turn around the room to find something to do. There are dishes covered in something green I don’t even want to think about in the sink, so while I wait, I rinse them out and put them in the dishwasher.
How can they live in a mess like that?
I’m just about done when the coffee machine beeps. The smell of hot coffee perks me up a little. Just as I grab a mug from the counter above the sink, the front door opens, and loud voices come inside. I shift my weight from one leg to the other, nerves getting the better of me. The need to hide is so strong, I almost run for cover, but before I can, Zane enters the kitchen.
Of course it had to be him.
We both stop, frozen in time. The mug that’s clasped in my palms the only barrier between us as we stare at each other in silence. His face is hard as he takes me in and although I’m covered the way he looks at me makes me feel exposed.
“Feeling homey already?”
His snarl makes me twitch, but before I can react he’s pushed aside as the rest of the guys enter.
“Callie.” Nix grins at me. “Fancy seeing you here.”
I can feel my skin flush as they all look at me, and I’m seriously questioning what was on my mind when I came down, dressed like this no less. I should have stayed in the room, or left.
“Morning.” I try to sound casual, but it comes out more like a squeak.
The only one who doesn’t seem the least bit interested is the guy with glasses too big that cover his face. Maddox, was it?
“Is this coffee?” Without waiting for an answer, he strides to the machine and pours himself a huge cup. At least I made somebody happy.
“Hades, Callie is here!” Nix shouts so loudly I’m sure the neighbors can hear him. “He went straight upstairs,” he explains. Just then there is loud stomping down the stairs, and soon after Hayden appears in the doorway.
“Hey, I thought you’re…” Hayden stops suddenly when he sees me. His eyes rake over my body, taking me in. The look in those green irises so intense it’s making my skin burn with lust.
His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows, tongue peeking out to wet his lips. I shift my weight, my legs brushing one against the other, but doing nothing to alleviate the need between my thighs that’s growing by the second.
“Are you for real?” Nix moans, but neither I nor Hayden break our staring game. “Find a room!”
My teeth graze against my lower lip, sucking it in my mouth. That does it.
“Gladly.” Hayden’s lips tip upward and in a few long strides he’s in front of me. Taking my hand in his, he pulls me toward the door. “I think a shower’s in order.”
Chapter Forty
CALLIE
“What are you up to for Thanksgiving, Cals?” Nix asks, throwing a cookie in his mouth and chewing loudly.
“Oh.” I push a strand of my hair behind my ear, then think better of it. Looking down at my notebook, I play with the worn pages so I can avoid his stare. “I’ll just be around, I guess.”
The statistics problem I’ve been trying to solve is staring back at me, mocking me. God, what was I thinking when I registered for this class? It’s a nightmare. I need to figure this college shit out before I fail miserably.
I’m so concentrated on the task at hand I almost miss the silence that fell over the room. Almost, but not quite. It’s never that quiet in the room full of guys.
Lifting my gaze, I find them all staring at me. “What?” I ask, nibbling at the end of my pen.
“You’ll stay here?” Nix asks like it’s the most incredulous thing he’s ever heard.
“Yeah, sure.” I turn to Maddox, who’s just descending the stairs. “Hey, Maddox, do you mind giving this a look? I’m not sure if I have it right or not.”
The last couple of weeks have been interesting to say the least. Hayden and I hang out every chance we get which isn’t much since his schedule is crazy intense on most days, still he makes a point to invite me over.
It was weird at first, me being the only girl with the guys, but we got used to it. Even Zane isn’t giving me as hard of a time as he did before.
Maddox joins us in the living room and peaks at my notebook. I still don’t know him that well since he mostly keeps to himself, but he’s one of the smartest and sweetest guys I know, although a bit shy and sometimes awkward. Before he can say anything, Nix interrupts again. “Wait a minute, you’re staying in town? Like right here, on campus?”
I should have known better than to think he’ll let it be, the guy can be relentless when he sets his mind on it. I blink at him for a moment, then look at all their confused faces. “Yeah, here. As in here, Blairwood. For holidays.” I squirm in my seat, feeling uncomfortable with their attention, but refusing to comment any further on the matter. As far as I know, Hayden and Zane are the only ones who know about what happened to my family, and I want it to stay like that. “Can we drop the subject? I really need to figure out this statistics class if I don’t want to fail my midterm.”
I turn toward Hayden, silently pleading with him to m
ake his friends let this subject go. He doesn’t say anything, but he doesn’t have to. The corners of his eyes soften and he gives me a single nod.
Inhaling deeply, I look at Maddox sitting next to me on the floor and force a smile out. “So? Is any of it salvageable?”
HAYDEN
As soon as we’re back in my room, the door closed, I pull Callie into my arms, my lips crashing over hers. She moans in approval, her arms locking around my neck as she returns my kiss, her tongue sneaking past my lips to play.
“God, woman,” I murmur against her mouth, my fingers running through her silky hair.
Callie giggles against my lips, the soft sound going straight to my cock and making me even harder than I already was.
“See what you do to me?” Our bodies clash, hips brushing as I pull her closer. There is no way she can miss the bulge in my pants, and the wicked glint in her eyes confirms it.
“Oh, I know exactly what I do to you, alright?”
Callie takes a step back, pulling off her shirt and tossing it aside. My mouth waters when I see a lacy bra, this one pink, covering her tits. God, she’s beautiful and no matter how many times I have her, I can’t get enough of her.
My eyes follow her as she takes a few more steps back, her legs hit the edge of the bed and she falls down, bouncing off the mattress.
“Mhmm… anything special in mind on how to help my little problem?”
Callie leans on her elbows, those violet eyes give me a long, hot look. Her tongue peeks out, sliding over her puffy, kiss-swollen lips.
“I don’t see what little problem you might need help with,” she says, her eyes settling pointedly at my crotch. “But there is one big problem I see that might need my attention.”
Hell yes.
“There, you’re right.”
Pulling my shirt over my head, I stalk after her. Pressing my knee into the mattress, I loom over her. She reaches out almost instantly, her chilly fingers glazing over my heated shin. The contrast makes me hiss softly.
“Not like you need a boost to your ego or anything.”
“A guy always needs a boost to his ego, angel,” I counter, cupping one of her tits, my finger brushing over the perky tip. That one little move makes her moan softly. She arches her back toward me, silently asking for more.
It’s hard to keep my attention on the conversation when she’s looking at me like that. Like I’m her favorite snack and she can’t wait to get the first bite. And I’m all too happy to oblige.
When her hands are on my body and she’s grazing her lips, wishing it was my lip she was sucking into her mouth.
“Well, hope this does it, then.”
Sliding her hand on the nape of my neck, she pulls me down, her mouth sealing over mine in another kiss.
I’m not sure how long we’re at it, our mouth fused together in fervent kisses. Kissing Callie is like a form of art and I can’t get enough of it. Enough of her. At some point I stop resisting her and sprawl my body over hers, enjoying the feel of her soft, slender frame beneath me. She’s so small, sometimes I worry I’ll crush her, but Callie doesn’t have those reservations.
Still, no matter how much I enjoy making out with her, something’s still nagging at my subconsciousness.
No, not something.
I know exactly what’s been bothering me for most of the afternoon while we were all down studying in the living room.
“You should come with me,” I murmur between the kisses, hoping that if I continue kissing her, she’ll give in to what I’m about to ask her. It’s worth a try, right?
Callie arches her back off the bed, pushing her boobs more firmly into my touch. And since I’m a guy, I can’t resist it. Kissing the path down the side of her neck and over her collarbone, I finally get to my prize. My mouth wraps around her lace-covered nipple and sucks it in my mouth. Callie moans, her fingers digging into my hair and pulling me closer.
“I’m all about coming.” She nods in agreement. Her eyelids flutter open, those deep, dark eyes staring right at me. Her cheeks are flushed, hair messy and it takes everything in me not to do just what she’s asking of me.
“Not that, you nympho.” I laugh, giving her nipple another playful lick before letting go. “Not yet anyway.”
I’m planning to make her come all night long, after she agrees to what I have in mind.
“Then what?” she pouts, clearly unhappy with the turn of events.
I lean down and kiss her again, short and hard, because I know if I linger for more than a second, I’ll never say what’s on my mind.
“Thanksgiving,” I whisper against her lips.
The smile disappears from her face almost instantly, all playfulness gone. “What about it?”
I know she didn’t like bringing it up earlier, but I can’t let it go. The idea of her staying here for the holidays all alone just doesn’t seem right to me.
Giving one final caress to her boob, I pull back, giving her some space she obviously needs, but at the same time refusing to let her go completely.
Rolling to the side, I take her hand in mine. Her skin is pale, fingers slender with neatly cut nails painted in pink.
“You should come,” I repeat, looking at our joined hands. “With me for Thanksgiving.”
Only then do I look back at her face. Those violet eyes all but fall out of her eye sockets. She looks completely stunned by the idea. Like it didn’t even cross her mind I would ask her. It probably hasn’t. Why would it?
“Hayden,” my name is a breathy whisper. “I’m not sure…”
“Don’t say it, just listen.” I press my finger to her lips to shush her. “You should come with Zane and me. Grams won’t mind. God knows she cooks enough to feed the army.”
Callie shakes her head. “I don’t mind staying here.”
My gut squeezes once again at the idea. What must have it been like for her? Being all alone like she has for years. Not having anybody to spend the holiday with? She mentioned her aunt took her in, but she barely spoke about her time with her. And I never heard her say a word about any of her friends from back in California. What happened to them? There are still so many questions with no answers.
Don’t get me wrong, I want to ask her, but I worry if I do, she’ll go back to the closed-off person she was, and that’s the last thing I want.
She might not mind staying all on her own, but I do. “I know you don’t, but I want you there.”
The words are out before I can stop them, but I realize I don’t mind it as much as I thought because they’re true. I really do want her to come with me. More than I would have dared imagine.
It scares the shit out of me. How much I want her. I shouldn’t care as much as I do. It’s too soon. Too much. But at the same time, it feels like it’s been a long time coming.
Silence falls between us as I wait for her to say something, anything really. I just want to know I’m not all alone in this.
“Callie?”
Tears fill her eyes and it’s like a punch to my gut. She sniffles, blinking them away before they get a chance to fall down.
“Hey,” I whisper, my hand cupping her cheek, feeling like a total dick for making her cry. “If that’s too much or you don’t want to, it’s okay. You don’t have…”
“No, it’s not that.” She turns her head to the side, her lips pressing against my palm. “Holidays always make it harder. Make me miss them more.”
“I know angel, that’s why I don’t want you to be alone.” I press a soft kiss against her temple. “Come with me, I promise to make it fun.”
A silence stretches between us for a while, but I don’t press. I know it won’t gain me anything, and honestly? I just want to hold her.
Finally, she tips her head back to look at me. “Fine,” she agrees. “I’ll come with you.”
Chapter Forty-One
CALLIE
“You okay with this?” Hayden asks as we get out of the dorm, his red pickup truck parked right in front o
f it.
Most of the people already left home for the holidays, so it wasn’t like it was in anyone’s way. We had to stay until the very last minute because both the football and hockey team had one last practice to attend before wrapping up before the holidays. Not that I minded one bit. Technically, I was supposed to stay in the town, alone so this was definitely a better option. Or so I hoped. At least this way I won’t be bored out of my mind all weekend long. Trust me, there is only so much Netflix a girl can watch and still stay sane. On the other hand, I wasn’t sure how I felt about meeting Hayden’s family. He assured me his grandmother wouldn’t mind the extra company, but I was still skittish about the whole idea.
Does she know about me? Does she know about our past? I couldn’t believe she’d be happy to see me if the question to either of those questions were positive. Just look at Zane. The guy still glares at me most of the time, and I didn’t even know him back in high school.
I must have stopped for a moment—it happens every time when I’m coming near a car no matter how many times I’ve driven in it. I think it’s just my natural body’s reaction.
“Callie?” Hayden turns around, a look of worry plastered all over his face. “Are you okay?”
Inhaling deeply, I will my nerves to calm the fuck down. It’s just a drive. I’ve done that before.
“I’m good,” I assure him, giving his hand a squeeze.
“You sure?” Hayden cups my face, his thumb brushing against my cheek. “It’s like an hour drive, tops.”
“Yeah, I’m sure, it just… takes a while for my mind to adjust, that’s all.”
He nods his head in understanding. “You need a moment?”
“No.” I shake my head. “I’ll be fine. Let’s go.”
Still holding onto his hand, I pull him toward the car.
The door slides open and Zane hops out of the car. “Whatssup, Callie?” He tips his chin in greeting. It’s not much, but it’s better than the silent brooding he’s been doing, so I’ll take it.