Page 143 of Stolen Voices

“Answer my question with a question.”

“I do?”

“Stop it.”

I grip her wrist as she swats at my chest and bring her hand to my lips, kissing it. She sighs again, longer and louder, biting that sexy lip of hers as her eyes shine. I bet if I looked at myself, I’d be looking at her the same way she’s looking at me—with big-ass hearts in my eyes.

I brush my thumb over her mouth. “How are you so fucking beautiful?”

“You’re pretty handsome yourself there, Mr. Miller.”

I groan. “Oh, baby. Say it again.”

Callie grins. “Hmm. I think I should save it for later.”

“Probably for the best, princess.” I lean over and press a kiss to her soft lips. Lips I can’t get enough of because they taste so damn good. The last set of lips I’m going to kiss because she’s it for me. “I got you a little present.”

“You did?”

“I did.” I pull Callie out of her chair and place her onto my lap, draping her legs over mine.

The skirt of her dress falls open, revealing a slit up the side of her left leg, teasing me with the supple golden skin of her upper thigh. I can’t wait to have her thighs wrapped around my head.

“Just so you know, I don’t need presents, but since I haven’t received one in years…” She puts her palms up in the air and wiggles her sexy ass over my dick, bringing him to life. “Gimme.”

Callie’s so fucking cute. Even though her admission cuts me deep, her joy at the idea of receiving a present heals the wound she unwittingly inflicted. I plan to mend the wounds she carries in her heart with a million presents because I’m going to spoil the shit out of her. My princess deserves the world served to her on a silver platter.

“This is the first of many.” I pull out the black velvet box I slipped into my pocket while getting the food and place it on the table in front of us. My heart stutters, and my breaths come out quicker as I open the lid.

Nestled inside the velvet box lies a delicate gold double rope chain connected by an O ring in the front and a screw lock in the back. Hanging in the center of the ring is a blue diamond encrusted bluebird.

Callie’s sharp intake of breath worries me. Does she hate it?

She gently runs a finger over the custom-made necklace I designed to match the gold band she wears on her thumb. “It’s beautiful.” Callie breaks the silence first, as she fiddles with the bluebird. “Is it permanent?”

Her question catches me off guard. Does she know what this necklace represents?

“Yes.”

She hums, her eyes on the glittering bluebird. “I’ve read about these before.”

“You have?”

A slow smile spreads across her face as she stares at the necklace. “Yes. I overheard some of Ian’s friends talking about this club back in LA. It’s an underground sex club—”

A growl rumbles in my chest as anger courses through me. I will fucking kill Ian West if he took my girl to some seedy fucking club and touched her after I warned him not to lay a finger on her.

Callie cups my cheeks in her hands, soothing the beast in me. She looks a little too happy at my response, but I let it slide when she kisses me, diffusing the red haze that consumes me. “Relax, Eli. I didn’t go with Ian to the club. I never even kissed him. Happy?”

“Extremely,” I grunt. It’s fucked up to admit, especially since Callie and I weren’t together then, but I am motherfucking ecstatic. Overjoyed. My heart does backflips behind my ribs. I’m so damn happy nothing happened between her and Ian. He can continue to live. “I was about to call in ten favors to get his ass fired from that stupid fucking vampire show.”

Callie throws her head back and laughs. “You’re so cute when you get jealous.”

“Glad you think so.” Encasing her ribcage in my palms, I twist her around so she’s straddling my hips. She wraps her hands around my neck and toys with the hair on the back of my neck. Every twirl of her finger simultaneously calms me and sends a jolt of blood straight to my cock, making me harder.

I kiss her again, deeper, letting my tongue explore her mouth. Her kisses are a balm to the jealous beast in me.

When we break apart, she searches my face to decipher my mood. “Are you calm enough to let me finish my story?”