Page 40 of Stolen Hearts

And mesowillingly submitting to them.

He frowns. “Like, no touching.”

My heart sinks. Oh.Thosekinds of rules.

“Right. Yeah, obviously.”

“No kissing.”

“Kissing involves touching. You’re just being redundant there.”

“What I’m being isclear, Callie.”

“Kissing and touching is what married people do, Castle.”

He shoots me a piercing look. I roll my eyes.

“Oh my God, I’m kidding.”

Castle keeps that hard, eviscerating look on me.

“No touching, no kissing, no problem. It’s only a year, Castle. I’m sure we can keep our lives going exactly the same as they are now. Nothing changes.”

Bullshit.

Lies. So many fucking lies.

He nods. “Okay, then.”

“Great.”

“Great.”

Castle’s eyes meet mine. My throat bobs as I lose myself in those piercing blues.

“Callie,” he growls quietly.

My pulse hammers in my ears. My skin tingles with electricity as I swallow thickly and wet my lips.

“Yeah?” I croak quietly.

“I don’t want to start this on a foundation of bullshit.”

I swallow again. “Meaning?”

“Meaning I want to know why that happened that night.”

My heart skips. But I just shrug. “We already covered that. I was drunk.”

“That’s a nice story. Now I want the truth.”

I look away.

“What was it, Callie?” he growls. “Boredom? Not enough excitement or thrills in your life?”

Fuck you, asshole, it’s because I’m hopelessly in love with you.

“Something like that, maybe,” I snap casually. “I guess you have so many girls throwing themselves at you all the time you were just too worn out to say yes.”

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