I nodded. “As long as you don’t hate me if I fall asleep on your couch, me and movies never seem to make it to the end.”
“I could never hate you, Stella.”
He tossed the blanket back in his truck as he passed it, and we made our way hand-in-hand up to the house.
“Now, I have to warn you, I do have a?—”
Calvin was cut off by a loudyowlas he opened the door and a bright orange ball of fur went flying at Calvin’s chest. I screamed, thinking something was attacking him for a moment until he burst into laughter.
“A cat,” Calvin finished while a deep rumble rolled through him and he nuzzled into the creature. “Bernard, that is no way to treat our guest.”
“Calvin!” I shrieked. “If I had known you have a cat, I would have been here every day!”
“Well, I wish I would have told you sooner,” he said as a soft pink coloured his cheeks.
He led me into his house which was impeccably decorated. It was warm and cozy like Trixie’s house, but much more modern. There were still handmade afghans on the couches, books on the shelves, and artwork lining the walls, but the lamps and furniture were all newer pieces.
I was drawn to look at some of the family photos in thehallway. Most were of Calvin, Garrett, and Melody when they were younger—one of them running in a field, one of them all on different branches of a tree. A couple were of Calvin and Garrett holding guitars, Melody just a blur beside them as she must not have stopped dancing for the picture.
I glanced over a couple more pictures, each one further proof of how much this man loved his family.
“Is that your dad?” I pointed to a man in a large group picture. I could recognize Trixie and Vicky and assumed the baby she was holding had been Melody, and the two boys at her feet were obviously Calvin and Garrett, but I didn’t recognize anyone else.
“Yeah, that’s my dad and a couple of my uncles. They’re kind of all over the province now running their own businesses, my dad was the only one to stay on the farm.”
I wondered why there weren’t more pictures of Calvin’s dad around. There had been tons of Calvin with his mom, grandma and grandpa, and siblings. But that large group photo was the only one of his dad.
Then again, I knew grief was a journey that everyone travelled differently.
A shiver traced its way up my spine and goose bumps erupted across my arms.
“Come on, let’s get you warmed up,” Calvin said as he took my hand and led me to the living room.
We settled onto the couch and Calvin turned on a movie. Some old-school Halloween horror to end the night or whatever. The only thing I could focus on was the circles his thumb drew on my collarbone with the arm draped around me and how it sent tingles down my spine.
I trembled and realized it wasn’t just Calvin making me feel that way. I had changed into my usual sweater and leggings outfit of choice, we had multiple blankets on us, a fire roaring inthe wood stove in the corner, and I was snuggled up to the world’s best heater, but I still couldn’t get warm.
Calvin must have noticed, and instead of grabbing another blanket he reached over and scooped me up into his lap. I nestled between his strong thighs and rested my head against his chest while he planted kisses that were soft as butterfly touches to the top of my head.
If I could have dissolved into a puddle at that moment, I would have. And I wasn’t talking about the puddle that was already forming between my legs.
“This is nice,” I hummed into his chest.
“I agree,” he said, his hand finding my cheek and caressing me softly.
I looked up at him and the heat in his eyes was undeniable. The green called to me in a language that was all our own, and I wanted nothing more than to speak in soft tones with our lips pressed together.
I leaned into him at the same time as he tilted my chin up to meet his lips. His touch was tender at first, gently asking permission without words. I traced his lips with my tongue, giving him the confirmation he needed to take everything I wanted to give him.
He deepened the kiss with more force and pressure, grasping my hair at the nape of my neck and pulling me closer to him. But it still wasn’t enough.
I wanted more. I needed more.
I adjusted myself to straddle him, feeling his hard erection exactly where I wanted it.
“Oh fuck, Stella,” he moaned into my mouth.
I hummed and rolled my hips in response, making him hiss.
