Page 92 of Bitten By Desire
Callum sighed. “All those vaults filled with artifacts and cash? None of that belongs to them.” He stared at me.
Oh shit.
“They’re bank robbers, Emma. Art thieves. They take what’s not theirs. I changed my name for a fresh start. But also to get away from them. Because that pocket watch isn’t the only artifact I have that could be used for no good. I couldn’t risk them taking anything else. That watch in their hands is more dangerous than you could possible imagine. I need to get it back. Not to use it. I’m not that man anymore. But I know what thatartifact does. It’s my fault that it was unearthed in the first place. So I need to prevent them from using it to manipulate innocent people.”
I thought about the Ferris wheel. And the way I’d behaved when Titan walked in on Bennett going down on me. That wasn’t… That couldn’t have been…
I felt tears welling in my eyes. I’d told Bennett about how Callum had treated me ten years ago. Bennett had seemed sympathetic. He’d even seemed infuriated by the thought of someone taking advantage of me. But it was all an act. Bennett had been taking advantage of me the whole time. It was like he knew I was an easy target. Almost like he was doing it just to piss Callum off.
“I’m so sorry, Emma. But someone needed to tell you the truth.”
“I trusted him.” I knew Callum was sorry. I knew it, but the past still hurt. Especially when it collided so fiercely with the present. Tears started to stream down my cheeks. “I’m such an idiot.”
“Hey.” He pulled me closer on the couch, wrapping his arm protectively around me. “You’re not an idiot, Emma. You’re strong. And brave. And beautiful.” He wiped my tears away with his fingertips. “It wasn’t anything you did. It was impossible not to trust him when he had that watch.”
I had a sinking feeling in my stomach. “Did you use the watch on me?” I asked, even though I didn’t think it was possible, given what Bennett had told me about the night he stole it. I just had to know for sure. “At that party ten years ago?”
Callum shook his head. “No. Actually, I think I was probably with you when it was taken. For a minute when I saw the two of you together at the Fall Festival…Ithought maybe you were in on all of it. But I’m pretty good at reading people. And I knew you weren’t lying to me.”
“But you used the watch on other women? In that way?”
“I told you I wasn’t a good man. I can’t change the past. But like I said…that night with you was a wakeup call for me. You made me realize I didn’t want it. That I didn’t need it. I just wanted you. But I needed time. To turn my life around. And to try and steal back that stupid watch. I’m so sorry he used it on you. I’m just so sorry about everything.”
It was the apology I’d been waiting for. I thought it would sound sour to my ears because it was ten years too late. But it didn’t actually feel too late. It felt like it was the perfect time. Because he’d spent our time apart trying to be better. For me. How could I find fault with that?
Callum smiled at me. “You have no idea how many times I pictured you on my couch. Not just on your back like that night. But like this.” For the first time ever he looked almost…shy. Uncertain. Waiting to hear what I’d say.
All my doubts about him disappeared. This was what I’d wanted. He was who I wanted. “It feels like I’ve waited ten thousand years for you to say that instead of just ten.”
He laughed.
I rested my head against his shoulder as I stared at the flames. I wanted to pinch myself. But I was scared I might wake up from another dream of him. And even though we’d been apart for years, it somehow felt like no time had passed at all. It was like we’d been togetherforever. I’d never felt this comfortable around someone before. Like we just fit.
But this dream felt a little like a nightmare too. I’d let Bennett mess with my head. Manipulate me. Control me. I just wanted to forget about this whole thing. But I wasn’t exactly great at moving on. “Bennett touched the pen. Why didn’t it burn him?”
“It must not work. Some artifacts are just tricks of the mind. Others actually trick your mind.”
“He said it burned you ten years ago.”
“And you remember what I told you when we first met. Once a snake, always a snake. You can’t believe a word out of that thief’s mouth.”
He had warned me. I was a sucker for falling into traps. I’d gone from one lying asshole to the next. And I really hoped that Callum wouldn’t lie to me again. “You made me feel crazy the past few days.”
“I was going to tell you the truth as soon as I got the watch back. I just wanted it to be done. All of it.”
“But you don’t have to do it alone. I can help.”
“Emma…”
I sat back up straight and stared into his golden eyes. “I don’t want Bennett to use it on anyone else ever again. Let me help get it back. And before you tell me that he’s dangerous…trust me, I know.”
But Callum wasn’t staring at me, trying to protest me helping him. He was staring over my shoulder.
My heartbeat caught in my throat as his eyes locked on something behind me. He lowered his eyebrows and I swear his golden eyes grew just a shade darker.
Chapter 28
Tuesday
