Cautious: An Everyday Heroes World Novel (The Everyday Heroes World)

by Candice Wright

  I swirl my tongue around her clit before dipping inside her core, savoring the taste of her honey on my lips.

  Each flick of my tongue makes her gasp as I lick, suck, and worship her. When her legs begin to tremble and her breathing picks up, I slide two fingers inside her slick heat and suck hard on her clit, making her detonate, squeezing my fingers tightly as she screams.

  I drink in the rest of her essence before slipping my fingers into my mouth and sucking. She tastes like heaven all wrapped up in dark promises. Her pupils dilate, and a red flush spreads over her cheeks.

  “I think I have a new favorite thing to eat,” I admit as I climb over her and nestle my denim-clad cock between her legs, pressing down against her sensitive folds.

  “Well, I wouldn't want you to go hungry. You’re welcome to eat me anytime you like,” she tells me saucily.

  I almost sigh in relief at the knowledge she’ll let me back in, that this isn’t her fucked-up way of saying goodbye.

  “Oh, now that's a deal I can't refuse. So sweet,” I whisper against her lips, letting her taste herself. “Better than apple pie.” She freezes at my words, making me pull back so I can see her face.

  “What is it?” Fuck was this too fast?

  “Oh my god. Please tell me your grandmother isn’t still here.” She looks so horrified I can’t help but laugh.

  “My ego is taking a blow here, Callie. I’m not sure how to feel about the fact you're thinking about my grandmother right now,” I tease her but when I see she looks genuinely uncomfortable, I rush to reassure her, not wanting anything to tarnish the moment. “You’re fine, she left when I got here.”

  “Oh, thank god. I would never have been able to face her again. So, can I… um do you want me to return the favor?” she asks softly, biting her lip, which makes my cock twitch. I do, I really fucking do, but… I can’t. My balls are going to hate me for this.

  “Not today, today isn’t about me, it's about you,” I tell her as my cock throbs in disagreement.

  “But—”

  I silence her with a kiss, knowing if she pushes, I’ll have her legs over my shoulders and my dick plowing in and out of her sweet pussy before either of us has time to consider the consequences.

  I need to give her a moment to regroup. I don’t want this to be something else she regrets later.

  “This was just for you. There will be plenty of times later for you to do whatever you want to me. Let me give you this,” I add when I feel her start to protest once more, until eventually, she relents. Taking advantage of her capitulation, I roll off her and move so her back is pressed against my front once more, loving how we fit together. I’ve never been one for cuddling, always leaving when the sex is over, but now I want nothing more than to lie with her and soak her in.

  I grab the blanket and pull it up over us both and hold onto her as gradually she relaxes further and further and her breathing evens out.

  I hold her tight until she falls asleep again, then, carefully, climb out of bed so I don’t disturb her. Heading to the bathroom, I wash my face before making my way back downstairs on silent footsteps, praying when she wakes up that she still wants me.

  I creep down to the sitting room where I find my grandmother looking worried.

  “I thought you were gone?”

  “I was too worried to stay away. I’m sorry—” she begins, but I cut her off with a shake of my head.

  This isn’t on her, it's on me.

  “It was my fault. I should have said something to her sooner. The longer I went without saying anything, the harder it got. I’m not sorry I know the things I do, only that I took away her chance to tell me.” I sigh and run my fingers through my hair before pulling out the chair opposite my grandmother.

  “So, what is she running from?” she asks me, her expressive face lined with unease.

  “Truthfully? Her demons, I think.” I swallow hard at the knowledge of what that man did to his little girl, making bile rush up my throat. “Someone hurt Callie. He’s dead now, but from what I can gather, it wrecked the relationship between her and her mother too,” I hedge, not wanting to say too much and break Callie’s trust again. Fuck, that was probably still too much.

  “That just breaks my heart. Horrible circumstances have a way of tearing families apart but, lord, wouldn't it be nice if it pulled them together sometimes instead?” She shakes her head with a sad sigh.

  “It happens this way more often than not, you know that. From what little Callie has said, I get the impression that she's very much in the denial stage of her grief still. That takes its toll on more than just the person affected. I can’t imagine what that would have been like for her mother in this situation. The guilt she must feel… Hell, Callie will likely see her as the bad guy until she gets past this stage and places the blame with whom it belongs.”

  We both sit in silence for a moment, letting the cloud of sorrow engulf us both before I stand up and shake it off. I’m feeling too wired and restless; I need to get out of here before I smash something or go back upstairs and fuck it out of my system.

  “I need to head back to the office for a while. I dropped everything to get here when you called. Will you be okay to stay for a while?”

  “You don't even need to ask. I have my book in my bag. I’m going to sit out there on the porch and read until you get back.”

  I lean forward and place a kiss on her cheek and squeeze her shoulder.

  “Thank you,” I whisper, and I’m not just thanking her for staying.

  “Boy, don't you know I’d do just about anything for you?”

  “If she asks, make sure you let her know you went home before coming back,” I tell her, remembering my conversation with Callie about my grandmother not being here anymore. I don’t want Callie to think I lied to her, and that my grandmother was sitting down here all along listening to us.

  As is she knows where my thoughts have gone, she laughs, “I’ve been having sex far longer than she’s been alive. Not much shocks me anymore.”

  I manage to hold back my gag but only just. “Nope, I don’t need to hear this.” I shake my head, but she just frowns before swatting me away.

  “If you don't want me to talk about it, then don’t do it close enough for me to hear your name being called in the throes of passion. Nice work, by the way, she seemed satisf—”

  I cut her off before I throw up my dinner. “Lalalalalalala, not listening to any of this. Love you, I’ll see you later.” I rush outside like my ass is on fire. Climbing into my car, I look up to the room I know Callie’s sleeping in.

  She has been under my skin since the first moment I laid eyes on her but hearing her today tugs on places in my heart I had thought died long ago. What started out as something fun is rapidly turning into something more, and I’m man enough to admit I don’t know if I’m ready. Opening myself up to someone after everything I’ve lost is far more than I ever anticipated.

  I drive back to the office on autopilot, my thoughts still very much on Callie. Pushing through the door to the office, I find the main reception area deserted with the exception of Kellen, who is on his laptop at my grandmother's desk. He looks up with a frown when I enter.

  “Everything okay? You tore out of here like the hounds of hell were on your heels,” he states as I walk over to the thankfully full coffee pot.

  “Yeah.” I don’t offer up any more but Kellen stares at me, waiting, and I know the stubborn fuck won’t back down until I give him something more than that.

  “June let it slip to Callie that I ran a check on her. She wasn’t happy,” I admit.

  “Hmm… I get that. I know you meant well, but if you flip the tables, I can’t imagine you liking her digging into your history so soon after meeting. Plus, you took away her opportunity to tell you. I’m sure, given her history, trust is a big issue for her, and because of the way you went about things, her trust in you has taken a blow,” he explains, reminding me of all the ways I’ve fucked up.


  “Jesus, don't hold back, will ya,” I answer him with a glare.

  He just shrugs, not fazed by my anger.

  “When have you ever known me to pussyfoot around? I’m just calling it like I see it.” He slaps me on the shoulder before grabbing his laptop and heading back toward the offices.

  “I have faith in your Casanova skills, boss man. I’m sure it's nothing a little groveling and a grand gesture won't fix.” He leaves me to consider his words.

  I can’t say I wouldn’t do it again if given a second chance. I had to know if she was in danger or running from someone, especially with her living next door to my grandmother, but I could have asked her. At the very least, I could have been upfront about the search I did right from the start. Instead, I kept quiet and now the trust we have built between us has sustained a blow.

  “Fuck,” I grumble to myself, sipping on my coffee as I mull over Kellen’s words.

  Groveling and grand gestures. Do multiple orgasms count? I’m sorry I fucked you over, but here let me fuck you over the table until you forget what a dick I am.

  Shaking my head, I finish the last of my coffee and place my cup on the counter before making my way back to the breakroom. Thinking of grand gestures is hurting my brain and something tells me that’s not really Callie’s style. Now groveling, on the other hand, I’m sure she would appreciate. If that’s what it takes, I’ll do it. Anything to get me back in Callie’s good graces.

  All the guys are in the break room, but nobody asks me any questions when I enter, so I’m guessing Kellen has filled them in.

  Thankful that I don’t have to go over it again, I pick up the file on top of the pile scattered around the table and thumb it open.

  “Jenna Carson?” I question. Her name sounds somewhat familiar.

  “Former child star turned Hollywood darling. She disappeared from the public eye two years ago after she was attacked. A man named Andrew Jackson was convicted even though she was unable to identify him. He admitted to stalking her first, his obsession convincing him that they were in a relationship,” Arlo tells me from memory.

  The man is like an encyclopedia. His ability to read something and recall it at will makes him a huge asset here.

  “That's rough. So, what, he got out already?” I don’t know the ins and outs of the case, but the sad fact is cases like this don’t always come with the lengthy jail sentence fitting of the crime committed.

  “No, he’s still locked up, but it seems despite her keeping a low profile, Jenna has, somehow, snagged the attention of someone else,” Arlo replies

  “Fucking hell. She can't catch a break, can she?” Kellen mutters, taking the file from me.

  “What are the police saying?” I question.

  “Not much. Apparently, their hands are tied until this escalates but it seems they are dragging their feet on this one,” Arlo says with some agitation.

  “Seriously? After what she’s already been through, she must be terrified,” Marcus adds, crossing his arms over his chest in disgust.

  “That's just it, they think she might be imagining it. They haven't found a shred of evidence to support her claim and what's more, she’s convinced that it's the same person who hurt her before.”

  “Andrew Jackson?” Noah questions with a frown. “That’s impossible if he’s still locked up.”

  “Like I said, Jenna never saw her attacker and couldn't identify them. Andrew turned himself in and made a confession but, according to Jenna, she wasn’t convinced it was him,” Arlo tells us with a frown of his own.

  I get to the point. “Okay, what does she want from us?”

  “She’s hired a security team, but she wants someone to be her close guard and move in with her until this guy is caught.”

  “Why us? If she already has a security team in place, why not pick one of them?” Felix, who had been quiet up until now, asks.

  “Trust,” I answer for him, thinking about Kellen’s words to me about Callie. “Security is just a job to most people and not necessarily a well-paid one. They’ll do their jobs to an extent, but would they take a bullet for her? I’m guessing she heard about the work we do and feels a camaraderie to the victims we protect.”

  “So, are we going to take it?” Arlo asks, looking around at the guys, knowing this is a big job that will mean someone being away for an indefinite amount of time.

  “That’s going to depend if we have anyone willing to take the case. If not, I can bounce it to Parker.” Parker is an old friend I met at boot camp who has a similar setup.

  “I’ll do it,” Aiden speaks up from where he is leaning quietly against the far wall.

  “You sure?” I ask.

  He hasn’t been himself since his break-up with Cora. I’m not sure where his heads at.

  “Yeah, I could do with a change of scenery anyway.”

  I nod, knowing that with the shit his ex has been giving him, this might be exactly what he needs—something to focus on and the chance to get away.

  “Okay then. Get with Arlo and find out when you need to start, and we’ll get you the first available flight out there. You keep in touch, and if anything seems off to you, you call us, got it?”

  “Yes, Dad,” he says with a laugh, making me scowl.

  “Right, what's next?” I ask, running through the files hoping for a call from Callie at some point throughout the afternoon, but it never comes.

  Chapter Eleven

  Callie

  When I wake, it's dark out. My head feels fuzzy, my mouth is dry, and if I didn't vividly remember my crying jag earlier, I’d have thought I was hungover.

  A glance at my watch shows it's almost eight o'clock, informing me that I wasted pretty much a day with my pity party.

  Mad at myself—okay, still somewhat mad at Blake—I stomp over to the bathroom and climb under the shower’s hot spray, letting it soothe me.

  Seeing no point in getting dressed in anything special now, I opt for sleep shorts and a soft camisole and leave my hair to dry naturally.

  I head downstairs for some hot chocolate and something light to eat. I come to a halt when I see Blake standing shirtless in my kitchen with his back to me as he stirs something on the stove.

  I have the strangest urge to run my tongue up his spine but then remember I’m still a little pissed at him, so I fold my arms over my chest and cough to get his attention.

  “Erm… hi? What are you doing here?” I ask bluntly. No point beating around the bush. When I woke up to find him gone, I just assumed he’d left.

  He turns and offers me one of his panty-melting smiles, which teamed with all those abs on display, makes my brain stutter and my mouth start moving.

  “Are we going to fuck now?” We both freeze at my words, him with a wooden spoon in his hand and me while I mentally try to sidestep the hole I just dug. What the fuck is wrong with me?

  If I didn’t think I’d look like a raving lunatic, I’d slap myself stupid now.

  “Well, I think you should probably eat first. I’m making pasta,” he answers like I didn't just offer myself up on a silver platter.

  And even though I’m pissed, confused, and angry still, his rejection stings. Jesus, when did I turn into such a girl?

  “I…” I trail off, not knowing what to say. I dip my head and swallow hard, wrapping my arms tighter around myself as I fight off the urge to cry.

  “Hey, what's wrong?” I look up as Blake places the spoon on the counter, turning off the burner before walking toward me and pulling me into his arms. I breathe deep, feeling my nose sting as I manage to hold off the impending tears.

  “I’m a mess,” I admit, with a sniff.

  “No, you're not, but I’d like to know what's bothering you. I’m not going to push you for anything, Callie. If nothing else, you have to know that.”

  “I do know that, Bundy. That’s the fucking problem. I want you. I think we’ve established that. I just… I don’t know what the heck I’m doing, and you keep backing off when it get
s good,” I admit, frustrated.

  He cocks his head and looks at me blankly for a moment before my words click.

  “Baby, are you telling me you're a virgin?”

  I feel him harden against my belly, letting me know that he’s not horrified at the thought of having someone so inexperienced. No, in fact, it seems to be having the opposite effect on him.

  “Technically, yes, but I busted my cherry years ago with a dildo,” I answer, making his heated look turn smoldering. Oh my.

  We stand there in silence for a moment, my breathing ragged as Blake looks like he’s trying to decide something. The way he’s looking at me has my stomach clenching with need. I lick my lips, his eyes following the movement before he snaps.

  “Fuck it,” he responds, moments before I find myself up and over his shoulder.

  “What about the food?” I ask, bouncing as he takes the stairs two at a time.

  “Fuck the food,” he snaps, before I’m tossed unceremoniously onto the bed I not long ago crawled out of.

  “I’m still mad at you,” I inform him when he follows me down, reserving the right to be pissed for a while longer.

  “That's okay, baby, I’ll fuck it out of you.” He doesn’t waste time after that, ripping my clothes from my body.

  “Your turn,” I whisper, feeling his muscles contract as I run my fingers down his back. “Pants off, Bundy,” I order, making him chuckle.

  He smirks. “Yes, ma’am.” I watch avidly as he climbs off me and moves to stand beside the bed. He pops the button on his jeans, his heated eyes watching me as I soak him in. He strips out of his jeans and boxers, revealing a large cock that makes my mouth water. He stands there for a moment, letting me take my fill as his hard cock points at me as if to say it's not going to suck itself.

  Before he can stop me, I climb to my knees and bend over, swirling the tip of my tongue over the bulbous head.

  He hisses but doesn’t pull back, which I take as permission to open my mouth wider and take as much as I can inside.