Page 46 of This for That (The Edge of Retaliation 1)
“Callie,” he orders, “I said wait.”
“Tanner, honestly, I don’t need this right now. It’s fine. You’re a single man. You can do what you want.”
“I wasn’t doing anything.”
“Look, I really need to go. Please, just let me go.”
I spin around and grab my door, jerking it open. He steps back, and I get into the car, slam the door closed, and turn on the car before backing out and driving away. The tears keep coming, angry tears that flow down my cheeks. I’ve spent years hiding them and now I unleash, crying so heavily I’m unable to stop it. No matter what I do, I can’t make them go away.
I drive home, thankful Jo is at work because I don’t want her to see me like this. I don’t want anyone to see me like this.
During the drive home, it started pouring rain, which only makes me want to scream and cry more. I step out as soon as I pull up and am immediately soaked. Instead of walking inside, I stand there. I let the cool drops of water soak my skin and roll down my body, blending with my tears. I close my eyes and I let it soak my body, as if the rain might just wash away all the bad that tarnishes my soul. Like if I stand out here long enough, I might just be able to walk away clean.
“Callie.”
I open my eyes and see Tanner , soaking wet, staring at me. “Tanner?” I croak.
“What are you doing? You’ll freeze to death. Come on.”
He goes to reach for me, but I stop him with a hand raised. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to come and explain . . .”
“You don’t have to explain anything,” I say, my voice husky and missing a few beats from all the crying. “I get it. We’re not together; hell, we haven’t even had sex. Honestly, I don’t know why you’re here. You don’t owe me anything.”
“Callie . . .”
“Seriously, Tanner. I’m no good for you, or anyone else. You should just leave.”
I turn to walk away and trip. Like the universe hates me more than it already did. I trip and fall onto my hands and knees. I’m frustrated. I want to scream, but I don’t. I’ve already made a fool of myself tonight; I don’t need to continue that. Instead, I cry, like some pathetic, broken human who is unable to get her shit together.
Tanner leans down, and he scoops me into his arms like the damned hero he is and walks us to my front door. I very silently give him the key from my pocket, and he takes it, opens the door, and steps inside. He flicks on a few lights, and then walks straight down to my bathroom. There, he places me on my feet and stares at me, those incredible brown eyes making my heart skip a beat.
“You must think I’m pathetic?” I whisper.
“No, I don’t think you’re pathetic. I think you’re broken.”
I want him.
I want him so badly my body is desperately wanting to surge forward and launch at him. I want to throw my arms around his neck, kiss him, make love to him, do all the things I’ve been thinking about since we met.
So why the hell don’t I?
Why don’t I?
I step forward and reach up, swiping his wet hair from his forehead. With my eyes locked onto his, I kiss him. I wonder if he’s going to kiss me back, but within seconds, we’ve both forgotten about everything else. His hands go to my hips and he hauls me closer, then he’s kissing me with such ferocity my body burns with passion.
His hands move quickly, taking hold of my wet clothes and removing them from my body. First my shirt, then my bra, then my shorts and panties. Within minutes, I’m standing before him, naked, panting, wet as hell, and ready for whatever happens next. He steps back, his eyes slowly running down my body, taking in every inch. I saw the girl he was just with; I know I don’t have incredible curves like hers, but I don’t shy away. I stand in front of him, letting him see all of me. The unedited version.
“You’re fuckin’ beautiful,” he murmurs, taking his shirt and pulling it up over his head. His jeans go quickly after, and he’s before me, naked.
I’m able to take in every inch of him, and oh, I do. I let my eyes trail over his incredible body, slowly dragging from his ripped shoulders, to his broad chest, to his tattooed skin, to his defined six-pack, down to the cock that is already hard. It’s long, and it’s thick. It’s also utterly terrifying. Tanner is a man, a fully grown, strong, masculine male. Every part of him proves that.
