Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23

C allie studied the navy specks in Lock’s ocean-blue eyes as the chill from the bathroom counter seeped into her skin. She’d always loved his eyes. A light blue that darkened with different emotions. She swore she’d always been able to see his every mood…and right now, she saw anger. And pain. Maybe a bit of guilt.

She set a hand over his where he held the ice pack to her head. “Are you okay?”

“You’re the one who was attacked.” His voice was low, that anger in his eyes slipping into his voice.

“That doesn’t change my question.”

There was a beat of silence before he responded. “I just got you back.”

“You did.”

“I can’t lose you again.”

She tugged at his wrist, pulling the ice pack down. “You’re not going to lose me.”

“Someone was killed. Someone connected to you.”

“You’re right. It looks like my stalker murdered Lucian because of the way he treated me, which means if anyone should be worried, it’s me about you . If the person writing those notes wants me, you’re in his way.”

“I can take care of myself. And I wasn’t the one who got hurt today.”

“What happened today was a grief-stricken brother lashing out, not a stalker trying to get to me.” She reached up and traced the lines beside his eyes. “Do you remember the night we met?”

He blinked, looking confused at her change in topic. “You took my Biscoff ice cream.”

She pulled back, feigning shock. “No. You tried to take mine .”

They’d both reached for the tub at the same time. The last tub. She’d had a crappy day, and the thought of Biscoff ice cream had been the only thing that had gotten her through. She’d only been mad at the potential loss of the ice cream for a fraction of a second—because then she’d looked up and spotted the most gorgeous man she’d seen in her life and had almost forgotten about both the ice cream and the crappy day.

His hands went to her hips, his fingers skirting below the material of her shirt. “I wanted Biscoff, and it was the last one.”

“I tried to convince you that coffee bean blast was just as good.”

His gaze shifted between her eyes, voice lowering. “I didn’t want coffee bean blast.”

“Neither did I. So we shared.”

Yep, she’d agreed to share with a stranger. Heck, she’d invited him back to her place . It was the most reckless thing she’d ever done.

But there’d been something about him that had made her feel safe. Which was ridiculous, because anyone with two eyes could see he was huge and likely dangerous. But she’d just had this gut feeling that he wouldn’t hurt her.

Her hands slipped around his neck. “We shared the ice cream that night, and it worked out pretty well for us…so let’s share the load tonight. It’s heavy. I feel it too. But together, we’ll be okay.”

He lowered his head, his breath whispering against her ear as he said, “I hated wondering if I’d get to you in time. I want you safe, in my arms, always.”

When his mouth grazed her cheek, she shuddered. Then his lips trailed down her neck, and she felt the hem of her shirt rising.

“Lift your arms for me, honey.”

She did, and he tugged her shirt over her head. A second later, her bra hit the floor with a small thud, and air brushed against her breasts.

“Perfect,” he whispered before his head dropped and his lips wrapped around her nipple.

She groaned as he sucked, her head tipping back, fingers digging into his shoulders. There were other people in the house, so she couldn’t scream, but God, she wanted to. To let the entire world know what this man did to her.

His tongue flicked her hard bud back and forth, his fingers spanning her waist. He switched to her other breast, his tongue drawing circles around her nipple, while he reached for the button of her jeans.

“Up.”

She had to roll his word around in her head a couple of times before it made sense. Everything was a haze. Eventually, she pushed up and he slid her jeans and panties down her thighs. His mouth returned to her nipple, sucking it like it was candy, as his hand moved between her thighs.

He stroked her clit, and she gasped. He did it again, but this time the noise from her lips was more of a groan.

God, he knew her body so well. What she liked…what she needed.

His thumb started a circular motion around her core as he continued to suck and tug and lick her nipple. It was torture and ecstasy and a million other things.

Then his fingers slipped inside her, and she barely held herself together. He started a deep thrust of his fingers, his thumb continuing to circle and massage.

Jesus, she needed to touch him.

She reached for his jeans, her movements almost desperate. When she finally pulled out his cock, he stilled, fingers inside her, thumb pressed to her clit.

She slid her hand over his length. That’s when his chest started moving again, but this time fast, his breathing coming out almost as a hiss. She explored every inch of him, adjusting her speed and pressure to what she knew he liked, rolling her thumb over his tip.

Every little sound he made, he made for her and what she did for him. And that made her feel hot and powerful and like his .

He lifted his head and his mouth found hers, his tongue plunging inside.

She’d barely released him before he positioned himself at her entrance.

“I love you.” Her whispered words dropped into the air, heavy and important. “From that first day when you tried to take my ice cream, I knew it would be you and me.”

His fingers curled around her neck, his forehead touching hers. “I love you so much it hurts, Callie. Your absence created a hole inside me. I was empty. And now I’m not.”

She lifted her head and kissed him as he plunged inside her. She tried to cry out but he swallowed the sound. He started moving, sliding in and out of her. Deep, even thrusts, setting a rhythm that drove her wild.

His fingers dug into her hips, likely the only thing keeping her on the counter.

When his mouth shifted to her cheek, she threw back her head, biting her bottom lip in an attempt to silence the sounds that threatened to break free.

He tugged her closer to the edge of the counter, thrusting deeper. Harder. Hitting a new point inside her.

Oh Jesus . She couldn’t hold on much longer. But she wanted to. God, she wanted to stretch out this moment. Make the bubble they’d created last just that bit longer. It felt safe and good and intimate, everything she so desperately needed.

His hand slipped between her thighs, and he rolled her clit with his thumb while his mouth closed over her nipple again. He sucked hard and she shattered.

Lock lifted his head and watched as ecstasy washed over Callie’s face. As her eyes closed and her head tipped back.

Fucking perfect. All of her.

He kept thrusting, even when her walls throbbing around his cock made him want to lose it. When the sounds tearing from her chest were so sweet he wanted to bottle them up.

It was because of him and what he did to her. Because she was it for him.

He lifted her off the bathroom counter and turned, pressing her to the wall. He pumped deeper, his mouth crashing back to hers as he tasted her.

His Callie, so fucking sweet.

Her fingers dug into his shoulders, and he welcomed the pain. He welcomed every fucking thing about her.

“Lock…” His name on her lips was more of a groan. And it made blood roar between his ears. He tried to hold on, but her head dipped and she bit into his shoulder, and he fucking lost it.

He growled as he broke, his body convulsing, legs barely holding him up. Three more thrusts, and he was finally still, their whooshing breaths the only sounds in the room. The rise and fall of their chests the only movement.

He looked down to see her eyes hooded, her lips a rosy pink.

“Say it again,” he whispered, almost desperate for it.

“I love you, Lock Walker. I’ve loved you for as long as I’ve known you.”

Each beat of his heart crashed into the next, and he kissed her again. But this kiss was slow. Soft. A gentle reminder that he finally had everything he ever wanted and needed after so long going without. And this time, he wasn’t going to lose it.

He moved away from the wall and carried her to their attached bedroom. Once she was under the sheets, he stripped off and joined her in bed. He still needed to check the house. Antwan and Jesse were out there somewhere, but he wanted to give everything another once-over…after he’d finished holding her, that was. Why was letting her go so hard?

Like she’d heard his thoughts, she snuggled into his side. “Thank you.”

He frowned. “For what, honey?”

“Fighting for us.”

He kissed the top of her head, his lips lingering. “I will always fight for us.”

Her head rose, eyes colliding with his. “You never lost faith.”

“And I never will.”

Her eyes heated, and she reached up and kissed him again before laying her head back down on his chest, right over his heart.

He wasn’t sure how long they lay there. He didn’t move until her breathing had evened out and her chest rose and fell in slow succession. Then he gently untangled himself from beneath her, pulled his jeans back on, and left the bedroom.

He found Antwan and Jesse in the kitchen, both looking angry. Maybe even as angry as him.

“I need eyes on Callie at all times,” Lock said quietly, teeth gritted.

The guys nodded, and it was Antwan who responded. “We’ll keep her safe, Lock.”