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Family isn’t defined by a number of people or the social construct. It’s defined by the number of heartbeats, shared laughs, and a love that goes beyond borders or restrictions.
This man wears darkness like a woman wears perfume, leaving a trail wherever he goes.
“She’s mine.”
“You need me. Not this fucking job or anything else,” he says. “Now, get in the car before I carry you.”
“Don’t try to run,” he says, staring into my eyes. “I can see you want to, but don’t.” “Why?” “I will always chase you.”
“Stop looking at me like that.” I flick my gaze to his. “What?” “Stop looking at me like you want my hands on your body.” He inhales as if to keep a hold on himself, his knuckles turning white as he grips the steering wheel. “If I touch you, I won’t ever stop.”
I sneak a glance at him. “No one’s ever called me that.” “And no one else ever will.”
But with Calista, I’m not sure I can ever let go. Not with how my curiosity has deepened into a full-blown obsession. She’s not only gotten under my skin but inside my blood. A person can’t survive without it, without that life force.
She is mine. My reason for feeling alive. My reason for feeling enraged. My reason for feeling anything at all.
“I warned you,” I say. “I gave you a chance to walk away and you didn’t take it. Instead, you thought you could touch what’s mine. Fuck what’s mine. For that, there’s no devil in hell or god in heaven who can save you. Burn, motherfucker.”
“She is a person of great interest to me and should be shown the ultimate respect at all times.
Whenever she requests to speak to me, you will contact me immediately and put all of my other plans on hold. There’s nothing and no one more important than her. Understood?”
That’s right. You’re finally getting that you need me. And only me.
“I want to know everything about you, Callie. No matter how insignificant you think something is, chances are it’s meaningful to me.”
“You’re so beautiful when you beg,” Hayden says. He reaches for the other cuff link, and I swallow the ball of nerves gathered in my throat. “As much as I enjoy witnessing that, I need you to understand that I mean what I say.”
“That’s only because Levi and Calista hadn’t gotten to the mouth-fucking yet. If they had—” “He’d be dead,” Hayden says flatly.
“I’m sure they can be repaired.” When he shakes his head, I bite my bottom lip. “They’re the only pair I own. I can’t just get rid of them.” “I’ll replace them ten times over. Throw those shoes away before I lose what little patience I have left. If I would’ve known another man bought them for you, I would’ve burned them long before now.”
“I want to possess more than your secrets, Callie. I want to possess you.”
The side of his mouth lifts in a smirk. “I admire your spirit, but you want this as much as I do. Your body knows it, even if your mind refuses to accept it.” He leans in closer, his breath fanning across my lips. “You belong to me, Callie. You have since the first time I saw you. I knew it then, and I’m telling you now, you’re mine.”
“Please, baby,” he whispers, his voice dripping with raw desire.
“Now that I’ve caught you, I intend to keep you, Callie.”
“You belong with me. To me.” He brings his face so close to mine that the tips of our noses brush one another. “You can fight it all you want, but we both know it’s pointless. What’s happening between us is inevitable, and I’ll do everything within my power to get you to accept it.”
“You don’t need to worry about me.” “I don’t know how to stop myself.”
“Because you’re in my blood, Callie. Underneath my skin. No matter how hard I try, I can’t cut you out without killing myself in the process.”
“It might not be healthy or what’s considered normal.” He releases my chin to slide his hand in my hair, tangling his fingers in the strands to hold me immobile. “But I don’t want normal if it means I can’t have you.”
“I’m fine with that as long as none of it involves another man,” he says. “Unless you want me to threaten his life. I might not have claimed your body, but I’ll be fucked before I let someone else touch you.”
“Never,” he says, the sound guttural and deep, as if summoned from the depths of his soul. “Do you hear me, Callie? I’ll never leave you. Not in this life or whatever comes after. You are mine. And I will burn this world to fucking ashes before I let anything take you from me. Or me from you.”
“I know you think I only wish to possess you,” he whispers against my hair, “but I want to protect you. To avenge you. And I will,
even if it takes the rest of my life. I won’t stop until justice has been served by my hands.”
“No one can take away your strength,” she says. “Not even Mr. Tall-dark-and-dangerous-dick-size Bennett. But if he does step out of line, I’ve got a bat with his name on it. And it’s not just any bat, but a ‘Lucille.’”
“Your life is all I care about, and I’ll do whatever it takes to preserve it, Callie. Even if that means pissing you off.”
“The seventy-two hours was an excuse to give you time to come to terms with everything. Because you are going to give me what I want. I won’t leave you alone until I know you’re protected.”
“This is how I like seeing you,” he says. “All fucked up from my hands and mouth on your body. Keep your eyes on me. I want to watch your face as I fuck you.”
I scoff. “I’m not trying to be sweet. I always mean what I say or else I wouldn’t bother saying it to begin with. So believe me when I tell you that I’ve never met anyone like you.”
“What if Hayden’s too good to be true? He’s handsome, wealthy, and treats me like I’m his reason for living. That has to be a red flag, right?” Harper’s lips pull to the side. “Red’s my favorite color.”
