Page 83 of Unseen Eye
“Why?”
“Because I knew the next time I was alone with you, I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from this,” he says and gestures around us. “And look, I was right.” He chuckles softly, his gaze intense. “I have no willpower around you. When you look at me like that—with that glint in your eyes—I’m done for. Hell, the first time you called me Cal in the war room, it took everything I had not to take you right there.”
I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding, a victorious smile spreading across my face. “So what are you saying?”
He pauses, his gaze dropping as he gathers his thoughts. “I’m saying that I can’t stay away from you, even if it’s reckless.” Hishand drifts to my face, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “I want to be with you, Eva. But... it’s complicated. My family, my responsibilities, the things I’ve done to protect all of this—they come with a price. If you’re with me, you’re part of that world too. And it’s... dangerous.” His voice drops, and I can see the weight of his words in his eyes.
“I can handle danger,” I say firmly, reaching for his hand. “What I can’t handle is being kept in the dark.”
His fingers tighten around mine, his eyes filled with conflicting emotions. “I believe you,” he says softly, but there’s a hesitation, as if he’s not sure he deserves to let me see the parts of himself he usually keeps hidden. “And I’ll tell you everything—just not tonight. Tonight, let’s just be here. No responsibilities, no pasts. Just Cal and Eva.”
Relief and something warm flood through me. I nod, leaning in close. “Just us.”
“Just us,” he echoes, his hand slipping around my waist as he pulls me to him. In this rare, fragile moment, I let myself forget everything else and feel at peace—for the first time, I know he does too.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The morning comes far too quickly as the first light filters into the room. Not much sleep was had last night, after several repeat performances, leaving no part of the room untouched—including the bookcase. I wake to the warmth of a kiss and the sight of Cal’s smile, his lips brushing my skin with a lazy familiarity that I could definitely get used to.
Images of last night flood my mind—every kiss, every touch, every moment so vivid and consuming it makes my cheeks heat. The way he looked at me, as if every second was both a temptation and a surrender, a battle he was deliberately losing.
“Darling,” he begins, his voice low and still laced with sleep, “if you keep looking at me like that, we won’t be getting out of this bed anytime soon, and we have things to do.” Something in his tone, the way his eyes sparkle with mischief, makes me laugh. It’s like he knows exactly what he’s doing, and he enjoys having that power over me.
“Not the reaction I was expecting,” he mock-scoffs, getting out of bed and reaching for his pants with a grin that feels a little too devilish. The ease with which he switches from the intense lover to the teasing, casual man makes me wonder how many sides of him I’ve yet to uncover.
“I’m sorry,” I manage between laughs. “It’s just... the first time I met you, I never would have guessed we’d end up like this.” I smile up at him, remembering how untouchable he seemed back then. “You’ve certainly surprised me.”
His laugh is warm, genuine—an unexpected sound from someone who usually wears their intensity like armor. “Guess I’m full of surprises,” he says, winking at me. “And trust me, I’ve got plenty more where that came from.”
“How about you get cleaned up while I make us some coffee?” he suggests, with that same mischievous grin still lingering as he heads toward the door, shirtless and all too tempting. My heart skips, but I feel myself to smile.
“Sounds great,” I reply, watching him leave, the ache of longing settling in my chest.
I quickly freshen up and just finish braiding my hair when I hear familiar voices downstairs. Thankful I washed the blood out of my underclothes, I head toward the source of the conversation, following the smell of coffee.
As I reach the bottom of the stairs, I hear Izzy’s unmistakable voice, sharp and incredulous. “Cal, you didn’t!”
Cal’s calm response follows. “Good morning to you too.”
I step into the kitchen, finding Izzy and Theo standing by the door, their expressions a mix of shock and curiosity. Cal, still shirtless, stands by the coffee maker, pouring two cups as if nothing is out of the ordinary.
“Morning,” I say, trying to sound casual.
Izzy’s eyes widen, just as I predicted. “You two...?” She gestures between Cal and me, her mouth opening and closing like a fish.
Theo smirks. “Well, it’s about damn time.”
Cal hands me a cup of coffee, his fingers brushing against mine, sending a jolt of electricity up my arm. “We have a lot to discuss,” he says, his eyes meeting mine briefly before turning back to the others. “But first, coffee.”
Izzy narrows her eyes at Cal, then turns her gaze to me. “So, how was your night?” she asks, a teasing tone in her voice.
I take a sip of the coffee, trying to keep my composure. “I give up,” I say with a smirk. “How did you find out so damn quick?”
“Oh, it wasn’t hard,” Izzy replies, pointing to Cal. “With the look on this moron’s face—after finding a dead body in your room yesterday—there’s only one reason he’d be smiling likethat this early in the morning.”
Theo laughs, shaking his head. “Ignore her. She’s just grouchy this morning. But I knew it. You two were always giving each other those looks.”
“Those looks?” I raise an eyebrow, feigning innocence.
