Page 24 of Rivers of Ink
“Oh, it’s our breakfast is it? Who said you could stay over?” teased Callan.
Alicia’s cheeks flushed, and she looked away. “Oh, um, I thought…”
“I think I need to explain some things first. Then you can decide if that’s still what you want to do.” He cleared away the boxes, refilled their glasses, and sat down on the sofa, facing towards Alicia, his back against the arm.
He took a deep breath. “As you know, Isobel used to work at the shop. She was the receptionist, much as you are now though she doesn’t have your excellent marketing brain.” He smiled, trying to lighten the explanation. “She was also my girlfriend.”
He watched as Alicia nodded and sipped her wine, listening intently.
“I think I get why you reacted to Ned as you did,” she said. “She must have been important to you.”
“Yeah, I was so important to her that she was shagging my brother.” A horrible, bitter taste filled Callan’s mouth as he said the words.
Alicia’s jaw dropped, her eyes wide. “How long were you and Isobel together?”
“Nearly a year.” Callan gulped down some wine. “Although for the last three months of that, she and Xander were having an affair. I found them together, in this flat, in my bed.”
Alicia shifted until she was mirroring Callan’s position. She reached out and placed a hand on his knee. “I had no idea.”
“Neither did I. My brother died in an accident on his way to see his girlfriend, my ex. He was on his way to meet her when he wrapped his bike around a tree. How fucked up is that?” He could see tears shining in Alicia’s eyes. He covered her hand with his. “I’m sorry for what happened with Ned last night. I let my feelings get the better of me, and I didn’t think of you. I got wrapped up in the past again.” His fingers caressed her knuckles, and he was pleased that she responded in the same way.
“Oh.” Alicia’s tone registered disappointment, and she pulled her hand away a little.
Callan took a deep breath as he externalised the words he had been mulling around ever since the early hours of the morning. “It’s time I looked to the future and made a fresh start.” Being around Alicia was the best thing that had happened to him in a long while. She made him feel better, lighter. “What I’m trying to say is that despite the weird, fucked up way in which we met, doing everything the wrong way around, I think we’re pretty good together. The way you fit in seamlessly to The Unbound Soul, the way you already seem to get me.” He pulled her towards him. “What do you think? Do you want to take a chance on whatever this thing is?”
He looked into Alicia’s eyes, seeing the green flash that little bit brighter, her pupils dilating as his gaze dropped to her lips. She leaned forward and met his, her tongue gently teasing as they kissed. It was the briefest of kisses, though Callan felt it right to his very core. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
Alicia shuffled forward and wrapped her legs around his waist, so she was straddling him, her arse in the space between his knees. Her lips crashed against his, kissing him with the intense passion he remembered from their first time together, as her hands slid under his t-shirt, grabbing the hem and pulling it over his head. Callan manoeuvred Alicia so she was lying on her back on the sofa, her dark brown hair fanned across the cushions, her green eyes full of longing. He eased off her jumper and bent his head to the line of her cleavage, hearing her sigh as he placed a succession of kisses there. His cock strained painfully, and he reached down to free himself as Alicia wriggled out of her own clothes. He admired her smooth, naked skin, free of any inks, so different to his own marked and branded flesh.
Callan licked the tip of one of his fingers and lightly stroked a line between Alicia’s folds, avoiding directly touching her clit, feeling her wetness. She squirmed underneath his touch, a hiss of breath escaping her as she clutched at the edge of the sofa. He quickened the movement and moved his other hand to her face, tracing her lips and inserting a finger into her mouth. Involuntarily, she started to suck, her tongue swirling around. Callan imagined she were doing the same to his dick, and he felt himself pulse, needing to be inside her. He pulled his hands away and shifted position, thrusting into her in one sweet movement, Alicia’s slickness providing him ease of entry. She gasped as he rocked backwards and forwards, building up to a powerful, almost painful release. As he heard Alicia cry out, he was so close to the edge, it was excruciating. With a final grunt he gave one last thrust and collapsed on top of her, gulping for air.
“Ouch! You’re heavy!” Alicia wriggled out from underneath Callan, her bra awry, skin sweaty from their exertions. She propped herself up on one side, her head resting on her hand.
Callan turned to face her, hitching a leg between hers. He replicated the smile on her face. “I’m sorry. I’ll make sure you’re on top next time.”
Alicia’s eyes glinted wickedly as she moved to mount him, placing a knee either side of his hips. She towered above him, her voluptuous breasts encased in sheer lace and embellished with satin bows. “Like this?” she suggested, quirking an eyebrow at him.
He didn’t think he’d be ready to go again in such a short time, but Callan felt his cock hardening for the second time as Alicia’s hand travelled down her body and reached between her legs. “Oh, exactly like that, Ali. Exactly like that.”
14
The next week rushed by, and all too soon the day of Aidy and Wren’s wedding arrived. The weather was bright and sunny, despite many weather reports to the contrary.
Alicia woke alone in Callan’s bed. Since they’d made up properly the previous weekend, she had been there every night and had slowly started—with Callan’s agreement—to move some of her stuff in. Despite Nell’s reservations about the speed at which everything happened, Alicia was happy. She still saw loads of Nell, and Rory when he was around, and had also been getting to know Wren much better. They were a lot closer now.
Callan had stayed with Aidy at a B&B close to the wedding venue, undertaking last minute best-man duties. If she knew Callan and Aidy, those duties would involve calming any nerves with a vat of whisky. She hoped they hadn’t overdone it.
Her phone buzzed with a message. Callan sent her a picture of him and Aidy, enjoying breakfast in their room with the captionshame you can’t enjoy a sausage with us this morning… looking forward to seeing you later xx. Alicia laughed and shook her head. Instead of sausages, she made herself tea and toast and ate it while watching a bit of news.
When ten o’clock came, it was time for her to get ready.
She made her way into the bathroom and started all the trappings that went with looking fabulous for a wedding: she shaved her legs and underarms, washed her hair, and took a leisurely shower. She dried off and then moisturised every inch of her body with an expensive lotion she’d borrowed from Nell. It smelled amazing, an alluring mix of shea butter and ginger. Alicia sang along to the radio as she danced naked into the bedroom, wishing that Callan was there to enjoy it.
Her dress hung from the wardrobe, and she ran her hand over the fabric, savouring the feel. It was a beautiful garment, with a structured bodice and a flowing skirt with an ombre design in light to dark shades of blue. It complimented Callan’s navy suit perfectly. Alicia slid into the midnight blue satin and lace panties with a matching push-up bra that she’d bought from The Magpie in North Ridge. She tingled with anticipation as she thought of Callan’s reaction when he found them later underneath her dress. She pondered the idea of sending him a picture now though decided against it. If he was with Aidy, she didn’t really want him seeing it, much as they had become good friends. She slipped the dress over her head. It fit like a second skin, clinging to her curves and hiding the bits she didn’t want emphasised.
Alicia twirled around in front of the mirror and caught a glimpse of the time.
“Shit! I’m going to be late if I don’t get a move on.”
