Three cliffs, p.22
Three Cliffs, page 22
‘You will do as I say,’ she threatened.
I laughed in her face. ‘You know what, Mum? Actually, I won’t,’ I told her, standing up to her properly at last. ‘I’m going to walk away from you now, Mum, because I don’t like you anymore. You’re not the woman you once were, and I can’t live alongside you anymore.’ With that, I turned and walked away, frustrated with how hateful she had become and determined to stop putting up with it now that I had other options.
‘You okay?’ a voice said to my side.
I turned and saw Tommei standing near me. ‘Oh hey! Tommei,’ I murmured, surprised he was talking to me one on one.
‘Yeah…we, uh…haven’t really had the chance to chat yet,’ he said, smiling at me tentatively.
‘No, we haven’t. I know Cam is more than a little taken with you,’ I told him, ‘So I’m sure we’ll be friends.’
‘And family, potentially, if it all pans out,’ he added.
‘Yes, wow! That’s incredible that you two are so connected already that you want to claim each other! It’s so unexpected but brilliant that you’ve found one another,’ I told him, smiling.
‘Thanks. It was instant with him,’ he admitted. ‘We just connected in a way unlike I’ve ever felt before. He smells of home, too,’ she said, softly. ‘And I’ve lost my home, so it feels so good to feel like I have one again.’
I sighed. ‘I’m glad you’ve found each other,’ I told him.
He nodded, eyeing me closely. ‘Me too…but I, uh…I heard your conversation just now…with your mother,’ he told me, biting his lip in something of a nervous habit.
‘You heard that?’ I said, frowning.
‘Yeah,’ he nodded. ‘She’s very…forceful…homophobic too. Cam reassures me that she’ll be fine in time and to let him deal with it, but I’m not so sure after what I just heard,’ he said, worried.
I didn’t know what to say to him. My mother was a force to be reckoned with-and intensely homophobic as well. There was nothing right now I could say to reassure him, because I didn’t know how to deal with her either. ‘I’m hopeful Cam has a plan,’ I told him, softly.
He nodded, looking worried. ‘Family is important…especially when you’ve lost some of them,’ he said, obviously talking about those he’d lost as well as my father, who Cam had spoken to him about.
‘Yes, it is…but you can also make new family by being with the people who you meet and connect with. Let Cam deal with my mother. He’s the best person for that job. And don’t worry. He’ll do everything in his power to make her accept the situation with you-I can tell,’ I told him, reassuringly.
‘Thanks Callie,’ he smiled. ‘Can I also ask your advice about another thing?’ he questioned.
‘Of course,’ I nodded, eagerly.
‘I heard you’re in charge of everything housing related,’ he said, scanning my eyes.
‘I am, yes,’ I nodded.
‘Because I’ve seen this cabin I like…and it’s unused and run down. I don’t know if you know it? It’s out in Three Cliffs forest…right at the other side.’
‘Oh, yes! I know it,’ I nodded. ‘It’s been unused for years. It used to be home to a family which were pack-but the last of their line died some ten years ago now.’
‘Oh wow…it’s just, I love old rustic places like that, and I thought…’ he broke off, ‘Well, I thought I could buy it and do it up for Cam and I. I was given all this money when our pack was killed, and I don’t know what to do with it. Using it to set up a home for Cam and I is the first thing that’s come up which I really want to do. He said he hadn’t left the family home yet and how much he wants to, so I thought I could surprise him with it!’ he said, smiling at me and blushing adorably.
I couldn’t help smiling back. He was very endearing, with beautifully intelligent eyes and the fact he seemed to be so taken with Cam was very exciting to me. ‘Wow, Tommei. That’s so sweet of you. I mean, the advice I’d give you would be speak to the elders-as they have the deeds and you’d be buying it from them initially. I can help you with the build. I have plumbers, electricians, gardeners…you name it, I can help. The only thing I’d say though is maybe don’t do it as a surprise. Cam doesn’t like surprises, and I think the shock of you buying him a house could be a bit much. Why don’t you tell him your intentions and do it together?’
‘Really? You don’t think it would scare him off by being so forward in my ideas?’ he asked.
‘He’s planning on claiming you, Tommei!’ I laughed. ‘I’d dare say you can assume you’d be living together if that’s about to happen,’ I chuckled.
‘True…so the elders, huh?’
I nodded. ‘Talk to them and get a price and then I’d let Cam in on the plan,’ I advised.
‘Okay, thanks Callie. You’ve been so helpful!’
‘No worries,’ I smiled, accepting his offered hug.
‘See you later!’ he waved and went on his way.
I watched him go and sighed. He was perfect for Cam.
After Tommei had left my side, I looked around and found Kash watching me for afar. Our eyes met and held, words going unspoken between us. I gave her a long look and then turned and walked away from the group, towards the cliffs where I could disappear. I hoped she’d follow, and when I stepped inside the cave systems, she appeared behind me shortly after.
‘Hey,’ she said, arriving behind me swiftly.
‘Hey,’ I murmured, stepping towards her and grabbing her tightly.
‘You okay, baby?’ she asked, frowning down at me before wrapping her arms tightly around me.
‘Oh sweetie, what’s wrong?’
‘Nothing…’ I murmured.
‘Don’t do that,’ she said, easing back and meeting my eyes. ‘You don’t have to do that. You can talk to me, you know? Share what’s going on.’
I sighed. ‘It’s just my Mum…’
‘Oh…’ she replied, scanning my eyes. ‘Callie,’ she sympathised.
I looked away. ‘I don’t know why she has to be so hateful…it’s so hurtful when she says the things she does.’
Her eyes stayed on mine. ‘How about we go back to the house? We can cuddle up and talk this through.’
I nodded. ‘Yeah…okay.’
‘Come on then. Let’s get out of here.’
Chapter 10
Kash and I shifted and ran back to the old mansion together, breathing fast and hard by the time we reached the house. Once inside, we shifted back and headed upstairs. Downstairs was still a mess and needed a lot done before we could enjoy time there comfortably, so to the bedroom we went once again.
‘Come and sit down,’ she encouraged, leading me to the window seat where we could sit comfortably together.
I followed her over and eased in beside her, moving into the crook of her arm which she offered to me in welcome.
‘There…that’s better…now talk,’ she told me, without hesitation. ‘I don’t like seeing you upset like this.’
‘It’s okay,’ I murmured. ‘I should be used to it by now.’
‘Don’t do that! Don’t excuse her behaviour, Callie. It’s not okay and you shouldn’t ‘be used to it’ at all!’ she ranted.
I slumped my head against her shoulder, sad and defeated. ‘I always do just take it though. I might try and argue back sometimes but I still feel like she has control and power over me.’
‘She doesn’t, sweetheart. You’re your own woman and at twenty-eight you should be able to make your own decisions and not be guided by your mother anymore.’
I said nothing.
‘You don’t feel like that though, do you?’
‘I don’t,’ I said, in a small voice. ‘Because of the guilt.’
‘The guilt? Your father?’
‘He wouldn’t be dead if it wasn’t for me. I’ve held onto that for years,’ I said, very quietly.
‘You were a child, Callie!’ she exclaimed, looking down at me.
I avoided her eyes. ‘Yes, but he was off with me…because our bond was so close. If he hadn’t been, then he’d never have died like he did.’
‘You can’t blame yourself for his death, Callie. You were only a child, and no-one could have predicted what happened.’
I bit my lip. ‘But it did happen, and although she never said it in as many words, I know she blamed me.’
‘Sweetheart,’ she said, hugging me closer. ‘You mustn’t think like that-and do you really think your father would want you to believe that that you were responsible for his death, would he?’
‘I’ve never considered that,’ I replied, thoughtfully.
‘Well, if he loved you as you said he did, think about it. He wouldn’t want you spending your days worrying that you were to blame.’
‘No, I guess not,’ I admitted.
‘So, come on…how are we going to help you with this?’
‘I don’t know,’ I sighed. ‘Convince my mother that you’re not a figure of hate! That would be a start. I can’t bear her thinking like that…’
‘Why not?’ she replied. ‘I don’t care what your damn mother thinks of me. I only care about your opinion, Callie.’
I looked up at her, ‘Well my thoughts regarding you have certainly changed,’ I told her, softly.
‘They have?’
‘Yes,’ I nodded, gazing at her, trying to ignore the blush which had risen on my cheeks.
‘You didn’t like me at first?’ she questioned.
I hesitated. ‘It wasn’t that I didn’t like you, more that you annoyed me.’
She threw head back and laughed. ‘I annoyed you!’
‘Well, yeah…but not because you’re actually an annoying person,’ I smiled. ‘Just that every time you got close to me, I felt dizzy. Your scent played tricks with my mind, and I didn’t want to be feeling so drawn to you, but I was.’
‘So, I just wore you down in the end?’ she chuckled.
‘Something like that,’ I murmured. ‘I guess I didn’t really give you a chance because I was scared of this. I pushed you away and acted angry and annoyed because I knew that the second, I stopped doing that, I wouldn’t be able to say no.’
‘Are you glad we’ve become…close?’ she asked, surprisingly hesitantly.
‘I am,’ I told her, quietly. ‘I’m a little…shocked and surprised, I guess, but glad? Yeah…I’m enjoying feeling…close…to you.’
‘Is being with me satisfying?’ she asked. ‘You said when you were with people before, it wasn’t exactly pleasurable?’
‘It’s satisfying,’ I assured her. ‘I mean, unbelievably so. I can’t even begin to explain how I feel in comparison to any other sexual experience I’ve had.’
‘Really? Is that a compliment?’ she asked, nudging me.
‘It absolutely is,’ I said, smiling at her. ‘You make me feel amazing, Kash.’
She sighed. ‘Same goes, Callie. This isn’t exactly commonplace for me, either.’
‘It’s not? You’re not usually going around creating sexual awakenings wherever you go?’ I joked.
‘Is that what this is for you?’ she asked, ignoring my joke, which was pretty damn accurate.
‘It, uh…well, I’ve never felt anything like what I’ve felt when I’m with you. Sex was never something I thought I wanted or believed could feel good. I just considered myself kind of non-sexual in many ways. Turns out I was very wrong,’ I chuckled. ‘I’ve just been trying it with the wrong people.’
‘Damn right,’ she murmured. ‘Does it, uh…well does being with me make you want to go back and find a male to attempt it with again?’ she asked, carefully.
‘What? No!’ I exclaimed, my eyes on hers. ‘Are you seriously asking me that? I don’t want to be with anyone but you, Kash!’
‘Even though I’m not offering you the full deal? I want to be with you, obviously, but I refuse to claim or be claimed,’ she said, once again.
‘Kash; I know that. I’m under no illusion that you’re looking for anything other than what this is-and I’m fine with that.’
‘But are you?’ she asked, frowning. ‘I feel like you deserve more.’
I cocked my head at her. ‘Have you heard me complaining?’
‘No; but you do deserve every happiness, Callie. I don’t want to take the chance for complete contentment from you, sweetheart.’
‘I have no desire to be claimed,’ I said, honestly. ‘I like spending time with you, and I like getting to know you intimately, so I am happy, Kash,’ I told her.
She frowned a little. ‘If that changes, tell me, okay?’ she insisted. ‘Because I’ll understand. I might not like it, but I’ll understand,’ she said, softly.
‘I feel like you’re almost trying to put me off being part of this,’ I said, scanning her eyes.
‘Not in the slightest; I just think a lot of you-a whole lot of you, Callie. I’d never forgive myself if I was the one stopping you from living life to the full.’
I shook my head, slightly exasperated. ‘Kash; you’re showing me how to live life properly,’ I told her, clearly. ‘I’ll tell you if my feelings change, but right now, let’s just enjoy this, okay? I love being with you and can’t wait to spend more time doing everything we’ve been doing and more.’
She stared at me, her eyes soft and glazed. ‘You know, I never expected you to have so many facets to who you truly are,’ she told me, huskily, ‘And I’m enjoying meeting every side of you. You’re not the angry little wolf I met on that first day, are you, Callie?’
‘I’m just me,’ I said, quietly. ‘And I’m flattered that you seem to think so much of me…no-one else does.’
‘Oh sweetie, don’t say that. I think you’re amazing! I was taken with you from the moment we met but it’s not just the physical aspect which has me so captivated with you. It’s absolutely everything about you!’
‘Don’t,’ I muttered, blushing with embarrassment.
‘Why not?’ she asked, genuinely asking.
‘Because I’m not used to someone saying nice things about me…it makes me cringe,’ I admitted.
‘Sweetie, accept it as a compliment. I think you’re absolutely lovely-in many different ways.’
I blushed a deeper shade of red. ‘That is not the word to describe me.’
‘I beg to differ,’ she smiled. ‘You’re adorable, Callie…not to mention intelligent, entertaining and good company.’
I smirked at her. ‘You clearly haven’t seen me when I’m tired and grumpy!’ I muttered.
‘I’d love to see you in every mood possible. Right now, I don’t want to do anything but be around you experiencing what it’s like to know you properly.’
I held her eyes. ‘I kind of like the sounds of that,’ I admitted.
She smiled at me. ‘Yeah?’
I nodded, feeling the tensing of my stomach as butterflies skipped through it merrily. ‘Yeah.’
‘Okay then. Well, we have a few hours before we need to be back at the beach.’
‘Back at the beach? ‘I frowned.
‘Yes! Have you forgotten? It’s the vote tonight? The joining of the packs! We have to be there, Callie. It’s essential!’
‘Oh yes, I can’t believe I’d forgotten!’ I exclaimed.
‘Well maybe it slipped your mind seeing as we’ve been so busy,’ she murmured.
‘We have been busy,’ I nodded, sidling even closer to her warmth. It was so inviting, and I just wanted to rub up against her languidly and lose myself in everything which made up the incredible woman beside me.
‘So, shall we spend the time chatting? I really want to get to know you better, Callie,’ she said, shifting against me in a bid to get more comfortable.
‘We could…’ I replied, holding her eyes.
‘Or, what else?’ she questioned.
I smiled. ‘Well…’ I drawled.
She laughed. ‘You’re thinking about sex again!’ she exclaimed, gleefully.
‘I didn’t say that,’ I chuckled.
‘You didn’t have to, baby,’ she replied, happily. ‘The look in your eyes was enough.’
‘The…?’
‘You get this look…when you’re aroused…and your eyes are pretty, damn expressive too,’ she revealed. ‘It’s quite obvious to be when you want to get intimate.’
I looked away, blushing. ‘I’ve never been like this.’
‘I know,’ she murmured. ‘And I love that you’re only like this for me,’ she said, before dropping down and kissing me lightly on the lips.
I sighed. I felt content.
‘And we could do this instead of chatting…if that’s what you want?’
‘I can’t seem to be this close to you and avoid the feeling of…of…’
‘What?’ she asked, wanting to know.
‘Longing,’ I replied, softly. ‘When you’re close, it’s all I can think about.’
‘Well, you’re not alone there. Any time you want me; I’m yours.’
The words resonated through my skull. Yours. She was too much to take in. Too wonderful for words. I felt invisible strings of attraction tugging me towards her and wanted nothing more than to lose myself in her kiss for hours upon end. ‘Kiss me,’ I begged, losing the remaining patience I had.
She groaned her response. ‘With pleasure…’
Kash bent to kiss me, and I opened my mouth under hers eagerly. Her kiss was immediately passionate, her tongue plunging into my mouth and playing with mine languidly, arousing me swiftly and making me want to rub myself all over her until I came hard and unrestrained.
Kash took my lower lip in her mouth and suckled on it, making my stomach clench and my breasts tighten. Edging closer, I slid my thigh through hers and rubbed my eager sex up against her leg in search of delicious friction.
‘Callie,’ she groaned, running her hand down my back before cupping my butt and dragging me closer.
