When the aftershocks of her orgasm had passed, he pulled away and began removing his jeans. And then he moved his body in position over hers, sliding between her open legs and entering her in one smooth thrust.
He was home. And he began moving, stroking parts of her insides that his tongue hadn’t been able to reach, but his manhood could. And this way he could connect with all of her now. This way. Mating with her while breathing in her delicious scent, as the taste of her was still embedded in his mouth.
The magnitude of what they were sharing sent him reeling over the top, and he felt his own body beginning to explode. He felt his release shoot straight into her the moment he called out her name.
Instinctively, her body began milking him again, pulling everything out of him, making him moan in pleasure. And he knew this was just a part of what he felt for her. And it wasn’t lust. It was everything love was based on—the physical and the emotional. And he hoped she would see it. Every day she was here he would show her both sides of love. He would share his body with her. He would share his soul. And he would continue to make her his.
He was tempted to tell her right then and there how he felt, let her know she was his soul mate, but he knew he couldn’t. Not yet. She had to realize for herself that there was more between them than this. She had to realize and believe that she was the only woman for him.
He believed that would happen and, thankfully, he had a little time on his side to break down her defenses, to get her to see that all men weren’t alike, and that he was the man destined to love her forever.
“So what do you think of this one, Gemma?” Mira Austell asked, showing Gemma the diamond earrings dangling from her ears.
“They’re beautiful,” Gemma said, and truly meant it.
The Austell ladies had picked her up around ten and it was almost four in the afternoon and they were still at it. Gemma didn’t want to think about all the stores they had patronized or how many bags they had between the five of them.
Gemma had seen this gorgeous pair of sandals she just had to buy and also a party dress, since Callum had offered to take her to a club on the beach when she mentioned that she enjoyed dancing.
This particular place—an upscale jewelry store—was their last stop before calling it a day. Le’Claire suggested they stop here, since she wanted a new pair of pearl earrings.
“Gemma, Mira, come look at all these gorgeous rings,” Le’Shaunda was saying, and within seconds they were all crowded around the glass case.
“I really like that one,” Annette said, picking out a solitaire with a large stone.
“Umm, and I like that one,” Le’Claire said, smiling. “I have a birthday coming up soon, so it’s time to start dropping hints.”
Gemma thought Callum’s mother was beautiful and could understand how his father had fallen in love so fast. And no wonder Todd gave her anything she wanted. But then Callum gave her anything she wanted as well. Like father, like son. Todd had trained his offspring well. Last weekend Callum had treated her to a picnic on the beach, and another one was planned for this weekend as well. She had enjoyed her time with him and couldn’t help but appreciate the time and attention he gave to her when he really didn’t have to do so.
“Gemma, which of these do you like the best?” Le’Claire asked.
Gemma pressed her nose to the glass case as she peered inside. All the rings were beautiful and no doubt expensive. But if she had to choose…
“That one,” she said, pointing to a gorgeous four-carat, white-gold, emerald-cut ring. “I think that’s simply beautiful.”
The other ladies agreed, and each picked out their favorites. The store clerk even let everyone try them on to see how each ring looked on their hands. Gemma was amused by how the others said they would remind their husbands about those favorites when it got close to their birthdays.
“It’s almost dinnertime, so we might as well go somewhere to get something to eat,” Le’Shaunda said. “I know a wonderful restaurant nearby.”
Le’Claire beamed. “That’s a wonderful idea.”
Gemma thought it was a wonderful idea as well, although she missed seeing Callum. He had begun joining her for lunch every day at her office, always bringing good sandwiches for her to eat and wine to drink. They usually went out to a restaurant in town for dinner. Tonight they planned to watch a movie and make love. Or they would make love and then watch a movie. She liked the latter better, since they could make love again after the movie.
“Did Callum mention anything to you about a hunting trip in a couple of weeks?” Annette asked.
Gemma smiled over at her. “Yes, he did. I understand all the men are leaving for a six-day trip.”
“Yes,” Mira said as if she was eager for Colin to be gone. The other woman glanced over at Gemma and explained. “Of course I’m going to miss my husband, but that’s when we ladies get to do another shopping trip.”
Everyone laughed and Gemma couldn't keep from laughing right along with them.
Thirteen
“Hello,” Gemma mumbled into the telephone receiver.
“Wake up, sleepy.”
A smile touched Gemma’s lips as she slowly forced her eyes fully open. “Callum,” she whispered. “Who else?”
She smiled sleepily. He had left two days ago on a hunting trip with his father and brothers and would be gone for another four days. “I’ve been thinking about you.”
“I’ve been thinking about you, too, sweetheart. I miss you already,” he said.
“And I miss you, too,” she said, realizing at that moment just how much. He had taken her to a party at his friend’s home last weekend and she had felt special walking in with him. And he’d never left her side. It was nice meeting some of the guys he’d gone to college with. And the night before leaving to go hunting he’d taken her to the movies again. He filled a lot of her time when she wasn’t working, so yes, she did miss him already.
“That’s good to hear. You had a busy day yesterday, right?”
She pulled herself up in bed. “Yes, but Kathleen and I were able to make sure everything would be delivered as planned.”
“Don’t forget, you promised to take a break and let me fly you to India when I get back.”
“Yes, and I’m looking forward to it, although I hope there isn’t a lot of turbulence on that flight.”
“You never know, but you’ll be with me and I’ll take care of you.”
Her smile widened. “You always do.”
A few moments later they ended the call, and she fluffed her pillow and stretched out in the bed. It was hard to believe that she had been in Australia four weeks already. Four glorious weeks. She missed her family and friends back home, but Callum and his family were wonderful and treated her like she was one of them.
She planned to go shopping with his mother, sister and sisters-in-law again tomorrow, and then there would be a sleepover at Le’Claire’s home. She genuinely liked the Austell women and had had some rather amusing moments when they’d shared just how they handled their men. It had been hilarious when Le’Claire even gave pointers to Le’Shaunda, who claimed her husband could be stubborn at times.
But nothing, Gemma thought, could top all the times she’d spent with Callum. They could discuss anything. When she’d received the call that Niecee had been arrested, she had let him handle it so that her emotions wouldn’t stop her from making sure the woman was punished for what she had done. And then there were the flowers he continued to send her every week, and the “I’m thinking of you” notes that he would leave around the house for her to find. She stared up at the ceiling, thinking that Callum was definitely not like other men. The woman he married would be very lucky.
At that moment a sharp pain settled around her heart at the thought of any other woman with Callum, sharing anything close to what they had shared this past month. To know that another woman, his soul mate, would be living with him in the house she was decorating almost made her ill.
She eased to the edge of the bed, knowing why she felt that way. She had fallen in love with him. “Oh, no!”
She dropped back on the bed and covered her face with her hands. How did she let that happen? Although Callum wouldn’t intentionally break her heart, he would break it just the same. How could she have fallen in love with him? She knew the answer without much thought. Callum was an easy man to love. But it wasn’t meant for her to be the one to love him. He had told her about his soul mate.
She got out of bed and headed for the bathroom, knowing what she had to do. There was no way she would not finish the job she came here to do, but she needed to return home for at least a week or two to get her head screwed back on straight. Kathleen could handle things until she returned. And when she got back, she’d be capable of handling a relationship with Callum the way it should be handled. She would still love him, but at least she would have thought things through and come to the realization she couldn’t ever be the number one woman in his life. She’d have to be satisfied with that.
A few hours later she had showered, dressed and packed a few of her things. She had called Kathleen and given her instructions as to what needed to be done in her absence, and assured the older woman that she would be back in a week or so.
Gemma decided not to call Callum to tell him she was leaving. He would wonder why she was taking off all of a sudden. She would think of an excuse to give him when she got home to Denver. She wiped the tears from her eyes. She had let the one thing happen to her that she’d always sworn would never happen.
She had fallen in love with a man who didn’t love her.
Callum stood on the porch of the cabin and glanced all around. Nothing, he thought, was more beautiful than the Australian outback. He could recall the first time he’d come to this cabin as a child with his brothers, father and grandfather.
His thoughts drifted to Gemma. He knew for certain that she was his soul mate. The last month had been idyllic. Waking up with her in his arms every morning, making love with her each night, was as perfect as perfect could get. And he was waiting patiently for her to realize that she loved him, too.
It would be then that they would talk about it and he would tell her that he loved her as well, that he’d known for a while that she was the one, but had wanted her to come to that realization on her own.
Callum took a sip of his coffee. He had a feeling she was beginning to realize it. More than once over the past week he’d caught her staring at him with an odd look on her face, as if she was trying to figure out something. And at night when she gave herself to him, it was as if he would forever be the only man in her life. Just as, when he made love to her, he wanted her to believe that she would forever be the only woman in his.
“Callum. You got a call. It’s Mom.”
Morris’s voice intruded on his thoughts and he reentered the cabin and picked up the phone. “Yes, Mom?”
“Callum, it’s Gemma.”
His heart nearly stopped beating. He knew the ladies had a shopping trip planned for tomorrow. “What’s wrong with Gemma? What happened?”
“I’m not sure. She called and asked me to take her to the airport.”
“Airport?”
“Yes. She said she had to return home for a while, and I could tell she’d been crying.”
He rubbed his forehead. That didn’t make any sense. He’d just spoken to her that morning and she was fine. She had two pregnant sisters-in-law and he hoped nothing had happened. “Did she say why she was leaving, Mom? Did she mention anything about a family crisis?”
“No, in fact I asked and she said it had nothing to do with her family.”
Callum pulled in a deep breath, not understanding any of this.
“Have you told her yet that you’re in love with her, Callum?”
“No. I didn’t want to rush her and was giving us time to develop a relationship before doing that. I wanted her to see from my actions that I loved her and get her to admit to herself that she loved me, too.”
“Now I understand completely,” Le’Claire said softly.
“You do?”
“Yes.”
“Then how about explaining things to me because I’m confused.”
He heard his mother’s soft chuckle. “You’re a man, so you would be. I think the reason Gemma left is because she realizes that she loves you. She’s running away.”
Callum was even more confused. “Why would she do something like that?”
“Because if she loves you and you don’t love her back then—”
“But I do love her back.”
“But she doesn’t know that. And if you explained about waiting for a soul mate the way you explained it to me, she’s probably thinking it’s not her.”
The moment his mother’s words hit home, Callum threw his head back in frustration and groaned. “I think you’re right, Mom.”
“I think I’m right, too. So what are you going to do?”
A smile cascaded across Callum’s lips. “I'm going after my woman.”
Fourteen
Ramsey Westmoreland had been in the south pasture most of the day, but when he got home he’d heard from Chloe that Gemma was back. She’d called for Megan to pick her up at the airport. And according to what Megan had shared with Chloe, Gemma looked like she’d cried during the entire eighteen-hour flight.
He was about to place a call to Callum to find out what the hell had happened when he received a call from Colin saying Callum was on his way to Denver. The last thing Ramsey needed in his life was drama. He’d had more than enough during his affair with Chloe.
But here he was getting out of his truck to go knock on the door to make sure Gemma was all right. Callum was on his way and Ramsey would leave it to his best friend to handle Gemma from here on out because his sister could definitely be Miss Drama Queen. And seeing that she was here at Callum’s cabin and not at her own place spoke volumes, whether she knew it or not. However, for now he would play the dumb-ass, just to satisfy his curiosity. And Chloe’s.
He knocked on the door and it was yanked open. For a moment he was taken aback. Gemma looked like a mess, but he had enough sense not to tell her that. Instead, he took off his hat, passed by her and said in a calm tone. “Back from Australia early, aren’t you?”
“Just here for a week or two. I’m going back,” she said in a strained voice, which he pretended not to hear.
“Where’s Callum? I’m surprised he let you come by yourself, knowing how afraid you are of flying. Was there a lot of turbulence?”
“I didn’t notice.”
Probably because you were too busy crying your eyes out. He hadn’t seen her look like this since their parents’ funeral. Ramsey leaned against a table in the living room and glanced around. He then looked back at her. “Any reason you’re here and not at your own place, Gemma?”
He knew it was the wrong question to ask when suddenly her mouth quivered and she started to sob. “I love him, but he doesn’t love me. I’m not his soul mate. But that’s okay. I can deal with it. I just didn’t want to ever cry over a man the way those girls used to do when Zane and Derringer broke up with them. I swore that would never happen to me. I swore I would never be one of them and fall for a guy who didn’t love me back.”
Ramsey could only stare at her. She actually thought Callum didn’t love her? He opened his mouth to tell her just how wrong she was, then suddenly closed it. It was not his place to tell her anything. He would gladly let Callum deal with this.
“Sorry, Ram, but I need to be alone for a minute.” He then watched as she quickly walked into the bedroom and closed the door behind her.
Moments later Ramsey was outside, about to open the door to his truck to leave when a vehicle pulled up. He sighed in relief when he saw Callum quickly getting out of the car.
“Ramsey, I went to Gemma’s place straight from the airport and she wasn’t there. Where the hell is she?”
Ramsey leaned against his truck. Callu
m looked like he hadn’t slept for a while. “She’s inside and I’m out of here. I’ll let you deal with it.”
Callum paused before entering his cabin. Ramsey had jumped into his truck and left in a hurry. Had Gemma trashed his place or something? Drawing in a deep breath, he removed his hat before slowly opening the door.
He strolled into the living room and glanced around. Everything was in order, but Gemma was nowhere in sight. Then he heard a sound coming from the bedroom. He perked up his ears. It was Gemma and she was crying. The sound tore at his heart.
Placing his hat on the rack, he quickly crossed the room and opened his bedroom door. And there she was, lying in his bed with her head buried in his pillows.
He quietly closed the door behind him and leaned against it. Although he loved her and she loved him, he was still responsible for breaking her heart. But, if nothing else, he’d learned over the past four weeks that the only way to handle Gemma was to let her think she was in control, even when she really wasn’t. And even if you had to piss her off a little in the process.
“Gemma?”
She jerked up so fast he thought she was going to tumble out of the bed. “Callum! What are you doing here?” She stood quickly, but not before giving one last swipe to her eyes.
“I could ask you the same thing, since this is my place,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest.
She threw her hair over her shoulder. “I knew you weren’t here,” she said as if that explained everything. It didn’t.
“So you took off from Australia, left a job unfinished, got on a plane although you hate flying to come here. For what reason, Gemma?”
She lifted her chin and glared at him. “I don’t have to answer that, since it’s none of your business.”
Callum couldn’t help but smile at that. He moved away from the door to stand in front of her. “Wrong. It is my business. Both business and personal. It’s business because I hired you to do a job and you’re not there doing it. And it’s personal because it’s you and anything involving you is personal to me.”
What a Westmoreland Wants Page 13