Authors: Tierney O'Malley
Tags: #Romance, #Paranormal, #Werewolves & Shifters
“I"m not worried about me, Callum. You know that.”
“I know.”
“So are you going to answer my question? Why did you challenge Atos?” Of course she knew why he did it. Victor told her but she wanted to hear it from him.
“Because he threatened to hurt the humans and…and…he asked that I give him my soul. I can"t do that. My love for my soul is deeper than the sea, beyond life 308
and death. While I am living and standing, and with the fifth life, I will fight for my soul. And the only way to do it was to challenge Atos.”
“Your soul?”
“Yes, love. My soul.”
Marisol"s heartbeat drummed so fast when she heard the caress in his voice.
“You love me.”
“More than you"ll ever know.”
“Why didn"t you want me to know?”
“I didn"t want my love to burden you.”
Marisol got off the bed and stood in front of Callum. A lock of hair had fallen blocking his left eye. Marisol combed his hair back with her fingers. “Why would your love be a burden?”
“Baby, I am a Midnight Howl, a Shape-shifter. As one, I often dance with danger. The very reason why I have only one life left in me. If I tell you how much I love you then leave you, how would that make you feel?”
“And knowing about your love after your death would be easier?” Marisol took his hand in hers and kissed each finger. “I would rather know, even for a second, that you love me than live my life wondering if I am wrong about your feelings. I love you, Callum. I have only one life, but however short or pathetic it may be, I want to share it with you.”
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“Marisol,”
Callum grasped her hips. She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissed the scar on his shoulder and inhaled his scent. He was such a beautiful man possessed with power and a gentle heart.
“I love you so much.”
“I love you, Marisol. From the moment I saw you, I knew you were the one.
My mate, my soul.”
She kept kissing his shoulder, chest and flat nipples. Callum groaned before he fisted his hand in her hair. He jerked her head back gently forcing her to look up. For a brief moment, he stared at her before his mouth claimed hers.
Slowly, Callum urged her to walk backwards until the back of her knees touched the bed. “I love you, Marisol,” he whispered again and again. His hands snaked inside her shirt, fondled her breasts before pulling the shirt over her head leaving her in her red panties. “I never knew fear until I saw you at the cemetery with my knuckle head brother and his friends. Don"t do anything like that again, love.”
“You know I will, Callum, especially if it meant saving you.”
“Dear god. Of all the women in the world. I fell in love with a stubborn one.”
Marisol grinned. “I love you, too.”
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He lowered her to bed. His hard body followed covering her. And then he began kissing every inch of her. Marisol writhed from anticipation. Callum was such a gentle lover. He made her feel like a goddess he worshipped in bed. When her body screamed for something wild and fierce. He understood.
Callum left her to shuck his pants off. She only had a chance to glimpse the size and length of his cock and he was back on top of her, spreading her legs with his knees. Without any sexual fondling or stimulation, he moved in between her legs.
Callum snaked his hand in between them to guide his cock on her entry.
Slowly, he penetrated her. She cried from pleasure. He groaned.
Foreplay wasn"t necessary. Both of them were on fire. She was so aroused their body contact made her shiver. And judging at how Callum"s body tautened, she knew he felt the same way, too.
Marisol ached. Her breasts heavy. She wanted all of him. “My love,”
“Yes.” Callum pushed deeper. “You are mine, Marisol. Mine.”
Marisol tried to concentrate hearing all the love words she"d wanted to hear from him, but her feelings were so consuming she couldn"t make out some of his words. She wanted to respond, too, but speech was impossible. She let her body do the talking instead.
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She clung to him, raised her legs higher to take more of him in. The bed rocked from Callum"s controlled and yet hard thrusts. Marisol cried from ecstasy.
Callum gave her more. He shifted so he could suck her breast while his magical finger touched her clit. When he began massaging her flesh, she nearly came apart. She was close, so close to reaching her orgasm when Callum pulled out.
“Callum, please.”
“Yes, baby. You"ll come.” He said in a harsh yet full of love tone while scooting down her body.
Marisol knew his intent. She gripped his hair in expectation. She didn"t have to wait long. Callum"s hot mouth clamped on her throbbing clit and began to suck.
The intensity of her pleasure overcame her body with so much force she bucked.
Callum gripped her hips tight and continued to worship her pussy.
He was groaning. She was whimpering and panting seeking release. Marisol moved her ass in a thrusting motion making love with his mouth. Her orgasm came shattering her body in million pieces with the help of his three fingers he had forced inside her.
As soon as her orgasm began to ebb away, Callum crawled back up her body. His eyes directed at her while his lips and tongue took turns torturing her body with his licks and kisses.
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“We are one. One heart. One body. One soul.” He slowly eased into her tight sheath moaning as he did. “I love you,” he said, and then he slammed into her over and over until he shouted her name.
Warm liquid poured inside her. Marisol hugged Callum tightly. She didn"t want to let go. God, she loved him so much. Having Callum buried deep inside her warmed her heart like a candle glowing in the dark. She wanted this.
Deep in her consciousness, she thought of her father. This must be what he wanted, too. For her to be happy. To be with Callum.
“Am I squishing you?”
“No. I like it when you cover me like this.”
Callum chuckled while planting kisses on her face. “Everyone"s forming their ideas about why Kyra"s family failed to produce a healing poultice. You want to hear mine?”
“Yes.”
“I think they failed because they didn"t have a heart like you and your mother. Anna made the poultice to help us even though she knew it was too dangerous.”
“I didn"t know anything about the Blood Robbers or Midnight Howl when I helped make the poultice and yet it"s potent.”
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“That"s the thing. You didn"t know. Your heart is not tainted with evil thoughts, of secret plan to use the poultice to your advantage. When you cut your hand to save my brother, you showed how unselfish you are. A trait, I"m sure, that you inherited from your mother.”
“If I have to drain my body to save you, I"ll do it Callum.”
“You made Youven proud.”
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Heart drumming against her chest, Marisol moved even closer to Callum when they reached the door to Goon"s restaurant. Callum stopped walking, wrapped his arm around her waist, and gave her a reassuring squeeze.
Knowing Callum was there eased her worry. The reception she received at the arena wasn"t something she wanted to experience again. It was obvious the clan didn"t want her here. Aside from the Dyrdeks, Bruce and Watt, she didn"t made any friends since she arrived just over a week ago. The women never talked to her and the men, well, sometimes their hatred couldn"t have been clearer. Now they would all be in Goon"s restaurant for the feast tonight. Just thinking about it gave her a stomach cramp. Marisol adjusted her green dress. The neckline was a bit risqué, but she had only an hour to find something to wear other than a tank top and jeans. The spaghetti strapped dress was the only thing simple that was available at the store where Callum had taken her. It was snug on the chest and the material clung on her body like a second skin. God, she felt naked.
“Stop fidgeting, love. You look wonderful.”
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“You"re just saying that. When you saw this dress, all you did was scowl.
Victor said that after dinner you would toss this into the fire. I hope I am not in it when you do. Did you really say that? Of course. Why would Victor lie? Did you see him? He is so adorable in his sports jacket. I feel naked.”
The change of topic didn"t escape him. His lovely Marisol was nervous being around his clan again and he couldn"t blame her. If staying in their room and skipping this feast wouldn"t hurt Goon"s feelings, he wouldn"t place Marisol in this situation. God knows all he wanted—especially after seeing her in this dress—
was to toss her back in bed and make slow love with her all night long.
“Look at me.” He placed his fingers beneath her chin then tilted her head.
Marisol"s worried eyes met his. “You are worrying about nothing. I am here, love. If you see someone scowl at you, let me know and we"ll leave right away. Although I doubt anyone would treat you differently now especially after what you"ve done, what we"ve learned about your power to heal, and your kindness to help another including an enemy.”
“My blood isn"t enough to repay you and your clan for what you"ve done to protect us, Callum. I"ll try not to worry so long as you"re beside me.”
“I love you Marisol Saint James. You"re my soul, love. I"ll be by your side forever.”
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“Forever is endless.”
“You betcha.”
Marisol"s lipstick free lips were as red as a newly bloomed rose from her constant chewing. Callum leaned down for a short kiss, but Marisol went soft on him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her soft breasts pressed against his chest. He pulled her up tight against his growing arousal. Over and over, he slanted his mouth on top of hers. God, how he loved her. She was his to take, care for and love.
He pressed his thumb on her chin to open her mouth even wider then penetrated her with his tongue even deeper. Lust burst like a million stars enveloping them in brilliant lights. Callum felt like standing in the middle of the lustrous room undimmed with worries and pain, uncertainty and boring existence.
Tightening his hold on her waist, he pulled Marisol harder lifting her higher to align their bodies the way they did in bed. He lowered his hand a bit to cup her ass when a loud clearing of throats penetrated his senses.
Just a fraction, he lifted his mouth from Marisol whom he noticed had gone bright red. With his heart slowly beating back to normal, he remembered where they were and realized that the door to the restaurant was already open. He ran the pad of his thumb on Marisol"s smooth cheek back and forth.
“I love you,” he whispered.
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“And I you.”
Zambro cleared his throat again. “If you two lovebirds would come inside we could start devouring Goon"s wonderful food.”
Callum kept his hold on Marisol"s waist. He felt Marisol shiver and heard her moan when the men openly stared and some women showed appreciation and others envy.
“I told you they don"t like me. Look at them stare, Callum.”
“Baby, they are staring because you are beautiful.”
Marisol looked up at her then smiled. “Love is indeed blind.”
“Perhaps. I say truth is love and I am telling you the truth.”
One clap echoed in the room. A second one followed and then more. Callum grinned down at Marisol. The look of surprise on her face was priceless. She began chewing on her lower lips again.
“What"s going on, Callum.”
“Everyone is here to celebrate with us.”
“What for?”
“How about if I let them tell you.”
Goon stepped forward and took Marisol"s hand. “Welcome to the clan, Marisol. To face and threaten Atos the way you did showed us loyalty and bravery 318
and who you are.” Goon placed his right hand on his chest. “You have my allegiance and my kitchen will stay open twenty four seven just for you.”
“Thank you, Goon. If you could show me how to make bread that would be enough.”
“As soon as Callum lets go of his hold on you, I will.”
“I believe you"ll have to wait a long time for that to happen, Goon. You"ll just have to snatch her. Hey, Marisol.”
Ty pushed Callum weakly. Callum moved and pretended to lose his balance.
His brother hadn"t recovered fully yet. It would take a day or two before he regain his strength.
“Ty.” Marisol walked over to his brother and wrapped her arms around him.
“Good to see you.”
“Thanks for saving my life.” Ty said then wrapped his arms around Marisol with his cheek pressed on the top of her head.
“Oh no. Don"t thank me. I should be the one thanking you and the rest of the Midnight Howl for watching over us humans. But thanks for the hug.”
Someone from the crowd said something about the soup getting cold. Ty showed Marisol and Callum their seats.
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Callum noticed the bottle of wine he promised his brothers on the table. It was still unopened. He looked around. The other bottles were on the other tables as well.
They’ll have one heck of a celebration.
Ty uncorked the bottle and poured every glass with the crystal clear wine.
Victor took only half of his glass.
“You"re not drinking, Victor?”
“Have to work tonight.”
Bruce and Watt joined them at the table.
“Finally. I"m tired of playing MP down here. Time to kick some asses up there. Watching you guys fight made me hungry for blood.” Bruce said while chewing his food. “Say, Marisol. Do you suppose all of us should carry a Ziploc bag with your poultice in it? Just in case.”
“Not a bad idea. Or I could go—”
“Not gonna happen.” Callum immediately cut Marisol off in mid-sentence.
“As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, I could talk to Doctor Yousney and perhaps he could think of something better than a Ziploc bag.”