His Red Carnation (Forbidden Blooms #1)

20. Callan

20

Callan

Being around Sloane with her family was fucking terrifying, only because I had such a hard time not being able to touch her or think about how she looked with my cock in her mouth. Stealing quick glances and secretly flirting was driving me crazy, only intensifying my desire for her. Jake started looking at me like I was a threat—he had to be sensing something between us. To avoid any more suspicion, I kept my distance for the rest of the day. I stretched out in my room, scrolling through pictures of Sloane on my phone—her in that tiny bikini and the ones of us together. I even jerked off to our little video a couple of times.

It wasn’t until Ana knocked on my door and told me to come down for dinner that I felt comfortable showing my face again.

Sloane was sitting at the dining table, one leg drawn up to her chest, her head resting on her knee. She perked up when she noticed me, and my heart dropped at the sight of her big smile, showcasing her little dimple—one she seemed to reserve just for me.

“He’s alive,” she joked, and I was about to tease her back until I noticed Jake and Ana in the kitchen beside us.

“Jake barbecued some chicken,” Ana announced.

“He’s vegetarian,” Sloane quickly interjected. “Like me.”

It was one of the first things we realized we had in common.

“It’s alright. I can eat everything else.” I shrugged.

“What? Since when?” Jake asked, looking bewildered.

I rested my hand on a dining chair, trying to remain casual in Sloane’s presence. “Um.” I cleared my throat. “About six years now, I think.” I shrugged and turned to smile at Sloane like a total idiot before quickly looking back toward the kitchen.

“Well, Sloane made a quinoa and lentil salad thing,” Jake replied, now unfazed.

Sloane stood up from her chair, wearing a tight crop top—of course, she was braless—and high-waisted shorts that accentuated her amazing ass. I stole a quick glance, but I caught Ana watching me. I nervously licked my lips and walked into the kitchen with everyone else, using every ounce of strength to avoid looking at Sloane.

“Here it is!” Sloane announced as she pulled a bowl out of the fridge, revealing the dish she had made.

She put it on the counter in front of me and I nodded with a smile.

“Looks great,” I observed, quickly glancing at my girl.

“Tastes great too,” she quipped back as she leaned on the counter.

I almost choked on my own spit.

Ana was quick to chime in. “Let’s dig in!”

I sat across from Sloane at the table, mostly staying quiet as the family, Leo, and Julian mingled together casually. Ana attempted to make light conversation but I was too focused on not looking at Sloane. I was probably being too fucking obvious but I wanted to play it safe; if Jake was suspicious, I didn’t want to give him any more reason to be.

After dinner the guys sat on the back patio with a beer. Being the sober one, I opted on staying inside with Ana and Sloane. We sat in the living room in front of the TV and I finally felt relaxed being away from Jake. It felt fucking awful that I couldn’t even hang out with my good buddy because I was too busy trying not to think about fucking his daughter.

“You’re being too obvious, Callan. Ease up a little, hermano ,” Ana murmured as she eased onto the couch next to Sloane, across from where I sat in the armchair.

I sighed. “It’s too fucking weird. I can’t act natural about this,” I explained, gesturing between me and Sloane. “Wouldn’t it be hard for you to pretend you and Jake weren’t in love while being in the same room?”

Ana gave me a sad smile, and Sloane looked like she was on the verge of tears. I couldn’t tell if they were happy or sad tears. Fuck .

“I’m sure it’s very hard. I couldn’t imagine. Perhaps we should just tell him. Let it all air out. Better to come from you two than for him to find out from someone else,” Ana suggested quickly.

I shook my head immediately. “Nope. We’re not doing that, Ana,” I argued.

“Dad would never let me see him again if he found out, Mom,” Sloane chimed in, her voice heavy with despair.

She looked absolutely heartbroken, and I wanted to reach out and hold her hand. This was killing me too.

“ Ay , this is just…it’s hard on me too, keeping this from him,” Ana admitted quietly.

God, what have I done? I was hurting the two best women in the world because I couldn’t keep my dick in my pants. But it was more than that, obviously. I was so in love with Sloane that I was willing to risk it all. Maybe I should tell Ana that .

“Ana, I want to marry Sloane. This isn’t just some fling or something. I plan to love and protect your daughter for the rest of my life,” I confessed quietly.

I heard Sloane’s breath hitch, and I quickly took her hand, squeezing it to show my baby that I was serious.

“Even better to tell Jake that, Callan,” Ana replied.

Sloane let go of my hand and stood up to face Ana. “Please don’t pressure us, Mom. This is hard enough. We’ll do it when we’re ready, okay?” she whisper-yelled.

Ana put her hands up. “Fine. Lo que sea . I won’t say any more.” She stood up quickly and disappeared upstairs.

Sloane placed her hands on her hips and hung her head. “I just want to be back in your apartment. I hate this sneaking around; it’s too nerve-wracking,” she said quietly.

I sighed. “I know, baby. I hate it too. But I meant what I said—let’s just fucking get hitched.” I wasn’t sure if my proposal was serious or just born out of desperation.

Sloane looked up at me, her eyes wide. “What’s that gonna do?” she asked, curiosity in her voice. “If we still have to sneak around, why do it? When I marry you, I want the world to know. I won’t hide it anymore if I’m your wife.” Her frustration and passion made me love her even more. And fuck, she was right—I wouldn’t want to hide the fact that she was mine if we got married.

“I know, baby. I’m just thinking out loud.”

Suddenly, the back door opened, and Jake and the guys walked in. Sloane crossed her arms and slumped back down on the couch. I pulled out my phone, desperate to look at anything but Jake. Luckily, he walked straight through the dining room and up the stairs, seemingly unaware of us.

“I love you, baby,” I whispered to Sloane, glancing over at her.

She gave me a small smile. “I love you too.”

Shortly after, I headed upstairs to inevitably toss and turn in bed. I had just turned the light off when my phone vibrated—it was a text from Sloane. I wish I could be in your arms right now.

I hated that she was so fucking sad. Me too. What I would give for a fucking kiss right now.

She responded quickly. Too risky to sneak in for one minute? ??

The fucking sad face emoji. Fuck it. I pulled the blanket off of me and quietly opened my door. I glanced down the hallway and everything was quiet. I crept down the hall and gently opened Sloane’s door, quickly slipping my body through. Her room was dark but I heard her sweet voice whisper out, “Callan?” She flipped her bedside lamp on. Her gorgeous face appeared near the dim lighting, with half of her body still under her covers.

“Hi baby,” I whispered as I sat at the edge of her bed.

She quickly wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me fervently, almost desperately. I pulled her closer to me but a thought immediately occurred to me.

“Wait, the door—” I stood up and made sure the door was locked. It wasn’t. So fucking reckless. That didn’t stop me from pushing her back down on the bed and hovering over her, pulling my hard cock out of my boxer briefs as she shrugged down her underwear. I immediately found her wet pussy with the tip of my cock and slammed myself into her. God, she felt so fucking good. She quietly moaned as she wrapped her legs around me and lifted her hips to meet me in the middle.

“Fuck, I love you, Sloane,” I said quietly into her ear. I was so fucking desperate for her that I was already about to come.

“I love you, Callan,” she whispered back.

We quickly came together, and I swore to myself that I’d get the fucking courage to make her my wife. But first, I needed to figure out how to tell Jake. Ana was right: he needed to hear it from me. I’d need to put on my bulletproof vest and man the fuck up. I needed Sloane to be entirely mine, and the only way to do it was to stop fucking sneaking around.