Page 97 of Ricochet

His lips part, and a rush of air bursts past them. His shoulders slump as though the weight of the world has lifted off them.

Did he really think I’d hate him for it?

How could he have thought I’d be anything but grateful?

“Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you tell me any of this?”

“I couldn’t tell you Lacey knew, not without her permission. I’ve never told her I enjoy killing just to kill. She might suspect it, but if we stick to my killing the scum of the universe as she likes to say, then she doesn’t have to worry about me going off the rails. But I couldn’t tell you that either because then you might’ve guessed I was the one to kill Lewis. And…fuck, Callum. I was scared. I can’t—”

Taking a step forward, I place my hand against the side of his face. “Yousavedme, Stone.”

He leans into my touch. “You had to move to a whole different state. Leave your friends behind. It changed your entire life.”

“For thebetter.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” he says as he places his hand over mine, holding it to him. “I just don’t know what I’d do if I lost you. I don’t think I couldacceptit. I’d do anything to keep you. And we both know if I hurt you, I’d have to hurt myself too.”

I grin and shake my head. “That’s so fucking toxic.”

His other hand comes up and wraps around my throat in a show of possession that I don’t have the strength to fight.

That I don’twantto fight anymore.

“Do you understand what I’m telling you?” he asks.

His fingers tremble around my neck. His entire body damn near vibrates with the effort of holding back what he really wants to say.

He’s holding it back for me.

But he doesn’t have to anymore.

“That I’m yours.”

Another breath full of tension expels from his lips and passes over mine as he leans forward, pressing his forehead against mine. “Say it again.”

“I’m yours, Stone. I belong to you.”

Then he kisses me. And I know he’ll claim me so thoroughly I’ll never doubt it ever again.

Callum Hayes is fuckingmine.

He’s been mine for a while now, but thank the stars I can finally fucking say it. I hope he’s prepared to belong to me for eternity.

I would’ve claimed him after he spoke those words, but I had work to do.

He was exhausted from the game and the long drive and all the revelations he wasn’t expecting to get tonight, so I took him to my old room and put us both to bed. He fell asleep clinging to me, which made it a little difficult to extricate myself without waking him.

I’ve been gone for nearly two hours. When I return, Callum is still sleeping peacefully in my bed.

I get a quick shower, scrubbing off dirt and blood, before climbing back in with him. I settle in behind him, wrapping my arm around his waist and pulling him close. It doesn’t take me long to join him in sleep.

Some hours later, I’m jolted out of it when the body I’m still holding onto starts squirming and whimpering.

I’m not sure if my mind is fully awake yet, but my body moves like it knows exactly what to do. After soaking my finger with my own saliva, I slip my hand beneath the waistband of his boxers.

“You’re okay, Callum,” I whisper in his ear as I slowly push my finger inside him.

He jerks and sobs, but I don’t stop.

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