“That’s unfortunate.”
“Yeah. We struggled a lot when I was little. We always struggled, really. We never got to a comfortable place, but she struggled more when she was young. By the time I was two, we finally had this rental house to live in. It was supposed to be rent-to-own—she desperately wanted to own her own home—but the guy who owned it screwed her over. She was overly trusting and didn’t get it in writing, so after she had already sunk a bunch of cash into repairs since it was supposed to be our house someday, he refused to sell it to her.”
Calvin scowls. “That’s unprofessional.”
“He was extremely unprofessional. A smalltime slum lord. He sucked.”
“Did you live there long?”
I raise my eyebrows and nod. “Oh yeah, we didn’t leave. My mom loved the house. She fell in love with it the first time she walked through it. It was a fixer upper, but she didn’t care. Said the place had great bones. She loved everything—the window seat in the dining room, the way the sun rose and the view of the front yard out of the bedroom window. She loved the arches and the built-ins, even the tiny hallway closet. We made a lot of great memories there, and she wasn’t willing to part with them just because the guy was a jerk. She has pictures on the wall of me riding a bike for the first time in that driveway in a little pink dress—because, yes, I wore a dress to ride a bike.”
Calvin smiles. “That doesn’t shock me.”
I smile fondly at the memories. “But yeah, she valued the house more than getting out from under that jerk’s thumb, so we stayed there and she just spent years renting the place. She should own it by now, she’s surely paid the place off at this point, but… the guy’s a dick.”
“I could buy it for you, if you want me to.”
My eyes widen. “Huh?”
“That way you would own it instead. I’m sure your mother would prefer that to the current situation.”
“I…” I shake my head, frowning a little. “I can’t ask you to buy me a house.”
“Of course you can. But you’re not asking, I’m offering. Besides, I’m sure the house is well within my budget.”
“What budget?” I mutter.
“Exactly.” He smiles faintly. “It’s not a problem, Hallie. If you want it, it’s yours.”
I consider that for several moments. It’s a lavish offer, even if he doesn’t think it is. I know it’s probably not such a big deal to him, my mom’s house probably costs a few elaborate shopping trips in his world, but to her, it would be a huge deal.
I bring my hand up to rest on his chest in front of me so I can look at the ring. “Are you really going to make me marry you?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“We’ve been over this.”
“No, I don’t mean…” I pause to consider how to phrase it. I guess, simply… “Why do you want me? I’ve experienced things at your hands that most people would never want the woman they’re with even knowing they’re capable of, and… I am more than aware. I’m the one you did it to.”
He watches me steadily for a moment, then he grabs my arms, rolling me on my back and pinning them down at the same time. He uses his knee to spread my legs, sliding himself between my thighs.
I sigh and he leans in, catching my breath against his lips.
The kiss catches me off guard.
He slides his hand up, intertwining his and mine on the pillow and squeezing, then he guides my hand around his neck.
I take the hint that he wants me to wrap my arms around his neck, so I do.
His kiss is greedy and consuming. My blood starts to warm all over again as he lowers his weight down on me and kisses his way from my mouth to my neck. I sigh, this time because of the pleasurable sensation of his lips on that sensitive skin, and tilt my neck to give him better access.
Once he’s finished kissing his way down my neck, he pauses, hovering over me, and looks down into my eyes.
I cock an eyebrow. “I take it you didn’t feel like answering that question.”
Calvin smiles. “I was answering your question.” Rather than pounce on me again like it seemed like he was going to, he eases himself back down on the bed beside me.
I frown. “Because you like to fuck me?”
“Because you still kiss me back. You like it—you did even that first night when you didn’t want any part of me, but you still do, even after all the shit I’ve done to you.”
I frown, not entirely comprehending. “So… because I can handle all your crazy shit and still let you fuck me?”
He shakes his head, like I’m still not completely getting it. “No. I don’t want someone who doesn’t know the worst things I’m capable of, Hallie. I want someone who does, and wants me anyway.” He props himself up on a bent elbow and considers for a moment, then he says, “Have you ever been to Mono Lake in California?”