He knows what I’m thinking without me even having to say it.
“You’re a rare kind of man,” I whisper when my heart clenches from his gentleness and he gets a questioning look in his eyes as if he doesn’t agree.
“I am?”
“Mmm, you must be protected at all costs.”
He stares at me like I’m crazy before his mouth splits in a smile and he lets out a rugged laugh, that sounds closer to a snarl but I stare because I’ve just seen something rare. He never smiles to my face and I know why. It’s because it makes his face look distorted and some people stop and stare, throwing him evil and scared looks.
I jerk at the hatred in their eyes, hating them for it and without thinking, I throw my arms around Callan’s neck and give him a wet, deep kiss. He seems surprised but he quickly kisses me back, our tongues meeting and comforting and tempting and we’re putting on a show for everyone who have anything against us.
“What was that for?” he rasps, his voice syrupy from lust and it makes me flush.
“Can’t a girl kiss her detective whenever she wants?”
His eyes soften. “Aye, that she can.” He cups my cheek, stroking my chin with his thumb, his eyes so full of emotions that I want to solve like a crossword. It makes me feel like my body is nothing but stardust that wants to dissolve into Callan and I’m lost in feelings, jerking when the sound of a trumpet bursts through the air.
I let out a laugh at my own jumpiness right before I’m reminded that I’m here to enjoy the festival and I smile at Callan, yelping, “Come on!”
Turning from him, I rush into the packed crowd, wanting to go over to the booths that seem so intriguing to me when I’m yanked back by someone’s hand. Someone who is big and imposing enough to cause the whole mob to part.
Callan.
My back hits against his chest, the top of my head almost bumping against his chin before he raises it and his hands clamp around my arms. “Do not do that,” he growls with eyes filled with warning. “Do not just throw yourself into crowds without me.”
Gulping I stutter, “All r...right, I won’t.” I knew he was strong but I never thought about it before I got to experience it for myself. The force which he used to fling me back practically caused my heels to lift off the ground.
He’s really strong. Strong enough to pick up a woman without much effort and do whatever he pleases with her. Just like Romeo...
No!
Squeezing my eyes, I pull my hands to my ears, shaking my head and I take a deep breath, anxiety filling me at the look in Callan’s eyes. He looks like he’d lash himself with a leather whip if I asked him to and I swallow.
“Did I bruise you, love?” he asks in a low voice and I shake my head because he didn’t and he looks slightly more relieved. “I care about you very much, that is all. Maybe sometimes to a fault.”
I shake my head.
“It’s okay. It’s just that the memories are still fresh...” I trail off, not wanting to come across as fearful and I add, “But I don’t want to think about that now.” I sneak my hand into his. “Shall we?”
He stiffly nods, like he’s already regretting he brought me here but I don’t want to go home and I throw him a pleading glance. He gets it and this time, I don’t jump into the crowd but stay close to Callan.
12
Callan
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I wonder why the fuck I even broughther here. Like she said, the memories of what happened are still fresh in her mind and deep down I know that she is not ready for this.
But as sappy of a male that it makes me, I also wanted to make her smile. Wanted her to relax and feel some joy after what she’s been through and I force myself to take it down a notch when she lets out a ringing laughter.
She’s standing in front of a distorted mirror, tittering at the sight of her outstretched body. “Callan do you see this?” she says in a loud voice that causes some displeased glances to be thrown her way. They probably don’t like the soft and loving way she talks to me. They probably think she should be pointing and cursing me to hell or something.
“Look at my hands,” she continues and I look at her fingers, that resemble long pencils and I nod, not smiling at her this time. She’s already seen me smile enough for today and when I did it, she looked stunned.
And she stared at me and I could see the wheels rolling in her head.Why would he do something like that to himself?It perplexes her but it perplexes me that she didn’t have a stronger reaction. I’m not pretty that’s for sure but when I smile, I look downright scary.
And yet, I have a feeling she’ll crawl into my bed this night too.
With a final laugh, she turns away from the mirror, her steps lighter than ever before and maybe I was wrong. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea to bring her here and I find myself starting to relax.