Chapter 4 - Tea, Muffins & Walls

Saturday Morning

G. Callen didn't sleep much; on average, five hours a night and more often than not it was restless as his subconscious took over. He consciously put certain things in the back of his mind by day to focus on work and life but when night fell, his past (and even some current events) came to haunt him. Over time he conditioned his body to adjust to the minimal amount of sleep. The reoccurring dream of him playing on a sunny beach turned to a nightmare as he sees a man in a black coat aim something at his mother who then slumps back in her chair. Why didn't they kill me back then? He has asked himself that question daily for twenty plus years. When told of the blood feud he knew the answer - he was allowed to live so he could suffer as the loved ones of the men and women his grandfather killed did.

After arriving home from his date with Katie, he took a shower, the water streaming down, washing away her smell but not his thoughts. He started to wonder if the rest of her would taste as sweet as her mouth, especially her ass and breasts. Instead of exiting the shower when finished washing, he turned up the heat of the water inhaling at the sudden increase of temperature. Leaning back against the now warm tiles, he reached between his legs. If he could keep these thoughts throughout the night, it would be a sleep he would want to remember.

Callen opened his eyes as the first rays of light peeked over the horizon, through the cracks in the blinds and onto his face. He was too stubborn (or too far into denial) to admit that sleeping on an air mattress was no better for his back than a bedroll. He stood, stretched his arms, walked to the window, pulled up the blinds and allowed his thoughts to drift to the night's dream. He and Katie were driving down the coast in a convertible, wind blowing through their hair, well, through Katie's hair, the music cranked, enjoying the open road. He wanted to stop but Katie said keep driving, so he did and a few moments later they were in New York. Weird but he would take that over the reoccurring beach dream any time.

He glanced at his watch, seven-thirteen, then changed into running shorts and sweatshirt, as the morning air was still cool this time of year. Key and cell phone – check

He tucked his lone spare house key into the tiny pocket of his shoe and cell phone in his sweatshirt pocket. After a few stretches of his arms and legs he was ready for the two miles of asphalt ahead of him. As he pounded along the pavement only his thoughts keeping him company, he could faintly smell the scent of the ocean. Just over half way through his run, the ringing of his phone jolted him from reminders that he was mentally making for work next week. Keeping his pace, he grabbed the phone without checking the display, "Hello?"

"Callen?

"Yes."

"It's Katie. Did I catch you at a bad time?"

"Running," he answered through ragged breathing.

"Call me when you get home."

He reduced his pace to a brisk walk, "It's okay, what's up?"

"I was up early; made some muffins and tea, thought you might like some."

"I'll be there in about forty minutes." He maintained his quick pace to help stable his breathing.

"Oh. I was going to bring them over. Is that okay?"

Callen paused for a moment, as he wasn't comfortable with people being in his house and preferred to keep it that way - for now. "You don't have to; I can come over there."

Katie was feeling awkward about Callen's insistence about not having her come to his place, "Are you alone?" she asked bluntly.

"Yes." He squeezed his eyes shut hoping it would magically give him an out to this awkward situation. Having her come to his house this soon wasn't part of his plan.

Katie made the decision for him. "Forget about it, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Do something!" his conscience yelled at him, "Wait, I'll be home in ten minutes. You remember the address?"

"Yeah. You sure you want me to come over?"

"Yes," he replied without hesitation. Seeing her was what he needed so he would just have to deal with her seeing his virtually empty house. Apprehension set in but he reminded himself that when he made the choice to be G. Callen with Katie, he knew he would have to (eventually) deal with the oddities in his life. He just hadn't planned on it being so soon.

Callen ran his hand over his face and realized it was time to shave. He dropped his head and sighed before putting his phone in his pocket and made haste for home. As he turned the corner, he saw Katie leaning against her car and as he got closer his breath hitched, not because of the exercising but due to the woman in blue shorts and sweatshirt in front of him.

"Couldn't sleep," Katie announced as he stopped a few feet from her.

He waited a few moments to catch his breath before speaking, "Not good for you but it is for me." His eyes widened as he looked at the Thermos and glass container in her hands.

Reaching down, he retrieved the key out of his shoe and led her up the walkway. He inserted the key into the lock and slowly opened the door. Once she crossed the threshold, Katie looked, to no avail, for a place to put the tea and muffins so she could untie her shoes. A chair, small side table and lamp were on the other side of the room.

"These smell wonderful, chocolate chip?" he asked as pulled off the thin towel covering his breakfast. He then kicked off his shoes, took the basket from her hands and headed for the kitchen.

"Yeah, chocolate chip." Katie stared in awe at the emptiness for a few moments before removing her shoes." "How long have you lived here?"

"Eleven months."

"I'm presuming you don't have many guests." Katie's voice sounded perplexed but Callen was used to it as no one had yet to fully understand his reasoning for minimal furniture.

Katie walked towards the archway that separated the two rooms and noticed the kitchen; except for a small round table and two chairs it was as empty as the living room.

Callen pulled two small plates and mugs, a house-warming gift from Sam's wife, out of the cupboard and placed them on the table. "Four guests to be exact," he said quietly as Katie poured the tea and took two muffins from the container and placed one on each plate.

Katie heard what he said but was more intrigued with the 'vacant decorating look' at that moment. She looked back into the living room and then directly at Callen, "Do you have any furniture besides that chair, table and lamp?"

He finished the last of his tea and muffin, the sound from his throat indicating they were both delicious. "That hit the spot, thank you." He brushed the crumbs from his hands onto his plate. "Nope. Just what you see."

"You're welcome." She shook her head trying to comprehend why someone wouldn't have more furniture after eleven months of living in a home. Curiosity was getting the best of her, "Not even a bed?"

"No. Beds are overrated."

"Where do you sleep?"

He pointed to the living room, "Over there."

"You sleep on the floor?"

Callen nodded his head as though it weren't uncommon for a grown man to sleep on an air mattress on the floor of his living room – every night. "Air mattress. Quite comfy."

"Just so you know, I am not making out with you on the floor or an air mattress," Katie responded, trying to add some humour to the unconventional situation as she finished her tea and muffin.

"I wouldn't think of it," he replied as he picked up the mugs and container and put them on the counter, "I'm more partial to walls."

Admiring her suddenly reddened cheeks Callen leaned down and placed a quick kiss on her lips, "I'm going to take a shower."

"That feels better," Callen said as he entered the living room where Katie sat in the lonely chair. "Sorry, I didn't shave."

"That's okay, I like it."

Callen walked over to the chair and offered her his hand.

"You coming over like this is a surprise I can get used to." He drew her closer until their chests met. "Sam says I'm anti-social. I just like my personal space."

"So you're willing to share your space with me?"

"I might even let you sit in my chair again."

His eyes softened while a slight grin formed as his hands slid past her waist, and landed firmly on her ass. With a secure grip, he hoisted her up, and her arms instinctively latched around his shoulders as her legs crossed behind his back. He moved forward several steps until Katie's back was pressed against the wall, which caused her to release a slight moan.

"I slept really well last night", he announced before placing another brief kiss on her mouth, which contradicted his previous action, the one now happening between his legs and that damn plan of his.

He placed a soft kiss at the side of her neck. A sudden inhale of a breath, coupled with another soft moan, assured Callen it was okay to continue. Nibbling her ear lobe, his teeth gently scraped over the soft flesh before his tongue trailed every so softly from below her ear down her neck to chin and then his lips peppered delicate kisses back up the other side.

Katie's breathing increased as his mouth and the very close proximity of his erection to her most sensitive spot increased her arousal. Wanting to give her his full attention he lowered her feet to the ground and as soon as her feet met the floor, she removed her bulky sweatshirt and tossed it to the floor.

Fingers now free, he stroked the nape of her neck and slowly moved his fingers under the top of her shirt. Gradually, his fingers moved to the dip in her shirt just above her breasts. His fingers traced the neckline a few times, then dipped down between her breasts, causing her head to tip back with a sound of contentment rising from her throat, which now fully exposed, allowed Callen access to kiss it until he met fabric.

Katie was enjoying Callen's dominance but decided, after he gave a few nips to her neck with his teeth, she would take control. Temptation to have him take her right then and there against the wall of his living room was intense but she wasn't ready for that stage of a relationship to happen yet as they had only been on one date. So, she slipped out of his arms and swung him around until his body was pressed flat against the wall. A thud ensued that caused the blue of his eyes to deepen with passion and heighten her desire to pleasure him. She kissed him with a sensuousness that hardened him even more than he thought possible.

"You like?" she asked rhetorically. He nodded his head, incapable of forming any words. She lowered her hand to the bulging fabric of his jeans and stroked him once; the back of his head hit the wall hard.

Kathryn Mitchell had come to see G. Callen with tea and muffins as an unpretentious gesture, but with the sight of him running towards her, sweaty, flushed and the sparkle of blue in his eyes when he saw her, that simple gesture was eradicated from her mind. She had tried, in vain, since he had left last night, to put thoughts of him out of her mind until they would meet up Sunday afternoon. Sleep had evaded her before sunrise and the attempt to hit the books before getting ready for work was rendered futile. Her mind kept wandering back to the previous night and a certain man with exquisite blue eyes. It was the look in those eyes when he told her to call him Sunday when she woke up, that kept her from absorbing anything she read in her textbook. Some women may have found it domineering, but Katie was enticed by Callen's confidence.

Once her knees were resting on the sweatshirt she had tossed to the floor, she slowly unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans guiding them down over his knees until they pooled at his feet. He smelled fresh from his shower and she couldn't help but respond to that revelation with a hearty throat moan. Not wanting to waste any time, she wrapped her hands around him and flicked the tip of his cock with her tongue. That one flick caused Callen to plant his palms firmly against the wall for support. Short, slow and firm movements from her hands, coupled with licks and sucks from her mouth had noises deep from his throat filling the air. Explicit words followed. When she took him in fully, his hands clutched at her hair and as he looked down he took in a view he never wanted to forget, so he etched it in his mind.

Katie had anticipated the language he used but when the words actually seeped from his mouth towards her it was a revelation that he was more than just a ship passing in the night. Katie paused her ministrations as his thumb skimmed over his cock to her upper lip and when she glanced up to see the passionate look on his tanned face she returned to pleasuring him to the edge of ecstasy. As she felt him withdraw she slid one hand behind him unmistakably conveying her intentions.

She continued to tenderly stroke and place gentle kisses on the head of his still very hard erection. As he continued to relish the warmth of her hands and mouth on him, their eyes met. And it was at that moment in time G. Callen knew that his life was going in a direction that both excited and scared him.

As Katie stood she gently brought his jeans up over his knees and let them rest loosely on his hips.

"That was stupefying," he whispered as he kissed her, still enjoying the sensations his body has just endured.

"I see you have augmented your vocabulary," she replied as his arms wrapped tightly around her waist.

"You are going to make it very challenging for me to keep to my plan with words like that."

"Plan?"

"Yeah, how things should go between us."

Katie wasn't sure if laughing was the appropriate thing to do given the serious look on Callen's face so she stifled her laughter and went with an inquisitive response, "And how are things going to go between us?" she asked as she fastened the button and zipped the zipper on his jeans, her eyes never leaving his.

Callen heard the hint of teasing in her words and was somewhat offended by it until he realized that her action was a reminder of what had just transpired between them (although he needn't any reminder). "Unhurried."

"That contradicts what just happened, don't you think?" Her eyes were playful now and Callen was losing control of his thought-out plan.

Closing his eyes and shaking his head, he admitted defeat; "It was a good plan a few days ago."

"How about we make a plan together?"

"Okay. So what do you think should happen?"

"We just let things happen," she replied before kissing him.

"Good plan," he managed to say despite his lips numb from her tantalizing kiss.

"So what does this plan of yours have us doing tomorrow?" she asked as she picked up her sweatshirt and pulled it over her head.

The dismayed look on his face indicated that he hadn't actually planned anything. He had been focused on just seeing her not on what they would actually do. But still, he tried to sound convincing, "Still working on the logistics."

"Logistics?

"Yeah, not everything is as easy as putting on a pair of skates and rolling down the boardwalk," Callen teased as he gathered her breakfast containers then followed her outside.

"Whatever it is, I'm looking forward to it." She opened the car door, leaned in and tossed her bag and containers onto the passenger seat and as she turned to say goodbye to him, he pulled her against him. They fit so well together.

"Thank you for tea, muffins and …" his voiced trailed off as he hadn't a clue of what words to use for the other thing. Blowjob? Fellatio? Sucking my dick?

"You're welcome." She lowered her voice and gently bit her bottom lip; "You never have to thank me for fellatio."

Rendered speechless, he kissed her. Their lips met, the kiss sweet at first and then robust as Katie nipped at his lower lip and their tongues teased each other until Callen put one hand behind her head, intensifying the connection.

"Callen," she whispered into his mouth, "I have to go."

"Okay," he breathed into her lips as he ran his tongue along the edge of her teeth

She reluctantly parted her lips from his trying to refocus on what she had to do that day, "I have to go Callen - ten chapters of Society's Child in the New Millennium awaits me before I go to work."

He didn't want to be the reason she fell behind in her studies or wasn't prepared for an exam, so he lowered his arms and took a step backward as he kept his eyes on hers, savouring the moment, "We will continue this tomorrow."

"Promises, promises." Despite the short time together, she liked how they could joke with each other knowing jest was the root of it.

Callen laid his hand on her arm before she got in her car, "One thing you will learn very quickly Katie Mitchell is that I am a man of my word."

"Tomorrow," she replied and got into the car before she changed her mind and invited him home with her.

Callen watched as she drove away and once her car was out of sight he reached for his phone, dialled a number stored in his contacts and waited.

"Hello?"

"It's Callen and I need your help."

"Eleven-thirty? I'm working from home today."

"I'll be there."