by Pamela Ann
“Is there a man? I noticed Derek’s been calling you quite a lot.” I wasn’t jealous or anything because that was just not me… but I was getting royally irritated for some reason.
She looked to the side, avoiding my gaze. “Derek wants me back.”
Of course he did, I knew the jerk was going to. Men tended to go ballistic when they couldn’t get something they wanted so badly. He had probably manipulated the entire breakup to make Stella realize that she’d have to give it up to keep him happy. If that were the case, he was a soddy bastard. The big question was, what was Stella going to do about Derek?
“And?” I frowned, wanting for her to elaborate. “Are you going to?”
“Derek… well, I’m not so sure. I liked him a lot.”
Ahhh, there it was, she still liked the man. Still. After what had happened between us… she still liked Derek. “That’s understandable.” I tried to sound convincing; however I wasn’t even fooling myself.
Grey eyes sought mine. “This has been amazing, Cal. I can’t thank you enough, but I might see Derek again…”
Derek. AGAIN. The sound of her saying another man’s name pushed me to go in deeper, harder, as though I needed to make a point about who was in charge of the situation. However, what troubled me was that I didn’t like the feelings her statement had evoked in me. It truly was disconcerting. So I reacted like any other man would, insecure and a tad irrational.
I had to make her scream my name as my dick fucked her to the deep end. Her pussy was the greatest I’d ever graced. As disappointed as I was to leave it, I knew I had to respect Stella’s decision.
One offer. That was all.
I never gave out a second invitation, even though Stella was the first woman to decline it without thought. Her immediate rejection was new to me, true, but I wasn’t going to risk being declined twice.
My ego couldn’t take it; not from her.
It stung. It shouldn’t have, though for fuck’s sake, it fucking did.
Sleep completely left me because my mind was bombarded with questions.
Tomorrow was a new day, one where I had to put this past week aside; leave it where I couldn’t remember it often or, better yet, forget it completely.
Yeah, I had to forget about her come tomorrow.
When dawn broke in, I was wide-awake and contemplating if I should enjoy a last taste of the woman who was lying right next to me, naked. We were leaving right after breakfast and I there wasn’t much time to consider it.
Finally, I decided to hold off.
Sex was something I could get anywhere, but I shouldn’t take advantage of her when she was thinking of going back to her ex-boyfriend.
Rolling to my side, I reached out to gently trace the curve of her breast, her bottom lip and her arm. Stella looked so peaceful and simply breathtaking. Her gentle beauty evoked something in me.
Stella, my ephemeral wife.
We consummated the marriage after three years. In the eyes of the law, she was mine.
I had to mentally put the brakes on where this train of thought was heading. Going there wasn’t a feasible idea.
I had to stay in this secured circle because once I ventured out of it, she could potentially get hurt.
No, Stella deserved a good man, a great man.
I surely wasn’t one.
Chapter 97
Stella
The first few days of waking up alone in my bed was weird, but after the fourth day—thank goodness—I was almost back to normal. A week wrapped in his arms and I was reduced to being a sentimental idiot.
Yeah, the first week was difficult. Since we both agreed that we were going to go back to how things had been between us. I somehow still expected something, though. Maybe a text or a phone call, possibly even flowers selected by Eleanor; something. I hadn’t expected this nothingness. When I insisted on going back to our normal life, I wasn’t completely expecting the usual normal. Okay, did that even make sense? Yeah, I was dwelling on Callum for reasons I couldn’t even understand.
Or maybe it was because I declined his arrangement proposal… when I had desperately wanted to say yes. The major thing was, I was reluctant and scared to say yes. If it were any other man, it wouldn’t have been difficult, but this was Callum; the man who I’d had a big crush on since I was fifteen. Not to mention the blatant fact that I always ended up getting all hot and bothered when he was around. It was great and all, yet I didn’t want to risk falling for him. My first boyfriend was a playboy, too—much like Callum—and I had ended up getting my heart broken when I caught him cheating.
Besides, Callum had done so much for me already. I couldn’t risk ruining our friendship, or what was left of it anyway.
It had been almost two weeks since he dropped me off in my flat… and still he lingered in my thoughts. Yeah, I’d been counting down the days, wondering when this feeling would subside. I was giving myself another week, two maybe, a month total to get back to normal. If there was no improvement by the end of the month, I was going to be in big trouble.
Unfortunately.
“Hiya, sweet cheeks!” Mark knocked before letting himself into my office, carrying coffee with him. “Thought a good caffeine boost would do you a world of good, sour puss.” He slid the lidded cup towards me, grinning like mad.
“Don’t get a habit of calling me that, Mark. I loathe it,” I muttered, sipping from my hot beverage.
“Your loss.”
I rolled my eyes as I got up from my seat and strolled towards the comfortable sofa I sometimes took naps on. “Aren’t you supposed to be working with Alec or something? What are you doing here at two in the afternoon?”
Mark plopped next to me, tickling my footpads. “Well, I came to remind you about the dinner reservations we have tonight and the cocktail party afterwards for Alec’s birthday bash?”
“Stop it.” I tried to kick him, but he was too quick for my own good.
“Tickle fight!” he declared.
I was making a lot of “squees” and a lot of giggling because he was attacking me relentlessly.
Our little foot and fingers war halted when we heard the sound of a throat being cleared, as if to try to get our attention. Mark looked up as I twisted my neck to the side to see who it was.
It was Lucia, looking furious… next to a stoic-looking Callum.
“Are we interrupting?” Lucia raised her brow, green eyes murderous.
Mark casually shook his head. “We’re just relaxing a bit. Anything we can help you with?” He darted Callum a steady gaze. “Kensington, right?”
Duh. He knew who Callum was, so why pretend like he didn’t? Mark was such a wanker.
Callum, however, was detached and completely ignored him. “Stella, may we have a moment?”
Not looking directly at him, I blushed. “Yeah, sure,” I grumbled, shifting my skirt that had ridden upwards.
Shit.
“You can let go of her foot now,” Callum demanded, voice chilly and with an underlying threat evident in how he said the words.
Mark, the total teaser geezer that he was, seemed unfazed as he eyed me with amusement. He even had the gall to kiss my big toe before he whispered into my ear, “Looks like big bad wolf is the jealous type. I love you, but please be cautious with him? He’s not like Derek. He’ll annihilate you like the rest of them.” Mark then kissed my cheek and then stood up. “See you tonight. By the way, don’t forget to look smashing hot.” He departed with those words, not even making an effort to greet Lucia.
The woman was sending me murderous glares as she looked at the open door and then back at me. She made a scary growl before she walked out of my office, slamming the door with her.
Fuck, she was mad.
Mark and I always fooled around like kids, what was the big deal now? Was I missing something here?
“Was that Derek?” Callum broke through my thoughts.
Still not glancing his way, I shook my head and tried to compose myself as I slowly
stood up and placed my foot into my shoe, one after the other, with care. “No, that was Mark, the other man in my life.” I always referred to my best friend as such, but when I finally met his gaze, I began wondering if my words were taken in the wrong context.
Seeing him now, it seemed like I had reverted back to the woman I was when we had been together. I wanted to fight the pulling power he had over me, but the images of him touching me explicitly in the garden—his touch, his seductive voice that lulled me into a deep sexual coma and the power this man exuded—placed me back in a capsule, one where I could only see him. I couldn’t hear anyone except him.
I bit into my bottom lip as I recalled the first time I felt him nudge inside me. My body had reacted in a manner that was of a nympho, but God help me, the images were driving me insane and I couldn’t help other than to clench to prolong the heated memories in my mind. It was arousing. Intoxicating. Titillating.
“How many are there?”
Wait, what? Blinking a few times, I frowned at him. “Excuse me?” Did I miss something? I didn’t notice him speak at all… in fact, I was almost sure he was having the same thoughts as I was. Guess my imagination was getting the best of me… I was clearly seeing things.
Callum remained close to the door, not bothering to move or greet me ‘hello’. “You said Mark was the other man in your life. I’m asking how many men are there.”
“Um, not a lot.” I smiled, trying to lighten the mood in the room. “My number is not like yours. Not that I want it to be, of course.” My smile flittered away when I noticed his jaw had locked together. “I mean, your numbers must be impressive, but I’m not planning to run around London and match yours… well, um, I wasn’t trying to insult you. Goodness, that wasn’t my intention.” Fucking shitty hell. I was rambling on and I knew I should’ve stopped when I saw his jaws pressed together. Why, oh, why did I always act like a fool when he was around?
“Can I get you anything, a drink perhaps? Sorry, but I forgot the reason for your visit, Cal.” Strolling towards my desk, I was about to get ahold of my phone to call for refreshments when he interrupted me.
“I don’t need a drink or anything else, I’m not staying long. We haven’t spoken in days and I was already around this area, so I thought I should drop by and say hello. It was a momentary lapse; I apologize for interrupting your working afternoon. I’ll see you around.” Callum paused for a moment, eyes penetrating into me before he spun around and left my office.
“What the fuck was that?” I whispered into my silent room, bewildered.
If he wanted to say hello, then why was he acting all standoffish? Confused, I darted out of my room and quickly strode towards the elevator to see if I could catch him, but Luciana blocked my way.
“Is there something going on between Mark and you that I should know about? We’re all best of friends. I would greatly appreciate it if I was informed first.”
Whoa, where was she going with this? Mark and me? Was she serious? The guy was practically salivating at her feet. “This is a stupid joke, right? We both know he loves his Italian women. I have to go.” I tried to move away, but she darted me a scathing glare. AGAIN.
“You two looked too comfortable. More like intimate… lovers.” Luciana looked pained when she uttered the last word. I was about to argue with her when I noticed that her eyes were getting teary. “Please, just tell me if there is or if he’s trying to get into your knickers. Italian fetish or not, you’re a gorgeous woman, Stella. Any man would be blind not to want you.”
Oh my God, she was practically crying. Fuck. I cupped her cheeks, pleading. “Sweetie, I don’t fancy Mark that way, nor does he feel that towards me.” I paused, letting all the words sink in. “He wants you and yet you have rejected him for the past few years. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think your feelings for him are changing and if they are, don’t you think it’s time to tell him that?”
Luciana shook her head. “I can’t. I’m frightened. He might laugh at me. I don’t know,” she murmured, dabbing her eyes carefully. “Don’t mention anything to him. Maybe in time, I just might. For now, though, let’s keep it between you and me.”
“Of course.” I nodded before I watched her slowly walk away.
Luciana paused mid-way, giving me a small smile. “Thanks for being honest with me, S.” She walked a few steps as did I, but whistled at me again to catch my attention. “By the way, I forgot to ask, what did one of England’s most notorious players want from you? FW is no more?”
FW. Fake Wife.
“Ha! Still am and I doubt it will ever change. So don’t get any ideas,” I blurted out.
As I watched Luciana retreat back into her office, I was left wondering about Callum’s visit.
Calling him would not be enough. Maybe I should stop by at his home and what? Talk… about how awkward it was this afternoon?
I sighed, dejected as I shook my head, retreating back into my office.
No. I should let bygones be bygones and have fun at Alec’s party.
Chapter 98
Stella
Luciana decided to skip dinner tonight and went on a date instead, promising to meet me at the party later on. When I tried to argue that she needed to talk to Mark about her feelings, she gave me the evil eye. “I’m not ready for that. He’s going to be all over the woman he’s dating. You know, the one he’s been yapping about non-stop? So, why the hell should I pull him aside and talk about my feelings when he’s pretty much over it?”
Why was she being difficult? I groaned, wanting to hug and shake her good. “You won’t know until you’ve done it. Why don’t you want to risk it, Lu? Mark’s worth it.”
“I’m just… I don’t know, okay? No more about him for tonight. I can’t take it anymore.”
I nodded, understanding her situation. It was obvious that she feared Mark’s rejection. “If you say so. You’re the boss.”
Luciana flung herself through the air and hugged me. “And you’re the best!”
Almost an hour later, I was on my way to meet them for dinner in Notting Hill when I found myself telling the driver to change route and head towards Callum’s house in Chelsea.
It was drastic and unplanned… but I couldn’t get him out of my head. If I had to go on all night long wondering if he had dropped by my office because he might have wanted to ask again about his proposal, I couldn’t get past it.
You see, had he asked, I would’ve said yes, right then and there.
I was now standing on his doorstep, buzzing on the doorbell. It had been three years since I had been in his home. I had stayed in a hotel suite before I went into finishing school, but I remembered his home fairly well.
Half expecting to find Callum opening the door, I was relieved to find Nancy, his housekeeper who had been working for him for over a decade, greeted me with a toothy grin. “Miss Stella, lovely to see you again. You promised to visit me, yeah? But not once did you come and share teatime with me.” She gathered me into her warm embrace and patted my back, hard, before she took hold of my hands and admired me from head to foot. “You’ve grown into a fine young lady, Miss Stella. Now, how many hearts have your broken since I saw you last?”
Dear me. I grinned at Nancy. “You’re still as lovely as ever. I promise to drop by often.” I cleared my throat. “Is Callum home? I wanted to speak to him.”
Nancy snorted, grinning wickedly. “Boss is a tad busy, love, but you can wait in his study. He always hides in there after.” She closed the door behind me. “Let me show you the way.”
“It’s all right, Nancy. I know where it is, there’s no need to trouble you,” I offered, knowing that Nancy was going to retire for the night. She always left after dinner, she told me herself years ago. “You have a goodnight.”
“You, too, love. I’ll see you soon, yeah?” She hugged me again and then left me in the foyer.
Nancy knew the story behind Callum and I. She probably thought I was here about my funds or something related to m
y estate.
Nervous and jumpy, I strolled towards his study while I took in the paintings and my surroundings with newfound interest. His study was situated on the left wing, facing the gardens. I was about to turn left and head straight, but something halted my step.
My stomach recoiled.
My body tightened.
My heart thumped.
Eyes alert as they took in everything, moving towards the god-awful noise I had just heard. It was a faint sound.
So faint, in fact, that I wouldn’t have heard it if the house hadn’t been all that silent, but it was and I had heard it. It was a woman moaning Callum.
I was a glutton for punishment since I already knew what was going on, but something inside me needed reaffirmation, the need to see it—hear it again—was too much to even consider walking away. I needed evidence to convince me that it was truly happening.
A crashing sound came from the formal dining room as I slowly walked towards it.
The moans were getting louder now.
I bit into my bottom lip when I heard a familiar grunt. The grunt was an indication that he was about to finish.
And there it was.
Callum had the woman atop the antique dining table, obliterating the redhead to a pulp.
Move, Stella. Move.
However, I seriously couldn’t. I gasped loudly as he got rougher, but I suppose my gasp was loud enough for him to hear because Callum looked up, just as he was about to orgasm, shooting me those dark depths as he thrust for the last time. “Stella!” he groaned before I saw him surrender to his body.
Pressing my eyes together, I spun around and quietly left, headed towards the door, wanting this moment to vanish from my memory.
I was shocked. I was disappointed. I was a lot of things. Most of all, why did I feel hurt?
Callum and I were nothing.
I was out of his house in a flash and had to pause a few steps down to calm myself. My hands were shaky and I was breathing erratically. Then my heart jumped into my throat when I noticed someone was behind me.
