Page 58 of Five Days

And therein lay the problem. My heart refused to emerge from behind the shredded foil attempting to hide it from view. I’d been set aside, forced away from what I’d hoped to call home one too many times.

It was my turn to escape into inner thoughts while staring over the ocean. Regardless of the character Callum portrayed, of what I’d taken note of with how he cared for Landon’s wellbeing, what I longed for, I refused to be swayed.

“Vulnerability isn’t an option,” I stated, my tone quiet but firm. “My biological parents left me to the state rather than raising what I’m assuming they saw as a mistake. Countless foster families only cared about the monthly checks they received. Landon pushed me away too, which regardless of his reasons, only toughened me up even more. My entire childhood lacked in love or affection of any kind, and I’ve spent almost thirty-three years emotionally on my own. I’m not capable of lowering my walls.”

“I could demand as your client that you let me have you however I wish.”

I brushed off his words since they were as far from a threat as possible. “You wouldn’t.”

“So you do trust me.”

Heaving a weary exhale, I closed my eyes so I wouldn’t have to look at his gorgeous face when his voice held a hint of a smile. “Elite contracts allow for personal boundaries, Callum, and bottoming for you after what we’ve gone through the past couple of days wouldn’t be me just offering up my hole as if you were simply another client.”

Again, I’d said more than I’d planned on, but Callum deserved my honesty at the very least.

“Zack,” he whispered, and I forced myself to meet his gaze.

I might have hard limits, but he’d somehow blasted through them all. Even without having full access to my body, he’d found a way to pry me open and burrow inside.

Pain and desire filled his green-blue irises, and I fought the need to reach for him. Lose myself in his body as I’d done the night before.

“Please, Callum—don’t ask for more than I’m willing to give,” I rasped my request, barely hanging onto my self-preservation.

“You have my word.”

As much as I didn’t want to allow myself to, I believed him.

Chapter 23

Landon

I’d finished.

The edits had left me with a migraine from hell—my reason for begging off having dinner with Callum and Zack after their time on the beach, but I just couldn’t join them. Between the throb in my temples and my mental exhaustion, I didn’t have it in me to be out in public.

Callum, always the sweetheart, had returned from their late dinner with a boxed one for me, insisting I eat since I’d done nothing but drink coffee all day. Rather than escaping my grumpy ass for Zack’s, Callum had stayed in with me, putting me first as usual.

He’d seemed preoccupied, perhaps even a little bit down after spending hours with Zack, but I didn’t bug him to tell me what was going on with him. Recognizing he needed me—and vice versa—I’d asked him to take care of me instead.

Callum joined me in the bath he’d drawn for me, and I lounged between his thighs, eyes closed as he washed me. We both had grown hard, but neither of us pressed for more, not even after we’d dried and crawled into his bed.

I’d fallen asleep with my head on his chest, his palm possessively holding my ass cheek.

When I’d woken, he’d already been dressed and had a cup of coffee in his hand. He planned to remain in the suite, reading over my manuscript, while Zack and I got dropped by boat into a secluded cove where a canopied outdoor bed and a picnic basket full of food and wine awaited us.

I would have a chance to get away from any prying eyes with one of the loves of my life. The only way it could have been better would be if Callum accompanied us.

I’d kissed him for the thoughtful gift before hightailing my ass to the shower to prepare for a day with Zack, since I had Callum’s blessing to thoroughly enjoy myself while he rested.

That included some dick.

Hopefully.

Relief over having gotten my edits done allowed me to feel the freedom to enjoy my afternoon beneath a blue sky with a gorgeous companion.

“Did you have fun with Callum?” I asked Zack.

He sat beside me on the massive bed, picking at pieces of some tropical fruit that was a little too bland for my liking. I preferred the cheese that paired well with the wine we sipped.

---