Page 325 of Now and Forever

Even with breathlessness, I mustered enough courage to ask him a question. “How the heck did you manage to get that done in less than fifteen minutes?”

Callum’s nose inched closer until the tip of his nose touched the bottom of my lip, caressing it. “I own the club.”

Of course he did. No wonder he knew where I was. His wealth gave him power and I hated that he was using it to get his way with me. I knew what he wanted. I could smell it on him. He was after one thing and that was sex. If he thought he could lock us in here for a quickie, he could think again. He couldn’t have Zara and me together. It just wouldn’t happen.

“Right, I forgot you own a lot of things,” I said, heavy with sarcasm.

My heart palpitated when he lifted his eyes to meet mine. “Certainly. In case you forgot, I own you, too.” His dark eyes engulfed me whole as he pressed his chest against my own. “And while we’re on that subject, let me tell you how livid I am that you’re acting like a loose trollop!”

That did it! I suddenly was just as incensed as he was. “What the hell is it to you?”

He growled in my face, caging me in as he planted both of his hands on the sides of my head, his face dark with fury. “Because it’s doing my head in! Because I’m bloody jealous of every guy that fucking dares to look at you!” he spat at my face, unrelenting. His chest heaved while I watched, entranced at his passionate nature. When he spoke again, his voice was a mere whisper. “Because I can’t fathom the thought of you desiring another man.” He slowed down, capturing me with a new kind of intensity that left me breathless. “I saw you, Stella.”

I knew I shouldn’t be feeling guilty because I wasn’t with him, but dammit, I felt the guilt in my heart and it weighed me down. Callum was pushing through my exterior and, what little armor I had, was in a dire state. I couldn’t let him see what I had hidden inside because he’d see me differently and I didn’t want that.

“Stop messing with me, Cal.” Please, I beg of you.

Maybe it was the way I said the words or maybe he felt the need to breathe, but I was relieved when he got himself off me and gave me a couple feet of space. The room between us caused him to eye my outfit again, taking in my pushed up breasts in the lace corset, the tiny skirt and the strappy heels that wrapped around my legs. I watched as he smoldered with lust, need and fury all at once.

“Why are you dressed like a prostitute?” he wondered out loud.

If he was trying to sound insulting, he had failed miserably. I knew what my outfit was doing to him. I didn’t need to see his bulge to confirm it because his eyes alone were enough indication of what he wanted to do to me.

“Why? Is it too daring for your taste, Mr. Kensington?” I taunted, trying to hide a smile.

“You find this amusing?”

“Maybe.”

Callum stared at me for a few seconds before smirking. “Stella… how you drive me crazy.” I smiled at him for the first time tonight and when our gazes crossed paths, he became a little more serious. “Come home with me, Stella. It’s been lonely sleeping without you next to me.”

Damn, he just didn’t waste any time did he? “Callum, seriously. You need to stop this.” I was getting really tired. I was far beyond emotional exhaustion. The more he pushed, the more difficult it was for me to fight back. Callum was relentless and kept barreling in, uncaring even after I asked him to stop.

“I just want you home. That’s all.” He searched through my depths. “I love sleeping when you’re next to me. Waking up with you curling up to me was one of the things I loved about mornings.” He paused, closing the gap between us. “You liked living with me. How can you deny us from being together?”

“Because I’d done what you asked me not to do.” He had warned me, but I didn’t pay heed. Now he was about to know what I’d kept for so long. “I’m in love with you, Cal.” I gave him a brave though shaky smile. “I’m bent and fallen head over heals, crazy in lust with no room to breathe in love with you.”

When he didn’t respond and kept staring at me, frozen like he was a damn statue, I took it as a sign of rejection. He did tell me not to fall for him. Now it was my turn to warn him not to worry. I wasn’t going to propose that we were going to live happily ever after, nor was I going to ask for his babies. He could scratch all of that. I knew he was thinking crazy ideas at the moment and I needed for him to see that I wasn’t going to act on it. In fact, it was the total opposite.

“It’s fine, so you shouldn’t worry because I’m still learning the ropes. I mean, I’ve never been in love before, but from what I’ve seen and witnessed, I’m sure it’ll go away if I give it some time.”

“Like the fuck it would! I won’t let you!” he fiercely gritted out. “I want your love, in my hands, in my arms, next to me, every night. So, no, you don’t get to say that you’re wishing it away because I’m claiming that heart of yours, Stella.” Callum had barely finished speaking before he plunged his tongue into my mouth, devouring my lips like they were candy. My legs parted as he nestled in between them, grinding both of our sexes together, dry humping me. “I’m so crazy for you.”

I was lost; genuinely and equivocally lost in him. My arms and legs clung onto him like the shameless wanton woman that I was. Our need overrode everything and I fell deeply into Callum’s spell, losing the ground I had held for myself as I surrendered to the passion we both ignited.

“I need to be inside you.” Callum was already pulling his zipper down before he pushed my skirt upwards and my thong aside.

Our mating was torrid and utterly sublime.

“Tell me you love me,” Callum demanded as he slid in and out of me; commanding and unrelenting.

“I love you,” I whispered the words as though they sealed my fate. I had never felt so bare and so open, and yet, declaring those words empowered me somehow.

Callum started to pant, matching his thrusts. Each stroke was making me cry out in ecstasy. “Stella,” he choked out before I felt him tense, crushing me against his large frame as he came inside me. It was how he described it… but what I didn’t anticipate was the mere act itself felt sacred.

He was breathing heavily on my neck, our hearts beating wildly against our chests, coming down from our highs. “Fuck. I’ve missed you,” he rasped out with a hand cradling my cheek before he started kissing the back of my earlobe. “I don’t think I can walk out of here without you. You’re coming home with me.”

I was battling with my body and it wasn’t helping that I could feel him starting to get hard again whilst inside me. “What about Zara?”

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