I dropped a dollop of Eloise's shampoo into the palm of my hand, rubbed my hands together, then began smothering her hair with the coconut-smelling shampoo, gently kneading it into her scalp.

My main focus for the rest of the night is ensuring Eloise is happy, satisfied, relaxed, and loose as a goose. She deserves it after what I pulled on her today.

I had fun messing with her until she punched me in the mouth. That's when I realized I went overboard with her. It's also when I grasped that I had broken the safe word code, and I instantly felt like shit.

I won't blame her if she refuses to wear the vibrator again. And if that happens, I'll have to figure out another way to punish her if she does or says something she shouldn't while we're out and about.

But I won't worry about that right now. Instead, I need to worry about Eloise and continue showing her how sorry I am for my inappropriate actions earlier in the day.

After scrubbing the shampoo out of her hair, I conditioned it, rinsed, brought her to my mouth, and kissed the holy hell out of her before spinning her around on my lap and massaging her shoulders again.

"You're spoiling me for no reason," she said in awe, her head tilting back toward my chest as my fingers worked their magic.

"There's a reason, and you deserve it." I lowered my mouth to her ear, and lowly said, "You were a good girl today."

"I punched you."

"And you had every right to."

"I don't hit people. It's not my type of thing to do to someone."

"I deserved it."

"True, but still. I'm not a violent person."

I chuckled. "Are you sure about that? I remember what you did to the voodoo doll and the look on your face while you were stabbing the fuck out of it," I grinned, remembering that day as if it happened today.

"I was trying to scare you."

I grinned and chuckled. Eloise didn't scare me. What she did made me laugh. "It didn't work."

"Obviously," she said dryly. "Look where we are now." She looked up at me. "Did you really think I was insane when I did that to the voodoo doll?"

"No, I didn't," I confessed, grinning, kneading my fingers from her left shoulder down her arm and to her hand. "I knew exactly what you would do when I sent it. And I'll admit, I laughed the entire time you stabbed it and called me names. It made my day, actually."

She giggled. "You should have seen Emma's expression."

I laughed, remembering it all. "I saw it, and it made me laugh even harder. Emma looked freaked out."

"Emma was horrified. I think she thinks I'm insane," she laughed. My hands moved along her backside and to her right shoulder, kneading my fingers down her right arm. "Can I ask you something?"

"You can ask me anything."

"Since our night in Florida, have you been with another woman?"

I grabbed her hips, lifted and spun her around, having her straddle me. I framed her face with my hands and pressed my lips to hers, truthfully telling her, "No. I couldn't. Why?"

She shrugged, twisting her lips while studying my face. Most likely trying to figure out if I'm telling her the truth. Finally, she said, "Because my mind has been running through all the emails you sent me, and it hit me about some comments you mentioned in some of those emails."

"Like what?"

She rested her arms over my shoulders, clasping her hands together when she said, "In one of them after I called you a manwhore or womanizer, you said you hadn't been laid in months. In another email, you mentioned something along the lines that I was right about you having some loose screws because you hadn't been thinking clearly for about four months. I now realize how long it had been since we spent the night together in Florida. You were trying to give me hints that I was the reason behind you not getting laid, weren't you?"

My lip slowly twitched into a grin. "Yes."

Her brows knitted together. "Why? If you're such a womanizer as your friends and Emma, so claim. Then why not continue what you were doing after you were with me?"

I shook my head because I didn't understand it myself. "I just couldn't. My mind refused to stop thinking about you, your exquisite beauty, how much I loved you lying beneath me, how good your pussy felt hugging my cock. I couldn't stop wondering about many things," I shrugged. "I felt like I'd be cheating on you if I bedded another woman, I guess."

She hummed like she had more questions to ask.

"Let me ask you something."

"Okay."

I ran my fingers down her scalp, securing her hair behind her. "Have you been with anyone else since our time in Florida?"

I shouldn't care if she was. But I strangely do care.

"You're the only person I've been with in over two years," she admitted, surprising me. But that confession also had my hand flying to my chest, resting over the beating organ behind it after feeling a weird sensation course through me—my heart swelling with exhilaration.

Her hands slid up my head, pulling me to her mouth, kissing me with a passion that had my dick growing to full attention.

My plan wasn't to fuck Eloise tonight, but if it's something she wishes to do, I wouldn't say no. Especially after knowing she hasn't fucked Mason or anyone else since we'd met.

Again, I don't know why I care or am happy and at ease with her confession, but I care more than I'd like to.

"Can I ask why?" I asked after breaking from her delicious lips.

After a moment, she enlightened me a little. "My ex caused me to hate men altogether. You just happened to catch me when I was willing to let my guard down in Florida. After that, I couldn't stop thinking about you either, and I didn't want to sleep with anyone else."

"Yet, you fucked me at the club..." I responded with a mischievous grin. "If you were so hung up on "Cal," why did you allow me to fuck you?" I humorously hummed, knowing that was a tricky comment to respond to.

"You had me at your mercy, and I was horny," she groaned. "But something in my mind insisted on telling me you were Cal. Something I also told myself to ignore, that you couldn't be. It's like my heart knew and wanted to believe you were Cal, and I refused to accept that you were. If that makes any sense."

I leaned forward, licking and sucking the water droplets off her neck, saying, "It makes sense."

She combed her fingers through my hair. "I have another question to ask."

"Go for it," I said, still devouring her neck.

"Why do you have such a huge problem with me hanging out at the sex club? From my understanding, everyone there is protected. There's security everywhere and cameras throughout the building. So what's the big deal?"

She's pushing for more answers. I still don't know how to answer them. I just know I don't like her hanging around where another man can talk her into satisfying her when I could be that guy.

"I know it's a safe place to hang out. I know that. My brother makes damn sure of that for everyone hanging out inside his business."

"So, what's the problem?"

I stopped devouring her neck and looked into her beautiful, heavenly green eyes. "Because I don't want another man looking at you and your glorious body. I don't want the men there thinking you're available."

"Why? We're not a couple, Callum."

"I know that. And I can't answer it because I don't understand it myself. All I know is that I hate the feeling of you walking around the place and making yourself available to them."

She hummed, unsatisfied with my response.

"You told me at the sex club you were rethinking your ways of remaining a single man. Why? Is that true, or were you only saying that to get in my pants?"

I did tell her that in the heat of the moment. "Another question I'm unsure how to answer, as I'm still confused by what I said to you that night. But I will say it wasn't to get in your pants."

Her hand went under the water and to my cock, wrapping it around it. "You claim I'm yours. Why? If you don't want to involve yourself in a relationship, why claim a woman as yours?"

"You are mine. You have been since Florida."

"That doesn't answer my question, Callum," she hissed, her hand slowly moving up and down my shaft.

"You just are."

"That still doesn't answer the question," she groaned, picking up her speed of working my cock.

"I'm fucked up in the head. That's why."

And that's the fucking truth.

I've been fucked up for years. One of the reasons why I refuse to settle down with one woman.

As she stroked my cock. She studied my face for a long time. Then, finally, she spoke, but it was a statement and question I didn't wish to discuss. "Someone broke your heart, and you refuse to give it to another woman, fearing it'll happen again. Am I right?"

My jaw ticked, then clenched, not wanting to answer the question.

And I didn't.

Shaking her head in disappointment, she said, "Never mind. Forget I asked. Your facial expression said it all."

"I'm sorry," is all I could say. And Eloise was owed that apology for not answering a question she wished to know after I told her she could ask me anything.

"No need to apologize. As much as it would be nice to know why you are the way you are, I understand it's something you don't want to talk about," she said sincerely, with a hint of frustration in her tone. "Maybe someday you'll finally open to me."

Yeah. Maybe someday.

My hands ran up her back, and I pulled her tightly against my body. "There's one thing I need you to do for me. You don't have to, but I'm asking and begging that you do."

"What's that?"

"Promise me, if there's ever something going on with you where you're too afraid to talk about with me, fearing I'd judge you or that I would walk away, leaving you hanging, you'll still talk to me about whatever that issue is. I want to know everything. Everything..." I greatly emphasized. "Because I will do everything in my power to help you get through whatever problem that may be."

A look of confusion appeared on her face, but she still answered, "Okay. I promise."

I chastely kissed her lips. "Thank you."

And I can't stress that enough.

***

The other night when Eloise wanted to know why I am the way I am, I wanted to tell her everything. But I couldn't. I'm not used to opening up to people, and if I can't even open up to my best friends, how could I possibly tell her what they don't even know? Well, they know most of what happened, but not everything.

I've always felt it was something they don't need to know and have remained mum about it. The only person in my life who knows the entire story is Trent. My brother. He was the one who went behind my back to find Victoria for me and the one who took me to see her one last time after he found where she had run off to.

I guess, one would say, I've never been the same since.

Eloise dropped the questions after I made her promise she'd talk to me, even if she feared to. And then she made my night when she fucked me in the jacuzzi—something I didn't expect her to do since I was all about pampering her and making her feel like royalty.

The following day, she surprised me when she wore the anal vibrator plug to the dance studio for the wedding party dance lessons—this time, I behaved—for the most part. But since she gave me permission to set it off randomly, I did just that. And it gave me great joy watching her reactions when I turned it on as we practiced our line dancing moves.

After our lessons, our group separated because everyone wanted to do their own thing and explore the island.

First, I took Eloise on a forty-five-minute helicopter tour of the island, then took her zip lining on the island's north shore, and then we returned to Ka'anapali Beach, where I took her on a sunset dinner cruise.

And that I'm not so sure was a good idea because of how romantic it was—something I don't care to be with women—fearing they'll want and expect more from me.

The thing is, even though I'm not a romantic guy or know how to be one, I felt content being romantic with Eloise.

It. Felt. Right... more than right.

It also made my night to see her in a good mood, the twinkle in her eyes throughout the cruise, and seeing her radiant smiles throughout the entire day and knowing I caused those smiles.

However, doing what I did yesterday drew me closer to her, and I feel even more possessive of her. That she's mine more than ever, and it pisses me off that I'm becoming "that guy" who believes only one woman can make me happy.

Eloise deserves better than that.

But my selfish self refuses to allow her to go fishing to find that catch of a lifetime.

And because of how selfish I am. After we returned from the cruise, I immediately brought Eloise back to the room to fuck her. To fuck everything I was thinking about Eloise out of my system. And I tried all night to do that and make me hate her as I did from the beginning. But needless to say, that didn't work. It only made me want her in my life even more.

I even woke up this morning contemplating giving her the dress and jewelry I had bought her since tonight is our final dance lessons, and how we'll be dining in one of the finest restaurants of Maui afterward.

As Eloise slept, I went over in my mind about the pros and cons of giving them to her.

The pros were she'd look stunning. She'd be the most gorgeous girl in sight. She deserved it for what I'd put her through these last six months. And that I had already bought them for her.

The cons? She'd think she was exclusive only to me. And since that wasn't a bad thing to feel, I told myself to quit thinking about why she didn't deserve the items I bought her.

So, I quietly got out of bed and headed to the kitchen to retrieve my phone and message, Jace.

Me: Are you still in your room?

Jace: Yes. Why?

Me: I need those things I have you storing for me.

Jace: I'll be right up with them.

Jace: Tallulah said if Eloise doesn't want them or refuses to wear them, she'd gladly take them off your hands. And says she'd wear them proudly. ;)

Me: She's a funny girl.

Jace: One of the reasons I love her. See you in a minute.

I craned my neck to see if she was still asleep, and when I saw she was, I headed out of the room to meet Jace at the elevator.

Hopefully, she'll still be asleep when I return with them.

"Here you go," Jace proudly said, widely smiling as he handed the bags to me.

"Thanks for holding them for me."

"No problem." His eyes traveled to the door, then returned to mine after a second, quietly saying, "I hope you know what you're doing. Eloise is too nice for you to fuck with her mind. Including her heart. Giving her these makes it look like you're making things official between you two. And if that's not your intention, I ask that you rethink what you're giving her."

"I know exactly what I'm doing," I irritatedly groaned. "Just because I got Eloise, these extravagant things don't mean anything. It's not a fucking engagement ring. And so that you know, I already thought long and hard about it before I got a hold of you."

"I know it's not an engagement ring, but the fact is, there are over a million dollars worth of goods here. That says a lot. Think about it. Just do us all a favor, and be careful. According to my wife. Eloise has already been fucked over by men. And I don't need my best friend being another one of those assholes that screw with her mind."

"Thanks for the talk," I hissed. "Rest assured, I'm not out to mess with Eloise's mind or heart or hurt her."

"I just needed to say my two cents. Now that I have and heard what you had to say, I'll take your word for it."

"I better get back in the room before she awakes," I said, wanting to end this conversation. But I also wanted to return before she saw me walking in with these.

Finally, he smiled. "See you soon." He looked at the bags and pointed at them. "Good luck with those. Tallulah was serious about taking them off your hands if Eloise didn't want them."

I chuckled. "I'm sure she was. Isabelle said the same thing when I returned from New York with them. But you can tell your wife I have faith in Eloise. She'll wear them proudly today."

I get the feeling since Rory and Jace felt the need to give me "the talk," Greyson and Hudson will be next. The only one I don't have to worry about is Aaron.

Then again, he just may, since he and I are too much alike. The only difference between him and me is that he sleeps around because he enjoys it. I started doing it because it's the only thing that has helped me cope with the situation Victoria placed me in.

Have I enjoyed being that one-and-done type of guy? Honestly? Yes and no. Yes, because I don't have to worry about a fucking thing. I don't have to worry about everything that comes with the relationship package—birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine's Day, and getting her flowers for whatever the reason may be. And I don't have to worry about why I'm getting the cold shoulder, where I'm trying to figure out what I did for her to be pissed at me.

And the no is, even though I refuse to admit it, is because it would be nice to make a woman smile, knowing I was the reason behind it—just like what happened with Eloise yesterday.

And even though I keep telling myself Eloise is that woman I'd love to settle down with, I have difficulty admitting it to anyone out of fear.

I do hope that my doing what I am with Eloise doesn't come back to haunt me, where I do something where I hurt her or where we both end up getting hurt.

I'd never forgive myself.

Seeing Eloise was still asleep, I removed the dress from the bag, hung it up for her to see when her eyes opened, and set the box with the jewelry inside beside her. Then I grabbed a cup of coffee and headed to the patio to enjoy the fresh morning ocean air while reaping the benefits of the scenic views surrounding us.

I jumped when I heard Eloise shrieking as I stood at the deck's railing, watching the waves ripple toward the shoreline.

My lips stretched wide. Eloise saw the dress and the jewelry...

"Callum!"

"I'm on the patio!" I shouted, bringing my cup of coffee to my lips, smiling as I took a sip.

"Callum? Where on earth did you get these?"

I turned around. She was holding up the dress in one hand, and holding the box of jewelry, opened, showing me with her other hand.

"Oh. Those? I got them at the store," I teased.

"Very funny. Ha. Ha. Ha," Eloise said dryly. "I mean, where, when, and why?"

I strolled over to her, smiling, saying, "I bought those for you when I was in New York. And I got them for you to wear tonight and whenever else, your little heart desires to wear them."

"But why?" she asked quietly, her eyes flickering over to the jewelry. "Harry Winston? These are way above me, Callum—totally out of my league."

I lifted her chin for her to look at me. "They're not out of your league, Eloise."

"They are," she breathed. "All the jewelry I own is from Walmart or Target. Even thrift stores." She lifted her hand with the jewelry. "These are way too expensive for me. I wouldn't know how to feel wearing something this nice and expensive. To be honest. I don't think I own any jewelry that is real."

My lips curved up. "Now you do. And you'll look fucking outstanding wearing them."

"I'll get mugged wearing them."

I chuckled. "No, you won't."

"I'll look like I'm rich when I'm not. I'm a fucking peasant, Callum. Peasants don't wear flashy jewelry."

I chuckled again. "You're not a peasant, Eloise. Trust me. You'll look stunning wearing those and feel like a million bucks wearing it all." Literally...

"I don't deserve these," she whispered.

"Yes. You do. Now quit arguing with me. Isabelle and Tallulah both said that if you don't want them, they'll take them off your hands and wear them proudly," I said, grinning, trying to light a fire under her ass to clean up, put them on, and then for her to pose for me to see.

"They've seen them already?"

I nodded. "Isabelle was the first to see them. I wanted to make sure it would be something you'd like and to get her approval. And Jace and Tallulah were holding these in their room for me to keep them out of your sight," I informed, proudly grinning.

I spun her around, then slapped her ass. "Now, march your ass back inside and get ready. I want to see those on you... oh, and your cup of coffee is on the nightstand."

Good thing Isabelle told me to remove the price tag. Now I know Eloise would have flipped out even more if she were to see how much I spent on the dress.

An hour later, my heart stopped beating when Eloise finally emerged from the bedroom wearing the entire ensemble.

Her beauty struck me so hard that the words I wanted to say got lodged in my throat. For the first time in my life, I was literally speechless.

Finally, what I wanted to tell her came out breathlessly, "Fuck, Eloise. You look remarkably extraordinary."

She slowly spun on her heel, showing me how phenomenal the dress looked on her beautiful fucking body. "How were you able to figure out my size? Because this fits like a fucking glove."

"I remembered how you felt in my arms and when you were lying beneath me. And the employee that helped me with the dress was your height and a tad bit bigger than you. She said she was a four and suggested I go with a size two. So I did okay?"

"You did an amazing job. I just don't know how to feel wearing something this extravagant and expensive."

I rose from the chair and headed over to her, saying, "Just don't think about it. Act as you always do—like yourself."

I lifted her chin, then covered her mouth with mine—passionately kissing her. Giving her a kiss she deserved and making her feel like she was the only woman on this earth, while letting her know that no other woman could top her.

In the kiss, I also let her know that I can't wait to walk around with her in my arm, showing all the men who gawk at her; she's mine.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter!! 🤞🤞