Falling For My Husband (British Billionaires) (20 page)

Now seated, Callum took charge of serving the chilled Magnum. “I don’t think I’ve romanced anyone like this.” He grinned as he handed me a flute with the bubblies in it.

“I should feel special then,” I murmured before taking a lengthy sip of my drink.

“You should,” Callum mused, looking like a ravishing beast out on a hunt.

What did I say to that? Thank you? Breaking our eye contact, I decided not to respond to him. Callum was a difficult man to read and I’d rather not get into the habit of trying to break into his thoughts because I’d inevitably lose.

Nursing my drink, I focused on the soft sounds of Chris Botti echoing in the background while I watched the fish dance about their way in the large tank.

Callum remained silent and, before long, our servers carried out the first course.

We were on our second course when I noticed something different about Callum. In fact, he had totally abandoned his meal, much to my confusion.

What I found most disconcerting was the fact that he was leaning against his chair, staring at me with a whimsical look on his face.

“What?” I asked before I took a bite of the scrumptious meal. When he didn’t respond, I carefully placed my utensils on the sides of the plate as I cautiously inserted the stem of my flute in between my fingers and slightly shook it in tiny circles.

“I’m watching the candlelight’s reflection as it dances on your face,” Callum finally found his tongue.

Great.
Was he making fun of me?
“Lovely,” I muttered as dryly as possible.

“It is. It highlights your face superbly…” Our gazes locked and I felt the air leave my body when he finished his sentence. “I’m mesmerized by its beauty.”

Gah… how the heck was I supposed to swallow this lamb chop in my mouth without choking? He was making me beyond aware.

I was so aware that I could feel the heat of his gaze stroking my face. It was diffusing my brain. It was uncontrollably liquefying my vagina. I was thrilled and petrified when he looked at me with that predatory gleam in his eyes.

“More champagne?” he broke my running thoughts.

I could only nod.

Callum’s eyes danced as he took note of my reaction to him. The smug bastard even smirked when he refilled my flute.

Damn him. He knew the effect he had on me and he was using that to drive me insane. Couldn’t he have waited until after the meal? It was hard enough to concentrate on anything, let alone focus on getting through course after course with a sex-god of a man across the table, undressing you before his very eyes.

“Hungry for some
more…
or
dessert, darling?” Callum went on, hidden meaning and all.

He sure was having a ball. Well, I suppose I could enjoy this meal the way he did as well.

“I’m always hungry for anything sweet and creamy, Callum,” I responded provocatively.

His eyes darkened as they dropped towards my breasts, probably noticing the outline of my constrained peaks. I was a jittery mess while Callum looked completely menacing.

When servers came to gather our dishes, not once did he lift his eyes off me.

When one of the waiters came back to ask what we wanted for dessert, Callum interrupted him mid-sentence.

“Anything sweet and
creamy
should do. Right, darling?” Callum’s gaze was unwavering.

The waiter opened his mouth then closed it again while I blushed from the root of my hair to my toes. “Right away, sir.” Thank goodness the waiter was able to compose himself.

I was beyond mortified.

Those formidable darkened orbs didn’t leave me when he decided to stand up and circled the table to stand before me, offering his hand. “I believe you still owe me a dance.”

That made me grin. Rejecting him for Hugh was still unforgotten. “Lead me away,” I said as I accepted his hand.

He led us close to the fish tank, holding me in a tight embrace. My body swayed with his, but I couldn’t hear the music because my heartbeat was becoming so erratic, it reverberated loudly in my ears.

“Do you know how you affect me with your teasing?” He placed his leg in between mine, pressing it against my heat so I could feel his erection. “I can’t get enough of you, Stella,” Callum declared before capturing my lips, kissing me senseless.

Mother hell, he was becoming too much. Small doses were good. Large doses were somewhat manageable, but
this
, this was frightening. I loved the man but if he kept going like this, I might end up thinking that he was reciprocating my feelings. I couldn’t have that. Caring for me was what I wanted and aimed for, but his heart belonged to Zara, simple as that.

~S~

“Where are you going?” Callum tugged me back against his chest when I tried to break out of his embrace. It was barely seven in the morning and I needed to get ready for work.

“Work.” I yawned, melting against his body. He was so warm and I felt so little when he wrapped his large frame around my body.

“But it’s Sunday.” He kissed the back of my neck, one hand cupping my breast, the other making slow circles around my stomach. “Take the day off and spend it with me.”

It was tempting, but…
but what?
My mind countered.
Let go and enjoy this time with Callum. You might never have the chance again.
The damning thoughts continued to flow out of nowhere.

“Um, let me think about it.” I contemplated some more.

Callum was making out with my ears and it was distracting, not to mention that he lazily kept poking about, seeking for entrance—with one or the other—wasn’t helping me at all.

“Come on… besides, we have to meet friends for lunch.”

I shifted my position so I could face him. “I didn’t know we had a lunch date.”

“I forgot to mention it, but we are. We’re meeting Dimitris and his Lindsey for lunch.” He caressed the bottom of my lip as he said these words. “I’m still waiting on my good morning kiss, Stella.”

“So is Dimitris Kosta really that good looking in real life?” I wondered out loud. I’d read stories about him. I’m not going to lie, but I’m a tad more excited about meeting him in person than going to eat lunch.

“You’re a fan of his?” He studied me intently.

“I saw his last movie with Luciana.”

“And? You got hot and bothered?”

Shit. “Maybe, yeah.” I licked my lips. “Okay, I was turned on. The man signifies the word sex. Pair that with a man like Bass Cole and it was a feast for us women. It’s like Magic Mike without all the dancing.”

“
You watch films like Magic Mike?
” Callum’s reaction was laughable. “Goodness, woman, what have I gotten myself into?”

I snorted as I tried to get away from him, but he was too fast and captured me again, rolling me onto my back as he hovered above me. “I don’t think I like you fantasizing about other men. I want to be the only man to dominate your mind.” His face never left mine as he entered me with one rough thrust, making me gasp loudly at his harsh invasion. “Your body.”

A pleasured cry came from my lips as he crucially plowed me senseless. “Do you like it when I fuck you like this, my love?” He was intense. Too intense as he questioned me without giving me any room nor air to reply to him. He was so massive that each stroke made me come and convulse. He knew how to stroke my body well, owning my body as he’d promised.

“Look at me, Stella.” His voice was gentle, a total contrast to the way he was handling my body.

One thing I had learned about him, when he was serious, he’d never leave your face. He’d memorize each movement the person took so he could analyze it, break it down as he intimidated the person, slowly cutting down their barriers without the effort of speech.

“Callum.” I leveled with his gaze.

“Who are you thinking about now?” he pestered on, watching me moan and gasp from his thrusting.

Who else? The man I loved. “You.”

Something passed his eyes. “Only me?”

“Only you.”

My world shattered around me when he kissed me whilst fucking me into paradise. Somehow, amidst all the fucking, I realized too late that we had shifted from fucking and were already making love. What took me aback was how Callum treated me. He kissed me like a man in love. So I let my imagination run riot with my heart. Even for a day, I could live in an imaginary world without it hurting me.

~S~

Unfortunately the lunch date had to be cancelled.

What came out of Callum’s mouth next shook my world. I knew, right then and there, that nothing was going to be the same again.

“My father is dead,” he said without any emotions. “I think I killed the blasted fucker.” Callum was so detached that I was starting to wonder if he was making it up.

“Oh, Cal, I’m sorry. Aren’t you going to see him or something?” I went towards him and gave him a comforting hug. I knew most people would touch the
body, say their goodbyes before it was taken away.

He somehow looked lost for a moment before he finally nodded as if understanding what he had to do. “I have to go. Zara called and she was hysterical.”

His Zara?
I nervously pressed my lips together. Our time was done. With his father dead and Zara’s intent on getting Callum back, I had no chance with him. “Do you need me to go with you?” I offered, knowing that this was difficult for him.

“No. I think it’s best I do it alone.” The immediate withdrawal from Callum was felt. He couldn’t even look me in the eye.

So I stood back and watched as he got ready to leave. When he was done, he stood there, contemplating if he was to kiss me or not. “I have to get going.” Callum finally moved and managed to kiss my forehead.

“Be safe.”

He nodded before walking out of the bedroom, looking somber and in good need of a hug. He looked so lost and I wanted to badly be there with him, but he didn’t want me there.

For the rest of the afternoon and evening, I kept my phone next to me while working through my projects just in case he decided to call or text. When dinnertime came and I hadn’t heard from him, I tried to convince myself that he was all right. Besides, Zara was there, so technically, I wasn’t all that needed.

I fixed myself a sandwich to eat before taking a long bath. It was almost ten o’clock when I slid into bed. I was in and out of consciousness most of the time because I wanted to be awake when Callum came back.

He finally came around right about midnight, bringing a surprise present for me.

What he had brought with him nailed my future.

I was half sitting on the mattress when Callum decided to turn the switch on his bedside lamp. He looked disheveled and distraught. I was about to ask him if he’d had dinner when he mentioned her.

“Zara needed a place to stay. My father’s house wasn’t an option and getting a hotel room would be too lonely. I hope that’s okay with you?” He was looking at me dead-on, so I decided to look away, composing myself.

I didn’t want him to see the hurt and jealousy that was immediately etched all over my face. It wasn’t okay, but I didn’t have it in me to say it out loud and cause more
burden when his father had died only this morning. “Whatever you think is best.”

“She’s in one of the guest rooms, in case you were wondering.” He raked a hand over his hair, sighing. “I’m going to shower.”

I nodded, watching him go into his closet before striding towards the bathroom naked.

Zara was in one of the bedrooms, probably plotting how to get Callum into her bed. Going back to sleep was now out of the question. I knew there was still unfinished business between the two. What I hated most was that I felt like I was the wedge in between them, breaking them apart
; even more so now that his father was dead. If I weren’t here, Zara would probably be on this very same spot, sharing the bed with Callum.

He was already going through so much; I didn’t need him worrying about what to do with me.
I suppose the best thing to do was to be the first one to slowly walk away, so that he didn’t have to do anything. I didn’t need for him to feel sorry for me. No, that would be the last thing I wanted.

Truth be told, this entanglement with Callum was for practical reasons.
I did get what I wanted to begin with, didn’t I?
Falling for him was just an unforeseen mishap on my part. So maybe now it was time for me to start dating again and hopefully find the guy for me, someone to love me the way Callum loved his Zara.

I pretended sleep when he joined me ten minutes later. I waited until I heard his breathing evened until rolling to my other side, wanting to stare at him for a bit, like saying my farewell, but I was surprised when I found him staring at the ceiling, clearly deep in thought and very much troubled.

“Are you okay?” I reached out to touch his arm, gently stroking it. I fought the urge to curl up next to his heat and smell him for the last time. It wouldn’t be wise to do that because I might end up crying and confess that I was in love with him. He did warn me not to fall for him, but I hadn’t taken him seriously. The joke was on me.