Choices will Destroy (An FBI Romance Thriller Book 14) (4 page)

Callen didn't give up, even when his lungs were screaming for air. Instead, he fought back with everything he had in him. In his mind, he kept saying the same thing over and over.

This is for my wife and kids.

This is for my wife and kids.

This is for..
.

With the next hit, the pain sung up his arm to his shoulder and chest, but he pushed through. Callen didn't give up. Instead, he gave as good as he got, getting in a few brutal shots too. Just as he got the last strong one in, the final bell rang.

He was done.

Thank God.

As he bumped gloves with his trainer and tried to catch his breath, he saw her racing toward him. Callen was ready to receive the spoils of battle.

And here they came.

Elizabeth jumped into the ring, vaulted the ropes, and headed straight toward the man she loved.

“Angel,” he muttered, opening his arms.

“Oh, Callen James,” she said, right before being enclosed in his embrace.

The last forty-five minutes had been brutal. As she watched him get beat up, Elizabeth wanted nothing more than to get in there, kick the trainer’s ass to save her guy. Only, she knew she couldn’t.

Ethan would kill her.

They’d decided that the best way to get Callen’s badge back was to let him earn it himself. They weren’t going to baby him, and he wasn’t going to get an easy ride. If he wanted his job, he had to work for it.

Ethan had laid down the law, ordering everyone to push him hard in order to get him back into shape. He wouldn’t let Elizabeth baby the man.

Callen had a long road ahead, and they didn't want to lose him to the system. Being a Fed had become his identity, but more importantly, if he couldn’t rise to the challenge, he couldn’t go out in the field with them. This was about Callen staking his claim. In the blood, sweat, and tears, he’d find his way.

Or that was their hope.

Standing back and doing nothing sucked, but Ethan had been right. This was about Callen finding his identity.

While Elizabeth loved having him with them, it came down to his willingness to fight for it. Callen brought something unique to the table that she and Ethan didn't have, and if he gave up, they’d miss him.

They’d covered all their bases. If he simply couldn’t pull it off, they were both going to give up fieldwork too. Only, they didn't tell him. That would sway the man’s heart, and this was about giving Callen a choice. Like when Granddad had given him the family rings, and he had to choose what his heart wanted most.

Again, it was up to him.

He was one third of their team, and if he quit, there would be a hole where he used to be, but they’d deal with it. For love, they’d do anything.

So, they were giving Callen the wheel. He was in charge and working toward his goals. All of their fates were in his very large and capable hands.

He was going to make it.

They had no doubts about it.

After giving him one hell of a hug, she released him so he could pull off his boxing gloves. As soon as his hands were free, she was back against his body. In fact, he swept her up and into his arms.

“Hey, beautiful, you’re going to get all sweaty,” he admitted.

She laughed. “I can only hope,” she replied, right before running her fingers across his chiseled Native cheekbone.

God!

She loved this man.

Over the last few weeks, she wouldn’t let him pick her up. She’d been afraid, but after seeing how hard he was working, she trusted Callen. He wouldn’t drop the precious cargo, and by that, she didn't mean her.

She meant his son.

Callen held her tightly to his body. It took everything he had to lift his arm and wrap it around her, but he did it. It had been a long time since he’d been able to do this.

And he was rewarded.

Elizabeth sought his mouth with hers and dove into the warmth. It was heaven. The kiss was full of heat and lust, and it showed the man she adored just how much she needed him.

Callen was loved.

He was cherished.

Together, they had a bond.

Callen fell into the kiss, ignoring all the stares from the other patrons of the gym. This was the first part of his reward, and he was going to claim it.

Then again, this was exactly why they didn't work out at the FBI. The Feds would watch them, and it stirred up the gossip. Here, at this gym, no one said shit, but they sure did stare. Here they had anonymity, and Callen liked that.

Here, she was simply his wife.

His woman.

His all.

Deep down, Callen couldn’t blame the people around them for gawking. Elizabeth was beautiful. She had all that sexily tousled hair, icy blue eyes, and genuinely loving smile. Callen could write sonnets about her, and he still wouldn’t be able to convey all he felt for his wife.

It was fathomless.

As her mouth moved over his, he offered something back to her. Slowly, his right hand grabbed a handful of her ass.

It made her laugh, breaking the kiss.

“There’s my man, getting all handsy in the gym,” she said, releasing his mouth. “That was the best ass grab yet.”

He snorted. “Wait until later. I plan to maul you properly. I can promise that it’s going to be epic.”

Elizabeth stared into his warm brown eyes. They reminded her of the richest chocolate. Yet, it was the gentle crinkles around the corners, which offered her the most peace. Her sexy Native made her heart thump.

“I hate that I have to wait. I want you all over me now.”

Callen grinned. “I’m all sweaty, angel.”

“Yes, you are, but I happen to love you all sweaty.”

The brute he had been sparring with laughed. “You’re a lucky man, Mr. Whitefox. My girlfriend tells me she’s not coming in here because it’s smelly.”

Callen was well aware of his good fortune.

Not many women would sit in a gym to watch their man workout. He’d dated a few women in his time and bedded more than his share. Elizabeth was his treasure.

He was the luckiest man on the planet.

Well, beside his brother.

“How’d he do?” Elizabeth asked, still being held in Callen’s arms. “Did he pass today’s training?”

“Yes, he did. Mr. Whitefox exceeded my expectations. You can tell Director Blackhawk that he got an A.”

Callen relaxed. That was exactly what he needed to hear. He’d given it all he had.

“Thanks, Henry. I love having you kick my ass,” Callen stated, lowering Elizabeth gently to her feet. “I feel like a man now.”

She snorted.

Callen kissed her on the tip of the nose.

“Same time Friday?” Henry asked. “Or would you like to add more time to the workout? We can really push your arm.”

He went to open his mouth, and instead Elizabeth cut him off.

“He’d love more time. Wouldn’t you, Callen?”

He gave her the look. “You’re as sadistic as my brother.”

She didn't argue with that.

Callen instead shrugged. “That works for me, Henry,” he replied, grabbing his bottle of water. Before he drank from it, he offered it to the woman carrying his child. He wanted to make sure she was hydrated. Her needs came first.

She took a sip, just to make him smile. Callen loved playing daddy, and she loved giving him a reason to keep fighting. When she handed it back, he didn't hesitate to take it with his right hand.

“You get extra kisses for that,” she admitted.

“You can have it,” he stated, offering her the water bottle again.

“I meant using your injured arm.”

He was aware, but he loved to see her smile. As they climbed out of the ring, he helped her down, praying he didn't lose strength in his arm. If he dropped her, he’d have a heart attack.

When she was safely on her feet, he took her hand in his as they crossed to where she was sitting. His workout bag was there, and he wanted to change his shirt. He was dripping in sweat.

“Want to shower?” she asked. “I can wait.”

He grinned. “I’ll shower at home. Maybe I can find someone to join me, and I don’t mean Ethan.”

She laughed. “Well, that’s good to know.”

“How about it?” he asked.

“Will you wash my back?” she inquired.

“Absolutely.”

“Then maybe you can make me beg and scream. Why not have some fun in the shower?”

She said it loud enough that the two men lifting weights nearby looked over.

He choked on his water.

Elizabeth winked at her husband.

“If you think that makes me angry, it doesn’t. Those men now think I’m the luckiest SOB in the place. You can talk sex all you want. I look like the hero.”

He got her there. “Foiled again.”

“That’s why I worked out so hard. I’m nobody’s fool. I want warm, wet, wicked Elizabeth all over me. You’re my prize for a job well done.”

She watched him struggle to pull off his shirt. While she wanted to help him, she wouldn’t do it. Callen was getting stronger, and he had to do this alone. She was just there to make sure he didn't stumble along the way and to be his cheerleader.

As he stripped it off, the warm lust curled in her belly. Across his torso, muscles rippled, angles caught her attention, and his body beckoned her to reach out and touch.

So she did.

“Angel,” he whispered, as her fingers ran across his chest and to her face tattooed on his ribs. When she touched him, his heart responded.

Here was his other half.

“I want you so much it hurts, Cal,” she whispered. “I want to be naked and in bed in the worst way.”

He grinned wickedly. “What a coincidence. I want to hurt you in the worst way until you scream my name in bed,” he replied, leaning down to sink his teeth into her bottom lip. “It looks like we want the same thing after all.”

When she moaned, his whole body reacted.

“We should head home, so I can get you in bed. I have a feeling the workout has yet to begin.”

She wouldn’t argue there.

That sounded like the perfect way to spend the rest of the day. It was early, and she’d planned to make him take her to the grocery store, but it could wait.

Food or sex?

Yeah, she was pregnant…not out of her damn mind.

Elizabeth wanted to run her mouth across his body, losing herself in the moment. Forcing him to work out, and hard, had ripped his body into something amazing. She never got tired of looking at either of the men in her life, but now…she openly gawked.

Here was the father of her next child, and she wanted him.

“Home and sex?” she asked.

He grinned. “Hell yeah, angel. I’ll drive. You might have to pull the badge if we are busted for speeding. I don’t plan to take my time. Well, in bed, maybe.”

She grabbed her things, and they walked hand in hand toward the door. She purposely stayed on his left side, so Callen would have to wave and sign out with his right hand.

He was aware of it too.

“You’re going to be begging when we get home,” he stated. “You’re being sneaky.”

She couldn’t wait. “Am I? Well, luckily for you, when we get home, I’m going to be slutty. I know that’s your favorite ‘S’ word.”

He snorted.

Hell yeah, it was. Could anyone blame him?

Callen checked out her ass in her jeans. It made him grin like a fool.

Outside, they headed straight for Callen’s ride. She waited for him to help her up into the big red monstrosity. The man loved a truck, even when he could drive something far more luxurious. Then again, they’d christened this truck more than a few times. It had sentimental value for both of them.

“Thanks, handsome,” she offered, leaning back down to torment him with her lips. As she forced his mouth to hers, he dropped his bag to hold on for the ride.

Yeah, this was heaven.

When he moaned, she slowly set him free. “How was that for a thank you?” she asked.

“You can thank me more. In fact, you should. I deserve it,” he said, his chocolate brown eyes twinkling with mischief.

“Oh, I will. Let’s get home.”

After he closed her door, he tossed his gear into the back. Hopping up into his truck, he struggled with the key in the ignition. It fell twice before he got it right.

“Thanks,” he said, glancing over.

She knew why he was saying it. “I know you can do any and everything you put your mind to. Look how far you’ve come in two months, Cal. You’re going to have hurdles, but you can overcome each and every one. I have faith in you.”

She did, and he loved that about her. Elizabeth never doubted either of the men she loved. Her faith in them was immeasurable.

Callen turned on the radio and patted the spot beside him. “Want to get closer?” he asked, hoping she would.