“I don’t think I carry those in your size, little brother,” Charly said, earning the middle finger from Declan.
“For Callie, smart ass.”
Charly runs to the back to find my size, then returns a moment later with a box. “These are pretty,” she says.
Declan takes the box from her, pulls the stuffing out of a shoe, then kneels before me and drags his hand down the back of my leg, behind my knee, to my calf. “Give me your foot, sweetheart.”
I brace myself on his shoulder and offer him my naked foot, which he slips into the grey shoe. But before I can put it on the floor, he leans in and presses a kiss to my ankle.
I wonder how Charly would feel about her brother fucking me right here, in the shoe store? Because I’m about to climb him.
“Good eye, Dec,” Charly says. “You know, if you’re looking for a job, I’ll hire you.”
“Why is everyone trying to find me a new job? I have a job, thank you very much.”
I step down on the shoe and, with his hand still cradling my calf, he looks up at me and gives me that half smile, then winks, and I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that I have fallen head over heels in love with this man.
As completely corny as it sounds, he’s literally swept me off of my feet.
My heart pounds a bit as I step back out of his grasp, then stumble when I almost knock a designer display over.
“Are you okay?” he asks and reaches for my hand, but I pull it away and take another step away from him.
“Fine.”
“Are they too tall for you?” Charly asks, her face creased in concern.
“No, they’re great.” I clear my throat and smile widely. “I’ll take them.” I fumble for my credit card. “In fact, I’ll wear them out.”
Declan is staring at me like I’ve suddenly grown a cucumber out of my ear, and I know I seem completely nuts right now, but I can’t help it.
I’m in love with him.
Holy shit.
Charly’s speaking, but I can’t understand the words through the rushing in my ears. Finally, I sign the receipt—I don’t even give one shit how much it all cost—and make a beeline for outside, dragging deep breaths of fresh air into my lungs.
Does everyone hyperventilate when they discover they’re in love? Probably not.
“What happened in there?” Declan asks as he takes the bag of shoes from me and places it in the back of his Jeep, then waits for me to get buckled in before pulling out into traffic.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I’ve never been a great liar.
“You looked like you saw a ghost, and when Charly asked you if you wanted to keep the boxes, you just smiled and said, good for you.”
“Oops,” I murmur and stare out the passenger window.
“So what happened?”
“Must have been something I ate,” I say and smile brightly. “I feel better now.”
We stop at a red light and he sends me a look that screams not buying it, but he doesn’t press me. And I’m glad because what am I supposed to say?
Sorry, but I just realized when you had your sexy hand on my leg and winked at me that I’m completely in love with you and it gave me heart palpitations and I might have had a stroke?
Probably not a great thing to say.
“I have to get ready for my gig tonight, so I’m gonna drop you at Adam’s. Is that okay?”
“Perfect.”
“I’ll walk you to your car at closing,” he says.
“Great.”
“You’re sure you’re okay?”
“Great.”
He stops at the curb and before he can jump out to walk me in, I grab the shoes out of the back and wave, then rush inside to have my panic attack the way any self-respecting woman would: by myself.
***
“Phone for you,” Adam says later that day as he pulls the cordless from his ear and holds it out to me. We’re both bustling behind the bar, him pouring drinks for a party of twelve that just walked in, and me trying to restock the beer before the evening crowd hits.
“This is Callie,” I say and squat in front of the beer cooler, mentally counting bottles.
“Callie, this is Ray Michaels. I’m a producer at the Travel Channel.”
I pause and frown at the Bud Light. “Okay.”
“My associate was in New Orleans a couple of weeks ago and had the privilege of being in The Odyssey on a Friday night. He was so impressed with the renovations on the place that we would like to feature your bar on our travel show, Ins and Outs. Have you seen the show?”
My mouth is gaping open by now, and my legs are falling asleep from being in the squat position for way too long, but I can’t move. All I can do is nod.
“Callie?”
“Sorry. Yes, I’ve seen the show.”
“Great. So the host travels around the country, and in a twelve-minute segment, features a different hot spot in the city they’re visiting that week.”
“And you want The Odyssey to be one of those hot spots.”
“We do,” he says. “I can email you with more information, and the legal formalities, but I wanted to touch base personally first to see if this is something you’re interested in.”
“O-of course I’m interested,” I stutter and stand, then curse a million times in my head as the blood rushes back into my lower extremities. “I’d love to see the paperwork.”
“Great. We’d like to film the week after next.”
“That fast?” I ask and glance over to see Adam staring at me, unabashedly eavesdropping. I just shrug and put one finger up to say, just a minute.
“It’s a last-minute addition because one of the other locations fell through. We’re very excited to work with you.”
“Thank you.” I give him my email address, then hang up and simply stare at the top of the bar.
“Who was that?” Adam asks.
“A guy named Ray from the Travel Channel. They want to film in here and spotlight us on Ins and Outs.”
“I love that show,” he says with a grin.
“This is crazy.” My hands are shaking.
“No, it’s awesome. You worked hard and it’s paying off. This will be excellent for business.”
“We worked hard,” I say absently and then smile and jump up and down. “The Travel Channel!”
“Okay, maybe it’s a little crazy,” he says with a laugh.
“It’s a little crazy that I’ll take,” I reply and pour us each a shot. “Cheers!”
Chapter Eleven
~Declan~
She fucking blows me away. I’m sitting in The Odyssey two weeks later, watching as she sits for her interview with the Travel Channel crew. She’s already given them a tour of the roof, and now she’s giving them the history of the place. This is the part that I know is hardest for her, but you’d never know it. She’s cool as a cucumber in her black skirt and white button-down, and she’s wearing the grey heels I picked out for her. The blond hair that I can’t seem to stop touching is piled on top of her head in a lazy knot and her lips are red.
She’s pulled off the classy rocker-chick effortlessly. I know she was probably just going for classy, but she always has that edge to her, no matter what she wears.
And I fucking love it.
She’s speaking of her father without blinking an eye, but she does fist her hand once, which tells me that she’s not happy with this line of questions.
The fact that the freaking Travel Channel is filming in her place is amazing. Not that she hasn’t earned it. Everything about the place has changed, not just because of the renovations, but because of the woman who runs the show.
And the producer is a smart man for recognizing that. The segment on the show will only be a little over ten minutes, but they’ve shot at least an hour's worth of coverage to make sure that they have enough footage to pull from. I’ll be performing in about an hour, and they’ll get more filming in then.
“She’s doing great,” Adam murmurs as he walks up beside my table. I purposely sat where I can keep an eye on my girl. Just in case.
“That she is,” I agree with a nod. “Not that I thought she’d do otherwise.”
“She’s a pro,” Adam says. “She deserves this.”
“You both do.” He shrugs, but I don’t let it go. “You both worked your asses off, and continue to, Adam. She knows that, and so do you.”
“It’s her place,” he insists, then pats my shoulder and returns to the bar, where he winks at a redhead and asks what he can get her.
Finally, Callie stands and shakes hands with the camera crew, waits patiently to have the mics taken off her clothes, and walks straight to me.
Good girl.
“You did so great,” I say as I fold her into my arms and hug her tight. God, I love the way she fits just perfectly.
“I was so nervous,” she admits with a sigh. “But my part is done.”
“You were great,” I repeat and tip her head up, my finger under her chin, to see her eyes. “You nailed it.”
She smiles and squares her shoulders, claiming her power back, and I can’t help but smile.
“What?” she asks with a grin.
“I love the way you shrug into your badass,” I reply before kissing her forehead. “And I love that I’m the only one who gets to see you when you take it off.”
“I—” She bites her lip and looks down, then just shakes her head. “Have a great set tonight.”
“What were you going to say?”
“It’s not important,” she replies before leaning in and pressing a kiss to my collarbone. “Break a leg.”
“I’ve never understood that sentiment,” I reply as I turn toward the stage. The bar is filling up. I’ll have a packed audience tonight. “We’ll finish that conversation later.”
She waves me off and walks away, and my eyes are drawn to the long, lean lines of her back and legs. Her ass is just perfect, and fits just right in my hands.
I can’t wait to get my hands on her later.
But first, I have to put on a show for the bar patrons and the cameras. But this is what I do best, so I’m not worried in the least.
I’m just ready to have tonight finished so Callie and I can leave for Seattle tomorrow. Three whole days, with Callie all to myself without business to see to, sounds like my idea of heaven.
***
“I’m kind of in love with this hotel,” Callie says as she checks out our suite at the Four Seasons Seattle. “I mean, look at this view!” She stands, face pressed against the floor-to-ceiling windows, and stares out at the Puget Sound before us. We’re in the penthouse, and not only can we see the water, but we can see a good portion of the city as well. “I bet it’ll be beautiful when it gets dark.”
All I can do is stand and watch, my hands shoved in my pockets, as she looks at everything as quickly as she can, as if she can’t decide what she should look at first.
“The tub is a freaking swimming pool!” she calls from the bathroom, then kisses me as she passes into the other portion of the suite. “Oh my God! There’s a baby grand in here!” She pokes her head around the diving wall and smiles at me. “We like those.”
“That we do,” I reply with a grin, picturing her spread before me the way she was on my piano a few weeks ago. I would not complain if she wanted to recreate that particular fantasy.
“This kitchen is ridiculous!”
I follow her and silently agree. The massive gourmet kitchen is a bit much for a hotel room, especially given that neither of us likes to cook and room service will be our source of nutrition, but it is a beautiful added touch to the space. Finally, she spins and leans on the breakfast bar, facing me. “I know I’m silly, like a little kid who’s never stayed at a hotel before, but I’ve never stayed in the penthouse before.”
“You’re not silly, you’re cute.”
She cocks a brow. “Cute?”
“Yes, ma’am.” I nod and circle around the island, and when she would turn to face me, I take her shoulders in my hands, keeping her still. “Do you know what else you are?”
She tries to look at me again, but I hold her still. “Stay.”
“You’re bossy.”
“I didn’t ask you what I am, I asked you what you are.” She’s in jeans and a big sweatshirt with the neck cut out so it falls over her left shoulder, showing me her bra strap and lots of soft, delicious skin. Before I begin, I unbutton and lower her jeans, nudging her to step out of them, but I leave the sweatshirt.
I’m going to have fun with that.
“I don’t know. What am I, bossy man?”
I grin and pull her loose blond hair back into a tail, tilt her head to the right, and lick, in one long motion, from her ear to the tip of her shoulder, then drag my lips back up the same path.
“You’re sexy,” I breathe. God, I love her neck. I scoop the hair that has escaped my hands out of my way and kiss and nibble the back of her neck, then over to the opposite side and pull the sweatshirt aside so I can taste her shoulder. “You’re delicious.”
She moans, and when she would tilt her head forward, I fist her hair and pull her head back, my grip firm, and kiss her cheek, then bite her earlobe.
“You’re every fantasy I’ve ever had.”
She fucking purrs as I push my hand into the neck of her sweatshirt and cup her firm breast in my palm. My cock pulses as her nipple puckers between my fingers.
I know she wants me to bend her over and fuck her here in the kitchen, but that’s not the plan. Not right now.
Instead, I continue to nibble and suck her shoulder, her neck, more forcefully now. Both of her breasts are tight with lust. Her left hand slips back to grab my ass, but I catch it and press it against the counter. “Hands off.”
“You’re doing all the work,” she whines, and only makes me smile against her shoulder where it meets her neck.
“Are you complaining?”
“No.”
I bite her now, hard, and gasp as she pushes her ass against my cock in surprise. She’s told me before that her neck is sensitive, and she wasn’t lying. She’s close to coming, and all I’ve done is touch her tits and ravage her shoulder and neck.
I drag my nose up her cheek, and then with my fist in her hair once again, I turn her head so my lips can reach hers and I kiss her like a starved man. Tongues tangle, bodies heave, breath is ragged, and finally I feel her whole body tense and she moans against my mouth as she comes.
I slow down, soften my touch as she comes down from the high, and when her breath has calmed, I right her sweatshirt and simply walk away.
“Oh hell no,” she says, her voice hoarse but determined. “You’re not going to give me neck sex, make me come, and then walk away.”
I turn to look at her and tilt my head. “I’m not?”
“No. You’re not.”
And there she is, the woman in control who knows exactly what she wants and isn’t afraid to ask for it. She turns me on every fucking time.
She marches to me, completely naked from the waist down because, God bless her, she doesn’t wear panties, and proceeds to push her hands against my chest and push me to a nearby chair, giving me no choice but to sit in it.
“I’ve been wanting to suck your cock for months,” she announces, making me almost swallow my tongue. “And you keep distracting me with your damn mouth and cock and your hands, and you’re not going to distract me today.”
“I think I just did a fairly decent job of distracting you,” I inform her and then hold my hands up in surrender when she simply glares daggers at me. “But I’m all yours. Do as you will.”
She licks her lips and unzips my jeans, frees my cock, and without any hesitation, takes me all the way into her mouth, sinking down until her nose hits my pubis.
“Jesus, Callie!” My hips come up off the chair, but she holds me firmly, adds her hand to her mouth, and works my cock expertly, moving up and down, alternat
ing between firm and soft. Just when I think I’m going to explode, she lightens her touch, both frustrating the hell out of me and making me want to yank her up and fuck the hell out of her.
She hums and cups my balls, licks me from root to tip, rubs her tongue in the slit in the head, and then sinks over me again, repeating the whole damn process over again.
“I’m not going to survive this.”
She chuckles, and I notice that her shoulder is moving. Before my eyes cross, I glance down and see that she’s not only getting me off, she’s getting herself off at the same time.
“Mother fucker,” I groan, unable to hold my orgasm back. Between her magic mouth and seeing her pleasure herself, I’m done for. “Callie, I’m gonna come.”
Rather than back away, she hums her approval, and when I come in her mouth, she swallows, then leans back, a satisfied and proud smile on her face.
She moves to stand, but I stop her. “Don’t quit touching yourself.”
She tilts her head to the side, and with that smile still in place, she simply sits on her ass, spreads her legs right here on the hardwood, and runs her perfectly manicured fingers through her lips, pushes two inside her, then drags them up to her clit. It’s a circle that she keeps following, slowly.
She’s magnificent. Her face is flushed and goosebumps cover her arms. Her fingers are soaking wet from her pussy.
To my surprise, I’m already hard again, and I’m stroking myself while she watches, teasing her pussy, her lips, her clit. She puts her wet fingers in her mouth, licks them clean, then bites her lip as she puts on the show of a lifetime, and suddenly, she’s coming again. Watching the way her muscles tighten is fascinating. Her body quivers. She cries out, and I’m coming with her, not even caring about the mess I’m making.
We’re not touching, but this might be the most intimate moment of our relationship so far. Her blue eyes are lazy now as she catches her breath, watching me, and a slow, Cheshire cat smile spreads over her lips.
It’s in this moment that I know I’m lost to her, forever. She doesn’t just own my heart, she is my heart.
I love her.
***