Page 57 of Stolen Voices

Two hands tug on the back of my shirt, filling me with a sense of calm.

Callie.

The urge to throw a punch deflates further as Boone sidles up next to me and cracks his knuckles. “Fun’s over. Beat it.”

Fear strikes the fucker in the heart as he looks over at Boone. Deep V steps back, hands up in surrender. “You got it, my man.” He scurries off like his ass is on fire.

Boone smacks my shoulder. “Let me know if you need anything. I still owe you.”

I give my friend a curt nod—a silent thank you—as Callie releases her grip on my shirt and I turn around.

Callie sits on the bar with her hair swept over her left side, looking like a blonde Jessica fucking Rabbit in purple.

Fuck me.

My eyes bounce to her mouth as she bites her lip, then down the path of her body to her jewel-encrusted heels, and back to her face. She can’t hide the pink in her cheeks under the club lights as I check her out.

“Calliope.” Her name comes out more like a warning than a greeting.

The corner of her mouth lifts. “Elijiah,” she purrs.

My dick stirs in my pants at the rasp in her voice.This woman.

“Did you enjoy your little fan club?” I ask.

She slowly uncrosses her legs—a sensual maneuver that has me stepping between her thighs, blocking the view from any prying eyes. I’m not touching her, but I can feel the heat of her pussy as it hits me mid-torso at this height level.

“Elijiah Miller, are you jealous?” She runs a forefinger down my chest.

I fight the vibrations that rock my body and turn my cock to steel. Leaning forward, I place my hands on the bar beside her hips and brush my lips over the lobe of her ear. “Don’t push me, princess.”

She places both her hands on my chest, searing my skin through the fabric of my shirt. “I’m not a princess, and I don’t need saving.”

I fight the urge to place my hands on her thighs. “I’m not here to save you.”

“Then why are you here?”

“I’m here to save them.”

“Who?”

“The line of men begging to be in your bed.”

Her thighs press together, and the heat in her eyes is a dead giveaway. She wants me as much as I want her.

“Why do you care if there’s a line of men waiting to be in my bed?”

Good question, asshole.I can’t tell her it’s because I want to be the only man in her bed, fucking her until she comes on my cock, screaming my name—and only my name.

So, I say the only thing I know to cut the tension and douse the blustering ball of desire inside me with ice water. “Because America’s pop princess can’t be seen drunk, leaving the club with some random guy like she’s ready to get fucked.”

The sexy smirk on her face falls at my cruel words. “Fuck you, Eli,” she spits, pushing me away and putting distance between us.

“No thanks, princess.” I fucking hate myself as her eyes glass over with unshed tears. I want to punch myself in the face for being such a prick to her.

“Go away. I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing it since I was fourteen.”

“Not gonna happen. Now, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. Your choice.”