CHAPTER TWO

AS THE evening drew to a close, Callie was aware of Sebastian becoming quieter, his gaze more intent as a weird kind of charge grew and then arced steadily between them. Like an approaching storm.

It enthralled and frightened her all at once. She knew she should get up and leave while she could but was powerless to its pull. Even when Geri called for a doggie bag for the massive pizza she hadn’t been able to finish and the others took their leave en masse, she was helpless.

She should have declined. She knew that. But that unruly lock of hair flopping across his forehead overrode all her common sense. No seemed to have been stricken from her vocabulary. Besides, Geri was giving her a lift home so she had to stay. Right?

Sebastian beckoned a waitress over and they placed their orders. As she left, Callie became aware of a raised voice behind her and all three of them turned to look at what was happening.

They were sitting in the alfresco area of a restaurant in Fortitude Valley. The suburb was up-and-coming, quite hip with the movers and shakers but by and large it was still less than salubrious in places. With a large client base here and Jambalyn being located a stone’s throw from the restaurant, Callie knew the area well.

A dishevelled man, probably homeless, definitely down on his luck, was asking customers at the tables closest to the street for spare change for food. A young, preppy-looking man in an expensive suit at a table full of suits had taken it on himself to loudly lecture the unfortunate man, who was shuffling his feet, his head downcast, much to the delight of the other suits.

Callie turned away, unable to witness such callous inhumanity. She felt sick. How could he? What would a guy like that know about the difficulties some people faced and how life could go down the drain so rapidly? How could he judge so cruelly someone he didn’t even know?

Her gaze fell to her lap and her shaking hands and she twisted them together to still the tremor. Her heart thumped like a gong in her chest and the meal she’d just eaten was like a lump of lead in her belly.

Callie looked up into Geri’s concerned eyes. She could see a frown knitting Sebastian’s brows in her peripheral vision and her gaze darted to him and back again. She nodded but the ugly scene had opened the floodgate on memories she’d been trying to keep at bay all day, from the bridge all the way through to Zack’s little-boy voice, and her lungs suddenly felt too small and there wasn’t enough air.

Sebastian was surprised by the sudden change in the previously animated Callie. She’d gone very pale and there was an unbearable sadness in her expressive, amber eyes. The arrogant fool confronting the homeless man had obviously upset her. After her fearless performance on the bridge today he’d half expected her to march over and verbally eviscerate the conceited guy.

He’d wanted to kiss that woman on the bridge senseless. This Callie looked like she was about to faint and, curiously, he wanted to wrap her up in his arms and shield her from the big bad world. ‘Excuse me,’ he murmured.

Sebastian strode over to where the commotion was taking place, drawing level with the table just as the abusive dick finished suggesting that the obviously itinerant man get a job.

It wasn’t in Sebastian’s demeanour to court danger. In fact, he’d had enough of danger this last year. He was certainly no he-man. He didn’t pick fights or go around looking for trouble. But some things just couldn’t be ignored and this dickhead needed to learn some manners.

‘I...I beg your pardon?’ The younger man looked around at his friends and the rest of the people in the half-full restaurant, obviously embarrassed to be called on his appalling behaviour.

‘Feel like a big man now in front of your friends, humiliating another human being who was just looking for a bit of decency and compassion?’

The man stood, the scrape of his chair loud in the suddenly charged atmosphere. ‘Who the hell are you?’ he demanded but quickly paled when he realised that Sebastian had four inches and several muscles groups on him.

‘Look...I’m sorry, mate.’ He held up his hands in a placatory manner. ‘I didn’t mean any harm.’

Sebastian jaw tightened. This guy was a bully. Picking on someone helpless but backing down at the first sign of superior strength. He needed to apologise but the homeless man had obviously seen his opportunity and fled the ugly scene. Sebastian located him across the street shuffling away, his shoulders slumped.

Callie glanced at her hands as she heard Sebastian suggesting that the man bring his best manners next time he came out. He was being amazing — calm and firm — but her palms were sweaty and her heart hammered and she felt ridiculously like bursting into tears. Pressure built in her chest and she suddenly felt as if she couldn’t breathe.

Geri inspected her face closely and then gave a brisk nod, handing over the doggy bag. Callie took the offering and slipped out of the restaurant, spying the hunched old man farther down the street and hurrying after him, pressing the leftover pizza into his hands when she caught up.

He avoided her gaze but Callie could see the tears shining in his eyes as he mumbled his thanks. She smiled at him and backed away, not wanting to humiliate the man any further by trite words or useless platitudes.

Sebastian, who must have followed her, walked towards her slowly as she retraced her steps to the restaurant. ‘You okay?’ he asked as he reached her side.

Callie stopped, too emotional to meet Sebastian’s eyes. She bit the inside of her cheek. She’d kept it together all day and she would not fall apart now. She would not let the memories take over.

Her brother. Years of not knowing where he was. Not knowing if he was alive or dead. The bridge. And Zack. So many memories.

He didn’t look like he believed her but he did seem okay with letting it go. ‘I think our coffees are getting cold,’ he murmured.

Callie heard the soft don’t-spook-the-horses note in his voice and braced her shoulders. She hated that he’d seen her like this – the opposite of how she’d been this morning. And she didn’t need his pity. ‘Well, now, we can’t have that,’ she quipped, raising her chin as she strode towards the restaurant.

Geraldine rose when they arrived back at the table. She looked from one to the other, back and forth for a beat or two. ‘Everything okay?’

Still unable to look at Sebastian, she picked up her spoon and stirred the cappuccino that had arrived during the fracas. The others followed suit and for a few moments no one said anything as they contemplated their lukewarm coffees. But Callie could feel Sebastian’s intense gaze on her and she wondered how it would feel to wrap herself up in all that intenseness and just forget every detail of this horrible day.

Geraldine’s phone rang, breaking the silence. She spoke briefly then ended the call. ‘Sorry,’ she apologised, standing abruptly. ‘Tahlia thinks she’s in labour.’

Callie looked up from her coffee, her teaspoon clattering against the saucer, everything prior to the call disappearing in an instant. Tahlia was Geri’s daughter and this was the first grandchild. ‘Oh, my God, Geri!’

‘No need,’ Sebastian assured. Their eyes met for the first time since Callie had walked out of the restaurant. ‘I can give you a lift home.’

‘There, see?’ Geri nodded at Callie. ‘Sebastian can give you a lift home. All sorted.’

‘Geri.’ Callie tried really hard not to sound exasperated. ‘This isn’t important. Just go and meet that grandbaby already.’

Geri grinned but was clearly not going to leave without the last word. She turned to face Sebastian. ‘Ask her about the bridge.’

Callie really wished her boss hadn’t dobbed her in like that but oh now she was hoofing it out of the restaurant. Which just left her and Sebastian. And the bridge.

Callie’s gaze locked on his as she regarded him silently for a moment. ‘No.’

‘Yes.’ Callie kept her response casual, like Geri was making a mountain out of a molehill because she really, really, really did not want to talk about that bloody bridge.

But his eyes held hers determinedly, probing her gaze, seeking answers, his fringe flopping distractingly over his forehead. Her fingers tingled to push it back and she wrapped her hands around her coffee cup as the impulse became more and more urgent.

‘My place is ten minutes away.’ His voice was a low burr in the night. ‘I have...’ He looked down and grimaced at his cappuccino. ‘Hot coffee. And I’ve been told I’m a reasonable conversationalist.’

It wasn’t a question, it wasn’t a command. It was just there – an opportunity. The way Callie saw it, she could go home by herself and try not to think about the very thing she’d been avoiding all day - that hammered at her skull and tore at her shields.

They didn’t speak as Sebastian drove the short distance to his apartment. They didn’t speak in the car park. Or the lift. Or as he opened his front door. Neither did they touch. Sebastian didn’t even switch on a light. Instead, he watched as Callie strode across his lounge room, dodging boxes, towards the moonlight streaming in through his un-curtained French doors.

‘Sorry ‘bout the mess,’ he murmured as he drew level with her, his chest close to her back, his lips near her ear.

She frowned, dragging her gaze from the alabaster river below, to look round, her shoulder brushing his chest. ‘I didn’t notice.’

Sebastian nodded slowly. Yeah...she really needed to talk. ‘Callie... The bridge?’

She kissed him then, leaning in and cutting off his words. It was a fierce kiss. Hard. She didn’t open her mouth, neither did he, but Sebastian felt her kiss right down to his toes.

‘The only therapy I want tonight,’ she said after inching slightly away from his mouth, ‘involves us being horizontal.’ Then she snaked her arms around his neck and pressed her mouth to his again.

Sebastian felt her words this time - all the way down to his groin. And when her tongue lapped against his lips, seeking entrance to his mouth, he felt that in his dick and when he granted her access, her strangled little moan was felt deep, deep inside his balls.

It felt good to be kissing a woman again. To get lost in one. To have curves pressed against him, to push his fingers into soft, silky hair and suck in all that sweet female aroma with each jerky breath. And not just any woman. A sassy one who had blown his mind on a bridge a mere twelve hours ago and was doing her damnedest to blow it again.

But, as the kiss grew increasingly wild – increasingly desperate - his conscience pricked. He couldn’t remember the last time he was this aroused or hell, if he’d ever been this aroused, but he knew without a doubt this was about more than a quickie with a co-worker for Callie.

Her fingers had worked three buttons undone by the time he managed to pull himself out of the sexual fire scorching his common sense. ‘Hang on,’ he whispered, kissing her eyelids, her nose as he covered her hands. ‘Wait a moment.’ She mewed a protest and the fascinating sight of her ravaged mouth almost brought him to his knees. ‘Why don’t we get that coffee first?’

Sebastian shut his eyes as her tongue stroked magic over his skin, whispering illicit promises into his pulse points. He resisted the urge to let his head fall back, to give her unlimited access. But only just.

‘Callie.’ He groaned as he forced his eyes open. Her lips were trekking towards his shoulder and he grabbed her hips convulsively as she started to rub herself against him a little. ‘I don’t think this is a wise idea. There’s obviously something troubling you...and using sex to obliterate issues isn’t a very good way to handle things.’

Sebastian chuckled. ‘That’s not what I’m worried about.’ Her mouth returned to the column of his throat causing a wave of goose across his scalp. Christ...where was he? ‘I’d hate you to regret this is the morning.’

She sighed as she lifted her lips from the thick pound of his carotid artery. ‘Your honourable streak is commendable but I’m a big girl, Sebastian. I know what I’m doing.’ She fingered his collar point rubbing it absently between her thumb and forefinger. ‘Or is it that a sexually aggressive woman threatens your masculinity?’

Sebastian regarded her seriously as she morphed back into Callie from the bridge. Bolshie and defiant. A man could get whiplash trying to keep up with her Jekyll-and-Hyde act.

Which one was the real Callie? The woman from the bridge or the woman from the restaurant? The man in him found the conundrum irresistible. And looking down at her moist lips and blazing amber eyes, he had to admit it’d be fun finding out.

He smiled. ‘Not me. I’m exceedingly evolved. I love sexually aggressive women. In fact – ‘ He pushed a lock of her hair off her shoulder ‘I think they should take over the world.’

Sebastian joined her. But it was hard to concentrate when their bodies were pressed together so intimately and just her laughter was enough to cause a delicious friction between them. Still...he had to try. ‘I’m all for a little temporary oblivion but I need you to be sure, Callie.’

Sebastian grinned, shaking his head. ‘Let’s just kiss on it, instead.’ And lowered his mouth.

A flash of heat erupted down low the second his lips touched hers and Callie groaned, raking her fingers into his hair. His ragged breath was loud in her ears and she revelled in his no-holds-barred kiss. Finally he was giving her everything, without reservation. Like she was a full-blooded, passionate woman. Not a fragile one. Not an about-to-fall-apart one.

She broke off, her head spinning, pulse racing, breathing loud in the silence. They really needed to get horizontal. She looked around at the obviously half-unpacked apartment.

He smiled, took her hand and led her through a maze of boxes into his bedroom. ‘Ta-da. A bed.’

Callie grinned. ‘So it is.’ More moonlight streamed through uncurtained glass and she walked in, sidestepping another two boxes. Sitting on the edge, she gave an experimental bounce. ‘This will do very nicely,’ she murmured.

He was lounging in the doorway, watching her with the same direct gaze from the restaurant. From the bridge. And she wanted him closer.

‘Hmm,’ he said with a rumble Callie felt right between her legs. ‘Whatever can we do about that?’

He didn’t move from the doorway which gave Callie a better chance to look at him. So she did - for the longest time. Then she leaned back on her elbows and crossed one leg over the other. ‘Take off your clothes.’

Callie rotated her ankle, one strappy black heel dangling from her toes. ‘You’ve got to ask for what you want.’

‘I couldn’t agree more.’ He straightened and started on the buttons she hadn’t managed to undo.

Her breath got shorter as each button revealed glimpses of a magnificent chest, and Callie almost sighed out loud when he shrugged his shoulders and the shirt fell away to reveal the stunning breadth of him. His pecs and abs were taut and flat, framed by broad shoulders and very nice biceps.

She could almost feel the weight of him crowding on top of her, pushing her into the bed, moving inside her and, just like that, the remaining tentacles still clinging from the events of the day, slithered away.

Her gaze drifted south, wondering if what was below his zip was as magnificent as the rest of him. She forced her gaze back to his face. She pointed to his jeans using her toes. ‘And those.’

‘Yes ma’am.’ He saluted her, a smile playing on his mouth as he reached for his button.

Ten seconds later he’d kicked free of his jeans and was standing before her, all but naked, and Callie gave her eyes free reign. His thighs. His calves. His crotch.

‘Oh, my,’ she murmured, pushing off her elbows into a sitting position and then rising off the bed.

Callie stopped in front of him, a centimetre separating them, his knowing, patient gaze boring into hers, dropping to her mouth then returning to her eyes. His clean male scent wafted towards her and her nostrils flared.

Lifting a hand, she stroked it down his chest, holding his gaze. Warm muscles shifted beneath her palm, hinting at their leashed potential. Her fingers circled the hollow of his belly button and the powerful contraction of his abdominals was wickedly good.

Dropping lower still, her hand brushed the hard ridge of his erection and she withdrew slightly before returning to trace the outline of it through his underwear. Callie smiled as Sebastian shut his eyes briefly. She could hear the ragged intake of his breath, could almost taste it as it mingled with her own.

Her throat was parched, her lips dry, despite her mouth watering at the thought of kissing him. His lips were so close, all she had to do was move the barest amount and she could taste them again.

Her fingers stopped tracing the thick edge of him and wrapped around, squeezing. His throat bobbed, his eyes fluttered open.

‘Nice,’ she murmured, her lips brushing his Adam’s apple and the pulses either side, before their gazes meshed again, her hand continuing its bold grip.

He panted as she squeezed him some more. ‘You have too many clothes on,’ he rumbled.