Guarded: Sequal to Broken

Twenty-One

Maddie's POV

I pause outside the familiar mahogany door, not quite sure what to do. Do I knock? Walk in? Run and make him send my things later..?

My question is answered as the door swings inward, my waist being yanked forward until I'm flush against the man I'd has missed for the last 36 hours. Inhaling the intoxicating mixture of smoke, coffee, and mint.

"Are you okay?" Calum asks, pressing his lips to my temple, cheek, jaw, and then lips.

"Today was so hard without you." I sigh, falling against his chest as I hug him tightly.

"I was dying being here, Mads. I didn't want to be here while you were in the same room as him." Calum combs his fingers through my hair, reaching to lock the front door behind me.

"We're going to make it, right?" I ask nervously, burying my face into his chest.

"We will. It's going to be the hardest time of my life, but we will make it, Maddie. We have to make it. Being apart for a couple months, or even up to six months, it will be worth it to keep us both safe. To keep everyone safe." Calum sighs, curling his arms around me even tighter.

"I don't fly out to the safe house until ten tomorrow morning." I smile up at him, "Can I stay here?"

"I'd be a upset if you tried to stay anywhere else." Calum chuckles, "I had KayKay and Sierra come pack your things. Because I 'couldn't have them in the house anymore'. I put most of the boxes in the basement, no one will know they are down there until you get to come home. Your favorite outfits and things along with your parents things are in these three for you to take with you. I packed those before they came over. Told them I couldn't handle looking at your favorite things even long enough for them to come take care of it all. I might try acting after this little show we are putting on." Calum laughs as he explains.

"Wait, I'm packed? Fully?" I grin.

"I get like twelve hours with you for who knows how long... I was not wasting it packing." Calum grins.

"Oh ya?" I giggle, "What did you have planned then?"

"I'm going to call in an order at your favorite Chinese place, and you are going to go get in the shower. I'll join you, and we'll see what happens in the 45 minutes between order and arrival." He smirks, squeezing my ass suddenly.

"A shower sounds very nice." I grin, slipping from his arms to head for the stairs.

"I'll get dinner ordered." I can see lust in Calum's eyes as he watches me head for the bedroom.

Stripping naked I step into the warm water letting it relax my shoulder muscles while I wait for Calum to join me.

Calum's POV

"Fuck, I'm going to miss this so much." I groan, licking my lips hungrily as I peer through the steamy glass at Maddie's figure. Stripping out of my clothing as fast as I can.

"If it wasn't life or death we wouldn't have agreed to it. Remember that." Maddie smiles sadly, pulling me into the warmth, her arms instinctively wrapping around my neck.

"I'd die for you, Mads." I whisper, brushing her wet hair back before leaning in to kiss her deeply.

"I'd rather keep us all alive." She sighs, kissing me back as I try to memorize the feeling of her lips against mine.

I've left for tour many times, but this is so different. Potentially our separation will be far shorter than some we have endured already, but this time the world and everyone except ourselves, Andrea, and Howard think we are at odds. They think we have gone our separate ways. We will have no contact at all. Tonight there is no I'll call you when we land, I'll see you in a couple weeks or a month, no good night texts or falling asleep on facetime. Tonight I have to show her everything, I have to give her all my love, to help her make it through the hell coming.