Page 85 of My Best Years

I have no idea what the future holds; I just know I can’t live like this any longer. What could be worse than living as a shell of the human I once was?

Even when I was screaming at Callum in the hospital parking lot, I felt more alive than I had in years.

I can either decide to hold a grudge against the only man I’ve ever loved or give myself a chance to be happy. Givehima second chance.

Callum isn’t a perfect person, but neither am I. Nobody is.

I can’t even begin to fathom what he went through, especially at such a young and vulnerable age. If the roles were reversed, I know I would have done anything to keep him safe. If I had an inkling of fear that a socially powerful and deranged monster had threatened to hurt him, I would have run for the hills to protect him.

Coward or not, I would have demolished his heart if that meant it would keep him out of harm's way.

I still wish he would have at least called, and I know he deeply regrets that, too. I see the disappointment permanently etched into the lines of his face each time he looks at me. Callum is the type of person who wears his emotions on his sleeve.

When his eyes first connected with mine in the grocery store, I immediately recognized the ache in his chest. Because it’s the same ache I’ve been living with.

Of all the contracts I could have signed, I chose Gulf Shores because it felt like home. But I could have never prepared myself to come back to the one person who is my home.

I don’t know how we ended up here or what the future holds, but as his lips perfectly mold to fit mine, I decide to dive in head first. I don’t know how deep the water is, and I don’t care. I could break my neck on the way down or never touch the bottom. But at least I’ll be in the water with Callum, even if it’s just for a blip in time. And that makes it all worth it.

I want Callum Pierce more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my entire life. And with the way he’s desperately kissing me, he needs me more than his next breath. When his tongue peeks out to prod the line between my lips, I instantly open for him.

At first, his hot tongue delicately brushes and strokes against mine. But within seconds, our kiss grows frenzied. Our tongues tangle in an erotic dance, reuniting with their mate.

Our mouths glide. Our teeth bump. Sounds of longing slip past our parted lips. His hands are woven into my hair, and mine are in his, clawing and tugging at the strands.

It’s frantic, chaotic, and beautiful. Better than I could have ever imagined.

It feels like we’re in a bubble filled with heat. We’re wrapped up in our own galaxy of stars, too hot and bright to be contained.

If I ever second-guessed my feelings for Callum, this kiss right here proves all of my doubts wrong. With each pound of his heart against mine, I know that nothing else could ever compare. Nothing and no one could come close to replicating this feeling.

Callum tugs on my hair, pulling my head back to deepen our kiss. His tongue traces my bottom lip before he dives back in and sucks on my tongue, inciting a whimper from deep in my chest.

Fuck, this man knows how to kiss.

Making out with him as a teenager was brain-altering, but having him like this—taller, stronger, and feeling his manlystubble scrape against my soft skin—is earth-shattering. His woodsy scent envelopes me, intoxicating me in every sense of the word.

My mind wanders to how different he must look beneath the confines of his clothes. It’s no secret that he still runs and takes care of his body, judging by the lean muscles covering his arms and chest. My fingers itch to slip beneath his shirt to feel the ripples of his abs and the warmth of his skin.

Just as I start to think about howotherparts of him have changed, he takes another step toward the island until the tops of his legs are flat against the marble, caging me in where I sit. I let out a gasp when his denim-clad erection presses between my open thighs. Our mouths stay locked as my dress slides up and bunches around my hips. Our chests seal together as our bodies rock back and forth on their own accord.

I throw my arms around his shoulders and dig my nails into his back when I feel the ridge of his hard cock nudge against my cotton panties.

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

I remember him being big,but fuck me…He feels huge through the bulge in his jeans.

His long fingers latch onto my hips as I straddle him on the kitchen counter. When I asked him to kiss me, I don’t think either of us could have expectedthis.But after a decade of depriving ourselves of physical and emotional intimacy, this feels explosive.

Uncontainable.

Our bodies move together like two engulfing flames. I’m so on fire for him. I feel like I might burn up if I don't release this barrage of pent-up desire.

“Birdie,” Callum exhales before trailing his mouth from my jaw to the supple skin of my neck. He closes his lips around mypulse point and sucks, causing my nipples to harden and goosebumps to rise on my skin.

I roll my hips, seeking out as much friction as possible.

“Cal…” I pant as he creates a pathway of open-mouthed kisses down to my collarbone.

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