It’s Like That (19 page)

She sighed, the breath shaking roughly from her lungs. “Let’s get your truck and then go home.”

He stood and helped her to her feet. He glanced at the cop and said, “Did you call anyone for Rebecca? Family or something?”

The officer frowned. “Yeah, we got her ex-husband. He wouldn’t come, but gave us a number for a friend. Carrie something or other. She’s on her way.”

Chris nodded, satisfied, and pulled Callie under his arm. “Good. Let’s go then.”

Chris was exceedingly gentle with her on the way home, treating her as though she were fragile crystal the entire time. He’d held her while the officer took them back to the mall, and even lowered his voice when he asked the officer to park on the other side of his truck to block the scene from her view. She was glad he’d thought of it. She didn’t want to see it.

She knew it could have been much, much worse than it had been, but that didn’t change how vulnerable she felt. He’d lifted her into his truck and even fastened her seat belt for her before giving her one of his piercing looks and closing the door.

The tense silence in his truck wasn’t broken until she noticed the shattered pieces of his phone scattered on the floorboard and dash.

She cleared her throat and asked quietly, “What happened to your phone?”

He glanced down at the pieces and his face hardened. “I dropped it,” he said curtly.

She eyed the pieces as understanding dawned. He’d still been on speaker when the guy had…she shook her head to dispel the thought. She just wanted to let it go for the time being. She’d go over it later, deal with it when she was in a more stable frame of mind.

Trying to get her mind on something else, anything else, she murmured accusingly, “You didn’t call me today.”

He glanced at her briefly then returned his gaze to the road. “My household goods got delivered today. I was there all day getting things unpacked and set up.” He gritted his teeth and said, “I wanted to take you there tonight. See what you think.”

She closed her eyes. “That would be nice. I’d like to see it.”

He looked over at her again as he came to a stop light. “Are you sure? I figured you’d want to go home.”

She shook her head. “No. I’d rather go somewhere else tonight.”

He nodded once and flipped on his blinker. “All right.”

He stopped at a drugstore to pick up soap, shampoo, and conditioner for her. He left the truck running and waited for her to lock it before going inside. Callie leaned her head back and closed her eyes while he was gone, glad that he’d known without having to be told that the fear was still very much present. Despite that fear, though, she wanted a shower, and his overnight bag was at her house. He probably didn’t have anything in his apartment.

She jumped, startled, when he knocked at the window and she quickly pushed the button to unlock the doors. Her heart pounded hard for a few moments until he reached over to grasp her hand and bring it to his lips.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I didn’t mean to surprise you.”

“It’s okay,” she whispered.

The ride to his apartment seemed endless even though it probably only took ten minutes. When he finally closed the door behind him, she turned and walked into his arms. The plastic bags from the drugstore fell to the floor as he wrapped his arms around her.

His hands stroked her back, her arms, her hair, and he pressed soft kisses against her temple. “Callie, I want to stand here and hold you, believe me, I do. But my knee is killing me.”

She pulled back in horror, realizing she’d been leaning against him. “Are you—”

“It’s fine. Why don’t you jump in the shower, and I’ll make the bed.” He kissed her forehead and asked, “Are you hungry? Thirsty?” He gestured to the bags on the floor and said, “I got some juice and cookies.” He gave a little half smile and looked sheepish. “I figured that would suffice until I can get some groceries.”

“Just some juice.” She pulled away and looked around. “I guess I’ll just get in the shower then.” She reached for the bags, but he beat her to it and separated them, handing her the one with the soap in it. “Thanks,” she muttered.

She turned the shower on as hot as she could stand it and shed the scrubs the friendly little nurse had found for her. She used the newly purchased pink loofah to scrub her skin until it was red and sore, and then she scrubbed her scalp until it hurt. When she turned the shower off and slid the door open, Chris was waiting with a fluffy white towel.

“I thought you might like some help,” he said gruffly. She stepped into the towel gratefully.

“I don’t have any clothes.” Her voice was muffled against his chest.

“I dug through a box and got you a T-shirt and some pajama pants. They’re gonna be miles too big, though.” He rubbed her with the towel, drying and comforting at the same time.

When she was dry he tried to wrap the towel around her hair, frowning. She chuckled and said, “Here. I’ll do it.” It took her just a few seconds to wrap her hair and when she straightened, he was standing in front of her, holding the clothes he’d found.

“The shirt isn’t gonna go on over that towel,” he observed drily.

“I know.” Callie closed her eyes and took a deep breath. A thought had occurred to her in the shower, one that she hadn’t been able to shake. She hadn’t had sex in over five years and tonight that could have changed. She didn’t know if the thug had intended to rape her, but he could have. She didn’t want her dry streak to be broken by a stranger, against her will. So she opened her eyes, put her hands on Chris’ chest, and said softly, “Make love to me.”

*

“Callie, I…” He stopped, stunned. What could he say? If he said no, he was an ass. If he said yes, he was taking advantage of her. The instant the words left her mouth, his already erect penis had throbbed twice in ecstatic response.

“Please, Chris,” she implored. “I need it to be you. It could have been someone else, someone I don’t even know…” Her voice cracked, and her lips trembled.

His heart lurched.

“And I want it to be you.” She shook him gently, begging him with her eyes.

“Callie, I don’t have anything.” He framed her face with his hands, desperate for her to stop begging him or keep begging him. He didn’t know which. “I don’t have condoms.”

She bit her lip and looked down. “I started the Depo-Provera shot while you were still in the hospital. When I came home, I went to the doctor for my first one. It’s good for three months.” She looked back up at him, tears shimmering in her eyes. “I trust you. I know you’re safe, and there’s no chance I’ll get pregnant because of the shot. It’s the best birth control there is. Please.” The last word hissed from her mouth in desperation, and he closed his eyes.

He wasn’t going to be able to say no. He should, but he wasn’t capable of it. Instead of answering, he bent down and lifted her into his arms to carry her to the bed. Her arms slid around his neck, and she whispered something he didn’t hear. He laid her down on the bed and pulled the comforter and sheet from under her before pulling the towel from her hair.

He sat down next to her and leaned over until his lips were barely grazing hers. “I want you to know I don’t think this is a good idea.” He pulled back to look at her, struggling to keep his eyes on hers. “That being said, you have to promise to tell me if I do anything, anything at all, that makes you uncomfortable.” She nodded. “If at any time you want to stop, I will stop as soon as you tell me.” She nodded again and he closed his eyes. He’d stop even if it killed him.

He stood and pulled his shirt off, letting his gaze wander over her body. His jeans followed and he debated for a few seconds before tearing his boxers off too. Her breasts were full, heavy, and tipped with large nipples that puckered when he looked at them. Her waist dipped in then flared back out at her hips. Her pubic hair was trimmed in a neat little line, hiding nothing from him.

The bed dipped as he settled on his side next to her. He brushed his fingers over her cheek and lowered his lips to hers. He tried to be gentle, but as soon as her tongue hesitantly touched his, all control fled. He’d wanted this too long, waited too long to be as gentle as he wanted to be. He kissed his way down her neck, palming her heavy breasts and pinching the nipples until she gasped. He took one in his mouth and suckled. He didn’t want to be unfair to the other one, and licked a path to the other breast to tongue that nipple. He pulled away and brushed his thumbs over the hard little buds.

His cock throbbed heavily between his legs, and he lifted his hips, afraid any stimulation was too much. Her legs parted and he settled between them, trying to keep most of his weight on his right knee.

His lips circled one pouting nipple again and he let his fingers drift over the folds of her sex. He parted them, and when he felt the moisture within, he groaned against her breast.

“Baby, you’re so wet for me.” His words whispered against the wet peak, causing it to tighten even farther. He slipped two fingers inside her and she arched her hips and cried out his name.

He kissed his way down her stomach, dipping his tongue into her navel before continuing his downward journey. He reached her folds and licked her, parting the folds even farther to burrow his tongue against her clit. She gripped his hair and the tiny pain drove him on.

He curled his fingers inside her until he felt the hard, rough spot that never failed to drive her wild and massaged it, flicking his tongue across her clit until she cried out and tightened her thighs around his head. He rubbed out her orgasm with his tongue and fingers until her legs were quivering and her body was limp. When she pushed against his shoulders, he let her push him away, but focused his attention once again on her breasts.

“Have I ever told you,” he murmured between flicks to her nipples, “that your tits almost embarrassed me the first time I saw you?”

“Hmm,” she answered, sated and drowsy.

“They did.” He sucked a nipple strongly into his mouth and pushed his fingers back into her sheath, amazingly wet from her orgasm. “You were lying on that chair with a glass of wine. Your legs were stretched out and your tits looked so big, so fucking
good
in that swimsuit with your nipples poking out that I got a chubby in the middle of a very heated discussion.”

“Really?” Her head lifted from the pillow and she watched him.

He slid his fingers out and then back in and said, “Yeah.”

He slid his body back down and latched onto her clit again, tonguing her until she dropped her head again and moaned.

He licked her clit repeatedly and pressed against her G-spot before sliding up her body again and kissing her. He slid his tongue between her lips and stroked hers. He took his time with the kiss, desperate to make this as good for her as it was for him.

“Can you taste yourself?” he demanded huskily when he pulled away. But before she could answer, he kissed her again and reached between them to grasp his cock. He hoped to hell she was close again, because he wasn’t going to last long.

He guided himself to her entrance and pressed in. He closed his eyes and ground his teeth together. It felt so fucking good, and he wasn’t even halfway in yet.

“Relax, baby,” he whispered against her lips. He pulled out and pushed himself back in a little farther. He kissed her and fondled her breasts, gradually working himself farther in until he was completely surrounded by the tight walls of her pussy.

He hissed when she squeezed her vaginal muscles around him, his cock jumping in response. Her back arched and she moaned his name, and he lost it.

He fucked her then, hard, ramming himself over and over, praying that she was enjoying it. Her hands gripped his back and he tugged her legs up to wrap around his hips. He suffered a moment’s regret that she wasn’t wearing the heels, but forgot about it almost instantly.

He buried his face in the pillow, his mouth resting at her ear. He tried not to talk dirty; he wanted this time to be beautiful and perfect and…whatever else she needed. But he couldn’t help it.

“Squeeze that tight little pussy around me.” He moaned when she complied and thrust harder. “Fuck yeah, baby, milk my cock.”

He bit her ear and groaned in relief when she arched beneath him and cried out in orgasm, the tight convulsions around his cock making him light-headed. Uncaring of how much it would hurt his knee, he sat up on his knees and pulled her thighs around his hips and thrust hard twice before exploding inside her. He watched, unable to tear his eyes away as his cock slid in and out, cum slipping out with each thrust. He thrust slowly, gently, until it became too intense to move and tucked her against him as he rolled to his back, moving carefully to keep himself inside her.

She ended up sprawled on top of him, her limp body resting entirely on his, and her legs lying on either side of his. She tensed and tried to move away, but he tightened his arms around her and whispered, “Stay. Please. Don’t go.”

She relaxed again and he closed his eyes, unable to move or even think.

Callie woke when the sun streamed bright and unforgiving through Chris’ undressed windows. She was curled up on her side with him spooning her, his arm wrapped tightly around her waist and his nose buried in her hair. He snored softly and she smiled, glad to have found a fault in a man who too often seemed perfect.

She moved, pulling her arm from under her where it had fallen asleep, and became aware of the stickiness between her thighs.

He hummed behind her, the sound low and deep and sending a responding tingle down her spine. That sound made her want to roll over and let him go at her until they were both covered in sweat and cum, exhausted with their exertions. She smiled to herself. It must be a natural phenomenon, she decided, to ensure the survival of the species.

“Good morning,” he whispered huskily in her ear. His warm breath stirred her hair and his tongue swirled into her ear.

“Good morning,” she whispered back. He tugged, urging her without words to turn over. She turned to face him and buried her nose in his chest, enjoying the tickle of the hair there.