Draft: Quaranteam - Hebridean Hame Ch. 14

The following chapter is a late draft, having been submitted for authorisation to the QT lore keepers. Though I expect very little to change. If you spot any issues, please let me know!

While you may have seen earlier drafts, significant changes are made on a regular basis, so it's worth starting at the beginning.

Note, this chapter is not official until properly given the go ahead.

---XIV---

Late Afternoon, Saturday, 3rd October 2020

Eilean Arthriagh, Inner Hebrides, Scotland

With a dull thud, the rowboat's plastic hull hit the beach. The gentle swell of the water within the tidal channel caused the boat to rock slightly.  

Callum, sweat beading on his forehead, breathed a sigh of relief and allowed himself to sag slightly. His shoulders ached from the back-and-forth journeys he’d just undertaken, first to take Catherine from the mainland to the island, and then to return and bring Nicole. One trip over the water was warm work, but three were enough to remind him he’d worked at a desk for most of his life. 

Nicole sat across from him, smiling slightly as she took in her surroundings.

“Well, that was easier than I expected,” she said, waving to Catherine, who was waiting for them at the end of the track that led to the house.

Callum huffed something akin to a laugh while dragging his sleeve across his forehead. “This first time, I did it for you. Next time, you’re on your own.”

The young woman grinned in response, leaning forward and touching his knee. “I hope that doesn’t apply to everything on the island,” she replied quietly, before giving her eyebrows a comedic wiggle. 

Callum laughed again. “Starting to feel it?” He asked as he stowed the oars, somewhat familiar now with the out-of-character and flirty behaviour the vaccine appeared to induce.  

Nicole blushed and gave a slight nod, hurriedly removing her hand. “I don’t know where that came from. Sorry.”

“It’s fine, a side effect, I think. Catherine was the same.”

“But not Sarah?” Nicole asked, picking up on his omission. 

Callum shook his head. “No, Sarah was a little further along when… well, when I got to her. Hard to believe that was only Monday. She was waiting at the house when I returned to the island after collecting the shopping.” As he spoke, Callum carefully rose, stepping over the bow onto the dry foreshore. His hands took hold of the boat, using the hull’s slight rise on the swell to pull it further ashore, before offering a hand to Nicole. 

She raised an eyebrow, passing him her bag. “What do you mean by ‘a little further along’?”

He shrugged before placing the bag down and again offering Nicole a hand. “The vaccine drives women to complete the bonding process. Over time, it becomes a more urgent desire. When I got to Sarah, she was pretty far along.” 

The puzzled look on the young woman's face changed to one of realisation as she took his hand, carefully balancing as she stepped ashore. “Oh. Oh! I see. So you’re saying…” 

“I’m saying that there was very little talking.” Callum finished for her with an awkward smile. 

Collecting Nicole’s bag and some of the shopping that couldn’t be left in the car until the tide changed later that night, the three began trekking up the sloping roadway. 

****

Nicole eagerly pulled ahead, her head turning to take in the various sights of her new home. Meanwhile, Catherine walked beside Callum. He glanced at her, silently checking in, and to his surprise, he noticed that the older woman looked nervous.

“Everything okay?” He asked quietly. 

Catherine nodded, shifting the bag she was carrying to her other hand, leaving the hand closest to him empty. “I am fine, although the headache is becoming a nuisance again.” 

Callum grimaced slightly. He’d almost managed to get used to the dull throbbing over the last day, but Catherine's comment brought it back into sharp focus. 

“Yeah, I still have mine too.” He shook his head slightly, as if trying to dislodge the annoying sensation. “They’ve always come and gone before; this is the longest it’s stuck around.”

The pair watched Nicole stride purposefully ahead for a moment before Catherine spoke again, her tone unusually hesitant. “Do you think Sarah will still be as accepting of… everything… as she was before we left?” 

“I think so,” he answered. “We spoke about it a little, and she seemed genuinely happy that more partners meant more protection for me.”

They continued in silence for another minute, the only sound being their footsteps on the rough track, before Catherine spoke again. “You will be busy with Nicole this evening. And Sarah, no doubt.” 

Callum frowned slightly, glancing at his companion as he tried to understand where the conversation was going before he replied. “Yes, and I’ll need to fit in time with Alison before I take Mira up to Fort William tomorrow.”

She paused before answering. “Of course,” she eventually responded.   

Callum looked over at her, surprised at the resigned tone she’d used, recognising something had gone unsaid. They walked another few steps as he considered the situation and Catherine’s reply. “Do you want to stay at the house tonight?” He asked, guessing that the older woman feared being left out. 

Catherine’s response was instant. “Yes. Please.” 

He nodded. “Good. That’d be nice.”

She didn’t answer, but gently placed her hand on his inner arm, moving closer to him while they walked together. 

As they continued towards the house, her hand slowly slid down his forearm and wrist. Eventually, she awkwardly held his hand, subtly breaking contact as their destination appeared. 

Callum, concerned, looked at her. 

Beside him, Catherine slowed to almost a stop, her hand rising to her head. Suddenly, the sharp throb of his headache changed into an urgent tingling feeling. 

“Sarah is waiting for us,” Catherine mumbled, just as the same awareness came over Callum. He nodded in agreement, finding himself sure that Catherine’s statement was true. 

They both set off again, increasing their pace and rapidly catching up with, then passing, Nicole.  

Their speed increased as they grew closer, until Callum was the first through the door after a short jog. He hurriedly wiped his feet - more of a muscle memory than a deliberate act - even as he called out. 

“Sarah?”

The response was a muffled gasp from the kitchen, followed by footsteps rapidly approaching. 

The bags he carried fell from his grasp as he moved to meet her. It didn’t occur to him to question why he was so sure it was Sarah he was moving towards.  

He’d made it only a few steps down the hall when Sarah hurriedly emerged from the kitchen, tears visible on her face. The two met in an intense hug; their shared momentum caused them to turn together, wrapped in each other's embrace. 

Callum clung to her, overwhelmed by a sudden flood of emotion. The tingling feeling at the base of his skull melted away, replaced by an overwhelming sense of satisfaction and intense pleasure at returning home and being back with Sarah. He felt whole again, though he struggled to identify why, as he hadn’t been aware of feeling incomplete.

The more he considered it, as the hug continued, the stranger his reaction appeared. As pleased as he was to see Sarah, his emotional response was far stronger than it should have been. It felt… forced, somehow.

Sarah gripped him tightly in response, and he could feel her shaking against his chest. They swayed a few steps together, clutching each other as if scared some outside force would pull them apart. Another wave of that same pleasure washed over him, somewhat drowning out his muddled thoughts.  

Then there was a gasp from the doorway, and Callum looked over Sarah’s shoulder to see Catherine standing in the entryway, holding onto the doorframe. She had discarded her bag, and her other hand was pressed to her upper chest. Tears were in her eyes, though her smile was one of confusion and pure relief. 

Behind Catherine, Nicole stood nervously, watching the reunion. 

****

Callum, Sarah, and Catherine sat together on one side of the kitchen table. Sarah sat in the middle, holding Callum and Catherine's hands, while the other two sat unusually close to her, elbows and knees touching. None of the three appeared to be in any hurry to separate. 

Nicole sat at the other side of the table, a little away from the others. She looked bemused, switching between looking around the kitchen and watching the oddly behaving trio. “So… I thought the dogs might be here?” She asked quietly, noting the presence of the food and water bowls. 

“Sorry? Ah, we left them at the Lodge. Emma and Alison have them.” Sarah’s response was distracted, casting a brief apologetic look at the new arrival before focusing back on Catherine and Callum.

In the background, a concerned-looking Mira waited for the kettle to finish boiling, glancing back now and again at her three strangely behaving friends and the new arrival. 

“Are you sure you’re all ok?” Mira asked while watching her three friends smile at each other. 

“Yes, we’re fine,” Sarah replied. “Just glad everyone is here again.”

Mira focused her attention on Catherine. “And you’re alright, Cathy?”

Catherine nodded, her focus remaining on Sarah and Callum. 

Mira sighed, leaning her elbows and forearms on the kitchen counter, shaking her head slightly. “Were these two like this all the way here, Nicole?” She asked, obviously referencing Catherine and Callum.

Nicole blinked and shook her head. “No, they were a little touchy-feely in the car, though they were trying to be subtle. But nothing like this.”

“We’re fine, honestly,” Callum added. “It was just such a relief to get home.”

Mira shook her head again. “Nope. That’s not it. I might have expected you and Sarah to behave like this. Or at least just be pleased to see each other. And I mean no offence to Catherine. But she’s acting so out of character it’s almost like you brought a different person home.”

Catherine glanced at Mira in response but only gave a slight shrug. “I, too, am happy to be back.”

“Well, she sounds the same,” Mira muttered, the kettle behind her noisily reaching boiling point and clicking off. 

The kitchen was briefly filled with the sound of pouring water, tea spoons rattling in mugs, and Mira confirming Nicole’s milk and sugar preferences. 

Eventually, with mugs passed around and the biscuit tin retrieved, Mira settled beside Nicole.  

“You three are creeping me out.” She said with a sigh. 

Callum’s frown deepened.

“It’s like…” Mira sipped her tea, watching them over the rim, “There’s some sort of weird symbiosis going on.”

“It felt good to reconnect,” Callum offered. Some of his previous confusion returned to his expression. He knew that something had happened, but the feeling of positivity overwhelmed any real sense of concern, leaving him feeling slightly confused.   

Catherine nodded enthusiastically at his explanation, putting her mug down as she spoke. “Yes. I had not realised I missed the place so much until I saw the house again.” 

“And everything else feels normal?” Mira asked. 

“Well, yes. I may feel a little more emotional than normal, but today has been a day of firsts.” Catherine replied. 

Mira raised an eyebrow and focused on Sarah. “And you’re doing okay, Sarah? You said earlier that you were still feeling a little… vulnerable?”

Sarah smiled contentedly in response. “I feel much better now.”

****

“This room is spare,” Callum gestured to Nicole as he pushed the door open, stepping aside to let her look in. “Sarah and I have been using the room next door,” he said, pointing down the hall. 

He continued giving the young woman the house tour, opening his bedroom door while indicating across the corridor. “The main bathroom is in here. And that door leads to the sitting room.”

Nicole nodded, briefly looking into the bedroom and then the bathroom. “Do you have enough rooms for everyone? There’ll be six of us, plus you?” Her sing-song Geordie voice lowered to match his. 

“We still need to figure that out,” he replied with a shrug. “There are two more bedrooms upstairs. One of them was Sarah’s parents' room…” He paused for a moment, clearing his throat before continuing. “We still need to clear that out, but we haven’t gotten around to it yet.”

Nicole gave him an understanding look. “That’s never going to be an easy task,” she offered, patting his arm before opening the sitting room door. Her movement entailed more physical contact than might have been expected, with her hand remaining on his arm and her body briefly pressing against his. “But that means you’ve room for five of us, assuming one of us sleeps beside you?” She glanced back at him, brow furrowed. 

He was very aware of her closeness as he stood behind her, watching her as she looked around the room from the doorway. The faint smell of her shampoo was especially noticeable, given their height difference, with the top of her head almost level with his nose. The positive feelings that had engulfed him on arrival home had faded in intensity but still lingered. 

This meant that when she ‘accidentally’ stepped back against him, he thought nothing of placing a hand on her hip and holding her there. 

Nicole gasped softly, the sound morphing into an approving hum. She tilted her head, looking back at him over her shoulder. 

“Where am I… sleeping… tonight?” She whispered, maintaining eye contact with him. 

Callum found himself staring into her eyes as he almost growled in response. “Upstairs.”

Nicole nodded slightly, turning towards him. Her head turned to the side as she made eye contact, her chin deliberately tilted up. Her focus flitted between his eyes and his mouth.   

Callum took this as an invitation, dipping his head slowly and tilting it gently to meet Nicole’s lips. Expecting her to turn away, he kissed her tentatively at first, slowly and deliberately. 

He was surprised when Nicole responded with rapidly growing enthusiasm, lifting her hand to hold his head as she turned slightly towards him. The physical connection he felt was almost electric.  

His lingering concerns regarding her age faded with that kiss. She had responded to him with all the passion and experience of a woman. It was clear Nicole knew what she was doing and that she enjoyed this form of physical intimacy - and had practised it a lot. Not that the other women in his life were bad at kissing, but Nicole took the act to another level.  

The feeling of physical connection with her staggered him. Her lips conveyed her desire for him and encouraged him to go further. He felt no anxiety or restraint from her. Any worries about how they came to be matched, or what Delphi rated their compatibility as, vanished. 

The kiss broke because they each needed to catch their breath, not because either of them had wanted to stop. The pause allowed Nicole to turn fully to face him. At the same time, blinking away his shock at how right the kiss had felt, Callum pressed her back a step, guiding her up against the wall, her hands now flat on his chest while he pulled her against him. 

As they both attempted to manage their laboured breathing, Callum looked down at her, silently checking in. Nicole looked back at him, a genuine smile on her lips. In fits and starts, slightly more awkwardly this time, each of them carefully leaned in, grinning somewhat as they bumped noses or tilted the wrong way. 

It reminded Callum of his and Sarah’s first few awkward kisses, though he was unsure how to unpack that memory at the moment. Despite the newness of the situation, he was being kissed intensely again in moments, Nicole's arms now looping around his neck as he leaned down to reach her lips with his. Her tongue moved deftly against his as their bodies pressed together. 

Callum focused on her movements, absorbing the softness of her touch and the expressiveness of the kiss. 

Yet again, he grew increasingly aware of the burning in his lungs and reluctantly pulled away. He was thankful that Nicole was also gasping slightly as they each caught their breath.

Still standing over her, looking down at her pleased smile, “Wow…” It was all Callum could muster, taken aback by their first encounter. 

Nicole giggled, still looking pleased, but trying to be modest. “Thanks. Wow yourself.”

“I mean, wow…” He sighed, shaking his head. 

Nicole giggled again, covering her mouth with a hand in what appeared to be a very Asian mannerism. The same hand then moved to stroke his cheek. “As keen as I am to continue this, I could really use a shower before we go any further.”

“There’s an en-suite,” he offered, nodding his understanding. “I’ll get your bag.”

“Lead the way,” she instructed, eagerly.    

****

They entered the kitchen, hand in hand, Callum having grabbed Nicole’s luggage from the hall. He then led the way to the stairs, exchanging an awkward smile with Sarah and Catherine as he passed. 

Callum’s partners still sat together at the kitchen table, with Sarah giving him a wink in response and Catherine returning his smile knowingly.

“Callum?” Mira called out from across the kitchen as he reached the bottom step. 

He glanced over, grasping from her expression that she needed to talk. He looked back at Nicole, whose sheepish grin had changed to one of concern at Mira having called out. Callum gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, drawing her attention back to him. 

“Top of the stairs, first door on the left. I’ll be up shortly,” he said, pointing the way. 

Nicole glanced back at Mira to see if she agreed with Callum’s statement. 

Mira nodded, giving the young woman at least some reassurance. “He’ll be up in a minute, Nicole. I just need a quick word. You can use the towels in the bathroom if you shower. There are some toiletries in there as well, just help yourself.” 

“Okay, thanks!” Nicole answered, returning Callum’s hand squeeze before hurrying up the stairs. 

He set the bag down before he responded to Mira’s gesture to join her. 

“What’s up?” He asked, meeting her at the counter while she pulled a plate from the cupboard. 

“When did Nicole last eat?” She asked him, busily taking items from the fridge. 

“Oh.” The concern he’d briefly felt melted away, replaced by a warmth of feeling towards Mira. He stepped in and hugged her, kissing her forehead before answering. “Thank you. I’m not sure. We met her at lunchtime, but I’ve no idea when she ate before that.”   

Mira rolled her eyes, shaking her head while making the sandwich. “I was trying to get some idea of what to expect tomorrow. Catherine and Sarah both said they’d woken up hungry and thirsty. So I’ve got some water ready for you to take up, and get her to eat this.”

Callum watched as she finished making the ham sandwich, adding a packet of crisps and a chocolate biscuit to the plate. His stomach rumbled at the sight of the food, reminding him he’d not eaten anything substantial since lunchtime. 

She handed him the plate. “There you go. Nothing fancy, but Emma’s still back at the Lodge. The water’s on the counter.”

“Thank you, Mira,” he replied, trying to convey his gratitude at her thoughtfulness. 

She shrugged dismissively, but smiled gratefully as he leaned in and gave her a sincere and lingering kiss. 

****

Callum first took the food to the room, finding that Nicole was already in the bathroom. When he returned and placed Nicole’s bag at the foot of the bed, the shower was running. 

“Everything okay?” Nicole’s voice came, raised over the sound of the falling water - his closing the bedroom door letting her know he was there. 

“Yeah, Mira’s made a sandwich for you,” he said, sitting awkwardly on the bed. This room had been Sarah’s, though with her having lived on the mainland throughout her school and university education, it had more of a ‘visitor’s room’ vibe. 

Although looking around properly, Callum accepted that there were a few girly touches where Sarah had made her mark.  

Oddly, this was a room he’d never slept in. 

The background noise of running water ended just before the shower door opened and closed. Still undecided on what to do with himself, Callum checked his phone, idly replying to an earlier text from Graham asking how he was. 

His attention quickly returned to the room as the bathroom door opened, revealing Nicole’s head and bare shoulders. Her dark hair looked wet and oddly frizzy, and her fringe stuck to her forehead. The long tendrils of hair, which framed her face, were also plastered to her skin. He was surprised at how long her hair was, suddenly realising he’d only seen her with her hair ‘up’.  

She smiled apologetically at him before speaking, a towel clutched closed around her body. “Sorry, I need my hair towel; it should be in my bag.” 

Callum briefly considered looking for the item himself before carrying the bag over instead. Going through the young woman’s belongings felt too personal, and the realisation, given what they would shortly be doing, uncomfortably weighed on him. 

“Thanks.” She offered, crouching down to unzip the luggage. She paused, looking back up at him with a faintly embarrassed look. “I won’t be long; if I don’t follow this routine, my hair will be a mess. Either too oily or just frizzy. And I was already in there when I realised my shampoo and stuff were in this bag, so I made do with the shampoo in the shower, which was probably a silly idea. But I just wanted to feel clean… And not to take too long…” Her voice tailed off, her blush deepening. “I talk too much when I’m worked up.” She offered. 

Callum chuckled, shrugging. “I’d noticed that the first time we spoke on the phone.”

Nicole grimaced slightly, looking back at the bag and pulling out a pale blue microfibre towel, followed by a compact hairdryer, which she handed to Callum. “Could you plug this in for me? I won’t be long, promise.”

He nodded as she smiled gratefully, before she rose and closed the bathroom door, still clutching the towel tightly closed around herself. 

A few minutes later, she emerged with her hair wrapped and the towel still tightly closed around her body. He watched as she carefully crossed the room and sank into the chair in front of the dresser. The hairdryer was plugged in and waiting, and the large mirror let them make eye contact.

Then her attention settled on the plate of food, and she indecisively glanced between his reflection and the sandwich. 

“Go ahead and eat,” he offered. “Both Sarah and Catherine said they were hungry when they… woke up. You’ll be starving if you don’t have anything now.” 

Nicole caught his hesitation and frowned slightly. But her eyes settled on the food, and she didn’t need to be told twice. After a brief moment of hesitation, the food was consumed with an almost shocking intensity.

Callum watched bemused as the young woman finished the sandwiches and crushed the crisps in the bag, opening it only to pour the remnants directly into her mouth. 

Nicole almost choked as she caught him watching her unusual way of eating, blushing heavily and sheepishly lowering the mostly empty bag. “Oh, god,” she murmured after her coughing fit subsided. “I was hungrier than I realised.”

He smiled reassuringly, shrugging lightly. “I’ve never seen anyone eat crisps like that.”

Nicole frowned again, contemplating the crisp packet in her hand. “You’ve never had to find time to eat when surrounded by people’s pets, which were never taught not to beg…”

Callum laughed, drawing a smile in response. 

****

“It’s awkward, isn’t it?” Nicole asked after she turned off her hairdryer, watching him through the reflection.

Callum nodded, grimacing slightly at the observation. He’d been feeling the same. “Maybe I should have waited downstairs?”

Nicole shook her head. “No, it’s fine. It’s been nice having you here. There’s just a lot of… I don’t know. Tinder energy?”

“Tinder, the dating app?” Callum asked, trying to understand the reference. 

She blinked a few times, apparently confused at his description, squinting at him cutely as she tried to tell if he was joking with her. When he made a ‘what’ gesture, she shook her head. “Well, it’s not really a dating app, more a hookup type thing.” She paused, casting her eyes over him again, ensuring he hadn’t been joking. “But yeah. You swipe right on someone, then you go to meet them if they do the same. And you both know sex is the intention, but neither person knows how to get to that point…”

“Did you use that a lot?” He asked, slightly surprised at this new side of the young woman. 

She shrugged lightly, observing him. “Not a lot, and not recently. Before I met Tony, I used it a bit when I’d just moved up to Glasgow. The first couple of years of the Veterinary course were pretty full-on, so I focused on my studies. It was a good way to meet people without all the complications of a relationship. Especially when I just wanted to blow off some steam. Does that bother you?”

Callum shook his head. “No, I was just surprised.”

“Good,” she said, rising from the seat, with the white bath towel still wrapped around her. Her dark hair, usually worn up, hung straight, falling just past her shoulders, contrasting with the white material wrapped around her body. “Hopefully, this is a better surprise.” 

She gently tugged the towel, allowing it to slide to the floor. 

Nicole bit her lip slightly as she stood before him, obviously nervous. 

Callum was shocked by the sudden reveal, just as much as he was by Nicole's confidence. He allowed himself a slow exhale, admiring the woman in front of him before deliberately making eye contact. 

Nicole’s youthfulness was evident. At twenty-one, her body represented the ideal of good health. Callum’s eyes were first drawn to her elegant neck and narrow shoulders, her skin pale but with a hint of her asian heritage. Her breasts, looking surprisingly large in comparison to her slight build, stood high and pert on her chest. Her stomach, slightly toned, led down to narrow thighs. He could see a small strip of pubic hair, though she kept her poise relatively demure. Her thighs, similar to her arms and hips, showed evidence of some muscle tone. Callum recognised at that moment that her profession was as much a physical as it was cerebral. He took note of her dainty feet before letting his gaze return to her eyes.    

His actions and attention were rewarded with a brief grin and a wink.

“I thought this might be the best way to get past that ‘Tinder’ energy.” She offered, keeping her voice low. A slight quiver in her voice revealed just how nervous she was. But those nerves didn’t prevent her from deliberately sashaying towards him, crossing the few steps which separated them, and raising her hand to caress his cheek. 

Still energised and confident from whatever had caused his earlier feelings of fulfilment, Callum extended his hands to meet her. His fingertips gently traced the outside of her thighs before trailing upwards and resting on her narrow hips. 

She shivered in response, letting out a low gasp at his touch. Leaning in, her lips made gentle contact with his. 

Seated on the edge of the bed as Callum was, they were much closer in height. This allowed Nicole much more control over the intensity and pacing of their kiss, and again she showed him that this was one area in which she was immensely talented. 

While their lips and tongues moved together, he allowed his hands to explore her body. Nicole’s slight build made even her small breasts look large, though he was pleased to find that each was a pleasant handful. The combination of her chest, small waist and strong thighs gave her a definite, though petite, hourglass figure. Her skin was as smooth as silk under his touch, with her small dark nipples and goosebumps offering the only significant changes in texture. 

She gasped, breaking the kiss to groan loudly as his thumbs travelled over those firm buds. She pushed away slightly and looked up at him with a smirk, “You’re overdressed,” she stated while plucking roughly at his clothing. 

Callum nodded, dropping his hands from her body and starting to pull his top off. Nicole pulled him to his feet as his arms stretched above his head. Even as he shrugged his way out of the t-shirt, her deft fingers were working on the buttons of his trousers. 

No sooner had she wrestled his trousers and briefs down past his knees than she pushed him back into a sitting position. 

Her mouth met his. They kissed while Callum tried to kick away the bunched clothing around his ankles. He gasped when her hand enveloped his already erect penis, pressing her palm against the head of his cock as her fingers moved along his length. 

One of his hands gripped her hip, pulling the young woman towards him as his other hand moved over her breasts, his fingers pressing into her flesh, his thumb sliding over her nipples. Whether it was his attention there or feeling his hardness for her as she massaged his length, Nicole hummed appreciatively as they kissed.

Pulling her mouth away from his, Nicole took a breath, blowing it out through pursed lips as she glanced down at his cock. “They weren’t kidding about that vaccine…” She muttered, lifting her hand from his penis to her mouth. “I don’t think I’ll need this, but…” she said before licking and then spitting on her palm. “Better safe than sorry. It’s been a while.” 

With those words, her hand returned to his cock, spreading her saliva over the tip, before she used both her hands on his knees to push his legs apart. 

Callum expected her to kneel, and was surprised when she turned away from him, guiding his hand onto her hips as she backed up. 

“Have you done this before?” She asked breathily.

“Not sitting like this, no.” He replied, his voice low. 

“Hold yourself up for me, while I settle down…” As she spoke, he felt his penis come into contact with her skin, her buttocks pressing down either side of his length. 

Callum grunted his assent to the request, dropping a hand from her thigh to position himself. 

She hummed again appreciatively, pushing her hands down on his thighs to lift herself a little. 

They both moaned as the tip of his cock found her opening, and the moan turned to a mutual groan as he slid inside her, the head of his cock enveloped in her heat. 

Nicole shivered, holding herself steady before lifting herself imperceptibly and sinking down another inch. 

Callum gritted his teeth, loving the feeling of her tightness surrounding him, fighting the urge to push up into her.

She made another small upwards lift before dropping down onto him with more force, shuddering as he slid all the way into her. They froze together like that, both enjoying the sensation of the most intimate connection. 

After a moment, Nicole sighed and leaned her back against him, pulling one of his hands around and placing it on her breast, while guiding his other hand between her legs.

“You know…” she spoke, almost in a whisper. “After that first time we met, I fantasised about you doing this to me. Like this.”  

Callum’s eyebrow rose at her disclosure, glancing up at her reflection in the mirror, catching her eye. “You did?” His disbelief was evident in his tone. 

Nicole nodded lazily, giving her hips a slight circle. She returned his look, her eyes half-lidded. 

Callum moved his lips to her shoulder, and then to her neck, while he cupped and fondled her breast, his other hand delving between her legs, pressing between her lower lips and circling her clit. 

Nicole moaned, still watching their reflection, her head tipped back to give him greater access to her throat. “I had a scenario all planned out,” she murmured while circling her hips again, writhing slowly as his hands slid over her body. “You’d come into the living room after you’d put Karl back in the car. Pulled me back against you while you sat on the sofa.” She paused as she slowly moved up and down on his cock, causing them each to gasp for breath. “And you just took me. Like this. You pushed your hand up under my top and pulled my pants down. And made me fuck you like this.” Nicole flexed her legs, pushing back against his chest as she slid up his length, then dropped back. 

“That sounds… intense,” Callum murmured, his lips distractedly working along her collarbone. His eyes remained on hers through the reflection, watching her body move against him. In truth, the description of her fantasy made him feel uncomfortable, though the view in the mirror significantly offset his discomfort.  

“Hmmmm,” she moaned, her hands still covering his, encouraging him to squeeze her left breast harder. “It was the first time I’d felt… excited… in months. You made me feel…” She slid up and down on his cock. “Seen. And safe. I’d never been into older men.” She bounced again, gasping as she quickly sank back onto him. “But I masturbated to the thought of you just… Taking me… Oh fuuuuck…”

Nicole went rigid against him as what he took to be the priming orgasm washed over her. It was the third time he’d encountered this particular reaction, and even knowing that the vaccine drove it, the result was still pleasing. An ego boost, even if it wasn’t his doing. He held her carefully, his only movement being his lips against her jawline until she sagged limply against him, her back pressed to his chest. 

But even holding her body and watching her naked form press into him in her pleasure, Callum found himself still struggling to parse her fantasy. While gently kissing her skin, he tried to process what she’d told him. His discomfort fizzed inside him, entirely at odds with their current situation.

But after a few moments, he realised that Nicole knew nothing about his history, what he’d gone through, or the importance he placed on consent. In the end, watching her slightly slack and satisfied smile, Callum decided it was a conversation for another time. It had been, after all, her fantasy and not his.

And it wasn’t like he could back out of this process now, anyway. 

There was silence until she recovered some of her senses, eventually broken by a breathlessly whispered, “Oh, wow.”

“Wow indeed,” he chuckled in response. 

“So it’s real?” Nicole asked, still shuddering from the aftereffects. 

He paused for a moment, resting his chin gently on her shoulder. “As strange as it all is, yes.”

She sighed sadly. “I’m not gonna to lie, there’s a lot of confused thoughts and feelings bouncing around in my brain, but right now I can’t really focus on any of them.”

“Anything I can help with?” Callum asked, letting her hear his concern. 

“No, not right now, anyway. I keep thinking about Tony, and how this is all a betrayal… Even though that orgasm was amazing. And I very much enjoy feeling this…” She circled her hips gently, stirring him within her as she did so. “... it all comes with some guilt. Even my little fantasy came with hours of guilt afterwards.”

Nicole sighed again. “But right now, I need… I need to do this.” She sighed again, this time more contentedly. “I need to do you.” 

With those words, she lifted herself slightly and dropped firmly back onto his cock.

****

Nicole lay face down on the bed as Callum finished gently cleaning her up. The young woman, her eyes closed and cheek pressed into the mattress, still repeatedly muttered the odd word his other two partners had used after their second orgasm. 

“Imprinting.”

After Nicole’s priming orgasm, he’d have been happy to remain in the position that she had initiated, but she’d been extremely keen that he increase the tempo. He’d merely followed her lead as Nicole had taken a position with her knees on the edge of the bed, her petite rear raised high in the air and pointed in his direction, her chest pressed flat against the mattress. 

He’d slipped inside her easily, the position and angle feeling surprisingly different. Nicole had responded enthusiastically as he began thrusting. Her whimpers and moans grew in intensity, and her hand vigorously rubbed against her clit while he fucked her from behind. 

His earlier concerns still caused him some distraction, however. His lack of real emotional connection with Nicole and his swirling thoughts made the act a little… mechanical. The result would have benefited Nicole had the situation been different. Callum just kept going. And going. His own orgasm had felt increasingly challenging to reach, so caught up was he in his thoughts. 

Nicole had been left panting in frustration, her own orgasm unable to trigger until he came. Her hand moved in a blur against her clit, her hips pushed back as he thrust forward. Her every movement was made with the intention of bringing herself relief. The room was filled with her frustrated moans and the sound of their flesh meeting on each thrust. 

Hearing and feeling her frustration, Callum made a determined effort to close his eyes and to focus on nothing but the physical sensation, attempting to clear his mind.  

In doing so, his orgasm arrived suddenly, as if his body had decided on its own that it was time to go. He’d automatically hilted himself in her, as his body unloading as his back arched.  

She’d gasped loudly as her matching orgasm began, moaning in relief while humping and writhing herself back against him, taking him as deeply as she could before her body flopped limply onto the bed. 

“Imprinting”, she’d uttered, her voice muffled by the mattress. 

Callum had been left standing at the end of the bed, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. Sweat dripped down his face, threatening to sting his eyes. 

****

Having finished cleaning the young woman up, he carefully pulled her limp body further up onto the bed and tucked her in, pulling the duvet over her to keep the chill off. 

Callum sighed as he looked down at her, running a hand through his hair and finding it still wet with his perspiration. “This might be harder than I thought,” he muttered, before heading for the shower. 

The warm water was refreshing. 

Dried off, Callum pulled his clothes back on while watching his newest partner sleep, noting that with the way her hair spread around her, and the relaxed expression she wore, the young woman looked more innocent than her kissing skills or apparent sexual appetite might suggest. 

As he left the room, he grabbed the used plate and refilled the water bottle, placing it by Nicole’s bedside.

****

Mira sat at the kitchen table, another plate of sandwiches set at one of the empty places across from her. She looked up as he descended the stairs and gave him a wan smile. 

“Everything went okay?” she asked, her eyes flitting from him to the top of the stairs. 

Callum nodded in response, a strange mix of guilt and shame washing over him. He’d never had to do ‘the walk of shame’ while at Uni, but this situation was awkward enough to make up for a lifetime of missed experiences.  

“I saw how you looked at Nicole’s food, so I made you some.” Mira gestured at the empty seat, apparently noting his awkwardness.  

“Thanks.” He struggled to meet her eyes as he sat. “Where are the other two?”

“In the lounge, down the hall.” She shrugged as he finally looked up at her, a slight frown on his face. “Yes, they did ask if I wanted to join them, but I wanted to be here,” she offered, guessing he was concerned that she’d been omitted. 

“And you’re okay?” Callum asked, tentatively. 

Mira sat quietly for a moment, her hands flat on the table. Eventually, she exhaled. “Truthfully, I don’t know. I understand the why and what. I’ve read the pamphlet and gone through the Delphi thing. But...” She stopped, apparently running out of words. Or losing the thread of what she was trying to say.  

Callum sat silently until she spread her hands, palms upwards, letting out a frustrated-sounding sigh. “I know I’ve never had any claim on you. It’s not like we’ve been anything more than friends. Seeing you with Sarah, on the hall floor, was bad enough. Then the whole rollercoaster afterwards…”

“Before I came to my senses,” Callum added. 

“Ha. Yes. But knowing that you were upstairs with another woman, that just…” Mira’s voice faded as she struggled to find the words, though the pain was evident in her expression. 

“It’s a really fucked up situation,” Callum responded quietly, making hesitant eye contact. “When I saw you sitting there, I just felt, well, dirty. Guilty, and ashamed.” He reached over the table, placing his hand over one of hers. “You’re important to me, Mira. I’ve already fucked up and hurt you, and I don’t want to do that again.”

“I know you didn’t mean to. Nicole needed to complete the process, and you had to be involved. But fuck me, it hurt. And what confused me even more is that I don’t seem to be on the same level with it as Sarah or Catherine. They were just so… blasé about it. I really expected them to feel the same, but they just… didn’t.”

Callum squeezed her hand, lacking anything useful to say.  

“I just feel like there’s more going on than we’re being told. The way you guys acted when you got home, and the way they both acted when you were upstairs. Especially the way Sarah’s been. It just doesn’t seem right. It’s like the vaccine has changed something about all of your perspectives. And it’ll be my turn tomorrow, which worries me even more.”

“If you don’t want to…” Callum began, before being cut off. 

“No. No, that’s not what I’m saying. I’m just concerned.” She fell silent again, glancing back upstairs. Her gaze settled on him as she raised a hand to rub her forehead. “I don’t think I’m mentally in a very good place right now. And last night's nonsense has left me too tired to deal with all this.”

“Do you want a hug?” Callum asked weakly, feeling lost as to what else to suggest. 

Mira nodded, pulling herself out of her chair and moving around the table to him. Callum pushed his chair out, rising to meet her and enveloping the shorter woman. They stood together like that for a long time. Long past the point Callum felt he’d naturally have released her. 

Eventually, she stepped back, tears visible on her cheeks. “Thanks,” she offered quietly. 

“No problem, any time,” he reassured her. 

“I’m probably going to try to go to bed early. We’ll need to be up sharp for the tide?” she asked, some of her strength returning to her voice. 

“Yeah, that’s a good idea. I’ve a few errands to run, including bringing the car over. But I’ll try not to be too late myself.”

Mira arched an eyebrow, indicating in the direction of the lounge with a tilt of her head. “Have you figured out tonight's sleeping arrangements?”

“Do I need to?” He replied, frowning at Mira’s slight laugh. 

****

The ATV jerked roughly over the last few tree roots, the LED lights settling on the smoother track ahead as Callum descended from Arthraigh Beag onto the main body of the island. The point that the trail improved always indicated that he was close to his destination. 

A short time later, he could see the dark silhouette of the Lodge roof outlined against the colourful dusk sky. With only two occupants, signs of habitation were few, only the light spilling around one or two sets of curtains indicating that someone was home. 

Despite their initial pleas to the contrary, he’d left Sarah and Catherine back at the house. Once he’d explained the purpose of his journey, they’d agreed to stay where they were. 

Strapped into the seat beside him, his old backpack was filled with all manner of goodies.  

Arriving at his destination, but with no immediate need to plug the electric ATV in to be charged, he chose to park close to the kitchen entrance. Grabbing his backpack, he hoisted it over his shoulder as he climbed out onto the gravel. 

Callum smiled as he approached the door. He could hear the three dogs excitedly barking inside. The mud room light flicked on before he reached the door, which almost burst open as the three dogs bowled out, tails wagging hard. 

He gave Emma a brief grin, all that he could manage before turning his attention to Skye, Piper and Karl. The three bounced around him, each a furry, excited bundle of licks, whines, and attention-seeking. It felt like they were welcoming him back after months away, instead of days.

Eventually, the three calmed enough that Callum could rise from where he had been crouched, rubbing ears and tummies while fending off licks and wet noses.  

“Did everything go alright?” Emma asked, leaning against the doorframe while she watched the dog’s antics. She wore the oversized woollen jumper she favoured when lounging around the house, though with shorts rather than her usual joggers. 

Callum responded with a smile. “Yeah, Nicole is imprinting back at the house. I thought I’d come check on you guys.”

“Pft…” Emma responded with a slight pout. “Sarah already messaged me. I know who you're really here for.”

He paused for a moment in front of her, an eyebrow raised. Long enough for Emma to give a sly smile. She hadn’t moved from the doorframe. 

“You’re the one who encouraged me to give her some attention,” Callum responded. 

“Hmmm. And what do I…” Emma’s response faltered as Callum stepped into her space, grabbed a handful of her jumper and pulled her towards him. His mouth met hers roughly, but she recovered quickly, kissing him back with a slight grin.

The kiss ended with her breaking away slightly, then nuzzling into his chest - her arms pulling him into a hug. 

“That was… different.” She said quietly. “Someone’s been teaching you new moves.”

It was Callum’s turn to grin as he returned the hug and muttered, “No comment.”

****

Callum crouched at the bottom of the main staircase, the widest and oldest of the three within the Lodge. In front of him, Piper and Skye were enjoying some skritches while he put on the voice most men use when talking to dogs or babies. "Where's Alison? Find her!” Callum told the two, encouraging their excitement. 

The two dogs, already suitably enthusiastic following his arrival, tails wagging excitedly, set off up the stairs. Karl, whether following the instructions or simply going with the other two, took off after them. 

Callum gave a wave to Emma before he turned to follow. She’d paused in the sitting room doorway to watch him go.

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” she called as she winked and blew him a kiss. 

He grinned in response, turning back to the stairs. Skye and Karl were waiting for him on the first stair landing, looking towards him and then further up the stairs in a way that told him to hurry up. Piper was already out of sight, having continued upwards.  

Still carrying his backpack, less a couple of items for Emma, Callum climbed quickly after them. Skye, happy he was following, set off again. In contrast, Karl waited until Callum was a step from the landing before following her. 

Piper had waited at the top of the final flight, taking off down the hall with the other two dogs close behind her as Callum rounded the landing corner, taking the stairs two at a time while urging the dogs on. 

As he reached the top, he heard Alison asking the dogs what was happening. The three had already barged into her room, leaving the door open. 

She’d just gotten up to close the door when Callum arrived. 

“Shit!” She yelled, jumping slightly and taking a step back while clutching her chest. 

The young woman, who jumped in fright before him, appeared to be the most dishevelled he had ever seen. Alison's hair, usually neat, looked like she had just woken up and hadn’t brushed it all day. She was wearing one of her oversized t-shirts that she often used as a nightgown, and the neckline was so wide that one of her bare shoulders was exposed. Her face, either from the shock she had just experienced or the lingering effects of her hangover, was pale and drawn.

Callum held his hands up in an act of apology, though he couldn’t quite suppress his grin. 

“What’re you doing here…?” she asked, a frown on her brow, her hand still over her heart. “You scared the Jesus out of me.”

“Sorry. I knew you were suffering today and wouldn’t be in the mood for our date night, but I thought you’d appreciate some goodies.” He indicated to the backpack as he swung it off his shoulder. “Can I come in?”

Alison’s frown had melted away as he spoke, replaced by a look of appreciation, followed immediately by a look of horror as she glanced at the state of her room, then down at herself. Her hand idly moved from her heart to her hair as she remembered her physical state. 

Her eyes met his briefly as she tried to compose a response. “Erm… Could you?… just… maybe?… Five minutes.” As she spoke, Alison stepped forward, grabbed the door and closed it without any further hesitation. 

Callum chuckled, shaking his head at the situation. From what he’d seen of the room behind her, it wasn’t much of a mess. Untidy, maybe. 

From behind the door, he could hear movement, Alison urging the various dogs to move and then the buzzing of an electric toothbrush. 

Six and a half minutes later, the door opened again, and Alison gave him a shy smile. She’d brushed her hair, changed clothes, and made her bed; the room was generally much tidier. 

“You can come in now,” she gestured into the room, stepping aside. 

Callum brushed past her into the room, Karl and Piper excitedly moving to meet him while Skye lay in the corner, tail beating against the floor. “You really didn’t have to, Ali,” he told her as he placed the backpack on the bed, ensuring he was facing her while he spoke.

She shrugged, now wearing a creased-looking t-shirt and shorts. “I shouldn’t have been moping around my room all day. But I felt pretty rough this morning.”

He nodded, chuckling. “Yeah, you looked pretty green around the gills this morning. Are you feeling any better?”

“A bit,” she responded, though not particularly genuinely. Alison moved to the bed, sitting sideways while watching him unclip the backpack.  

“I thought these might help.” Callum reached inside and pulled out the bottle of full sugar Irn-Bru, the sight of the bright orange fizzy drink drawing a smile from Alison. A bar of Lindt dark chocolate followed, then some whole-nut chocolate and a pack of jelly sweets.

Alison raised an eyebrow. 

Callum shrugged. “Only the dark chocolate is for the hangover; I asked Emma to add the other bits as I know you like them.”  

She smiled again, blushing slightly as she met his eye. “Thanks, Cal. That was really thoughtful of you.” Then she paused for a moment, her face reddening further. “I’m sorry if I said anything last night that… If I went too far. I was really drunk.”

He shook his head, dismissively waving a hand. “It’s all good. I’m glad you were there to help Sarah and Mira. You didn’t say anything upsetting.”

Alison remained quiet, studying him hard. There was a question in that look that neither wanted to ask nor answer.  

“Anyway,” he continued, breaking the silence before it stretched too long. “I’m sorry for springing the whole Nicole thing on you. I know you already felt down about being last to get your vaccine, and her jumping the queue can’t have helped. Unfortunately, the way things worked out, it made sense to get her sorted.”

Alison shrugged again, letting her hands be distracted by Piper, who noticed Alison sitting and went to her for some attention. “Yeah, I get it. You were already in town and at the vaccination place. It’s fine, really, I know I’ll get my turn.” She focused for a moment on Piper, then looked back at him. “How did… it… go, anyway?”

Callum placed the backpack on the floor, moving some of the goodies aside so he could sit. “She’s fine. I expect that with taking Mira for her vaccine, I won’t be around tomorrow when she wakes, which isn’t ideal,” he said remorsefully. “I think you’ll like her. I hope everyone will, obviously. I’m not sure she’s spent much time around anyone who lip-reads, though, so we’ll probably have to spend some time training her.”

Alison sighed, playfully pushing Piper’s head away. “Oh god. Do you remember how long it took to get Mira to look at me when she was talking?”

He laughed in response. “You might want to jump straight to the water pistol method with Nicole; it seemed to work with Mira.” 

Alison giggled, “Well, as much as I love Mira, I was getting annoyed. It worked, though.” While she spoke, she lightly batted at Piper’s nose, the dog playfully trying to catch Alison’s hands in its mouth. 

They sat for a moment exchanging grins as Alison stopped playing with Piper and returned to giving behind-the-ear scritches.  

“Did they get the app sorted for you?” Alison asked, changing topics. 

Her question reminded Callum he hadn’t checked it for a while. “Not that anyone’s told me,” he replied, leaning to the side and pulling his phone from his pocket. He snorted as the Delphi app showed hundreds of new outstanding notifications, passing the phone to Alison with the app open for her to see. 

“Fuuuck..” She responded, before giggling. Then her expression turned more serious. “You realise you could have other match requests in here.”

Callum sighed deeply. “The thought occurred to me, I’ve just been busy since getting back.”

She raised an eyebrow and scowled at his response, only half jokingly. 

He grimaced apologetically, suddenly aware of his poor choice of words. “Sorry, you know what I mean.” 

In response, she rolled her eyes before looking back at his phone. “It doesn’t help that they are all the same, does it?” Her attention went from the screen to him as she watched for his reply. 

Callum frowned, leaning dejectedly back onto the bed. “No, it’s a bloody nuisance. I think it’s a bug caused by them deleting Sarah and then re-adding her. Apparently, it’s being ‘escalated’ - hopefully someone has the time to fix it, since it seems I might be the only person to encounter it.”

She responded with half a smile, taking in his almost comical reaction. “That’s not a hopeful expression.” 

He shook his head while giving a half-shrug. “A lifetime of being forced to work with the remnants of various failed government IT projects doesn’t give me hope.” He watched as her attention moved back to the phone screen and she pushed some errant hair strands behind her ear. 

“If you want to stay for a bit, I can help.” She offered, her voice hesitant and quiet. Only when she finished speaking did her eyes lift from the phone. 

Callum smiled genuinely in response. “I’d like to hang out for a bit. If that’s ok.” He reached towards her, gesturing for the phone back. 

He watched her face light up at his words, and she passed him the phone. “We could watch a film, maybe?” She asked, hopefully. 

“That depends. Will you share some chocolate?”

She smiled widely in response, patting the top end of the bed beside her as she reached for the remote. 

****

“Cal?” He heard her ask. 

In response, he blinked his eyes open. The room was dark, the only source of light being the TV and a mobile phone screen. 

“Sorry, I must have fallen asleep…” He muttered, stretching his legs out and blinking at Alison, his mind still fuzzy from sleep. 

Thinking on it, he realised he was aware of Alison moving from where she’d been cuddled beside him. Now she knelt on the bed beside him, turned to face him. Her lipreading meant they had to be facing each other while talking.

Callum tried to remember how he’d gotten here. There’d been an old romantic film on Alison’s TV, some shared chocolate and a little light making out. Gentle but lingering kisses, spurred on by shared side eye glances and close cuddles. Like they were teenagers nervously getting to know each other.  

But at some point, the long day had caught up with him, and despite his best intentions, he must have drifted off. 

Fuzzily, he realised that Alison’s face, partially lit by a phone screen, wore a look of concern. The look on her face brought him back to full consciousness. 

“What’s up?” He asked her, responding to her tone with concern of his own. 

Alison glanced down at the screen again, then back up at him before she spoke. 

“You’ve got another match.”

****