Once You’re Mine: Chapter 17

She’s here.

I run my gaze over every inch of Calista, drinking in her presence like a man dying of thirst. It’s been too long since I’ve had her look at me. Since I’ve heard her voice. If I could survive on those things alone, I’d never want for anything else.

When it comes to this woman, I’m fucked.

Beyond fucked.

Over the past week, I’ve kept my distance from her in the daylight hours to prove to myself that I could, that she doesn’t have control over me. But I nearly failed. If not for my visiting her at night in her apartment, I wouldn’t have been able to stay away from her.

Even then, I followed her into the coffee shop when I shouldn’t have. Twice now. But after the night at T&A and witnessing her moaning my name, I decided to give into my desires.

Both carnal and cerebral.

Having Calista in my life and in my bed will either rid me of my obsession or take me to the point of no return. Either way, I’ll know what she is to me.

It’s fortunate that she sought me out. I’m not sure how much longer I would’ve waited before kidnapping her.

Josephine looks at me with her brow furrowed. Like I’m insane. If she only knew the thoughts I’ve had when it comes to Calista, she’d think I was certifiable.

“Yes, sir,” Josephine says. “I’ll make sure you’re promptly notified when Miss Green comes to the office.” The woman looks at Calista, unable to hide the bewilderment in her gaze. “Miss Green, I apologize if I came off as rude.”

Calista’s cheeks bloom with a pink tinge. “Don’t worry about it.”

I tilt my head. “Miss Green, let’s have our conversation in my office.”

She nods, causing the loose strands of her hair to glide along her jawline. My fingers twitch with the need to touch the silky strands. To wrap around them my fist.

Calista walks beside me down the long hallway and into my office. I immediately shut the door behind her. The click of the door’s mechanism fills me with satisfaction. I have her alone, without prying eyes.

While she’s awake.

Seeing her when she’s asleep in her apartment is not the same experience as watching her stand before me with her face flushed as her body reacts to me. Chest heaving, her breasts straining against the material of her shirt, squeezing her thighs together as she squirms under my gaze. I enjoy every second of it.

“Please have a seat.” I extend a hand to the leather chair in front of my desk and settle in mine on the other side. After resting my forearms on the surface, I lean forward, unable to stifle my eagerness. “Why are you here, Callie?”

Her pupils contract when the term of endearment registers. “Mr. Bennett,” she says, her voice coated with hesitation, “I need your hel—no.” She shakes her head with an exhale. “I want to know: why did you intervene on my behalf at the Sugar Cube and then again at the T&A?”

She runs her gaze over me, the hazel within churning like molten gold. I’ve never felt the need to be honest with anyone if it didn’t suit my agenda, but with Callie, I want to be truthful.

And I will… to an extent.

She can’t know the depth of my obsession until I understand it first and have everything under control. When I’m certain she won’t run from me. Not that it would stop me from chasing her.

And keeping her.

“That’s simple. I saw you needed help, and I provided it,” I say.

“Yes, but T&A isn’t a place you normally visit, so why were you there?”

I tilt my head, a smile playing about my lips. “Have you been stalking me?”

Her entire demeanor shifts. From the way her skin pales to the alarmed look on her face, the mere mention of a stalker, even in the form of a joke, is devastating to Callie.

She lifts her hand to her throat and quickly drops it. A spark of satisfaction ignites my blood. Her necklace is currently in my pocket, albeit not all in one piece. I’ve been carrying around the pearls since that first night.

She’ll get all of them back eventually.

Given the number of times I’ve fucked myself because of her, it’ll be sooner rather than later.

“No, I haven’t been following you,” she says. “I’m trying to figure out how you always seem to be around when I need you.”

That’s right. You’re finally getting that you need me. And only me.

“Coincidence, I’m sure. Why are you here, Callie?”

Although her gaze remains doubtful, she waves a hand in dismissal. “I need to know how important it is that you finish the investigation of my father’s murder, Mr. Bennett.”

“It’s Hayden. And the answer is very.”

Even more so since Zack said that there was no record of anyone matching her description being treated at a hospital on June 24th. If I didn’t know for certain that he was the best, I would’ve fired him. The hacker promised he’d continue looking into the matter, probably to appease me since I lost my shit. But I can’t wait for him.

Not when the source of the answers sits directly across from me.

Calista presses her lips together. I can almost hear the cogs turning in her mind. “Hayden,” she says, her voice lowering in volume. Almost as if she’s scared to say my name. “Why do you care so much about my father’s case?”

I almost groan at the sound of my name on her lips and tongue. “I already told you. It was one of the few high-profile cases in my career that I lost. Even with the senator acquitted, he still ended up dead. Whatever the reason, I want to know why. Don’t you?”

“Obviously,” she says. “That’s why I hired the P.I. in the first place.”

“Then we are agreed.”

Her luscious mouth pulls down into a frown. “Not quite. I’m willing to assist you in the investigation by filling in the gaps of missing information, but it’ll cost you.”

“Indeed?” I lean back in my chair, fighting a smile. My little Calista has grown a set of claws. I flick my gaze to her perfectly manicured nails, imaging them digging into my back as I fuck her. “This is very close to bribery, Callie.”

“I prefer to think of it as quid-pro-quo.”

A smile takes over my mouth before I can stop it. One that’s both rare and genuine. This woman seduces me at night and amuses me in the day. So unique.

So mine.

“A favor for a favor…” I tap my chin in thought although I made my decision to give her whatever she wanted when I first heard her say my name. “I can work with that. What’s your price?”

She blows out a stream of air and then says, “Okay. One piece of information for five hundred dollars.”

“Is that all?”

Calista winces before she smoothes her features. “Make it one thousand dollars.”

She has no idea that I would give her the millions of dollars I own if it meant getting to know everything about her. Very few people know about the wealth I amassed after investing the money I made from my career as an attorney. The only reason I continue to do this job is because it provides me satisfaction when meting out justice.

Not as much as killing the guilty with my bare hands. But we all have to make sacrifices for the greater good.

“You drive a hard bargain, Callie, but I’m willing to pay.”

“Great.”

Relief sweeps across her face, loosening the tightness pinching her cheeks and the corners of her mouth. She looks at me and smiles. For the first time.

I clear my throat, composing myself before I reach across this desk and haul her to me. So I can bend her over it. Or kiss her. Which would be a first for me.

I don’t kiss women.

I’m happy to lick their cunts and suck their tits, but kissing someone is intimate. It’s an emotional connection I’ve never cared for. Or wanted to encourage.

Until Calista Green.

“I have some conditions that must be met,” I say.

She nods and the hazel of her eyes grows clouded with suspicion.

“I don’t like to be kept waiting. Therefore, you will always answer my phone calls and promptly respond to my texts upon receiving them.”

She averts her gaze, a flush staining her neck. “I don’t have a cell phone.”

“That’ll need to be rectified immediately.” When she opens her mouth to speak, I lift a hand, and she presses her lips together. “We’re doing this my way, Callie. You might have the information I require, but I’m the one who will control every aspect of this agreement.”

Control… that’s laughable. I have none when it comes to her. But that won’t stop me from trying to regain some semblance of authority in this situation. It’s an illusion. Much like my ability to leave her alone.

“Okay,” she whispers. “I just don’t want to be your charity case.”

“I respect your pride, but this isn’t meant to demean you. It’s simply to ensure I get what I want.”

She looks up at me from beneath her lashes. “What happens if you don’t get what you want?”

“I’d rather not say.”

“Is that a challenge?”

My lips twitch at her sharp wit and the way she’s blatantly thrown my words in my face. “Perhaps. Anyway, you’ll have a cell phone within the next twenty-four hours. Now I need your bank information to pay you.”

After grabbing a piece of paper and a pen, I slide the items in Calista’s direction. Then I pick up the phone on my desk and dial the number to my financial institution. My personal banker answers, his voice cheerful.

“Hello, Mr. Bennett. How are you?”

“I’m fine, Ronald.”

“How can I assist you today, sir?”

“I need to make a wire transfer.” I look at Calista and she pushes the information toward me. “The information is as follows.”

Ronald sets up everything on his end, his fingers clicking hard enough on the keyboard that it reaches my ears. “All set, sir. What is the amount you wish to transfer?”

“Ten thousand dollars.”

I would’ve given her ten times that amount right off the bat, except I don’t want to give her the choice to be rid of me. With enough money, she’d certainly walk away.

She shoots from her chair, almost knocking over the piece of furniture. “Hayden!”

Hearing her say my name with such passion has my cock pressing against the seam of my pants. Then, there’s the thought of her screaming my name…

I hold up my hand, and she crosses her arms, her expression morphing from shock to unsettled. “Sit down,” I say, my tone leaving no room for argument.

“Is everything all right, sir?”

“Yes,” I say to Ronald on the phone. “Finish the transaction.”

“You’re all set, sir. Anything else I can do for you?”

“No.”

“Thank you for your business, Mr. Bennett. Have a great day.”

I hang up the phone.

Calista leans forward, placing her fisted hands on my desk. “Why did you do that?”

“I already told you. I’m going to get what I want, one way or another. With that money in your account, I’m well on my way. Now, let’s discuss the events of June 24th.”