CALLEN (Second Chance Novels Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

climax. When she falls over the edge of pleasure, She moans loudly and nearly trembles at the intensity.  
    "God..." she breathes out as she recovers.
    I can't respond but rather rest my forehead on her hip bone.  
    "Come here," she whispers for the second time tonight. She draws me to her breast and rests my head carefully against her. She skims her fingernails lightly through my stubbly hair, offering me comfort and loving sensation. Tipton is a good woman. Part of me wishes I had genuine desire for her. Instead, reality surfaces. She willingly allowed me to use her, and I wonder again of Evvie. Would she be used so easily? Of course not. Tipton, even though she is everything I need tonight, is nothing of what I want in my life.
    I focus again on my current needs, and use my station at her breast to tease her again. I have tonight to get lost, to fantasize, and to release the tension that builds up in my body. I will continue to use Tipton as kindly as I can.
    Passion, now, overtakes the slow need from the last hour. My kisses morph into grazing nips along her skin, and she responds by digging her nails into me. My desperation stems from my inability to deal with Evvie's death. I have an aching need to ease the pain, and using Tipton seems the best way. Making love to her with my mouth didn't satisfy me, and I talk myself into believing a strong, heavy fuck will give me what I'm missing.  
    Instead of imagining a sweet time with Evvie, I'll push away the pain with a strong drive into Tipton's body. I sink myself in heavily and push myself strongly against her. She opens to me completely and accepts every deliberate, forceful thrust into her body. My hands lock her body against mine everywhere I can reach, and I dig my fingers in to hold on tight.  
    I grunt my growing satisfaction as her breathing shifts into panting.  
    "Callen..." she moans out.  
    I can't use her name in return.  
    My pace continues to grow rapidly, as does the strength of my plundering. Push after push I try to fuck away my emptiness. As I climax, I realize once again the fault in my thinking. Somehow, even in the high of endorphins, I'm now less than empty. I force myself to hold Tipton in post-coital tenderness. Neither of us speak. What would there be to say?  
    I roll from her body and force myself to face her. In a final act of whatever form of kindness I can muster, I cup her face and offer her a kiss. She smiles at me softly and doesn't ask me to stay. My lips meet hers one final time before I get dressed. She wraps the sheet around herself and stands to receive a final embrace.  
    "Grieving takes time," she says in understanding. "Take care of yourself."  
    "You too," I say softly. "Tonight meant a lot."
    So much for my honesty. Tonight meant nothing, and even less now that I'm drowning deeper in my sadness. What the hell made me think this would help?  
    I never expected to be at this place in my life. Until I left the Army, everything made sense. My life had order and sanity. My one-night relationships left me satisfied and arrogant over my skill as a lover.
    The intensity in my life hasn't changed, but my ability to function has. I'm disgusted by my personal weakness, which bolsters my need for professional strength.  
    I vow to redouble my efforts at Delta Security, and exponentially multiply my efforts to bring Evvie's slithering ex-husband to justice.  
    "Goodnight, Tipton," I smile for her, forcing the sadness off my face. There's no need for her to be as unsatisfied as I am. She needs to walk away from this knowing she helped me. Otherwise, I will have used her utterly.

CHAPTER THREE

    By the time Wednesday rolls around again, I mentally roll through my last two days. I spent nearly every hour stewing over the information assembled in my guest room. Based on the information I received from Quinn Porter, I have a better understanding of Bennett's cell block and the personalities therein. Note upon note is tacked to yet