Page 26 of Peripheral Vision (Tethered in Darkness Duet #1)

Chapter

Sixteen

DYLAN

I f I knew what was good for me, I would’ve turned Callum down.

It’s not that I don’t want to go out with him…

I’m intrigued. And even if I were blind, I wouldn’t be able to look past how attractive he is.

He’s also funny, charming, and sweet, with a seductive undertone…

Jesus. I sound like a middle schooler fangirling over whoever the new hottest boy band is.

Despite that, I really should focus on getting into a routine.

I don’t feel like I have the luxury of distraction, not when I’m slowly digging myself out of my current cyclone of shit.

The last thing I need is someone like Callum diverting me down a different path.

Not when he’s the kind of guy who seems too good to be true—too easy to fall for, to make you forget yourself and everything else in the world to follow him to the ends of the Earth.

However, I’m not one to back out on plans and I never did actually say no to him.

So once again, I find myself mulling over what to wear, unable to focus on my classwork.

Clearly, my wants and needs are battling with each other.

Slamming my laptop shut, I throw myself back on my pillow, my ceiling staring back at me.

Am I putting him in danger by doing this?

I don’t want to stop living my life because of my stranger…

but I can’t help but feel like there was a hi nt of a warning when he told me that I was his.

Maybe I should tell Callum about him. Would that scare him away?

I sigh, sitting up and placing my head in my hands in frustration, fear, and a hint of curiosity.

It won’t do me any good to dwell on it—not when there isn’t anything I can do yet. A chime comes through on my phone.

Be there in twenty—Callum

I swing my legs over the edge of my bed, wishing I knew where he was taking me.

But considering he wouldn’t tell me when I texted him earlier, I opt for something safe: faded blue denim skinny jeans and an emerald green strapless bodysuit.

I tried to tell him I’d meet him wherever he wanted to go but he didn’t fall for that either.

I throw on my sneakers and rush to the bathroom to do something with my hair and touch up my makeup from the day.

I swipe lip gloss over my mouth, a subtle pink, and clean up the fallout around my eyes from my mascara—which has thankfully held because I did not want to have to remove it to add another layer.

By the time I choose jewelry there’s a knock on the door, with my security system alerting me to someone being there, followed by Alaska’s barking.

I collect my purse from where it was thrown on my floor and ruffle through it to make sure I have my wallet and ID.

I should grab some deodorant before we leave.

Am I overthinking this? It’s been so long since I’ve gone on a date, let alone spent time with a guy alone.

There’s another knock on the door before I pull it open with an apology.

“I’m sorry, I was just deciding if I needed to bring anything else.” I give him a grimace. “It’s… been a while.” Fuck. Why did I admit that?

He must see the embarrassment that washes over my face because he smiles at me for a moment too long before speaking. “Just you. You’re…”

“Oh god. I dressed wrong, didn’t I? I’ll go change. Here, you can come in and take?—”

Callum puts his hands on both sides of my cheeks before he tilts my head to look at him, stopping me in my panic.

My breathing falters, his eyes swirling like a storm over a tumultuous ocean.

“I wasn’t done speaking, love. You’re radiant.

Absolutely perfect.” He lowers his gaze, staring at my lips, the aching intensity of it enough to make me weak in the knees.

He lowers his forehead to mine. “As badly as I want to kiss you, we are on a timeline.” I nearly release a sob when he pulls away, because I wanted him to.

He must read the disappointment that crosses my face.

“Trust, Dylan, that if I were to kiss you, I’m not sure I’d be able to stop.

And I want to get to know you before we take whatever this might be further.

My mother taught me to have manners, to be a gentleman, and if we stay here, I’m afraid you’ll get the opposite impression. ”

I release the breath I’d been holding, intoxicated by his words.

“Okay,” I say, my voice surprisingly steady despite the whirlwind of emotions flowing through me.

At the ache that’s steadily pulsing between my legs.

He did nothing, and yet his words were laced with a touch of a promise, one that I find myself interested in exploring.

The rationality of my initial thoughts vanished like his touch.

“Where are we going?” He just smirks at me as I close up the house, making sure to lock the door, before reaching out to take my hand as we walk to his car.

He walks around the passenger door, opening it for me.

If he’s wanting to take this where I think he’s going to take this, it’s working. “And here I thought chivalry was dead.”

His voice is deep, wrapping around me like a warm blanket when he chuckles.

“Not dead, just entirely too rare. But like I said, I was taught manners.” He closes my door before walking around to the driver’s side and getting in beside me.

“I’m trying real hard here to make a good impression, but if you don’t stop biting your lip like that, love, all my hard work is going to have been for nothing. ”

I hadn’t even realized I’d been doing it, a rush of warmth quickly spreading across my face before I look down.

Not a second later he places a hand on my arm, guiding my chin upwards.

“Don’t hide from me. I never said I didn’t like it.

” He lets go of me, and starts the car, the hum of the engine filling the air between us.

There’s something measured about the way he moves, the confidence in which he carries himself. He’s almost too good to be true.

“You never did answer my question, you know,” I venture, trying to say anything I can to discharge the tense silence between us.

He grins, his perfect teeth making my stomach flip. “A little mystery never hurt anyone.”

“If one didn’t know better, you could be taking me somewhere to do wicked things to me, so I would argue that mystery can indeed hurt someone.”

His tone is teasing with a hint of something darker when he says, “Oh, I will be doing wicked things to you, but they will be far from causing you any pain. The only way I intend to make you scream is with pleasure.”

My jaw drops, like actually drops, and all words escape me as I stare at him, baffled.

His laugh is low and genuine, the kind of sound that makes you want to hear it again.

“Something tells me you’re enjoying this way too much,” I say when I find my words again.

The temperature in the vehicle is suddenly too warm and I reach for the AC before pausing, a question in my expression. This isn’t my car.

“Go ahead.” He smirks knowingly. “Just trust me, Dylan. You’ll like this.”

I don’t trust easily, but something in the way he says my name makes me want to trust him—so I’ll try.

I lean back against the seat, my curiosity piqued, and this time without doubt.

For once I’m not afraid of where the level unknown might lead.

The city lights blur as we drive, the campus coming and going as we get onto the interstate, heading east. After about ten minutes he turns on the radio, selecting Body by Rosenfeld.

We don’t speak very much, and it takes us another twenty minutes before he’s pulling into a packed parking lot.

Music seeps through the closed doors of the vehicle, lights illuminating the lot. “I’m really going based on my intuition here, not actual confirmation because I wanted to plan something that would help you feel more welcome to the area…”

For once, Callum is showing me what appears to be his nervous side.

His cool confidence is overcome by a touch of realism.

“Like you said, I’m sure I’ll like it.” He smiles at me then, turning off the ignition and getting out of the vehicle.

I begin to do the same when he suddenly says, “Don’t you dare.

” My hand freezes over the handle as I watch him walk around the front to open my door for me and offer me his hand as he helps me out.

The cool night air greets us, and I shiver at the bite of cold. “Fuck, I forgot a jacket…” I mumble, crossing my arms trying to add some heat as I rub them.

“Hold on just a sec.” He pops open the trunk, pulling out a pullover. “It might not match your outfit, but it’ll keep you warm.” He holds out the gray material.

I eye it and then him, noticing that he isn’t wearing one either. “What about you? I can’t accept that.”

“I insist. There’s a reason I distracted you back at your house. It was so I could get you to wear something of mine.” He winks.

A soft smile plays at my lips as I shake my head. “You’re always thinking a step ahead, aren’t you. Clever, Cal. Clever.”

He feigns a gasp. “Was that a nickname? Have we officially graduated from strangers to friends?”

“Not quite. There’s still a lot to get to know about each other after…” I hold my empty wrist up to inspect as though searching for the time. “Four days?”