Callan Page 4

  “I think I’ll take the wheel tonight.” I cranked the ignition and threw the car in reverse.

  I saw the curtains near the front door flutter as I backed out of the driveway. Ava and Nolan were watching and wondering. I wished I could tell them they weren’t the only ones.

  * * *

  I knew it didn’t matter where I took Hannah for our first date, but I wanted it to be memorable. I wanted her to have something positive to think about when Hunter’s Lake came to mind. Not just nightmares about super shifter attacks.

  We walked into Five Candles and I saw the smile on her face when she scanned the restaurant.

  “This place is amazing,” she whispered as the hostess led us to a corner table.

  “I hoped you would like it.”

  I pulled her chair out for her and helped her slide into place. I caught a glimpse of her thighs when the skirt was hiked slightly higher.

  The hostess handed me the wine list and promised to send over a bread and cheese plate.

  “This reminds me of a restaurant I tried in Paris last month.”

  “Paris?”

  She nodded. “I can’t remember what the name was, but it was quaint like this. Lots of candle light. I love it.”

  “Why were you in Paris?”

  “I live in London, silly.”

  I blinked. What the hell? “I had no idea.”

  “I took a job there last year. It was a big move, obviously. I’ve tried to make the most of it. I take a lot of weekend trips. I hop on the train and just go.”

  I felt something tug and pull under my ribs. My bear didn’t like it. I inhaled.

  “Are you moving back to the States now that Ava had the cub?” I asked.

  “I’m really lucky I’m here for a few weeks. They have this totally different philosophy over there about child care and just babies. When I told my boss the situation about Ava being in Hunter’s Lake without family, and that I’m her only living family, she told me to take off as many weeks as I needed to help out. It’s pretty amazing.” Her eyes glistened in the candlelight.

  “So you’re planning on going back? To London?”

  Hannah nodded. “My flat is there. My new job.” She picked up the wine list. “Should we choose something?” she suggested.

  It felt as if someone had punched me in the stomach. How did I not know Hannah lived in Europe? No one thought this was important information? I tried to think if she had dropped any hints yesterday, but our conversation revolved around getting her home safely and my shoulder.

  “You choose.” I tried to smile, but I only managed to press my lips together.

  “You don’t drink wine do you?” She scrunched her nose together. “We could order something else.”

  She had no idea what had soured the mood. It wasn’t wine versus beer. It was the fact I learned my mate lived in fucking London.

  “Wine is good. Your choice.”

  “All right.” She shrugged. “I’ll look for something French.” She giggled, and her laughter ricocheted inside my heart. What in the hell was I going to do now?

  7

  Hannah

  The candles in the centerpiece flickered between us. I couldn’t help but sense that something had bothered Callan, but I had no idea what.

  “How long have you been a cop?” I asked, hoping to break the tension that had settled over the table. I took a sip of the French wine our server had delivered.

  His hands looked even larger holding the crystal wine glass. Everything about him was huge. His shoulders, his biceps, his legs. I had to stop from constantly biting my lip when my eyes lingered on his body a little too long.

  “Five years in Hunter’s Lake,” he answered.

  “Did you ever want to do anything else?”

  “Not really.” He shook his head. “It’s been in my blood.”

  “Do you think that’s because of your background?” I didn’t know what the rules were about talking about shifters in public. I knew it wasn’t a secret, but was it rude? I had a lot to learn. I should have spent more time asking Nolan questions before my date instead of trying to piss him off.

  “Are you referring to my bear shifter status?” He raised his eyebrows.

  “Yes, that. Is that why?” I wasn’t sure why I whispered.

  He chuckled, and I was suddenly relieved some of the easiness had returned to the date.

  “It helps for sure.” He grinned.

  “Is it okay to talk about it? Can I ask you questions?”

  He leaned into the table and I followed the sharp angles of his jaw. Did this man have any clue how hot he was?

  “You can ask me anything, Hannah.”

  I almost sighed. He was mesmerizing. Before I could show him just how curious I was about shifters, the waitress appeared carrying a large silver platter of cheese, fruit, and toasted breads. I realized the wine was strong, and I needed to take a break and get something in my stomach.

  “Thank you.” He nodded at her. She seemed to be as intrigued with Callan as I was.

  “Are you ready to order?” she asked.

  I nodded. “If you are.” I smiled at my date.

  “Okay, let’s order.”

  * * *

  By the time we finished off a shared piece of chocolate pie, the bottle of wine was empty and the candles on the table were not much more than waxy stumps. I wasn’t sure when, but Callan and I had slowly moved our chairs together.

  His hand was high on my thigh and I had wrapped my ankle around his leg. We leaned together, laughing and running our fingers through the last drops of chocolate on the plate. I held my index finger in the air and my eyes widened when his mouth covered it as he sucked the chocolate off my skin.

  Holy hell. My entire body vibrated.

  He grinned. “It’s definitely better that way.”

  “Are you drunk, detective?” I teased.

  “Never.” He slipped an arm around my shoulder, drawing me to him. “It takes a lot for my bear to lose control.”

  The words made me shiver. I stared in his eyes, looking for a sign of that side of him. If I looked long and deep enough, would I see the animal that lived beneath his skin?

  I lightly licked my bottom lip as he tilted his head and covered my mouth with his. I closed my eyes, reveling in every second of the kiss. His tongue flicked along mine, tangling and twisting. I wanted to suck the chocolate off his lips too. I wanted to get lost in the most fiery passionate kiss I’d ever experienced. I felt his thumb rake the skin under my skirt, inching between my thighs.

  I purred at the contact, knowing I wanted him to keep going.

  I wound my hands around his neck as we both forget we were sitting in a restaurant. Everything else had fallen away. The only thing I knew right now was how Callan felt and tasted. The rest of it didn’t matter.

  We both jolted forward when we heard a cough echoing over our table.

  “I brought the check.”

  I was afraid to turn around. I was half in Callan’s lap, and half on my chair. His hand was between my legs and we were breaking every code of decency in Hunter Lake’s nicest restaurant.

  “Thank you.” Callan sounded confident. “She’s gone,” he whispered in my ear.

  “Oh shit.” I scooted backward so that I was in my proper chair. I tried to straighten my skirt into position, but there was a noticeable ache humming in my core. I was ready for things to go much farther than they had.

  He chuckled, taking my hand. He had slipped cash into the waitress’s bill fold. “Come on.” He kissed my knuckles, leading me through the dimly lit tables. “I’m not ready to take you home, Hannah Lance.”

  He guided me into the passenger side of the car, and kissed me slowly as he fastened the seatbelt at my hip.

  “I’m not ready to go home either,” I whispered.

  I watched in disbelief as Callan ran with lightning speed and was suddenly next to me in the car. He threw a blue light on top of the hood and flipped a switch on the dash.


  I laughed. “I don’t think you can do that.”

  “Watch me.” He winked.

  He peeled out of the parking lot and within five minutes we were outside of Hunter’s Lake on one of the town’s backroads.

  If it had been any other circumstance, I would have studied Callan’s cabin. I would have taken in the yard and the how big the porch was. I would have checked out his curtains or movie collection. I would have done all the normal things a girl does when she scopes out the house of man she’s interested in.

  But Callan threw up the car door and lifted me in his arms. Our mouths were instantly searching for each other. I ran my fingers through his short cut while he carried me up the stairs. He flung the door open and we staggered inside the dark living room.

  “Oh my God.” I breathed heavily as he kissed my throat and behind my ear.

  My hands clung to his shoulders for support as I leaned back to give him more access to my neck.

  “You’re so damn sexy,” he growled, reaching for the zipper on the back of my skirt.

  I wiggled just enough so that it landed on the floor. I kicked it away with the toes of my high heels as Callan dropped to his knees in front of me. He pressed his mouth between my legs and I let out a long sigh. His eyes lifted to mine as he slipped a finger under the lace and began to play with my clit. I jerked toward him. His mouth blew hot bursts while his finger worked me into a frenzy.

  I moaned when he looped his fingers under the band of the lace thong and peeled it over my thighs. I couldn’t believe we hadn’t made it past the front door, but part of me knew this was perfect in every way. I was dying for him to touch me as desperately as he was. I couldn’t wait to explore his body either. I needed to know things about him, I didn’t know I wanted to know about another man.

  I lifted my hair off my neck and let it tumble around me as he held my folds open and began lapping at my heated center. I shook with electric pleasure, knowing he was about to make me come faster than I ever had.

  He dug his fingers into my backside, burying his face between my legs as he sucked my swollen bud with precision. I panted and moaned, knowing there wasn’t much more I could take before I crumbled in his hands. The instant his tongue slid all the way inside me, I hissed. It was almost too much. But he was relentless, holding me to his rough and rugged face. I felt the climax spiral through me like a rush of lightning bolts. He feasted on me while I begged for him to show mercy.

  He looked deep into my eyes as another orgasm claimed me.

  “I can’t,” I whispered. “It’s too much.” I shook my head, while my hips ground harder into his tongue. I knew if he broke away from me I’d beg for more.

  He pushed his fingers inside me and I shattered, convulsing in his hand while my juices ran into his palm. He kissed the inside of my thigh, running a line to my naval with his tongue.

  “Please take me to bed,” I moaned.

  Callan lifted me to his chest, taking a few turns in the dark house until I was deposited on the center of a bed. He began to unbutton his shirt, but I crawled forward.

  “Let me,” I whispered.

  I unfastened one, planting a kiss on his chest. His fingers tangled in my hair as I made my way all the way to his belt buckle. I heard his chest seize as I loosened the belt and threaded it through the loop so that it was hanging open.

  I slid the zipper down on the front of his jeans, running the center of my palm inside. My eyes widened when I realized how enormous his cock was. I had teased my sister too many times to count about bear shifter anatomy, but now faced with the reality of Callan’s massive shaft, I knew there was nothing funny about it. I squeezed my knees together as I fisted him a few pumps before he kicked his pants to the floor along with the boxer briefs he was wearing. I stared, wondering how sex with him was going to work.

  “It’s okay,” he growled, as if he could read my thoughts. “I’ll go slow. I won’t hurt you, Hannah. I’d never hurt you.” His hand landed on my ankle and he began to loosen the strap of my high heel. He pulled one shoe off and then the other. He lowered them to the floor next to the bed.

  I nodded, crawling into his lap. Callan tugged on the thin camisole I was wearing. I eagerly lifted my hands in the air so he could remove the last pieces of clothing that separated us. With a quick flick, my bra was off and I saw it sail across the room, possibly landing on his dresser.

  I giggled, but his hungry mouth quickly covered my nipple and I moaned when his teeth latched around it with urgent force.

  “Oh, Callan.” My head fell back as he sucked harder, squeezing my free nipple with his hand. He pinched and rolled it until I was desperate for more.

  “You’re so perfect, Hannah. So damn perfect.”

  Was it crazy that I believed him? I had been stripped, licked, and kissed by this incredibly sexy man. I was about to have bear shifter sex. I didn’t know everything that meant, but I knew it was something I wanted to experience. And I wanted it with Callan.

  “Ohh,” I whimpered when I felt his cock press at my entrance. I wrapped my legs against his waist. I’d never been this wet or hot in my life.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  I nodded. “More than okay.” I smiled as he adjusted his enormous shaft beneath me.

  With one move he would be inside me. I was nervous and excited. I held my breath, anticipating the impact of our bodies colliding.

  And then he plunged into me, rocking me back on the bed so that he was above me. I cried out as he pushed deeper. He was so wide and thick I thought I would split in two. The tears formed at the corners of my eyes. Callan’s mouth covered mine, kissing and nipping at my lips.

  “Shh,” he soothed me while he began to pump in and out of me. “Open up, baby. I need you, too.”

  “Ohhh shit,” I whispered, spreading my legs wider.

  He growled, each time taking it deeper. With every thrust we grew closer together. He was right. It was better this way. It felt incredible. The more I opened up to his body, the wilder and hotter we were together.

  “Don’t stop,” I begged. I knew something was changing. It hurt less and felt more passionate and hungry. I wanted him to fuck me harder. I wanted him all the way in. Could I handle it? I wanted to know.

  He grunted, easing his arms off the bed so that he was on his knees. He slammed into me and I arched off the mattress with a scream.

  “Hannah.” He breathed.

  “Keep. Going.”

  He grinned as he thrust again. Our eyes met when he finally seared his cock fully inside me. I knew as soon as he was all the way in, I’d never feel this kind of fullness again. He made me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. I was on top of the world while Callan fucked me with one beautiful stroke after another.

  He kissed my knee and I smiled at him. His shaft slid from me and I looked at him in disbelief. There was no way the sex was over. He was as hard as steel. I gawked at his shaft throbbing for me. Pulsing for me.

  He waggled his eyebrows and suddenly the sheets were under my stomach and I felt cool air on my ass.

  8

  Callan

  She was the most incredible woman I’d ever had in my bed. She had to be. She was my mate, after all. But tonight wasn’t going to be the claiming. There was time for that later. Tonight, was about being close. It was about showing each other how our bodies were meant to do this for each other and no one else.

  I looked at her glowing body. Hannah was flat on her stomach. I ran my palm from her shoulder, along her back, and over her gorgeous ass. She purred as I stroked her body. I moved to the other shoulder, running along that side of her body. I stopped to sink my hands into her waist and pull her up on her knees.

  I saw the excitement in her eyes as I nudged my cock between her legs. She looked at me over her shoulder. Her raven hair fell in waves. Did she have any idea how sexy she was? Her round plush ass was enough to make me lose my mind. It was lifted high in the air as she pressed into the mattress
with her hands.

  I opened her slit with my finger as she moaned impatiently. She was so fucking wet. I couldn’t believe it. She wiggled back into me as I thrust my cock into her warm and heavenly pussy. I growled toward the ceiling, taking her roughly. Taking her as if she was mine. As if she would always be.

  She panted, jerking back and forth on her hands. “This angle.” Her eyes closed. “I’ve never felt this before. It’s so intense like this.”

  I stared at her. She’d never been taken from behind? I felt honored that I was the one to experience this with her. It made it hotter. More special. More intimate. God, Hannah was killing me.

  “Hold on,” I directed. “Grab the spindles in front of you.”

  She reached for the headboard, wrapping her delicate fingers around the spokes as I picked up speed. There was no way to settle my bear down. He had tasted her. She had come in my mouth. She had begged me to take her. Going slow and easy wasn’t something either of us wanted.

  “Callan,” she whispered. “Oh, Callan. I’m going to come.” Her tits bounced wildly and I watched in her awe as her nipples grazed the pillows.

  “That’s it,” I groaned. “Come hard, baby.”

  She hissed as I reached her clit and began to tug in rhythmic jolts until she was completely unraveled and coming in waves on my cock.

  “Oh fuck,” I roared, feeling her squeeze me inside her with her own level of intensity I wasn’t expecting. If I wasn’t already on my knees, she would have taken me there. I rocked into her, burying myself in her velvet walls. I wanted to get lost inside her. I wanted to take us to another plane, one where I didn’t have to worry about shifters kidnapping her, or Allied trying to kill my best friends. I wanted to fuck her until she knew I was the one meant for her. That I was here to protect her for the rest of her life. I’d never let anything happen to her. If I was deep enough inside her, she would feel it. She would know it the way my body fit into hers.