My Salvation (16 page)

She clutched the laptop as they left the room.
Owen took it from her and placed the computer on the kitchen
counter. She checked out one of the other guest rooms and bathroom
to find the same thing. New furniture and bedding.

She saved Rhea’s old room for last, delaying
what might be found. Her heart sank to see her room had been redone
too. Cali sat on the bed and ran her hands along the new, deep grey
comforter. In a low voice she said, “I remember going with Rhea
when she picked out all of the bedding. She wanted me to choose my
own. When she found hers, she fell in love with the rich colors of
the comforter and now it’s gone, along with everything else.”

Tears streamed down her cheeks as memories
washed over her. She had so many good times with Rhea and seeing a
basically new cabin made her stomach knot. Rhea wouldn’t have
wanted her to cry over such trivial things. She would have said
that it’s just stuff. You can always buy new. What’s in your heart
and your mind is what matters. Those are the things you should
cherish most.

Owen sat on the bed next to her. The tears
continued to fall and she wiped them away with the back of her
hand. She thought she had cried more in the past few days than she
did in the past year.

She leaned over and rested her head on his
shoulder. His arm went over her shoulders, his hand pulling her
close. They sat on the bed for a few minutes before she heard
footsteps coming down the hall.

Adeline peeked her head in. “Is everything
okay?”

“Yeah, we’re fine,” Owen responded. She was glad
he answered, because she didn’t think she could talk without crying
more.

“Steven and I are going to go next door and
clean your place. Erik is right outside of the front door if you
need him.” Cali felt him nod in response.

She sat on the bed a little longer, savoring the
security he provided. Sighing, she finally stood. “Let’s
finish.”

There really wasn’t much left to do in the
cabin. They made sure to shut everything off and lock the door and
windows when they left. Erik had been waiting outside, ever
vigilant. He stood on the porch seeming to wait for the moment he
would have to strike. She smiled at the sight.
One day I’ll see
him relax
, she thought.

Over at the cabin next door, Adeline was busy
boxing all of the food in the kitchen. She had cleaned as well. He
went in and packed his clothes while Cali stayed in the kitchen to
help. She glanced at the screen on her phone and noticed more time
had gone by then she thought.

After locking his cabin and arming the security
system, they were on the road. She was going to miss the lake, but
knew she would see it again next year to get the cabin ready for
the first renters of the season.

They stopped at a local diner along the way for
a quick bite to eat. Cali and Owen sat by themselves. Steven,
Adeline and Erik occupied another table nearby.

The food had arrived and just as the first
forkful of food was about to enter her mouth, someone stopped next
to the table. She looked up and became irritated the minute her
eyes fell on the long, strawberry blonde hair of their female
visitor. Owen spoke before she had a chance to say anything.

His voice was clipped when he said, “Mia.”

Mia batted her long eyelashes and had a huge
smile on her face. Her voice was sickly sweet. “Owen, what a
pleasant surprise to see you. Were you at the lake?”

“Yes, we had to close the cabins for the
season.”

“Cabins?”

“Mine and Cali’s,” he said, nodding in her
direction.

Mia turned her head, looking at Cali. While her
mouth and the tone of her voice were sweet and kind, she could see
the hatred in Mia’s eyes.

Facing Owen again, she said, “Oh.”

“Well, enjoy your day,” he said in effort to
dismiss her.

“It was nice to see you the other day. Your
company has come a long way since I’ve last visited. Maybe we can
meet for lunch sometime.”

“I don’t think so,” he replied without even
looking at her. Cali felt like she was watching a tennis match the
way her head went back and forth between the two. “I’m very busy
and when I’m not working I spend all of my free time with
Caliana.”

Mia acted as if she didn’t hear the last part.
“All right, well, I’m only a phone call away if you change your
mind. Enjoy your lunch.”

Cali shifted slightly so she could see who Mia
was sitting with. Next to her in the booth was an attractive man
with tousled, black hair and sharp cheekbones. Across from the two
of them was another man with hair shaved close to his head and
broad shoulders. He had turned his head giving Cali a view of his
profile. The man’s eyes were dark, nose pointy and his mouth was
set in a thin line.

“What are you looking at?”

“You should see these two guys Mia is sitting
with. One is attractive, but the other, I’m not so sure. He looks
like someone I wouldn’t want to fuck with. Wonder what she’s
doing.”

“Don’t know, don’t care.”

The remainder of the meal was spent in silence.
She wondered what he was thinking, but didn’t want to ask. As they
rose to leave, she noticed Mia and her companions had left.

Walking outside, she expected to be hit with
more rain. The sky was still dark and gloomy, but the rain seemed
to have stopped for the time being. She was relieved that the worst
part of the day was over.

During the drive back, a thought occurred to
Cali. “I wonder if Mia and Ethan have been talking all of this
time. Do you know?"

He nodded. “I asked Ethan about that the day I
saw her on the floor. He said they hadn’t spoken since the day
after I walked in on them. She tried contacting him a couple of
times, but he refused to speak with her.”

“How did she end up in your building then?”

“I asked the same question. He said the night he
came to the cabin, he had run into Mia in town. He had been having
a drink at a local bar and she came strolling in. They talked for a
bit, catching up. She had asked if he and I had been in contact. He
said no, but was on his way to find me. Needed to talk about
getting his job back.”

“Ethan was drunk when he showed at your
cabin?”

“No, not drunk, but did have a beer or two in
him. Ethan used to drink, a lot. That’s how he lost his last job.
One of the deals I made when he came to work for me this time was
he had to come into work every day sober. And so far, he has.”

“How do you know he didn’t have a drink before
coming in?” She had her doubts about him. He wasn’t nice to her or
Owen that night at the lake.

“I make him take a breathalyzer test every day
when he comes in. I’m not stupid enough to take him at his word. As
long as he stays sober, he stays employed.”

“How did Mia end up at your office then?”

“She had been in contact with him since the
night at the bar. She asked if he wanted to have lunch. They did
and he brought her in to show her what he’s been working on. He did
say he thinks the only reason she wants anything to do with him is
to get closer to me. Ethan said every time they speak, she shifts
the conversation to me.”

“Lovely.”

This bitch was trying to move in on Owen! I
don’t fucking think so
, she thought.

He reached over to hold her hand. He looked at
her and said, “You are the only one I want, no one else.”

“Good, let’s keep it that way,” she mumbled.

“Are you jealous, Ms. Crawford?”

In a snarky tone she replied, “Jealous, no.
Irritated, want to punch the bitch in the face, yes.”

“I think I like your feisty side.” She saw a
smile tug at the corners of his mouth.

“Good, because my feistiness isn’t going
anywhere.”

She had forgotten Erik was in the Jeep with
them. He stayed quiet throughout the ride, not saying one word. The
only noise he made was when he stepped out once they arrived at
Owen’s.

He said he would be inside if anyone needed him.
She wondered what his story was and how he came to do security for
a living.
That’s a conversation for another day,
she
thought.

~ 16 ~

The rainy day led to a rainy night. The air was
cool outside and Owen decided to build a fire in the living room.
Cali sat curled up on the couch with a blanket covering her legs
and a book in hand. He sat next to her, wanting to be close. She
took the blanket and covered him with it as well.

“This is nice,” she said, resting her head on
his shoulder. They were alone in the house for the evening. Steven
and Adeline were next door in their place and he gave Erik the rest
of the weekend off, even though he protested.

“Mmm - hmmm,” was his only response.

“Are you tired?”

“No, just enjoying the warmth of the fire and
having you by my side. I’m happy.”

“Good, I always want you to be happy,” she
said.

“You are the sole reason for my happiness,
Caliana.”

“I sincerely doubt that. You are very
successful. You have a lot to be happy about.” She had fully leaned
into him and nuzzled her nose into his neck.

“The success doesn’t matter if at the end of the
day you come home to an empty house. What good is having all of
this if I have no one to share it with? No one to take care of or
love. Someone who loves me not for my money, but for who I really
am.”

“I love you for who you really are.” She sat up
and ran a hand along his face. A light layer of stubble covered
both cheeks.

“I know you do. You have no idea how much that
means to me. I would do anything for you.”

“And I for you.”

He moved so he could kiss her. His fingers went
to her neck giving the delicate skin a massage. Her skin was warm
from the heat of the fire. Their kiss was slow and sensual.

She shifted her mouth to his jaw, placing light
kisses along the way. She kissed the spot beneath his ear then
lightly sucked on the bottom of the ear itself. When she reached
for his shirt, he helped by immediately lifting it over his
head.

Her lips trailed over his chest, taking one of
his nipples in between her teeth. She nipped at him while her hand
slid to his waist. Cali used her fingers, dragging them along the
inside of his waistband. Her fingers lightly touched the tip of his
hard dick. He wanted her to reach inside and take him fully into
her hand.

Her mouth continued it’s descent on him. She
moved her tongue over his abs in a languid pace. She was driving
him crazy. The little tongue of hers flicked and sucked all the way
down to his waist.

He lifted slightly when she moved to pull his
shorts off and free his stiff length. Her fingers encased his cock
and used her thumb to gather the pre-cum and spread it over him.
She began to stroke him and her tongue finally reached his tip. She
licked him from top to bottom, even taking one long lick of his
balls causing him to shudder slightly.

Owen’s head fell back as a wave of ecstasy
poured through him. He didn’t want her to stop. Without hesitation
her mouth took all of him in to the back of her throat. Her mouth
and tongue were warm. She knew how to give an amazing blowjob.

The thought came to mind of how she knew what to
do so well, but he quickly pushed it aside. The past is the past.
The present and future were what mattered.

He reached to thread his fingers into her long
hair. He had to touch her in some way. Needed to have as much of
him touching her at once.

Cali started to move faster, using her hand and
mouth to pleasure him. What he wanted more than anything in that
moment was to bury himself deep within her. He moved both hands
under her arms and lifted. She removed her clothes and placed her
knees on either side of him and sank onto his dick. He was fully
sheathed when she settled on his lap.

Owen placed his hands at the small of her back
and sought out her supple breast with his mouth. She moaned when
his teeth grazed her sensitive skin. She took control of the pace
even though it took every ounce of restraint not to throw her to
the couch and take that control away. She rode him slow at first,
leaning back, lifting herself repeatedly.

She was beautiful when she rode him. Her long,
brown hair cascading down her spine, her breasts bouncing with
every movement. He dug his fingers into her petite waist to urge
her to go faster.

“You are gorgeous,” he said.

He could feel her walls squeezing his cock and
knew she was coming. With her hands on his shoulders, he captured
her lips as she was calling out his name.

He didn’t wait for her orgasm to stop before
turning her to lay on the sofa. He was in control and brought her
legs up high to pound into her. Holding her legs, he moved at a
rapid pace. Her nails dug into his legs and she said, “More,
faster.”

She was building toward another orgasm. Knowing
he couldn’t release yet, he ground his teeth and did as she asked.
The feeling of bringing her to second orgasm was such a high that
he came with her. He gripped her calves as he rocked into her a few
final times.

They were both breathing heavy, trying to catch
their breath. Owen repositioned himself so they were lying side by
side on the couch. “Damn, beautiful.”

Cali smiled a lazy, sated smile. “Good for
you?”

He smirked. “What do you think? I could stay
buried in you all day.” She raked her fingers through his hair. His
eyes instinctively closing at her touch.

“I love you, baby.”

Opening his eyes, he responded, “I love you,
too.”

They stayed on the sofa, enjoying one another’s
company. Her head rested on his chest and his hand ran the length
of her arm. The fire had gone down, but he didn’t want to move to
take care of it.

He shut his eyes and woke a few hours later. The
fire was out and Cali was still pressed against him. Her lips were
parted, her breath slow and even.