Cold Day in Hell (43 page)

When he broke off the kiss, she gasped for breath. He straightened and pulled away from her, the chill of the air caused her to whimper at the loss of his heat and weight.

“Easy, baby. I’m here. Not going anywhere.” He slid his erection up and down the folds of her sex, hitting her distended clit, still very sensitive from her orgasm. She moaned at the acute sensation and knew it wouldn’t take long for her to climax again.

Holding her hips steady, he angled her pelvis and slipped his cock into her with one steady thrust of his hips. He stopped as she adjusted to his girth and length. “Am I hurting you?”

“I’m fine … Risto … please.” She writhed against the bed. “Move, dammit.”

“I’m too close, baby. I want you with me.” He firmed his grip and stopped her movement. His face was taut with his pleasure.

Leaning over, he nibbled a path of biting and suckling kisses along her shoulder to her neck. Taking her earlobe between his teeth, he tugged her ear. She shivered, letting out a low cry. “Fuck, your ears and neck are so sensitive.” He slipped the tip of his tongue into her ear. She sobbed his name. He nuzzled the skin behind her ear. “So sweet.

So responsive. All mine.”

“Yours. All yours.” She cried out when he pulled away from her neck. “I love you, my marine. No one else.”

“I’m so glad. But I am in control in the bedroom.” His lowly muttered “because it looks as if I’ll have fucking little control anywhere else” caused her to laugh.

He leaned over and took her mouth, forcing his cock even farther into her. She moaned low in her throat and ate at his tongue. With his cock fully lodged, he rotated his hips, causing his pubic bone to press on her clit. She broke away from his kiss, her head tossing on the pillow. Callie clenched her teeth. “God, Risto … that is so … fucking …

good … ahh!” She fisted the pillow, clawing for the pleasure which was just out of reach.

“Risto!”

Risto supported himself on his forearms and began to thrust in and out of her pussy.

The motions started slow but increased in speed and force with each push-pull of his hips until he pounded her bottom into the mattress. As he took her, he kissed and licked her heaving breasts.

When he bit the tip of one nipple, he snarled, “Now, baby. Come now.” And there it was, her release had been hovering just at the edges of her consciousness, waiting for him. The strength of her climax forced her ass up and away from the bed, lifting his greater weight and impaling herself on his cock even more fully.

“Risto! Ohmygod. Ohmygod.” Her inner muscles clamped down on his cock like a vice, not wanting to let go, wanting to make the feelings last forever. His thickness and length stroked her swollen inner tissues, touching every sensitized nerve.

Just like a leaf sucked up into a maelstrom, she was buffeted on currents of never-ending pleasure—hers and his as their pleasure fed upon each other’s. And just when she couldn’t scream anymore, she fell back to earth.

*

Risto shot his seed into Callie’s body as her inner muscles continued fisting him even as the rest of her body went lax. He brushed kisses over her face and hair as his hips continued to undulate, drawing this closeness and contentment out for as long as possible.

The climax was the strongest he could ever recall in his long sexual history. Callie responded to his every move so beautifully, just the right mixture of sass and compliance.

He could see long years of equally mind-boggling, dick-wrenching sex—that is, if she didn’t get her stubborn little ass shot first. He lips curled into a silent snarl. She whimpered and he brushed a kiss over her pouty lips. She settled at his touch.

“Not gonna happen, baby. Not on my watch.” He nuzzled the side of her neck, licking over the pulse throbbing just under her creamy skin. “I’ll protect you any way I can.”

Callie moaned when he pulled his cock from her sex. He rolled off her body then lay on his side. Murmuring soothing nonsense, he pulled her back into the curve of his body.

Surrounding her with his bulk and heat, he stroked her stomach, his hand dark and rough against her pale smooth skin. Brushing a kiss over one pale shoulder, he smiled as he visualized their child nestled safely within her.

She murmured in her sleep and snuggled into him, her rosy pink ass rubbing against his cock. He groaned and promised himself to make sure to add the erotic spanking into their regular sexual repertoire. She’d enjoyed his hand on her ass—and he’d enjoyed doing it to her.

He whispered words of love and appreciation over the sensitive flesh behind her ear, taking the lobe gently between his teeth. She shivered and muttered. “Shh, baby. All done. Sleep.”

He frowned as he noticed dark circles under her eyes. He traced a gentle fingertip over the one closest to him. Had he pushed her too hard? No, he wouldn’t second-guess himself or belittle her strength. She’d been with him one hundred percent, giving him everything he asked for and more. He—they—had needed this time to bond, become closer. He knew he hadn’t hurt her, had only given her pleasure. And his Callie was a strong woman who would’ve told him if she couldn’t handle what he gave her in bed. His lips quirked. Besides, she’d enjoyed every second of the sexual encounter. Her screams of pleasure attested to that fact. Thank God he’d had the foresight to put the men in the guest cottages. He laid her flat on her back and leaned over to kiss her belly where his child grew before getting out of bed.

After cleaning both of them up, he tucked her under the covers. He made the security rounds one more time, then grabbed a bottle of water for both of them and a sleeve of Saltines for Callie. After drinking his water, he took the other items to the bedroom. He placed the morning sickness precautions on the bedside table so Callie would see them when she awoke.

Once he was satisfied that he’d taken care of ensuring Callie’s safety and comfort, he climbed into bed and pulled the love of his life into the curve of his body, spooning her, sheltering her for what was left of the night. Burying his face in her silky hair, he sighed and fell asleep, vowing to protect her precious body and the child it bore with all that was within him.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Before dawn, Thursday morning, Osprey’s Point.

Callie sat at Big Earl’s counter and ate small bites of his home-cooked oatmeal, allowing each spoonful to settle before chancing another bite. So far the Saltines Risto had hand-fed her before she was even completely awake were doing the trick. The oatmeal wasn’t triggering any morning sickness, either. It looked to be a good day on the hormone front. The heat of the soothing breakfast staple did double duty and warmed her up after the cold, wet boat ride from the island. The pre-dawn morning was overcast, just below freezing and windy with snow ranging from flurries to white-out conditions. A typical northern Michigan winter’s day. She smiled. Cruz and his crew, used to hot, third-world hellholes, would hate this. She, however, loved it.

“You okay?” Risto’s arm curled around her waist. He nuzzled her neck, right over the spot he’d sucked, licked and teethed this morning as he’d cuddled her awake.

“Just fine.” She angled her head and kissed him. “Baby is happy with crackers and oatmeal.”

He swiveled the bar stool around so she faced him, then looked her over with a critical eye. “The Kevlar vest seems to fit okay.”

“Yeah, if you like the Poppin’ Fresh Doughboy look.” She looked down at the extra-layer of protection Risto and the Walsh twins had insisted upon. “Good thing I’m tall and busty or it would fall off my shoulders.” She plucked at the bulky bullet-proof vest and the thermal underwear beneath it. Both items belonged to Tweeter and had been left behind after he and Keely had helped Risto set up the security array on the island.

“Tweeter’s ski underwear is just the right size, though.” She stroked his cheek. “Yours would’ve swamped me.”

Risto’s dark eyes glittered with simmering sexuality. “But you like me big, dontcha, baby?”

“Yep, I love the fact you can lift me as if I were as tiny as Keely.” She touched her forehead to his chest. His heart beat slowly, his breathing slow and calm. He acted much less stressed this morning.
Guess the mind-blowing sex last night was worth it.
Just the memory of the orgasms he’d given her had her heating up from within, shoving away the cold of the day.

“Hey, Smith, leave my sniper alone.” Loren came over to stand next to them. He scanned her face. “No nerves there.”

Yay, I’ve got him fooled.
Risto was another matter. He’d sensed her nerves and had come to distract her with his always present sexuality. It had worked.

“Reminds me of my baby sis.” Loren patted her shoulder. “Ready to get set up?”

“Yeah.” She kissed Risto, letting him hold her close for a few seconds more, since her next chance might be some hours away. Loren snorted in the background and a couple of hoots from the other men didn’t dissuade her from taking her time. When she broke away, she licked her lips, tasting his morning coffee, mint and him, then fixed him with a stern look. “Protect that ass of yours, Marine. I still have a use for it.” Risto hugged her tightly and muttered against her hair. “Don’t take any chances.” He leaned back and shook her, his hands gentle on her arms. “Stay safe—you hear me?”

“I’ll be fine.” She shot him a cheeky grin. “Trust me, I don’t want to get shot. Plus, I’ll be in the safest spot next to Loren’s. It’s the rest of you I’ll be worrying about.” Running gun battles on streets and around corners of buildings could be tricky at best and lethal at worst.

Conn came over, captured her hand and squeezed it gently. “Don’t hesitate to take your shot when you have one, Callie. You’ll have the best view of the battleground.

Don’t warn us, just take it. All of us have been in battle with sniper protection before, we’ll know where you are and stay out of your line of sight the best we can.” She nodded then frowned. “I just don’t want to take my first shot too early, tip them off and allow them to get cover.”

“That’s my call, Callie.” Loren squeezed her shoulder. “As your spotter, I’ll give you the cue to take the first shot and feed you intel as to crucial shots as I see them.” He picked up her rifle bag and his. “Come on, kiddo. Let’s go. You got your communications headset?”

She held it up and slipped it on, then pulled a thermal-lined balaclava over her head followed by a wool ski cap. Risto tucked away an errant strand of hair, his finger sweeping over her cheek in a loving caress, then helped her into Tweeter’s arctic-weight parka, which was the closest they had to fit her. A trip to a ski town in the U.P. was needed to outfit her more properly for winter weather until she could get back to Chicago and pack up her clothing. Whether they lived here or in Sanctuary, she would need heavier outwear.

Risto pulled her into his arms for one last quick kiss, then turned her over to Loren with a pat on her bottom. “See you soon.”

Risto’s lips might be smiling but his eyes were sober with worry. She sighed. She couldn’t take away his fear—he would always be overprotective and a worry-wart about her safety—she could only survive and prove yet again she had what it took to be a warrior’s mate.

She waved at the other men who shared a similar look in their eyes to Risto’s.

Sheesh.
She had to survive intact to prove her worth to all of them. No pressure there …

much. She followed Loren out the back of Big Earl’s. He had Big Earl’s set of keys and the security codes to the private residences they’d be using for their designated posts.

They made their way along Osprey’s Point’s main street in the frigid pre-dawn air, flurries blowing all around them on the stiff breeze coming off the lake. She scanned the empty marina area as they walked up the hill to the Victorian they had chosen for her position. The quiet was preternatural; nothing moved in the early morning darkness except for the snow, the wind and the waves on the lake. The new snow under her booted feet crunched slightly, evidence there had been a temperature shift overnight. It was colder than a witch’s tit now.

When they reached her shooting site, she stood guard on the front porch of the two-story house, a Glock in her hand, her back to Loren, as he got them inside.

“We’re in.” His monotone carried no farther than her position. Sound would travel easily on the brisk wind.

She turned and followed him into the house, closing and locking the door behind her.

Both of them used small Maglights to light their way up the stairs. Big Earl had told them the door to the widow’s walk and the rest of the roof was through the attic. The access to which was a set of stairs at the back of the house from the second floor. Once in the attic, the door to the widow’s walk was at the front of the house between two huge dormer windows.

The view from the walkway was fantastic. She had a panoramic view of Osprey’s Point’s main street and commercial area and all of the marina, but for the part blocked by Big Earl’s building. Behind the house was an impassable crag which had gone a long way in reassuring Risto that it would be hard to sneak up on her position from behind. She eyed the steep cliff. Well, maybe not totally impassable, a determined bad guy could rappel into the backyard. She could do it with the proper gear and a climbing buddy, so Cruz’s hired help could possibly do it also. Worst case scenario to her way of thinking would be if someone knew to climb up there; they’d have the same shots into the town she would. They wouldn’t be able to shoot her, though; the pitch of the roof protected the front of the house and the widow’s walk where she would be.