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My steps echo in the hallway, the heels of my shoes tapping out a cadence that’s almost militant. I certainly feel like I’m at war. Not only with this unknown threat, but with the Calista herself.
I approach the master bedroom and grab the handle to open the door. The room is dimly lit, with the glow of a seashell lamp casting a warm, inviting light. My gaze immediately finds Calista standing just inside the bathroom, a light blue towel wrapped around her body. Her hair is damp from the shower, and there are droplets of water scattered over her chest because of it. When she turns to face me, they sparkle like diamonds, drawing my gaze to her breasts.
Lips parting on a gasp, she takes a step back. “What’s wrong?”
“Hey,” I say, softening my voice. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I wanted to check and make sure you’re all right.”
Her eyes turn to molten gold, piercing me where I stand. I resist the need to grab her and pull her into my arms. God, just the sight of her…
She straightens her shoulders and holds my stare, a mixture of wariness and curiosity. “I appreciate that, but I’m fine.”
We lapse into silence, me studying Calista and her judging me. I rake a hand through my hair, trying to rid myself of the terror that grips me whenever I think of her being hurt.
“I just finished talking to the person I hired to decipher the note,” I say. “They confirmed it’s a death threat, not just a warning.”
The flush from the hot shower leaves her cheeks. “Are you sure?”
I nod. “It translates to ‘star,’ which is the symbol on the pills that my mother took when she overdosed.”
“Hayden…” She swallows, and the fluttering of her throat draws my attention. She’s delicate, so fragile. “Now what?”
“Zack is going to keep searching for answers.”
“Why would someone want to hurt me?”
“If I knew, I would’ve already dealt with them.” I lean against the doorframe and cross my arms to keep from snatching her to me. “That doesn’t mean I won’t. Until then…”
She averts her gaze. “Until then, we’ll stay here.”
“Callie—”
“I know why you’re doing this, but it doesn’t make it right.”
“Right or wrong, I can’t lose you.”
She sighs, her shoulders slumping. “Only you can make love dysfunctional.”
“Do you have any idea what you do to me?” My voice carries threads of my desperation for her, but I can’t find the energy to care.
She clutches the towel tighter, her fingers digging into the fluffy material as she shakes her head, still looking down. I walk right up to her, slide my hand around the back of her neck and force her to look me in the eyes as I bare my soul to her.
“All I see is you. All I want is you. When I’m not with you, I can’t think. You’ve fucking wrecked me, but I don’t care. Not if it means I get to have you.”
Her breath hitches, and her pupils dilate, revealing the fear, anger, and confusion. Underneath it all is a spark of desire. I want to fan it until it’s a flame that burns brightly, evolving into an inferno. She wants this as much as I do, regardless of how much she tries to resist.
“Hayden…” She raises her hands to rest her palms on my chest. “I can’t do this right now.”
“Don’t fight this. Don’t fightus.”
Chapter19
Hayden
A single tearescapes to trail down her cheek. I lean in to capture it with my lips, tasting the saltiness of it on my tongue. She shivers against me and curls her fingers into the material of my shirt. Does she want to pull me closer or push me away?
I inhale slowly as I struggle with the primal urge to take what I want. My intellect suggests that I wait. It’s only a matter of time until she’s pregnant. Knowing her the way I do, carrying my baby will soften her attitude toward me. And her protective instincts will kick in once she realizes her condition. That should make her more likely to adhere to my safety instructions.
My hands tremble with my need for her as I retract them. She wraps her arms around her middle, looking small and vulnerable. And she is.
