Page 10 of Spooking the Mountain Man
Instead of stepping away, I rise up on my toes and kiss him.
Callum goes completely still for a heartbeat, like he can't believe what's happening. Then his control snaps, and he's kissing me back with a hunger that takes my breath away. His hands move from my waist to cup my face, tilting my head exactly how he wants it so he can deepen the kiss.
I've been kissed before, obviously. But nothing in my experience has prepared me for this – for the way Callum takes complete control of the kiss, the way he tastes like coffee and something darker, the way his tongue strokes against mine with just the right amount of pressure to make me moan.
"Hell," he breathes against my lips, and the rough word sends electricity straight to my core. "Kelly, we can't."
"Why not?" I'm breathing hard, probably looking desperate, but I don't care. "I'm an adult, Callum. I can make my own decisions."
"Your brother—"
"Isn't here." I slide my hands up his chest, feeling the hard muscle beneath his shirt. "And what Tyler doesn't know won't hurt him."
Callum's eyes go dark with want. I can see him wrestling with himself, trying to do the right thing even though we both know it's a losing battle.
"Please," I whisper, and something in Callum's expression shifts.
He spins us around so I'm the one pressed against the counter, then lifts me onto it like I weigh nothing. The casual display of strength makes me gasp. His mouth finds mine again, kissing me with a desperation that matches my own. I wrap my legs around his waist, pulling him closer, and the feeling of his hard body pressed against mine makes heat pool between my thighs.
"God, you're perfect," Callum murmurs against my throat, pressing hot kisses to my pulse point. "So perfect, baby."
His hands slide under my sweater, rough palms skimming over the soft skin of my ribs. When his thumbs brush the undersides of my breasts through my bra, I arch into his touch with a whimper.
"Is this what you want?" he asks, pulling back to look at me. There's something commanding in his voice, like he needs to hear me say it.
"Yes," I breathe. "Please."
"Please what, sweetheart?" The question is gentle but expectant.
"Please touch me," I whisper. "Please take care of me."
"Good girl," he says, and the praise makes me dizzy with want. "Such a good girl, using your words for me."
His hands move higher, cupping my breasts through my bra, and I can't hold back the moan that escapes me. Everything about this feels right in a way that nothing with Derek ever did.Callum's touch is confident but gentle, demanding but caring, protective.
"We should go upstairs," I manage to say between kisses. "To your room."
Callum pulls back to look at me, and I can see the war playing out in his expression. Want versus propriety, desire versus responsibility.
"I want this," I say, reaching up to trace the strong line of his jaw. "I want you to take care of me."
That seems to be all the permission he needs. Callum lifts me down from the counter, then takes my hand and leads me upstairs, grabbing a candle on the way. His hand completely engulfs mine, and the size difference sends a thrill through me.
The guest room looks different in the flickering light – more intimate, more like a place where secrets are shared and boundaries dissolve.
Callum sets the candle on the nightstand, then turns to face me. For a moment, we just look at each other, the weight of what we're about to do settling between us.
"Come here, baby," Callum says softly, and I go to him without hesitation.
He kisses me again, slower this time, like we have all the time in the world. Like he's savoring every second. His hands move to the hem of my sweater, pulling it over my head with careful movements, like I'm something delicate that might break. His eyes move over my body like he's memorizing every detail, and the appreciation in his gaze makes me feel beautiful in a way I haven't in months.
"Gorgeous," he murmurs, running his hands over my bare shoulders. "Absolutely gorgeous, sweetheart."
Before I can answer, he's kissing me again, his mouth moving from my lips to my jaw to my throat. I let my head fall back, lost in the sensation of his lips on my skin.
"Tell me what you need," Callum says against my collarbone. "I want to take care of you. Want to make you feel good."
The words send a shiver through me that has nothing to do with the cool air. This is what I've been craving without even realizing it – someone who wants to take care of me, who gets pleasure from making sure I'm satisfied.
