Chapter 21 #2
"He fucked me in the bathroom when my magic got all panicky, then wrote his number on my arm with a sharpie he'd used to sign autographs earlier."
"How did it end?"
"Ask Callum. I don't talk about it anymore. It makes me feel all dark."
"Do you still love him?" I asked.
"I don't know. Probably."
"Are you sure you want to do this with Jonah?"
We reached the door and sat down next to the bags of clothing. They had boxes in them, and even the boxes looked expensive as Liv pulled them out.
"I feel like I need to. I find him annoyingly attractive," she admitted. "And sex is the best energy burn, ever. My magic was so much better controlled when I was with Niall, because of that."
"Do you think he could be your soulmate?"
"Jonah?" She dodged my gaze. "I don't know. Callum could hardly talk about anything other than you, but Merrily doesn't even look at Darke, so I don't think attraction or chemistry can tell you if someone's your fated mate."
"He talked about me a lot?"
"Constantly. The number of texts I got about you was ridiculous. Kat's going to the grocery store. Kat's wearing new shorts. Kat's shoes look worn out. I threatened to kill him for it a few times, but he legitimately couldn't stop."
My face heated.
"What about Niall?"
"What about him?"
"Do you think he could be your fated mate?"
"No. Not after what happened. Fate wouldn’t be that kind or that cruel to me."
Liv pulled out four clubbing outfits. All of them were two pieces, like the one I already had. I assumed that was for easy access to my skin so we could stay in physical contact, especially after the experience with wedding dress shopping.
Somehow, they were also all outfits I would've picked out myself.
There were many things you could say about the enigma that was Callum Frost, but there was no denying that he paid extremely close attention to me and what I liked.
The red one had a heart-shaped neckline on the corset bodice, with laces going up the back.
The one covered in silver rhinestones had a high neckline and stretchy, clingy fabric that felt far more comfortable than it looked.
The deep blue one had fringe on the skirt and around the edges of the top, which would make it fun for dancing.
And the white one... it was flowy. Light. Pretty, and fun.
"Oh, you have to wear this one." Liv lifted the white one toward me.
I bit my lip, but couldn't disagree.
She was right.
"Here. Go change." She waved me toward the bedroom. "No getting distracted. I don't want Jonah to beat me there."
"Why does it matter?"
"He might feel uncomfortable."
I stared at her. "Have you ever talked to Jonah?"
"Of course. At the cafe dinner things we've done." She shooed me again, lacking patience with my refusal to hurry. "Go."
"Jonah doesn't really do discomfort, Liv. He's like... overly confident. Darius-level."
"I know. It's hot. I worry about everything, though.
" She put the three remaining outfits back in their boxes and stood, putting the stack in my arms. "It's my magic.
When I get excited, my anxiety skyrockets.
I need to get this over with before I overthink to the point of ending up in a ball on the floor. "
"Go, Kat." She put two hands on my back and propelled me through the foyer, toward the bedroom. "We don't have time for this."
She pushed me all the way to Callum's room. Even when I started walking quickly on my own, she wanted me to move faster.
"Is this normal for her?" I murmured to Callum when I found him in the bathroom, pulling a clean button-up shirt on.
"Panicking? Yes. It's because of her magic." His eyes moved over my body slowly. "You look almost as good in my clothes as you do out of them."
"I like you the best when you're naked," I tossed back, and he legitimately smiled.
God, he was gorgeous.
"I need to snuggle him soon," Sable mumbled at me. "I'm tired."
"Just sleep for now. I have to help Liv."
I tugged the shirt over my head, and saw Callum wince out of the corner of my eye as he buttoned the bottom of his shirt. Without a second thought, I crossed the two feet between us and knocked his hand away, dealing with the buttons myself.
"Thank you." His hand brushed my bare hip.
"Any time." I left the top two buttons undone and fixed his collar. Then messed up his hair a little more than it already was. "You're next-level sexy, you know. Everyone's going to stare at you, but at least you smell like me."
"What's the level up from sexy?"
I shrugged. "Ultimate sex appeal?"
His lips curved slightly.
I could definitely get used to that smile.
I smacked his arm too lightly for it to have hurt even a little, and rolled his sleeves up his forearms myself before I grabbed my own clothes.
His hands were on my hips again as I pulled the outfit on, taking a few seconds to admire the flow of the fabric that fit me perfectly.
I had a nagging suspicion that Callum had somehow managed to get my measurements, and used them to make sure the outfits would fit, but I wasn't going to ask.
The man was entitled to keep secrets like that. Mostly because they were incredibly thoughtful.
Liv banged on the door again as I pulled a tube of mascara out of the drawer. Callum had upgraded it from drugstore makeup to the fancy stuff, but I rarely used it, so it didn't really matter. Most immortals only wore it for special occasions.
"Hurry up!" Liv yelled.
"We're almost ready," Callum called back, his thumbs drawing slow circles on my hips. "There's food in the fridge."
By food, he meant baked goods from my cafe, which Liv had proven herself to be a huge fan of.
I swiped makeup on my lashes and grabbed a hair tie out of the drawer afterward, eyeing my mess of curls. They were extra crazy after our nap.
"Leave your hair. It's sexy like this. Wild, like you."
"Alright. If it reeks of sweat after we're done dancing, it's your fault."
"I'll shoulder the blame." He kissed me lightly, and we headed out.