"Not a bit." He yawned again, making it a long, drawn-out sound. "We should talk."
"What about?" If he told her to leave now, she'd bite him.
"I dunno. You seemed so upset."
Wait. She'd been upset? Men. "You're the one rumbling and growling."
"You slept on the couch." Packer said it like it was perfectly reasonable, like it made sense that he was upset by that.
"I didn't think you'd mind." What, she was supposed to sleep on the floor?
"I don't mind, luv. I just can't believe you didn't sleep in the bed. You're not some unwanted guest."
"It's your bed, Pack. It seemed rude, to just take it." She looked at him and bit her bottom lip hard so she wouldn't cry. "I've never done this before. I know you didn't ask for me. I know that I just showed up, but..." She shrugged. She'd been lonely and bored and wanting her lover. She hadn't really believed Adrian would say yes, and she sure hadn't believed that she'd start feeling things for Packer.
"Shh." He tugged her up and kissed her again. "Hush, luv. You're all right. I promise. You're welcome to the bed and the closet, yeah?"
"Okay." She was just so tired, bone-deep. Now. "I'm sorry." She wasn't even sure what for.
"Calleigh. Don't be daft." He pulled her right up to his side, yawning one more time.
"Not. Just... I'm tired." She surprised herself by tearing up, taking a hitching breath.
"Shh. I know, love. I do" He patted her clumsily.
She kissed his shoulder, eyelids too heavy to keep open. Valium. Damn Valium.
"Sleep now, luv. We'll figure this, now I know what the problem is." Packer sounded so sure. Confident.
Her hand rested on his belly and, oh. Oh, he was warm and cozy and close and right there. Close. Perfect.
***
Packer woke up stiff as a board, but somehow feeling better than he had in days. He realized pretty quick that he wasn't in the blasted chair, he was propped up in bed with a warm, soft woman next to him. Calleigh. Damn, he hoped she'd gotten some sleep.
He thought maybe she had. The huge dark circles were gone, the lines around her mouth faded, and she was smiling, even in her sleep. That was so pretty, that little smile. Packer wondered if she was dreaming of Adrian.
He reached out, touched her bottom lip, and Calleigh hummed. "Pack..."
Oh. Damn. She knew. She knew who she was with. If he could get over where he could kiss her, he sure would. "Calleigh. Luv. Come and kiss me."
Her eyes blinked open and her smile widened. "Mmm. I was dreaming about you." She leaned up, warm and soft against him, as she offered him her lips, and Packer kissed her, the taste of her delicious.
Damn, she was fine, lazy and curvy and close. His leg was barely hurting, his collarbone only throbbing a little. If he was lucky, he could figure out a way to make them both happy. Surely a nice orgasm or two would remind her that he wanted her here too.
The logistics were a bit daunting, but he was willing. He'd figure it out.
She leaned back, then stretched, the tank top sliding to bare her nipples. "Are you hungry?"
"Mmmhmm." He slid his good hand up and down her back, encouraging her to move, to straddle his thighs. "A little horny."
"You are feeling better." Those pretty nipples started getting stiff for him.
"Mmmhmm. Maybe not good enough for a full-on tumble, but I like it when you touch me, luv." He liked a lot about her. There was a goodly bit of touching going on, too. He could feel her, hot and wet, through two layers of fabric.
He touched where he could reach without stretching too much, but he had to admit it was fun. Letting her do the doing.
"Tell me if I hurt you. I don't want to." Her fingertips slipped over his belly.
"No. No, we're good." He hoped they were, anyway. He knew one misstep could be bad.
"I'll be careful." She moved off him, hand on his prick, moving on him.
Packer moaned. It was so nice to feel something good. Something that didn't hurt. Calleigh's hands were strong; it still fucking surprised him, how strong she was. He didn't push up with his hips, even if he wanted to. He knew better. Lord, that time Adrian had broken a rib and tried to let Packer tie him to the bed...
Her thumb pushed over the slit of his cock, digging in just enough to sting.
That made him grunt, made sweat pop up on his forehead. "Calleigh..."
"Uh-huh?" She met his eyes, pure evil.
"I need." He needed her skin and her smell and to be able to goddamn move.
"I've got you. You're okay." She leaned down, lips sliding over the tip of his cock, her hair pooling in his lap.
He was so okay. That felt like Heaven. Her mouth was fever hot, her hair cool and silky. How the fuck had he found two people who loved to suck, who had mouths like this? He was a lucky, lucky man. Packer watched Calleigh, watched her move on him, making these crazy noises.
Her fingers stroked his balls, nudged them.
"Fuck!" His belly drew in, his hips trying to rise.
She pressed him down, heavy on him, keeping him still.
"Jesus, woman. Gonna kill me." He was panting, his cock aching.
Her laughter tickled all the way along his fucking cock. Packer laughed for sheer joy. What else could he do? Her fingers stroked behind his balls, scratched a little.
His teeth gritted, his head falling back. One, two, three... That was it. Boom.
She took him in, tongue gentle on him, cleaning him off.
His body flopped down like a landed fish. "Calleigh."
"Mmmhmm..." She kissed his inner thigh, then pulled away. "Better?"
He wasn't sure that was the word for it at all. Packer felt wrung out and euphoric. "What about you, luv?"
"I'll manage. You're hurt."
"I could watch." He was a man, wasn't he? Ever hopeful.
One of her eyebrows arched. "You and Adrian... Or is it all men that love to see that?"
"Oh, luv. Boys like to see that. You could ask one of the Four-fucking-Horsemen and they would admit they liked it."
She wrinkled her nose. "Not a sexy thought, Pack. Try harder."
"Oh." No, it wasn't sexy at all. Okay, foul. Packer laughed. "I like it, luv. I like it a lot. Adrian used to tell me how you did it for him once. Do you remember? When he fell off the bull forward and broke both arms?"
"God, yes. He was miserable." She wriggled around so he could see her, but they were still touching.
"Mmm. He tells me about it a lot, in fact." Packer remembered the first time Adrian had pulled that story out. It had nearly set them ablaze. They’d fucked like madmen.
"Really?" She met his eyes, suddenly looking vulnerable as all hell.
"Yeah, luv." Packer pushed a bit of her hair back with his good hand. "He talks on you a lot. Misses you." It was the truth.
Her blush stained her cheeks right up, and he'd be damned if her lip didn't quiver for half a second. She hid it pretty well, though, turning to nuzzle his hand.
Packer let her hide for a bit before pulling her to him for a kiss. "I can see why, now. Huh?"
"Good. I want you to." Oh, there was their fierce little sheila again.
"Yeah?" He smiled, starting to get a little blinky, sleepy. "Well, okay, then."
She chuckled, kissed his nose. "Nap. I'm going to jump in the shower and get some stuff done."
Packer tried to argue, but settled on, "If you, you know, in the shower. You have to tell me about it."
"You'll just have to guess." She winked, playful, teasing.
"I'll know," he said. She was so much more comfortable now, he thought.
"Maybe." She slipped away from him, her little tank top tugged down to cover her ass, those amazing legs.
"Don't stay gone forever, luv." The last word slurred. He could sleep now. The last thing he heard was the shower in the master bath coming on.
***
She finished her fifth mile of the day, then she hit stop on the treadmill, panting hard. Fuck, that never got easier. She headed to the kitchen, breathing deep, hunting a glass of tea. The phone rang while she was rummaging in the fridge. Her phone.
"lo?" She panted the word out, sweat dripping.
"Hey, baby girl. Have you been running?" Adrian sounded tired.
"I have. How're you, Ades?"
"Good. Riding hard. How are you, baby?"
"Sweaty." She chuckled softly. "I probably need to check on Pack here in a minute and shower." She actually felt better than she had in days, after her nap this morning.
"Mmm. Sweaty." He laughed a little. "I like that."
"Are you okay? Just lonely?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm okay. Riding good, actually. I sent a check yesterday."
"You're a good man." She poured a big glass of tea. "Miss you."
"I miss you, too, baby. The guys have been great, but I would love to have your smiling face." Adrian lowered his voice. "And your boobs."
She chuckled softly. "They're in desperate need of attention."
"Are they? Poor Pack. That broken collarbone must be cramping his style."
"Yeah. I wasn't sure that he even wanted me here, but... Maybe he does, yeah?" She wanted to believe that. She was starting to.
"Of course he does, baby." Adrian chuckled. "He keeps asking me what to do to make you more comfortable."
"Yeah? I just need a long bubble bath, shave my legs."
"Sleep with him at night, huh? He hates to sleep alone."
So did Adrian. He must be miserable. "I will." She chuckled, leaned against the counter. "I need to find a safe place to hide my vibrator."
"If Chook was here I could give you a fabulous place for it." Packer hobbled in from the front room, grinning like a fool.
She squeaked and jumped, damn near dropping her phone. "Shit. Oh, god."
She and Adrian and Packer all cracked up. Packer leaned against the counter and laughed, and oh, that lit up his hard face. Made him so hot. She found herself just watching, her whole body on high alert, a soft moan sounding.
"Baby?" Adrian was talking through laughter. "You still there?"
"Uh-huh. Yeah. Yeah, I am. Wanna say hi to Pack?"
"Nah. I'll call him later. You get him to show you the best place to hide that vibrator, okay?"
"Ades!" She cackled.
"Love you, baby. I'll get a break soon."
"I can't wait, Ades. We'll be here."
"Okay. Give Pack a hug for me."
"I will." She said their goodbyes, then hung up, gave Packer a grin. "You doing okay?"
"I am." He was still grinning hard. "How's Adrian?"
"Lonely. He wants to come home. Here. Whatever." Well, that was weird.
Packer nodded, his dark eyes serious, watching her. "Is it weird, luv? Not having your house?"
"Sometimes. I mean, I have a storage building with special stuff, but..." She shrugged, suddenly a little sad. "I thought for sure Ades would say no and I knew I couldn't go back, so..."
"Oh, luv, you shouldn't have to pay for a storage thing. Bring it all here."
She blinked up, surprised. "Really?"
"Yeah." He nodded, then grimaced a little. "Fucking collarbone. The leg is barely there, you know?"
"Yeah, I know. That scapula break is a bitch." She went to him, leaned up for a careful kiss. "I'm sweaty or I'd hug you a little. You want some tea?"
"Sure, luv." He raised a brow. "Getting sweaty without me?"
"Running. More than five miles today." She went to get Packer a glass.
"Christ." When she glanced over her shoulder he was smiling, not angry-looking at all. "That's a lot of running."
"I have to work to keep that last layer of hip and belly off." Hell, she'd worked viciously hard to make her body something people would notice.
"Yeah." Packer patted his belly. "I'll be flabby time I can do crunches again."
"You don't have an ounce of flab on you." She brought him his tea.
"You like?" His abs contracted, showing off his cut belly, which was as good as any calendar shot of firemen or whatever.
She licked her lips, fingers trailing over the muscles. "Mmmhmm."
His muscles quivered for her, which was gratifying, as she knew he wasn't ticklish. Adrian had told her. So it had to be her.
Jesus, she was horny. She let herself touch a little more before she pulled back. "I need a bath." Her voice was all husky.
"Can I help?" Packer perked right up, standing and thumping over to her.
"Me shave my legs?" She pinked, grinned.
"You have no idea what a thing that is." He winked.
"No, but you can come watch." She grabbed their teas, letting her hips sway side to side.
"I'm all over that." Packer followed with gratifying speed.