Page 48 of The Silent Night Stalker
Constantine climbs off my lap and sits on his knees to grab another box. He opened the second one with more confidence. No, not confidence. Trust. He trusts me. That’s a powerful feeling—to have someone’s trust, especially from people like Constantine, who’ve been hurt by the very ones who should’ve protected him.
Right before my very eyes, I swear to fuck, he transformed back into a child. Not the hurt, abused child, but the one he was supposed to be, filled with wonder and bright smiles.
He glances my way before tearing into another gift, but this time with less trepidation. Now I wish I’d gotten him more gifts. Seeing him light up made spending all that money worth it.
“It’s heavy,” he says as he opens the black box. He pulls out the silver item and snorts a laugh. “I love it!”
“The damn thing wasn’t cheap, but I thought you might like it. I mean, it’s sexy like you.”
He smirks at me, and his eyes twinkle as much as the lights on the tree. “You think I’m sexy?”
“Very.”
I thought about getting some new toys anyway when I went to the sex shop, but then I saw that butt plug, locked up behind a glass counter. It glimmered and begged me to take it home and give it to Constantine. It isn’t huge, but it sure is pretty. At the base is a carved gold bird. Yep, that gift is one hundred percent Constantine.
“Thank you. I love it,” he says, placing the plug back into its box and grabbing the last gift.
He quickly opens it to find the necklace Enrique gave me. I thought about keeping it because it’s my last gift from him, but I know without a doubt Constantine would appreciate it more. He would give it the love it deserves.
“It’s y-your necklace.”
I hold out my hand, and he places the chain and cross in my palm. “It is, but I want you to have it.”
“Why?”
“Because you’ll take good care of it. I know you like it. I’m not a believer, Little Bird. Enrique always wanted me to find God again, but I just can’t. Maybe you can find some peace with it.”
I clasp it behind his neck and rest the cross on his upper chest. He touches it gently as his eyes water again. “I’ll always treasure it, Enny.”
I raise a brow and chuckle. “Enny?”
“Oh, do you like Angel better? I thought it’d be okay.”
“It’s more than okay. You can call me Angel, or Enny… doesn’t matter which.”
Constantine suddenly pounces on me and knocks me onto my back. “I don’t think I’ve ever been happier. Thank you for my beautiful gifts. I’ll always love them.”
“You’re welcome. I know it doesn’t make up for all the bad you’ve been through, but I hope I’ve made you feel a bit better.”
“So much. I love you.”
It’s still crazy to hear those words from someone I barely know. While it doesn’t bother me, I can’t say them either. I’ve always needed more time to tell someone how I feel. And definitely not after a week, but I’m not going to make Constantine stop.
He rests his hands on my chest, looking so much better than he had earlier. “I’m sorry that I don’t have anything for you to open.”
“Don’t worry about me. Like you, I didn’t really get Christmas gifts as a kid, but after I left the system, Enrique did his best to give me a good holiday. I don’t need much.”
“Well, I’m going to get you one anyway, and soon. Just you wait.”
I chuckle and run my hands over his jean-clad thighs. “I can’t wait.”
His hands slide underneath my hoodie. They’re warm and smooth. “Can we fool around?” he asks boldly. I like this side of him, and I’d like to think I had a little hand in his growing confidence.
“Honestly, I’m aching and tired. My face hurts… hell, my whole body hurts.”
His eyes bulge, and he jumps off me. “Oh, I’m so sorry.”
A snort escapes me. “I’m fine, but I do need an ice bath and more water. Usually, I do that at the gym, but the parking garage doesn’t exactly have that many perks, no matter how much money Alfonzo throws at it.”
