When The Rain Falls

CHAPTER 13

God, she had the most perfect laugh. It had rang in his ear, more beautiful than the music they could have ever heard, and when it was so genuine, coming from her perfect mouth, it was the amazing sound he could possibly have ever heard.

Breda requested to take the girls for the night, promising to take Ainsley out for an ice cream breakfast along with Fiona. Her birthday was in a few days, but her gran always wanted more than one day with either of the girls to celebrate. Callen was thankful. It gave him an evening alone, with Amelia, to talk or solidify what they were to be. Seeing Arya throughout the night was painful. But seeing Amelia made him forget that pain. She was a soothing balm to the burning dissolution of his marriage, and she made him forget why they were there. He wanted to talk things through. Wanted to take the next step, wanted the commitment, the journey, wanted her to know and hear how he felt.

He wanted her to know he was ready. He wanted to know if she was as well.

Except she wasn't in much of a talkative mood. He had no complaints when the door closed, and her laughter stopped when her lips came crashing into his. His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling at the corset ties and loosening the bodice that trapped her body away from his hands. His tie flew off, as did his jacket and shirt was unbuttoned before he could speak a word. He pulled away from her, the dress barely being held up by her one hand, breasts, and hips, and pressed his forehead to hers.

"Bedroom." He whispered. "You go willingly or I drag you."

And that damn laugh of hers echoed as she grabbed his hand and dragged him with her down the hall.

She pushed his door open first, and all but dragged him inside with her. Her hands immediately went to his pants, where she deftly pulled his belt off. His hands covered hers, and he brought her fingertips to his lips, kissing them softly.

"Do you want to do this, Amelia?" He said softly, gently pushing her back until her behind hit his bed.

Amelia looked up at him, confused. "We kinda already have done this, Callen."

"But not the way it should have gone." Gently, he caressed her shoulders, and pressed his thumbs underneath the bodice of her dress. Tugging gently, it fell slowly, until he dragged it off her hips. It left her in her nylons and underwear, topless. Carefully, he pulled her feet up, pulling the dress off her legs, and then taking it gently away. He was about to throw it aside when she stopped him.

"I'd like to keep it pristine." She whispered. "It's my bonus after all."

Callen smiled at her, feeling warm. Carefully, he hung it on the back of his work chair, and turned to Amelia. "I'll have it cleaned tomorrow then." He said before gently taking her back in his arms, and leading her to lay on the bed beside him.

"I want this to be what it should have been." Callen stroked her nyloned leg upwards, and pulled the top of it down her thighs. "I hate what a brute I was."

"Callen, I have like zero regrets." Amelia replied. She lifted her legs and let him roll the nylons down before he threw them aside. When his fingers danced from her ankle to her hip she giggled.

"I do. Not about going through with it. About what I just assumed... " He trailed off as his fingers felt up her side, to her shoulder, where he softly stroked her neck. Running his thumb along her lips, he leaned forward and kissed her softly. "I'm not a small man Amelia. I know it was painful."

She tilted her head and gave him a small smile. "Yeah. A bit. But we got through it."

Callen kissed her again, and gently kissed a line down her throat, in-between her breasts, to her navel. "I never want to hurt you Amelia."

Small white hands ran through his hair, and he gazed up at her with a smile. Pulling himself back up her body, he leaned on his heels and pulled his shirt off, taking her hands in his. "Touch me Amelia." He whispered. "Anywhere you want. No where on my body is off limits to you."

Biting her lip, she carefully pressed her hands against his chest, and ran her fingers along the definition of his chest and abs. His eyes fluttered closed, long lashes brushing his cheeks as his breath became more shallow. Amelia trailed her hands down his ribs to his pants, lacking his belt now, and unzipped the front to pull him out of his cloth prison. Callen leaned forward and pressed soft kisses into her neck, a hand gently caressing her breast, tugging on the hardened tip. Her soft moan in his ear only caused him to stiffen further, springing into her palm. Her hand carefully wrapped around his member, and slowly began to stroke his length.

Callen groaned in her ear, and grasped her breast harder. He pulled away then to look down at her, and bring her lips to his with an obvious hunger, his tongue spearing into her mouth as his hand felt downwards towards the apex of her need. Slipping beneath the waistband of her underwear, he gently stroked the wet bundle of nerves that lay in-between her folds, adjusting the pressure in tune with how she moaned in his mouth. When her hips moved in desperation, he carefully pressed at her entrance, stroking softly, before adjusting to entering her with the tip of his finger.

Amelia's eyes went wide and she pulled away from his lips, gasping. He kept his thumb on her, drawing little circles around the small fleshy pearl, lapping at her breasts. "Stop me if you want Amelia," He whispered against a hard peak, before taking it between his lips and sucking viciously.

She moaned and gasped in pleasure, bucking her hips. Callen gently bit into her skin, latheing his tongue over the marks. Pulling the tip between his teeth, he sucked once more before letting her breast pop from his mouth. Pulling his hand from between her legs, he looked up at her, and pressed his lips against her neck, watching her face contort, and whispered "I want you taste you Amelia."

She nodded, lifting her hips and letting him pull her underwear down her legs. Carefully, he pressed her thighs apart and looked at her face, her arms coming up to cover her breasts. He kneeled down between her legs, and drew his tongue carefully along her slit, using his fingers to open her folds to tongue deeper. Her gasp stopped him, and he looked up at her, waiting until she urged him to continue. With her hesitant nod, he pressed his tongue flat against her core, and slowly pressed the pad of his finger against her opening. Slipping a finger inside her, he languidly dragged his tongue against her core, testing pressure on her skin, carefully listening to her reactions.

When her legs began to shake, he stayed where he was, pressing harder with his tongue, pushing his finger inside of her. He reached up and unraveled her fingers from the sheets, and gripped her hand in his own. Carefully, he pressed another finger into her tight entrance, staring into her face while her teeth nearly chewed her lip raw. He moved his hand faster, watching for the sign of her getting closer, and when her lips let out the first cry, he pulled his mouth from her core and swallowed her screams, his hand never stopping while she gripped his fingers like a vise.

When she stopped shaking, he carefully removed himself from her, and laid next to her. Her arms came up to cover her breasts, and she looked at him with hooded eyes. He smiled at her, stroked her hair and her cheek, kissing her parted lips softly while her shaking subsided.

"You're beautiful." He said quietly, brushing her hair from her face, his large warm hand caressing her neck and shoulder. "Just beautiful."

Amelia stared at him, and he watched her throat work as she swallowed her breath. Callen trailed his hand down her shoulder, then her arm, as he pushed a leg over hers and laid above her. He thumbed her cheek, then her hair, while raining his lips over her neck and shoulder.

Her arm came under his and her fingers languidly traced the lined muscles of his back. He sighed into her neck, nuzzling her jaw. "Do you want to keep going?"

Amelia looked at him and smirked. "Do you wanna stop?"

"Hell no."

"Then I guess we keep going." She laughed, and ran her hands down his sides. Callen moved onto his back, letting her take control of his body. Her hands went to his trousers and pulled them to his knees, and then she laid across him, running her fingers over his warming skin, nails lightly grazing his n*****s. He hissed, and her finger tips drew along his sides to his hips, where he was extended fully. Her fingers gripped his girth, and stroked his length, her bottom lip pressed between her teeth.

Callen gripped the sheets at his sides when her mouth opened and took him in, plump lips and soft tongue lapping at the tip. She inched him into her mouth further, being careful with her teeth, and squeezed the length that she had been unable to swallow. He reached down and took her free hand in his, and pressed it down further to squeeze the rest below his length, and she did. He gasped, groaning as her lips pulsed and her tongue bathed as much as she could handle in her mouth.

He felt the familiar twitch in his body and reached down to caress her cheeks. "Amelia, wait," he groaned, popping out of her mouth with a loud sound. "It feels good, but may be too good."

Amelia blinked, and nodded, pulling away. Callen moved away from her, and pulled the rest of his clothing off, letting it drop by the side of the bed. He pressed his lips against hers, and explored her mouth with his tongue, hands stroking her form once more. He carefully caressed a breast, then kissed her chin.

"Do you want me Amelia?" He whispered, teeth grazing her skin as he kissed below her collar bone. His mouth fell back to her breasts, and he alternated nipping, licking, and sucking each tip. He stroked down her hip again and caressed between her legs, carefully entering her with two digits and slowly expanding her walls.

Amelia nodded, swallowing what he almost thought was her tongue. Callen pointed to the side table next to her. "In the drawer. Bottle and condoms."

She reached and pulled out a small box and tube. Callen took both from her and sat back on his knees, still gently stroking her from the inside while tearing open the package with his teeth. Amelia watched him as he rolled the latex over his member, already stretched, and popped open the bottle, pouring it directly on himself. Confused, she lifted her head and sat back on her elbows. "Callen, what's that?"

"It's a condom," he said simply.

She frowned. "Pregnancy isn't a problem here, and obviously I'm clean. But I meant the bottle?"

He smirked, stroking his member. "Lube. And I'd rather we took zero precautions." He gazed at her, and his lips turned downwards. "You aren't upset about this, are you?"

"No kids, be prepared." She gave him a haughty smile. "Very boyscout of you."

"Always be prepared. Isn't that the saying you Americans have?" Callen moved in between her legs, and pushed her thighs open, maneuvering her hips to meet him. He gripped his member and carefully pushed her head against her entrance, before pulling out and stroking against her folds. She hiccupped, and gasped, and reached for his arm. Callen gazed at her, and she slapped his wrist, reaching for his fingers. When he laced his hand with hers, she reached for his other one. Looking at her, he pressed the thick head of his tip against her opening, then let go to grasp her other hand.

Amelia bucked her hips as he inched his way inside of her. Slowly. Carefully. It wasn't like their first time. This time he had prepared her, instead of thrusting in whole, was careful to give her an inch then take it back. She'd squeeze his hands if the intensity became too much, and he'd grit his teeth as he did the age-old advance and retreat. When finally he was situated fully inside her, she had stopped grinding her jaw, and was softly moaning. He leaned over her and wrapped an arm under her waist, while his other cradled her head.

"Look at me lover. Are you alright?" He whispered softly, kissing her lightly on the lips. She nodded, and moaned against his mouth. He carefully moved his hips, adjusting himself inside her and watched her face contort with each movement. With every breath that escaped her lips, he kissed her, on her lips, her chin, her cheek, always watching, always anticipating.

When her legs came around his back and she adjusted her hips to pull him deeper, he moved faster, now more for his own pleasure and hers. Gripping her shoulder from behind her back, Callen reached between them, feeling her soft wet folds to find the slick pearl in between. Burying his face in her neck he thrust harder, faster, her gasps in his ear and her nails gripping his back as his thumb worked in conjunction with her hips and member. Her gasps turned into soft cries, that became louder and louder until she cried out loudly, screaming his name from her throat, and her body clamping down on his member like a hot wet fist.

It was enough to throw him over the edge, and he grabbed her shoulders and thrust inside of her with out abandon. Slamming his mouth against hers, she moaned in his mouth as he pushed on, quicker with each thrust, until his body shook and he drained himself. Strong legs clutched at his back and pulled him in, sheathing him, milking him for everything he had. He groaned inside her mouth, closing his eyes while his body released, shaking fiercely before his arms went slack as he fell on top of her.

Amelia turned to face him as he adjusted himself on her, laying his head on her shoulder. To his surprise, she started to softly laugh, a smile forming on her swollen lips. "That was better than last time." She said, reaching to stroke his cheek.

Callen turned his head to kiss her fingers. He reached up to press his fingers against her neck, his thumb stroking her cheek. "You are beautiful Amelia. So beautiful."

She smiled, a lazy turn of her lips as her eyes fluttered. "Don't you need to clean up or...?

Returning the curve of her mouth, he gave a deep sigh. "Yes, I should. But I just want to look at you for a bit. Memorize this. You have never been so beautiful this way."

She smirked. "Sweaty and gross with runny make-up and you and I still connected?"

"No," Callen replied. He leaned closer and kissed her, his tongue softly opening her mouth before he pulled away. "Mine, Amelia. Mine. You will never be more beautiful than when you are mine."

Amelia pressed her hand against his, and laced her fingers against his palm. She dragged his palm to her breast, and he began kneading it. "Callen, I think we have a problem."

He nodded, moving his hips slowly. "Yes Amelia. We do."

-----

A few days later, Amelia sat at the kitchen table with Ainsley, writing down and marking what she had wanted to do that day. Shopping in Edinburgh, a movie she had wanted to see, and dragged along a few of her close friends. Callen had offered his card again, but she waved him off, citing this was her gift to Ainslee. Fiona came along as well, and Ainsley was even happier.

After that night, Amelia slept in his room with him every night thereafter. Even if nothing happened, she felt safe and comfortable with Callen. He said he wanted her there, and he didn't mind if the girls knew. Fiona was too young to care and Ainslee was through the moon. Even if s*x didn't happen, he seemed more than satisfied to just be with her.

She wondered about it while she was washing the dishes from breakfast. Ainslee had grabbed Fiona and ran back to their rooms to get prepared for the day, texting her friends to prepare for Amelia to pick them up. When Callen woke up later she felt him slide behind her and press his hands on her hips, and his lips seared a kiss through her hair.

"Good morning lover." He whispered in her ear. She felt her hair stand up.

"Callen, shh!" Amelia said back, and turned to him with a smile.

He captured his lips with his own, and lulled away slowly. "They're getting dressed."

"Okay." She breathed a sigh of relief and visibly relaxed. "I know Ainsley is good with this, but I want to make sure we're good with this."

"What do you mean?"

"We're still pretty new, Callen," Amelia said. "And obviously I'm very new." She fretted and looked away for a moment before turning back to him. "I just want to do right by the girls."

He brushed her hair off her forehead and kissed her temple. "I wouldn't have pursued this if I didn't think we had a future."

He didn't notice when she stopped breathing. Instead, he grabbed a roll and took a large bite out of it, thumbing through some mail. "Ainsley is going to run you ragged today. Don't forget to caffeinate."

"Um. Yeah, I will." Amelia looked at him, and memorized his profile. Straight nose that slightly hooked down. Prominent chin with a small scar under it. Square jaw line that stabbed into his earlobe with a subtle hint of stubble due to lack of shaving. He wore a pair of form fitting jeans with no t-shirt, his arms defined as he thumbed through envelopes, separating junk from useful. She drew her eyes to his jeans, and smirked, admiring the denim on his backside.

"Amelia? Did you hear me?" Callen said, looking her way.

She blinked twice. "What's that? Sorry, dozing."

"Looking as me arse is that boring to you, ay?" Callen smiled at how red her cheeks became. "I was asking if Jules had her cake ready?"

"Oh! Yeah, I called him yesterday to confirm." Grabbing a mug, Amelia poured herself a cup of coffee. "It's all set for me to pick it up today. Your girl chose raspberry and white chocolate. Very interesting."

"She's unique, my Ainslee." Callen took her coffee mug from her hand and sipped it. "So girl date? Movies, food, and I get a blessed nap?"

Amelia rolled her eyes. "Nap? Nap. Callen you've slept in for the past four days. I've been up taking care of the girls."

"Mm, well, I've not had a woman in my bed who keeps me awake just by her being there before. Can't help but stare." He set her mug down and pulled her towards him, wrapping his arms around her midsection. "Amelia, the night we came home from the party..."

"Yes?" She asked, her hands rolling along his arms, tracing his biceps.

"I don't know how to describe it." He shook his head. "Just... Are you okay?"

She blinked, confused. "Er, yes. Why?"

"Well, we haven't ah..." he cleared his throat. "We haven't exactly gotten... I mean to say, we haven't..."

"We haven't had s*x since then, and every night has been spent with me curled on your chest?" Amelia wrapped her arms around his shoulders, tipping her face up to meet his lips. "I know. I'm sorry Callen. Just between working at Jules again, and the girls, and getting home late, and getting up early, I just haven't had the strength."

"Hmm." He pecked her mouth. "I can hire a caretaker."

She gave him a dirty look. "Uh, I'm the kids' caretaker."

"Oh, yeah." Callen shrugged.

Amelia smirked, running her hand through his hair. "I'm not working tonight, and we just need to celebrate Ainslee's birthday. Wanna have our own celebration tonight...?"

"Oh, God, yes." He dipped his mouth to take hers in his, thrusting his tongue between her lips. She felt his arousal press against her hip, and his hands stroked her back, grabbing her waist and lifting her on top of the counter.

"Callen," Amelia breathed into his neck. "Can't do this here."

"Why not?" He kissed her neck, and pulled her shirt aside, pressing his mouth against her skin.

"Little eyes. Fiona's watching."

Callen lifted his head, and looked to his right, hearing the sound of a cookie crunching between little teeth. Fiona stood there, watching curiously, as her father mauled the babysitter, unsure of what was happening. She looked from Callen to Amelia, to back to Callen again, happily munching her cookie.

Callen gave her mischievous smile. "Fi. Ten more cookies if you leave here right now and forget what you've seen."

Fiona stared at her father for only a second before turning and leaving the kitchen. Callen shoved his face back into Amelia's neck, and she shoved him off, laughing.

"I have to take a gaggle of girls out and about. And you need a shower." She sniffed around him and grimaced. "You stink."

Callen grumbled as he let her go, watching her slide off the counter. "Just cost me ten cookies. Which I have to bake now."

Amelia laughed, and hugged him. "After the shower, Callen."

-----

He showered after Amelia and his girls had left, after he mixed the dough, baked it, and set the cookies to cool. Carefully, he started a fire, prodding the wood until the flames were high and standing close enough, his face felt like it burned. Staring at the cracking logs, he let his mind wander, regarding the past few months, when a multicolored tornado stormed into their lives.

His mind began beating him. Wondered how far he and Amelia could go. Sure, he cared for her. He hadn't felt this way regarding any woman since Arya, and even then he couldn't compare it. But was she the one he was waiting for? What they had was fun, it was exciting. But eventually he would want to settle down, and he had no idea if she was someone who'd want to be saddled with two kids of his, and none of her own, as he had made it clear he did not want another child.

And what exactly was her endgame? Would she move back to the states eventually, when Scotland becomes tiring? And would she want him to go with her? She was young, and he remembered what it was like to be that young and want the world. A village would never be enough.

He shook his head, the thoughts ransacking his brain were clouding what his heart wanted. He wanted her. He wanted them now. But his children needed a future, a woman in their lives that wasn't as big a stickler as their gran, and he began to mentally weigh the pros and cons of his situation. They had never vocally agreed to be exclusive, either. What if she met someone, her age, with her fire, that ignited parts of her soul he could never touch? He had been her first. Would she be willing to make him her last? Her only?

He didn't like thinking this way. He hated it, in fact. It felt demeaning to assume she was a temporary band aid to a large wound. He poured himself a cup of coffee. He wanted an endgame. He wanted a future with someone. Understanding this, now, the question still remained.

Would she want the same?

It was cold and raining, and he pondered about calling Amelia and asking her to come back home due to the storm, when he heard a knock at the door. He meandered towards the door, and pulled it open, half wondering why Amelia would even knock.

Instead of the multicolored-haired caretaker of his children, there stood a slim woman, her hair streaked with rain water, holding herself with lithe arms.

Arya looked up at him, her bottom lip trembling, and tear-stained cheeks being washed clean with rainwater, washing away her sins.