“Oh, maybe because you’re a giant and you need a giant’s bed to sleep on.”
“I think I’m too tired to argue with you about that tonight.”
“Good, then it’s all settled.”
He disappeared into the bathroom and Kate lay down. She turned on the night light at the base of the bedside lamp and turned out the main light. She yawned and could barely keep her eyes open while she waited for Callan to return so she could turn out the light.
The next morning, she vaguely recalled three things: Callan turning out the light, telling her “good night,” and kissing her on her temple. She much more clearly recalled dreaming about wolves. Lots of wolves. Wolves fighting wolves.
And her white wolf led the group that her dreams said were the good guys.
Awesome.
Chapter Five
After breakfast and lots of interesting looks from Mrs. Brighton, Kate got to shower in peace while Mr. Brighton found some chores for Callan to help him with.
It was during her shower that she remembered some of her other dreams from the previous night. Dreams where the voice that had comforted her for years was in fact Callan’s voice. Confirmation of what she’d thought she’d figured out the previous evening. Having his voice come to her during her shower, though, only served to turn her on and make her want...things done to her. But she ignored all those feelings because she was supposed to be taking a fast shower.
Afterward, she met Callan downstairs and he drove them north, up a winding road that had her sliding in her seat, alternating between leaning against the door and leaning toward him. Unfortunately for her, every time she leaned toward him, he was leaning away from her toward his own door.
She’d had way too many dreams and not enough sleep last night. As a result, she had no mental defenses against the onslaught of naughty pictures her mind kept coming up with as she watched his strong arms and hands grip and control the steering wheel. Or come closer to her as he changed gears.
He’d carried her with those arms yesterday. And now she was obsessed with his forearms and...fingers. Now that she knew he had calloused hands, she wondered what they’d feel like against other parts of her body other than her hands and face.
She’d no longer been paying any attention to where they were going or the scenery or anything until he pulled the truck to a stop. Finally prying her eyes away from him, she took in her surroundings.
“Oh, it’s beautiful.” The villa looked just like a miniature log cabin, complete with a steeply sloping A-line roof. It had a little porch that was part of the roof protection and extended from one side of the roof line to the other. There was a chair on either side of the front door, along with a window on each side sporting a planter box. Off in one corner sat a wood box. “Wow. Are all of the cabins like this?”
“No, each one has a slightly different roof line or different amenities. This one has everything on the main floor, with a reading nook in the loft up there.” He pointed to the lone second story window.
“It’s incredible and I can’t wait to see them all.”
“All of them? That’ll take all day.”
Kate clapped her hands together. “You could point me in the correct direction and I could go wandering.”
“I’m not letting you out of my sight. Come on. Let’s start by giving you a tour of just this one.”
He opened the door for her and placed his hand on her lower back, letting her enter the cabin first. It was just as she’d imagined it would be. The layout had everything someone needed, all there, all in one room.
Kate spun around and quickly saw what Callan’s sister was talking about. The only thing on the walls were windows, the fireplace, the TV of course and the items associated with the kitchen. There were no decorations anywhere.
“Do you see why my sister said these walls are sad and empty?”
“Definitely.” Her voice came out in barely a whisper.
Callan encompassed a large portion of the room with a sweep of his arm. “I now know someone who can fill these walls with beautiful drawings. Nature scenes of all sorts.”
Kate continued with her tour, this time taking the opportunity to absorb the details of where everything was.
The kitchen was to her right along the wall, with a four-top table placed central. Beyond the kitchen was a door that Kate assumed was the bathroom. Along the back wall sat a large four-poster bed. And on the left wall sat a fireplace. A large screen TV hung low on the wall between the fireplace and the bed. And the center of the room held a long puffy couch, matching chair and a coffee table to pull it all together.
She turned back toward the bed and realized she’d not been keeping up with where Callan had disappeared to. At least not until he came up behind her, his breath hot along her neck, giving her chills as the sensations she’d been ignoring zinged through her.
“Your artwork will look amazing in here.”
How close were his lips to her neck? Was he going to kiss her? She wanted him to. God, did she want him to. She’d only met him yesterday and she wanted him to—
“So will you say yes?”
“Yes.” She let the word last for much longer than it should have. And then some part of her brain kicked in. She turned to face him. Probably a huge mistake since just looking at him made her brain cells want to misfire again. She shook her head. “What on earth have I just agreed to?”
“To put your artwork in all of our guest cabins.” Callan gave her a wicked smile, like he could read her mind. “Why, what were you agreeing to?”
“That. Definitely that.” What was it about this man that had her wanting to jump his bones?
Really. His voice was already an old friend to her. It was in her head, soothing her, wrapping around her and caressing her as if it were his hands on her.
“Uh-huh.” And with that he dipped his head and took her lips in what started as a gentle kiss. But thankfully it didn’t stay gentle for long. He nipped at her lips, then ran his tongue along the seam of her mouth. The thrill of being able to taste him had her opening to him while reaching behind him and fisting his shirt in her hands.
His tongue slid along hers, each stroke generating tingles in her clit. It’d been far too long since she’d been with someone, so she was already moving to create friction against the seam of her jeans, knowing it would provide her some much-needed sweet relief.
Her nipples beaded against her bra, and she pulled Callan in closer so she could use his nearness to provide that extra pressure she needed to help get off.
Callan practically growled. Seriously, honest-to-god, growled. “I can smell your arousal. You don’t need to dry hump me, love. I’ll help you come.”
Kate should’ve been embarrassed, and she knew she would be later, but by then she was almost mindless with need. It was as if she could feel not only her need but Callan’s as well. As if hers was magnifying his, which was magnifying hers and so on. Which was an absolutely insane theory, but that’s what happened when she was going bonkers with needing to come. Needing to feel his mouth on her. Anywhere. Everywhere. She didn’t care where. She just needed.
He used his lips and teeth along her jawline and neck, working his way down her throat while he popped open the button and zipper of her jeans. When he licked a path down her chest to the swell of her breast, she held his head there, her hands closing in on his hair with a tight grip. He bit and sucked hard, forcing her hips forward toward him. The hand he slid down the front of her panties bumped her clit and she gasped in a breath.
She wasn’t going to make it much longer. The feelings were too intense. Too overwhelming. They were everything.
He stroked a finger along her opening. Then a second. “So, so wet, Katie, love,” he murmured against her breast. He slid two fingers into her channel, placed his thumb on her clit and
had moved his head enough that he took her nipple between his teeth through her shirt and bra, and bit down. She came with a scream.
Part of her brain told her that she needed to be quiet, that she had no idea how many people were around and how many people might barge in thinking she was in trouble. But another part of her didn’t care. The sensations. The ultimate, intense pleasure coursed through her and she never wanted it to end.
Eventually it did start to wane—it had to—and she came back down to earth, but the aftershocks running through her told her she wanted to go again. Now.
Good lord. Who was she?
And who was Callan that he’d done this to her?
All she felt was overwhelming happiness from him and because of that, she couldn’t even muster up enough strength to be embarrassed yet.
“Wow.”
“Yeah, wow. Are you ready for round two?”
Oh my God. “Ummm. But you haven’t had round one yet yourself.”
“Trust me, I almost did. And watching you? Well, let’s just say I’ll enjoy having you in my arms when you fall apart next time.”
“Where’s that going to be?” Kate was thinking maybe his place, but her eyes also wandered to the very prominent bed not five feet away.
“There’s good.” Callan picked her up and placed her on the bed, her feet and calves dangling off the edge.
“But this room is ready for guests. It’ll need to be cleaned again.” Even she could hear the merely token protest in her voice.
“Which is why we pay several local teenagers to do just that. It’ll be fine.”
He made quick work of getting rid of her jeans, shoes and socks so that the bottom half of her was laid bare to him. “I’m partially naked and you’re not at all. There’s something wrong with this picture.” A lot wrong, because she could tell he was strong and she wanted to see that body he was hiding underneath all those clothes.
“When I get naked, I’m going to want to be inside of you immediately.”
“Not seeing the problem here.”
“I want to feast on you first.”
“Oh. Well, okay then.”
He slid his hands underneath her hips and moved her until her butt was at the edge of the mattress. He knelt before her and blew on her curls. “So very wet and ready for me.”
“Of course I’m ready for you. I already told you that.”
His answer was a slow glide of his tongue along her slit. “You taste delicious,” he said against her most intimate parts.
Kate’s back bowed as he pressed his tongue against her clit and sucked it into his mouth. The quick and light lashes of his tongue combined with the steady suction of his mouth had her ready to lose her damn mind. Every once in a while, he’d throw in a graze of his teeth against her swollen sex organ and she wanted to explode. She squirmed in his hold, but couldn’t figure out whether she was trying to get away or trying to get closer.
When he dipped his tongue in deeper, she had her answer. She wanted him as close as she could get him.
“I don’t want to come again unless you’re inside me.”
Callan lifted his head, stretched up and kissed her again. “Okay. You win.”
He crawled off her and made quick work of disappearing his clothes.
She’d already known he was tall and had to have been built like a tank, but she didn’t think a literal tank was as close to the mark as it was. He was solid, with a broad chest and arms that she could probably lick for days. Kate knew she was an arm person. What she hadn’t known was just how much of an arm person she really was. Damn, he had the full package.
His chest was covered with the same white-blond hair that made up most of the hair on his head. It traveled along his stomach to meet a slightly darker shade of hair that made up the nest surrounding the base of his erection. His erection that currently stood straight and tall. For her.
And she’d had enough of the eye candy portion for now. She could have another dose later.
“You all done?”
“Just for this little bit. I plan on ogling you more later.”
“Good to know.”
“Um. What about a condom?”
“Oh. Hold on. There might be one in my wallet.”
Kate shook her head. “Never mind. I snuck one from Mrs. Brighton. It’s in the outside pocket of my purse.”
“Really, now. I’m not sure I want to know how that conversation went.”
“She keeps a supply for her guests. Just get the damn thing and let’s get busy.”
Maybe it was because she was picking up on Callan’s feelings for her as well, but she’d never before in her life wanted sex with someone so much.
Wanting him to have as much room as possible on the bed, she turned so she was laid out lengthwise. When he returned to her, he’d already rolled on the condom.
He dipped his tongue between her lips and kissed her deeply. She felt a hunger for him and from him that showed in his intensity.
“I want inside you. Am I allowed in now?”
“Absolutely.” She spread open her legs and he pushed in maybe an inch before withdrawing and pressing in again. Each time he pushed in, he bumped her clit and sparks went off inside her.
Once he was fully seated, he stopped, rested his forehead on hers, had their noses touching.
“Please move. Please,” she whispered.
“I will. I just... I want to savor how you feel wrapped around me. You’re so hot and tight. You’re already squeezing me hard and I know I’m going to shoot off like a rocket. I just want to let this moment sink in.”
Kate wrapped her hand around his neck and brought his lips to hers. He took control immediately and deepened the kiss. She rocked her hips and he moved, matching her rhythm.
All the emotions flooding her, the physical feelings, had Kate coming in no time flat. Her scream was swallowed by Callan and he joined her with a groan.
Rather than collapsing on top of her, he rolled to the side and dragged her with him.
“I wish you’d gotten more than one condom from Mrs. B.”
“I guess we need to hit a drug store in town.”
“And I’ll make a health checkup appointment so you can feel safe.”
Chapter Six
A week later, Callan and Kate had spent as much time together as they could without keeping each other from getting their work done. Although Callan had to admit, he was way behind in getting updates from several areas, as well as getting things done that he’d been tasked to do. Even things he’d given himself to do.
That afternoon, Kate had been exhausted, and he teased her only a little for getting old and not having the stamina of a young person anymore when he kept her up each night having his wicked way with her. So he’d left her at the B and B and came back up the mountain to have a meeting with Carleigh and Conner.
Chris and Grayson were doing a final run through of some security items Gray had on one of his many lists that he was constantly checking and rechecking.
Heh. Next Christmas, Callan was going to make Grayson go as Santa Claus for the pups. Callan wondered how many of the pack would get that it all had to do with the lists.
Carleigh held up a thin stack of large papers. “Kate whipped up some quickie drawings for me to be able to use, not only for promotional materials, but as she called them, a temporary place holder. She said once she’s had time to do proper pieces, then members of the family could take the original ones and use them as toilet paper for all she cared.”
Callan was distracted by Carleigh mentioning Kate and quickie in the same sentence. He adjusted his position in his chair. “Toilet paper?” He rolled his eyes. “What is that woman thinking?”
Carleigh snickered. “No idea. I assured her that nothing she came
up with could possibly be used as that. The more interesting thing to me, though, is that she still thinks all of us on this mountain are family. Not pack.” She leveled a glare at Callan. “She still doesn’t know, does she.”
It wasn’t a question. It was an accusation.
“I can’t go into the reasons. It’s her story to tell and it’s incredibly personal, but she’s scared of wolves.”
Connor asked, “How could she possibly be scared of wolves? It’s not like they’re hanging out on every street corner.”
Callan raised his eyebrow.
“Fine. Around here they are, but we’re different.”
Callan shook his head. “I told you, it’s her story to tell. The point is, I just haven’t figured out a way to spring ‘Hey, you know those creatures who scare you to death? Well, I am one’ on her yet. I know. Crazy.”
“Dayum. Sorry, big brother.” Carleigh walked around the table and hugged him.
Callan accepted her hug then shrugged. “I’ll figure something out. Meanwhile, I’d still love to know what JT is up to before we officially open.”
Connor smirked at their sister. “Hey, Car. Didn’t one of the brothers have a crush on you? Or was it their friend? Why don’t you offer—?”
Carleigh threw her notebook straight at Connor’s head. If he didn’t have the reflexes of a wolf, the spiral binding might’ve poked out his eye.
“Let me make sure you’ve got this straight in that pea-brained head of yours. I don’t care how badly you want to know what JT is up to. I will never, and I mean never, contact any of the three crazies he hangs out with. Got it?”
Callan sat up straight. “I certainly have it. Connor? Any confusion on the subject?”
Connor threw his hands up in front of him. “Nope. Crystal clear over here.”
Car growled at them both. “Good.”
A car came up the drive. It was Kate’s car. Huh.
“I thought you said she was staying in town to get a nap,” Carleigh said.
Mated: A Paranormal Romance Shifter Anthology Page 23