Page 96 of Stolen Voices

Callie proceeds to tell me how her mother, Diana, had run away from home to be a singer in LA at nineteen and her parents disowned her. Diana met Andrew a few years later, when she was singing at an open-mic night. He was thirty-five and was going through a divorce from Silla’s mother.

“My dad said it was love at first sight. When he saw Mom on the stage, singing, he knew he was going to marry her. She told him no and that he was too old for her. Apparently, my dad told her they could be friends instead, but it was all a ruse. She ended up falling for him anyway. She used to say he was too irresistible.”

Callie looks up at me and bites her lip. I see the similarities. Only, I’ve been the one pushing her away. Telling myself she’s too young for me.

“You’re too young for me, Callie. But…” I pause on purpose, watching a plethora of emotions and thoughts flicker behind her expressive eyes. “You’re also too damn irresistible.”

The smile that spreads across her face steals my breath. The invisible rope that ties me to Callie tightens.

I close the gap between us and press my lips to hers in a chaste kiss.

Sparks ignite, bursting into flames around us, lighting my insides on fire. I’ve never experienced a kiss like this before, and it has me wanting more. I trap her bottom lip between mine and suck. She tastes salty from her tears and sweet as honey, like I knew she would.

This kiss is the best I’ve ever had, and I haven’t even explored Callie’s mouth with my tongue yet. That thought has me breaking our connection. If I continue kissing her, I’ll never stop, and right now, I need her to finish her story.

Eyes closed, I rest my forehead on hers, begging, “Keep going.”

“I need a minute.” Her voice is airy as her breath fans across my lips. Her fingers slide into my hair, and her nails scratch my scalp as she grips the strands for balance.

A grunt rumbles deep in me as her hard nipples scrape my chest. “Careful,” I warn her.

She loosens her grip, and I open my eyes to find her staring at me with curiosity and desire.

“You kissed me,” she whispers in awe, drawing a smirk from me.

“I did.”

“Do we, uh, do that now?”

“Do what?” I rub the tip of my nose along the bridge of hers.

“Kiss.”

“Do you want me to kiss you?”

She nods. “Yes.”

“Then finish telling me your story.” I run my thumb across her bottom lip, mesmerized by her mouth. Now that the dam has been broken, I want to kiss her again. And again. “Hurry.”

“Okay. Uh, where was I?”

I bite back a smile as Callie gathers her wits after our kiss.

“Oh, yeah. My parents got married quickly after Dad’s divorce, and nine months later, I was born. Silla was fourteen. Anyway, when CPS put Mom in the hospital, they called her. I had never met Silla before. Her relationship with my dad was strained, but I was hopeful when she showed up to take me home. Mistake number one because she took one look at me, and I knew she hated me on the spot. It sucks because when I look at her, I see Dad. She has Dad’s blue eyes. I have his brown hair and my mom’s dark eyes.”

I twirl her silky locks between my fingers. “Why do you color your hair?”

Callie looks at me, and tears fill her eyes, cutting me at the knees with an axe.

“Hey, it’s okay. You don’t have to tell me.”

“Yes, I do. I need someone else to know.”

“Know what?”

“Silla makes me dye my hair.”

What the fuck?