‘What on earth were you thinking?’
‘It was just a bit of fun,’ I argue, but my tone is soft. Soothing. So much for putting him in his place. Instead, I’m finding myself naturally trying to ease his unwarranted worry. ‘I was kissing dice, that’s all. He seemed like a nice bloke.’
He definitely growls under his breath, and I thank the heavens that Theo wasn’t at the casino. That guy would have been exterminated in a flash. ‘Do you know how hard I found it to leave you in Vegas?’
And now I’m smiling. God, he’s like a sedative – a potent potion that is the cure for everything. ‘Enough to have Callum stay and spy on me.’
‘Not spy, sweetheart. Just to make sure you get home to me safely.’
Oh, God. I flick my eyes to Jess, wondering if she’s detecting the body-melt going on over here. Home to him. That sounds so right, even with the knowledge of guns and a little mild stalking. ‘I guess that means you’re privy to my swimsuit-wearing crimes.’
Theo laughs softly, the familiar, deep sound igniting a fire in my tummy, making me wish that he were here. Or I were there. Unreasonable as it is, I’ve missed him these past few days. Now I’m aching with the need to see him. ‘You guessed right,’ he says quietly. ‘We’ll talk about punishments when you’re home. Are you in bed?’
I turn on to my side, my head sinking into the pillow. ‘Yes. Talk to me until I fall asleep,’ I order on a yawn.
‘Is Jess there?’ His voice is suddenly rough.
That alone has my thighs clenching. ‘Yes.’
‘Then I guess that limits my scope for wearing you out.’
Oh? I glance over my shoulder to see Jess disappear into the bathroom. ‘You could do that over the phone?’ I sound coy, and he chuckles lightly.
‘I feel like I could connect with you telepathically, Izzy. That’s how in touch with you I feel.’
God, he’s on form tonight, saying all the right things. I sense he’s not happy about the happenings on the casino floor, but I also sense that he’s more relieved than mad. ‘Theo?’ I say, looking up at the ceiling, wondering how I might word my next question.
‘What?’
I hesitate for a brief moment before deciding there’s only one way. I need to know. ‘What’s going to happen when I get home?’ It’s been playing on my mind since he tied me to the bed and rained devotion all over me, albeit in his own little way. It didn’t take any of my hunger for him away. If anything, it’s multiplied it by a million. ‘Apart from you punishing me for my swimsuit-wearing crimes, I mean.’
Theo laughs lightly but hesitates, and I see him in my mind’s eye brushing the length of his index finger over his cupid’s bow thoughtfully. ‘Us happens,’ he finally says, simple and straight to the point. Except I’m not sure what us is.
‘What will us be?’
‘In truth, I don’t know.’ He sighs. ‘But I’m looking forward to figuring that out. If you’re happy to come along for the ride. Are you happy to, Izzy? Do you want to explore what us could be?’
I’m sure I hear him breathe in, like he’s holding his breath, waiting for my answer. But I can’t be one hundred percent sure, because I sucked in my own breath at the same time. Explore us. I’ve had a glimpse into what I can expect, and though it defies what I know and stretches my imagination beyond what I thought I was capable of imagining, I’m certain I want to venture there again. Because it will be with Theo. ‘I do,’ I reply quietly, smiling when I hear his exhale. ‘I want to,’ I confirm.
‘You won’t regret it,’ Theo whispers. ‘I promise you.’
‘I believe you.’ I wholeheartedly do. If I could see him, I know he would be smiling. I love his smile. Softness on hardness. Light on dark.
‘Good. Now get some sleep. I look forward to seeing you.’ He hangs up, and I drop the phone by my side, gazing towards the window. And I admit, no matter how crazy it may seem, I’m falling hard for the dark, menacing stranger.Chapter 11
‘Holy shitballs,’ Jess cries as we break out of the airport into the cold air.
I shiver and pull my cardigan in, looking across the road to check how long the queue is at the taxi rank. But there’s someone blocking my view. ‘Callum,’ I breathe. Of course he’s here.
‘Hey,’ Jess sings, muscling past me. She drops her case at Callum’s feet and smiles up at him. ‘I never got to thank you for saving my life,’ she gushes, beginning to fidget when his expressionless face doesn’t crack. ‘Um . . . so . . . yeah . . .’ She coughs and frowns back at me, shrugging when I shake my head in dismay. ‘Thank you,’ she finishes, seeming to shrivel on the spot.