She studied her still meager but growing wardrobe. She didn’t know what she was supposed to wear to seduce a man. Not a dress—that was too...something. Jeans, she thought. Tight jeans and a cute sweater.
She got out her tightest pair of skinny jeans and a pretty V-neck sweater that she usually wore over a shirt because it was cut so low. Her trip to buy a strapless bra for her fancy gala dress had also yielded other new bras and panties. She’d gone wild and had purchased a sexy black bra and matching thong for this very reason.
She showered and then dressed. She didn’t bother with makeup beyond mascara—less to smudge that way. She pulled on her faux Uggs so she could take them off easily and left a note for Keira, saying she was with Santiago and might be late, then called for a car.
She got out in front of Santiago’s condo building, walked into the entryway and pushed the button to buzz his unit, then waited.
“Yes?”
“Hi. It’s Callie. Can I come up?”
There was a moment of surprised silence followed by delighted laughter. “You’re here? How did I get so lucky? I’ll meet you at the elevator.”
The knot of nerves in her stomach lessened a little. At least he was happy she’d shown up. Now if only she could convince him to put out.
She rode the elevator to his floor. As promised, he was waiting for her in the hallway, leaning against the wall, looking all sexy and masculine. Her girl bits did a little dance while her heart seemed to get a little fluttery.
“You’re the best surprise of the day,” he said, cupping her face and kissing her. “What’s going on?”
“I wanted to talk to you.”
He followed her into his condo and shut the door. She turned to face him. He’d taken off his suit jacket and tie but was still wearing his dress shirt. She was momentarily distracted by the thought of unbuttoning said shirt, then reminded herself they weren’t at that part yet. He needed to say yes first.
“Look, we’ve been going out for a couple of months now. I like you and you seem to like me. I appreciate that you think I’m special. It’s wonderful and great and makes you even more irresistible, but you have some crazy idea about us or me or maybe yourself. I’m not sure and I no longer care.”
She moved a little closer and put her hands on his chest. “The last time I had sex was my eighteenth birthday. I am not interested in waiting until August for that to happen again. Yes, I very much want a romantic weekend away with you. I think it will be fun, but I’m wondering why you have all these rules. I’m a real person, not a fantasy, and if you can’t understand that, then we have a bigger problem here and I think we should deal with it. If you have a genuine reason, then I want to know what it is, otherwise, put up or shut up.”
She’d started out strong, but was shaking by the time she was done. What if she’d misjudged the entire situation? What if he’d been trying to tell her he wasn’t interested in her that way and she’d totally missed the point? What if this was just a game and totally broke her?
He kept his gaze on her face and didn’t speak for several very long seconds. Then he drew in a breath.
“I’m sorry. You’re right about all of it. I have this weird idea in my head—that because you’re so amazing, I have to do things differently. I want a different outcome, but I never meant to make you feel I didn’t want you or that you were just a fantasy. I just didn’t want to screw up.”
He kissed her lightly. “You on birth control?”
“The shot. I started two weeks ago. I also left a note for Keira telling her I would be home late.”
He smiled. “A lady with a plan. I like that.” The smile faded. “Tell me about before. The other guys.”
“What? Why would you want to know that?” This was not the time to grill her about her past.
He took her hand and drew her down the hall to the master bedroom. “One guy, one time is different than five guys over three years. I want to know if I’m dealing with an experienced woman who’s ready to ride me hard or a born-again virgin who needs to be wooed.”
“Oh.” She felt herself flushing. “One guy, two times. Both were pretty fast and awful.”
He released her and walked to the bed. After pulling back the comforter and sheet, he faced her.
“Born-again virgin it is.”
He removed condoms from the nightstand, then began to unbutton his shirt. Sunset was still a couple of hours away so there was plenty of light to see everything, even without him turning on a lamp.
He tossed the shirt over the back of a chair in the corner, then sat down and took off his shoes and socks. He stood and dropped his pants, leaving only his low-cut briefs in place.
His body was amazing, she thought as her breath caught in her throat. Honed muscles, broad shoulders and long legs. He worked out and it showed. He’d been an athlete and that showed even more. Her stomach clenched, her breasts began to ache and she felt a heavy kind of swelling deep inside.
She wanted him. She was totally terrified, but she wanted him.
He took her hands in his, then placed them on his bare chest. His skin was warm as she touched him.
“Here’s how it’s going to go,” he told her, putting his hands on her shoulders. “This is all about you. It’s been long enough and I’ve had enough fantasies that I just need about two minutes at the end.”
One corner of his mouth turned up. “I want to impress you with my staying power, but the first time, it’s not going to happen.” He brushed her hair back, then kissed her. “If you don’t like something I’m doing, tell me. If you want me to do something different, tell me. More, less, harder, softer. I’m really good at taking directions. Eventually I’ll know your body better than you do, but for now, I’m going to need help.”
His words made her shiver and she had no idea why. What he described made sense on an intellectual level and she knew she wanted to be with him, but she wasn’t sure what was going to happen next. Everything about this was so different than the awkward fumbling in the back of her teenage boyfriend’s car.
“Okay,” she whispered before stepping out of her boots.
He pulled her close and held her tight. Their bodies touched everywhere. The hug felt good—safe and arousing at the same time. She ran her hands up and down his back, enjoying the feel of bare skin. He had so many muscles, she thought absently, aware of his hands mimicking her own. Up and down, up and down, lingering where she lingered.
Wondering if she was imagining things, she moved lower, cupping his butt. He did the same, then squeezed the curves, causing her to arch against him. Her belly came in contact with his erection. The length and thickness stunned her. No way that was going to fit.
She was still mulling over the possibilities when he grabbed her hand and led her to the bed.
“I do my best work lying down,” he murmured, urging her to stretch out on the mattress.
She did as he asked, not sure how all this was going to work. He was almost naked and she was fully clothed. Wasn’t there something wrong with this picture?
Santiago settled next to her and smiled at her. “You’re so beautiful,” he said right before he kissed her.
His mouth claimed her with an intensity that stole her breath. His tongue slipped inside and teased her own, circling, dancing, arousing. She angled toward him and wrapped her arms around him. The kissing she understood and liked. She didn’t have any questions about doing this—it was the rest of it that was vaguely confusing.
Not that she was a virgin, but it had been such a long time and those couple of times had been so disappointing.
He kissed her over and over again, as if he had all the time in the world. She was aware of hands moving over her body. Her back, her hip, across her stomach, the outside of her thigh. He touched safe places, which was nice, but wasn’t at all what she was looking for. Despite his request for informatio
n there was no way she could tell him to get on with it. At least not out loud. Still, she silently urged him to keeping moving, stretching lower or higher, to her breasts or between her legs. She ached and needed in ways she never had before. She was restless and warm and melting from the inside out.
He unbuttoned her jeans and slowly, so slowly, undid the zipper. As he peeled down her jeans, two of his fingers lightly grazed the top of her thigh and brushed against her feminine mound before drifting away. She felt the jolt to her toes, then up to the top of her head. Goose bumps broke out everywhere as a keen sense of desperation overwhelmed her.
They had to keep going. He had to be inside of her. She wanted that sense of release, of perfection, and she wanted it now. Hunger burned so hot and bright, she found herself needing to take control.
She opened her eyes and said, “You’re going too slow.”
He looked at her. “Excuse me?”
“You’re going too slow. I’m not afraid of you or what you’re going to do.” She motioned vaguely toward his groin. “Okay, that intimidates me a little but I’ll deal. Santiago, please. Let’s move this along.”
“But I’m seducing you.”
“Seduce faster.”
One corner of his mouth turned up. “You are a complicated woman.”
“Not really.”
“You’ll tell me to slow down if I—”
She made a low growl in the back of her throat. “This would be exactly what I was talking about. Just do it.”
“Do it? Do it? I don’t just do it. I—”
She sat up and pulled off her sweater, then reached behind her and unfastened her bra. She tossed it to the floor and flopped back on the bed.
She was about to ask if she was making herself clear when she realized everything was different. Gone was the gentle, teasing guy who had taken things incredibly slow. In his place was a man who wanted his woman. She saw the fire in his dark eyes and the tension in his body. His moved with a purpose that left his intentions in no doubt, shifting so he was kneeling beside her. With one easy, experienced move, he tugged off her thong, then moved between her thighs.
She was about to say that maybe this was a bit too fast but before she could, she realized he wasn’t going to push inside of her. Instead he leaned over and licked her left nipple.
The feel of his warm, wet tongue against her tight, sensitive skin was explosive. Her breath caught, her body went on alert and she lost all sense of control. Just one touch and she was his. All of her. As long as he kept doing that, he could take whatever he wanted.
He licked her nipple a few times before sucking it into his mouth. The deep, pulling sensation had her trembling in a matter of seconds. Heat poured through her, collecting between her thighs.
He moved to her right breast and put his hand on her left. The combination of fingers and tongue and sucking and rubbing cleared her mind of anything but what she was feeling—and what she was feeling was amazing. Wanting was everywhere. Deep desire that made her want to part her legs and expose every inch of herself to him. She wanted to beg and scream and demand and be. Just be.
He moved from breast to breast, pulling harder, lightly using his teeth on her nipples. The swelling between her legs became painful with its intensity. Her breathing grew faster, her body was restless. When he finally began to kiss his way down her belly, she nearly sang her relief.
She drew her thighs apart and raised her hips slightly. Without thinking, she reached down and parted herself for him. She was wet and oh, so ready. She needed him to—
At the first swipe of his tongue, she knew she was going to die. The pleasure was so sharp, so bright, so intense, she couldn’t possibly survive the onslaught. But she hung on as he explored all of her before settling over the very center of her.
The steady rhythm of him circling her was the best kind of torture. With each movement of his tongue against her clit, she grew more and more aroused. Every muscle tensed as her entire body focused on that spot of ready nerves.
She dug her heels into the bed and tried to keep breathing even as heat burned through her. She felt everything—his tongue, his breath, her skin, the steady pressure. In the distance was the promise of her release. She strained toward it, wanting that sensation, that moment of perfection when everything was as it should be. Her body wept as she got closer and closer until finally it was there.
Her orgasm claimed all of her. She knew she cried out and shuddered and possibly begged. It went on and on in the most perfect moment ever. She came and came and came until there was nothing left and she was simply a vessel gloriously emptied.
Santiago sat back on his heels and stared at her. He didn’t say anything for a long time, then he swore under his breath. “You about killed me. That was unbelievable. I didn’t think I would be able to hold out. If you’d been touching me, I would have lost it in a second.”
She smiled. “Now you can.”
He stood and pulled off his briefs. His erection sprang free. That, she thought with a lot less worry, was going to be interesting.
He grabbed a condom and opened it, then slid it on. “So here’s the thing. You’re kind of petite and I’m a big guy and this is your first time in a long time, so it might be easier if you’re on top.”
She sat up. “I’ve never been on top before. I’m not sure what to do.”
He grinned. “You’re not going to have to do much. Just go up and down maybe three times and I’ll be done. Not my proudest moment, but I’m being realistic. I just think you’ll feel more comfortable if you have control.”
Before she might have been embarrassed to try but not anymore. The man had practically taken her to the stars—at this point she would try anything he suggested.
He got back into bed and stretched out on his back. She straddled him, then he helped her so she settled onto his erection. He was huge, she thought as her body stretched to accommodate him. She went slowly until he was fully inside of her.
“Get used to me,” he said.
She felt herself loosening up a little and gave a little wiggle. He groaned, then put his hands on her hips and guided her up and down, before hissing out a breath.
“Okay,” he said, his teeth clenched. “Just like that. You okay with it?”
The movement was easy. Even more fun, it felt really good. She liked how he filled her and the way certain parts of her were rubbed and bumped and aroused.
“Stay forward,” he told her, obviously struggling for control. “If you sit up, you might be uncomfortable. We’ll try that later.”
“Okay. You ready?”
“Almost. Give me a second.”
She thought he was going to try to distract himself or something, but instead he moved his hand against his belly, slipping between where their bodies touched. She felt his thumb start to rub against her still-sensitive center and caught her breath.
He grinned. “Good. I was hoping you could come again. Wait until you’re close, then start moving.”
“What if I get distracted and forget?”
“I’ll remind you.”
She smiled, then closed her eyes as he continued to rub against her. The upward pressure was different—deeper or maybe harder—she wasn’t sure. She shifted a little, pulsing her hips in time with his movements. Her breathing quickened as the familiar heat returned and her body began to focus on the promise of another release.
He quickened his pace and she moaned. Like that, she thought and instinctively began to move her hips. She went up and then down. As he filled her, rubbing against every inch of her, the sensation intensified. It was amazing and wonderful and she wanted more.
She rocked again and again, never wanting all the sensations to end. Without thinking, she straightened, giving him a better angle on her clit and at the same time taking all of him all the way in.
It was like touch
ing pure energy, she thought as the heat built on the inevitable journey. She rose up, tightened her muscles as much as she could, then pushed down hard.
Her orgasm exploded into pulsing fiery light. She continued to ride him, wanting to feel all of it, even as he grabbed her hips and hung on to her. She came, calling out his name, forcing him over the edge, then collapsing on him.
“And you wanted to wait until August,” she gasped. “Stupid man.”
He began to laugh and she joined in. As he drew her next to him and hung on as if he would never let go, she realized that sometime in the past few weeks, she’d given her heart to this man. After all she’d been through, she was happy to know she’d healed enough to fall in love. Life really was a miracle.
chapter twenty-eight
“Are you listening to me?” Paulo asked in frustration as they stood in the warehouse. “This is about work. You should care.”
“I care.” Sort of, Santiago thought with a grin. He did care about work but after last night it was hard to think about anything but Callie. Their time together had been incredible. She had been incredible.
“We caught the guy stealing,” his brother said. “There were a half dozen boxes in his truck. He says he was set up, but who admits they’re guilty even when they’re caught?”
“You’re right. Good work, Paulo.”
His brother stared at him. “What’s going on with you? There’s something. I can tell.”
“Nothing I want to talk about.”
Not with anyone. Callie was too special. He wanted to keep what had happened to himself. Not just that they were now lovers, but what it all meant. He’d known one day he was going to find the right woman and he had. She was perfect and he was going to do everything in his power to not screw up.
“You’ve always been weird, man,” his brother said. “But this is bad, even for you.”
When We Found Home Page 33