Chapter Twenty-Three

Two weeks came and went without word from Cale. Lily continued the normal routine of her life, lecturing herself often not to worry. Whispers raced through her mind, flooding her with doubt now and again, before she shoved them away with willpower. It wasn’t like his job had set hours and downtime like hers. He said he loved her and would return. Thus, he would.

The girls had been spayed Monday, thanks to Cale’s gift. All tolerated the procedure well and had, for the most part, resumed their usual daily activities. Certainly, the surgery hadn’t made even a small dent in their appetites. More than once, she considered buying stock in the company that made their cat food. Yet, as much as she commented on the amount and cost of the food, she would do whatever it took to keep providing it for her girls. Never again did she want to see a half-starved cat, desperate to survive. It had broken her heart seeing Hope in that condition and put a smile on her face each time she compared the plump healthy feline to what she had been before. Each homeless animal had such potential if only given the chance. Hope showed her appreciation each and every day, being the most affectionate and loving cat Lily had ever known.

* * * *

Friday evening arrived with a cold snap complete with frigid wind gusts, enough to take her breath away. She hadn’t heard the latest weather forecast, but if snow had fallen from the dreary sky, it wouldn’t have been a surprise.

A small black SUV sat in her parking place. She didn’t recognize the vehicle or the license plate—an out-of-state tag. Unease settled over her as she considered the possibilities and what she should do about each one.

Moments later, fear fled like rain in the desert when she recognized the tall man leaning on the front bumper of the unfamiliar car. Joy and relief engulfed her as Cale glanced up and smiled.

Hastily, she parked the car and jumped out, racing to throw herself into Cale’s arms. “I can’t believe you’re here! I’ve missed you so much!” She spoke against his ear, holding him tight.

He chuckled, gave her a hard squeeze before pulling back just enough to cover her mouth with his for a quick kiss of greeting. “I missed you, too.”

She met his eyes and searched his face. “Are you okay?” Her hand automatically went to his jacket, tunneling under to check for any injuries or wounds.

He shivered as her hands found bare skin on his belly. “Your hands are like icicles.”

“I think you told me once that cold hands only made your blood run hotter.”

He leaned over enough to rub his nose against hers, tugging her hands from under his shirt. Wrapping his fingers around hers, he tried to warm them. “I said your hands, not cold hands, sugar.”

“Oh, was that it?” she teased him, unable to wipe the smile from her face in happiness at seeing him again.

“Uh-huh.” He gave her another squeeze and chaste kiss on the mouth. “Let’s go inside where it’s warm.”

Lily grabbed her purse out of the car, along with a small stack of library books, locked it, then returned to Cale.

His gaze settled on the burden in her arms. “Plan on reading a lot this weekend?”

“Well, I did.” The heat settled in her cheeks as he pulled the top book off the stack, looking at its cover. For some reason, his knowing that she read juicy romance novels pinged her embarrassment.

He arched an eyebrow after turning over the book to read the back. “Romance, huh?”

She grabbed the book away from him before he could rifle through the pages to the sex scenes. Change of topic was definitely called for. “How long have you been here?”

He shrugged. “A few hours. I already filled the water and checked the fences for you.”

“Thanks. I really appreciate that.”

“You should.” He tugged at her ponytail. “That damn bull didn’t cozy up to me nearly like he does you.”

She intertwined her fingers with his as they walked the short distance to the back door. “I’m sorry.”

“No problem. Stew is ready on the stove. Oh, and I’ve got a surprise for you.” He paused before opening the door, a mischievous grin on his face. Those light blue eyes sparkled.

“A surprise?” Lily couldn’t imagine what in the world it could be. He better not have spent more money on her. The vet bill for the girls was more than enough, even if he had a stash of grand wealth at his disposal.

Instead of answering, he opened the back door, ushering her inside.

It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the brighter light, but as soon as they did, she widened her eyes at the sight.

A large black German shepherd rested on an oversized dog pillow near the couch. Her head came up at their entrance, but she didn’t move to greet them.

“Oh, my.” Lily walked slowly over, kneeling before the animal. Languidly, she held a hand out to the dog, smiling when a pink tongue flicked out to lick her. Chocolate brown eyes, dull and sad, returned her gaze. Then Lily noticed the shepherd was missing a front leg. Despite that, she appeared in good health with a shiny coat and muscles with a bit of fat covering her bones.

She petted the dog, softly speaking at the same time. “Where did you find her?”

Cale sat down on the floor beside her. “This is Tally.”

Charity trotted over to crawl on his lap while Faith took the obstacle course, climbing over the large dog to reach Lily. Tally didn’t even blink at the kittens.

“She’s a retired Army dog.”

“Army dog?” Lily had heard that the military used dogs for tracking and detecting drugs and mines and other things. But she really knew very little about the program.

Cale nodded, picking Charity up to pet her, being extra careful with her shaved tummy. The orange and white spotted kitten purred in delight. “She was trained to sniff out bombs. Spent the last couple of years in Afghanistan.”

“Her leg?” Lily stroked between Tally’s ears, noting the dog seemed to lean into her hands as if asking for more.

“Roadside bomb. It killed her handler. The shrapnel she took cost her the leg.”

“Oh, no.” Tears welled up in Lily’s eyes at the thought of what the poor animal had been through. “Where did you find her?”

“An old buddy works at the rehab clinic for military dogs in Texas. The Walter Reed for dogs, if you will.” He used his free hand to rub along Tally’s back. “Anyway, I was close to there and looked him up. He told me about her. How no one would adopt her because she still struggles with post-traumatic stress.”

Lily looked away from the dog for the first time, her focus settling on Cale. “Dogs get PTSD?”

“Apparently. It makes sense, if you think about it. Everything that they see and hear during battle.” Cale’s gaze dropped as he turned his head. Lily reached over to him, patting his thigh. It didn’t take a genius to know Cale’s mind envisioned something horrific in his past. Wanting to distract him, she inquired more about Tally. “You said she was up for adoption?”

He scratched Charity’s ears, then turned to Faith, sharing the attention between the siblings. “The military adopts out the dogs that are no longer able to work. Some go for police dogs, others go to civilians willing to adopt them and care for them.”

“You said no one wanted her?” How could anyone look in those eyes and turn her away?

“She wasn’t a police dog candidate with the missing leg. None of the civilians wanted her either. The hospital did the amputation and gave her extensive rehab, doing everything they could to give her a normal life. But the PTSD seemed to be the issue that turned adopters away. Loud noises send her to hiding, refusing to budge. They say she shakes and is literally terrified. Storms and fireworks are her nightmares.”

“Oh. Poor, poor girl.” Lily rubbed both hands through the thick fur. “After everything she did there to save lives, now no one will step up and take care of her.”

Cale smiled. “Well, someone did.”

She pinned him with her gaze. “Who?”

“You.”

She blinked. Her mouth opened and shut a couple of times before any words emerged. “Me?”

“Yep.” He set the kittens aside, then reached up to cup her cheek. “I couldn’t think of anyone better for her. You have a touch, a way with animals.”

Lily’s mind whirled. “She needs someone with her all the time to build up her confidence and ease her fears. I have to work…”

Cale’s finger shushed her. “I’ve already talked to Mayberry, before the adoption became official. Told them the trainers recommended a quiet home where someone could be with her all the time owing to her fears. He understood. Talked about how many times those dogs saved his life and the lives of those in his unit. He didn’t even hesitate, just offered to let her come to work with you each day and hang out in his office. Said it was the least he could do.”

Lily nodded, touched once more by the generosity of her boss.

“The cats?”

He gestured at the kittens rubbing all over Tally. “Cat tested and approved.”

“Hope?”

“She walked up, smacked Tally on the nose, gave her a royal stare, and then rubbed against her legs. I don’t speak feline, but I took that for acceptance after she showed the dog who ruled the house.” They both glanced up to find the calico resting on a throw on top of the couch, her front legs tucked under her, in a content and lazy mood.

Lily smiled, picturing Hope doing that very thing. It was no secret the cat ruled her little world. “Okay.” She sighed deeply.

For the first time, doubt clouded his expression. “You don’t want her?”

She stared down into those big dark eyes, knowing she could never abandon such an animal. “No. It’s not that. She just looks so…forlorn. As if she’s seen too much, been dealt too many blows in life and has forgotten what happiness and fun are.”

Cale shifted closer, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. “That’s what drew me to her. That expression. It tore at me. I knew you could bring her back.” He pressed a kiss to her temple. “Just like you did with me.”

Tears overflowed with his words. Lily turned her head to meet his kiss, breaking apart to wipe at the teardrops. “I love her already. Almost as much as I love you.”

His smile lit up the room.

She petted the dog once more, promising she would be well taken care of. “Welcome home, Tally.”

Cale stood, pulling Lily up with him. They had to step around the cat toys and a couple of new dog toys before making it to the kitchen. “Let’s get you fed.”

Using a dipper, he scooped up two big bowls of steamy stew, setting them both on the table. Lily pulled two bottles of water from the fridge and placed them beside the bowls. Both hungrily dug in.

She finished first, raked Cale with her eyes, still shell-shocked and ecstatic that he was there. “Thank you. This is the best gift I could have gotten.”

“I can think of a couple of ways to thank me.” His voice carried a low husky tone, full of sexual hinting.

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah.” He stood, taking her hand in his, kissing the palm before drawing her finger into his mouth, cleaning it with his tongue.

Lily’s breath caught at the erotic teasing. Her belly did a slow summersault while parts below clenched in anticipation of what would come next. “You know. It’s been a few days. Perhaps I should make sure you still have that belly button, just in case it’s disappeared or something.”

He laughed before pulling her flush for a deep kiss.

Claws dug into her leg as one of the kittens decided she made a good mountain to climb. At the same time, Tally stuck her cold nose against Cale’s groin.

Cale cursed while Lily giggled. “Perhaps privacy is necessary for belly button inspection.”

Lily unhooked the troublemaker kitten from her pants, sweetly chastising her while carrying her back to the couch. Cale took charge of Tally, whispering softly to her while digging a chew bone out of a plastic bag sitting on the kitchen counter.

“I think so. Besides, I’m not sure I ever recovered from someone’s kitten biting my nipple in search of her breakfast.”

“Awwww.” She grinned up at him, the memory fresh and funny as ever. “Want me to kiss it again and make it all better?”

“Oh, yeah. Better feed the endless pits before they return for an encore.” He rubbed his chest as if the bite still hurt.

With a shake of her head, Lily headed to the kitchen to do just that. Cale moved to fill the dog’s food bowl. Feeling his gaze, she turned around, finding his attention locked on her. Quickly, she put the food out, stepped over the cats, and met him in the hall. After taking his hand into hers, she kissed his palm. “I love you, Cale.”

“And I love you, too.” He tugged her into the bedroom and shut the door firmly behind them.

No sooner had Cale ensured their privacy than Lily began tugging at his shirt, clutching the hem in her fingers and lifting. He took the hint, helping her, before returning the favor. Within a few seconds her clothing lay in a heap on the floor. Cale still wore his jeans even as he stood with a bare chest.

He covered her mouth with his as he used his hands to roam all over her body, leaving sparks in their wake.

Lily kissed him for all she was worth, showing him in the most elemental way possible how much she missed him and welcomed him back. She reached out, unbuttoning his jeans, slipping her hand in to find the object of her search. His erection jumped with the slightest brush of her fingers. Unable to help herself, she shimmied the jeans down his hips, letting them fall to his feet. Following them down, she knelt before him, grasping his cock in hand. She looked up at his face for an instant then reached out with her tongue, licking over the tip in a sultry kiss.

He groaned deep, but his gaze never wavered.

With more confidence, she focused on her task at hand, slipping her mouth over him, licking and suckling, moving as deep as she dared before reversing her maneuvers, elating with each jerk and moan from Cale, signaling that her limited skills met his approval.

He reached down to cup her cheek, gently pushing her away. “I can’t take any more.”

Lily looked longingly at the arousal jutting in front of her and wet her lips, not ready to give up her succulent prize. Just as she leaned forward to take him inside her mouth, he scooped her up and carried her to the bed.

“You can do that later, sugar. Right now, I want to be inside you.” Cale’s low tones and words sent her belly on another deliciously slow summersault.

Upon laying her down in the center of the large bed, he followed her down, raining kisses over her body, before focusing his attentions on her breasts, while he spread her legs and sought her innermost femininity. She welcomed his invasion, writhing in a desperate need for more. She explored his chest and back with enthusiasm and eagerness then, reaching down to grasp his blatant arousal, ran her fingers back and forth over his sensitive flesh.

Cale groaned then pulled back, nibbling her inner thighs while staring at her juicy center.

Lily tensed. She recalled the last time he had showered such attentions on her, sending her into paradise in short order. But she had worked all day long, hadn’t showered since early morning, hadn’t changed her underwear.

As if understanding her uncertainty, Cale soothed her. “Shhh.” Leaning in, he licked across her outer folds. “Mmmmm. Such sweet nectar. Share with me, love.” He urged her thighs farther apart, used his fingers to open her for his tasting.

Lily gasped at the delightful sensations centered on Cale’s administrations with his talented tongue. She dug into the cushiony surface, needing something stable to cling to in light of the near violent rapture beginning to fire inside her, even as she widened her legs, needing him closer and deeper.

Two fingers slipped inside while he licked around, then over her highly sensitive clit. A whimper escaped her lips. “Please.” Her body demanded more than his teasing.

Cale lifted, once again hovering over her. Upon wrapping her in his arms, he quickly rolled them both over, switching their positions. He reclined on his back with Lily perched on top.

She looked down at him and smiled in remembrance. While different from sitting on his lap, the theory remained the same. She called the shots. The thought sent a shiver down her spine as well as a twinge of uncertainty. He’d helped her before. This time she would be on her own.

As if sensing her hesitation, Cale reached out to cup a breast, tenderly squeezing and molding, brushing his thumb over the nipple. “Ride me, love. Just like before.”

The words and his half-mast bedroom eyes forged her confidence. Adjusting her position, she scooted to align their hips. He assisted by bracketing her hips with his hands, encouraging her to move astride. Once she found the angle, he released one hand to grasp his cock, guiding it to her center.

Lily watched his face, then slowly settled over him, taking him deep inside her body. Her core welcomed him back with abundant dampness, ensuring ease of entry.

He clenched her hips, but otherwise, he remained still, allowing her to set the pace. After a pause to catch her breath, she began experimental movements up and down as well as a gentle rolling motion, learning the location of hotspots for both of them.

Cale roamed her body, always returning to her modest breasts, before venturing out once more. More than once, he dipped between their bodies, his fingers glistening from the procured moisture.

She continued this slow and easy rhythm until Cale took control once more. He pulled her down hard to meet his counterpoint thrusts, increasing their speed, and intensity. Lily threw her head back, allowing him to direct her motions, needing more, deeper, and harder. She braced her hands against his chest, giving her purchase for his pounding movements.

“Come for me, Lily.” He removed one hand from her hip, slid over to where their bodies met. He found her clit with his deft fingers and plucked.

The growing tension escalated immediately. One more rub of the sensitive area sent her over the edge with a quiet cry. Contractions locked Cale deep within her body as wave after wave of ecstasy shot through her. Her body massaged and milked him as she pressed firmly to him, soaking up every nuance of sexual excitement.

Cale pounded against her for another few strokes, bucking his hips frantically, before clamping her tightly against his groin, ensuring his erection remained buried deep throughout his climax. Deep moans and a few shudders racked his body before he relaxed once more.

Lily wilted, draping over his chest, valiantly trying to catch her breath, still feeling the minor spasms deep inside where Cale joined with her. He lightly rubbed her back before wrapping his arms around her, holding her close.

She nuzzled his pecs before nipping him lightly with her teeth, smiling to herself when his cock jerked inside her. Focusing, she tightened her vaginal muscles while licking across his nipple. Despite the recent exertion, she felt energized, revved up, eager for the next bout of lovemaking.

“Damn, vixen,” Cale muttered against her shoulder.

Lily sat up enough to look into his face. She grinned wickedly as she performed another hip roll.

Cale tensed under her, his large hands easily holding her locked in place. “You can kill a man like that.”

“Good thing tigers have nine lives.”

He chuckled warmly, smiling up at her.

“Welcome home, Cale.” Lily leaned down to kiss him lightly on the lips, snuggling into his large, warm body.

“This is home. Because of you, love.”