28. Eli
twenty-eight
Eli
The front door swings open, and the perfect view of Callie’s peach-shaped ass peeking out the bottom of her shorts rips the air from my lungs.
Oh fuck.
I thank God for the death grip I have on the bag of food and the tray of assorted drinks in my hands because I almost drop them to the floor as Callie spreads her legs and bends over, reaching her hands to the ground between them.
My racing heart pumps blood straight to my cock, and it goes from zero to raging hard in less than a second. I want to rip a hole big enough for my cock to fit through so I can fuck her in those tiny shorts.
Through her legs, Callie peers up at me and smiles. “Hey, you’re back. What did you get?”
I’m fucking speechless as I stand frozen on the welcome mat. My gaze bounces between her gorgeous face and her luscious ass.
Callie stands up and turns around to face me, concern etched between her eyebrows as she crosses her arms under tits and lifts them up for me to gawk at.
Fuck, I love when she does that .
The view might be different, but it still brings me to my knees. My mouth salivates and my dick throbs in my pants because, now, the greedy bastard in me wants to slip my cock between her perky tits so I can fuck her until I come and shoot my load across her neck like a collar.
“Is everything okay, Eli?” She tilts her head to the side.
A twitch of her lips catches my eye, snapping me out of my lust-filled fog. The little brat thinks she’s funny. She did this shit on purpose, to either fuck with me or just fuck me. I’m not falling for her sweet, innocent act.
I step into the living room, close the front door behind me, and make a beeline to the kitchen. “Everything’s fine.”
Lies .
Everything is not fine. It hasn’t been since I found her on the bed, legs spread, fingers between her thighs, and chanting my name as she came. My plan was to come home, climb into bed beside her, and have a good old-school style make-out session with the girl of my dreams. That plan went up in flames the moment my eyes caught sight of her fucking herself and she convinced me to join her. Jerking off and coming all over her body, laying claim to her, was one of the hottest things I have ever done, and I can’t wait to do it again—as soon as fucking possible—but not yet.
She needs time to heal, and I want to show Callie that what I feel for her is more than physical.
All my previous relationships—if you can even call them that—have been about sex. I’m past that point in my life, and the woman I want to spend the rest of it with deserves so much more.
Callie is so fucking special. She deserves a proper date. I want to show up at her door with a bouquet of her favorite flowers, and then take her to a fancy dinner with good food and conversation. A date where at the end of the meal I ask her to be mine, and only after she says yes would I take her home and peel her out of whatever sexy little dress she’s wearing and worship every inch of her body.
How the hell do you expect to do that when you’re supposed to keep Callie out of sight and safe from the people trying to hurt her?
I place the bag and drinks on the counter, planting my hands on the cool granite, and drop my chin to my chest as disappointment hits me like a punch to the gut. My head is jumping miles ahead.
What the fuck am I going to do?
Callie’s safety means everything to me. I don’t know how long it’s going to take to flush out the people who hurt her and have them put away, but I can’t wait months to make us official.
Felt pretty fucking official last night.
Callie places her hand on my back and rubs soothing circles between my shoulder blades, pulling me out of my spiraling thoughts. “Hey, are you okay?” Every spec of humor from before is gone from her voice as she comforts me.
I turn around and grasp her wrist, bringing her hand to my lips, and press a soft kiss to the silky skin on the back of her hand before threading our fingers together. Her cheeks blush as a soft smile spreads across her face. The organ in my chest squeezes at the sight of her beautiful, shy smile.
She’s so gorgeous it hurts.
“I’m good, princess.” I cup her cheek with my other hand and lean forward, trapping her lips in a soft kiss. She tastes minty sweet.
As she melts into me, wrapping her arms around my shoulders with a sigh, I feel like the luckiest bastard alive. I get to hold her in my arms. No one else.
I break the kiss and place my forehead on hers. Fuck, I want to kiss her all day, but first, I need to feed her.
On cue, Callie’s stomach growls, making me chuckle. She dips her head under my chin, tucking her face into my chest. “Oh my god, that was so embarrassing.”
I wrap my arms around her back and kiss the top of her head. “I’m hungry too.”
Guiding her to the stools, I pull one out and slide into the seat before tugging her onto my lap, where she belongs. Gripping her hips in my palms, I lean down and kiss her neck. She shivers as my breath hits her skin.
Two can play your game, princess.
“I didn’t know what you wanted, so I got a few different things. I made sure everything is nut free.”
Callie looks over her shoulder and smiles at me. “That’s so sweet. Thank you.”
“Anything for you, Cal,” I admit.
Her smile widens and her dark, abyss-like eyes sparkle. She looks so fucking happy sitting here on my lap.
“What did you get?” She shifts back and grinds her ass into my cock, waking him up.
My dick is going to turn to stone and stay that way if she keeps it up. Not that it’s a hard thing for her to do—pun not intended—since I’ve been walking around with a hard-on for her for the last two years.
I ignore the way Callie wiggles again, pressing into my growing length in the phony attempt to get comfortable. The little minx is doing it on purpose. She thinks I don’t know what she’s doing, but I fucking know. Callie is determined to prove she’s not hurting so I’d break and fuck her.
Believe me when I say I want to fuck her—raw and dirty—until she comes so many times she passes out on my cock from exhaustion, and even then, I’m going to wake her up so I can fuck her some more.
Just not yet.
I’ve never been with someone who makes me want to be romantic and do more than just fuck for a night. I want everything with this woman, and I’ll be damned if I rush it.
She sighs in frustration when I twist her sideways off my cock and reach for the food, pulling out the containers of pastries, fruit, and foil-wrapped sandwiches. I explain what each of the dishes are before pointing out the different tea options I brought back since it’s her preferred drink and better for her voice.
“Eat up, princess.”
Callie picks a cup of mixed berries, a plain egg croissant sandwich, and the herbal jasmine-mandarin tea with honey. Entranced, I watch her eat and soak up each melodic hum of approval she makes with every bite of food and lick of her finger.
Guaranteeing she doesn’t float away, I twirl her golden locks between my fingers as I eat a bacon egg and cheese sandwich.
After years of pushing Callie away, it’s surreal to be sitting here with her in my lap, sharing a meal, touching, and talking. It feels damn good to finally have her in my arms, in my bed, and in my life.
Last night might not have been the best way to tell Callie she’s mine, but I meant it. She is mine. She has been since she stumbled into my office and I caught her in my arms.
As much as I wish we could stay in this moment forever, I need to talk to Callie about my trip to Los Angeles. I’d prefer to keep her out of it, but I can’t. This affects her, and I need her help. She’s the key to figuring out who is behind all these incidents.
As if she can hear my thoughts, she asks, “How was LA?”
“Not as productive as I would have liked.”
She nods, and I can hear the cogs in her head turning.
“Can I ask why?” She faces forward, but I need to see her face when we have this conversation, so I flip her around to straddle me.
“You can ask me anything you want. I was going to tell you everything anyway. No secrets between us, okay?”
I’ve learned from experience that secrets only tear couples apart, and I refuse to be one of those couples. We already have so much working against us—our age difference, our professional relationship, her celebrity status… Hell, I could keep going.
“No secrets,” Callie agrees too quickly.
I arch a brow at her. She hasn’t been exactly forthcoming about her history.
“I swear. I’ve told you everything. If I think of anything else, I’ll tell you.”
Her promise is earnest and provides me with great confidence, in her and in us. I lean in and kiss her, returning the trust. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I don’t want to mess this up, Eli.”
I push her hair back. “Mess what up?”
“Us.”
Us. I fucking love hearing her say “us” like we’re a foregone conclusion. Because we are. I am never letting her go.
“You could never. We just have to promise to be honest and communicate. We aren’t mind readers, so we have to say what we feel and what we want.”
“I can do that.” Callie cups my cheeks in her small hands. “How has no one snatched you up yet?”
Because no one is you, princess.
To distract Callie, I lean in and kiss the ever-loving fuck out of her. I need to come up with a date fast because this conversation is cutting into what I want to tell her.
She tries to take the kiss further, but I stop her, gripping her waist. My greedy girl is going to need some lessons on patience.
“Behave, princess.”
Callie groans like a needy little kitten and pouts.
I nip at her lip. “Don’t whine. Now, can I finish telling you about my trip?”
“I’m sorry. Please continue.” She pats my chest and leans back.
I hate the short amount of distance between us, but I need to get this out before I get sidetracked and go back to kissing her again.
“The security company I hired found surveillance footage of the man we think is responsible for the damage done to the rigging system and wires. He’s wearing a hood, and his face is well hidden. Mason is still combing through the footage, but he hasn’t found anything yet.”
“So, a dead end?” She sighs in disappointment and looks off to the side, lost in memory.
Realization hits me. She’s been told this before, that the suspect is unidentifiable.
I wrap my arms around her and pull her to my chest. “I know this is hard to hear and is probably bringing back a ton of memories, but I’m not giving up, okay?”
She nods, but I can sense her skepticism.
“I want you to look at the picture anyway and see if something about the guy stands out to you. But I won’t force you if you don’t want to look. I know the fall was scary, and I don’t want to upset you.”
“No, I want to look.”
My brave girl. She has the heart and strength of a survivor.
“Okay, good.” Now, the hard part. “I’ve also been digging into Silla.”
Callie rears back in shock. “Eli, no—”
I cover her mouth with my hand. I knew Silla was going to be a tricky subject to bring up, but after everything Callie told me about their shared past, something about the story didn’t sit right with me.
“Will you please hear me out?” She nods in agreement, so I remove my hand and continue. “Thank you. I know you want to wait until December, but I can’t sit around and do nothing. You deserve to be free from Silla. We can’t wait another four months with her lurking around. She has to go. Do you understand me?”
“I do, but I’m scared she’s going to hurt my mom. I can’t let that happen. Not again. I—”
“Shh, I won’t let anything happen to you or your mom. I promise. I’ve got you. Do you trust me?”
“Of course I trust you. You saved my life. Twice. There isn’t anyone on this planet I trust more than you.”
Her faith in me has my chest puffing, full-on peacock style. I’d kiss her if I didn’t need to get this conversation over with pronto.
“Thank you.” I peck her luscious lips because I can’t help myself. “My brothers are helping, so everything they find out is completely secure. Mason, who works in cyber banking security, is pulling together all of Silla’s financial records so we can follow the money. And Jace, as you know, is a lawyer and he’s working with some old colleagues to find copies of your father’s will and trust, as well as the conservatorship documents. Do you, by chance, have any copies?”
“Maybe. I might have some stuff hidden. But, uh…” Callie nervously tugs on the end of her French braid.
“But what?” I prod.
Callie looks pained to admit whatever’s bugging her. “Well, Silla likes to go into my apartment and take things, especially contracts and paperwork. She likes to remind me who’s in charge. I’m honestly surprised she hasn’t started looking for me yet.”
Anger boils below the surface as I mull over this new information. Not only has Silla been manipulating Callie to work for her but that bitch has been psychologically fucking with my girl’s head, making her feel unsafe and systematically wiping away evidence. There is no way in hell I am going to stand by and let this shit play out for the next couple of months.
I am going to put an end to Silla Treymonde. And if I find out Silla is behind all this, I’m going to bury her. She will pay for the cruelty she’s given to Callie.
“Are you done eating? Or are you still hungry?”
“No, I’m good.”
“Hold on, princess.”
Callie does as I ask, and wraps her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck, as I stand and carry her over to the couch. I keep her straddled around me as I sit down and lean back into the soft cushions.
“I could have walked,” she says with a sweet, kissable smile. The skin on my neck tingles as her fingers continue to toy with the hair on my nape.
“How many times do I have to tell you? I like carrying you.” I wink at her.
She blushes a sexy shade of pink as she whispers, “I like it too,” under her breath.
Unable to stop myself, I grip the back of her neck and bring her lips to mine for a quick, hard kiss, smacking her lips playfully.
Callie giggles, and it’s the sweetest fucking sound.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing, it’s just… I never thought this would happen.”
“What would happen?”
“You, me, kissing … last night.” The blush on her cheeks spreads to the top of her breasts, and fuck, what a sight it is. “Did you?”
Yes. It’s why I avoided you for so long .
Instead of admitting that, because it feels way too soon, I parrot her question, playing dumb. “Did I what?”
“Expect this to happen?” I run my fingers down the column of her throat and her eyelids flutter closed. There is no easy answer to her question. While a part of me feels like we were inevitable, my brain was not having it.
“No.” My answer is the truth. For the longest time, I fought the connection that chains me to her. I would have happily died on that stubborn hill if not for Hudson’s little setup and her fall. I think, in some ways, I needed the push to help me see what was right in front of me. “But I’m glad it did.”
I pepper kisses over her forehead, nose, cheeks, and neck before taking her mouth with mine. Her lips are soft, and she tastes like the sweet berries she had for breakfast. Kissing her harder, deeper, I slip my tongue into her mouth and massage it with mine in a decadent dance. Callie meets me stroke for stroke, gripping my shoulders tight, as we make out on the sofa like a couple of love-struck teens.
Our hands roam, tugging and groping. I could kick myself for not kissing her sooner. For not jumping at the opportunity for us to be together.
Callie sucks my bottom lip into her mouth, and I almost come in my pants like a horny teen as she grinds her pussy over my cock. I can feel the heat of her cunt through the thin fabric of her shorts and smell the sweet scent of her arousal as she swivels her hips, searching for the friction she needs to come.
Without thinking, I drop my hands to her ass and squeeze. Callie flinches, and her reaction is a bucket of ice water poured directly on my cock.
I pull away and as gently as I can; I move her off my lap before leaping off the couch, putting some very much needed distance between us. “This is exactly what I was afraid of,” I pant.
“Eli, I’m fine,” she pleads.
I point my finger at her. “Don’t lie to me, Callie. You just winced in pain when I grabbed your ass.”
“No, I didn’t.” The little liar looks away.
To get her attention, I lower my voice and pour all of my emotions into the syllables of her name. “Calliope.”
It has the desired effect.
She can’t help but respond with, “Elijiah.” Callie stares up at me from the couch, with her big brown eyes and those sexy-as-fuck, pouty lips of hers.
Why does she have to be so goddamn irresistible?
She looks sad and vulnerable, and I fucking hate it.
Closing the distance between us in two strides, I kneel between her legs and rub my hands up her thighs in a soothing caress, hoping it calms whatever wild thoughts are floating around in her head.
“Give your body time to heal. I’m not going anywhere. We don’t need to rush.”
Callie sighs, resigned to the decision I’ve made for the both of us. She needs time, and to be honest, so do I. I want—no, I need—to plan something special for us. I want to do this thing right. That means dates and spending more time getting to know each other.
“Yeah, okay,” she says.
“Okay, so … we’re good?”
“We’re fine.” Callie not-so-lovingly pats my cheek in a way that says she’s not fine.
“You’re fine?” I repeat.
“Yup. I’m going to go take a shower and get dressed. Rhys is coming over for a guitar lesson around three.”
“Okay, then.” I’m confused and a little scared by the quick change in her reaction. Sitting back on my heels, I give Callie the space she needs and let her go.
Without another word, she gets off the couch and heads to the bedroom.
“I’ll see you in a bit,” I call out to her back as she sashays away.
She lifts her hand into the air and gives me a thumbs-up as I watch her hips sway and her ass jiggle as she prances off out of sight.
Did she just give a thumbs-up? What the fuck was that?
As soon as I hear Callie in the shower, I pull out my phone and get to work texting my brothers.
Eli : I need help.
Jace : I’m already helping you. What else do you want?
Mason : What he said.
Cameron : Why do I feel like I’m out of the loop? Tell me what the fuck is going on.
Jace : Cam doesn’t know you brought Callie Wright to Pine Hills to hide out?
Mason : Well, well, well.
Cam : WTF?! That’s why you needed my house? I thought you said a friend.
Jace : She’s way more than a friend.
Cam : Get the fuck out of here!
Mason : We can neither confirm nor deny. Care to Elaborate, E?
Eli : Can you please just shut the fuck up and help me?
Cam : Please tell me you fucked up and need our help to win the girl back.
Eli : You fucking wish, asshole. I’m never letting her go. Now, how the fuck do I take her on a date when I can’t take her on a date?
Jace : Fuck yeah. Congrats, E. FYI, Rylann is going to cry when I tell her you said that.
Cam : *fist emoji* Way to go, E. You bagged a bona fide celeb that’s way too hot for you.
I wait for the proverbial “she’s too young for you” dig, but it never comes. Not that it matters because I’m not letting something like my and Callie’s age difference come between us. Nonetheless, I appreciate my brothers’ silent support.
Mason : So, it’s official?
Eli : Not quite. That’s what I need your help with. J or Mase, can I borrow one of your houses to do a dinner date on the patio?
Jace : Hell no. I have a super pregnant wife, two kids, and nosy-as-fuck neighbors. Besides, flashy dates lead to sex. Keep that shit at Cam’s place.
Cam : Hold up. You’re having sex in my bed? You know I fuck my girl there, right?
Jace : Me too.
Mason : Me three.
Cam : You assholes, stay the fuck out of my bedroom. What are you, animals?
Jace : Sometimes we have to get away from the kids, and your house is cheaper than a hotel.
Cam : I hate you. Mase, what’s your excuse?
Mason : It was Emery’s house first.
Cam : So, no excuse. You all are just a bunch of horn dogs. I hope you sanitize after.
Eli : Can you please focus? What the fuck do I do?
A flood of sorrys and laughing emojis pops up. My ears perk up, searching for the sound of water still running in the bathroom. I’m still learning Callie’s habits, so I can’t tell if she’s in the shower or running a bath. I hope it’s the bath so I have more time to put a plan together.
Mason: Emery just whooped in my ear, and I’m pretty sure I now have hearing loss. Why don’t you call her? She is already planning something for you.
Eli : Thank you. Tell Emery she’s a saint for helping me. I’ll call her now.
Twenty minutes later, Emery and I have formed a plan—that she will loop Rylann and Scarlett in on—for my first date with Callie. In two days, that woman will know she’s mine and that I will always have her best interest at heart.
And, hopefully, I never get a pathetic thumbs-up from her again.