Page 3 of Stolen Holidays
But as I look at Callie standing in front of me, I can sense the underlying worry in her deep brown eyes. I wish there were something I could do to take her worries away. I’d do anything to be the one to carry her pain, her sadness, her burdens—all of it—just so she didn’t have to.
I place my hand on her cheek and run my thumb over her soft skin. “What’s wrong, Princess?”
The waves crash on the shore in the distance as I brush her hair behind her ear and wait for her to answer. She planned a celebratory lunch with her mom, Diana, here in Malibu, for this afternoon. Callie wanted to spend time with Diana before we leave tomorrow to spend the holidays in Oregon with my family.
“I don’t know. I…” Her words trail off as she sucks in a deep breath and releases it in a huff.
We stare at each other—Callie lost in her thoughts, and me watching the flurry of emotions dance across her face. She doesn’t realize how readable her thoughts are to me. They always have been.
Even though Diana has been doing incredibly well these past few months, with Silla locked behind bars, she’s not ready to leave the safety of the group home just yet. I know Callie wishes her mom could leave this place behind her already and move forward. I also know it still hurts her every time she visits and leaves Diana behind.
“You hate that your mom is still here. You don’t want to leave her behind, and you wish she would come home and spend the holidays with us.”
A breathless chuckle leaves Callie as she sways on her feet and leans into me.
I wrap my arms around her waist and hold her up while I plant a soft kiss on her delicious lips. “Baby steps, Cal. Your mom will get there. She’s already doing so much better. Just give her time. It’s been a lot for her to process. Before you know it, she’ll be out of here and at home.”
“How do you do that?” She props her chin on my chest and looks up at me from under her long eyelashes.
“Do what?”
Callie exhales softly as she sinks into me. “Always know what I’m thinking and say just the right thing to make me feel better.”
“Because I know you.” I tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear.
“Because you know me, hmm?” A slow smile curls at the corner of her mouth.
“Yup.” Callie is the other half of my soul. I know her better than I know the back of my hand.
Callie wraps her arms around my neck, lifts onto her toes, and brings our faces closer. Her breath fans across my lips as she asks, “Is it really that simple?”
“It’s really that simple, Callie. I love you so damn much. It’s my job to know exactly what you need and when you need it. I can’t protect you from everything, but I sure as fuck can try. Or at least comfort you when I can’t.”
“I love you, Elijiah Miller.” She bites her bottom lip, drawing my attention, and presses her body into mine.
My eyes dart back to hers, and I can see the change in her thoughts immediately. The deep brown pools in her eyes burn with heat and so much fucking love.
“Do you know what I’m thinking now?”
All the blood in my body rushes south, and my cock jerks behindmy zipper. Callie feels the way she’s affecting me and grins.
Naughty fucking minx.
“I know exactly what you’re thinking. I’d be more than happy to carry you back to the car, throw you in the back seat, and fuck you right here in the parking lot.” I pump my hips and press my hardening cock into her stomach.
Callie buries her face in my chest and laughs. “You’re such a dirty liar.”
I am. I might be a dirty, kinky fucker, but there is no way I would chance letting anyone but me see or hear her while she comes screaming my name. “Then I guess we better get to having lunch with your mom.”
“Lunch it is.” Callie steps back, but I stop her and tilt her chin up.
I cover her mouth with mine in a dirty wet kiss, full of promises for what’s coming as soon as we get home: she’s going to come.
All fucking night long.
Callie shoves her chair back with a screech and leaps to her feet. Without a word, which is so unlike her, she rushes away from the table in the middle of our lunch with her mother.
Fuck, is she okay?
