Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
Callum
Istraighten my lapels as I look over my reflection in the mirror in my room at Kian’s house.
I’m wearing one of my favorite bespoke suits.
A deep teal two-piece with embroidered insects and foliage decorating the material.
I opted for a low-cut sheer shirt underneath, showing off my chest painted with a light dusting of gold shimmer.
Kian likes us to come to dinner in formal wear.
It’s our second family dinner with Lena.
Which must be the reason for these butterflies and is obviously why I opted for this particular outfit.
Apropos of both my feelings and the occasion.
If I’m honest, I’ve felt drawn to Lena since the moment we met.
She’s a spark igniting my interest, a flame flickering, dancing, and glittering in the dark.
And now that we are seeing glimpses of her magic, her intrigue is undeniable.
But it was our heart-to-heart in the woods that made up my mind; I intend to keep her.
She handled the humiliation with grace. Even though her life circumstances would encourage most anyone to withdraw, she hasn’t. She has fortitude and perseverance. And quite possibly a few masochistic tendencies, which pique my interest in a wholly different way.
I’ve pleasured myself more than once at the memory of her pretty tears, fantasizing about them streaming from her hazel eyes under very different circumstances.
Circumstances involving rubbed-raw knees and bound wrists, verbal degradation, and pleasant physical humiliation.
All followed by copious amounts of praise for my perfect sweet girl.
Because she has done something that is near impossible to do—keep my attention.
And now that she has it, I’m not letting her go.
I take my seat at the dining table next to Kian at the head.
To my left, a seat is open for Lena, and Ariki occupies the one on the other side of Lena’s chair.
Directly across from me is Samara, Kian’s on-again, off-again girlfriend.
I guess they’re on again. Nik and Boden have yet to arrive.
The latter of which is bringing Lena. I have a feeling that that car ride has been uncomfortable.
A server hands me a fernet sour. Tonight’s dinner is a formal lion- and panther-shifter affair, cultures full of Mediterranean and Italian influences.
Kian’s been exploring more interesting aperitivo ideas to impress Lena.
Though he’d never say as much. I take a sip, the creamy egg white coats my tongue, and I catch Ariki fixating on where my mouth meets the glass. I can guess what he’s thinking about.
“That drink matches your hair,” he whispers. I smile down at the deep orange color of the cocktail, the flickering candlelight reflecting off the glass.
“That it does.” I give Ariki a hungry look as I swipe my tongue over my lip where a bit of egg white has collected.
The vibration of his quiet groan sends a jolt of lascivious need right to my core.
We haven’t had nearly enough time together recently.
I’m busy with school, and he’s overwhelmed with preparing for his Challenge Epoch.
We only see each other at our coffee dates and while combat tutoring Lena, which has become my favorite part of the week.
I get to feel the soft curves of her body pressed between the hard planes of Ariki and me.
It certainly has encouraged my erotogenic fantasies of sweet tears and pretty pleading.
The door opens to Boden and Lena. All of the gentlemen at the table stand in greeting, myself included.
I may not be a man, but I have manners enough to stand in the presence of a beauty like her.
She glides in wearing a formfitting blue cocktail dress.
Her hair is swept over one shoulder, cascading to her waist in silky merlot curls.
The self-care basket I sent a few weeks ago doing wonders for her skin and hair. Good. She should be pampered.
I greet her with a kiss on the cheek. “You look beautiful, darling girl.”
“Thanks, Cal!” She beams. “The Naomi special.” She gestures to her dress. “She let me raid her closet so I’d be dressed appropriately for this evening.” She sends a cheeky glare in Kian’s direction.
“Your clothing still hasn’t arrived?” I ask, as Ariki pulls out her chair.
“Nope.” She pops the P. “Thanks, Ariki.” She sits, offering my man a bright smile. He blushes in return. I should be jealous. Ariki has never shown an interest in someone else. But I’m not. I like watching him dote on Lena, just as much as I like her flustering him.
Nik saunters into the room, impeccably dressed in a black Armani suit, with a new girl on his arm.
Never the same date with Nik. Recently, however, they’ve had two similar features: They’re women and they have red hair.
If I gambled, I’d bet my inheritance that Ariki and I aren’t the only ones obsessed with the Solis heir.
“Good evening, all.” Nik guides his date around the table and motions for Boden to move down one seat. Boden does with a roll of his eyes. With a swift flick, opening the button on his suit jacket, Nik takes the chair directly across from Lena, whose cheeks flush a pretty pink.
“You brought a guest, Nik.” With a raised eyebrow, Kian motions for a server to set a new place setting for Boden.
Boden’s face is the perfect picture of annoyance as he scowls at the new seating arrangement.
Seating, even at family dinner, signifies importance and rank.
Boden has already complained about Lena sitting between Ariki and me, and he’ll likely throw a fit that Kian’s girlfriend, and now Nik’s date, are in more honored seats than him.
Boden’s nothing if not a stickler for rules and decorum.
“I thought I’d keep things interesting.” Nik motions for the server to bring him a drink before gesturing around the table. “Everyone, this is Shayla. Shayla, this is everyone.”
“Shaylee,” the woman corrects, laying a possessive hand on Nik’s arm.
“Welcome, Shaylee.” Kian flashes his host-of-the-year smile.
Nik smirks. “And since all the Convalescere at the table will be restoring their energy during dinner, I thought I might join in with the restoration.”
“I doubt anything about this dinner will be relaxing,” Lena whispers to me under her breath.
“It’s nice to meet you, Shaylee. I’m Lena.
” She turns to Kian with a wide facetious smile.
“Thank you, Your Majesty King Kian, for this totally optional and in no way mandatory invitation to dinner, sir.” Lena offers up a sarcastic smile. Sassy as always.
“Of course, Miss Solis.” Kian uses her last name, knowing full well it irks her. Everyone’s a little on edge. “May I introduce my girlfriend, Samara? You may remember her from the other night. Though, I wasn’t sure with your concussion and all.”
“Oh of course! Nice to see you again.” Lena smiles at Samara. “I was the one covered in blood and spit.” Lena pops an olive into her mouth.
“I’m sorry, what?” Ariki interrupts.
“I got the shit kicked out of me. Your combat tutelage is not nearly as good as you think it is.” She throws a saucy wink at Ariki. “But thanks to these two knights in shining Versace armor”—Lena gestures to Kian and Boden—“I survived to be obnoxious for another day.”
“Who hurt you?” Ariki growls low, clenching the armrests of his chair.
“Oh, you know, just a little family drama.” Lena gives a little flick of her wrist in dismissal. “What’s a few punches between sisters?”
“Katri’s not your sister,” Boden scolds, red-faced.
He really only has two emotional displays: stoicism and anger.
The anger is a newer one, actually. When we were kids, he was pretty undemonstrative.
His therapist has been working with him for years on expressing a wide range of emotions.
Apparently anger’s the first he’s been able to tap into. Great progress, bud!
“Oh, I know. I highly doubt the two of us would be that closely related.” A teasing smile pulls at her lips before she takes a sip of her sour.
“But last week, she started a rumor that I used to be a truck stop hooker. No offense to sex workers, those ladies have the hardest job in the world. Much respect.” Lena gives a smug grin to Boden, who’s turned tomato red.
“Anyway, Katri started a rumor about me, so I figured it’s only right that I stoke the flames of an undesirable rumor about her. ”
Ariki chokes on his drink in an attempt to stifle his laugh.
“Devious.” Nik quirks his mouth. Lena stares him down, a challenge flashing in her eyes.
The dinner unfolds as expected. I instruct Lena on appropriate etiquette, while Boden and Lena throw subtle jibes at each other.
Boden’s are cutting, his demeanor more sour than our drinks.
Lena, on the other hand, prefers backhanded compliments and killing with feigned kindness.
Nik flirts with his date but continuously glares at Lena, who mostly ignores him in return.
Ariki tries to joke and keep the atmosphere light, while Kian bores the entire table by drolly sharing his take on current events.
“Yes, finally. This meal has not had nearly enough cheese.” Lena smiles up at me as the formaggi e frutta course is placed in front of her.
“There has been cheese in nearly every course.” I scrunch my nose, and she laughs.
“I was joking, Cal.” She rolls her eyes at me theatrically, while giving my thigh a light squeeze.
The gesture is meant to be friendly, but my body receives it as much more.
I glance at Ariki to find his eyes zeroed in on where Lena’s hand rests on my thigh.
She lifts her hand from my leg, and Ariki’s gaze collides with mine.
My eyes track a glittering drop of sweat as it rolls down his neck and over his Adam’s apple.
The air between us is full of lush amatory tension and Lena’s smoky scent.