Page 22 of Changing Caleb
Maybe I shouldn’t have faked that headache the other night.
“Marlene,” I ask, peeking through the window at the kitchen. “The boys are here. You think you can take them? I don’t feel too good.”
Shit, I’m a fucking mess. All I can think about is that kiss, which makes me think about our other kisses, which makes me think about everything else.
Sex. That’s what I need. Thing is, sex with Derek isn’t mind-blowing like it was with Caleb.
“Sure, sweetie.”
I thank her and head into the storage room. Aside from the bathroom, it’s the only space in here with some privacy. Of course, I can’t stay in here until they leave. That could be over an hour. I just need some time to get my shit together. I let out a frustrated scream, not loud enough for anyone to hear me.
“You can’t avoid me forever.”
I startle at the sound of Caleb’s voice. The door is closed behind him. I didn’t even hear him come in.
“I’m not avoiding you.”
“Good,” he replies. “I’m going to need you to stop running too.”
“Why are you doing this Caleb? Why come back here in the first place?”
“Because Hollis is my home, and so are you,” he answers. “I’ve changed, Case. So much. I didn’t deserve you before, and hell, I don’t deserve you now, but this isn’t over between us. You and I both know that.”
“I can’t do this anymore.”
“I promised you before that I was keeping you forever. That hasn’t changed.”
But doesn’t he understand? Everything has changed.
25
Caleb
Casey stares up at me, her green eyes wide. Her beautiful face goes pale, but then in a flash, she’s angry. She was always able to turn her emotions on and off in a fucking blink of an eye. I was never that good at masquerading mine, though.
“You don’t get to make that decision,” she sneers, crossing her arms over her chest.
I inch closer to her, taking the risk that she might slap me. I know I should go back to my table. I know I should take my seat and order my usual, but patience has never been my virtue.
“You are mine, Casey,” I practically growl, my mouth now only a breath away from hers. “Stop fighting me and startbeggingme like you used to do.”
I brush my lips down the curve of her neck, inhaling her signature scent of vanilla. My cock strains against the zipper of my jeans, instantly hard. Her arms that were just crossed over her chest now grip my filthy t-shirt.
This is what I need. To show her this isn’t over between us. I thought I could let her go again, but I can’t. I’m not fucking built that way.
“I’m never begging you again,” she vows, breathless.
Laughing against her skin, I bite down on her exposed flesh, and she lets out a whimper. I don’t give a fuck if I leave a mark. She is mine. Always has been. I reach for the button on her jeans, not caring where we are and not giving a damn that she has a boyfriend.
I unzip her jeans but stop when I hear the creak of the door and a mumbled apology. Casey stills in my arms. Her hands push mine away, and I back up until we’re no longer touching. No longer embracing.
She keeps her eyes averted to the floor, refusing to look at me. Her cheeks flame red as she zips and buttons her jeans. I notice her fingers trembling and then see that her eyes are filled with tears.
“Casey—”
“No!” she interrupts me, pointing her finger right at my chest. “You don’t get to do this, Caleb! You don’t get to leave town and then come back professing to be this changed man, only to fuck up everything all over again! You don’t get to do that! Not after everything that happened!”
“I left town because you fucking gutted me!” I yell and then lower my voice. “You aren’t the only one who lost that baby.”
