Page 76 of Hero's Heart

“Don’t stop. Don’t stop.”

She didn’t, letting her tongue glide against him as she moved her head up and down. Within just a few moments, he was shouting her name and exploding into her mouth. She swallowed every drop before slowly releasing him and easing her head down to rest against his thigh.

His hand was still wrapped in her hair, and he began to gently stroke it. “That was amazing.”

She thought so too. Loved that she’d reduced this alpha warrior to a quivering mass. “I liked doing that. I want to do it more often.”

“I’m not going to say no to that, that’s for damn sure.” He reached down and scooped her up into his lap. “But now, it’s your turn. And I didn’t have any dinner, so I’m starving.”

All she could do was feel as he made a meal of her.

Chapter 26

“This is the best pizza ever. Not the best meal ever, because that was an hour ago. But definitely the best pizza.”

Sloane leaned against the headboard, smiling at Callum’s words as they dug into the pie that had been delivered a few minutes ago. She took another bite, relishing the melted cheese and savory sauce as much as she was enjoying her post-orgasm glow. She’d been so right to follow Dr. Annie’s advice. But now, she wanted to talk about something more serious.

“I’ve been thinking about getting a job at the Eagle’s Nest, as a waitress. I need to start supporting myself and getting back on my feet.”

She didn’t know what sort of response to expect from him. Maybe he would think it was stupid.

But he nodded, his brown eyes warm as he looked at her. “I think that’s a great idea. You’d be fantastic at waitressing. Will probably make a ton of tips.”

She hesitated, her heart fluttering nervously. Despite the intimate moments they had just shared, she knew there were no guarantees between them. “Is it…okay if I stay here in Oak Creek for a while? While I get myself situated?”

“Of course,” Callum said without hesitation, reaching over to squeeze her hand. “Regardless of what happens with us—and if the last hour is any indication, I thinkwhat happens with uswill be very good things—I absolutely want you to make your start here. Oak Creek would be lucky to have you.”

She hoped he still felt that way once he found out about the baby, but for right now, relief and gratitude washed through her. Tomorrow, she would go see Hudson about the waitressing job. This was the first step to building her independence and a life for herself.

“Thank you, Callum. For everything.” She hoped he could hear the sincerity in her voice.

“You can stay here with me as long as you need to,” he offered. “I like having you here.” A mischievous grin tugged at his mouth. “Even if you almost burned down my kitchen making dinner.”

She poked him in the side. “Yeah, go ahead and laugh. I’ll put charred chicken on your pizza and make you eat it.”

As their chuckles subsided, a comfortable silence fell between them. She knew this would be the perfect opportunity to tell him about the pregnancy.

But gazing into his handsome face, the lines around his eyes crinkling with his smile, Sloane couldn’t bring herself to do it. Not now, when everything felt so natural and easy between them for the first time. She wanted to hold on to this blissful, uncomplicated moment for just a little longer. The truth could wait a bit more.

Pushing aside the twinge of guilt, she reached for another slice of pizza. She would savor this sense of normalcy between her and Callum as long as it lasted.

“Did you ever receive that art history book I sent you?” he asked a couple minutes later, his voice casual but his eyes studying her intently.

Sloane’s breath caught in her throat. She lowered the pizza slice back into the box, appetite evaporating.

“No. I never got it.”

“Oh. The receipt said it was delivered about three weeks after we got home from Moldova.”

“It was. My family destroyed it. They never even let me look at it.” The words felt bitter on her tongue. “Actually, finding out about what they did to that book was one of the reasons I left. I couldn’t stay there anymore.”

He set his pizza down too. “I don’t understand. Why would they destroy the book? Was it because it was from me?”

“Honestly, I don’t think they knew it was from you.” They definitely would’ve mentioned Callum if they’d known the book was from him. “I think they thought it meant I was planning to go to college.”

“And what was so wrong with that?”

They were never going to allow it. Not while she was under their thumb and subject to their bidding.

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