“Aye, Captain.” He returned the nod. “No harm will come to him.”
“I’m not a child,” I muttered.
“You’re even worse than a child.” Rowan strolled over and squatted in front of me. “You’re a clumsy little treasure who attracts men and demons alike. My previous statement stillstands. You need a harem to keep you safe.” His gaze shifted to Callum. “But I reckon a rabbit will do for now.”
***
Confidence was a fickle bastard.
One moment, I’d been salivating at the thought of stripping Callum bare and worshipping those rock-hard abs I’d ogled while watching him train. And the next, insecurity ran into the room screaming and swinging a bat, knocking confidence the hell out.
So there I was, sitting in the middle of Callum’s bed with my knees drawn to my chest and riddled with nerves. It didn’t matter that I had four men who regularly fucked my brains out. It felt like my first time all over again.
“The tonic actually tasted nice.” Callum sat on the edge of the bed and fidgeted with his hands. Pink colored his cheeks. “Ma makes rose tea sometimes. It reminded me of that.”
“I tried making rose tea once. Maddox is my taste tester for muffins, and Briar is my tea guy. But I’ve always said flowers don’t belong in food or drinks, so I think the tea knew my heart wasn’t in it. Briar took a drink and almost spit it out. He swallowed it like a champ, though, and politely told me not to put it on my menu. Ever.”
He lightly laughed. “You can have all the necessary tools, but without passion, whatever you make will seem lifeless.”
“Good thing I’m passionate about muffins then, huh?”
“And coffee.” Callum peered over at me, that dimple I adored on full display. “No one makes it better.”
Slowly, my nerves eased. Callum had been with me since the day I woke up in Bremloc. And he’d stayed by my side ever since, blessing me with his cinnamon roll smiles, hair ruffles, and giving me a shoulder to lean on when I needed it most.
“So.” I stretched out my leg and nudged the side of his thigh with my toes. “What should we do now?”
He smiled down at my foot. “You’re poking me.”
“You could always poke me instead.” I slid my foot farther up his thigh, stopping near his groin. “With that big… heart of yours.”
“My heart?” His smile turned lopsided. He came toward me and guided me to my back, cupping the back of my head before it touched the mattress.
“Well, I guess it’s similar to your heart.” My foot slid down his leg and hooked around the back of his knee. “Both of them swell when happy and throb.”
“Dammit, Ev.” With a soft laugh, he dropped his head to my shoulder.
“Awe.” I wrapped my arms around him. “Are you bashful, dear knight?”
Chestnut bangs fell forward as he smiled down at me. “Perhaps a little. But only with you.”
My breath caught. I’d always viewed Callum as a cinnamon roll; handsome, sweet, and charming. But right then? He was devastating in his beauty. Long, dark lashes surrounded slightly downturned brown eyes, giving him a sexy bedroom look. He was a total boy next door; dependable and wholesome. Loyal to a fault.
“Why do you stare?” he softly asked.
“Because.” I lifted a hand to his face and traced the line of his nose, dipping down to his mouth. His lips parted beneath my fingertips. “You’re kind of beautiful, Cal.”
“Me? Beautiful?” He placed his hand over mine, keeping it against his cheek. “I’ve never seen myself that way.”
“How do you see yourself?”
“Ordinary in appearance. Brown hair and eyes are common. I’m quite proud of my muscles though. I train hard, and my body reflects that dedication.”
“You’re not ordinary.” I caressed his jaw, feeling a knock in my chest. “Brown eyes may be common, but none compare to yours. You don’t see the burst of orange when the sun hits them just right, like there’s a fire inside you desperate to come out. You don’t see how your face lights up when you smile or how your nose crinkles when you laugh—”
Callum’s mouth slammed to mine.
And a warm tear landed on my cheek.
