Page 83 of Callan

His features relax, and his arm de–tenses around my waist.

“I take your words seriously,” I say. “It’s just that they put a lot of pressure on me.”

“No pressure intended,” he says in a curt, dry voice, and I feel emboldened to close the gap between us.

We almost touch when I drag my hand up his neck.

“You want to know the truth?”

I look at the beautiful man in front of me in awe. He is carved in strength and pride.

His eyes glint in response.

“I couldn’t stop thinking about you tonight,” I say. “No matter what I did, I just couldn’t pull you out of my head. That’s why I wanted to go out. I wanted to be outside, strolling down the icy sidewalk instead of sitting here in my home and listening to the loud party upstairs.”

He listens attentively, his eyes not breaking away from mine as if every word leaving my lips gets scanned for insincerity.

His fingers find their way to my face before trailing to my hair.

He plays with a strand, pondering something when a smile filters through his eyes.

“The party is kind of over,” he says, not in the slightest concerned with being someone’s target.

“Are you in danger?” I ask, hot from his touch.

The corners of his lips tilt into a soft grin.

“I’m always in danger, but never as much as I am when I’m with you.”

“Oh… You didn’t just say that,” I say, laughing. “You’re such a player.”

“I’m all about the truth and nothing but the truth,” he says in a deep, raspy voice before looking away. “Now put something on, and let’s go out. Christmas is almost here.”

I stall for a few seconds.

“It is, isn’t it?”

Slowly, he drapes his coat over his shoulders.

“Where are we going?” I ask, unsure whether I should wear a winter jacket or a coat like him.

“Wherever you want.”

I pull away from him.

“Are we walking, driving? What are we doing?” I ask, excited at the prospect of getting out.

“Both,” he says before pulling his phone out and making a call.

I locate my coat and put it on, my focus on him.

“Is the road clear?” he asks the person at the other end of the line without any kind of introduction.

His expression is blank when he gets his response, so I can’t tell whether it’s good or bad.

He only ends the call, places his phone in his pocket, and shifts his attention to me.

“Let’s go,” he says.

---