Chapter 5
Thanks to all for reading and for the reviews! This chapter is "romance," but I really felt it was necessary to establish the relationship between Callen and Anna, so if you're not into this sort of thing, my apologies. The rest of the story will have some romantic scenes, but Dimitri is still around-and will be showing up sooner rather than later.
Anna often went to the beach at this time of the morning since remaining behind in Cuba because it was beautiful and deserted and she swam undisturbed, alone with her thoughts and her memories. As she made her way toward the beach through the water breaking and swirling around her calves and ankles, she watched as the sea and the sand squished in between her toes and her footprints disappeared as soon as they were made. She smiled as a memory from a few years ago flooded in. She and Callen had just returned with Asakeem after hours of driving, and they were tired and hot and hungry . . . for each other. She had been surprised when Callen kissed her in the boat shed—he had always kept his personal life private—because they both knew the eyes and ears of NCIS surrounded them here. That's why she had not been surprised when, a little later, he had gradually pulled her from the couch and guided her to the door. Anna had been sure his intention was to take her home, but once outside, she had had other plans and had taken the initiative. There wasn't another person in sight, so she had bolted toward the water. As she had crossed the sand, she had shed her clothes and dared Callen to come and get her—and to her delight, he had. He hadn't shed all his clothes by the time he entered the water as she had, but when he had reached her as she drifted in the gently heaving surf, he had come to her—and more. And later that night when the old man had walked past them as they had lain naked together on the beach, Callen had returned his greeting without embarrassment. Callen had been more genuinely at ease that night than Anna had ever seen him before. The old man had been more concerned about the tiny sand crabs than their nakedness, and Callen had laughed and assured him that the sand crabs had not been disturbed. It was one of the few times she had ever heard Callen laugh, and she loved the sound of it. But she wasn't in California anymore and those happier days had become memories before she had even left. There were many times Anna wished she could go back and change what had happened, but she was only human and the past could not be changed. As she reached the water line and the beads of sea water dripped off her body and the sand under her feet became firmer, she brushed her hair off her face and looked up. He was walking towards her.
Callen stood, surrounded by the natural beauty of the key with its crystalline water and silken sand, but the only thing he saw was her light bronze skin and honeyed hair. She watched the water playing at her feet as she came ashore, naked and more beautiful than the last time he had seen her, if that were possible. He found he couldn't speak; the words caught in his throat. His mind urged his body to run, but his legs refused, so instead, he walked. His chest heaved. His hands clenched. Every nerve in his body throbbed. And suddenly she looked up and saw him. She stopped. He saw her body, languid and fluid only moments before become tense and motionless. It seemed like forever before he stood, silently facing her, his face a few inches from her own. She gazed at him, her expression unreadable. Her heart had already been shattered into a thousand bloody pieces. To have even those now smashed . . . . "Anna." She had never heard so much emotion whispered in one word. His soul and body ached. She could feel his need before he touched her. Her body relaxed. He wove his fingers through her hair as he brought his lips to hers. He felt her fingers caress his neck, and she felt the subtle quiver of his body at her touch. He breathed in the fragrance of her, and her hands lingered over every muscle and scar. Her skin, moist and smooth, pressed firm against his, and they became one body, warm and sticky, clinging to each other with a boldness born of emotions they could no longer restrain. Their mouths tasted every delight that lay bare and ripe. Their hands rediscovered the secret, pulsating places and found that time and distance had not lessened their desires. Tonight, at this moment, they were each other's life, each other's future, and they surrendered themselves to each other as the warm gulf waters washed over and under and between them and swept away all their fears.
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At the first hint of daylight, as the narrowest sliver of the sun breached the horizon, Callen woke. He turned his head and looked behind him. Anna, her body covered lightly with traces of the soft, white sand, lay curled against him, a wisp of hair across her face. He pulled himself forward slowly and then turned and lay facing her. She opened her eyes as he gently brushed the hair off her face.
"Good morning," she said, smiling.
Callen leaned forward and gently kissed her forehead. "Good morning."
She propped herself up on one arm, looked at him, and in a mock serious voice asked, "So, what brings you back to Cuba, Agent Callen?"
"I could say the beaches, but that wouldn't be entirely true."
"And I wouldn't believe you."
He never took his eyes from hers as he continued, "And it's just Callen."
She looked at him, confused. "What do you mean?"
"I mean," he said as he brushed another bit of her away from her face, "that I've resigned from NCIS." He shrugged. "It was time."
For a moment, she said nothing, and then she sat up and pulled her knees close to her chest. "What did Hetty say?"
"Nothing. I sent her a text message."
Anna's eyes opened wide, "You sent Hetty a text message that you were resigning?"
"I made my decision when I was waiting at the airport."
Anna looked shocked for a moment and then tried to hide a smile and Callen looked at her, puzzled. "I'm sorry. I'm trying to imagine Hetty's expression when she got the text message from her senior agent that he's resigning."
Both sat silently for several moments and listened to the waves as the sun finally began to peak higher over the horizon.
"If that's what you want," Anna said and kissed him, "it was the right thing to do." Saying this, she smiled and stood up and brushed the sand off before she slipped her clothes on. Callen watched her for several seconds and then he stood up, brushed the sand off, and got dressed.
"It's what I want."
She reached over and took his face in her hands and kissed him again, "I'm glad."
"Where are you parked?" Anna pointed in the direction opposite from where Callen had parked. "Are you going to work today?"
She moved closer and rubbed against him. "I wasn't planning to."
"Good. Let's leave your car."
Anna picked up her towel and shoes and waited. Callen gathered his shoes and towel, and led the way. When they reached the car, Anna looked at the Impala with a discerning eye. "I see you're traveling in style, Mr. Callen."
"It's what they had available," he gave a quick shrug as he opened the door for her and then tossed his towel and shoes in the back seat alongside hers."But it was the most stylish one in stock that wasn't a boat." She leaned over and unlocked his door. The car's engine coughed slightly when Callen turned the ignition, but purred smoothly when Callen shifted into reverse and then into first and pulled out of the parking area and onto the causeway.
"Oh, wait!" Callen hit the brakes and looked at Anna who smiled apologetically. "I need my purse." Callen sighed, turned the car around, and headed back. Anna grabbed her purse, locked her car, and ten minutes later the Impala passed the checkpoint headed back to Santa Lucia. But Callen didn't take the road to Santa Lucia.
"Where are you taking me, Mr. Callen?"
"I'm taking you back to Cayo Jutias if you call me 'Mr. Callen' one more time."
Anna's eyes softened as she gazed at him. Callen had left NCIS for her. She still couldn't believe it, and in the far recesses of her mind, she wondered if he might regret it later on. But he didn't today, and that was all that mattered.
"Alright. So," her tone now slightly seductive, "can you tell me where we're going, or is it a secret, Grisha?"
The sound of Anna saying his name pleased him in a way he couldn't explain."It's a secret until we get there." And then he added, "In case I get lost on the way." He tossed her a smirk and shrugged, "No Waze."
Anna laughed softly and laid her hand on Callen's leg. He took one hand off the wheel and gently wrapped her hand in his.
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Callen and Anna spent the morning and early afternoon in the Valle de Viñales, a beautiful valley of traditional Cuban farms and scenic landscapes in the Sierra de los Organas mountains. They visited several of the caves along with other tourists, admired the imposing limestone cliffs and outcroppings, and stopped for a hearty meal at a local café before Callen turned the Impala down a narrow gravel road that led back into the forest growth. The tree canopy blocked out much of the sunlight and the only sound beside the engine hum and the tires on the gravel was the slight wind that rustled the leaves. Anna tilted her head toward the window and felt the breeze on her face, cool and heavy with moisture. She could not remember ever feeling so sure that this, right now, was what she wanted. And it was a good feeling. Callen glanced over at Anna and watched her as she closed her eyes and turned her face to the breeze. He had seldom been happy in his life, but he felt in his soul that what he felt now was genuine happiness—and he was slightly in awe, slightly confused, and slightly afraid all at once.
Anna heard the sound of water in the distance. She turned to Callen. "I didn't get lost," he said. He pulled off the road a few yards ahead, got out, and opened Anna's door. He took her hand and led her through the towering trees and tangled undergrowth. The path was faint, but easily followed. As they disappeared further into the dense green foliage, the sound of water grew louder and the air more moist, and then they stepped out into an opening. Before them rose moss-covered limestone cliffs and a layered waterfall that tumbled gently over ledges into a clear, blue pool with room for two. They were completely alone, and for the second time that day, they made wild, wet love.
