Page 23 of Stalker's Pet

"We're leaving,” Callum says before coming to me and gently grabbing my elbow. He leads me away from the lounge and toward the front door.

"Tinsley, I was just looking for you."

I turn around to see Carl coming down the stairs looking disheveled. It’s unlike his normal pristine appearance. I glance up the stairs to see my stepsister Willow standing at the top of them in a robe. "Wait, isn’t he your teacher?" His eyes bounce from me to Callum.

"No, I’m not her teacher,” Callum says but doesn’t stop walking. “She's mine."

"What do you mean?" Carl huffs and follows after us. "Tinsley is mine. We’re getting married."

“Carl!” Willow screeches. “How can you say that?”

Carl's hand grazes my arm before I’m whirled around and placed behind Callum. I hear something that sounds like a crack and then Willow screams. I peek around Callum to see Carl on the floor holding his nose as blood goes everywhere.

"Tinsley belongs to me,” he mumbles from behind his hands. “It would be wise if you all learned that!" Carl is crying, so his protests sound like a toddler having a tantrum. Willow rushes to his side, and when she reaches to help him, he smacks her hands away.

“It’s time to go, princess." Callum scoops me up before I can stop him.

"Hey!" I wiggle in his hold, but it's pointless.

Before I know what’s happening, he’s depositing me inside the passenger seat of his car before strapping me down with my seatbelt. When he shuts the door, I try to open it, but of course, it doesn't budge.

"You're kidnapping me," I tell him when he gets into the driver's seat.

"Call it what you must." Callum shrugs like he has zero regrets and hits the gas. “But as I’ve said, you belong to me. It’s not stealing if I already own it.”

“Whatever,” I huff and fold my arms over my chest. I’m unable to deny his claim, and I don’t have it in me to pretend he’s not right.

Neither of us speaks a word as Callum drives. I'm still newish to the area, but I quickly recognize the neighborhood when we enter it. When he pulls into a driveway I know all too well, my heart pounds against my chest.

“We’re home,” he says, and I shake my head.

"Callum?" I whisper. "Why are we at my best friend's house?"

"Because Charlie is my niece."

"What!?" I shout. "What haven't you lied about? Oh my god, is she in on this too?!"

“Princess,” Callum says softly as he removes my seatbelt.

“Don’t you princess me. You open this door right now.” I pull on the handle, but of course Callum is quicker. He plucks me out of my seat before hauling me onto his lap. Somehow he manages to get his door open and both of us out before he tosses me over his shoulder. “Callum!”

“Keep on screaming at me, princess,” he tells me, then smacks my ass. “I’ll take it over the tears.”

“Oh, that’s rich coming from you. You like spanking me till I cry.” I reach down and smack his ass, but the second I do it, I go completely still. Did I really just spank him?

“Those are different kinds of tears.”

He carries me into the house I’ve never been inside before, then the next thing I know, we’re going up a flight of stairs. Once we’re in a bedroom, he kicks the door closed behind him and tosses me on the bed. I try to scramble away from him and sit up, but Callum is on me, pressing me down into the mattress.

"Do you have any idea how many times I fucked my hand in this bed thinking about you?"

"Really?" I go still, and he smirks. "I mean, I don't care." I lick my lips, and Callum's whole body starts to shake before a chuckle leaves him. Why does he have to be so damn handsome when he laughs? "Callum!"

"I'm sorry, princess.” He sighs before settling some of his weight on top of me. “Yes, when I first found you, it was because I was digging into your father. You and my niece meeting was a coincidence. And she doesn't know a thing about us." He reaches up and brushes a lock of hair off my face.

"Who are you?"

"Charlie doesn't even know who I really am," he admits, and there’s a little sadness there.

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