Chapter 37: Chapter 37

VANESSA “Callum,” I whine, squirming atop the soft cotton sheets. Bright sunlight pours in through the window across from my bed, illuminating him in all his naked glory.

He only grunts in response.

I bury my hands in his hair, tugging on the strands. “C’mon, we have to leave this room,” I pant, a little tremor wracking my body as he hits a particularly sensitive spot. “We at least have to eat…”

He lifts his head with an arched brow, licking his lips and hitting me with a panty-melting smirk. “What do you think I’m trying to do down here?” He lowers his head between my thighs again before I can respond, his tongue lashing against my clit, earning a hoarse moan from my lips.

“I… I… oh god, right there…” I babble, my back arching off the bed as he screws a finger into my tight hole again, curving it upwards to press against that same spot inside that has me falling to pieces against his face.

I’ve lost count of how many orgasms he’s wrung out of me since we locked ourselves in here last night. We went at least three rounds before I passed out from exhaustion, but an hour later, I woke up to Callum between my legs again. That same cycle repeated throughout the night- an hour or two of sleep, incredible, mind-blowing sex, followed by a little more sleep then even more action. I’ve been fucked so thoroughly that it’s a wonder I’m still whole.

“C’mon babe,” Cal coaxes, his words vibrating against my clit tortuously.” Give me one more.”

For a second, I doubt if I have it in me, but then he presses against that spot again, suctioning his mouth over my clit, and I’m proven wrong.

Deliciously, gloriously, wrong. I cry out as I come undone, a wave of pleasure making me jolt and tremble until I’m a writhing, panting mess atop the sheets. 2 A deviant grin spreads across Callum’s face as he crawls back up my body, his lips shining with my desire. He runs his tongue languidly over them before leaning down to capture my own in a toe- curling kiss. I taste myself on his lips and tongue, moaning into his mouth as my hands explore the hard planes of his chest. Then he releases my lips with a loud pop, rolling sideways to flop down on the bed beside me with a satisfied smirk on his face.

“Still wanna leave this room?” he asks with a mischievous glint in his eye, reaching over to pinch my nipple.

I yelp, squirming away from him before he can get his hands on me again. My legs are wobbly as I climb out of bed, padding over to the dresser to retrieve some clothes. I feel Callum’s heated stare burning into my backside as I tug on a pair of panties, cotton shorts, and a loose t-shirt, combing my fingers through my hair before whirling back around to face him.

“Food,” I demand, my stomach rumbling its agreement.

With a resigned sigh, he finally rolls out of bed, roaming the room to collect his discarded clothes from the floor. I lean back against the dresser oddly entranced as I watch him pull them on. It’s like a reverse strip-tease, his defined muscles rippling, then disappearing beneath the fabric of his clothes.

Once he’s fully dressed, Cal strides over to me and plants a hard, claiming kiss on my lips, leaving me dizzy and breathless by the time he pulls back and palms my ass with a possessive squeeze. “Ready?”

I nod wordlessly, taking his offered hand and allowing him to lead me out of the room.

We follow the smell of bacon down the hallway, and when we arrive in the kitchen, my eyes nearly bug out of my head at the sight of the spread laid out on the kitchen table.

Chase and Vienna are occupying two seats side by side, near- empty plates in front of them. My mouth hangs open, my shocked eyes snapping to my friend in question.

“Figured you guys would be hungry,” Vee winks, gesturing to the heaping platters of food as she and Chase exchange smug glances.

My mouth waters as my eyes drift back down to the impressive breakfast spread. There’s a hefty plate of bacon, a towering stack of pancakes, eggs, breakfast potatoes, and even a tray of blueberry muffins.

I’m still in a state of shock because in my months of living here, Chase and Vee have only actually cooked a handful of times. This must’ve taken a lot of work- and if I know my friend, a lot of patience.

Chase is clueless in the kitchen. I remember them bickering nonstop when she tried to coach him through helping her make enchiladas for dinner one night.

Callum doesn’t seem phased by the food spread out before us. He gives it a passing glance, then turns to slide me a smirk. ”

Well, I already ate, but…”

2 I elbow him in the ribs, my face burning in embarrassment as I avert my eyes.

Chase snorts, poorly concealing his amusement while Vee loses herself in a fit of giggles.

“Oh, come on, don’t be a prude, Ness,” Vienna laughs. “It’s not like you guys were the only ones in this house getting some last night.” She flicks Chase a sultry little glance, reaching over to run her hand down his chest. She drags it lower until it disappears under the table, and when his body jerks, I know exactly where her hand landed.

I blush even harder, dropping into a chair across from them and avoiding Vee’s gaze as I start to pile food onto my plate.

“Never would’ve pegged you as a screamer,” Vienna teases, plucking a piece of bacon from the platter in the center of the table. “Then again, the sweet, innocent ones usually are…

“That’s enough,” I admonish, my eyes snapping back up to meet hers.

She throws back her head on another laugh, kicking me under the table. “I’m just messing with you, girl! I’m glad you two made up.” She turns her gaze on Callum, narrowing her eyes and pointing a finger. “Now don’t fuck it up.”

He rolls his eyes, pulling out the chair beside me and sinking into it. “I won’t,”

he grumbles, sliding a hand onto my thigh and giving it a little squeeze in reassurance. I smile coyly and he starts to lean in for a kiss, but before his lips can meet mine, I lift a blueberry muffin between us and sink my teeth into it, groaning in satisfaction at the sweet taste on my tongue. I know better than to let him distract me again before I get some sustenance in me.

Cal grunts in discontentment, adjusting himself slyly as his gaze remains locked on my mouth.

Seriously, does this guy not have an ‘off’

switch? I know he said he wanted to make up for lost time, but jeez…

“Eat,” I demand around a mouthful of muffin, flicking my head toward the food on the table.

He heaves a sigh, leaning forward begrudgingly to start filling his plate.

Our sex marathon worked up quite the appetite. It’s like I can’t get the food in my mouth fast enough- I wolf down the muffin, then start shoveling in forkfuls of breakfast potatoes, so ravenous that I completely forget my table manners.

Feeling the weight of a stare on me, I glance up to see Chase watching me with a smug grin on his lips.

“What?” I mumble, only breaking stride to gulp down a sip of orange juice.

“Oh nothing,” Chase smirks. “Just glad to see your appetite’s back.”

I cut him a glare, though I can’t help but crack a smile. Chase was there for me when I was nursing my broken heart. Not just as Vee’s mate, either; he became a real friend to me.

And he has a point, I was barely eating during that time.

Callum starts in on his breakfast as I continue devouring my own, Vee and Chase sitting across from us sharing a silent conversation with their eyes and facial expressions.

“So, team…” Vienna leans forward, folding her hands in front of her. “Now that we’re all happy and in love and all the drama is behind us…”

I snort, rolling my eyes at my friend and cutting Callum a smirk.

“What are we going to do about Troy?”

she finishes.

I stop chewing, nearly dropping my fork as I whip my head toward Cal to gauge his reaction. He’s still calmly eating his breakfast, as if Vee didn’t just call attention to the giant elephant in the room.

Chase clears his throat, tossing an arm over the back of Vienna’s chair. “If you want us to leave it alone, that’s your call,” he says, eyes focused on Callum beside me. “But personally, I’d like to see whether there’s any truth to my dad’s theory. If Troy had something to do with what happened that night, then he shouldn’t be able to get away with it.

Justice should be served.” 2 Cal’s throat bobs as he swallows down a bite of bacon, turning to me slowly. ”

What do you think, babe?”

I scrunch my nose, furrowing my brow. ”

Me?”

He nods. “We’re in this together now, right?”

My chest swells with warmth, my heart fluttering. “Right,” I say, pulling my lower lip between my teeth and searching his eyes for an answer.

Will it be too much for him to dredge this up again? Should we just leave it alone?

“Don’t you think it was weird that he was right outside?” I ask cautiously.

“I guess I never really thought about it,” Callum grumbles, leaning back with a heavy sigh and raking a hand through his hair. “He’s been there for all the worst moments of my life, the guy never misses an opportunity to see me fail.” 1 The rasp in his voice and the concealed pain in his gaze serves as a stark reminder of what he recently confessed about his childhood; about who Troy really is. He’s nothing but a bully, an abuser who made Callum’s life hell just because they don’t share the same blood. The thought of him locking Cal away when he was young, tormenting him by burrowing into his psyche and making him feel like he didn’t matter enrages me to the point that my hands curl into fists. atop the table.

“Chase is right, he shouldn’t get away with it,” I grit out. I look Callum in the eye, dropping my voice lower. “With any of it.”

He nods slowly, his gaze dropping to his plate as he blows out a breath. The he lifts his head, looking to Chase. “So what are we going to do about it?” 1 Chase’s lips curl into a grin. Beside him, Vee is practically vibrating with giddy energy, a wide smile stretching her face. She’s a victim of abuse herself- if she knew everything Callum had gone through, she’d be even more gung-ho than she is right now to exact a pound of flesh from his stepfather. Even without that detail, though, she’s eager to exact retribution for someone who was wronged. A true Luna.

“We need a plan,” I say resolutely, pushing my plate away. My appetite for food has suddenly vanished, but my appetite for vengeance is alive and well.

“Agreed,” Chase nods. He leans forward sporting a grin almost as devious as Vienna’s. Those two really are a perfect match. He runs a hand over his chin, wetting his lips with his tongue. “I may have an idea…”