Her first, her last, her only

Chapter 12

When Julia awoke the next morning it was to the sight of Callum lying next to her. At some point in the night he'd stripped her of her clothing and slipped a nightshirt on her, then pulled the covers over her.

She shifted, uncomfortable at the thought that she'd slept through such an intimate act. She slowly disentangled herself from Callum and slipped from the bed to the bathroom.

As she washed her hands she examined her neck in the mirror. She was covered in love bites. Deep red and purple marks of possession and ownership that seemed to glow. Her fingers ran over them. He'd marked her skin before but that had almost seemed tender compared to the last nigh. She stood and closed her eyes. He'd been so different in those moments, so possessive, so angry. At what she wasn't sure but she understood that coupled with his words that he possessed her, these were marks of ownership.

Her bottom still ached and she contorted her body, twisting to see if he'd marked her there as well. She held her breath as she saw the red marks on her skin, one of them purple from the force where he'd hit her. She ran cold fingers over the welts and sighed as for a brief second the heat was calmed.

Once finished she stood at the closed door, dithering as to what to do. The decision was taken from her when the door opened and Callum stood in front of her. He was just wearing boxer shorts and this was the first time she'd seen him with such little on.

She blushed and looked away. His body was hard muscle. She'd never really given any thought to what men looked like under their clothing but this, this...

"Go back to bed." The order was softly  spoken but it was a order all the same and after the events of last night she was in no state to disobey him. Murmuring yes Callum to him with her eyes lowered she slipped past him, her heart thumping as she went back to bed.

She lay under the covers and she could feel herself tremble as she waited for him, wondering which Callum would appear today. The sight of him nearly naked had made her stomach flip. She'd often wondered what he looked like beneath his suits but seeing his tanned skin and defined muscles sent her mind into overdrive.

As she lay there wondering what it would be like to run her fingers over his skin he reappeared and slipped back next to her, pushing her onto her side, away from him. He pulled the covers back and tugged up her night shirt, exposing her bum, his fingers running over the welts on her on her bottom. There was a rumble from deep within his chest. What it signified she was not sure, but his fingers tightened in the flesh of her globes before releasing and massaging gently.

He shifted behind her and she once again felt warm lips brush over the back of her neck. This time there was no nipping and sucking, just soft caresses. There was less pain, more of an ache today and the stinging sensation had dulled when she felt contact from his fingers.

She lay frozen, quivering as he caressed her skin.

"You'll need more cream on that after your shower, don't get dressed until it is done."

With that he pulled her close, adjusting her clothing as he covered them with the duvet. His breathing slowed and deepened and she knew he'd fallen asleep again.

Julia's mind was too wired to sleep. Callum's grip was firm even in sleep so she lay there and let her mind wander. Her fingers traced over a scar on his upper right arm. It was usually hidden by his clothing and she wondered how he'd got it. It was faded and white and looked old but it was also very straight, too straight. For all her naivety and lack of worldliness she wasn't stupid, this scar looked like it had been inflicted by a knife.

She wasn't able to see if he had other scars but it wouldn't surprise her if this was the case. What kind of life did he have where things like that happened to him. Was this why he was so hot and cold, flipping between anger and calm?