32. Eli
thirty-two
Eli
The sound of my phone ringing pulls me from sleep. Callie nestles into the crook of my arm, resting her head on my shoulder, as she plays with the bluebird at her throat.
I kiss the top of her head, breathing in her hair’s sweet floral scent. “You’re awake.”
“Yeah.” She sighs, worry in her voice.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” I tilt her chin up to look into her expressive eyes. They glisten with moisture, and a sad smile pulls at the corner of her mouth. “I’m right here Callie. I got you.”
Whatever is upsetting her has me on high alert. I hate seeing her distressed.
“Your phone woke me up too. I thought it was your brother calling with news about Rylann and the baby.”
“I’m guessing it wasn’t?”
She shakes her head. “No. It’s Silla.”
“What? How do you know?”
I’ve never given Silla my number. When it comes to Callie’s career, Hudson has always been the point of contact. But if Silla is working with the man in the security footage, she has access to more information that I thought.
Callie shrugs and twists the bluebird in her fingers. “She does this. She’ll call over and over. Hundreds of missed calls. If I answer, she hangs up. If I don’t, she leaves long empty voice messages.”
“Are you sure?”
“Look for yourself. You have at least twenty missed calls, all from unknown numbers.” Callie points to the bedside table behind me, where my phone now lies. “I’m sorry for looking at your phone. I never should have done that.”
“I don’t give a fuck. I have nothing to hide from you, princess. Look away. Delete whatever you want.”
My response gets a soft chuckle and a soft pink blush of her cheeks.
“There it is.” I kiss her sweet lips.
She melts like butter in my arms as I explore her mouth with my tongue. I press my forehead to hers, soaking up her warmth and goodness.
“Thank you.”
“For?”
“I don’t know. Everything.” She places a hand on my cheek. “You have showered me with so much love and understanding that I’m worried it might disappear with one wrong move.”
Taking her fingers’ place, I pinch the diamond bird between my thumb and forefinger. “Get used to it. I’m not going anywhere. It’s you and me forever.”
Callie places her hand over mine as we clutch the permanent necklace wrapped around her neck together. “I really love you, you know?”
“I know. And I really love you.” I crack a smile. It will never get old hearing her say she loves me. It sounds so much better than, “ Fuck you, Eli .”
“I forgot to ask. Do you like the necklace? I wasn’t sure about the gold, but I thought it would match the ring on your thumb.”
“I love it. And now, I love it more.” She lifts her thumb in the air. “This was my dad’s wedding ring. I like to wear it to remember him. When I get lonely or feel down, I give it a twirl. It reminds me to keep going. Knowing that you got the necklace to match makes it that much more special.”
I fight the urge to rub the ache in my chest. All the pain Callie has experienced hurts me to my core. I never want her to feel alone again.
Like a tornado warning, my phone vibrates. Ignoring it, we stay wrapped up in each other until it goes silent on the table beside me.
“What are we going to do?” She twists her ring.
I hate that Callie’s worried, but I’m not about to let it continue. No matter what, I’m going to help her fix the problem.
“About?” I pretend like I don’t know she’s referring to her sister, but I refuse to let Silla ruin this moment for us. We are finally together, and all I want is to concentrate on us for a little while longer.
“You’re doing it on purpose, aren’t you?”
Her smile spreads, and fuck if I don’t feel like the luckiest man alive. I have the most beautiful woman on the planet, naked and in my arms.
“A little. Let me worry about her. Okay?”
There’s a nerve-wracking, lengthy pause before Callie agrees. “I can do that.”
“Thank you.” I drop the pendant and hook my finger through the O ring. Forcing her gaze to mine, I pour every emotion I feel into the look. I need her to hear and know I will keep every promise uttered.
Her deep-brown eyes shimmer with understanding.
“I meant every word when I gave you this necklace. I’m going to love you, take care of you, support you, and lift you up when you need it. Right now is one of those ‘let me take care of you’ moments. You’ve been on your own for too long, but I’m here now, Callie. I got you, my love.”
Tears leak from the corner of her eyes. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I promise I’m going to do everything I can to make sure Silla is gone from your life. She won’t get another opportunity to hurt you, let alone be near you. For the foreseeable future, I’m stuck to you like glue.”
“I like the sound of that.” The happy, tearful smile that stretches across her face is another hook piercing my heart, tethering us together.
I seal my mouth to hers, and kiss her until she’s breathless and her stomach growls.
Callie smiles against my mouth, the sadness leached from her body. I want this happiness to be all she feels, and I will stop at nothing to make sure that happens.
“Let’s put some food in that stomach.”
“Okay.”
Neither of us moves. Callie wiggles her naked body against mine to keep me in place.
I tug her tighter to my side with a contented sigh. After all this time, I got her. I’m right where I’m supposed to be, with her in my arms. I’m lost in the feel of her fingers as she lazily draws circles on my chest until her hard nipples brush my side, making it impossible for me to ignore my stiffening cock.
Her stomach grumbles a second time, saving me from taking her again. Callie whimpers when I climb out of bed and grab my boxer briefs off the floor to slide them on.
“No whining. Come on. Arms up.”
Grumbling under her breath, she sits up. I slide my shirt over her head and let it fall, covering her perfect tits from view.
Because I can’t help myself, I swoop her into my arms and carry her to the kitchen. She doesn’t fight me; instead, she kisses my neck and lays her head on my shoulder.
I place her on the counter, and she hisses as her bare ass presses into the cold countertop.
“Sorry, baby. I promise to warm your ass up later.”
“I’d expect nothing less. Now, what have you got for us to eat?”
“Nothing special.” From the oven, I pull out the tray of Mexican donuts we were supposed to have for dessert, along with the chocolate dipping sauce, and place them on the counter then grab the box of strawberries from the fridge.
“Mini churros?” Callie licks her lips.
My dick perks up, making it hard for me to breathe.
“I love these.” Callie rips the lid off the chocolate sauce, dips her finger in syrup, and then licks it clean.
My brain malfunctions as I imagine her lips wrapped around my cock.
“You alright there, Eli?” She smirks at me as her gaze bounces to my dick and back.
I choke on my spit as I try to divert the blood flowing south. “I’m fine, you little minx. Eat your dessert.”
I dip the fried dough in the sauce and take a bite. I repeat the process but hold the cinnamon and sugar stick out for her to eat.
She leans forward and takes the rest of the dessert into her mouth, licking my fingers with an approving hum. “Delicious.”
I shake my head at her, and she laughs, throwing her head back and exposing her throat. Dipping my finger in the chocolate, I smear it across her neck, then lean down and lick it off. Her laugh turns into a moan as she spreads her legs open.
“Now, that was delicious.” I press a kiss to her temple as I slide one arm around her waist.
Callie dunks her finger and swirls it around. “Hmm. I think this chocolate sauce might be fun to drizzle on other places.”
Shoving another churro into my mouth, I fight my growing erection.
She pulls her finger from the sauce and drags it across her lips, then swirls her tongue around it, lapping at the chocolate.
I almost come in my boxers at the gesture. “You’re supposed to be eating dessert.”
“I am.”
“You’re toying with me, woman.”
“Maybe.” Callie shrugs and pushes her plump lips out into a pout. I know whatever she says next, I’m fucked. “Or maybe I’m just hungry for your cock.”
Yup. I’m fucked. If she wants dick for dessert, I’m going to give it to her. I’d give her everything if that’s what she wanted.
“You’re killing me here, princess.”
“Elijiah…”
“ Be careful how you say that, Callie.”
“Say what?”
“My name.”
“Elijiah?” she teases with a sexy little smirk.
I growl like an animal and grip the back of her neck. “With great power comes great responsibility, Calliope.”
Callie giggles. “Are you Uncle Ben-ing me?”
“You know Spiderman?”
“Of course I do. Everyone knows Spiderman.”
“True.”
“I liked Andrew Garfield the most. He’s hot.”
I give her neck a playful squeeze and nip at her bottom lip. “None of that.”
Her thighs press together, and her breaths fall faster. “Okay, so what’s this great power I have?”
“If you full-name me, there’s a chance I’m going to bend you over and fuck you senseless. I get so fucking hard hearing my name roll off your tongue.” I can see her brain working, and I press my finger to her lips. “Eat some more for me.” Swiping a mini churro off the counter, I dip it into the sauce and lift it to her mouth. “Open.”
She parts her lips to let me feed her. I’m mesmerized by the way her tongue swipes across her lips and then glisten in the kitchen light. I don’t know why, but feeding Callie is fucking erotic. My cock is so hard I’m afraid I’m going to come in my underwear without her even touching me, like some horny pre-teen who can’t control his erections around the girl he likes.
“Elijiah.”
“Calliope.”
She grips her necklace, and her face flushes. “If you’re a Dom lover, do you only please me or do I get to please you too?”
Fuck, she’s so cute and innocent. My heart and my dick grow for her sweetness.
“You can do whatever you want to me. I’m yours for the taking.”
“Oh, thank god.” Callie hops off the counter and pushes me against it as she falls to her knees.
My pulse races, and my stomach flips at our switch in positions. It should always be me on my knees for her. Whether it’s eating her pussy or asking her to marry me, I should always be on my knees for my princess. I’d make her get up if I didn’t know how badly she wants this.
I groan when her nails scrape my skin as she curls her fingers over the band of my boxer briefs. “Fuck.”
Callie wiggles side to side, and a memory of her knee injury pops up. I stop her from pulling my boxers down. “Hold that thought.” I rush to the living room and return with one of the accent pillows, which I slide under her knees.
Callie’s eyes turn to literal hearts as she stares up at me. “You’re so fucking swoony.”
“Just taking care of my woman.” Which I plan to do for the rest of our lives. She will want for nothing, and will know with absolute certainty that I love her and would do anything to make her happy. She doesn’t know it yet, but she’s going to be my wife, the mother of my children, my fucking everything. I keep those crazy thoughts in my head. “I will always take care of you, princess.”
Callie exhales a breath, and her whole body visibly relaxes before me. She lovingly runs her hands up my thighs. “I’d have said yes, you know?”
“What?”
“If this”—she places her hand on her neck, where the bluebird dangles—“was a ring. I know that sounds crazy, but I feel it. Right here.” She moves her hand over where her heart lies beneath. “You and me, we’re something. And I would have said yes a thousand times over.”
My heart hammers in my chest as the love I have for this woman swells. I’ve never before experienced such an intense connection with someone.
I fall to my knees in front of her, brushing the soft strand of hair off her face. “How do you do that?”
I’m in fucking awe of her ability to express her feelings so freely with me. I wish I could do the same, but sometimes the words get stuck. It’s why I spoil the people I love. I show how I feel because telling is … difficult for me.
But with Callie, it’s like she can see inside me, and when she reaches in, her ability allows her to pull out the words I want to share but am too scared to say or unable to describe.
She grins. “Do what?” she answers me with a question.
I wrap my arms around her waist. “Say exactly what I’m feeling when I’m feeling it.”
“What did I say?” she asks like she didn’t just steal every thought in my head.
“You’re not crazy, Callie.”
Callie’s sharp intake of breath, as she puts the pieces of our conversation together, brings a grin to my face.
“I almost bought you a ring, but I changed my mind. I was afraid I was moving too fast and that it would freak you out.”
She snakes her arms around my shoulders and brings our mouths closer, mere centimeters separating us. “Eli, I have been in love with you for years. Every song I write is about you.”
Fuck, I hate myself even more for pushing her away for so long. I leave the guilt in the past, because we have our entire future to look forward to and I have the rest of my life to make it up to her—starting with the words.
“I’m so fucking in love with you now, and I don’t want to live another day without you. You are it for me, princess.” I place her hand over my heart. “This is yours until it stops beating, and even then, it will still beat for you in the next life.”
Tears stream down Callie’s cheeks as I take her mouth with mine and kiss her, pouring every ounce of love I have for her into it.
We never make it back to the room, and I end up making love to Callie on the floor in the kitchen. When we finish, I let her play her little game of “chocolate cock” before I spread her out on the counter and eat her for dessert instead.