“I only asked one question,” she said, sounding a bit dazed.
Callon reluctantly released her hand that she’d forgotten he held, slipped the bag from his shoulder, and held it out to her.“You can ask me more in a few minutes.I’ll be out on the fire escape ladder outside your window.”
Her eyes widened.“What?”
He rolled his eyes and pointed at himself.“Stalker, remember?I wouldn’t be a very good stalker if I left you alone while you slept.”
She tilted her head to the side.“Thatistrue.Watching someone while they sleep is like Stalker 101.”Having regained her composure, she slung the bag over her shoulder, and turned towards the apartment door.Despite knowing he’d be able to speak with her in a matter of minutes, Callon didn’t want her out of his sight.He’d finally gotten to speak with her, touch her.A small taste and he was addicted.
“Wait,” he took two large strides and reached her as she pushed the silver bar down on the door to her building.“Can I see your phone?”
“Why?”Lola asked as she slipped it from her pocket and handed it to him.
Callon quickly added his information to her phone and then sent himself a text.“Because I want you to be able to get a hold of me if you need me.And,” he gave it back to her, letting his fingers graze her skin.“I want to be able to track– I mean– reach you.”
This made her snort out a laugh and Callon found it ridiculously adorable.What the hell was she doing to him?He was making jokes now?And flirting and attempting to win her affections.And if he was really honest, he was hoping she’d invite him inside to meet her parents.But then, maybe it was too soon.She just met me,he reminded himself, though he felt like they’d known each other much longer because of his stalking.
She turned back to the door and pushed it open.Once inside, she turned to look at him.Her pale-green eyes took him all in, and Callon wondered what she thought.“You’re really going to sit on my fire escape all night?”
He gave a sharp nod.“Your safety comes first.”He chuckled as he shook his head.“I always thought it would be the good of my kingdom that came first.But then I saw you.No kingdom compares to your worth.”
She sucked in a breath and their eyes held.Callon didn’t even know if he was breathing.All he knew was whatever was happening between him and Lola was powerful.It was changing him and by Visata, he liked it.
After another minute, she gave him a bashful smile and pushed the door closed.He wasted no time before jogging around the side of the building.He didn’t pause in his steps as he launched himself into the air and grabbed hold of the fire escape railing next to her window.Callon easily hoisted himself up and then took his usual post.Only this time he wouldn’t just be a spectator.This time she knew he was out there and he’d get to be a part of her life.“Make me worthy, my Creator,” he prayed.It was a daily, sometimes hourly, prayer he offered up.Callon closed his eyes as he stretched his hearing to see where his female was in her apartment.He’d try to wait patiently for her, but he couldn’t promise he wouldn’t decide waiting inside was a much better plan.
“Patience,” he told his beast.“She knows us and hasn’t gone running.That’s a good sign.”Now, he just had to convince her to be his before any other beastwalker could get in his way.And he’d have to manage to keep from killing her boss’s son, no matter how badly Callon wanted to.He didn’t imagine Lola would approve.
He pulled out his phone and sent Lola a quick text.
YM: Hurry up.
The response didn’t take long and it made him laugh.
MF: I don’t know who YM is, but I’m just going to move slower now.
YM: Your Male, Callon.Your bed is comfortable.
MF: Your creepy alarm is blaring.Get off my bed, out of my room, and I’m changing your name to Callon in my phone.Weirdo.
YM: I’ll just change it back.Hurry up.I want to look at you.
The dots appeared on his screen, then disappeared, then reappeared as if she was having a hard time knowing how to reply.
MF: Intrusive.Bossy.Creepy… Kind of sweet.
YM: Add captivated to that word list.That is what you have done to me.I will wait for you for as long as it takes.Though I might get hungry and Dog is looking very tasty.
MF: If you eat my cat, I will let Katy declaw and neuter you.
Callon winced.Note to self, don’t tease Lola about eating her cat.
YM: I know you have more questions.Come talk to me.Please.
There were no dots this time.He sighed and set the phone on his lap and let his mind wander to all the possibilities of the future he and Lola might have.
Chapter 11
Precious Things Are Coveted.
