Woolf's hand shoots out so fast, I can't even react. He grabs my jaw and stands up, effectively pulling me up from the couch. He's not hurting me, but he's holding me the way a mama tiger would grip her cub in her jaws to get respect.
He steps in close and leans down until his lips are just a breath away from mine. My heart rate soars and my mistake is in taking a deep breath and smelling all the yummy goodness that is Woolf Jennings. I start to melt into him and my eyes flutter closed.
"Why did you run away from me?" he asks again with a hard edge to his voice.
"Because you were standing with your arm around another woman," I grit out. "Didn't look like our talk was really needed."
His blue eyes seem to dig in deep to mine. I feel like he's able to see inside and garner all my secrets from the intensity of his stare. He seems to be... searching for something.
"Why would that bother you?" he asks softly. "You've been telling me repeatedly that we're through."
I shrug. "I don't know."
And I really don't. I have no explanation for the pain that lanced through me when I saw Woolf with his arm around that blonde. I thought I had my feelings somewhat contained where he was concerned, but apparently not.
Woolf releases me abruptly, and I swivel my jaw tentatively. Feels fine.
He turns and walks over to the desk, picking up a folder. He holds it out to me and I take it, completely confused. As he sits back against his desk, arms crossed over his chest again, he gives a nod at it. "That woman I had my arm around is a very good friend of mine. We went to college together."
My eyes narrow at him, and he doesn't even look abashed when he says, "Yes, I fucked her back then, but only in college."
He nods again toward the folder in my hand. "Jenna is also my attorney. She prepared that for me and delivered it just a little bit ago."
Attorney?
"I don't understand," I mumble as I look from the folder back to Woolf.
He doesn't enlighten me, but rather nods again toward the folder, encouraging me to open it up. His body is tense and his eyes are pinned on me, searching every line and angle of my face for a reaction. He's watching me very carefully to see how I'll react to what's in my hand. I'm dreading what I'll find in there, but my curiosity is too overwhelming.
My hand is slightly shaking with anxiety as I open the folder and stare down at a document that can't be more than ten pages long. At the top, in all caps and centered: Business Purchase Agreement.
I look back up to Woolf, who seems poised to either pounce on me or walk out the door, I'm not sure which, but I think it hinges on my reaction to what I'm holding.
I read on, certain words jumping out at me from the haze of legalese.
Seller -- Woolf Jennings...
Buyer -- Bridger Payne...
The Wicked Horse and all its entities...
For the sum of $1.00...
My head snaps up and Woolf leans forward a bit, looking at me hungrily.
"You're selling The Wicked Horse to Bridger?" I ask stupefied.
"Sold," he clarifies. "All the documents have been signed already. Bridger already owned fifty percent of it. I just sold my entire portion to him."
"For one dollar?" I ask, still thinking there's some sort of joke here.
Woolf just shrugs noncommittally, apparently not wanting to hash business details with me.
"I don't understand," I mumble again... for the second time, and I'm pretty sure I'm supposed to be smarter than this but it makes no sense to me. "This is your dream. What makes you happy. Why would you ever let it go?"
Woolf doesn't answer me but instead turns to Bridger. "Mind giving us some privacy?"
Bridger pushes away from the wall and gives a fist bump to Woolf. He gives me a pointed look before walking out the door, and I think it was a warning of some type... maybe not to hurt his buddy?
"This was my dream," Woolf says matter-of-factly as he pushes away from the desk and walks up to me. "It's what made me happy. But you want to know why I'm letting it go?"
I nod... words stuck deep in my throat.
His hand reaches out and tucks a lock of hair behind me ear. His eyes roam over my face and he has a wistful smile on his face. "I'm letting it go because you're my dream now and you're what makes me happy. And I can't have The Wicked Horse and you, so I have to let one go, and here's what I know for fucking sure... I can't do without you. It was sort of a no brainer for me."
"Whoa," is all I can say as I sink back down onto the couch, my legs feeling like jelly. I look down at the agreement one more time before closing the folder and setting it down beside me. When I look back up to Woolf, I say, "I know this is the point in the conversation where I'm supposed to be all altruistic and insist you not give up your dream for me, but fuck if I'm going to do that."
Woolf just blinks at me for a moment, then he throws his head back and laughs. When he looks back down at me, his eyes are shining with relief and happiness. That lasts just a moment before the smile morphs into something that borders on hunger.
He leans over me and my heart starts thumping again. In one fluid movement, he places a knee on the couch and pushes me back with a hand on the center of my chest so I lay backward. I flip my legs up onto the leather and he settles on top of me, holding his weight on his elbows.
We just stare at each other a moment, taking in all the ramifications of what this means to us.
I don't think either of us are at a loss for words, but perhaps Woolf may be a bit reserved in his emotions at this point, so I decide to lead the way. I touch his lips with my fingertips, and then slide them along his stubbled jaw. "I've loved you for a very long time. Ever since I was old enough to see you as a man. It was a different type of love back then... young and foolish, but I loved you then. Always... to some extent since. And I love you now in a deeper way, and I don't even have words to tell you what this means to me."
Woolf lets out a whooshing breath of relief and his facial features relax. I had not realized how tense he was, and that he obviously needed to hear those words. He drops his forehead to mine and whispers to me. "I love you, Callie. I never thought I would love anyone, and fuck... I fell hard and fast for you. It scares the shit out of me, but it also feels so very fucking right. I would give up every single possession in my world if it meant I could have you."
I can't help the lovesick sigh that comes out, but Woolf silences it with a kiss.
A soft kiss, and then deeper.
And deeper.
And I fall all the way into him it's so deep.
When he lifts his lips from mine, he says, "I'm aching so bad to be inside you right now, but I think we need to go clear some things up with your father."
"It's getting kind of late," I point out.
"This is kind of important," he says simply.
And yeah... this is kind of important.
Chapter 23
Woolf
Thank fuck Callie's father was in residence this weekend, otherwise, I would have put her in my Range Rover and we would have driven through the night to the Governor's Mansion in Cheyenne. I want to hurry up and get this done... get Reggie back on board with me now that I've given up The Wicked Horse. I need him to see that I'm good for his daughter, and then once that's done, I'm taking her back to my house and I'm going to spend all weekend making up for a whole lot of fucking we've been missing out on.
Goddamn, my heart almost hurts it's so full right now as I watch Callie unlock her front door and look over her shoulder at me with a wink. I can't help myself... I grab her face and pull her in for a swift kiss.
"I love you," I murmur against her mouth. "So don't let your dad shoot me, okay?"
She giggles and kisses me. "I love you, too. And I've got your back."
Callie takes my hand and leads me toward her father's den. She assured me he'd probably be up watching basketball and as we get closer, I can see the blue flicker of light through the doorway.
She squeezes my
hand in unification as we walk through the door.
Reggie's lying on the big leather couch against one wall and sees Callie first. A bright smile lights his face up, and then he sees me. His eyes cut down to us holding hands, and he flies up off the couch and bolts toward his shotgun case mounted on the opposite wall. Callie reacts faster than I do, releasing my hand and darting to intercept her father. She makes it there way before he does and stands in front of the case, her hands on her hips in a defiant stance.
"You are not shooting him," Callie says.
"I am," he growls at her.
"You'll go to jail. Leave this poor state to your gubernatorial opponent," she says with a taunt.
"Okay," he says with a glare of malice shot my way before he turns to stalk to his desk. "I won't shoot him, but he has ten seconds to get out of this house or I'm calling the police."
"Then I'm going with him," Callie says, and I didn't think my heart could melt any further for this woman. "And I won't come back."
Reggie's hand freezes above the phone, and he looks at Callie with his mouth hanging open. "What?"
"I love him," she says simply, and I feel the need to interject.
"I love her too," I say before shooting Callie a wink. She smiles at me with mega wattage and turns back to her dad.
"Daddy... just sit down and listen, okay?"
Reggie's eyes cut back and forth between his daughter and me, before he scrubs his hands over his face and sinks down into the chair behind his desk. He looks at Callie in defeat and raises his eyebrows in expectation at her.
"He sold The Wicked Horse," Callie says without preamble. "It was his dream, and he gave it up so he could be with me. He gave it up so my reputation and yours could stay pristine."
Reggie cuts his eyes to me, but he quickly looks back at Callie. "But he took you to that club--"
Callie holds her hand up. "I'm a grown woman and it's none of your business what I do in my private life, but just so you get the idea out of your head that Woolf somehow tarnished me, I asked to go to that club and he refused at first. I kept after him so if you want someone to blame, you lay that on my doorstep."
"Oh, Christ," Reggie grumbles and rubs at his face again. "I'm getting too old for this shit."
"Reggie," I say as I walk across the room to Callie. I take her hand and pull her into my side. "Put the club aside for a moment. You know me... have known me my entire life. I would never do anything to hurt Callie or put you at risk. I love her and I gave up a lot to have her, so I'm not letting her go. You need to find a way to deal with me being in her life."
He doesn't acknowledge me for a moment, staring down at his hands, which are clasped tightly in his lap. Finally, he lets out a sigh and pushes up out of the chair. His gaze comes to Callie and his face is unreadable, but then he opens his arms and she pulls away from me to step into them. Father and daughter hug in silence, and she accepts his reluctant approval so he doesn't lose her.
When Reggie lets her go, he turns to me and sticks out his hand. "You're right... I do know you, Woolf, and it takes a big man to have given up something important for love. You better take care of my girl."
I shake his hand. "I will. I promise."
We break apart and he turns back toward his couch, but then he pauses and turns to look at Callie and me. "And do me a favor... no more talk of sex. Your old man can't handle it."
Callie laughs and takes my hand. "Promise. Now... I'm going to Woolf's house to um... well, we're going to..."
"Watch a movie," I say lamely.
"Yeah, watch a movie," Callie says as she pulls me out the door, and then yells over her shoulder, "Night, Daddy."
"F-u-u-u-u-c-k," I groan as I drive deep and then roll my hips against Callie. "That feels good."
She whimpers and gasps, but that's about all she's been able to do since I contorted her into this position. Not even sure how I got her there, but she's half on her back, half on her side, with one leg laying straight along the mattress. I'm straddling that leg, and have her other leg pulled up and angled across my chest, so I can drive into her almost like two pairs of scissors mating.
And Christ... I want to mate with this woman.
Over and over and over again. I want to fill her up with my cock and my semen and never let her out of this bed. Hell, maybe I'll keep her barefoot and pregnant. The thought of Callie pregnant is a fucking turn on for some reason, and I'm amazed at how fast my brain seems to be leaping forward in what is a very new relationship. Hell, we just exchanged words of love for the first time not five hours ago, and I'm already trying to knock her up.
I'm such a caveman, just like she said.
"Woolf," Callie moans as I hit into her deep again.
"Yeah, baby," I murmur as I rock my hips against her.
"Will this be enough for you?"
I stop... right in mid-thrust, and look down at her in surprise. Her cheeks are flushed, her neck is red because I already made her come twice during this go round, but I see a whole lot of uncertainty in her eyes.
I drop her leg down, let her roll fully to her back, and push my cock in deep so I can come to rest in between her legs. Putting my elbows on the mattress, I bring my face close in to hers. "Why would you ask that?"
"Because I'm afraid this won't be exciting enough for you." Her gaze cuts away from me in embarrassment.
"Hey," I say softly, and she looks back at me. "Let me ask you something... did you like what we did with Bridger that night?"
Her face gets even redder, but she nods hesitantly.
"Would you do it again if I asked you to... minus the crowd watching, because that definitely cannot happen again?"
"Would you want me to?" she asks shyly.
I think about it a moment. There is no doubt there were some moments of that experience that were so erotic, I thought I'd die from the intensity of it. But I also had issues with it. I was jealous when Bridger was inside her, but do I still feel that way? Back then, I'm not sure love was involved. Care and tender feelings, definitely, but not this all-consuming love I feel for her now.
Which you would think would make me more jealous, but I actually think it makes me more secure. Knowing how she feels about me.
"I don't know how I feel about it," I tell her honestly. "I could never let another man touch you. Bridger would be the only one I'd ever trust, and that's only because sex is just an act to him. There's no intimacy."
"He's safe," she guesses.
"Yeah... I don't feel threatened by him."
"Just so we're clear though," she says saucily. "I'm never sharing you with another woman. I will go batshit crazy if one ever touched you."
I laugh and then pull my cock out, slamming it back in. "I can live with that."
Her eyes flutter shut, and she grips me tight.
Fuck... that feels so good. It's never felt this good.
"To answer your question," I say as I pull out. I push back in slowly, relishing her tiny moan. "I can do without it though. You're enough excitement for me. Always."
Relief shines in her eyes, but she licks at her lips before saying. "But... um... I'd be up for us to try some kinky stuff."
I give a husky laugh and start thrusting in and out of her again. "Of course you would."
Epilogue
Cain
I follow Woolf out of his office.
No... correction... that would now just be Bridger's office.
I cannot fucking believe Woolf sold out completely to Bridger. I mean... he seemed so invested in this club, and not just monetarily. As head of security and a longtime friend of Woolf and Bridger's, they wanted me to be the first to know. They apparently signed the purchase documents last week but had to get some other things in order before they wanted to announce it to everyone else. I got the news first, but they're going to have a staff meeting tomorrow to let everyone else know, and I suppose some type of email would go out to the sex club patrons.
Just... damn.
Woolf Jenni
ngs went all legit and vanilla on us.
I watch as he walks over to the bar where he slips his arm around the waist of Callie Hayes. There's no shame in admitting it... they make a gorgeous fucking couple. I've known Woolf a long time. I've seen him at what I've thought has been his pinnacle of happiness when we opened the doors to The Wicked Horse, but fuck... looking at him right now. The way he looks at Callie with such unfettered love and reverence actually makes my chest constrict a bit with overt happiness for my friend. It's at this moment that I realize he's doing the absolute right thing.
I smile to myself because ever since I caught Woolf fucking her outside The Silo that night and watched how he tried to protect her so I couldn't see... well, I just knew then he was a goner. And you know what? Good for him. Everyone deserves a chance at love, I suppose.
I mean... if that's your thing.
Woolf catches my gaze and lifts his chin up to me in acknowledgment. I give him another congratulatory smile and watch as he takes Callie by the hand and leads her out of the club. I expect the only time I'll be seeing him now is on the days that I work out at the Double J. I've been working there on and off since high school as it's a good way to make some extra cash and while Woolf--I mean Bridger, now--pays me well, I'm on a mission to become debt free as quickly as possible. That means I work my ass off and live frugally, because I can't stand being constricted by financial obligations.
Making my way out into the main nightclub, my eyes do a quick sweep around. I have between four to six security men on duty each night to keep everything under control and running smoothly. There's no mistaking them in their black BDUs and form-fitting black t-shirts with The Wicked Horse logo on the front and the word SECURITY on the back. I want them to be obvious to the crowd so they know I don't fuck around when it comes to the safety of the patrons here and that I don't tolerate any shit on my watch.
I've got my black BDUs on tonight too along with my combat boots--product leftover from my days in the Marine Corps. Instead of my Wicked Horse security shirt though, I'm wearing a long-sleeve, black athletic shirt that fits my skin like a second glove because my job tonight is a little different than the normal security oversight I provide.