Spending these last two days in New York City with Callum has been incredible—yet busy. He's covered many places I had always wanted to see. And so far, he's taken me to Ellis Island and Liberty Island, where we toured the Statue of Liberty. He also brought me to Central Park, the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Times Square, and some pretty amazing museums.

Callum's taken me to some fantastic restaurants as well—places that are way out of my league, but even so, I still enjoyed the excellent food and atmosphere.

At his place, after showing me a closet—my new closet, filled with brand-new clothes, he told me that was only the beginning, and in New York, he's reminded me that everything he's done so far was the start to so much more—including traveling with him.

Every waking minute I spend with Callum. The more I hang around him. The more he does things for me, showing he cares, the more time we spend satisfying each other, and the more he talks to me, talking dirty and telling me things that excite my ovaries, the more I fall for him. I've also noticed he feels the same—at least, I think that's what I see.

But all this time we've spent together these last few days, I've also noticed something bothering him or withdrawn about something. And whenever I ask what's on his mind, he either changes the subject or puts up a front saying nothing is wrong.

At least, that's how I've taken it.

Callum's slowly coming around. The other night, when I brought up Victoria, he didn't change the subject; he admitted something he hadn't before—something Isabelle suspected—that Victoria had passed away. Callum said little about her, but he said enough that shows he's taking baby steps into telling me everything—and I cannot wait to hear what happened—I want to help him get over it. Especially now that I know she's no longer on the ground. That she's up high, looking down on him. And I'm sure she's most likely cringing after seeing what he turned his life into after she went into the next world.

Then, while we were getting ready to meet with Mack and Marissa for dinner, Callum warned me that when he was in New York without me, Marissa had come on to him inside an elevator, on top of her, trying to entice him during their meeting with Mack.

I didn't understand why Callum needed to tell me about Marissa coming on to him; we weren't even an item then, even when he claimed we were. However, his telling me about it shows he's got a conscience. And it also showed he wanted me to know or see that he's been trying to be a one-woman man since we met—longer than I thought he had, and it made my heart swell with pride that Callum's taking bigger steps to be the man he should be—for me, to keep me in his life.

But now I understand why Callum mentioned Marissa's seductive ways with him; the woman is drop-dead gorgeous. We haven't even reached our table, and I can see how bright her blue eyes are as she watches Callum guide me through the establishment. Her long, shiny midnight-black hair brought out her eyes' blueness and flawless skin tone. Everything about her was perfect, like she had just stepped out of People's the most beautiful woman magazine. The shape of her eyes. Her perfectly shaped and sculpted eyebrows, nose, cheekbones, and lips—amazing lips, actually. They're kissable, plump, and full—almost resembling Angelina Jolie's lips.

Callum must have sensed my thoughts because he leaned into my ear, whispering, "Don't let her get to you. You're much prettier than Marissa."

"You turned that down?"

"I did. She's not you," he said, making my heart flutter as we approached the table. Mack and Marissa are standing with their hands extended toward us.

"Callum, it's nice to see you again," Mack said, eyes on me. He released his hand from Callum's and brought it to mine, smiling as he said, "You must be the famous, hardworking Eloise McKnight."

My eyes quickly shot up to Callum's, then returned to Mack's as I shook his hand. "I'm not famous. But I am a hard worker," I replied shyly.

Mack winked at me, saying, "It's nice to meet you, finally." He looked at Callum, widening his smile, "I can see why you've been hiding her, keeping her to yourself. She's absolutely stunning."

Callum's arm snugged tighter around me. "That she is," he told Mack, then put him in his place when he warned, "I haven't been hiding her. But I have kept her to myself because she's my girl. And I don't share."

"Well, that's unfortunate," Mack disappointedly mumbled as he retook his seat. And Mack's remark had me silently thanking Callum for his warning after I wanted to stomp on his foot for being too forward with Mack. Telling him something I didn't think he didn't need to say.

But boy, am I glad he did. Because the last thing I want right now, after Callum and I have been getting along, and enjoying each other's company, is for him to be upset with me over something out of my control.

Marissa brought her hand to mine, politely saying, "It's nice to meet you."

"Likewise," I said as Callum pulled a chair out for me.

Marissa may have been courteous with her greeting, but her eyes weren't polite when she eyed me. Instead, they showed jealousy, and they also expressed an intense desire to claw the fuck out of me—like I had stolen Callum from her.

"So, Eloise. Callum mentioned you were the mastermind behind this year's gala event. Can I ask why you chose Epilepsy? I asked him about your reasoning behind it, and he wasn't sure why you went out of the norm. Usually, our gala events involve a particular type of cancer."

"Why not?" I asked defensively. "Epilepsy is something I feel isn't talked about enough, and more people should be aware of it—as it can be very deadly."

She lifted her glass of wine to her mouth, asking, "Did you know someone personally who passed away from epilepsy?"

I nodded. I felt Callum's eyes on me and turned to him. He knew my brother had passed away, but I never told him what from. But he's about to hear it now, and I hope by me telling them how Max passed away, it'll light a fire under Callum where he'll fill me in on what happened to his ex-fiancée.

"My brother passed away four years ago from a seizure—a grand mal, actually," I said, returning my gaze to the hussy who looked like she still thought she could get Callum into her bed. "And ever since he died from it, I promised my family I'd bring more awareness to the neurological disorder that can be just as deadly as someone with cancer. And how SUDEP—sudden unexpected death in epilepsy—is a thing."

"I'm sorry to hear you lost your brother," Mack said, siping his amber-colored cocktail.

Marissa also apologized, but hers wasn't as sincere as Mack's.

Whatever, I don't care what she thinks or has to say, anyway.

Jealousy will get her nowhere.

Mental note—do not go to the restroom. Marissa seems to be one of those annoying females who'll follow me in there and say disgusting things to me, trying to encourage a fight between Callum and me.

"No need to apologize. You didn't know my brother," I said as Callum warmed me with his gentle, caring touch by rubbing my backside.

Another mental note—don't go into the restroom at the gala either, which means watching the alcohol consumption tomorrow—or any liquid, for that matter.

"Anyway," Callum said, slapping his hands together. "Eloise and I have plans. So since you asked that we meet for dinner to discuss the finalization of the gala event, we should probably discuss that so we can be on our way."

I don't know what plans he's talking about, but I'll play along. I want away from this table as soon as possible.

Hell. I don't even want to eat in front of the seductive minx and the guy who thinks he can have me. Next, she'll judge how I eat, saying I don't eat like a proper woman who hangs with billionaires. And I'm sure he'll imagine my moving lips are moving because they're satisfying him.

Gross...

Mack snapped his fingers and waved at our waitress, saying, "Yes. Let's discuss the finalized vendors list and funds report Eloise sent me a few days ago."

***

Callum and I were finally leaving the restaurant two and a half hours later. And I never felt so relieved to get away from my coworkers as I do now. The lust in Marissa's eyes anytime she eyed Callum was sickening. And whenever I spoke, the shooting daggers in her eyes were strong enough to ask Callum to pinch me—to make sure I was still alive.

I was also relieved to get away from Mack. He literally was eye-fucking me the entire time. And I know Callum saw him doing it, too, because his hand would go to my thigh occasionally, and he'd give it a reassuring squeeze, letting me know each time not to worry that he wouldn't let Mack come anywhere near me where he could try putting moves on me. He also told me there was no way he'd allow us to be alone in those thigh squeezes.

"Where to now?" Our driver asked Callum as I slid into the backseat.

Callum's gaze turned to mine, asking, "What would you like to see now?"

The other night he brought up taking me on a helicopter ride to see the city lights skyline—claiming it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience that everyone visiting New York needs to do at least once. Still, I'm not so sure I could get on a helicopter. They make me nervous.

Even though I wanted to tell Callum I'd rather just return to the hotel, that isn't what left my mouth. Instead, I told him, "Let's do that city light skyline helicopter tour you told me about."

"Linden Municipal Airport, New Jersey," he told our driver, then chuckled when he slid into the seat beside me. "It's a good thing I read your mind when I brought it up the other night. I sensed it was something you were nervous about doing but knew you'd give in wanting to do it, so I reserved us a spot. A private tour, that is," he added, smirking proudly.

For someone who hasn't been in a relationship for a long time, he sure knows how to get into a woman's mind and read it—and much better than any of my past boyfriends ever could do.

When we got to the airport and as we neared the helicopter, my heart gained speed the second I saw the whirlybird waiting for us. "This thing better not kill us," I said, my heart beating faster as I eyed the floor-to-ceiling windows of the helicopter.

"Relax. We'll be fine."

"That's what they all say before something goes horribly wrong and crashes to the ground, killing everyone on board."

Callum laughed. "That's a rare occurrence. You should remember that there's always a chance of something terrible happening in everything you do. Driving. Flying. Riding on a bus. Train..." he rambled on, listing everything that could kill you. And he's right. Everything you do, you're putting yourself out there where something bad could very well happen.

His hand lovingly held mine as we headed to the aircraft. He showed them the confirmation on his phone when they asked for it, and then one of the pilots looked at me and explained what I'd be seeing after Callum mentioned this was my first time getting on a helicopter and exploring New York City from up above.

"So, our journey begins by flying past Staten Island, where we'll head toward Manhattan. You'll get to view the New York Harbor, the illuminated Statue of Liberty, and the financial district's skyscrapers. Then we'll fly north along the Hudson River, where you'll get a glimpse of the Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden, Hudson Yards, Chelsea, The West Village, SOHO, and TRIBECA. I'll also be bringing you to view the 9/11 Memorial and One World Trade Center."

"Is that all?" I asked, being the funny, smart-ass girl I am because that's a lot to see.

Callum and the pilots chuckled. "You'll also get to see Central Park, the Yankee Stadium, and one of the busiest bridges in the world—the George Washington Bridge."

"Wow," I said wide-eyed. "That's a lot of places. Are you sure there isn't anymore for me to see?"

Callum chuckled again. "Of course, there is."

"Chrysler Building, Columbus Circle, Chelsea Piers Sports & Entertainment Complex, Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Times Square, and the Columbia University," the pilot kindly added. "I believe that covers it all." He looked at the other pilot, asking, "Did I miss anything?"

"Nope."

"Well, let's get this tour started," the pilot said, smiling as he guided us into the chopper, then handed us headsets to wear to protect our hearing and so Callum and I could speak to one another and the pilots.

After getting situated and being warned we were leaving, I sucked in a breath, holding it until I knew it was safe to let out. The second the chopper raised into the air, my heart stopped beating, my stomach dropped, and Callum secured me to him, comforting me. "Let out that breath you sucked in and relax," he told me. "We're not going to crash."

I shook my head, my eyes tightly closed, afraid to look beside me, fearing I'll fall through the glass windows. Or embarrassing myself by throwing up everywhere.

Heights and me are like oil and water—we don't mix well.

"You don't want to miss this, Eloise," Callum warned, "open your eyes," he said, trying to console and comfort me. "Where's my tough girl at?"

"Right here," I whispered, opening my eyes finally. "I'm just afraid of puking everywhere."

One of the pilots laughed, and he turned around, smiling. "You'd be surprised how many times someone has gotten sick while up here. So you wouldn't be the only one."

After the pilot turned back around, facing the controls, and pointing out what he was showing us, Callum moved his mouth to my ear and lifted the headset just enough to say something to me, causing me to eye the two men in front of us while biting my bottom lip. "I've got just the plan to erase your anxiety. All I need you to do is behave. Don't scream, moan, or indicate what I'm doing to you."

I nodded when the headset returned to covering my ears. Even though I couldn't hear much of what Callum said, I still understood everything he told me.

And just when I thought I might have misunderstood what Callum was telling me he was about to do, his hand slid underneath my dress, up my leg, and between my thighs. Then he slid his finger between my lips, finding my clit, and moistening it instantly the second his finger began teasing my bundle of nerves.

And just like that, the dip in the atmospheric pressure, reducing my oxygen levels, excited my brain and pussy. And it helped create some fantastic euphoric feelings from Callum fucking my pussy with his fingers, and the amazing beautiful sights I saw below us all lit up brightly.

Within seconds I was clenching my thighs together, sucking my lips into my mouth, and biting down to ensure I wouldn't make a sound that would scare the ones flying the scary machine over the amazingly beautiful lit-up scenery.

I tried closing my eyes, but Callum was quick to use his free hand to open them. I looked at him, and he shook his head, telling me not to close my eyes and to continue enjoying what we were up in the air to see.

Easy for him to say. He's not the one being excitedly pleasured.

When I came down from my euphoric high, Callum's fingers slid out of my pussy, from underneath my dress, and he brought them to his mouth, smiling while shoving them into his mouth and cleaning off my arousal.

He licked his lips, smiled, then mouthed, "You taste like fucking heaven."

I get the feeling whenever I show I have anxiety around him; he'll fix my nerves by giving me an orgasm, someway, somehow. And he won't care where we are or who's around us.

Just like when he challenged me in Hawaii at our best friend's wedding. Reverse psychology... saying I wouldn't fuck him in front of everyone. Yet, I proved him wrong by doing it—getting caught by Aaron and Isabelle—and loving every minute of it.

Callum Harrison is teaching me I have a sexual appetite I never knew I had. And he's bringing me into a sexual life I never thought I'd ever be interested in.

And as crazy as it is and sounds, I love this new sexual life of mine. And I owe it all to Callum for introducing me to the things I always assumed as strange or how they'd make me cringe just thinking about others doing them—butt plugs, anal sex, and discipline, just to name a few.

***

Nervous...

I'm so nervous about the gala; I can't stop my nerves from trembling, my heart from racing, or these ridiculous thoughts that continue roaming my mind about women flocking to Callum's feet once we arrive. I also fear I'll meet hundreds of women Callum has slept with over the years and that I'm not sure I can handle right now.

I know it was before my time, but I still don't want to meet any of them. It was bad enough I had to endure sitting at a table with a vixen who tried getting Callum to sleep with her weeks ago. And had to take watching her eye fuck Callum the entire time we ate and talked.

Callum may be excited about me being by his side, hoping to blow everyone's minds who catches sight of me, but I'm not. Instead, I worry about making a mockery out of myself and embarrassing Callum in the process.

"You're awfully quiet. Is everything okay?" Callum asked, taking me away from my thoughts.

I can't lie. He'll know. So it's best to tell him, "I'm a little nervous about attending the gala."

His arm molded around me, tightening me against his side, and his free hand cupped my face, turning me to look at him. His eyes studied mine. "Why are you nervous? There's no reason to be."

"Yes, there is. I'm not used to going to things like this or hanging around a bunch of billionaires, women you slept with, or women who want to sleep with a man of mine. I'm not used to any of this."

The corner of his lip twitched and then curved upward when he chuckled. He gently kissed my lips. "Like I said, there's no reason to be nervous. You'll be with me the entire time, except when I give my presentation. As for the women who think they can have me, I know you; you'll put them in their place. And for the women you assume I'd slept with that'll be there, I wouldn't even worry about that. There won't be anyone there that I have. You're the only woman I've mixed business with pleasure."

"You don't know that, Callum. Someone could have started a job with one of these companies after you've slept with them. And what about Marissa? You told me the story with her. How many else were there that you supposedly confronted about having sex?"

He kissed my lips again, chuckling, "Marissa is full of lies. She may have said I confronted her about having a night with me, and my history with women could make it believable. But I know it isn't true. I just made her think I remembered. As I stated, I was never one to mix business with pleasure. So I know she was full of shit, trying to pull a fast one on me because of my history with women."

"What about me? We're mixing business with pleasure," I returned, knowing that was a brat move, which may cost me, but I didn't care.

He groaned. "What happened between us is different. I didn't know who you were."

"And who's to say you didn't know any other women you slept with had anything to do with work?"

He groaned again, probably because I was right.

"I let my guard down with you. Normally, I ask what they do for a living. But you. Your beauty threw me off. And I was intrigued by your hostility toward your boss and amazed with how you emailed him telling him to fuck off, that getting laid was more important, and had to wait for what he needed—that everything I do before bringing a woman to bed I ignored."

"And who's to say you hadn't done that before?"

He groaned, shook his head, and said, "Not a chance. You're my weakness, Eloise. You've been my weakness since I first laid eyes on you."

He reached into his pocket, removed something, then asked that I give him my left hand. "In fact. I'm very weak when it comes to you, so weak that I bought you this to help ease your mind tonight. You, Eloise, are the only woman I want in my life. And I want everyone to know you're mine."

My breathing hitched, my hand shook, and my heart felt like it had died when he slid a massive rock on my finger. "Callum," I said in a shaky voice, "are you proposing to me?"

"No. I'm not proposing... yet..." Callum pulled me in for a kiss and smiled against my lips as he said, "This is just a promise to a forever with me. Tonight is just the night everyone will see who my heart belongs to. To help ward off any men or women who think they can get more from us than just exchanging a few words."

I hope you enjoyed the chapter!! 🤞🤞