Page 82 of Stolen Voices
“Romero was there?” he asks, shocked, referring to Talia’s brother, Nico Romero, who has hated Cameron for over a decade.
“Yup.” I shake my head, recalling Nico’s pissed-off face. “Dude was outside, ready to kick Cam’s ass.”
Mason throws his head back and laughs. “I wish I was there for that.”
“It was hilarious. Romero’s going to have to get used to it, and from what I heard, it wasn’t Cam’s idea.”
“Oh fuck. That’s great.” Mason gasps between laughs. “As bad as Jace and Ry?”
Now I’m rolling because, somehow, the bathroom incident always gets brought up.
“No. Jace and Ry are next level, but when they came out, Talia wasn’t even embarrassed. She’s a little spitfire. I like her for Cam.”
Cam brought Talia to Sariah’s first birthday. He had never introduced a woman to the family before, and we knew right away they were a done deal.
“Me too.” Mason smiles, and I know he’s thinking about his own wife.
“I think I’m missing something,” Callie says with a yawn.
“Shit. I’m sorry, Cal. That was rude.” I feel like an asshole for having a conversation without Callie while she’s sitting on the couch beside me.
“It’s fine, Eli. I like seeing you smile. It’s way better than the cocky glare you usually have pointed my way,” Callie teases.
Mason coughs, covering his laugh.
“I don’t have a cocky glare.” I do, and I really hate myself for being such a dick to her for the last few years. I’m going to have to make up for a lot of shit.
“Sorry, I must have been thinking about a different jerk who calls me ‘princess’ and ignores me.”
“Oh, I like you,” Mason says. He heads for the door. “As much fun as this has been, I would very much like to get back to my pregnant wife. But I look forward to seeing how this plays out.” Mason walks out the door and slams it shut.
“He seems nice.”
“He’s a riot,” I deadpan.
Callie giggles. The sound is music to my ears. She’s so fucking resilient.
“When you said you were close to your brothers, you really meant it.” She gnaws on her lip again, and I desperately want to gnaw on it myself.
“I did. They are my best friends.”
“I’m going to be honest. I’m super jealous. I always wanted siblings like that.”
I sit back on the couch with a laugh as I gently slide Callie to my side, where she fits perfectly. She’s stiff at first but slowly melts into me as we chat about my brothers.
When she yawns, I stand from the couch. “I think it’s time for me to get you into bed.”
Callie freezes, her mouth hanging open in a perfect O.
When the words register, my dick stirs in my jeans and my body temp rises. I’m one part embarrassed and two parts turned the fuck on thinking about getting Callie into bed. Naked. Needy. Wanting.
I need a cold fucking shower. Stat.
I clear my throat. “I meant, I think you should get some rest.”
Callie snaps her mouth shut. “Yeah, of course. I know what you meant.” She picks at nonexistent lint on her sweatpants. Her entire demeanor has changed, leaving me worried.
With her soreness, I don’t chance turning her to look at me, so I beg, “Callie, please look at me.”
