I grabbed my bag and began pacing the room, wondering when exactly I’d fallen in love with him, but I couldn’t think of a time when I wasn’t. It was just more obvious now.
Cassandra eased into the chair, smiling. “I’m happy for you. I always knew you and Caleb would end up together.”
I stopped abruptly and shot her a disbelieving smile that deliberately developed into a knowing grin. “Liar!”
Cassandra stood, laughing. “Yeah, I honestly thought you’d never talk to him.”
Me too, I thought to myself as we left her house shortly before 10, much later than I’d planned to. And considering the text from Caleb asking me where we were, followed by another an hour later telling me to get my ass down there before he came and found me, I knew he was just as eager as I was.
Haven was a madhouse as expected for a New Year’s Eve celebration, but that was a good thing for my man, so I didn’t mind the crowded entrance or lack of view to find anyone once inside. But it turned out I didn’t need to try, since Caleb appeared out of nowhere, pulling me into his arms.
“Hey, baby. Where you been?”
He gave me no time to reply, his lips ravaging mine with a deeper hunger than usual. Yeah, he missed me. And considering he’d been gone the last three days, I felt it too.
Caleb broke away, leaving my lips throbbing and desperate for more as he looked over at Cassandra.
“Wow, look at you all sexed up,” he told her, wrapping his arm around my waist and settling it on my lower back. His fingers were splayed out, brushing lightly over my ass. “Did Hilary pick out that dress?”
Cassandra’s cheeks flamed and I couldn’t help my smile. “Surprisingly, no—all me,” she told him. “I was feeling particularly brave.”
Caleb nodded, and I spoke over the music, but for only him to hear. “She’s ready for Logan.”
His smile grew as he squeezed me more tightly against his side, placing a small kiss to my forehead. “Good for you, Cassie. Logan’s at the bar, by the way.”
She looked around, playing coy and shrugging. “Oh, I’ll catch up with him later.”
They were seriously past the playing-hard-to-get game; she needed to go find her man and stake a claim already. It was something I knew Caleb agreed with, especially when he peered down at me and chuckled.
“Have fun tonight, but don’t even think about stepping outside without Logan or me with you. Got it?” Caleb asked seriously and she saluted, looking amused.
“That means you, too.” The look he gave me made it clear I wasn’t going to have a chance anyway.
“I’m only allowed in the dark with Logan,” I said with a giggle, as if reciting instructions. “Got it.”
Caleb growled and yanked me roughly against his chest. “You’re a little smart-ass tonight.” He kissed me hard, his tongue seducing mine with lustful promises, then pulled away, leaving me breathless.
“I’m not as worried about you and Logan in the dark anymore. Seems he’s got his eye on this one—and this one only.” He winked at Cassandra before taking my hand, leading me farther inside.
“Have fun!” I called back, unsure if she heard me but knowing it wouldn’t matter as I spotted Logan making his way toward her.
“Dance?” Caleb asked as we passed the band. Desire lingered in his eyes.
I shook my head slowly. I wanted him all to myself, and the sooner the better.
He understood instantly, eyes sparkling. “Just one then.”
He led me to the dance floor and, as a pop tune ended, he held up a hand to someone next to the stage. Whatever he signaled, they relayed it to the band and the guitarist stepped forward with a familiar riff.
It wasn’t a slow song I’d usually dance to, but it was one that brought a giant grin to my face anyway as Caleb pulled me close: “Honey Bee” by Tom Petty. Our bodies swayed together, my arms looped around his neck, and he gripped me more tightly when the lyrics began.
Caleb sang along at an audio level only I could hear. My cheeks blazed, savoring the tenderness in his eyes that cut into a dark possession as he sang, “I’m a man in a trance.”
I cut him off there and pulled his head down, invading his mouth, then speaking against his lips. “Prove it.”
Caleb had me off the dance floor instantly, guiding me through the back door and up a flight of stairs within seconds. Once there, he opened another door and the moment I stepped inside, I knew where we were: his apartment. I inhaled his masculine scent, my insides throbbing.
The walls were covered in exposed bricks, with black painted beams on the ceiling. Expensive leather furniture was placed precisely, with a massive television on one wall and a full bookshelf on the other. Caleb turned around as we approached another door off his living room.
“You sure you don’t want to hang out down there until the ball drops?”
My head shook automatically and I opened the door myself, stepping into a dream. Caleb’s four-poster bed took up the length of the room and when I turned around, I found him standing in the doorway, watching me with a predatory gaze.
“I like your place,” I said, suddenly nervous.
He strode over, dipping my head back and stroking my cheeks with his knuckles. “I like you in my place.” His kiss was sweet, tender, and exactly what I needed to calm my mounting reservations.
I’d dreamed of this moment for years and was suddenly worrying that I may not be good enough. It was silly, but still there in the back of my mind as he turned me around and swept my hair over my shoulder, his breath hot on the back of my ear. My eyes slid shut when he placed a soft kiss on the nape of my neck, followed by another and another, trailing down to my zipper.
“Mine?” he growled under his breath.
“Yours,” I confirmed. He slipped the zipper down with ease, his lips trailing behind it as he slid to his knees, gripping my hips.
“Lift,” he instructed, as though a teacher to an apt pupil.
I stepped out of the dress and he placed it behind him. Standing there in my lacy red bra and matching thong, I quivered.
I expected him to remove more but he just stood, turning me to face him in the process. With his hands resting on my ass, holding me close, his mouth took mine, walking us backward until I hit the bed. He released me to loosen his tie and I caught his hands, desperate to touch him.
I lifted myself up onto the mattress, then propped myself up on my knees, unthreading his tie and tossing it aside. His penetrating gaze never strayed from mine as I began undoing his shirt one button at a time until his hard, powerful chest was revealed.
I couldn’t help myself. My head dipped, lips sliding across the wide expanse. He pulled at his shirt, untucking it for me before his hands were on me again—this time in my hair, tugging gently until I reached the final button and dragged the shirt over his broad shoulders.
Caleb dropped it to the ground, then pushed me back. I fell onto the mattress, scooting back toward the pillows as he climbed up, grabbing my ankles and spreading my thighs gently for him to enter.
My head fell back, a whimper spilling from my trembling lips when the heat of his tongue sparked up my legs. I peered down, his powerful gaze locking with mine and holding it as he gripped the sides of my panties and dragged them down, revealing my bare pussy. I’d never felt more exposed, vulnerable—or eager.
His tongue darted out, skimming across my inner thigh and eliciting a deep moan that grew wilder as his tongue slid upward over my slit then back down, avoiding my clitoris. My fingers gripped the thick beige comforter, toes curling as he continued with featherlike strokes through my most sensitive area until finally flicking his tongue expertly over my clit. I bucked up, flesh prickling, pleading for more pressure right there.
His tongue grew rougher and more demanding, hands snaking under my ass, hauling me closer to his face as he ravaged the depths of me. Illicit whimpers grew into shuddering groans until finally a wild, frenzied scream soared from my quaking body.
I stared d
own, greedy for more and desperate to feel him. I was struggling to sit up when he stopped me.
“I want you,” I murmured, trembling. “Want to make you feel good.”
He shook his head, sliding his thumb over his lips then placing it in his mouth, sucking off my essence.
My eyes rolled back, pussy throbbing, unable to deny him when his hand reached up and shoved me back down. He crawled up and positioned himself over me slowly, staring down at my breasts and removing the lace from one then the other before lowering his head. I drew in an unsteady breath as he flicked his tongue over the perky bud.
“Caleb!” I called out, winding my legs around his back and locking him there.
His mouth covered my nipple, sucking deeply while his left hand began massaging my other breast that was eagerly awaiting his lips.
He switched between the two and my body bucked up harder, faster. I was desperate to feel him, all of him, inside of me, stretching me out and molding me to fit all he had to give.
I felt his hardness press against my center and he suddenly yanked himself up off the bed and tugged open his belt, then his pants. They slid to the ground in unison with his black boxer briefs, leaving me staring at his big, gorgeous, firm, and eager cock.
“Please,” I begged, pulling him back down on top of me.
He crawled over me, lying there with his hands in my hair, kissing me with fevered rawness and a demanding need that fueled between us.
“Never wanted anything or anyone so badly in my entire life,” he confessed. “Only you Hilary, forever, if you’ll have me.”
I couldn’t stop myself, the words spilling out as I took his face in my hands. “I love you, Caleb. I always have. I just never knew it could feel this real—this intense.”
He stared down at me, his eyes darkening with something indecipherable. I’d opened my mouth to speak again when he kissed me. It was unlike any kiss before it, an immense surge of emotions connecting us.
Caleb never broke away as his body pulled back just enough to center himself, his tongue stroking mine as he surged inside of me. His body thrust harder and deeper with every moan he incited until I was nothing more than completely his, in every way.
In all my life, I’d never felt more loved.
To be continued…
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Inevitable Sneak Peek
Within the hour, I found myself falling back into my morning routine of jogging in peace. Hilary would never accompany me again—that I was certain of. In all the years I’d known her, I’d never seen her so exhausted. She worked out at the gym in the evening, which was the complete opposite of myself.
When I rounded the first corner, all thoughts of the Millers’ pool and the flawless new neighbors had cleared from my mind. Everything was perfect. A dark cluster of clouds overhead shielded the morning sun, but I was grateful for the coolness it brought.
The fresh smell of dew and the morning air filled my nostrils with every soothing breath. Music blared in my ear, singing Adele on repeat.
A smile crept over my lips as I approached my usual turnaround point: the small road sign indicating ‘You are now entering city limits.’ My feet sprinted forward, quickening my pace. As I crossed the road to go back up the way I’d come, my entire body drained of all the serenity I’d felt moments earlier.
I continued jogging, but my steps grew slower and heavier as my eyes locked with his.
There he was: my new neighbor. The Greek god who’d filled my night with visions of endless passion was jogging, wearing nothing but a pair of dark-grey shorts that screamed designer and a devilish smirk. My gaze fell on his sculpted abs, and trailed down the perfect V that disappeared into his shorts.
Shaking my head to pull myself from my hypnotic state, I plastered the friendliest smile I could muster on my face and prayed it came off less awkward and contrived than I knew it was.
The catastrophic ripple of emotions whirling inside me left me dumbfounded. It wasn’t like me to feel a pull like that toward any man—especially one who was possibly married. I reached down and slid my finger over my iPod, ending the music.
“Morning,” he said, his eyes lit with amusement.
For some ungodly reason, I closed my eyes and continued jogging past him, too stunned to speak.
Smooth.
What was it about this guy that sent my body preparing for mutiny against every moral I swore I had? Thankful I’d passed him, I grew painfully aware he could possibly be turning around at the same location, which would put him directly behind me again.
My entire body went rigid. Damn, how long had he been behind me? The thought of having done something ridiculous or embarrassing with him unknowingly watching caused my ears to smolder and stomach to drop.
I’d never felt so self-conscious, and all I could do was replay the last half hour I’d spent running. Heat filled my body and a shudder shot up my spine, wrapping around my neck when the memory from fifteen minutes earlier replayed through my pounding head.
Noticing a puddle of water, I leapt over, arms fluttering gracefully over my head in what could only be described as a botched ballerina grand jeté.
I shuddered. What the hell was the matter with me? Thankfully I didn’t expand on the thoughtless move, as doing so would’ve forced me to whirl around and see him sooner rather than later.
Instead, I continued jogging on, and…
Oh, no.
My blood ran cold, legs as heavy as weights slowing me down. Nausea shot through me and I flushed, cringing as my face grew hotter and, without a doubt, redder.
Oh, God.
I yanked out my ear buds with trembling hands and threw them over my shoulder, picking up my pace and trying not to collapse from humiliation. The memory of stopping to tie my shoes shortly after leaving the house hit me like a sledgehammer to the gut. After double knotting my laces, like a child, I’d stood, and…those damn shorts.
I blew out a ragged breath and bit hard on my bottom lip, recalling the moment I’d stood up and pulled free the shorts that were riding up my rear.
I wanted so badly for the earth to open up and swallow me whole.
I forced myself to believe he’d had yet to hit the pavement behind me when that had happened. The thought of him watching me remove a wedgie from my ass was too much to bear.
That was it. Not only did a flawless, confident beauty already have him, but I was the dork who danced over puddles and wore shorts so small they had to be physically removed from my behind.
Yeah, I thought, nodding my head. No need to worry about impressing him now. Dear Lord, why did I have to wear this outfit today?
I cringed, jogging faster and glancing down at my skintight shorts. They were a faded blue, with a pink stripe down each side. My mother had bought them when I joined track in high school…my freshman year. My halter top was nothing more than a grey sports bra, shrunken from multiple trips to the laundry room and showing off more than I intended on letting anyone around here see.
It was a rare occasion for someone to travel this road—especially at this hour. That is, until his moving truck nearly ran Hilary and me down…and now this.
I was pulled from my self-deprecation when I heard him clear his throat. Oh no. I looked to my left and there he was, in step beside me.
“Um…hi.” I sighed at my lack of poise. Stuttering was not my usual conversation starter, but since we were both already aware of how giant an idiot I’d acted thus far that morning, I shook it off.
He was staring at me with a crooked smile as his gaze shifted shamelessly down to my chest.
I made a face I was certain he caught and pulled my top up, hoping to hide the cleavage spilling out that was capturing his attention.
A chu
ckle rumbled in his chest, but his face was impassive aside from the glimpse of light brightening his eyes before he looked straight out at the empty road ahead of us.
It was the sexiest laugh I’d ever heard.
Rolling my eyes, I continued my brisk pace, keeping my gaze ahead of me. Okay, it wasn’t that sexy.
But trying to ignore the feelings creeping through my body proved difficult. Every muscle worked overtime, trying to keep my pace while ensuring my figure appeared as attractive as possible.
Give it up. He’s married.
A giant puff of air was pushed from my lungs when I laughed, relaxing. I was acting crazy. I’d never been one to get insecure over a guy, attractive or not, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to start now.
“Do you always run this early…?”
“Cassandra,” I said, answering the unasked question.
His lips pulled up in a ghost of a smile. “I’m Logan.”
Finally—a name. Shifting my gaze to his hands moving in rhythm with his legs, I spotted an unadorned ring finger.
“So…?”
“Hmmm?” I was at a loss. What the hell was he asking now? Why couldn’t we run in peace? It was bad enough having him look damn near lickable, and so close beside me.
“Do you run this early every day? You’re in great shape.” His gaze wandered down my body, lingering on my legs, and then back up as he grinned. “Very nice shape,” he repeated in a gruff murmur.
I swallowed, blinking wildly, and looked down at my feet. Keep them moving, one in front of the other, I reminded myself. He’s nobody special.
“Yeah. Every morning.” I needed to get a grip, but the look in his eyes every time I glanced in his direction was absolutely mesmerizing. If I didn’t know better, I would’ve sworn he was planning on snatching me up and devouring me in one giant bite. That look was powerful, and it left me breathless.