Page 49 of Five Days

“It is tonight,” I pushed. “Unless…”

He glanced at me, searching my face.

“Are the two of you officially dating and set boundaries that would require exclusivity unless the other is present?”

“We haven’t discussed anything.”

Exactly as I’d assumed, considering Landon’s parting words to him.

“Then explain what you need from me,” I pleaded. “I wasn’t lying when I said I would give you anything—I want to, Callum, and not just because of the exchange of money.”

A shudder rippled through him at my blatant honesty, and he closed his eyes, head tipping back slightly as though hoping the moon would absolve him of whatever guilt I sensed he might be experiencing.

“Take care of me,” he whispered, the words barely reaching my ears. “No one has ever made me feel safe enough to let go and just be in the moment, but somehow I can with you.”

Fuck, did I get that. Empathy kicked in along with a swell of desire, doubling my need to do exactly as he’d asked of me even if it shook the foundation of my flimsy walls.

I pushed to my feet, body starting to vibrate with anticipation. “My room or yours?”

A heavy exhale left his shoulders sagged. “I’m sharing the suite with Landon.”

I didn’t need the reminder. Had kind of been hoping maybe Landon would wake up enough for that front row seat I knew he lusted for of Callum’s and my first time together.

But after hearing how Callum wanted to connect with me?

“We’re going to my room.” I held out a hand, and Callum lifted his focus from my palm to my face.

“Do you think he’ll be upset if we do this?” he asked. “He’s loved you for so long—still does—and I have no wish to hurt him.”

Call me a selfish bitch, but freedom remained for all parties until otherwise agreed upon, and I wasn’t going to waste a minute in paradise. “Same but. Did he or did he not tell you a few minutes ago to get your money’s worth out of me?”

“He did.”

“Then?” I wiggled my fingers.

Callum slid his palm along mine, our fingers twining, energy zapping straight up my arm to my chest where my heartbeat fluttered.

We didn’t speak on the way to my room, nor did Callum hesitate in front of his and Landon’s door. I rounded the hallway’s corner, Callum in tow, his footsteps just as eager as mine.

I shut us away in semi-darkness, leaving the curtains wide open so the moonlight could pour in and create a pale, magical glow around us.

“Come here,” I murmured, drawing him into my arms rather than ravaging him. He wanted to be taken care of, and that meant tenderness.

This time around.

Callum willingly buried his face in my neck, and I tucked him in close to me, soothing my hands down his back to cradle his ass.

We were both hard, our groins pressed tightly together, but we didn’t grind or start tearing off clothing. A hug of silence offered us both comfort in that moment, and I could feel his strength even though he wanted me to be his rock in that moment.

“Will you shower with me? Let me wash and prep you?” I asked, pulling away so I could see his face.

A slight haze of wetness covered his eyes, making them appear more a grayish blue than sea-like in the moon’s light.

“Yes,” he whispered, his tone almost broken.

I pressed a chaste kiss to his lips before leading him into the bathroom.

Callum stood still while I undressed him, the shower warming behind me. I lingered after baring his body, gently touching and caressing his skin with open-mouthed kisses. Regardless of an instinctive desire, I didn’t mark him to show ownership. This wasn’t anything personal. Simply a transaction.

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