I cross to the door and open it, shocked to find Aspen standing on the other side of the threshold with wide green eyes, slightly out of breath as if she ran all the way from her house.
“Security told me you’d cleared me to come whenever, but if you’d rather I call—”
“You’re welcome here. Any time, day or night, Aspen.”
She swallows and nods twice. She looks nervous.
Christ, is she going to tell me it’s over? What in the hell has happened over the last twelve hours?
“Callum, I’m ready.”
I narrow my eyes. “Ready for what?”
She raises a brow, and I suddenly know down to my bone marrow what, exactly she’s ready for.
“I’m ready.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life.”
Chapter 10
~Aspen~
Jesus, I’ve never been so nervous in my life. I’m out of breath, my mind is racing, and if Callum turns me away, I’ll die of humiliation.
I might anyway.
But he tugs on my hand and pulls me into the apartment. Rather than strip me bare and carry me into the bedroom the way I pictured it in my head on the way over here, he calmly takes my jacket off, tosses it over a chair, and leads me into the living area.
“Have a seat. Would you like some wine? Whiskey?”
“No, thank you. You don’t have to get me drunk to have sex with me, Callum.”
He rubs his hand over his mouth and sits in the chair opposite me, his elbows braced on his knees as he watches me with those dark eyes.
“If you’d rather I go…” I stand to leave, but his calm, deep voice interrupts me.
“Sit down, Aspen.”
I comply.
“I don’t want you to go. In fact, it’s lovely to see you. I was just thinking about you.”
“You don’t seem happy to see me.” I don’t like the vulnerability in my voice. I’ve been so used to keeping my walls up with this man for so damn long, letting them down isn’t easy. But I can’t stop it. I’ve fallen in love with him, and if that means I end up with a broken heart, then so be it.
“You took me by surprise, that’s all.” He reaches out for me and tugs me into his lap. He brushes the tip of his nose against my cheek. “Seeing you is always a punch in the stomach.”
I lean back to look into his eyes. “Why?”
“You’re so bloody beautiful. With this amazing red hair that just begs for my hands, and big green eyes that seem to see right through me, even when I don’t want them to. You take my breath away.”
“You’re so good with the pretty words.”
“They’re not just pretty, they’re true. If you came here tonight, it tells me that you were thinking of me, as well.”
I brush my finger down his chin, enjoying the feel of his stubble. “I think of you often, Callum. It used to infuriate me.”
His lips twitch.
“And now?”
“I’m not angry. I’m not even confused. And I’m not the kind of woman to play coy games or beat around the bush, so I’ll just say what’s on my mind.”
“By all means, please do.”
“When you’re here, it’s like the missing piece of a puzzle is finally in place. And when you’re gone, there’s a hole where you were. I don’t know if that makes sense.”
“Makes perfect sense to me.” He kisses my temple as his hands start to roam over my body, stirring my blood and my libido.
“I know we’re different, and I’m lost as to how something between us can work, but I also don’t want to stop seeing you.”
“One day at a time is a perfectly reasonable plan in moments like these.” He kisses that sensitive area behind my ear, and I feel him harden against my hip.
Before he can make a move, I slip off his lap and kneel between his legs. I drag my hands from his chest, down his flat and ridiculously muscled belly to the waistband of his slacks.
His brown eyes shine in the low light as he silently watches me pull the button free, then unzip them and reach inside to pull out his cock.
“Bloody hell,” he mutters.
“I’ve been thinking about this for a long time,” I whisper before I lean in and lick around the crown of his hard cock. When I sink down, pulling a good portion of his length into my mouth, and then tighten my lips and pull back up again, he moans and threads his hands into my hair.
“You are trying to kill me.”
I hum around him and repeat the motions over and over again, sinking down, tightening my lips, and pulling back up. All the while, I work him with my hand. When I feel his balls tighten and lift, Callum grabs my shoulders and forces me to stop.
“Aspen, coming in your mouth sounds like heaven, but I haven’t been inside of you in two years, two months, and six days, so we’re going to take a raincheck on that incredible offer and set it aside for today.”
“You know exactly how long it’s been?”
“I didn’t mention the six hours and forty-ish minutes.” He guides me to my feet and kisses me hard before leading me to his bedroom.
“I want the lights on,” I say, surprising him. “Unless someone can see in here.”
“I’ll close the shutters.” He makes quick work of it, and when he turns back to me, I’m already naked, waiting for him. “I don’t know what I did right in this life to deserve this, but I’ll do it every fucking day if this is my reward.”
I smirk and crook my finger at him, encouraging him to come here.
“Why do you want the lights on, Aspen?”
“Because I want to see you. Your body, your ink, your eyes when you look at me and when you’re about to lose your shit. I want to see it all.”
His skin is tanned and smooth over muscles that go on for weeks. That ink on his arm begs for my tongue. And his cock is hard and proud, just waiting for me.
“Same page, darling.”
He doesn’t reach for me yet. Instead, he jerks his shirt over his head and lets it fall to the floor. He drops his slacks, sending them with his shirt, and I can’t wait to get my hands on him.
I’m freaking salivating.
“You’re something to look at yourself, Your Highness.”
“Callum,” he corrects me and steps forward. “When we’re here, like this, I’m not a prince or Your Highness. I’m Callum, or Cal if you like. Because our jobs and our families have no place here. This is you and me.”
“Anything else I need to know before I destroy you for all other women?”
His lips tip up in a smug, satisfied smile.
“Darling, you already have.”
He slowly moves toward me, and just when I think I might die from anticipation, his fingertip circles my nipple, making it pebble. He leans over and plucks it into his mouth, then lets go with a loud pop.
The cool air is almost painful on the sensitive skin, but before I can say or do anything in response, Callum’s hand glides down my hip, my thigh, and back up to my core.
“So wet.”
“Entirely your fault.”
“Oh, I’ll happily take the blame.” His finger pushes inside me, and I groan in pleasure. “I’m going to make you scream my name before the night is out.”
“Promises, promises.”
My knees are shaking, but before my legs can fail me, Callum lifts me and carries me to the bed, laying me in the center of the big King-sized mattress. The bedding is soft, and this man is better than I remember.
And we haven’t done much yet.
He parts my legs and settles between them, his dick resting against my folds, but not entering me as he leans in to kiss me. His fingers are in my hair, and his hips rock back and forth through my slickness.
“I know we have time,” I whisper between kisses, “but hurry up.”
“You’re so impatient.”
“Yes.” I don’t even try to deny it. I reach between us, cup him, and guide him to my center, but
he suddenly curses against my lips.
“Condom.” He reaches into the bedside table and retrieves the protection. Seconds later, he’s nudging his way inside of me. “Holy fuck.”
“Mm.”
He lifts my legs and sits back so we can both watch as he moves in and out of me. He presses the pad of his thumb against my clit, and I see stars. He nibbles on the arch of my foot, and it’s game over. My pussy contracts, my back arches, and I come harder than I ever have in my life.
When I open my eyes, Callum’s still moving slowly, kissing my leg as he watches me.
“Wow.”
“Round two,” he says and pulls out long enough to flip me onto my tummy. He presses my legs together, spreads the cheeks of my ass with his thumbs, and enters me again, making me call out. The change in position is earth-shattering. His thumb rubbing my lips as he fucks me is everything.
“Callum.”
“Louder.”
I can’t speak. I can’t even think. My body is in overdrive as he pounds into me, over and over.
He grips my hair at the nape of my neck and pulls, just enough to make me groan.
“I said louder.”
“I can’t.”
He spanks my ass and fucks me even harder, and the orgasm consumes me. As I fall over the edge, I cry out, “Callum!”
“That’s fucking right.”
He pushes and then jerks, succumbing to his own orgasm, and then he rolls off me, collapses next to me, and we spend the next five minutes simply trying to breathe.
“I need a ventilator,” I say at last and push my hair out of my face so I can look at my handsome prince. “Do you have one handy?”
“I can’t say that I do.” He turns his head and smiles at me. “But if you find one, I could use it, too.”
“I don’t even know if I still have legs.”
“You do, and they’re sexy.”
“Oh good.”
“Can I get you anything, love?”
“Water.”
“I have a shower full.” To my amazement, he stands and tugs me out of bed and then tosses me over his shoulder as he makes a beeline for the bathroom.
“I haven’t even caught my breath.”
“You can do that while I wash your back.”
“I’m starving.”
I’m lying on Callum’s chest, brushing my fingers through the very light spattering of hair there, listening to my stomach growl.
“Twelve hours of sex will do that to a person,” he says.
“You’re smug.”
“You’re bloody right, I am. I’ve been waiting a long time for last night.” He kisses my hand and then holds it against his heart. “Two years without sex is a frustratingly long time, darling.”
My head pops up, and I stare at him as if he just told me he’s Mickey Mouse.
“Are you telling me that—?”
“You ruined me for all other women. At least, I think that’s how you phrased it last night. And if you go into a long list of men you’ve been with since our time together, I may turn homicidal, so let’s not.”
“Oh, please.” I laugh and bite his chest, just for fun. “I’ve been with exactly two men in my life, and I’m lying on one of them right now.”
He rolls me onto my back and stares down at me intently. “You hadn’t been with anyone but your husband when I met you?”
“No.”
“And you haven’t been with anyone since?”
“Keep rubbing it in.”
He drags his knuckles down my cheek. “No wonder you wanted to kill me.”
“Murder crossed my mind a time or two.” I stretch under him, fully aware that my breasts are on display for him. “But I’m glad you’re still alive.”
He drags his nose over my tight nipple and then sighs.
“No more apologies,” I say before he can offer the words. “We’re in a good place now. Let’s not rehash old news, okay?”
“Deal.” He plants a kiss on me, then leaves me altogether. “Put on some clothes. We’ll go up to the main house for breakfast. Alice most likely has something delicious cooking, and I don’t keep much food here.”
“You want me to go up to see your family, dressed in last night’s clothes, after we spent the night having sex?”
He blinks down at me. “What’s wrong with that scenario?”
I shrug a shoulder. “It kind of screams walk of shame, but okay.”
“Actually, it says I had a nice evening with you, and I’m not ashamed in the least.”
I know that the grin spreading over my face is goofy, but I don’t care. “Okay, let’s go get breakfast.”
“Excellent.”
I tug on the jeans and T-shirt I wore last night, use my fingers on my hair to try and make it presentable, but end up throwing it up into a knot instead. Then I root around under the sink in the bathroom for a new toothbrush.
Which I find because Nina and her staff always think ahead.
Once I’ve brushed my teeth and am ready to go, Callum escorts me from the boathouse to the primary residence, which is bigger than any other house I’ve ever been in. With massive windows that face the lake and enough space for the population of all of Montana, it’s a dream home.
I follow Callum up to the main living space, which includes a huge, open kitchen and sitting room with the same impressive views of the water that the boathouse has.
Thank God Callum’s bedroom doesn’t face the house.
“Good morning,” Nina says with a smile. She and Sebastian are sitting on a couch, cuddling, while Alice bustles about in the kitchen. “And welcome.”
“Thank you.”
I’ve met Nina and her husband Sebastian several times, and they’ve always been kind to me.
“Hello, Aspen,” Alice says with a wave. “How lovely to have you here. I hope you enjoy crepes and muffins.”
“What’s not to enjoy?” I ask, just as Ellie and Liam come walking through the front door.
“Good morning,” Ellie says, and then her face lights up when she sees me. “What a wonderful surprise. How are you, Aspen?”
“I’m great, thank you. You guys, please forgive me, but am I supposed to curtsey or something?”
Everyone laughs, but Ellie shakes her head. “No, silly. This is as informal as it gets. We’re family, and friends.”
“Please just give me a heads-up if I botch something, okay? I can learn. I’m not completely clueless.”
“I was when I met him,” Nina says, gesturing to Sebastian. “I had to learn from scratch, and let me tell you, there was a lot to learn. But you’ll catch on. As long as we’re in a casual situation like this, you can just act normally.”
“Thank you.”
Callum kisses my cheek and then gestures for me to have a seat with the others.
“So, things are going well, then?” Ellie asks and elbows Liam. “I told you it would go well.”
“I had no idea you were such a matchmaker,” I say as I accept a cup of coffee from Alice. “Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I’m not usually, I just had a feeling, and gave you a little push.”
“I didn’t need a push,” Callum says while pouring cream into his coffee. “And you can mind your own business, baby sister.”
“Where’s the fun in that?”
“All right, everyone, everything is ready for you. Would you rather I serve you in there, or would you like to eat buffet-style?”
“No need to serve me,” Sebastian says. “We’ll come make our own plates, Alice. Thank you.”
“Of course.” Alice nods and turns away, but stops suddenly and presses her hand to her head. “Oh, my.”
“Alice?” Nina says, just as the woman falls to the floor unconscious.
“Go get David,” Sebastian says to Liam, who’s already running for the door. Callum has Alice’s head in his lap and is feeling for a pulse. “Is she alive?”
“Yes, it looks like she pas
sed out,” Callum says as Alice starts to come to. David and Liam run into the room.
“What’s going on?”
“She fainted,” I say. “Should I call for an ambulance?”
“Give me a second,” David says, kneeling beside his wife and taking her in his arms. “What’s happened, sweetheart? Are you okay?”
“I just got so lightheaded,” she says and shakes her head. “I passed right out. But I think I’m fine now.”
“You should see a doctor,” Sebastian says. “We can get one here today.”
“I’ll call Hannah,” Nina says as she reaches for her mobile. “She’ll come right over.”
“Hannah is her friend, who happens to be a gynecologist,” Ellie tells Alice.
“Really, there’s no need to fuss. I’m fine.”
But Nina is already speaking to Hannah, who promises to come right over.
“She lives about ten minutes away. She’ll be here soon.”
“I think we’re making a big deal out of this,” Alice insists.
“I don’t,” David says. “Let her have a look and make sure there’s nothing wrong.”
Callum slips his hand into mine and gives it a squeeze. I love being here, among these people who clearly care deeply for one another. The royal family values their employees and treats them like family.
That says a lot about them, and the people they come from.
Hannah arrives within minutes, carrying a bag and a stethoscope around her neck.
“I know you don’t usually make house calls,” Nina says, “so thank you for this.”
“Not a problem at all. I’ll just take some vitals.” She approaches Alice with a smile. “How are you feeling now, Alice?”
“Foolish,” the other woman says. “I’m sorry to waste your time.”
“Helping friends is never a waste,” Hannah says and takes Alice’s temperature. “Why don’t we go somewhere more private?”
“Of course, there’s a guest room right through here,” Nina says, escorting the other two women, and David, away.
“Well, this is a busy morning,” Sebastian says while he digs into his crepe. The rest of us follow suit, filling the time until we hear how Alice is doing.
“That woman can cook,” I announce after the first bite. “If she didn’t already work for you, I’d hire her in a heartbeat.”
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