Page 24 of Stolen Voices

Eli might be curt and rude to me, but I have never seen him behave this way with other clients or people. He’s always so likeable, way too charismatic for his own good. This is out of character for him.

“Nothing. That guy is full of shit. You sounded fine. Better than fine.” Eli turns around, and his shoulders move in time with his heavy breaths.

“It’s not nothing,” I admit.

“Leave it alone, Callie. Please?”

I probably should, but I can’t. I can take care of myself, but it’s nice to have someone watching out for me, even if it’s over something trivial, like singing the same song over and over. “Thank you. No one has ever stuck up for me like that.”

“You’re welcome.” He waves me off over his shoulder, still refusing to face me.

My feet move on instinct, putting me behind Eli. I can feel the heat of his body from where I stand, inches away. I place a hand on his wrist, and a jolt of heat shoots up my arm and hits me right in the stomach.

“Calliope,” he grunts. Every time he says my full name in his thick and gritty voice, it’s like a hit right to my heart. And I welcome it.

“Elijiah.” His name tastes lush on my tongue.

“Don’t,” he warns, mumbling something incoherent under his breath.

Even though every fiber of my being is telling me not to, I heed his warning and drop my hold on his wrist.

The room feels electric, charged with this strange energy that I know will be dangerous if I pursue it so soon.

“Please, Eli, can we just go get some dinner? Reigns said there’s catering in the conference room.” My stomach picks the perfect time to grumble even louder than before, garnering Eli’s attention.

He turns around and smiles. “You really were hungry.”

I shrug, ignoring the way his soft smile hits me in the chest. “I don’t lie about food. All the dancing makes me hungry.”

Eli gestures towards the door. “Then let’s get you fed.”

My stomach twists, and I have a feeling my body is hungry for a lot more than food. I push those thoughts away and shoot Eli a wink. “I like the sound of that.”

I turn on my heel and add a little extra sway in my hips, just for him, as I walk out the door in search of food.

seven

Eli

Calliewinksatmeand then sashays her sexy peach-shaped ass out the door. My cock jerks, and I want to punch the stupid dick for even thinking about it.

I run a hand over my face and take a deep breath.

What the fuck is happening?

Five minutes ago, I was standing here like an overprotective boyfriend, ready to strangle the life out of Callie’s producer for insulting her. Now here I am, lusting after her like a teenage boy with no control, staring at her way-to-young-for-me sexy ass, thinking about pushing her up against a wall and kissing the hell out of her.

Get a fuckin’ hold of yourself.

I knew being around her all the time was going to fuck with my head. Asking her to ride with me to the studio was a big mistake. I should have continued to keep my distance, ignoring the invisible string that seems to pull me closer to Callie the more I’m in her presence.

“Hey, are you coming or not?” I open my eyes to find Callie waiting for me at the door, gripping the frame.

I’m a ball of indescribable emotions, ready to explode, but my mouth hasn’t gotten the message. “Yep.”

I follow her into the conference room. The smell of cumin and meat makes my mouth water, but not more than the view of Callie’s cleavage as she reaches over the open chaffing dish, looking at the assortment of food spread out before her. Her eyes light up as she takes in the variety of chopped meats, toppings, taco shells, and tortillas that litter the tabletop.

Callie waves me over, a smile on her face. “Come on, slowpoke.”