Page 55 of Callahan's Haven

“How I felt whole for the first time the moment your body joined with mine. All of it.”

Cal took in a shuddering breath after watching the emotions running over her expressive face with each piece of herself she’d just given him, leaning his head into her touch while her fingers wiped away the tears from his cheek he hadn’t realized he’d shed.

“Then there’s this,” she said, pulling his head down to hers. “How I see your heart with everything you are and know it’s just for me.” She gently kissed him. “Knowing you loved me. Even though you never spoke the words. Even though I mourned your loss. It gave me strength.”

“I do love you.” He kissed her again, but this time with all of his heart. Heat and passion could wait.

But it didn’t wait long.

“Make love to me,” Haven whispered over his lips, her wet heat calling to him.

He slipped inside her—watching her face the whole time. Haven was right. This was another memory to keep—how your eyes roll back just a little when I enter you, the flush on your cheeks, the way your hands grip my ass to pull me closer, the little pants and grunts you make, the way you bite your bottom lip and tilt your head back when I get in just the right rhythm.He wrapped his arms behind her back and buried his nose in her neck, her scent something else to remember. He tasted his way up to her ear, whispering as she fell apart beneath him, “We’ll never have anything to regret again.”

* * *

Cal came awake to a loud, incessant banging at his door.

“What the…” He reached for his gun on the nightstand and winced at the pain from his various wounds while Haven sat up and pushed her sleep-tousled hair from her eyes.

“Open the door!” Destiny banged on the door again. “You’ve had enough time to… to… You’ve had enough time.”

Cal groaned and relaxed back onto his pillow.

“We’re sorry,” Hope called out.

“No we’re not,” Destiny’s muffled grumble came through the door.

“Hold on,” Haven hollered and then laughed while slipping from the bed. “I’m surprised they waited this long.”

Actually, he was too.

He carefully sat up and enjoyed the sight of Haven padding around the room naked, especially when she bent over and picked up another item of her clothing scattered around the floor. Hehadkind of thrown them all over the place in his hurry to get her naked—twice.

“I can’t put these back on.” She grimaced, holding up her panties.

“If you need panties, we’ve brought you some clothes,” Hope said.

Cal frowned at the door. “I hope the whole floor’s enjoying knowing our business.” What time was it anyhow? He checked the beside clock. “Damn, it’s almost ten o’clock. Your dad’ll be landing in a couple of hours.”

He grimaced, leaving the bed. Haven may have been right earlier. Having a marathon sex session might have been overdoing it after getting shot, having surgery, and then leading an armed rescue where he ended up getting tackled by a paid goon. He grinned while holding his side and checking through the dresser for some clothes.

It had been worth it.

“All the more reason for you two to hurry your asses up!” What? Did Destiny have her ear pressed to the door? One thing was certain, she sure was an impatient little thing.

“Okay, okay,” Haven said while she pulled on her jeans—sans panties—and Cal went into the bathroom to get dressed. Sure, Haven’s friends had basically seen it all the previous night…early morning…hell, whenever it was…when he’d flashed them before leaving the hospital. It didn’t mean they needed to see anything more.

Laughter filled the room beyond the closed door as he took the time to relieve himself while one side of his mouth kicked up in a grin at the several disposed of condoms in the trash bin. Wait. He’d left the open box on the nightstand by his gun in full view of anyone coming in.

Ah, hell, who cared. It wasn’t like none of their friends hadn’t known what they’d been doing on and off for the last ten hours or so.

He flushed the toilet then washed his hands before carefully peeling back thefield dressingsDeclan had put on his various wounds when they’d returned to the hotel. He’d done a good job, but now that he’d started moving around, they were starting to hurt like a son of a bitch—especially his abdomen—and had probably bled. He inspected each wound before pulling out the medical supplies Declan had left and spent the next several minutes cleansing each one and applying new dressings before pulling his clothes on.

He took his time brushing his teeth before sitting on the edge of the tub to wait. He wanted to give the three friends time alone. He understood Destiny and Hope’s need to be with their best friend, and he would respect it. They were her family after all.

He snickered. Those two were going to make some hellacious in-laws—especially Destiny.

The handle turned and the door slowly pushed open with Haven’s head peeking around the edge and frowning at him. “What’re you doing? I was getting worried your wounds were bothering you.”

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