“Damn right he did.”
We drive the rest of the way in silence and walk into the house.
“I’m going to take a shower,” she pauses at the bottom of the stairs. “I have this glitter all over me.
“Sure,” I tell her, looking down on her now that she wearing flats. “Give me a shout if you need anything… After the shower,” I add. “Not during. Unless you want to.”
“Jesus Callum,” she pokes me in the stomach and laughs.
Funny thing is, I wasn’t joking.
Chapter Fourteen
Charley
The hot water is going to run out if I don’t get out of this shower soon. It took a long time to get the shimmery cream off and I’ve washed my hair twice, and scrubbed myself red. It’s easy to tell yourself you’re okay and you can deal with something like this when it happens. Or that nothing did happen, you’re safe and weren’t hurt.
None of it makes the terror you felt in the moment go away.
The bathroom here is amazing, so much better than what I’ve been used to the last two years. Even the really nice ones at Elegance can’t beat this. And the towels. Callum spared no expense. He’s definitely a conundrum, but one I’m more than happy to be around.
The violence doesn’t scare me. If he was attacking people for no reason I’d hate it, but every time I’ve seen him when the rage changes him, it’s to defend someone. Well, me.
Drying off and slipping on a camisole and shorts, I come into the bedroom, drying my hair. I stop short when I see Callum in the doorway. Did I leave that door open?
His eyes trail all the way down to my toes and back up again, pausing on my breasts which makes my nipples go hard, pushing at the silkyfabric. He’s taken off his cut but is still wearing the clothes he wore to the party.
My first thought is to ask what he is doing but breaking the silence would mean breaking this spell.
For a long time, I’ve thought about what it would be like, to touch him, to feel him against me. I never dared to believe he felt the same.
His throat works as he swallows, not taking a step inside, just watching. Almost waiting for me to tell him it’s okay.
Turning so I’m fully facing him, I drop the towel on the floor and in a moment of insanity but complete desire, I move the strap of the camisole off my shoulder.
It falls to my elbow and the fabric, which is low cut anyway, drapes over my breast, hanging off my nipple for a moment before falling as far is can with the other strap still on my shoulder.
“Fuck,” he groans under his breath.
It’s like he’s fighting with himself. I’m not sure why. This is an invitation, maybe it wasn’t enough. I lower the other strap, so the whole thing falls to my waist, baring me to him.
This isn’t the same as when I did it in the room at Elegance, or on the stage where he was watching me.
He takes a step into the room. I push the camisole over my hips and step out of it so I don’t get tangled and fall on my ass. His chest is heaving as he watches me push my hands into the waistband of the shorts.
“Don’t,” he speaks.
I pause and look at him. Really? I’m here offering myself and…
He moves towards me and takes my wrists, gently moving them away. He is so close I can smell the scent of his skin, the warmth of his hands makes fire burn up my arms and shoulders and my throat tightens.
“Let me,” he whispers and releases my arms to push his hands under the fabric at my hips. I watch his face as he pushes it over my ass, holding it as long as he can before it drops down between our feet. Now I’m completely naked and he is staring into my eyes.
No man has ever looked at me like this before. Like I’m the only thing he wants to stare at, captivated is the word that springs to mind.
It’s heady and my mind is spinning as he raises a hand, ghosting it over my breast but not touching it, until his palm cups my jaw.
It’s almost reverent how he is holding my face. How can a man go from the violence of just an hour ago, to treating me like spun glass? I’m not complaining because the way he is looking at me is making me feel powerful and beautiful and wanted.
