While he wasn’t the only guy here wearing the formal outfit, he was by far the best looking. With his dark hair, trimmed beard and dark eyes, the only thing I can say is ‘move over Pierce Brosnan, there’s a new Bond in town’.
Cal accepts two glasses of champagne from one of the waiters walking around with drinks and offers one to me, noticing, for the first time, that people, male and female alike, are watching us.
“I think that dress is drawing some attention, Cris.”
I’m so surprised by his words that I almost choke on my champagne. Seriously, he thinks it’s the dress creating the attention?
“Really? You think it’s me?”
“Well who else could it be?” Cal says as he takes a sip of the fizzy drink.
“Have you seen you?” I say, keeping my voice quiet. “You look like you just stepped off the cover of GQ magazine in that tux. Every woman in the room has had their eyes on you since we walked in.”
Cal looks at me and then glances around the room, seeing dozens of female eyes look away as he does, and for the first time since we got together, he actually blushes. Reaching up, he tugs on the collar of his shirt and clears his throat.
“Well, don’t I feel a little self-conscious,” he says as he turns back to me.
“Just be your usual charming self and you’ll be fine. I know one thing though: I’m going to be the envy of every woman in the office when I go back to work on Monday.” I see Cal roll his eyes at my comment when I feel a hand on my shoulder. Turning, I see Amanda, my boss, smiling at me. Her sleek blond hair is fixed in an intricate up do. Her blue eyes are showcased by a dark grey shadow with sparkly silver lashes, and her lips are painted ruby red to match the floor-length dress she’s wearing.
“Amanda, you look great. This place looks amazing.”
“Crissie, thank you so much. I’m so glad you could make it,” she says as she gives me a quick hug before turning to Cal. “And you must be Caleb. Crissie has told me all about you.”
I watch Caleb as he extends his hand to my boss, who accepts it in a quick shake. I was half expecting her to pull him in for a hug. I know Amanda is single and, whilst I don’t think she would try anything with Cal, I know she has a weakness for guys who look after themselves. Even though Cal is fully clothed, anyone can see he’s a guy who works out.
In fact, I didn’t realise how much he works out now until a few weeks ago. He’d pulled me in for a hug, like he does every so often, and my hands were on his biceps, and I remember thinking, like I have done so many times but never mentioned, how there was more definition there.
When I asked him about it, he confessed that throughout the time we’d been unable to have sex, he’d visited a local gym on his lunch break to help him burn off the excess energy. When I told him I approved, he’d started going more frequently, and I was definitely the one benefiting from it.
There’s something to be said for having a strong man in the bedroom. Not that we had a problem in that area before, but with Cal bulking up like he had, any issues we may have had were completely banished. The man could fling me around like a rag doll, not that I ever complained.
Complaining was always the farthest thing from my mind when he picked me up, pinned me against the wall and pounded into me until I came apart in his arms. Coming back to reality, I see that Amanda had moved on and Cal has a smirk on his face as he looks at me.
“What’s that smirk for?” I ask him.
“I know where your mind was just then,” he says as he takes a step closer. “You were pulling your ‘I want sex’ face.”
“I do not have a face like that,” I exclaim, pretending to be offended.
“Oh, baby, you do, and it’s so fucking hot.” He moves closer to me and pulls me to him, so close I can feel he’s getting hard behind his tailored tuxedo trousers. My eyes widen as I look up at him, my body beginning to react as he strokes his fingers across the bare skin at the small of my back.
“This dress was a great choice,” he says, before leaning down to whisper in my ear, “Easy access to what’s mine is always a good thing.” His fingers dip below the material of my dress, and I hear him suck in a breath, knowing the reason why. “Fuck, Cris, you’re not wearing knickers?”
I chew on my bottom lip and give him a slight shake of my head. I’m not sure why I chose to forgo my knickers tonight. I had no choice but to lose the bra, what with the glittery silver dress being practically backless, but the knickers had been an afterthought. We’d practically been out the door when I decided to remove them, and judging by Cal’s reaction, he approved.
Because of the way we are standing, no one can see that Cal’s hand is now caressing my bare backside, or that his trousers are now a bit snug in the crotch area. Quickly, Cal removes his hand and grabs mine, and we weave our way through the growing crowd.
I wave at a few people as I hurry behind Cal, which is no mean feat in my four-inch heels. We leave the hall hosting the party and head down a hallway. We stop every now and then as Cal tries a few doors, each one locked. I smile when I realise what he’s doing, my smile only widening when I remember what I’m wearing under the dress.
After a few more tries, one of the doors swings open. Without preamble, Cal pulls me inside and closes the door, before he pushes me against it and starts kissing me hard on the mouth. I match his urgency as he fists his one hand in my hair, tugging my head back as he drags his mouth down my throat, nipping and licking as he goes.
With his other hand, he tugs the neckline of my dress down, pushing my breasts up to his eager mouth. I let out a whimper as he latches on to my nipple and bites gently before swirling his tongue around the tip. When he bites again, the stab of pain shoots straight to my clit, and I feel it begin to throb, needing his attention.
Cal slides his hand down my body and hooks it under my knee, lifting my leg up to his side. He strokes my thigh, stopping suddenly as he releases my breast and looks down, pushing the skirt of my dress up past my hips.
“Fuck, that’s hot.”
I know Cal is referring to the stockings and suspender belt I’m wearing, and a wave of female pride washes over me as I look down at him. He drops my dress and pulls me over to a nearby table. He spins me around and pushes me forward, so my hands are flat on the wooden surface.
Glancing over my shoulder, I see him throw my dress up, so my arse is revealed to him, and he gently strokes it before giving it a gentle slap. Okay, that was strange. He’s never done that before, and I actually liked it. I hear the buckle of his belt, followed by the zipper on his trousers, and within seconds, he is pushing inside me.
We both groan at the sensation as he fills me before withdrawing slowly. When he slams back, I fall forward onto the table, my chest pressed into the wood, my head facing the door as he continues to hammer into me. His fingers dig into my hips as he pulls me back onto him, going deeper with every thrust. Anyone could walk in on us right now, and that thought alone is enough to work my body up, and I feel my muscles begin to tighten.
“You’re so hot, Cris. I fucking love being inside you.” His thrusts pick up pace, and soon enough we’re both panting and groaning every time he slams into me, and it’s not long before we’re both crying out as we come together.
“Holy shit.” I sigh as Cal slips out of me, using a few of the tissues off the desk to clean me up before he straightens my dress and helps me stand. “Where the hell did that come from?” I say as I fix my hair, hoping I don’t have the so-called just fucked look.
After Cal cleans up and tucks himself away, he grins at me. “You’re wearing no knickers with stockings and suspenders. You’re lucky I didn’t take you as soon as I realised about the knickers.”
The look he gives me is full of heat, and if I weren’t already flushed, the colour would be filling my cheeks at his words. I check my dress, making sure I’m not flashing anything before Cal takes my hand and kisses me gently on the lips.
“We should head back before people real
ise we’re missing.”
“I think that ship sailed as soon as you walked out the room.” When Cal shoots me a look, I continue, “Everyone woman would have seen when you left the room, and those who didn’t would have realised you’d gone within seconds.”
Cal opens the door and peers into the hallway, making sure it’s clear before leading me out and back towards the party.
“You know, the same could be said for you. There wasn’t a man in that room who didn’t fantasise about seeing what you look like out of that dress.”
“Well, they can fantasise all they like, only you get to see what’s underneath,” I say as we round the corner.
“I should damn well think so,” Cal says with a grin as he kisses my nose before we head back in to the party.
Chapter 26
Crissie
April 2011
I think that’s everything.
Standing with my hands on my hips, I stare at everything I’ve got laid out on the bed. Tomorrow is Cal’s twenty-third birthday, and, as a surprise, I’m taking him for a short break in Spain. It took me forever to decide what to get him, and it was actually Lizzie’s suggestion to go away for a few days.
She was able to get his passport for me, which only had twelve months left on it, so I lucked out there. I had spoken with his boss, who assured me his son would be able to manage for the few days Cal would be away, and Amanda was more than happy to let me have a few days off.
When I had all the information, I managed to book flights leaving from Manchester airport tomorrow morning, returning to the UK the following Tuesday. We would be staying in a lovely four-star hotel situated right on the beach. We’d have four days and nights of sun, sea and sand with no work and no interruptions.
It was going to be heavenly.
When I was sure I had everything, I grabbed my suitcase from on top of the wardrobe and started packing everything we needed for our weekend away.
After being together for almost five years, this would be our first overseas holiday together. We’d been away in the UK a few times, staying in caravans or chalets, usually on the south coast, but neither of us had ever thought about going abroad. When Lizzie made the suggestion, I decided to run with the idea.
I can’t wait to see Cal’s reaction when I tell him what the plans are for the weekend. He thinks we’re just going out for a meal on Saturday, the day of his birthday, which technically is correct. I just haven’t told him the meal will be in Spain.
My dad has agreed to take us to the airport in the morning and will be picking us up at four-thirty a.m. He has told me it shouldn’t take any longer than forty-five minutes to get to the airport at that time of day and seeing as our flight is at seven-thirty a.m., it gives us plenty of time to get checked in and browse through the duty free before boarding the plane.
When I’ve put the last of the items in the case, I zip it up and secure it with a padlock before sliding it underneath the bed. I don’t want Cal to see it until I have told him where we are going.
Checking the time, I see it’s almost six. Cal will be home any minute. Hurrying through to the living room, I flop down onto the sofa and use the remote to turn on the TV. By the time Cal walks through the door five minutes later, I’m watching a repeat of The Simpsons.
“Hey, baby. How’s your day been?”
“Same as usual. When you’ve seen one engine, you’ve seen them all. How about yours? Did you manage to get rid of your headache?”
In order to get out of going to work today, I told Cal I wasn’t feeling well this morning. Truth was, Amanda had let me take today off so I could get everything sorted for our trip, but Cal didn’t have to know that. Not yet anyway.
“Yeah, I feel loads better now. Sleep and a dark room helped.”
“That’s good to hear, Cris. I’m going to go jump in the shower. Can you order our usual Chinese? I shouldn’t be too long.”
I nod and smile at him as he heads into the bedroom, hoping he doesn’t notice the missing suitcase from on top of the wardrobe. I hold my breath until I hear the shower turn on, then release it. Safe. For now, anyway.
Getting up from the sofa, I grab the Chinese takeaway menu from the drawer in the TV unit and call them, placing our usual order of chicken curry, beef with black bean sauce, two portions of egg fried rice and a portion of chips. The lady tells me it should be with us within half an hour, and I thank her before ending the call.
I head into the kitchen and open the fridge, hearing the shower turn off as I grab a beer for Cal and pour a glass of wine for me. As I walk back through to the living room, Cal enters, and I stop in my tracks. I try my hardest not to stare at him but fail miserably.
His hair is damp and dishevelled from the towel he usually rubs through it. His chest is bare and he’s barefoot in just a pair of jogging bottoms that sit low on his hips. How he makes a simple pair of bottoms look so sexy, I have no idea, but seeing him like this, especially since he has been going to the gym more often, has done wonders for my libido. Not that I had any issues before, but now, seeing the changes to his body, it makes my blood sing as it rushes through my veins.
Averting my eyes when I glance up and see his knowing smirk, I hand him his beer as we sit on the sofa.
“I’ve been thinking about getting a tattoo.”
I put my wine down and turn to him, surprise evident on my face. “Where’s that come from? You’ve never mentioned getting one before.”
“You don’t like the idea?”
“No. I mean, yes, I do. I think a tattoo on you would be sexy as hell. I just wondered where the idea came from?”
“Nowhere in particular. One of the guys at the gym was showing off his new one the other day and it got me thinking. I think I could pull off a tat, don’t you think?”
I smile and burst out laughing when he begins flexing his biceps, pulling all sorts of poses from his place on the sofa, stopping when the doorbell chimes. Cal jumps up from the sofa and heads to the door, opening it quickly. I’m unable to stifle my giggles at the face of the delivery girl when met with a shirtless Cal.
He’d never carried much weight before the gym, but now that he goes at least three times a week, the definition in his chest and the six pack that is now his mission to maintain are all on show, and the poor girl doesn’t know where to look.
“Umm, hi, here’s your food. That’ll be £16.25 please.”
Cal accepts the bag containing our food, then realises he has no money on him as he turns to me. I grab the money from my purse and walk over. He’s still standing there in all his bare-chested glory as the delivery girl tries her hardest not to stare at him. I almost feel sorry for her.
“Go sort the food out and leave the poor girl alone.” Cal looks at me, confused by my statement before turning towards the kitchen. I hand over a twenty to the girl and shake my head. “Sorry about him. He has no idea of the effect he can have on women.”
The girl smiles and hands me my change.
“How do you get anything done with him walking around like that?” she asks curiously as I glance over at him getting the food ready, the muscles in his back twisting and stretching as he moves.
“It’s a hardship I have to bear, so others don’t have to.” Turning back to the girl, we both burst out laughing just as Cal walks through to the living room and deposits the food, plates and cutlery on the table. The girl wishes us a good evening before I close the door and join Cal at the table.
“What was all that about?” he asks as he empties one of the rice containers onto his plate and takes a few handfuls of chips.
“Oh, just girl talk. Nothing for you to worry about.”
“If you say so.” Cal spoons his beef over the rice and chips, leaving me the other portion of rice, the remainder of the chips and my favourite: Chinese chicken curry. We take our loaded plates back over to the sofa and settle in for the evening.
Twenty minutes later, my stomach feels like its full ten times over and I’m strugglin
g to move as I sit forward, stand, and take my plate into the kitchen. Cal follows a few minutes later, his plate now clear. He grabs another beer from the fridge and leans against the counter as I fill the sink, so I can get the washing up done and out of the way.
“So, this tattoo? What were you thinking of getting, and where?”
“I’ve not decided on the ‘what’ yet, but I was thinking about across my left shoulder and down my arm to my elbow.” He shows me with his other hand where he imagines the tattoo will go, and I decide that I one hundred percent approve. I love his biceps, so they will only look even better when they’re inked. I nod my approval as I continue washing the plates and cutlery from our dinner.
I haven’t told him about our weekend away yet, and I know I need to soon as we will need to be up early tomorrow to make sure we’re ready for when my dad comes to pick us up. When the washing up is done, I dry my hands on a nearby towel and go back to the living room, followed by Cal.
“So, it’s almost your birthday. What would you like to do?” I ask him, trying to sound as casual as I can.
“I’ve not thought about it really. It’s not like it’s a big birthday or anything. To be honest, I’d be happy with just spending a weekend with my best girl and having a meal out on the Saturday night.”
I smile at him as he takes my hand in his and kisses my knuckles. I lift my legs and tuck them under me as I turn to face him. “Well, what if I were to tell you that tomorrow morning, my dad is coming round to take us to the airport so we can fly over to Spain for a few days to celebrate your birthday?”
Cal looks at me, trying to figure out if I’m being serious, before he shakes his head. “That sounds great, Cris, but I have work to get done and—”
“Work is all sorted, Cal. You don’t need to worry about that. We fly out from Manchester tomorrow and come back on Tuesday.”
Takes You Page 12