This Love

29

When I move my belongings to Dan's room later that day I can't help but lay on the queen sized bed. "Already on the bed why am I not surprised" I tilt my head to look at my boyfriend, "don't judge I got here at 2am this morning" he holds up his hands, "no judgement here gorgeous" I smile, "come here" I say while holding out my arms, he walks over sliding next to me on the bed.

"I love you Cal" my smile widens as he winds his arms around my waist from behind, "I love you Danny" he peppers kisses up my neck as his hands, which rest where my t-shirt has ridden up, move lower towards the waistband of my shorts. I tense up at the intimate movement, he takes his lips away from my skin his hands stopping. "Callie what's wrong?" I look down as my hands move over his a blush coming to my cheeks, "I'm not very experienced in the intimacy department" I reply shutting my eyes tightly bringing my hands over my face.

After a few seconds Dan gently rotates my body, his hands coming to my wrists. He tugs them making my hands lower from my red face, "please look at me Cal" he says softly, my eyes open meeting his gaze. I feel embarrassed as he peers into my eyes, "what does not very experienced mean in your case?" he asks while placing a hand on my waist his thumb stroking my skin, my fingers latch onto his shirt curling into the fabric gently, "it means that I've kissed guys but that about sums it up" I reply quietly not looking at Dan. His thumb stops moving in a soothing pattern, "are you serious?" I look up and nod at him, "but you're beautiful...and pretty much the entire package" I look away again, "except that I'm awkward around anyone that I haven't know for awhile, imagine how much worse it is in an intimate setting with a guy, plus it was never the right person, I want to share that first with someone that I love and who loves me" I explain shyly.

When he doesn't say anything for a bit I look up hoping that I haven't scared the Australian away. "You're truly amazing Callie" I blush and shrug, "those guys that didn't get what they wanted didn't seem to think so" I mumble, Dan pulls me flush to him, "hey no negativity, it's their loss, because you're one in a million and waiting to have sex is nothing to be ashamed of, you're not the first and definitely not the last" my eyes well up with tears, "you say stuff like that and I fall deeper in love with you Dan" I say he smiles and kisses my forehead letting his lips linger there for a few extra seconds. "I love everything about you gorgeous, and if you want to take this slow I can do that" he tells me, I gently wrap my arms around his torso moving my head to his chest, "thank you, I love you more than I love hockey" I mumble, my comment gets a laugh out of the Australian before he kisses my head and tightens his arms around me.

——

I must have been more tired that I thought because I get woken up when a phone rings later that evening. My eyes open slowly to see that I'm alone in bed. The sound of the shower tells me that Dan is in there, I sit up and scrunch up my face realizing that I'm still in my denim shorts and Renault r-shirt combo. As I stand up from the bed I stretch my arms above my head walking to my bag that has been moved to the foot of the bed. When I unzip the duffle the first thing I see is the red lace number that Lexi and Jill got me, I bite my lip looking over at the bathroom door thinking about the man on the other side. Before I can overthink it I throw off my outfit from the track and slide into the red bra and panties, I smile down at myself feeling confident as I throw one of the hotel bathrobes over the ensemble.

I move back onto the bed bringing my phone with me. More notifications greet me on the lock screen so I open the phone and go check them. When I get around to Instagram the first notification is check is the post I've been tagged in. A smile comes to my face when I see it's the selfie I took with the teenage girl at the Ferrari viewing area, just met Callie, she made my day and you guys need to stop being mean to her, my hand comes to my heart knowing that I made that girl's day. "What's got you smiling?" I look up to see Dan watching me while he towel dries his hair, "come see" I tell him, he smiles and sits next to me, "this girl came up to me at the race and asked for a photo, she told me how great we are together and not to listen to the haters, she honestly made my day" I explain to the Australian. He grins at me scooting closer so that he can move the robe off my shoulder to kiss my skin, "you're a celebrity now Cal" I snort, "yeah right" he tugs me closer using a hand to tilt my head in his direction, "look at how happy you made her, that's what it's all about out there" I place my hands on his chest forgetting about my phone, "but I'm just me" he smiles and presses his lips to mine, "and you're pretty amazing" he mumbles.

They way Dan looks at me when he pulls away has my confidence levels boosted. I bite my lip my gaze on his as I undo the knot keeping my bathrobe secured around me. His hands come over mine, "are you sure Cal? I didn't say all of those things to get you to sleep with me" I nod trying not to lose all of my confidence, he moves his hands away from mine so I fully open the robe, the material slipping off of my shoulders pooling around me showcasing the red lace set. Dan's dark eyes take me in, his hands pulling me closer, the skin to skin contact sending a shiver up my spine. "Gorgeous" is all he says before lowering his lips to my shoulder, leaving a trail of kisses up my neck, my hands rest on his shoulders and he fully brings me onto his lap.

He looks up at me smiling, I blush and he places a hand behind my head bringing his lips to mine, "relax Cal" he mumbles into me, while his fingers move along my tense muscles. I open my eyes slowly at his words, "i'm trying, i'm just nervous" I reply, Dan takes my hands in his lowering his head to kiss my knuckles, "I love you no matter what, we don't have to do this" I watch the Australian gently massage my arm the tension seeping out of me slowly. My free hand goes to his shoulder my index finger tracing the black ink that's there, he looks at me curiously, "I want this with you" I tell him before moving my finger along his chest moving up to his lips gently outlining them. He smiles and gently flips us so that i'm laying on my back, my arms are bent my hands on the pillow on either side of my head. Dan starts by kissing me gently on the lips, he moves down kissing just above my chest before slowly making his way down my body, I close my eyes smiling at the unfamiliar emotions his actions bring out in me. When his kisses land on my inner thighs I gasp opening my eyes, he peers up at the sound concern in his gaze, "keep going Dan" I say making him smile before lowering his head again. The Australian cherishes my body for the next hour showing me what I've been missing, taking it easy as to not hurt me or take it too far. At the end of it all I'm curled in his arms a smile on my face as my eyelids begin to close my exhaustion catching up to me.