23. Callie
twenty-three
Callie
The stroke of warm fingertips across my forehead pulls me from sleep and dreams of the man with mismatched eyes who visits me nightly to whisper sweet nothings in my ear as he worships my body.
“Wake up, sleepyhead.” That voice .
The rough voice calls me again, and even though I don’t want to wake up, my body responds, forcing my eyelids to flutter open.
I’ve never been more grateful to wake up to such a sight. Sitting above me is the owner of the mismatched irises I love to stare at and of the deep voice my body craves to obey.
Elijiah .
“There you are,” he says with an affectionate smile. He cups my cheek and places a quick kiss on the apple. “Good morning.”
“Mmm. Morning.” I could wake up looking into his entrancing eyes every day. I stretch my arms overhead with a yawn and work out the kinks in my back. This bed is the best I’ve ever slept in. “What time is it?”
“After ten,” he says, running a hand through his thick brown hair that swoops back and to the side in that sexy way that looks both purposeful and natural. “You needed the rest.”
“I did,” I admit. While I never sleep in this late, Eli’s right. The last few days are an instant reminder of everything my body has been through.
I sit up, thankful that some of the pain in my lower back and butt is absent. Taking a better look at Eli, I notice his hair is still damp from the shower. He smells faintly of the ocean and woods, and his scruff looks freshly trimmed around his glorious soft, pink lips.
Lips I kissed last night. Or did he kiss me? I don’t know or care. All I know is I could just scream. Hands down, it was the best kiss I’ve ever had. It was electric and sweet. Sensual and tender.
My cheeks heat thinking about how much I want him to kiss me again.
“Did you sleep well?” he asks, searching my face for any discomfort.
“Yes, I feel much better. Still sore, but…” I twist my head side to side and stretch my legs, taking stock of my aches and pains. “It’s nothing compared to yesterday.”
“That’s good.” Eli looks away and fidgets with the collar of his shirt. The light-blue dress shirt that brings out the blue in his eyes.
I follow the path down his neck to the rest of his clothes. Eli is wearing a light charcoal gray suit, no tie—a piece of his ensemble he doesn’t wear often—and his Italian leather brogue boots.
“Are you going somewhere?” I ask as a sinkhole of disappointment settles in my stomach.
“Get cleaned up, and then we can talk.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
Ignoring me, Eli stands from the bed, fists clenched, as he strides toward the bedroom door. He turns back to look at me as if in pain. “If you need me, just shout. I’ll be in the living room waiting for you.”
“I won’t,” I snap, unable to hide my irritation.
Swinging my feet over the side of the bed, I place them on the warm rug and stand. I hold my breath as I find my balance before carefully storming off into the bathroom, slamming the door behind me and flipping the lock.
He kisses me, and now he’s leaving me here alone to do what? What the hell is wrong with him? Did last night mean nothing to him? Did he kiss me because he felt bad for me?
I’m not some pathetic damsel in distress who needs a pity kiss. Who the hell does Elijiah Miller think he is? God’s gift?
As. Freaking. If.
While stewing in anger, I do my business and wash my hands before placing them on the counter. I stare into the mirror at my reflection, taking in the slight bags under my wide eyes and my tangled hair from going to bed with it wet.
If he wants to leave, then fine. Fuck him.
But he’s going to wait, because there is no way in hell I am going to face him looking like a hot mess.
Ripping the foam collar off my neck, I give it a good roll, gauging the lingering pain. It’s stiff, but the shooting pain is gone. Stepping back, I place my hands on my sacrum and lean into a baby back bend. My muscles are sore, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.
I’ve put my body through extensive training for this concert. Daily runs while singing for stamina, weightlifting for strength, and yoga for flexibility and posture. Some bruising on my ass can’t hold me back. My body is no stranger to being sore or in pain.
I pull open the shower door and turn on the water, letting it warm. Stripping off Eli’s shirt and pajama pants, I kick them to the side and scoff at the pile. It was na?ve of me to think wearing his clothes was a symbol of belonging to him.
My nose crinkles at the lemon-vanilla shampoo/conditioner and matching body wash that smells nothing like my mom. As a reminder of her since she went away, I’ve been using the same sweet, flowery products she did. I quickly use it, savoring the hot spray for a minute before stepping out of the shower onto the bathmat and reaching for the clean towel hanging over the rack.
In the corner sits the same wooden chair I sat in last night, with my rehearsal bag sitting on top.
I push away the butterflies attempting to soar in my belly, knowing he did all this to help make me comfortable.
Stupid, thoughtful, sexy jerk.
Images of Eli helping me without his shirt on send a shiver down my spine. My thighs clench, recalling his rippling muscular chest and the delicious V that trailed down below his waistband to his cock. His very large and hard cock that I snuggled against, feeling every thick inch of.
Knock it off. Don’t forget he’s trying to run off and leave you here to fend for yourself after kissing you within an inch of your life.
My brain’s reminder has me reaching for my anger again as I go through my bag. I have little in the toiletry department, but I have a face and a body moisturizer, as well as a hairbrush. I search through the vanity drawers to find an unwrapped toothbrush with minty toothpaste and a blow dryer.
If Eli’s running again, he can wait.
With a devious smile, as I take my time with my routine. I rub my floral lotion over my body—making it silky soft—brush my teeth, and carefully dry my hair.
I upend my bag and look at what I have. Luckily, everything I need to survive is in here. Silla loves to throw wrenches at me by changing my schedule and appearances, to watch me fail and force me to turn to her for help. Too bad for her. I’m not good at failing. My bag could rival Mary Poppins’s. Every compartment is stuffed with clean clothes, underwear, dresses, shorts, leggings, tops, and workout gear. Everything.
I opt for a pair of black yoga shorts and a matching sports bra, which makes everything below the neck look smooth and tight, with hints of cleavage, stomach and butt cheeks hanging out.
Eat your heart out, Eli. I’ll teach him to walk out on me. And if he thinks for one second I’m not going home with him, he’s dead wrong.
Chin high, I walk out of the bathroom and out of the empty bedroom toward the living room. I stop in the hallway when I hear other voices besides Eli’s coming from the other room.
Curious, I peek around the corner and find more than I expected.
Mason, whom I recognize from last night, is sitting on the couch next to a gorgeous woman with shimmery honey-brown locks. A man who looks just like Mason and Eli combined—who has to be Jace, the oldest brother—stands behind an insanely beautiful woman who looks like she swallowed a basketball. She’s that pregnant.
A tap on my arm has me swirling around with a yelp.
When I look down, a mini version of the men in the living room is staring up at me with golden-brown eyes. Both his mouth and eyes are comically wide as he gapes at me.
“Hi,” I whisper.
The boy stands frozen, and his little cherub cheeks turn pink as he looks up at me in surprise.
Damn, he’s a little cutie.
“You must be Rhys.”
He nods, still stunned silent.
“I’m Callie.”
“I know who you are,” he mumbles.
Biting back a laugh, I squat down a few inches to look him in the eye. Eli said he’s eight, but he’s a tall eight-year-old. I’m five-seven, and he almost reaches my chest. “You do?”
“Yeah, my best friend, Sadie, watches your movies all the time,” he mumbles, bringing a smile to my face.
“Do you watch them with her?” I ask.
He nods again, and I just want to pinch his sweet little face.
“Well, that’s sweet. Thank you for watching.”
“You’re welcome.”
I glance towards the living room and back at Rhys. Walking into a room full of people wasn’t on my to-do list today, especially not wearing the revenge outfit I picked out for Eli.
“I need some help; do you think you could help me?”
“Sure.” He puffs his bony little chest out. “I help my mom take care of my little sister all the time.”
“I can tell. You look strong, and if you’re anything like your uncle, you’re really smart too.”
“The smartest.” He nods again, his long hair flopping around his head.
“I bet.” I give him a little wink because he is just that adorable. “I got lost. Can you please walk me back to my room? I wasn’t expecting company, and I’d like to change my clothes.”
Rhys holds his little hand out for me to take. I slip my hand around his and let him lead me back to the bedroom I’m staying in.
“You don’t have to change. You look real pretty just like that,” he says, making my cheeks heat.
“Well, aren’t you a little charmer?” A freaking eight-year-old—with more swagger than he should have at his age—just made me blush.
Holy hell, this little guy is going to be big trouble when he’s a teenager. Girls are going to flock to him because of his looks, but they are going to stay because of his sweet lines.
“Yes, he is.”
The deep voice startles me. My body knows who it is before I see him and the hairs on my arm stand on end. I look over my shoulder to find Eli watching me and his nephew.
“I was just going to grab something to put over this.” With my hand, I motion to my outfit.
Eli’s nose flares, and his eyes widen. “Rhys, go on back to the living room. I need to talk to Callie for a minute.”
“Okay, Uncle Eli.” The unbeknownst little traitor skips down the hall and out of view.
I want to call after Rhys and make him stay, so I can use him as a shield against his uncle and the heated look he’s giving me.
“Calliope,” Eli croons.
The way he says my name is like a bolt of arousal to my pussy, making me instantly wet. If I was a lesser woman, I would fall to my knees and crawl to him, unbutton his slacks, and suck him off right here.
Eli smirks, like he knows what I’m thinking, and swaggers down the hall. For every step forward he takes, I take one back, until I’m pressed up against the wall. He tilts my chin up with a finger, while the other glides across my bare stomach. I gasp at his illicit touch.
“Wh-what are you doing?”
“What are you doing, Callie?” His voice is rough like sandpaper.
“I don’t know what you mean,” I lie.
“Yes, you do.” He leans and runs his nose over my earlobe. My pulse roars in my ear, and his fingers slide up my thigh and land on my hip. “Did you wear this for me, princess?”
I bite my lip and force down a moan as he fans his hot breath down the side of my neck. I take the bait in the trap he’s set and loop my fingers over the top of his waistband.
“Yes.”
“You’re not even going to deny walking out of the room with half your ass on display for anyone to see? My brothers could have seen you. I’m not thrilled my nephew saw you like this either.”
What in the… Is Eli jealous?
“I didn’t know there were people here.”
“Hmm.” His hand squeezes my hip before he steps back, taking his heat with him, leaving me cold and needy. “I’ll deal with you later. Go get changed.”
I narrow my eyes at him. He might get me all hot and bothered, but he will not boss me around.
Before I can argue, he adds, “Please,” and gives my thigh a little tap, careful not to touch my bruises.
Afraid I might jump him in the hallway, I keep my mouth shut and slip into the room to change into something a little more appropriate for meeting the family in. This time, I don’t “forget” to put on my bra or panties.
When I walk into the room wearing leggings and a T-shirt, the room falls silent. It’s awkward as hell as everyone gapes at me. I self-consciously rub my cheek, worried I have something on my face.
Eli joins me at my side. “Everyone, I’d like you to meet Callie.”
The silence, the stares… It all has me on edge and nervous. On instinct, I put up walls and revert to the practiced Callie who hides publicly in plain sight—a plastic smile that doesn’t reach my eyes and an overly enthusiastic voice that’s so high pitched it sounds manic. “Hi, I’m Callie. It’s a pleasure to meet you all.”
Eli steps in front of me, blocking me from the prying eyes of his family. People he loves dearly. Oh, god. What if they believe everything they’ve read in those stupid magazines and don’t like me?
“Don’t,” he says, staring down at me.
“Don’t what?” I hiss so only Eli can hear.
He cups my cheek with his large palm and runs his thumb over the old scratch with a gentleness that makes the hollow ache in my chest feel full.
“Don’t do that. Don’t be fake. Just be yourself. For me.”
I look up into Eli’s green-blue irises in shock. How does he know me so well? For years, he avoided me, and yet here he is, deciphering my feelings based on the tone of my voice.
I stare deeper into his eyes, and let the swirl of color soothe my jagged nerves and chase away my anxiety. Eli looks back with the same intensity, piercing me to the bone.
He sees me.
My past anger slips away. Maybe he’s not running away after all.
“Okay. I’ll try.” I lean into his palm, gobbling up this newfound affection he’s showering me with.
“Thank you.” He kisses my cheek and moves aside.
Instead of off-putting stares, the group of people in front of me are smiling widely, and I’m pretty sure I saw the pregnant woman wipe a tear away.
“Let’s start again. Everyone, this is Callie.” He points to Mason and the woman beside him. “Mason, you know. That’s his wife, Emery.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Callie,” Emery says sweetly.
Eli points to Rhys next. “You met that little turd.”
“Hey.” Rhys crosses his arms and narrows his eyes at his uncle. “You can’t call me a turd.”
“You hit on my girl. I can call you anything I want.”
His girl?
Did I step into an alternate dimension?
Eli lifts my jaw, closing my mouth and ignoring my shock, and continues, “That’s Jace and his wife, Momma Rylann.”
“Oh, my goodness, I am just so happy to meet you.” The pregnant woman waddles my way, a giant smile on her face as she wraps her arms around me and squeezes. She’s a tiny thing with a firm grip.
I can’t help but wince in pain at her hug.
Jace rushes over and pulls Rylann from me. “Sunshine, give her a minute. She’s still hurt.” He wraps his thick arms around her, placing his hands on her swollen belly again like he can’t keep them off her.
It’s a painfully beautiful sight to see. Their affection reminds me so much of my mom and dad. A pang of grief hits me in the chest, but it passes quickly as Rylann claps her hands in glee.
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry. I’m just so excited Eli’s brought someone home. It’s a miracle. He’s been married to his work for far too long.”
“Jesus fuck, Ry,” Eli grunts, embarrassed by the slip of information.
Mason and Jace bark a laugh, and it’s an eerily similar sound.
“Freaky, isn’t it?” Emery says with a chuckle. “They all laugh like that.”
“A little,” I admit, looking over at Eli. He’s standing there, watching me take it all in. “They really all laugh the same?” I ask her, my curiosity for information about Eli growing.
“Laugh and look the same. Wait until all four of them and their dad get together. Hotness overload.” She fans her face, and Rylann chuckles.
“Behave, baby doll,” Mason growls.
Emery sticks her tongue out at Mason, but the way her face lights up, this is foreplay for them. I can’t tear my eyes away from the way Mason leans in and whispers something into her ear. Her eyes glaze over, and she bites her red-painted lip.
Holy shit. Is it hot in here?
The temptation to fan my face at all that hotness is high, but I’m stopped when a broad chest blocks my view. I look up to find Eli shaking his head at me. He points two fingers to his eyes and then at me, and whispers, “Eyes up here, princess.”
“Sorry, but that was hot.”
“Yeah, well, keep your eyes here.” He points at himself. “Never there.” He thumbs over my shoulder.
I bite back a laugh. I don’t know when Eli turned into this man—all possessive and sexy—but I am totally here for it. Whatever this thing is growing between me and him, I don’t want it to end. “Are you jealous of your very married brother?”
Eli scoffs. “No.”
“Seems like you are.”
“I’m not.”
“If you say so, old man,” I tease.
He lowers his voice so only I can hear him, and I swear it wouldn’t even matter. The entire world melts away when Eli looks at me with that fire in his eyes. It’s the kind of fire that I want to reach out and touch, no matter if I get burned. It would be worth it.
“Woman, if your ass wasn’t bruised, I’d bend you over and spank you for the ‘old man’ comment.”
“I like that you’re an old man.”
“I like that you have a smart little mouth, and I can’t wait to stuff it full to shut you up.” Eli doesn’t outright say what he wants to stuff my mouth with, but my eyes give away my thoughts when they bounce to his dick and linger.
“Fuck.” He grumbles under his breath, tilting my chin up. He shakes his head at me. “Stop. Please. You’re killing me.”
“Sorry.”
“No, you’re not.” Eli brushes a curl off my face and tucks it behind my ear, leaning forward.
I lift onto my tiptoes, drawing our faces closer. “You’re right. I’m not sorry.”
“Ugh, not you too.” Rhys groans, popping my and Eli’s bubble.
Eli mumbles, “Cockblocker,” under his breath before taking another step back.
I peek over Eli’s shoulder to find Mason and Jace, as well as their wives, watching us with knowing smiles on their faces.
Dropping to my toes, I cover my face with my hands. “Oh god. What is happening?”
I don’t know these people, and they are witnessing a moment between me and Eli that I don’t even understand myself.
Eli grips my wrists and pulls them away from my face, but I keep my eyes pinched tight. “Cal, look at me.”
“Nope, I’m dead, and I’m just waiting for the earth to swallow me whole,” I groan.
“Don’t be so dramatic, princess.”
My eyes snap open, and I tug my hands from his grasp. Placing my fists on my hips, I glare at the man in front of me, trying not to get lost in the color of his eyes. “Did you seriously just tell me to stop being dramatic?”
Eli smirks at me. “Breathe.”
The rat bastard was trying to get a rise out of me.
“I can’t breathe. Your family is here staring at me like I have two heads, you’re acting all different and touchy—and it’s confusing the heck out of me—and I know you’re leaving.” I lower my voice and whisper through my teeth, “And you kissed me last night.”
“That’s a lot of information to unpack.” Eli smugly stares down at me, enjoying my outburst and possibly the conflicting emotions making me bonkers.
My gaze bounces between his stormy eyes and mouth, and I can’t stop wondering what it would be like to kiss him again. Or smack him if he keeps this teasing up. He’s so damn frustrating.
“Elijiah,” I ground out his name, but it comes out all breathy, giving away my contrary feelings. Something that only happens when I’m with him.
“Calliope.” The gravel in his voice makes my nipples pucker under the lace bra covering them, and my panties soaked and useless.
Electricity snaps between us.
“Okay, everyone out of the room. I believe Eli and Callie need some privacy,” Jace shouts, breaking me out of the trance Eli has on me.
I move out of Eli’s path. “Please don’t go. It’s fine.”
His family freezes as they look between me and Eli, unsure what to do. They aren’t alone. I have no idea what I’m doing or what’s going on with me in Eli.
“Okay, that’s it,” Eli growls.
My stomach dips as he sweeps me off my feet and carries me bridal style—ensuring my back and neck are stable—out of the room, down the hall to the bedroom. I can hear his family laughing in the background as humiliation washes over me, but not enough for my anger to be scrubbed away.
“I am not happy with you right now,” I grumble as he places me on the bed. Crossing my arms over my chest, I wait for him to speak as he runs his hands over his face and hair, tugging at the strands. “Well?”
“I’m sorry my family is here staring at you. I didn’t know they were going to stop by,” he says with an exasperated sigh.
When Eli makes eye contact with me, I melt like a popsicle in the sun at the earnestness reflected back at me. I might not be the only rider on this emotional roller coaster.
“I forgive you.”
“I want to unpack everything you just brought up, but there isn’t enough time.” He approaches me on the bed, and my legs spread open to accommodate him like they did at the club. Only, this time, he falls to his knees between my legs and places his hands on my thighs. A delicious heat creeps up my legs at the contact.
“I know I’m acting differently. The other day changed stuff. I’m sorry if it’s confusing, but I need you to get used to it.”
“And the kiss?”
“Was really great?” he hedges. The shaky vulnerability in his voice betrays the confident Eli he usually portrays in public and the man I’ve known for years. This Eli is different, and to be honest, it scares me.
“Try again,” I tell him, imploring him to give me more. Whether that’s more talking or touching, I don’t know. But I need something to help me make sense of everything that’s happened in the last few days.
“Can we talk about it when I get back?”
Disappointment settles in my gut at his response. “So, you are leaving?”
“Only for a couple of days. I have some work that I need to do in person,” he says too quickly.
He’s lying .
As much as I want to be patient and give him space, I need him to be honest with me. Is this about what happened at rehearsals or between us?
“Does this have to do with the accident?”
He swallows and looks away, but nods, confirming my suspicion.
“And you’re not running away because you kissed me?”
His brows pinch as he looks at me in confusion. “Why the hell would I runway after kissing you?”
I shrug. “You do this. We share a moment, and then you ignore me.”
“I—”
“Be honest, Eli. Please, for me.”
His fingers dig into my thighs. “Fine. I’ve done that before. But that’s in the past.”
“And now?”
“I’m not leaving to run away. If I could, I’d take you with me.”
“Then take me.”
“I can’t.”
“But—”
“No, dammit,” Eli snaps. He cups both my cheeks in his hands and softens his tone, staring me in the eyes. “It’s not safe, princess.”
His phone conversation in the hospital comes back to me in pieces. “Why? And tell me the truth, please. I deserve the truth.”
Eli exhales and rests his forehead against mine, closing his eyes. “I don’t think the cable malfunctions were an isolated incident.”
“What?” I ask, astonished by his candor and the implications of it.
He trails his warm hands down my neck to my shoulders, sending hot shivers down my spine. “Callie, think about it. The closet, the fall, the cupcake,” he lists off the other weird coincidences that have occurred over the last few weeks.
Separately, each incident looks like an isolated event. Accidents. But put them together, and they all have one thing in common: hurting me. Or worse. I can’t go there. Admitting the worse out loud makes it real.
“Someone has been trying to hurt you for a while. I need to figure out who the hell it is so I can end them.”
Visions of my dad fighting the thief and lying helpless in the street pop into my head. “No. Don’t. Please don’t do anything that will get you hurt. I…” I can’t even finish the sentence. I can’t lose Eli. Even if nothing happens between us again, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if something happened to him. I’d never be able to look his family in the eye.
“I won’t. Mason and Jace are going to help me from here, and I’m going to call in some friends of mine to help sort all this out back in LA. I need to talk to Hudson.”
“So, I’m supposed to just stay here and do, what, wait? I can help if I go with you.” My plea falls on deaf ears. Eli has already decided. I stay; he goes.
“No. I told you. I need you to be safe. My family will look out for you. No one knows you’re here, and I want to keep it that way.” He pulls out his wallet and hands me a black credit card. “Take this.”
“What’s this for?”
“I want you to use this to buy whatever you need. Toiletries, clothes, food. Whatever.”
“I have money, Eli.” It’s not a lot but enough to survive. I’ve squirreled some away over the years without Silla knowing.
“No. No using your credit card. Nothing that can be traced to you or your whereabouts. Not until we have a clearer idea on who is trying to hurt you.”
The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end at the idea of someone out there trying to hurt me. “Okay, I’ll use the card.”
“Good. I have to go, but when I get back, we are talking about that kiss.” His calm tone and facial expression give nothing away.
Was it a good or bad kiss? Will it happen again?
I gnaw on my lip until he pulls it from my teeth. “Trust me, Callie. I’m not running. I’m coming back. I just need a few days. Do you trust me?” Eli searches my eyes, waiting for me to answer.
Of course I trust him. This sweet, thoughtful man has given me every reason to put my complete confidence in him. He saved my life twice. There is no one I trust more.
“Yes, I trust you.”
“Good. Now, you rest up. Get what you need delivered. Play your guitar. Write some songs. Whatever you want, just don’t leave the house.”
“But—”
He covers my lips with his finger and shakes his head at me. “Before you argue with me, listen. I’m not chaining you to the bed.”
My eyes widen, and my legs flinch at the idea of being chained to Eli’s bed. Holy hell, I’m twisted.
The man between my legs doesn’t miss it, his nostrils flaring as he takes a deep breath. “We are going to come back to the chains, but for right now, I need you to keep your location under wraps. No socials, no pictures. Stay hidden. I trust my family, but that’s it. Stay here. Stay safe. Promise me.”
“Fine,” I relent. It’s not worth fighting with him. He’s right. We don’t know who or why someone is trying to hurt me.
“Say it.”
“I promise.”
The wide grin on Eli’s face takes my breath away. He’s devastatingly handsome, and every cell in my body wishes he would stay.
“That’s my girl.”
“My girl.” Those words hit me in the stomach, sending it into freefall. Am I really his girl?
“Text me if you need anything.” He stands up and cups my cheek in his palm. “I’ll be home soon, princess.”
Home . A flurry of emotions swirls in my chest. I haven’t had a home in so long, and the idea of making a home with Eli sounds like one I never want to leave.
Hurry .
Like he can read my mind, Eli nods, assuring me of his speedy return, before planting a quick peck to my lips that leaves my body humming with anticipation.
I watch him walk out of the bedroom door, hoping like hell he really comes back to me. Soon.