Chapter Sixteen

Callie’s heart hammered an erratic beat inside her chest. She kept one hand pressed to Morgan’s muscles and reached toward the table with the other. She found the deck of cards and drew the next one, pressing it against Morgan’s face.

He groaned and sat up, swiping the card from her hand. There was no hiding his erection now. It strained against his jeans. Any moment, it would break free of the denim and swing toward her. Callie’s mouth went dry at the thought of it. She couldn’t remember how it felt to have him hilt deep inside her.

She’d delayed their foreplay not because she was afraid, but because she wanted this night to last forever. There was a lot happening on the other side of the door that would catch up to them eventually. Neither knew what would happen once they opened it. All they knew for sure was the time they had in the current moment.

And Callie was determined to make the best of it. She wanted to believe they had years to spend in each other’s presence, that they would have birthdays and anniversaries to celebrate. There was even the possibility of children. As long as they kept that door closed, the possibilities of the future were infinite.

“What is it?”

Morgan’s grin lit his eyes with sparkling stars. The expression took her breath away. It made her want to leap into his lap all over again. She needed that light. In fact, she hungered for it. Callie hadn’t realized how dark the years had been without him.

“It’s my turn to ask a question.” He flipped the card between two fingers to reveal a number.

Callie nestled into the couch, enjoying the view. Morgan towered over her, his thick thighs leading into narrow hips before widening again. She let her hands dance over the shape of him while he thought of a question. She avoided his erection because she knew it would cloud his mind and distract him from the game.

Then, Morgan dropped to his hands and hovered over her. His brown and bronze locks dangled over her face. She reached up to sweep them back, and he leaned into her touch before the sparkle of mischief returned.

“Will you play role-playing games with me? Will you be a nerd with me?”

Callie’s brows shot upward. That wasn’t the kind of question she’d been expecting. Her first instinct was to say no. She wasn’t that kind of person. Then again, Callie wasn’t sure what kind of person she was anymore. It was clear that she’d been living the wrong life and believing all the wrong things.

She could try something new. Then, a devious thought slithered through her mind. She smirked and wound her arms around Morgan’s neck, drawing him closer. She brought his ear close to her lips and felt the shiver that rippled through him. It brought her pleasure, knowing that she could twist him like that.

“Only,” she whispered into his ear, “if you fuck me right now.”

The growl that left him was anything but nice. The ferocity of it spoke to her own beast, rising with glee. His eyes swam with gold. She’d brought the beast to the surface.

Morgan rested his head against her shoulder. “It’s been a long time. I’m sorry if…”

It didn’t matter. As long as that door stayed closed, they had all the time in the world. They could make love over and over, experimenting in all the ways they could pleasure one another. She couldn’t ignore her own need any longer. Nine years without her mate had been too long.

She yanked his shirt over his head and threw it to the floor. His hair stuck up in all directions, begging her to run her hand through the silkiness of it. Instead, she knotted her fingers in it and pulled him into a deep kiss while she wrapped her legs around him. The layers of fabric and denim still separated them, drawing a frustrated growl from her.

“Bear with me,” Morgan breathed while trying to free himself of his jeans. It took longer than they would have liked, the fabric catching on his cock. Once it was free, it bounced with glee.

“Did I forget how big it was or did you get larger?” She could barely breathe, the thought of him inside her stealing the air from her lungs.

Morgan rewarded her statement with a kiss. When he lowered himself toward her, his cock brushed against her stomach. It was nowhere near where she wanted it.

Morgan suddenly paused. Callie wanted to scream but found the patience to wait for him. When he looked down at her, there was concern and a hint of confusion creasing the corners of his eyes. She wanted to smooth both away, so that he would never have to feel either again, but she knew that wasn’t how this worked. The best she could do was be there for him.

“Are you, ah…” Morgan looked away.

That was when she noticed the darkening of his cheeks. He hung his head to hide it, hair falling over his face. She reached and tugged his head back up so that he looked her in the eye. For a moment, she thought he would set his concern aside. Finally, he managed to bring it to his voice.

“Are you on birth control or do I need to, ah, find a condom?”

Callie couldn’t stop the laughter that escaped her. She should have felt bad for laughing in his face. Morgan reminded her by playfully nipping the fingers that touched his cheek. She yanked her hand back, still cackling. Contraceptives made Morgan nervous? He’d faced down men with dart guns and powered through several doses of an impossible drug, yet he was scared to talk about contraceptives?

“Go get a condom.” Callie hesitated. “Get a handful if you have them.”

It was Morgan’s turn to cackle. His laughter echoed throughout the house as he darted away. She was left bereft, her hands empty when they should have been full of her mate. When he returned, gleaming packages in hand, she watched the bounce of his member with every step and felt her core tighten with hunger.

He fumbled with the foil wrapper until Callie took it from his hands. They didn’t need any children surprising them in a time like this and drugs didn’t stay in a shifter’s system long enough to do what they needed to do. She freed the latex sheath and turned toward Morgan. When he stood before her, Callie still seated on the couch, it bobbed at face level.

An overwhelming desire hit her, and she didn’t bother denying it. Taking his cock in one hand, she ran her tongue over its head. Morgan let out a sound of surprise. His thighs clenched. Callie grinned up at him before taking him into her mouth.

She savored the taste of him. This was hers. All hers.

Callie took him as deep as she could. Morgan shuddered and groaned. Her tongue slid along the shaft while her hand reached to cup the rest of him.

“Any more of this and I won’t be able to last long.”

Callie teased, pulling back as if she would listen to him before taking more of him in her mouth. She did this a few times, drawing the moans and shivers from him, before leaning back. He towered over her, eyes alight with the desire she felt burning inside herself.

This was how life was supposed to feel, how love was supposed to feel. Everything was on fire. Electricity bounced along her skin and left her scalp tingling. Callie didn’t know how she’d managed to live without this for so long. She kicked herself for letting anyone take it from her so easily.

She should have tried harder. She should have fought back.

There was no use living in the past. Instead, Callie would take what she had now. She would hold onto it and fight for it with every last inch of power she had.

The latex sheath slid over Morgan’s cock with ease. Immediately, she reached for her waistband, but Morgan knelt in front of her. The sight made her pause. He used that moment to tug her pants over her waist and free her of them.

He sucked in a sharp breath. “You aren’t wearing any underwear.”

Her cheeks flamed. She didn’t know what to tell him. Underwear left weird lines when she wore leggings. It didn’t matter because Morgan didn’t give her time to speak. He bowed his head until his lips met the soft skin inside her thigh.

Callie cried out, the sound ending in a sigh. She melted back into the couch and let Morgan part her legs. He delved deeper, tongue finding the molten core she hid there. She could have had a man who would kneel for her, a love that would never hurt her.

Callie hated herself for what she’d done. She knew there was no going back. She couldn’t change what happened. The past was immutable. Yet, she promised herself she would do better. Morgan deserved so much more. He deserved a woman who would treat him better than she had.

Just as his tongue brought her to climax, sending small ripples through her body, she pulled him up from his knees. She needed more. She needed him inside her.

“How do you want this?” Her voice was husky as she spoke through the orgasm he’d wrought. It filled her, stealing her breath, and nearly her mind. But, she wanted to make sure this was everything they both wanted.

Morgan licked the last of her from his lips while he held her gaze. Callie’s core clenched. She needed him now. How did she tell him to hurry? How did she tell him how badly she needed this?

He seemed to read her mind. He grabbed her with strong hands and lifted her from the ground. Lowering her over his groin, he slid inside her with ease. Callie gasped, feeling each inch open her in ways she hadn’t felt since they’d last loved one another. Her body remembered the shape of him, but she was convinced that he’d gotten bigger.

Morgan paused. Callie waited for the stinging sensation to pass. It didn’t last long before the warmth of her core overwhelmed her. It rose like a wave and crashed around the length of him until she pulsed.

Callie in his arms, Morgan stumbled toward the nearest wall. With her back pressed against a solid surface, Morgan started to pump in earnest. His strokes began slow and measured. Bit by bit, she felt his control gave way to the need they both felt, a growl low and deep in his chest echoing the ferocity of his thrusts.

The wall creaked and groaned beneath the force of their lovemaking. Each thrust held the built-up power of those wasted years, unable to make up for lost time even though they tried. Callie held onto her mate. She willed him to become a part of her.

The pleasure building between her legs, pulsing inside her core, was his gift. He cupped the back of her head to protect her. The light graze of his fingertips against her scalp threatened to burst the growing bubble inside of her. She shuddered and begged it to release. All she wanted was the orgasm that their lovemaking promised.

Finally, Morgan slammed home. He pressed her against the wall and shuddered. It was all she needed for her own orgasm to burst. It ricocheted in every direction, the waves consuming her completely. If Morgan hadn’t held her so securely, she might have drifted away. As it was, her eyelids fluttered. Callie sank into the tingling sensation washing through her body.

Morgan dipped his head. He bit the soft skin between her shoulder and neck, becoming an anchor. The pain brought her back, gasping as the orgasm suddenly doubled and crashed into her all over again.

With Callie in his arms, Morgan staggered away from the wall and toward the couch. He wore a sly grin. There was even a bounce in his step. He was a ray of light in a world that should have seemed grim. Everything about him lit her world and shone light on all the things she’d forgotten or ignored. How she’d managed to live without him for this long was beyond her.

She dragged her hands through his hair, savoring the silken strands as they fell onto the couch together. Another shudder rippled through him when he pulled free of her. Callie heard the soft groan that escaped him and felt a tickle of pride.

This was hers.

Morgan was hers.

And she was his. The promise was left unsaid, but she knew he’d heard it. Years ago, she’d given him her heart and, she suspected, he’d left with it when she demanded he leave. Now, he’d given it back to her and she could feel a full range of emotions once more. Around him, the world was bright and beautiful. Because of him, she could truly enjoy it.

***

“Can you believe,” Morgan whispered in her ear, “that I’m ready to go again?”

Chills swept up and down her spine, leaving her writhing in the circle of his arms. Callie craned her neck and Morgan took the opportunity to claim the skin with his mouth. Behind her, she could feel the rise of his cock once more. It hardened and pressed into her lower back.

She reached and plucked another condom from the table, unwrapping it before passing it back to Morgan. The minutes stretched into impossible lengths while she waited for him to roll the thin layer of latex over his cock. Callie moved her hips to brush the tip of his cock. He growled and moved faster. Suddenly, Morgan gripped her hips and yanked her back into him.

Callie parted her legs just enough so that he could slip inside her. They groaned in unison. This time, their lovemaking was slow and luxurious. Morgan held one breast in his hand, thumb toying with her nipple in time with his thrusts. The other hand lazily made circles between her legs.

Little by little, her pleasure built. It weighed heavy in her core, the molten gold turning to precious metal by the moment. She wanted more, wanted it harder, but couldn’t speak past the weight of it in her throat.

Thankfully she couldn’t speak. The slow pace brought forth the most explosive orgasm. It could have been the fact that she hadn’t had one in years. It could have been the magic of lying with her mate. No matter what it was, Morgan clutched her tight while her body bucked with the force of the pleasure that blew through her.

He laughed in her ear, a pleased sound that rode along the waves.

As long as that door remained shut and the world stayed on the other side, they had time to love each other again. Callie did her best to ignore the fact that she’d doomed the group of shifters to a war they hadn’t asked for. If only for a little while, she put herself first.

Perhaps she would regret it later, but for now it was all she wanted.