“The first time I saw you, my jaw nearly dropped. I thought you were beautiful. And then we fought, and I couldn’t get you out of my head. I screwed up every order that day. Finn nearly sent me home. I was useless.”

“Is that so?” I lean up on my elbows, pressing a light kiss to his mouth.

“You aren’t the only one who’s been dreaming about this,” he says.

The crinkled sound of foil tearing has me grinning. He positions himself against me, just barely making contact. The anticipation is almost too much.

“You’re going to make me wait? After all this?” I say, hoping the breathy way I speak comes off as teasing as I intended.

He lifts his eyebrow just before clenching his jaw. Then he closes his eyes and presses his forehead against mine. “It’s more for me than you.”

His strained, low tone makes it clear. He’s pacing himself so he doesn’t lose it too soon. Clutching my arms around his biceps, I breathe slowly, deeply. After a beat, he slides in. My mouth contorts as I gasp a “whoa.”

He doesn’t thrust at first. He remains still, kissing me deeply. We’re sloppy tongues and nibbles and swollen lips until we can no longer breathe. Callum pulls away, drawing in a slow breath. Then he starts.

His movements are smooth and measured at first. Each slide has my eyes rolling to the back of my head. Softly, he grips my jaw with his hand.

“Hey. Look at me.”

I bite my bottom lip, trying my hardest to keep his gaze. But it’s a battle. There is so much bliss with each thrust of his body into mine that I can barely hold on.

“You thought about this,” I gasp. “About us.”

He nods. I notice he clenches his jaw, then slows down. This is intense for him, too, it seems. It’s a comfort to see him hanging on by a thread, just like me.

“And I thought you hated me,” I say before gasping.

“I never hated you.” Somehow he manages to keep the slow, even pace while talking. “But I can dislike someone and also think she’s hot. I’m a bloke, remember?”

I giggle through a moan. He’s hitting somewhere deep and fucking hell, it’s amazing.

Digging my nails into his back earns me a hiss, then a groan. “I don’t hate you anymore, Callum.”

“Good.” He leans up, deepening the angle between us. “Because I don’t hate you, either, Nikki.”

I hold my breath while he hooks his hands under my thighs. When he resumes, it’s faster, harder, and a whole new level of euphoria.