Steph's POV
I woke up Sunday morning and still felt the warm, fuzzy happiness that I'd felt Saturday evening. Spending the day at the beach with Cal had been absolutely perfect. Somewhere along the evening I had realized that he was exactly what I was missing in life. One of the ladies at work, Emily, had divorced after a short marriage, much like me, and when she started dating again it had just instantly clicked. She and Patrick had gone out on their first date and she'd told us the next week that she knew he was the one. I'd thought she was crazy at the time, but I understood more after meeting Cal. It just worked.
"I know you're awake, Angel," I heard Cal whisper. He kissed behind my ear and buried his head in my hair. "You doing okay this morning?"
I rolled over in his arms and kissed him. "I'm perfect," I sighed. "How long have you been awake?"
"About an hour. My body functions on less sleep than a lot of people's. I've just been enjoying having you close," he explained, and I melted a little. Yep, perfect. I scooted closer to him and tucked my head into his shoulder.
"Best morning ever," I mumbled, and he chuckled.
"Damn straight, baby. You hungry?"
"Famished," I confessed. I had gotten a good workout last night.
"Why don't you jump in the shower and I'll go start breakfast? You can use my bathroom if you want; the shower is much nicer," he offered.
"Five more minutes of cuddling?" I begged, and he laughed harder.
"I'll cuddle you as long as you want, anytime you want," he promised.
"Mmm…I'm gonna remember and hold you to that," I informed him.
"I hope you will." He held me a bit longer, his hands tracing a soothing path up and down my back, until my stomach growled. "I think you'd better let me cook before you eat me alive."
I sat up in bed and stood up. I leaned down close to him and kissed him. "I thought I did that last night," I whispered, and I heard him groan.
"That you did, Baby."
I disappeared into the bathroom and luxuriated in Cal's amazing shower. It had multiple shower heads that sprayed water at you from different angles, and he had Cool Water shower gel in there that I just had to use. Smelling like my man sounded like a good plan. I was pruny and a relaxed pile of goo when I got out. I wrapped myself in a towel and walked down the hall to the guest room to get dressed and throw my hair up in a messy bun. By the time I walked into the kitchen Cal was plating up pancakes, eggs, and bacon. Be still my heart!
"You're just in time," he said when he saw me. He pulled out a bar stool for me and helped me into it and then brought over a glass of orange juice and a cup of coffee for me.
"This all looks amazing, Cal," I said with my mouth watering.
"Well, eat up. There's more if you're still hungry after that."
"Thank you, Sweetheart," I replied. I leaned over and kissed him and then cut up a bite of my pancakes. I took the first bite and moaned. It was amazing! "Will you marry me?" I blurted out, and I blushed as he laughed.
"Can I give you a firm maybe?" he joked, and I laughed. I was thankful he didn't freak out.
"Sure, but if you keep cooking for me I may get down on one knee. Especially if you bake!"
"I'll keep that in mind, Angel. I guarantee this isn't the last time I'll ever cook for you, and I'll have you know I'm an excellent baker," he teased.
"You're playing with fire there, Mr. Holmes," I told him with a wicked look.
He leaned over and kissed me. "Then burn me," he whispered. My eyes glazed over and he laughed. My stomach roaring again got me out of my stupor, and I went back to work on my amazing breakfast. "You have anything on your schedule today? I didn't know what time you have to be back in town."
"Nope, I'm free until work tomorrow," I replied between bites of the best pancakes I'd ever had. Just don't tell my mother that.
"Good. Can I keep you a little longer?" he asked. His face looked so hopeful. It was adorable.
"You can keep me as long as you want me," I flirted back at him. He gave me a smile that reminded me of a kid in a candy store and I had to laugh.
"I might never give you back in that case," he teased, but there was something in his eyes that looked immensely pleased.
"Well, you have to share me with work, but otherwise I'm all yours," I said softly. Our conversation had quickly gone from teasing to serious.
"Any chance of making that statement true?" he asked huskily.
"What, sharing me with work?" I had to know for sure what he wanted.
"No, although I will. The one about you being all mine," he clarified.
"I would like for it to be true," I whispered to Cal. "What about you?"
"God yes, Angel," Cal replied emphatically. "I really want that."
"And you'll be all mine, too?"
"Already am," he affirmed, and I melted a little.
"Then I'd say you have yourself a girlfriend," I replied with a smile. His face lit up and he leaned over and kissed me hungrily. I was really getting into it when my stomach growled loudly and Cal pulled back chuckling.
"Eat, Baby. We can get back to that later," he encouraged me.
We talked as we finished breakfast, sharing little bits and pieces of our lives with each other. We worked together to straighten and close up the house and headed into town around lunchtime to grab something to eat on our way back. After lunch we shopped our way through town and I picked up a new swimsuit that made Cal's eyes go dark and some sunglasses. We took a leisurely drive back toward Trenton, neither of us wanting the weekend to end. When we finally pulled up to the curb on the street next to his office, he walked in and drove my car out. After parking it he put my bags in my car and then pulled me into his arms.
"I don't want the weekend to be over yet," I protested, already hating the thought of not being close to him tonight.
"Me, too, Angel. I wish I could hold you in my arms when I sleep tonight," he whispered.
"I wish my apartment was closer; you could stay tonight," I said without even really thinking. I meant it, though. I'd never wanted to live in Trenton until this moment.
"I wouldn't mind the drive tomorrow morning if it meant sleeping next to you."
I pulled back and looked up into his beautiful blue eyes. "Then I'd say the only problem is the hour we have to spend apart to drive both cars to my house," I replied with a smirk.
"Small price to pay," he mumbled. He bent down and kissed me and then tucked me into my car.
"I'm going to run in and grab a uniform for work tomorrow. Then I'll stop and pick up dinner when we get to Newark and meet you at your place. Sound okay?" he asked.
"Sounds perfect."
With that settled, we headed off and I was left alone in my thoughts for the hour drive. It had been a perfect weekend, more than I ever could have hoped for. I was so happy at this moment, but I just wasn't ready to share it with everyone yet. Advertise that I'm in a relationship? Sure, sign me up! But actually share Cal with people? Only those closest to me who I knew supported me, like my dad and Mary Lou. I wasn't ready to let Helen Plum or Joe Morelli rain on my parade yet.
I was still lost in my thoughts when I pulled up to my apartment and brought my things in. I settled my bags in the bedroom and started a load of laundry and then checked in on Rex. There was a knock on the door a few minutes later and I opened it to find Cal's handsome face looking at me.
"You need to check the peep hole before you open the door, Angel. Not everyone in this world has good intentions," he reminded me gently.
"I'll remember that," I promised. I'm certain his concern came from what he sees every day in his job.
He walked in behind me and set a pizza and some cheesy garlic bread on my coffee table. It smelled amazing! I grabbed plates, napkins, and a couple of bottles of water and then settled myself on the couch next to Cal. I turned on the Yankees game and tucked my feet up under me as I dug into my dinner.
"You a baseball fan, too?" Cal asked between bites. I swallowed and nodded.
"Yeah, it was something my dad and I always did – watched the games. He even took me out of school and snuck me to a few games with him so my mom wouldn't know and pitch a fit about my being interested in sports," I said with a laugh, remembering our conversations about how angry my mom would be if she knew.
"Your mom is that critical?"
"Yeah, she really is. She's just completely Burg, and I'm not. She wants me to marry some man from the Burg, quit my job, stay home and cook, and raise the perfect 2.5 children who never act up and look perfectly put together all the time," I sighed.
I felt Cal reach over and take my hand and looked up into his very serious eyes. "What will she say about me? I'm not exactly traditional, and I'm definitely not Burg."
"I don't care what she thinks about you, but she'll learn to accept you if she wants to see me," I stated firmly. "My dad, however, will think you're perfect for me."
"Well, at least I'll have one of them. No rest for the weary, right? I'll need to plan Operation Woo Steph's Mom," Cal chuckled.
"About that," I cut in, and Cal's eyes clouded with worry. "I like you, Cal. A lot. It's kind of crazy, actually, given how short of a time we've known each other. And I want everyone to know that I'm taken, and I want you to meet my dad. But I'd kind of like to keep it out of the Burg for a little while, if you don't mind. They all just like to gossip and stir stuff up, and I don't want us to have to deal with that quite yet. I guess I just want to keep us out of the line of fire and enjoy our honeymoon phase." I caught what I'd said and blushed, and Cal started laughing.
"I guarantee you that we won't share our honeymoon, Baby. Hmmm…a marriage proposal and planning the honeymoon all in one day? You're giving me ideas," he said with a wicked gleam in his eyes.
"Oh yeah? What kind of ideas?" I teased.
"Finish your pizza and I'll show you, Baby."
I threw my pizza crust down on the coffee table and turned to face him. "I'm not hungry now...at least not for food."
Cal gulped and looked up at me. "What are you hungry for, Steph?"
"You," I said firmly. I stood up and reached for his hands. He laced his fingers in mine and stood up, pulling me to him as he did. His lips were on mine instantly and I was consumed with my desire for Cal. His hands drifted down to my ass and he picked me up, letting me wrap my legs around his waist. I fisted my hands in his hair and keened as his tongue did very creative things to my neck and shoulder. "Bed!" I demanded.
Cal began walking toward my room and I worked his shirt up his gorgeous chest to get access to his skin. He laid me gently in the center of my bed and I pulled his shirt off as I went.
"You're so fucking beautiful, Angel," he growled. "God, I want you."
I reached up and caressed his face and he leaned into my hand. "I'm all yours, Cal. I'm not holding anything back. I want you just as badly as you want me. Please, Sweetheart," I begged.
"Thank fuck," Cal growled. "Now, I'm going to show you how you deserve to be treated." And show me he did!
Cal's lips met mine in a heated kiss that instantly drenched my panties, and I clung to him for dear life. Little did Cal know that even just what we'd done yesterday had blown any experience I'd ever had out of the water.
I slid my hands into the back of Cal's shorts and pulled him into me roughly, loving the feel of his body against mine. He moved his lips back to my neck. He kissed his way down to my stomach and then moved my shirt up as he licked and kissed every inch of my skin. My shirt and bra disappeared like magic and I almost fell apart when his mouth closed around my nipple.
"Oh god, Cal," I moaned. "So damn good!"
"I could do this all day," he sighed as he moved his mouth back down and my breath hitched when he unfastened my shorts. He pulled them off down my legs and I stopped him before he got back on the bed.
"You, too," I insisted. "I want to see all of you."
He nodded and pulled his shorts off and I swear I almost came at seeing all of his gorgeous body at once. He was built like a god.
"See something you like, Angel?" he teased, and I laughed.
"Yes, now get back down here!"
"Ma'am, yes ma'am!"
He kissed and caressed his way up my legs and I gasped and shivered when he licked my dripping core. I flung my arms out and grasped at the sheets, trying to find something to ground me, but I wasn't successful. Cal must have sensed my struggle because he brought his head up for a minute.
"Hands above your head and keep them there!" he commanded sharply. As I complied, a fresh gush of moisture pooled between my legs. Being controlled in bed was such a fucking turn on. Of course, the ex, who shall not be named while Cal and I are in the throws of passion, couldn't pull it off. He also couldn't make me cum. Cal, however, didn't have either of those problems.
Cal dove back in with gusto, holding my hips down with one arm while he used the other hand to tease my wet folds. I let out a string of curse words when he slid two thick fingers deep into me and sucked on my clit. I came hard, seeing stars as I reeled from the pleasure. He licked and nibbled on me gently as I came down and then climbed back up my body. I reached for him and he kissed me tenderly.
"Condom?" he asked.
"Nightstand." I hadn't had an occasion to need one, but I still had the unopened box that Mary Lou has given me as a joke after my divorce. Cal leaned over to grab one and I took advantage of the opportunity to kiss and nip at his chest and shoulder. I spread my legs wider as he came back down on top of me, desperate to bring him as close as possible. He ripped the packet open and I moaned as he stroked himself before rolling it on.
"That's so damn hot," I blurted out.
"You can watch anytime you want, Baby," he replied with a wink. "You sure about this?"
"I'll tie you down and ride you like Zorro if you don't get inside me now!" I threatened, and he laughed.
"You're amazing, Angel," he whispered. He lowered himself so our chests were pressed tightly together and kissed me hard and hungry with lots of tongue. I moaned into his kiss and melted completely as he slid into me. He was so deliciously huge, but so tender with me. His hands were caressing everywhere he could reach while he kissed me. I was completely overcome with emotion as he stopped, now fully inside me, and I noticed a stray tear rolling down my cheek. Cal kissed it away and nuzzled into my hair.
"I feel it too, Angel. I feel complete for the first time in my life," he whispered, and I nodded. I felt the exact same way.
We moved together, exploring and loving each other as he thrust deeply into me, and I wasn't even sure where I stopped and he started. It was the most incredible experience of my life.
We came together explosively, swallowing each other's moans and shuddering together. I wrapped my arms tightly around Cal, holding him close to me, and a minute later he rolled to his side and took me with him.
"Thank you for sharing that with me, Angel," he whispered.
"I'm pretty sure I should be thanking you, Cal," I giggled softly. I yawned and he reached over and turned off the lamp.
"Sleep, Baby. I've got you," he assured me.
"Mmmm...okay."
