Page 25 of Reckless

“I mean, the breakfast and coffee doesn’t hurt, but I don’t know…comparing me to an animated dwarf that snores⁠—”

“I can’t help it if you turn into one while you sleep. I’m an innocent observer.”

“Innocent is a stretch,” I said, taking a sip of the coffee, feeling that hit of caffeine pulling the tiredness away from my limbs. My body was sore in all the right places. It was a new feeling, waking up with Callahan here. I didn’t hate it.

He made me feel all warm on the inside, and it wasn’t just from the coffee. I liked how he made me feel seen.

“You’re right. I was picturing all the dirty things I want to do to you.”

“You didn’t get enough last night?” I asked, looking over at him from my cup.

His hand found my thigh and squeezed. “I don’t think I could ever get enough of you, Stella.”

My heart flipped and I looked down into my cup of coffee, avoiding the intensity of his green eyes. This was all happening so fast and while my feelings for him were palpable, my situation was complicated. There wasn’t a manual on how to get revenge on an evil crime family and learn how to date at the same time. Maybe I needed a therapist. No. Scratch that. They were obligated to report crimes, and I’m pretty sure one meeting with me would have then running to lock me up.

After I finished my food, brushed my teeth, and pulled on some comfortable clothes, I ambled out back into my room, seeing Callahan shirtless with his arm tucked behind his head. His eyes were closed and his chest was rising and falling steadily. From here in the morning light, I could make out an array of scars and tattoos that lined his body. As I stared, he turned, tucking himself onto his side so I could see his back.

Holy shit. That was a lot of x’s. His back was full of them. And while they were small, I wondered what it meant. My search results on my phone weren’t of any help suggesting it was for religious purposes or a design aesthetic. I mean maybe the last one, but they seemed so random. Especially since some of them were larger in size than others. The ones near his shoulder seemed older and faded. While the ones above his ass were darker, like they were new.

A loud ring broke through my thoughts, and I realized it was coming from Callahan’s pants. He startled awake and jumped out of bed, rushing to grab the phone. “Yeah?” he answered. His eyes found mine as he listened intently to whoever was on the other line.

My top teeth bit into my bottom lip as I waited patiently, studying his reaction to whatever was being said. His shoulders seemed tight, and his brow was pulled into a deep frown.

“I’ll be there,” he said with a grimace on his face before hanging up and picking up his pants.

“You gotta go?” I asked, feeling my good mood plummet. Since Andi had gone missing, this was the closest to normal that I’d felt in a long fucking time. I didn’t want it to end.

“Unfortunately. But what are you doing later?”

“Today?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m off. Why?”

He pulled his pants on and then found where he’d tossed his shirt. “Why don’t I swing by here later and take you out to dinner?”

“An actual meal? Wow. Would it be at one of your restaurants?”

He paused, buttoning his shirt and then smiled, but it didn’t seem to meet his eyes. “No, but I know a place. Do you like tacos?”

“What kind of question is that? That’s like asking someone if they like puppies, or rainbows.”

“So, that’s a, yes?”

I nodded. “Yes. I love tacos.”

He padded over to me and gripped me tightly around the hips. “Is it weird that I don’t want to go?”

“Only if it’s weird that I also don’t want you to go either.”

He smiled, pulling me closer so that our mouths brushed up against each other lightly. “I’ll see you later,” he promised, kissing me with a desperation that left me breathless. It was messy and hot. His hand was cupping the back of my head while the other pressed our bodies flush together. Our tongues danced together to a melody only our bodies knew and when he pulled away, we were both breathing heavily.

“Fuck,” he said, rearranging his cock in his pants. “I really do have to go.”

He placed his forehead on mine for a moment. I had so much I wanted to ask him, but I guess it could wait for tonight. “Fine. I’ll see you later?”

“Tonight. Seven work for you?”