She stuffed her plastic bag in her backpack, shaking her head. “That was humiliating.”
“Does it embarrass you when you buy Tampons? Buying condoms is the same as buying ladies’ sanitary napkins.”
“Oh, and you’ve done that?”
Callum ignored her question, which really irked her. Had he shopped for napkins before? If yes, for whom? His ex-fiancée maybe?
“Stop torturing yourself with nonsense.”
“Hey, for your information, when I think, I think about important stuff. Not nonsense.”
“Good.”
Marisol followed Callum to a motorcycle shop. The bikes on display resembled the one that Callum had hidden in her dad’s garage. She watched him talk to the man he called Carl. They shook hands. Carl gave Callum a loud smack on his back that would have toppled an ordinary man. Lord, Carl must have been seven feet tall. His hands were big. His feet looked as long as her thighs, and well, everything about him was big. Despite his height and size, he moved gracefully. Aura and major power oozed from the man. Carl’s almost ghostly eyes pierced her. He looked at her as if he could see all the way to her bones. She quickly erased the freaky thought and smiled when Callum introduced her. Carl, to her surprise, smiled shyly, blushed, combed his hair with his long fingers and then went back to scowling again.
Marisol opened her mouth to inquire about the motorcycles, but Callum anchored his arm around her shoulder and pulled her tight beside him. Odd, that.
Another man came. He too gave her a you-do-not-belong-here look. He scowled. She smiled. He blushed. Interesting, she thought.
“Thanks, Carl. I’ll come by to look at the bike later. Let’s go, Marisol.”
“Callum, I have a feeling I’m not welcome here,” she whispered as soon as they were out of earshot, although she suspected they could still hear her.
“What made you think that?”
“The scowl.”
“They scowl was because you’re not a shape-shifter. Besides, you’re not supposed to be here.”
Marisol stopped in her tracks. “Then why’d you bring me here?” God, she wanted to remove her shoe and thwack the back of his head.
Callum didn’t answer. And he stopped walking, too.
A beautiful woman stood in front of them. Dang, she made Marisol feel bland. She wondered what kind of shampoo the stranger used to have such shiny and healthy looking hair. And look at her skin—milky white, no blemish. This woman’s body was clothed in a leather tank top and short skimpy leather skirt that put Angelina Jolie’s boobylicious shape to shame.
“Callum, darling. I knew you’d be here.”
“Hi, Viola.”
Watching the two, Marisol could tell they weren’t just friends. They’d been beneath one sheet, shared the same bed, and pillow talk. They knew each other intimately. The woman’s next move proved her right. She took a couple more steps until she was toe to toe with Callum then leaned in for a kiss. She did it with familiarity and ease. Callum didn’t try to avoid the kiss. He just stood there, but he did smile.
She hated what she was seeing and what she was feeling. Her chest hurt so badly, as though someone had clamped it with a viselike grip. The kiss shouldn’t affect her, but it did. Maybe she should just go back home.
I’m stupid.
“Hmmm...you always taste good. Happy to see me?”
“Viola, you’re looking good.”
“I wish you’d prove that I’m pleasing to look at, Callum. It’s been a long time.”
“What are you doing here?”
“You haven’t been in Seattle in a while so I thought I’d come here. Glad I did. Will you come back with me to Seattle’s Best?”
“I have business here, Viola.”
Marisol listened. Who was this woman to Callum? Was she the one who needed the sanitary napkins?
“Viola, this is Marisol. Mark’s daughter.”
“Ah, that’s why I smell something...not quite right. You’re brave to come down here, human, but then, you’re with Callum.” Viola wrapped her arm around Callum. “Understandable, since my fiancé has a habit of taking hapless humans under his wing.”
Fiancé? But, he said...Oh my God. What a damn liar. Right then, she wanted to kick Callum’s ass. “Your fiancé didn’t take me under his wing. I’m on my own. And if you’re referring to my dad as a hapless human—”
Marisol didn’t get a chance to finish her sentence. Viola had already turned her attention back to Callum.
“You know where to find me, darling. I’ll wait. Nice meeting you, human.” With a smile that annoyed Marisol, Viola walked away.
“Don’t let me stop you from going with her. You said this is a safe place. I’ll be fine here. There must be a hotel here.”
“Marisol, she’s—”
“Hey, there’s no need to explain. You know why? Because I don’t care about your love life, what you do, or whom you hang out with. Which way to the closest hotel? I’m tired. You can go back to Seattle or wherever. You probably have dens everywhere, littered with puppies. What are you grinning about?”
“Come with me.”
“No.”
Callum shook his head. His gaze roamed around her face, and then centered on her lips. “What ruffled your feathers?”
“I’m not ruffled at all. Just annoyed to find myself in a den of wolves who want my sword.”
***
One bed, one bathroom. A studio apartment. Perfect for a bachelor.
Marisol looked around the room. It was sparsely furnished and clean. Except for a small tapestry, there weren’t any pictures on the wall.
“Food will be here soon. Do you mind if I take a shower?”
Callum took his shirt off and threw it on the nearby chair. When he began unbuttoning his pants, Marisol turned to inspect the crystal wolf on the shelf that served as a bookend.
“Of course not. This is your room. I want to shower, too. Care to tell me where my room is?”
“You’re in it.”
“Don’t push me, Callum. I’m not in the mood. Where will I sleep?”
“See that bed? That’s where you and I will sleep.”
“I don’t think so.”
“If you’re in a tizzy because of Viola, you’re just wasting your energy.”
“Oh! I told you I’m annoyed about being here. Not because of Viola. Why would I be upset because of her?”
“You’re jealous because of what she told you.”
“That’s the most arrogant and stupid opinion I’ve ever heard. I’m not jealous and I don’t care if you two swap saliva or bodily fluids. Just because we had sex doesn’t mean I’ve gone soft and fallen in love with you.”
“You already are, Marisol.”
“You’re dreaming.”
Callum had the audacity to laugh? She punched him in the stomach. As soon as her fist connected, he grabbed her hand and pulled her against him. “She’s nothing to me.”
“I don’t give a shit.”
“I’d like it if you did.”
“Why?”
Callum shrugged his shoulder. “You did great today. You rode on my bike without your arms squeezing the breath out of me. Instead, you used your thighs to keep from falling. And the way you fired my guns—like a real pro. I’m so proud of you.”
“Thanks. Well…” She pulled her hand and grabbed her backpack. “Since you won’t show me where my room is, I’ll take yours instead. I’m sure you’ll have another place to shower. Excuse me.” She tried to walk around him. “After all the shooting we did, I need a long shower.”
Callum didn’t let her pass. He blocked the bathroom door—it was an easy thing to do since he was almost as tall and wide as the door. “Such a brat.” He cupped her face with his hands then captured her mouth with his before Marisol could say anything.
The moment their lips touched, her anger flew out of the room. Marisol dropped her bag on the floor and ran her fingers through his thick hair. “You’re taking too much libe
rty in kissing me.”
“No, I’m just taking what’s mine.”
“Why would Viola say that she’s your fiancée?”
“Because that’s what she wants.” Callum let go of her to run the shower. “We share this bathroom, too, baby.”
He began stripping her clothes. The anticipation of what was to come nearly killed her. But the wait was well worth it, especially when she stood under the hot shower while Callum ran the bar of soap over her back.
Her skin puckered when Callum nipped her shoulder. “I could do this for eternity.”
“That’s a long time to be soaping my back.”
“Not just your back, love. Here, too.” His hands glided to her breasts and began massaging them. “And here.”
Marisol moaned when Callum ran the soap back and forth in between her legs. He was seducing her and she loved every minute of it. “I’ll be sparkling clean when you’re done.”
Callum chuckled. “Turn around.”
She did. Callum adjusted the showerhead so the water sprayed on her chest. Once the soap on her breasts was gone, he began sucking her nipples. “Hmmm...perfect.”
“Callum.” She gripped his hair and watched his mouth suckle her. The image was so erotic that she turned even hotter.
Callum didn’t stop his ministrations on her breasts. He continued going down until he was directly in front of her pubic mound. “Spread your legs, love. I want to taste you again.”
Biting her lower lip, Marisol moved her left foot to the side.
Callum took her hand. “Now open your lips for me.”
Marisol knew what he meant. Using her fingers, she spread herself. “Callum…”
“Fuck, you’re beautiful.” And he laved her like a cat licking its paw. Over and over, he ran the flat of his tongue on her.
“Callum, please. I want…I want...”
“You want to come, baby?”
“Yes.”
Callum stood up and opened the shower’s glass door. He wrapped his arms around her hips, picked her up, and took her back to the bedroom where he tossed her on the bed. “Now, my love. You’ll come.”
He didn’t waste any time. Callum quickly positioned himself in between her legs. “Oh God, Callum. I’m going to die. Oh...oh...”
His mouth left her so he could finger-fuck her. “Yeah, baby. Come on. Let it go. Just let it go.”
Marisol watched Callum. His eyes were a deep shade of blue. “Come to me, Callum. I want you inside me.”
“I will, baby. Right now, I want you to come in my mouth.” He cupped her butt cheeks and, again, sucked her. This time he didn’t stop.
Marisol moved her hips, thrusting herself toward Callum’s mouth. Sharp claws of pleasure wracked her body as wave after wave of orgasm rippled all over her. She was still catching her breath when Callum shifted his position. He stood at the foot of the bed, pulled her legs and flipped her on her belly. “Callum?”
“Hang on, babe. I have to protect you.”
Marisol heard a ripping sound. Seconds later, Callum wrapped his hands on her hips and pulled her gently toward him raising her ass higher. The position was so indecent and erotic. She felt the tip of his cock slowly stretching her. Her body tensed in anticipation.
“Baby, you’re so beautiful and hot, and you blow my mind.” And he penetrated her.
Marisol cried from the sheer pleasure of having his dick buried inside her. She felt the beginning of another orgasm. Feeling Callum’s balls slap her heightened her excitement. With each thrust he gave her, she met him by pushing her ass back. The tips of her nipples barely touching the sheet tickled her.
“Oh yeah, baby. You’re good. Move your ass. Just like that. Yes...fuck.” Callum thrust faster and harder. “Marisol!”
His body heat coursed down the entire length of her, but it was his shout of joy that touched her heart.
“Did I hurt you?”
“Like you said, you’ll never hurt me, Callum. No. You didn’t.”
***
Callum covered both of them with the sheet. He’d never tire of having her on his side. Too bad they hadn’t met before, when he still had lives left, when he knew for sure that they’d have more time to share and days to live together. As a shape-shifter, his job was too dangerous. The chance of him getting killed was high. Unless he stayed holed up in this den, he was only one step away from becoming a Cancer. Yeah, he had only one life left, and he’d use it to keep Marisol safe and kill as many Blood Robbers and Cancers as he could. Feelings of sadness and regret crawled in every pore of his being. Emotions that never visited him before touched his heart. He knew what triggered his emotions—the woman breathing softly beside him. Marisol.
“What’s wrong, Callum?”
“Nothing, love.”
“You’ve been sighing.”
“I’m just thinking how lucky I am. Not everyone has a beautiful woman to keep him company.”
“Me, too. I’m so lucky to have you—to soap my back.” Gathering her into his arms, he held her snugly. As far as he could remember, he’d never asked anything for himself until now. He wished for the time to stop ticking, for the sun to stay suspended in the sky. He wished for a lifetime with Marisol.
A knock on the door stopped his musing. “Must be our food.”
Callum picked up his clothes that lay scattered on the floor. He noticed Marisol looking at him with a mischievous grin on her face. “Keep looking at me like that and we won’t be able to eat.”
Marisol snorted and covered her face with the sheet.
Chapter Fourteen
After another round of wild sex, he and Marisol finally got around to eating their already cold burgers and wilted French fries. If it weren’t for Zambro’s summons, he’d be happy to stay cooped up in his room. Callum couldn’t ever remember liking to be in a room for more than an hour. He preferred to be outdoors. But with Marisol at his side, he didn’t care. He liked cuddling with her.
However, there were important things to do, other than making love. Although, he couldn’t imagine meeting with his brothers being more important than loving Marisol.
It took great strength to leave the bed. Marisol didn’t help either. She kept nibbling his neck until he was hard and ready again.
Twenty-five minutes after he received a message about his brother’s request for a meeting, he was finally able to leave.
***
Zambro’s office looked like an old library. It mirrored his personality—a big reader and fan of history. Old leather-bound books filled his shelves. Behind him, a glass case held different types of weapons historians would have fought for. His brother led the pack here. Known as a great fighter and a just leader, everyone respected him. Recently, Callum had marred Zambro’s reputation by hooking up with Marisol. How could he ever fix that?
Zambro raised his brow when Callum walked into his office. “You took your sweet time. Have a hard time leaving your warm bed?”
“Zambro, you didn’t call me here to talk about Marisol.”
“Yes and no. We need to discuss your situation and hers. What part of our visit today didn’t you understand?”
“I’m not stupid. I heard and understood everything.”
“Then why bring her here? I said I’d find a place for her. I didn’t say this is the place.”
“This is the only safe place for her, Zam.”
“Fuck, Callum. I’m still trying to think about how to get you out of the first mess that you laid on my door and now you add another one?”
“After you left my house, I found out that Marisol left. She heard us.”
“Son of a bitch.”
“She didn’t want to have anything to do with me, or with us. So she decided to walk home. I followed her and so did the Cancers.”
“What were they doing in your neck of the woods? Ah, I know. Atos must have promised them something in exchange for your head. You just made your world smaller, brother.”
“I figured it was Atos that se
nt them to my property. So what do you want to talk about?”
“Nobody appreciates Marisol’s presence here. The moment you entered the den, you created quite a stir.”
“I don’t give a fuck about what others are saying right now. If they’re curious and want to hear the details, I’ll be happy to explain.” He knew he wasn’t supposed to bring Marisol here, or into any den for that matter. That was why he’d told her not to leave his apartment until he got back. They’d lost brave members of their clan because the humans mistook them for big bad wolves. The families of those who died resented humans. “You’d do the same thing if you were in my shoes. Here’s the best place for her. Atos will not be able to reach her if she stays here.”
“Did you notice how everyone looked at her? She’s not welcome here. Humans are not welcome here. We need to keep the division, Callum. It’s our law, one that everyone must not forget.”
“Show them you approve, Zam, and they’ll follow.”
Zambro stood up and walked around his desk to face him. “If you weren’t my brother, I’d kick your ass until you’re raw.”
“But I am.”
Zambro sighed. “And I can’t do a damn thing about it. Do you realize that you put me in a difficult situation?”
“I know. If you ask us to leave, we will. I’m hoping you won’t.”
“Believe me, I thought about it. Lucky for you, a Midnight Howl never turns his back on his family.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. I’m doing this because I promised our parents to keep an eye on you. On all of you.”
“I know.”
“This is one big mess you’ve created, brother.”
“I apologize, Zam. However, I’ll do this again if I have to.”
Zambro speared him with a look that showed how disappointed he was. “I never should have given you the task of getting the sword.”
Beyond The Veil: A Paranormal & Magical Romance Boxed Set Page 307