His Hollow Heart (Fallen Kingdom Book 1)

Callum

Fuck. She’s breathtaking. All I see is her. Around the edges of her sculpted body, everything’s a blur. The sounds I hear, all static. Just one look has consumed my entire train of thought. The closer she gets to me, the weaker my knees become.

I knew she was beautiful. Knew this wouldn’t be easy, but damn, I never expected it to be this difficult. Every plan I had laid out perfectly. Every angry bone in my body was ready to fuse back together with the undeniable satisfaction of making her live a miserable life on this island with me. Now, it’s taking everything in me not to lay her out on the floor of this hall and devour her body with my tongue while shoving my cock so far into her pussy that she walks bowlegged for days.

“Hi,” she says with a softness to her tone. Her hands gathered in front of her while her thumbs drum together.

“You look…” My words trail off, unable to fulfill the compliment with the words in my head. “…nice.” Giving it will make me appear vulnerable and weak. It’s something she can use against me. I can’t give her that power—not yet. “Right this way.” I place a hand on the small of her back and my semi-hard cock fully erects instantly, straining against the fabric of my pants.

Bella stops in the doorway and tosses me a glance. “Another piano?”

“We have three. The eighth floor sitting room, here, on the seventh floor, and one in the cellar.”

Her eyes shoot wide open. “The cellar?”

“You’ll see it someday.” I wave a hand into the room. My head designer did a fantastic job throwing this together with only a month’s notice. Open, hardwood floors with an eighteen-light, cut-glass chandelier hanging in the center of the room. The grand piano sits to the right overtop an antique Persian rug. The wall is layered with la fleur wallpaper and gold encrusted vines. It was all part of the plan for the hotel—tailored to Bella’s taste—but now, I’m not sure I want to share it with anyone but her.

I look at Bella for a reaction, hoping she loves it, but she gives me nothing. This is what she always wanted. Fancy dresses and formal dances. Is it not enough?

I always knew she was a tough girl, but she’s been making this exceptionally difficult. Not just her presence alone—it’s her inability to cooperate and let things happen as they are supposed to. She might not believe that this encounter was fate, but it most definitely was. Fate led me to her and I’ve led her to me.

“Say something,” I bark out as an order.

Her fingers trail down the wallpaper and she looks at me. “This wallpaper must have cost a fortune. Is it real gold?”

“Of course it is. Do you like it?”

Her shoulders rise then fall. “It’s all right.”

“All right?” I snap back. “I did this all for you and all you have to say is that it’s all right?”

“For me?” She laughs. “Why in the world would you buy expensive wallpaper for me?”

“Isn’t that what you always wanted? A life of luxury without worrying about money?” I reach into my pocket and pull out a rectangular box, then walk around her so that her back is facing me.

“What are you doing?” She looks over her shoulder as I take the top off the box and pull out the pearl necklace. Once I’ve got the clasp unhooked, I string it around her neck and fasten it.

She immediately spins around to face me, fingers rubbing the beads around her neck. There’s a sadness in her eyes that takes me by surprise. “Cal, I never wanted any of this. Not the castle, the wallpaper, the fancy dresses, and certainly not the necklace.”

“When we were kids, you’d gawk at the Beckhams’ little girl and always said you wanted all the fancy things she had. You’d daydream about dancing in ballrooms to an orchestra. So, tell me, Bella, are you happy now?”

She turns to face me with pinched brows. “What I admired about them wasn’t their things, it was their family. A mom, a dad, siblings, love. That’s all I ever wanted. Sure, I would have loved to have one decent dress I hadn’t outgrown or worn out but that wasn’t what I dreamt of. I think you’ve lost sight of what’s important, Cal.”

“Me? How so?”

Gripping the sides of her dress so she doesn’t trip over it, she walks closer to me. “You hated money, and now you’re bathing in it. Ya know, I’ve always heard that men who flaunt their money have small penises. Is that the case?”

Dropping my head back, I let out a roaring laugh. “Oh, Bella, you’re in for quite a surprise.”

Her arms cross over her chest and she tilts her head, regarding me closely. “I’ve always hated surprises, so I think I’ll let you keep that one to yourself.”

The lights dim and Beethoven’s “Für Elise” begins playing through the surround sound speakers, but it’s not the song that was supposed to play. My blood boils at the uncanny ability for that new asshole guard to fuck everything up.

I’m not sure where Byron keeps finding these dumbasses, but if he doesn’t get me some help without burnt brain cells, I’ll have to do the hiring myself.

Regardless, I offer my hand, placing the other behind my back. “Shall we?”

Bella’s cheeks tinge pink and it’s a look I haven’t seen in a while. She’s embarrassed. But, why? “Umm, actually…”

“You can dance, right?” My eyebrows elevate to my forehead. “You’ve played this song before. Tell me you can at least sway your body to the notes.”

She laughs nervously. “My body can do many things, but swaying to notes is not one of them. Hard pass.”

“Come here.” I point and bend my finger, calling her in front of me. Hesitantly, she takes a couple slow steps. Still too far away, I scoop her by the waist and, in a swift motion, I pull her body to mine. I hold my hand up. “Hand in mine.” To my surprise, she doesn’t argue. I place my other hand on the small of her back while looking down at her lips as they move.

“I don’t know about this. What if I trip myself, or you?”

“It’s a quick waltz and it’s already half over.” I twirl her around to the beat then bring her back to me. “Besides, I’ve watched you fall at least three times since you’ve arrived. Once more won’t hurt.”

Looking down at her, I see that she’s smiling. I catch myself doing the same and quickly erase the look from my face by pressing my lips together. Guiding Bella’s movements, I do a chair and slip pivot while she follows my lead. “Curved feather, step,” I say under my breath as we glide across the dance floor. “Now chasse.” I walk her forward, then to the left, and back around. She misses a step and stumbles, but I grip her tighter, pulling her closer to me.

She looks up, our eyes catching, and it feels as if I’m staring into an open flame. The heat between us is fierce and I’m curious if she feels it too. When her expression becomes thunderstruck, I’m certain she does. Innocent eyes peer up at me as if they’re searching for clarity. Something I’m not able to give because I’m searching for the same in her.

The song stops and so does Bella. Her hands quickly pull back as if she was holding on to hot coal. “All your bones are intact. I’d say you did pretty well.”

“Wow. A compliment. From you.” Sarcasm drips from her tone. “I don’t know what to say.”

“It wasn’t exactly a compliment but take it as you will.”

Bella walks over to the piano and I follow behind her while some Johann Strauss begins to play through the speakers. “Where’d you learn to dance like that?” she asks as she runs her fingers over the piano hood.

“Private lessons for a year.”

“Oh,” her eyes perk up as she looks over at me, “did your parents make you take them?”

“No. It was my own choice.”

Vincent and Delilah only wanted me to do the things that Caden did, and dancing was not one of them. He was into physical sports—football, baseball, basketball. I never took up any of those things because sports weren’t my thing, but if either of them had lived longer than they did, Vincent would probably have forced those hobbies on me.

“I shouldn’t be surprised, but I am.” She sits down on the piano bench and folds her hands in her lap.

I take a seat next to her, our outer thighs brushing against one another. “Why’s that so surprising?”

“Just that you took the initiative to let someone teach you something. You always hated instruction. Always wanted to learn everything yourself.”

“Well, there was this girl…”

My words trail off when her eyes shoot to mine. Curiosity piques her interest. “Go on.”

I shouldn’t have said anything. I want to slap myself for even having this conversation. The last thing I need is Bella prying into my personal life. “Forget it.” I go to stand up, but she pulls me back down.

“No. Tell me. Was it a girlfriend? A sister? A cousin? I wanna know about your life, Cal.”

“I’ve never had a girlfriend. Never wanted one. The girl was a dance instructor who I met at a coffee shop a few years ago. We had a conversation about a charity event coming up and I told her I couldn’t dance, so she taught me. That’s it. That’s the end of the story. Would you like to dance again?” I grab her hand and pull her up, feeling flustered.

There is nothing I hate more than talking about myself—past, present, or future.

“Actually, my ankle is starting—”

I cut her off by spinning her around. The tempo picks up and I don’t stop forcing her along with me. We move in unison, flying across the floor, not even stopping for a beat.

“Cal, stop,” she says, trying to pull away, but I don’t allow her to break free.

Why does she ask so many damn questions? Why can’t she just mind her own fucking business, live here with me and start a new life without worrying about what I’ve done in the twelve years we’ve been apart?

She’s a royal pain in the ass and I’m getting tired of her poking and prodding.

“Cal, please. My ankle hurts.”

Her dress snares underneath my shoe and she falls backward. I stumble right along with her, but I’m able to catch us before we both fall to the floor. “Dammit, Cal,” she yells, jerking away suddenly and freeing herself from my claws. “What the hell is the matter with you?”

I watch her throw her little fit with a vacant expression while I stand there adjusting my tie. It’s suffocating me, so I loosen it up a bit.

She’s pretty sexy when she’s mad. Right now I’d love nothing more than to shut her up with my cock down her throat.

“Say something, dammit!” she snaps. When I don’t respond, she comes over to me and pulls my hand away from my tie.

I bite back, “What are you doing?”

“Quit being such a damn robot all the time. You don’t have to pretend with me.”

“I don’t pretend, Bella. What you see is what you get.”

She laughs in a mocking tone. “What you see is what you get? I call bullshit.”

“You call bullshit? How about if I call bullshit?” I grab her by the waist and kiss her so deeply and so passionately that I can guarantee there’s a puddle for me in her panties right now. Her chest heaves against mine as she melts into my arms.

She can pretend she’s not affected, but I know the truth. I can see what I do to her. Which means, she can also see what she’s doing to me.

It’s scary as hell, but when I get into this mindset where I’m consumed by only her, I don’t fucking care. I will let my guard down, just one time, if that’s what it takes to have her. And once my cock fills her pussy, there will be no going back—she will be mine.

“I want you to play the piano for me,” I mutter into her mouth.

I’ve waited twelve years for this. Twelve long years wishing I could watch the way her fingers dance across the keys. The way her mouth parts slightly as she concentrates, every now and then her tongue sweeping across her top lip to wet it. The lust behind her eyes as the passion of playing consumes her.

She pulls back, peering up at me. “You want me to play the piano?”

My fingers slide underneath the spaghetti strap of her dress. “Take this off and play me that piece you wrote when we were kids.”

Her pupils dilate with her fixed gaze on me. “You want me to take my dress off and play the piano?”

“Not just your dress. I want it all off—now.” I pull the strap down, exposing her shoulder to me, then the other, until they’re both hanging freely on her arm.

Bella clears her throat and runs her hands down her dress. “You’re kidding, right?”

She should know by now that I don’t joke, especially not when it comes to matters of her obedience. “No, I am most definitely not kidding.”

She will do what I say, or the repercussions will be much worse than her ridding herself of her clothes and pouring her heart into a song that I demand to hear.

Her trembling fingers attempt to adjust the strap of her dress, but I grab her hand and shake my head. “Now, Bella.” I press.

“Cal,” she takes a calming breath, avoiding eye contact as her eyes stay affixed to the door, “I’m not taking my dress off. That’s absurd.” She takes a step forward as if she’s planning to make an escape, but I throw my arm out, grabbing her around the waist.

“Then I’ll take it off for you.”

Her eyes look into mine, searching for the darkness in them that tells her I’m, once again, not kidding. I glower, right before running my hand up the back of her dress. I pinch the zipper at the top and inch it down, exposing her bare back.

Shivers cascade down her arms. “Turn around,” I tell her, my skin sweltering from the beauty in front of me. She does as she’s told and I run my fingers over her shoulder and sweep her hair to one side. My lips press to the skin over her spine as I tug the zipper down all the way. The V of her thong peeks out, showing me a tease of her ass.

“Cal,” she whispers, head tilting to her right shoulder.

My fingers skate up both of her arms until they’re wrapped around her throat. I bite down hard on my bottom lip, warding off temptation. I could squeeze and force her on her knees right now. Shove my cock in her mouth until she gags on my cum shooting down her throat. Instead, I tug the strand of pearls aggressively, ripping them off her neck.

Her head straightens, body tensing in scrutiny. “Why’d you do that?” she asks with a hint of sadness in her voice.

“I don’t give gifts to disobedient houseguests. Now do as you’re told, or I’ll stay true to my promise. I will remove every article of clothing on your body.”

She orbits back around to face me, her eyes wide with discontent. “Please, just stop this. You’re being so cruel.”

“I never claimed to be kind. Now, go.”

She takes a step backward, eyes deadlocked on mine. I watch intently as her chest rises and falls with each shallow breath. Tears prick the corners of her eyes, but she finally turns around and walks toward the piano.

She’s right. I am cruel. I hate myself for what I’ve become—the monster the world created.

But she unleashed the monster in me twelve years ago when she broke the first promise ever made to me, and now, she gets to eat from my hand.