6. Calli

6

CALLI

I t had been quite a day. There was something about Dru she couldn't quite explain. He had come to watch all her shows that day. She could feel his eyes on her, but it didn't feel weird or creepy. It felt incredible. It felt like she was the center of his universe. It felt like home, and home wasn't a feeling she'd had in a long time. It wasn't even really one she cared to have, but for some indescribable reason, it was there every time she felt him around.

She was on stage, finishing up the closing sing with other members of this fair. This was one of her favorite fairs for a reason. There was just something about this fair and the mountains of North Carolina in the fall that she loved. Standing here, singing the parting song, her eyes locked on Dru’s, and it felt right.

"Hey, Calli," Mason said as they all finished up and were clearing the stage. "We are all headed into town for dinner. It's on the band tonight."

He felt bad that they had decided to stop touring, but she had a feeling everything was going to work out for the best. She’d been here before, and she always came out on top.

"Actually, Bridget invited me over to dinner tonight."

"Bridget. Is she the Scottish fortune teller?"

"She is. I've known her for years, so we have some catching up to do."

"Okay, suit yourself. Can we bring you something home?"

She gave him a small smile and put her hand on his arm.

"Mason, please. I know what you're doing, and it's not necessary. I'll be okay."

"I just feel like we are leaving you high and dry," he said with a pained look on his face.

"I'll be fine. I kind of knew it was coming anyway. I've been doing this long enough to know when something good is coming to an end. Giving it a good end and not holding on for too long is a good thing. I've loved my time singing with you guys. Please don't feel bad."

"Okay," he said as he pulled her into a hug.

As she pulled back, she felt herself bump into a sturdy body behind her. She let out a little squeak and turned around to see Dru. He seemed to be taking Mason in.

"I wanted to walk you to Bridget's, if that's alright with you," he said in a low voice with a small nod.

"Yeah, that sounds good," she said, giving him a small smile.

Turning back to Mason, she took note of the look on his face. Maybe the way he made her feel was as obvious to everyone as it was to her. Did that mean it was obvious to Dru as well? Did she even care?

"I'll see you later, Mason," she said as she turned to leave with Dru.

"See ya, Calli," he said with a chuckle in his voice.

They made their way to the path back to the campground, and Dru offered his arm. Once again, Calli took it, and once again, the ground moved, and she felt a surge of energy pulse through her. She decided right then, she would kiss him before the night was over. If merely touching him made her body react in such a way, what would kissing be like? Hell, what would sex with him be like? That thought made her just about come undone. She had never been turned on at the mere thought of having sex with someone before. She was wet at just the thought.

"Are you well?" he asked as a cool breeze blew over them.

"Yeah, why?"

"No reason," he asked as he seemed to sniff the air. "Just wanted to make sure you are feeling well." But as she examined him, he seemed to be on edge. His cheeks had reddened slightly, and his breathing seemed a bit labored.

She put her other hand on his big bicep and slid her hand that had been resting on his forearm down to take his hand. As their fingers laced together, a warm feeling settled in her, even though she was still faintly aware of the slight pulse between her legs. He looked down at her and smiled, and she fought the urge to reach up on her toes and kiss his handsome face.

"This is weird, right?" she blurted out.

"What is weird?" he asked.

"This," she said, holding up their hand.

"Do you not wish to hold my hand?"

"No, not that at all. Quite the opposite, in fact. I don't know... Maybe it's just me, but I feel like I know you... I don't know... That probably sounds stupid."

She tried to let go of his hand as embarrassment turned her cheeks red, but to her pleasant surprise, he gripped her hand a little tighter, holding on to her.

"No, I feel it too, Calli. You feel like home," he said simply.

You feel like home . She had thought that exact thing earlier today. She couldn't help but feel like there was more going on here, like there was something important happening. But that didn't make any sense. She had always had a restless soul. Her grandmother had told her that from the time she was young. Leaving was in her bones. She had felt that deep in her soul her whole life. She was flighty and felt suffocated when she felt tied down. Home wasn't a feeling she had often, but something about him did feel that way.

She stopped and turned to look at him.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Do you really feel like that?"

He nodded, and the moment hung heavy between them. She couldn't help it anymore. She dropped his hand and squared her body to his. He looked down at her with questioning eyes, but she would swear she saw hunger in those eyes too. She licked her bottom lip and reached up, moving a lock of his long blond hair that had fallen over his eyes.

He took that hand and pressed a kiss into her palm. Her breath caught in her throat as a wave of energy moved through her entire body. Before she knew what she was doing, she reached up on her tiptoes and threw her arms around his neck, pressing her lips to his.

He tensed for the briefest of moments before he slid his hands around her waist and pulled her soft body to his. She wished she wasn't still in her corset from the fair and she could feel his body pressing against her. But then, his mouth started moving against her, and she was lost in this kiss.

The world around them fell away as they connected. She had never experienced anything quite like this before. Calli had kissed her fair share of people. Actually, she’d done more than kiss her fair share of people. Calli often enjoyed the physical side of love, but this sensation was completely new to her. She’d only known this man one day, but the connection she felt was intense.

She opened her mouth and let her tongue trace his lips. He opened to her and deepened the kiss. Before she knew what had happened, he wrapped his arms around her and picked her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he growled, and just like that, Calli was more turned on than she had been in her entire life.

His tongue danced with hers as he walked them back until her back hit a tree. He pressed into her, and she groaned as she clung to him. Holy shit. She was going to have sex with him right here in the woods.

Only, he pulled back and leaned his forehead against her, panting.

"I'm sorry, Calli. I shouldn't have done that," he said as he stepped back, allowing her space and lowering her, setting her feet on the ground.

"No, you totally should have done that," she said, reaching back up to kiss him.

He kissed her again and gave a small chuckle. That chuckle pulled at her heart more than it had any right to.

"Let's head to Bridget's. I’d like to talk to both of you before we continue this," he said with a warm smile that settled deep within her.

"Okay," she said, and she smiled as he took her hand again and they made their way to Bridget's camp.

Calli couldn't quite figure out what was going on, but whatever it was felt big, life-changing big, and she had no clue why.