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“How did you open up enough to fall in love after losing your dad?” he asked, walking toward me. He looked terrified, the raw fear carving his strong features into something fragile. I doubted Cal allowed many people to see him like this, and the fact he was allowing me made my chest ache.
“I guess I never thought of it that way,” I answered softly. “To be fair, it wasn’t an issue. At least not for a long time. My dad died before I was interested in boys. Then no one wanted to date me in high school or college. Well, maybe they did in college, but I spent most of my weekends at home. I went on a few first dates, but I was so awkward the guys moved on pretty fast. I didn’t meet Brad until I started at Pinnacle Group. For whatever reason, he took an interest in me despite how much I fumbled our first conversations. To answer your question from before, I guess I was excited to finally have someone’s attention, so I ignored the way he looked at other women or the lies I sometimes caught him telling.”
“Brad was your first boyfriend?” he asked, stepping so close I could feel the heat rolling off his body.
“First everything really,” I said with a shrug.
“Am I the second?” Cal asked.
“That depends,” I said. “You can’t be my second boyfriend if you don’t do relationships.”
“No,” he said, his eyes sad, “I can’t.”
“But,” I said, my heart racing, “You are the second man I’ve kissed, and the second to um, you know.”
Cal threw his head back and laughed. “You can’t even say it.”
“Not in the street, Caleb. My house is right there.”
“I love when you call me that,” he said. He leaned in and placed his mouth on the shell of my ear. “Say it again.”
“Caleb,” I breathed, and he sucked the delicate skin on my neck. My breath caught and my knees weakened. He wrappedhis powerful arms around me and pressed me close, so I could feel his hard length.
“This is all I can give you,” he said, rocking into me. “But it’s yours if you want it.”
I moaned and he captured my mouth in a brutal kiss. Our tongues clashed for control. His hands tangled in my hair. I ran my hand down his body. His grip tightened to the point of pain and sent a throb of need between my legs. I took a step back.
He let out a slow breath, turned, and began walking toward his house.
“Don’t touch me,” I said, following him. “Until we’re inside.”
He stopped. After a moment, he started walking again, faster than he had before.
When we got to his house, he paused at the front door. “Wait here,” he said. “I need to get Skye settled.”
I nodded.
He pulled a key from his pocket and leaned his forehead against the door. “Promise me you won’t leave,” he said, his voice pained. “If I go inside now, promise me you’ll be here when I get back.”
“I promise,” I said. Without another word, he put the key in the lock and Skye started barking inside. He slipped through the door, closing it behind him. I could hear him greet her and walk toward the back of the house.
As soon as I was alone, the reality of what I was about to do slammed into me. Was I ready to be with someone else? Someone like Cal who could be nothing more than a good time. I gripped the railing to keep from running back to my house. I knew I could change my mind if I wanted, but I couldn’t leave before he returned, not after he’d made me promise. It’s like he’d known I’d second guess my decision the moment he was gone. I heard some shuffling inside the house and the door opened, casting Cal in silhouette.
He held the storm door open and waited. I might regret staying, but I knew I’d think back to this moment again and again if I walked away. I let go of the railing and followed him inside. As soon as the door closed behind me, Cal lifted me up and pressed me against it. His hands roamed every inch of my heated skin, his fingers sending electric sparks straight to my core. He pressed against me, and my back hit the door at an uncomfortable angle. I stiffened.
“Shit,” he said. “Are you ok?”
I nodded, but he spun and carried me to a room at the end of a long hallway. Light from the hall revealed a king-sized bed with a dark-colored comforter, the outline of a dresser, a chair. That’s all I had time to see before Cal placed me carefully on the bed.
“Please don’t treat me like I’m breakable,” I said, grabbing his shirt and attacking the buttons. His chest heaved as I pushed the shirt from his shoulders. I explored the ridges on his stomach with my fingers, the deep V at his waist. His breath became shallower with every touch.
He closed his eyes and threw his head back when I unbuttoned his shorts and eased my hand inside to touch him. I ran my fingers along the smooth skin of his crown and his eyes shot open.
He grabbed my hand and eased it from his skin before taking a step back. My cheeks heated. I must have done something wrong, something to make him change his mind. Why would Caleb Cardoso want to sleep with me? He placed a gentle hand on my chin and lifted it until our eyes locked.
“Whatever you’re thinking,” he said. “Stop.”
I nodded.
