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“I…” I shake my head, frowning a little. “I can’t ask you to buy me a house.”
“Of course you can. But you’re not asking, I’m offering. Besides, I’m sure the house is well within my budget.”
“What budget?” I mutter.
“Exactly.” He smiles faintly. “It’s not a problem, Hallie. If you want it, it’s yours.”
I consider that for several moments. It’s a lavish offer, even if he doesn’t think it is. I know it’s probably not such a big deal to him, my mom’s house probably costs a few elaborate shopping trips in his world, but to her, it would be a huge deal.
I bring my hand up to rest on his chest in front of me so I can look at the ring. “Are you really going to make me marry you?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“We’ve been over this.”
“No, I don’t mean…” I pause to consider how to phrase it. I guess, simply… “Why do you want me? I’ve experienced things at your hands that most people would never want the woman they’re with even knowing they’re capable of, and… I am more than aware. I’m the one you did it to.”
He watches me steadily for a moment, then he grabs my arms, rolling me on my back and pinning them down at the same time. He uses his knee to spread my legs, sliding himself between my thighs.
I sigh and he leans in, catching my breath against his lips.
The kiss catches me off guard.
He slides his hand up, intertwining his and mine on the pillow and squeezing, then he guides my hand around his neck.
I take the hint that he wants me to wrap my arms around his neck, so I do.
His kiss is greedy and consuming. My blood starts to warm all over again as he lowers his weight down on me and kisses his way from my mouth to my neck. I sigh, this time because of the pleasurable sensation of his lips on that sensitive skin, and tilt my neck to give him better access.
Once he’s finished kissing his way down my neck, he pauses, hovering over me, and looks down into my eyes.
I cock an eyebrow. “I take it you didn’t feel like answering that question.”
Calvin smiles. “Iwasanswering your question.” Rather than pounce on me again like it seemed like he was going to, he eases himself back down on the bed beside me.
I frown. “Because you like to fuck me?”
“Because you still kiss me back. You like it—you did even that first night when you didn’t want any part of me, but you still do, even after all the shit I’ve done to you.”
I frown, not entirely comprehending. “So… because I can handle all your crazy shit and still let you fuck me?”
He shakes his head, like I’m still not completely getting it. “No. I don’t want someone who doesn’t know the worst things I’m capable of, Hallie. I want someone who does, and wants me anyway.” He props himself up on a bent elbow and considers for a moment, then he says, “Have you ever been to Mono Lake in California?”
I’ve never been anywhere on the West Coast, but I don’t tell him that, I merely shake my head.
He nods like I gave him the answer he expected. I expect him to tell me how nice it is, to try and entice me with a vision of crystal waters and warm sun beating down on me as I play in the shallows outside some lavish resort I could never afford to go to without him.
Instead, he says, “It’s an unusual lake, toxic for nearly every creature that has ever tried to live there. The water is highly alkaline and saltier than the ocean. Aside from shrimp, no fish can survive there. Birds can’t tolerate it, either. On the way to the lake, you’ll see the carcasses of ones that tried. But for a particular kind of fly—alkali flies—it’s home. The only home that suits them now, as a matter of fact. See, ordinary flies would drown in such salty water, but these ones have adapted to their admittedly challenging environment. They’ve evolved to be able to dive under the water without getting wet. They’re able to make their own little air bubble to protect them so they can crawl under to feed or lay their eggs. The lake is an impossible place that kills all life that tries to inhabit it, but these special flies… they’ve brought life to it. They’ve found a way to thrive in its challenging climate. They’ve made the lake their home.” His gaze meets mine with more intensity than I’m prepared for given the topic. “If not for these extraordinary flies, Hallie, the beautiful but toxic lake would be almost entirely barren.”
I swallow hard. I’m not an idiot, I understand the parallel he’s drawing. “You think I’m the fly in this scenario.”
His lips quirk. “Well, you’re certainly not the toxic lake.”
I drop my gaze, fidgeting with the corner of my pillow so I don’t have to look at him. “‘You’re a fly,’” I say, doing my best to lighten the mood a little. “That’s almost unbearably romantic. You should write greeting cards.”
“Not just any fly,” he says, amusement laced in his tone. “You’remyfly.”
