A relief so extreme, a relief that she never thought she’d know, hit Sonia and it was so immense, her body sagged with it. Melting against his, she dropped her cheek to his chest, clutched his shirt in her fists and burst into sobs.
“I never thought… it’s been so… so ha… hard…” she stammered as his fingers sifted soothingly through her hair. She was focusing on his hand’s movements, trying to come to terms with everything (an impossible task) when something occurred to her, Sonia’s head jerked up, the tears ceased and she asked, “Do you think I’m one of you?”
Callum shook his head. “No, baby doll. We don’t have any blondes among us.” His hand came to her face, he swiped at her tears and said softly, “But you know you aren’t. If you take a minute, you can smell the difference.”
She took in a breath and she knew what he was saying. She’d never given herself the time to make the connection before but his people’s scents were different than hers. They were deeper, muskier almost wild and animal but not in the least unpleasant.
In fact, she liked their smell better than humans.
“I like your smell,” she blurted, meaning his people’s smell (though she liked his too, immensely) but it didn’t come out that way.
He grinned before he rolled into her saying huskily, “I like yours too.”
The tawny was spiking through his irises and Sonia knew all too well what that meant.
And she suddenly felt vulnerable.
Exposed.
She’d never been with him knowing him the way she did then, understanding both their duties, their abilities, their connection on a level that hadn’t, until that moment, penetrated.
“Callum –” she whispered but he was mostly on top of her and his face disappeared in her neck.
Then his tongue slid up its length before he said, “Regan wants you and she’ll be back from her walk soon, we have to be fast.”
“Callum –” Sonia whispered again but his mouth moved over her jaw, took hers in a hungry kiss and she was instantly lost.
They were fast, or, she should say, Callum was fast.
With practiced ease, he’d drawn the urge over her but, even if they needed to be fast, he felt in the mood to play.
Therefore, she was fully clothed, as was he, but Sonia was on her knees in front of him. His arms were around her, one hand in her unzipped jeans, the other up her sweater having yanked down her bra. His fingers were torturing her in beautiful ways in both places.
Her head was resting against his chest and, as she ground down into his fingers, she tipped it back to gaze unfocused at his strong, square jaw.
“I want you inside me,” she begged.
“Tonight,” he growled.
“Please,” she breathed.
He gave her what she asked for but not what she really wanted and two of his fingers entered her, stroking deep.
Taking what she could get, she rode them wildly.
“That’s it, baby doll,” he groaned hoarsely into her ear, “Fuck yourself and come for me.”
Instantly upon hearing his words, she did as she was told. Her cries piercing the air as the orgasm overwhelmed her and her body trembled in his arms.
When she was done, he was cupping her breast and her sex and his mouth was at her neck.
“You okay, little one?”
Her body wasn’t okay. It was more than okay, happy and content.
Her mind wasn’t okay either but it was better than it had been since Callum stormed into her life and turned it on its head.
She understood him and his duty and she knew her place.
It was okay as it was ever going to be.
She decided to nod.
“Good,” he murmured, his hands moved gently away and he righted her clothing but his arms wrapped around her and he held her where she was. “One more thing, baby doll.” He was still murmuring but there was steel veining through his tone and she held her breath for what was to come next. “Never again ask me to give back my ring. No matter how pissed you are, never do that again.” His arms tightened around her and he growled, “I can’t wear it into battle for reasons you’ll eventually understand. I gave it to Regan for safekeeping. From now on, if I need to, I’ll give it to you. But it means something to me. I can’t fucking imagine why you’d say it doesn’t but get that out of your head right now. Am I understood?”
Her breath caught in her lungs, the steel in his tone piercing that guard around her heart. Even though she wasn’t entirely certain she understood or believed what he was saying, Sonia could do nothing but nod.
Satisfied with her response, he kissed her neck, gave her a squeeze and then pulled them out of the bed, walked them out of the room and took her to his mother, leaving her in the cozy, warm knitting room with its blazing file and her mother-in-law smiling happily at them as he kissed her thoroughly and left.