Page 114 of Shattered

For some reason it was that sight, that realization of what she had been doing, that had caused her to bag up every sexy dress or outfit she’d owned and take it to a local donation center. She’d decided that she wanted to impress him with who she was, not what she wore. She’d wanted him to love her for how she thought and what she said, not for how easily he could get to where he wanted. That was the night she’d decided to love Christian from afar; to stop focusing on what he wanted in a girl and start focusing on who she wanted to be as a person.

She stared down at the dress one more time. In a way, it reminded her of those nights two years ago, but, in a way, it didn’t.

Tonight felt different. Tonight, she wasn’t desperate to make someone want her, she was desperate to take control of her own sexuality for the first time in her life.

She blushed the entire way downstairs. Her new underwear was missing that very important strip of fabric down the middle, and she felt every burst of air as she moved.She didn’t know why, but she knocked on his bedroom door. She was being ridiculous. They’d had sex in the room less than twenty-four hours earlier and she was absolutely positive she would be staying in there that night as well. And it wasn’t like she hadn’t seen him completely naked.

When he opened the door, he gave her a quizzical look.

“You don’t have to knock.”

“I know. I don’t know why I–”

“Is that new?” Callum quickly cut her off as he reached out to grab her waist exactly where the cut outs were. His fingers felt like fire against her skin.

“Yes.”

“I like it.”

“Thank you.”

It was then that she noticed his outfit. Black dress pants and black shoes, a black dress shirt with the top two buttons left open and the sleeves rolled up his forearms, leaving a perfect view of his tattoos. His long hair was pulled back into a perfectly effortless messy bun.

“I like your outfit as well.” Her voice was an octave higher than usual and she watched as Callum’s smile spread across his face at her reaction.

“I’m glad you like it. I hope you plan on taking it off of me later.”

Sam blushed and then leaned up against the wall as she tried to steady her breathing. She couldn’t hold in the giggle that started to erupt. That she always felt the urge to laugh at the most inopportune times was something she absolutely loathed about herself.

He was doing exactly what she was supposed to be doing.She had come down here to tease him with her new, barely there strips of lace, not to be the one who was basically drooling at the mouth.

Sam groaned. “I’m not very good at this.”

“Good at what?” Callum furrowed his brow and crossed his arms over his chest, causing the muscles of his biceps to bulge out. She had to shake her head to refocus on the task at hand. She wouldnotget lost in staring at his arms.

“This whole thing where I…” Sam paused and started to nervously laugh once again. “You know, where the girl teases the boy.”

“What does that mean?” Callum tilted his head to the side.

“I bought new underwear,” the words came out in a rush.

That piqued his interest.

“But I was supposed to come down here and be sexy or something and tease you with them, but I’m not good at that. I can’t even tell you the last time I wore a dress this tight or heels this high.” Now she was rambling. “I’m going to have to hold onto you just so I don’t fall flat on my face.” She turned then, ready to bolt from the room. She froze when Callum reached out to grab her arm.

“Sam?”

She turned back to face him. Her cheeks now felt almost as red as her hair.

“You look beautiful in that dress.”

“Thank you.”

“But you want to know what my absolute favorite outfit you have is?”

“I’m scared to ask.” She crossed her arms over her chest and nervously sifted from one foot to the other.

“That first night you showed up at my house.”

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