Page 55 of Fallen Princess: Shadow Stalker

“Don’t stare at me like that, you wanker,” and an amused smile plays on his lip. “There isn’t even a trace of nicotine in these. I wasintroduced to them by my therapist, keep my hands busy, so to speak.”

I look at him skeptically.

“Other than that dark-haired brunette inside, I haven’t got any addictions,” he says casually.

I’m not sure what to focus on regarding what he’s declared. His mysterious herbal smokes? Or the fact that he’s just as obsessed with Eden as I am?

“She does look amazing,” I admit.

He glances at me as he takes a long drag and then focuses back on the sky.

“She’s annoying as fuck.”

That earns him a raised brow from me.

“She hasn’t done anything that I would say is annoying,” I say, a little confused by his statement.

“I didn’t know what to expect when we made that trip to find her in the desert. But seeing her in her own element. We always knew who the real Eden Rivers was, but seeing her live her life as she was always supposed to be is like watching a true goddess. She’s fucking sexy and a knob teaser. Those T-shirts she wears around the house.”

“Yeah, I was wondering if she wears anything under them.”

“Black thongs and her creamy white arse is as perky as ever. Fuck that girl grew curves.”

Curiosity dancing in my gaze, I incline my head, a subtle tilt to the side.

“How do you know that? About her thongs?”

I remember there was a time when all the girls from the Vixens had to get monthly checkups, and weight management was part of it. Bloody bastards kept their figures in check with daily morning trainers. There was nothing healthy about how those teenage girls were kept.

“From her dog,” Callum stubs out his fag and kicks it into some shrubs. “I’ve caught her bend down to retrieve his food bowl or change his water.”

“Do you believe her about the video?” I ask, ignoring his penchant to be a pervert. So typical of Callum. He hasn’t changed much since he was fifteen.

“No, I don’t.” He plays with his zippo, flicking it on and off. “I also believe that crazed fan is stalking her. She called negative attention to herself when that video came out. I might sympathizewith her about why she did it, but my head ain’t never going back to where it used to be with her.”

He bites the silver ring on his lower lip. “Eden might be oozing with sex appeal, but I have no plan to get my head wrapped up in her web again. She’s a femme fatale, with way too much unexplained mystery around her, and a heartless mind crusher. Thanks, but no thanks. I’ve already been trapped once by her deceit and lies. Never going there again, even if it was a joyous ride while it lasted. The aftershocks almost killed me.”

“You’ve thought a lot about this,” I gaze at him curiously.

“I’ve had ten years. Fool me once, shame on me, fool me twice, and I’ll probably end up killing her this time.”

“That’s a pretty strong statement.”

He flickers his eyes at me, and his entire face suddenly becomes gravely serious.

“I’ve seen the way you three stare at her. The only person who will act on their lust and not be scorned by her will be me. It would be best if you made sure you don’t fall for this desert siren’s charm. She’s like a mirage wrapped in the shimmering heat of the desert. A temptress in the sea of scorching sands. The way she swerves those hips when she sings is like a seductive dance, cloaked in a flowing gown of shifting sands leaving a trail of mystery in her wake.”

Desert siren.

That is such a good description of who Eden is now. Quiet and alluring.

“Eden makes a good fuck,” Callum adds, snapping me out of my thoughts, “but as long as you don’t let your feelings get in the way, you’re good.”

“That’s a bit much. Doesn’t she deserve the benefit of doubt?”

He sighs. “It’s complicated. I feel sorry for the girl; she’s got some unwarranted psycho fan trailing her. It’s clear she’s here for the music, and I can respect her for that. But after we’re done, she’s going back to her desert. She’s found peace there, and she’ll choose that over any of us. I’ve seen the way she looks at us, it’s pure lust, and I think at some point, we’ll end up fucking her. But it won’t be like before. There’s no pot of gold at the end of her rainbow. Don’t go thinking, you’ll find it.”

Callum’s being harsh with her, but deep down, it’s all a front. He still feels burned by her betrayal, and this close proximity doesn’t help. Old feelings are resurfacing, and new feelings are emerging.

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