Chapter Thirty

Hunter Owens held far more magic than Callie did. When she was with him, everyday life seemed brighter. More significant. Her worries slipped away, and she found herself smiling without thought. He had this infectious charisma that snuck under her skin and warmed her from the inside out. Even when he got contemplative, like right now, his drawing power didn’t diminish.

If anything, it made him more attractive. He was human like the rest of us.

She was looking at him differently. She’d kissed him. Seen his glorious backside naked. Watched him interact with his family and his horse. Every little thing added more and more to his appeal. And she got it now. Why every single person in Windsong wanted him to pick them.

“Howdy,” he said, wrapping his arms around her waist.

“Howdy.” She tried to keep a straight face. It lasted all of two seconds before she laughed. “Sorry. But who says ‘howdy’?”

“Apparently I do when a beautiful woman sits on my lap and scrambles my brain cells.”

Moments like this, when his confidence dipped below 100 percent, were her favorite. “You scramble mine, too.”

“Good to know.” He took a long curl that had escaped her bun and twirled it around his finger. “I’m assuming this new position is a signal.”

“What kind of signal do you think it is?” She wiggled just a tiny bit to help him with his answer. Not that she had any doubt he could figure out her intentions on his own.

“The kind that starts with my mouth here.” He reached behind him to take her hand, then gently kissed each of her knuckles. “Your hands are a huge part of who you are, Cal. They’re soft yet strong.” She could say the same about his lips. “Capable and some say magical.” Yep, his lips were those things, too. With each kiss to her fingers, she fell further under his spell.

“I want these hands all over my body.” His voice deepened to a husky sound that sent a shiver down her spine.

“I’d like that,” she managed to whisper. His deliberate focus and flattering words made it difficult to breathe, let alone speak.

“What do think about me putting my hands all over your body?” He opened her hand and held it between them. There wasn’t much space between their chests, but he made good use of it. Especially when he traced his fingertip along the lines on her palm. It tickled in the best possible way.

“I think the sooner the better.” Honest to God, if he didn’t get on with it soon, she might combust.

He blessed her with his dimples. The sight of the sexy indentations in combination with his body heat, scent, and gentle ministrations made her achy and in desperate need of relief. She wiggled with more effort.

“Is that a yes, Cal? To anything and everything I want to do to you? I need you tell me you want this as much as I do. Because I am so into you, it hurts.”

His words wiped away any lingering doubt she had about crossing the line with him.

Tonight, it was just the two of them with an equal desire to make each other feel good. “Yes, Hunter. Yes. Yes. Yes.”

He cupped the side of her neck, stared so deeply into her eyes, she was sure he touched her soul. He waited a beat, then crashed his mouth to hers. This kiss wasn’t sweet or gentle. It was unrestrained fire. With his lips, tongue, and teeth, he kissed her with skill, tenacity, and passion. She felt it everywhere.

If she thought she’d wake up tomorrow morning the same person she was right now, she was wrong.

He broke the kiss only long enough to get them both on the bed. When his mouth returned to hers, she took control this time. She kissed him with authority and eagerness, loving the growly sound he made when her hands found their way underneath his shirt.

She rocked against him, her hips moving—no seeking—more. “God, Callie.” He nuzzled her neck. Kissed behind her ear as his hand slid between her legs. He rubbed her over her leggings, lifted his head to look at her. She closed her eyes and let her knees fall open.

“I’ve dreamed about this moment for a long time,” he said with affection.

Grateful she had her eyes closed so he couldn’t see what his words did to her, she said, “Please no more talking. Just doing.”

“Yes, ma’am.” His hand did really good things, then slipped inside her leggings. He stroked her with perfect pressure. Kissed her jaw, her neck, her collarbone. When his fingers slid underneath her panties and then inside her, she pressed her heels into the mattress. He touched her with skill, bringing her to the edge, then retreating. The wet sound of her arousal excited her further.

“You are so fucking sexy,” he whispered, prolonging the intense pleasure until she couldn’t take it anymore and begged him to make her come. It took all of five more seconds for her to orgasm.

“Step one done,” he said, slowly withdrawing his hand.

He gave her a quick kiss on the lips—too quick for her liking—before moving down her body and taking her clothes with him. Leggings, panties, shoes, and socks, gone.

“Umm…” She looked down at him, his shoulders spreading her knees wide. With a devilish glint in his eye, he buried his face between her legs. Oh, God. Her head fell back. She gripped the comforter. Sensations stormed through her already sensitive body.

He licked and sucked, seeming determined to make her come for a second time. Unhurriedly determined, by the leisurely way his tongue worked her. Which was okay with her. His mouth felt so good, she wanted to make it last for as long as possible.

Not an easy task with his face attached to her most intimate spot. He palmed her thighs, his hold gentle yet firm. She bucked against his mouth. Her hands moved to the back of his head to press him tighter. She knew what she liked and had no problem helping him out.

She once again dug her heels into the bed. Her moans grew louder with every sweet-tortured swipe from his tongue. “You taste so fucking good,” he rasped.

Emotion flooded her. Happiness and joy. Gratification. A sensual high she didn’t want to come down from. In the back of her mind, she’d hoped they’d end up here. She’d dreamed about it, going as far back as the first night she’d stayed with him. His perfect, naked ass was to blame.

“Oh, God,” she murmured, so turned on, and so close to climax number two. Add his tongue to his list of magical body parts.

Her breathing ragged, she let go of his head and yanked her sweatshirt over her head. She was hot. And bothered. Her bra came off next.

Without lifting his head, Hunter’s gaze slid over her stomach to her boobs. One peek from him and her nipples were hard as a rock. He released her right thigh and brought his hand up to cup her breast. He caressed and squeezed. Rubbed his thumb over her nipple.

She pushed down on the bed, arched her back, and let go. Sounds she’d never made before tumbled out of her mouth. She came hard. Tingled everywhere.

He brought her back slowly, drawing every bit of orgasmic bliss out of her. “Step two done,” he said with a satisfied smile.

“I’m dead.” She lay there completely naked and satiated, her limbs wet noodles.

“I hope not. I’m not through with you yet. God, you’re gorgeous.” He stood at the side of the bed, staring down at her. Tracing her skin with his eyes like he was committing every inch of her to memory. His undivided attention thrilled her.

“I think it’s my turn to touch you.”

He lifted his shirt over his head with one hand, tossed it aside. In the firelight, he looked ethereal, a one-of-a-kind human made just for her. “You can touch all you want while I’m inside you.”

He quickly took off the rest of his clothes, pulling a condom out of his wallet and tossing it on the bed beside her. He was hard and thick and bigger than any other man she’d been with.

“Ready for step three?” he asked, crawling onto the bed between her legs. He sat on his haunches and stroked himself.

Holy hell. The sight made her salivate. She gulped. Watching him touch himself made everything inside her tight and needy all over again. “I’m ready.”

“I’ve imagined this a million times.” He ripped open the condom and rolled the protection on.

“Steps one to three?” she teased, a sexy, playful side she didn’t know she had coming out to play.

“Mostly step three.” He kissed her stomach. Her chest. Her neck. Lined his body up with hers. His fingers found her center. “Are you ready for me?”

Rather than answer with words, she reached between them, wrapped her hand around his length, and guided him to her entrance. He didn’t need any further assurance. With one swift thrust, he filled her.

She moaned in pleasure.

He groaned before claiming her mouth and kissing her like he’d been waiting his whole life to be in this position. Being connected like this, with his scent on her skin and their bodies moving as one, she’d swear the world stopped.

Alone in this cabin made for lovers, with a storm raging outside, and nothing but heat and passion and affection blazing inside, she met his thrusts. She roamed her hands all over his body. She quivered. She burned.

For him.

With him.

The sounds of their lovemaking filled the room. Heavy breathing. Wet friction. The smell of sex filled her nose. He was about to do the impossible: make her come three times in a row.

“I’m close,” he said against the shell of her ear, his voice gravelly. “I can’t hold off much longer. You feel too good, Triple C.”

Triple C.

She loved when he called her that. Loved it even more when he added, “The things you do to me…”

That was it. She tumbled over the edge calling his name, and he followed right behind.

He stayed inside her as their bodies relaxed, and then he gazed into her eyes, his weight on his elbows on either side of her shoulders. “Please tell me we can do that again.”

It took her a minute. Not because she didn’t want to. Because she did. Too much.

“Hey.” He brushed a lock of hair off her forehead. “I mean while we’re here. In this amazing bubble we’ve created. Once we leave, it’s up to you what happens next.”

Relief mixed with joy. She couldn’t get attached. Didn’t want him to, either. They were both adults and knew the score, though.

“I suppose we could do it again.”

He rolled off her onto his side and laughed. “Okay, Miss Suppose. You let me know when.” He propped his head in his hand, traced a finger over her hip. Goose bumps covered her skin.

She rolled over to face him with her hands tucked under her cheek. “I do owe you—”

“Nothing. You don’t owe me a thing. I’m so damn happy right now.” He traced a heart on her stomach. “Making you feel good and hearing you scream my name was incredible.”

“I didn’t scream.” She totally did.

“Yeah, you did.” He lightly trailed his finger along her bottom lip. “Be right back.” He walked to the bathroom and closed the door.

She turned over onto her stomach and buried her face in the pillow to smother her ginormous smile. She’d just had sex with Hunter Owens. Correction: she’d just had the best sex of her life with Hunter Owens.

And he wasn’t her boyfriend. Or someone she had a future with. She’d never slept with someone without being in a relationship, and it felt good exercising her independence like this.

Trevor hadn’t exactly been her boyfriend, but they’d established a commitment to each other while they were both in Africa. She’d been drawn to him from the second they’d met. She’d dreamed for a split second that they could travel the world together—her teaching sewing to small villages while he helped those same villages develop new and improved growing methods for their crops. They could have been a powerful team helping those less fortunate.

Kennedy and Maverick’s wedding flashed through her mind. The maid of honor dress that needed only a slight alteration after Ava’s fitting yesterday morning. Nova and Bethany’s dresses. Hunter’s suit, hanging up and ready for him to try on.

Two fingers tiptoed up the back of her leg, over her bottom, and up her back, breaking into her musings. “Your body is incredible,” Hunter said. “Your skin is so soft.” He pressed his nose to the side of her neck. “And you smell like sunshine and my dirtiest dreams.”

She turned her head to look at him. He had sex hair, and his electric blue eyes did things to her insides. Her insides were supposed to be sound asleep after what they’d just done.

“Also, my best dreams,” he added.

“Do you remember all your dreams?” she asked, genuinely curious.

“Pretty much. Don’t you?” He laid on his back and scooped her closer so she could lay her head on his chest.

“Sometimes.” She crossed her leg over his, snuggled against him with a hand on his stomach. “After my accident, all I dreamt about was that day, so I made a conscious effort not to remember. More recently, though, some good ones have broken through my resolve.”

He drew lazy circles up and down her arm. “Do you think that means you’ve finally put the accident behind you?”

She hadn’t thought of that. “Maybe.”

“So, what kind of good dreams have you had, and more importantly, was I in them?” His teasing tone curled around her heart and gave it a squeeze. He seamlessly shifted from bad memories to good memories, and gratitude filled her.

“Possibly.”

“That means yes,” he said with a smug attitude.

“No. It means I’m not sure who the guy was. It was dark and mysterious, and I was focused on other parts of his body besides his face.” She pressed her lips together, hoping he bought her lie. Her smooth-talking cowboy didn’t need any more praise.

“You’re a terrible liar, Triple C.” He kissed the top of her head.

Grr. He knew her too well.

The idea actually made her happier than it should. He wasn’t her cowboy. For tonight, he is. And maybe tomorrow, too. If it didn’t make her feel so guilty, she’d wish for the storm to continue through Sunday. Instead, tonight had to be enough. Hunter deserved to be there for Maverick’s bachelor party as soon as possible.

They laid there quietly, her hand lifting up and down atop his stomach with every breath he took. The fire roared. Rain pelted the window. She focused on this moment, committing everything about Hunter to memory. The feel of his skin, his warm breath, his scent, the way he moved with confidence, the deep, sexy sound of his voice. She pictured the way he looked at her with admiration. And she relished how he made her feel, like she’d won first place in his life.

She lifted her head to peek at him and found him fast asleep. She rested her cheek back down, cuddled even closer, and within minutes trailed him into dreamland.