Tasting
Chapter 204

I stop crying with Marcello’s arms around me.

“Right, now can we continue? You still have presents to open little birdie.” Demitri looks and I nod not wanting to hurt him. He pulls me through and I quickly move my feet to keep up.

He pushes me to sit, and I watch as Marcello goes to hand me a box, Demitri stepping in his way. He holds out a box for me and Marcello rolls his eyes. Taking the box from Demitri I open it, inside a key, my eyes look at him confused, a car?

“You shouldn’t need someone to drive you, little birdie. You still have to ensure Troy goes with you. But your own car, so now if you want to go shopping you can with security though.” He smiles and I hug him and thank him.

Marcello moves, and holds out a box. As I take it Calix walks through, moving he sits behind me, his legs on either side of my body his arms wrap around my waist and his head settles on my shoulder. Opening the gift I smile. A spa day. I go to say thank you, Demitri pushes him out of the way holding out another gift.

“Demitri, you can wait until he has given me all the ones he has, seen as you don’t play nice!” He grumbles at my words and sits sulking and I laugh. “Fine hand it here, but stop pushing him out of the way.” He smiles and walks back to me.

Fifteen minutes later I have opened all the gifts. Demitri stands smiling

at me.

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Chapter 204

“I don’t like that smile.” I don’t. Not one bit.

“Oh come on little birdic, it’s your birthday, and your birthday has to have cake!” I want to refuse but I won’t.

“I will agree on the condition no singing fucking happy birthday, if anyone even starts trying to sing that shit, I get up and walk.” That would be on the high end of awkward. I watch as Demitri pouts but nods, rushing into the kitchen, a few seconds later he walks out. holding a cake with candles on it lit.

“You should get real candles, a real cake, not one you drew.” Marcello smiles at me and I nod. I watch as Demitri stops ahead of me, my mouth goes to blow out the candles and I watch as he moves the cake.

“No! You need to make a wish.” His eyes roll. Staying sat I try and think of a wish but nothing comes. So I just close my eyes and blow them out. I watch as Demitri kisses my cheek.

“Good night little birdie.” He places down the cake and walks away, Marcello kissing my cheek and walking off. Calix is still wrapped around me. My eyes go to roses.

“Did you really get someone to paint the roses that colour?” They are beautiful. He laughs slightly.

“No, they are a real rose.

“Mmm, never seen them before.” I roll my eyes. “Ignore that, of course I won’t have I barely got to go anywhere.”

“Daisy, even if you had the freedom to travel the world, you likely wouldn’t have seen them. It took a week to get them. They are extremely rare, had someone painted them I would be wanting blood considering the cost. They are Juliet roses.”

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Chapter 204

“They are beautiful.” I thought they had painted them that colour.

“I will be right back, stay here.” Calix walks off, and a moment later he returns holding two gift boxes. He moves to wrap his body around me again. He hands me the first box, it is big. Opening it, I smile and laugh. It’s a bat but with their family crest on it.

“When you stand with us, you should be protected, I can imagine the damage you would do with that.” He chuckles and I nod. I watch as he takes it, before turning me to face him.

“I’m sorry, it doesn’t even feel like a worthy word for what I said. Or for today, but I am. I guess I was just protecting myself. I was scared, Daisy. You weren’t ours and I still feel like if you had your freedom, real freedom you would walk. I wanted to protect myself, and hurting you was the way.” His head drops slightly.

“I can’t believe the words I said, Daisy. I’m just scared when I let you in, and you get the freedom, you will go and I won’t survive.”

“Calix, I didn’t want the freedom.” I look at him.

“I know, but my mind still tells me you would walk. Daisy, I fucking love you, had I not I wouldn’t have given a shit and I would have fucked you over and over. I couldn’t though as doing that when I loved you meant I would hurt more when you walked.”

He moves and holds out a box.

“You’re part of this family Daisy, always will be. Even if you walked. You should stand next to us and it be known you’re family.” I watch as he opens the box and inside is a ring, identical to theirs. They all have one with the family crest on.

My heart shatters.

“I told myself to keep my distance Calix. After what you said I decided

that I would work for you three and then any other time stay in my room. I had decided I didn’t want to be treated like that again.” I watch as he nods closing the box, my hand stopping him.

“Then today made me realise I can’t do that. Even if you did hurt me. Even after what my parents had said. I still felt like I couldn’t hurt you three in that way. I’m just scared what the hell happens now?” I look at

him.

He moves, placing the ring on my finger. “Right now we go to bed.” He stands and carries me through, his hands stripping us both. Moving he pulls me onto the bed, his body cradling me against him. “I just want to hold you and sleep puddin.” His words quiet and we do, we fall asleep wrapped around each other,