Page 54 of Everest

When I don't say anything, Mr. Walker says, “Ms. Monroe, are you there?”

“Yes, I’m here. Sorry about that. Thank you so much for your help.”

“You’re welcome, Ms. Monroe. And I’ll be sure to have your mother’s nurse call you soon.”

I end the call and immediately dial Kallum’s number.

He answers on the first ring. “Babe.”

I’m fuming by this point and barely allow him to get that one word out before I lay into him. “The next time you decide to take it upon yourself and butt into my life where my mom is concerned, you might want to consider asking me how I feel about it.”

“London, calm down.”

“I willnotcalm down. You hadno right. And as soon as I’m able to, I’ll be going down to Golden Hills and fixing everything.”

“London,” Kallum growls, but I hang up before he can say another word. Two seconds later, he tries calling me back. I stare at his name flashing on the screen before declining the call and placing my cell on Do Not Disturb.

Promise pokes her head into my office. “Hey, pizza is here.”

I fix my face and smile. “Okay.”

Sensing something is wrong, she asks, “You good? Is it your mom?”

“No, Mom is good. Everything is fine. I’m just hungry.” I start to follow Promise down the hall when the sound of rumbling pipes stops me in my tracks.Shit!

Catcher stands from his corner on high alert as Kallum storms through the entrance, his eyes trained on me, and he not only looks mad, he’s fucking fuming.

“What’s going on?” Promise asks.

Instead of answering, Kallum storms past Promise and doesn’t stop as he grabs my arm and drags me back down the hall.

“What the hell?” I try pulling free of his hold.

Kallum kicks the door shut with his foot when we get to my office. “You want to explain what the hell that call was about?” he barks.

“I’m pretty sure I made myself clear when we spoke.”

“Correction, London. We didn’t do anything. That was all you. You didn’t shut your mouth long enough to let me get a word in edgewise.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “Are you seriously going to barge in here and get mad at me when it was you who overstepped?”

“It’s not overstepping when I see my woman struggling to keep her head above water, and I do what needs to be done to make sure she can breathe more easily.”

“Without discussing with me whether or not that’s what I wanted?” I counter. “I don’t need you stepping in like some knight in shining armor, Kallum. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of my mother on my own. I have a job that pays me enough to do so.”

“And I said no woman of mine was goin’ to be showin’ her tits for other men.” Kallum’s face turns red.

“Yeah, I heard you, Kallum, but I didn’t agree.”

Kallum takes a step forward, pinning me against my desk. “I don’t need you to agree because that’s what it is. I know we are getting to know each other, but let me help you out by being perfectly clear, I’m not the kind of man who sees his woman struggling and doesn’t move mountains to make her road less bumpy. I’m the kind of man who, when his woman cries in his arms because she hasn’t been able to breathe easy in a long fuckin’ time, shelters some of her burdens so that she can sleep better at night.” Kallum leans in close to my face, his chest heaving. “And I’m damn sure not the kind of man who is okay with his woman showing parts of her body that are meant for me and me alone.”

“I…umm,” I stammer. “That’s a lot to take in.”

“You’ll deal! Let that shit sink in, and then we’ll move on.” Then his face turns soft as he grips the back of my neck. “But I also know the kind of woman you are, and what I didn’t know, I’m learning. I know you’re a woman who is strong and independent. So, when someone challenges your independence, it makes you feel less than and throws you off-balance. Just know that was not my intention. From now on, I’ll be mindful of that fact and come talk to you beforehand.” He finishes with, "Especially when it comes to your mom,” which leaves me speechless. And surprisingly, a lot turned on.

Sensing the change, Kallum’s pupils dilate. My breathing becomes labored when his palm slides from the back of my neck down the front of my blouse over my rapidly beating heart. There is a beat of silence between us. The next thing I know, my shirt is ripped open, and my bra cups are shoved down. I cry out when Kallum’s mouth latches onto one of my nipples while I expertly work at unbuttoning his jeans. I’m just about to slip myhand down the front of his boxer briefs when suddenly, I’m spun around, face forward against my desk. Cold air hits my backside as my skirt is shoved up around my hips. My panties are tugged to the side and replaced with the tip of Kallum’s cock.

“Fuckin’ soaked,” he hisses as he teases my entrance.

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