Page 142 of Stolen Voices

A part of me hates that I waited so long to make her mine, but the other part of me is grateful. I wasn’t ready then like I am now. We needed time to grow, and I needed time to realize I’d be nothing without her. I was already getting there before the accident, but that moment catapulted me over the edge.

I brush her cheek with my fingertip, which sends shivers down her spine. “Close your eyes, princess.”

Without question, her eyes flutter closed, her long lashes brushing the very top of her cheeks. I bend at the knee and scoop her into my arms. She yelps, wrapping her arms around my shoulders.

The flowers in her hand hit me on the back of the head. “Oof.”

“Sorry,” Callie snorts. “But that’s what you get. You scared me. You could have lifted me before I closed my eyes and it made my stomach dip.”

“No way. Now you know how I feel every time I look at your beautiful face.”

“You’re cute.” Callie kisses my neck and rests her head on my shoulder as I carry her bridal style into the house. Visions of doing this on our wedding night assault me. Callie in a sexy white dress, my ring on her finger… Fuck, Calliope Miller has a nice ring to it.

“You’re not alone, you know?” she says, snapping me out of my daydream.

“I’m not?” I gently toss the flowers on the counter as I march toward the patio and slide the door open to step out. The fresh scent of flowers fills the air.

Callie shakes her head. “Nope. Feels like I’m falling every time you look at me and smile.”

“Fuck,” I groan.

“Hopefully later,” she teases.

My cock stiffens, and I slide her down my body, making sure she knows exactly what she does to me. A sexy whimper escapes her lips as I place her on her feet and pull her back flush to my chest.

“Open your eyes, Cal,” I whisper in her ear.

She gasps as she takes in the light-filled tent with purple fabrics and flowers hanging everywhere—a fairyland for my fairy princess.

Callie steps out of my arms and spins in a circle, taking in the decorated tent. “Wow. This is … gorgeous.”

“You’re gorgeous.”

She turns to face me and grabs my wrists. Her eyes shine with unshed tears. “You did all this for me?”

“I’d do anything for you.”

Lifting onto her tiptoes, Callie kisses my chin. Bending my knees, I grip her neck and press my lips to hers in a searing kiss. Electricity snaps and bolts through my veins, bouncing around like a pinball, as our mouths and tongues come together. She tastes like sweet mint and mine. I tangle my tongue around hers in a slow, sensual dance that I never want to end. When we break apart, Callie’s lips are swollen and cherry pink.

I kiss her forehead and lead her to the table, where I pull out her chair. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Are you hungry?”

Callie smiles. “I could eat.”

“I’ll be right back.” I flash her a flirty wink and rush inside to grab the food.

It takes me two trips, but when I lift the lids off the food and am greeted with Callie’s glee, I know I made the right choice with dinner. As we tuck into the tacos, Callie enthusiastically chats my ear off, telling me about her time with the girls and Scarlett’s silly antics. I’ve never seen her look so damn happy.

This moment, her smile, is going to be burned into my brain forever. There is nothing I want more than to make sure she stays this happy. In fact, I’m going to make it my life’s goal to keep her smiling.

“What’s that look for?” Callie bops my nose with her finger.

“What look?”

She sighs. “You do that a lot, you know?”

“Do what?” I bite back a smile.