Between Love & Fire (Backstage #1) (10 page)

“Please?”

“Please, what? Tell me. I want to hear what you need.”

“You.” Rising, I shed my boxers and her eyes are large with surprise. My thick hard cock is jutting out, pointing to the person I crave more than anything. Tayla. My precious Petal. I kneel between her splayed thighs again, hot breath just below the tattoo on her belly. Drifting to the entrance of her tight body. Perfect. The muscles in her stomach are taut and sexy. Her legs are beautifully firm. With a tender kiss on her slick little pussy, she cries out my name, its music to my ears.

My tongue flattens against her bare lips and I lap at her wet pink flesh. So sweet, and all fucking mine. With my thumbs, I open her, my flower. Her sopping cunt glistens with arousal. Open to my gaze. My dick jumps, imploring me to drive into her heat. I bring my mouth down on her clit, suckling it. She fists my hair, tugging me closer. Her body writhing and bucking against me.

My two fingers slip inside her tight molten pussy and she flies over the edge. Her core pulsing around my digits. I suck and lick her until she gradually comes down from her high. The incredible nectar of her release is a drug. I can never get enough of her. My eyes shoot up and I take in the rosy glow on her cheeks. The small smirk curving her plump mouth is heaven. Perfect. “Now, I am going to fuck you.”

She gasps at my words. I snatch the foil packet and rip it open. Sheathing my shaft, I crawl over her. When the tip nudges her pussy, she raises her hips and I groan. Gritting my teeth, forcing myself to go slow. The speed is torturous but I don’t want to hurt her. Her eyes are wide as she stares at me. “Fuck me, Callum. Hard.” Her raspy voice laden with desire. That’s all the permission I need. Without another warning, I slam into her. “Callum!” Her scream is loud and her nails dig into my shoulders. I pull out and drive back in. “Yes.” Her low hiss in my ear spurs me on and I pound into her.

Her legs wrap around my waist, pulling me in deeper. Fuck, this girl is perfect. She fits me like a glove. My cock is so deep inside her. I draw out and plunge in, to the hilt. Into her tight little cunt. Her breathless moans are beautiful. My orgasm shoots down my spine. “Come with me, Petal, all over my dick.” Her body stiffens and pulses around me. Milking my release from me. Our bodies moving simultaneously. We're connected, body, mind, and soul. As soon as she screams my name, I growl hers as we meet sweet oblivion together.

I wake up with a start. My mind is foggy. It’s dark, and I can’t fathom why.
Did I oversleep?
My body is heavy. Then I realize there is someone behind me. Memories of earlier today flit through my thoughts and I remember Callum. After we made love, we passed out. Rolling over, I glance at the magnificent man asleep.
Shit!
I am naked.
Fuck, fuck, fuck!
I swing my legs over the bed, careful not to wake him. I snatch my bathrobe, and pull it on. My heart is racing.
Did he see?
He couldn’t have. There is no way he wouldn’t demand an explanation if he did.

Taking a deep calming breath, I pad into the bathroom. I grimace at my appearance in the mirror. My reflection is scary. I look like I had been dragged through a bush. My eyes are puffy and red. I splash cold water on my face and give it a quick dab with a towel. Back in the bedroom I find him rolled over onto my side of the bed. He’s hugging my pillow with his nose buried in the soft cotton. Almost as if he was inhaling my scent.

“Don’t just stand there.” The low gravelly voice millions of women love beckons me and I giggle. Walking over to him, I kneel on the edge. My gaze drinks in his beautifully tanned skin and inked toned arms. The muscles of his exposed torso under the dim light shining through the window makes him ethereal.

“I assumed you and the pillow wanted some alone time.” His sky-blue pools dart open, staring at me with a mischievous glint.

“I would prefer alone time with you, Petal.” I lean forward and plant a tender kiss on his cheek. There is a tousle haired rock god sprawled naked in my sheets and I need to take advantage of that, but I am starving.

“I am hungry. Feed me if you want more than a quiet night in.” As he sits up the sheet falls from his stomach and his chiseled abs are on display to my eager gaze. God, he is magnificent.

“And what would my Angel like to eat?” The word angel sinks into my heart. His smile is sweet, the look in his eyes has my heart racing.

“Not sure. I will make coffee first.” I turn, leaving him in bed. In the kitchen, I turn on the kettle and grab two mugs from the cupboard. I feel him behind me. When I turn, I find him wrapped in a towel that’s hung low on his taut hips. Like a predator, he stalks towards me. The smirk on his lips is wicked and sends a tingle through me. He’s beautifully inked. Tattoos adorn his arms and one weaves over his chest.

“I am hungry right now.” The low timbre of his voice has my knees wobbling.

“Behave yourself, Hayes. We need to eat.”

He cages me against the counter with both his arms. He leans in and murmurs in my ear. “I would love to eat…” His warm breath fans over my neck and goose bumps rise over every inch of my body. “Your delectable, wet, tight little pussy.” I gasp. His hands make quick work of my robe, and as it pools to my feet, Callum drops to his knees. Glancing down into steel-blue eyes that stare up at me like I was his last meal on earth. He leans forward, his nose against my skin as he inhales—from my knee, up my inner thigh—at a slow deliberate pace.
Holy fuck!
My knees buckle and his hands reach up to grasp my hips. Holding me up against the counter.

Once his nose reaches my core, a deep rumble in his chest tells me that dinner may still be a little while. “Spread your legs, Petal.” I comply, opening my legs to his greedy gaze. My grip on the countertop is tight. Callum’s tongue slowly teases the hypersensitive skin on my inner thigh. Close but not close enough. Teasing. Moving his attention to my other leg, he does the same. My knees are weak, and I am not sure I can hold myself up any longer. His grip tightens on my hips. My body is pressed painfully against the granite behind me, his tongue lands flat on my molten core.

Suckling my bare lips into his hot mouth. His tongue flicking over my bundle of nerves that aches for relief. Another long lick and I cry out. My release is close. With his slow expert movements my body is a volcano ready to erupt. The knot in my belly tightens and I can’t think straight. All that matters, is the orgasm Callum is about to unleash on me.

His two fingers slide into my tight heat, sending me spiraling out of control. He crooks both digits, hitting my sweet spot. I feel his hand move as stars explode behind my eyelids and somewhere in my mind I am screaming and mewling. His name is a chant on my lips as my body shudders. He brings one hand to my leg, and the other still has a vice like grip on my hip. My knees give out, but he catches me, holding me against him. A shuddering aftershock of my orgasm rips into me, and I collapse in his arms. “God…” My voice is so rough and raspy.

“I have been called that once or twice.” With a cheeky wink, his eyes sparkle with mischief. I swat him playfully.

“Don’t be an ass.” His hands slowly stroke my back, and the realization hits me he will feel the scars.
Shit!
Jumping up, I grasp my robe and tug it on.

“Petal? What’s wrong?” The concern in his gaze unnerves me.

I can’t do this.

I can’t do this.

He can’t know.

“Nothing. Do you want coffee?”

“No. What the fuck just happened?” Spinning on my heel, I scoot past him, out of the kitchen into the living room. Curling myself on the sofa. My head on my knees. Inhaling short deep breaths.

I can’t do this.

I can’t do this.

The mantra playing in my mind numbs me. I can't think. Thoughts of him finding out the truth about my past and leaving tear me apart. “Jesus, Tayla. Talk to me, baby.”

He perches next to me, encircling me and my whole body goes rigid. With slow strokes over my back, his touch calms my heart rate. My breathing evens and I steal a glance at him. “Callum, you called me a damaged angel earlier.”

“No, angel. You’re not damaged.” The tears that were threatening spill as I blink and nod quickly.

“I am. So fucking broken, you do not realize.”

“Then enlighten me, Petal. It kills me to see you so hurt.” Our eyes lock for an eternity. There is something in his expression. Inside the blue depths, trust fills me, like an empty cup. No one has seen this part of me, and if they did, they'd run. I chose a relationship with Callum. I will have to show him. To tell him. The thought terrifies me shitless, but I don’t have a choice.

“I want you to promise me, that no matter what I say, you won’t judge me.” His eyebrows crease in confusion. “You also need to let me finish before you respond. Before you walk away and never come back, give me a chance tell my story.”

“I am not leaving, Tayla. Talk.” My heart is sputtering in my rib cage. It might force its way out of my chest before I get everything out. I drop my feet to the floor and stand in front of him. My lips purse in a harsh line. I don't meet his passionate stare. I loosen the sash of the robe. Letting it slide over my shoulders and pool on the carpet.

“If you’re trying to tell me something awful, this isn’t helping.” The wicked smirk he gives almost makes me smile, but I put a finger on my lips. Gesturing for him to shush.

I lift my hair, twirl it up onto my head. As soon as I turn around, the audible gasp that rushes from him has me cringing. He’s silent. Painfully silent. My body shudders. Fear wrenches in my chest. My heart wrung with the ache of him leaving. The heat from his naked chest at my back is unexpected. I can sense it. He’s not touching me. I didn’t expect him to want to put his hands on me. The sadness in my heart is worse than the agony of what happened.

You’re a disgusting little slut. Do you hear me? Nobody will ever want you. Just remember who did this to you. This is what you deserve. Teasing me for months. This will make sure you’re never going to tease another man again. They will look at you with disgust. Because you’re filthy. If only your daddy knew what a little whore you are. If you ever tell him, it was me, I will find your sister and take her too. Do you hear me?

The voice invades my mind. I squeeze my eyes shut, blocking it out. I draw a deep breath and speak again. “So. I uhm…” Dropping my hair. I shift back to him and the rage in his stare is unmistakable. He is radiating anger and I clutch my robe. “That’s what you touched. A monster. I am ruined, Callum.” My tone is sharp. The wince is obvious on his face. I spin on my heel and run into my bedroom.

“Tayla, don't walk away from me. Please? I am not fucking leaving. You need tell me what the fuck happened. What disgusting piece of shit could do this to you, baby?” The pain in his tone rips my heart in two.
How can he be standing here?

I sense his presence behind me. The heat of his body against mine. “I saw the horror and disgust in your eyes.” The tears I held onto spill down my cheeks. I step up to the large window. I can’t face him, so the next best thing is to look outside. Anywhere but at the distaste in his expression. I know it’s there. They all look at me the same way. He made sure of that.

“It was a few years ago. I have told no one. Not even my sister. I was ashamed of my choices. This… Is my burden to bare. My mistake. I chose the wrong path in my life and I paid for it.” My voice cracks with emotion. “He assured me no man could ever want me.” When Callum’s hand settles on my shoulder, I start. The touch is so light, but the air is heavy between us.

“Well, he fucked up.” His tone is rough and gentle in my ear.
What?
I whirl around and peer at him. Those blue pools that earlier had fear and rage in them have something else. Not love, but an emotion close to it, and it suffocates me.

“What do you mean?” It’s my turn to frown at him.

“I want you. But I need you to be honest. What happened? And where is this fucking asshole? I want to fuck him up so bad the dick will never walk again.” His body shudders with anger. There is vengeance in his stance. I don't doubt that he would do it. Shaking my head, I turn back to face the city below.

“He's gone. They arrested him, apparently I wasn't the first victim. Why are you still here?” I meet those cerulean pools. The sincerity in his gaze is filled with awe. But I am flawed. Broken. There is nothing worth wanting. His arms encircle my waist and hold me against him.

“You, Petal. Are perfect. I choose to be here. Do you trust me to tell me the rest?” He’s only wearing a towel and I am too aware of his thickness pressing against my ass. I step away, making myself comfortable on the bench seat at the window.

“I had just turned eighteen. I was staying with a friend. My father, he managed to pay for my studies, but he couldn’t afford a dorm for me. The thing is, he lost his fortune because of his business associate. The police couldn’t recover what was lost. We didn’t have anything. I didn’t have anything.” Drawing a deep breath, I continue. All the while facing outside. “I had to work. My classmate told me about a job she had. Said she made enough money to pay for her own off-campus apartment. All I had to do was dance.” His breathing hitches.

“Not stripping. Aerial dancing is a form of fitness. Where I have bands of material fastened to the ceiling, and I twist and twirl in the air. I didn't strip. Since I did it to keep fit, I didn’t see an issue with it. It was something fascinating to watch.” Cal sits opposite me, his hand on my knee. The pad of his thumb strokes circles on my skin. Tears spill down my cheeks, and I swipe them away. “That’s when he saw me and recognized my face. He was older, thirty-five. I was young and stupid. He was my father’s business partner. He evaded the police, until he landed in the club where I was working. Threatening to expose me to my parents, he forced me to go home with him. I was so stupid. I was afraid to go the police. He started out pushing me around. Telling me…”

A sob cracks my voice and I shiver. “He told me I am worthless. One night, he came to my place drunk. We argued because I told him I couldn’t do it anymore.” Callum pulls me against him. I clamber into his lap, taking comfort in his embrace. “He took out a blade. Forced me to lie on a table. Then he tied me to it. I couldn’t move. He…” I swallowed the emotion thick in my throat. Callum's body stiffened and the rhythm of his heart sped up. “He ripped my top off. Sliced rather. My bra along with it. Then he marked my back. So I could never dance again. He said it was my fault. I was teasing him. Making men…” My words tapered into silence. The vibration of anger flowing from Callum was evident. It filled the air between us.

“Shh, baby.” Pulling me to stand, positioning me between his legs. His fingers tug my bathrobe and it falls open. Feathering kisses on my belly, with his grip on my hips holding me steady. He rises and our bodies are flush. A slight nudge and the silky material slips over my shoulders, and pools at my feet. This was the first time anyone has exposed me this way. Not my body, but my soul. He has taken my pain, my aching heart and splayed it to his gaze. “Pull your hair to the side.” Callum’s voice is tender. Caring. Calming. My desire to comply is overwhelming. I obey his order watching him move around me. Once he steps behind me, I am not scared any longer. His lips on me sends an unusual awareness through me. He's falling for me too. The soft feather light kisses, over my back, on each part of my tattoo, has goose bumps rising on my skin. From the top of my shoulder blades, down to my ass. When he is done, having placed a kiss on every inch of my inked skin, he turns me to look at him. Strong, loving hands frame my face and the pads of his thumbs swipe my cheeks. All the emotion I kept bottled up shatters and explodes.