Chapter Twenty-Five
Caliana
SOMETHING HAPPENEDWHEN Caleb took Bryce over to his house this morning.I’m not sure what it is, but Caleb got back from taking my son to school and dragged Kreed to the clubhouse so they could talk.I haven’t seen Kreed since then.Caleb only came back to Kreed’s house an hour ago and he went directly to the bathroom to take a shower.He hardly said two words to me and I know it’s not because I did anything wrong.Caleb is pissed the fuck off about something that has nothing to do with me.If it did, he wouldn’t have come back to Kreed’s and I would be with Playboy and Sam or Tank and Maddie.They’ve all spent time here with me today and I know they are in the loop of what happened this morning.Tank was quieter than normal and Sam and Maddie would hardly look at me.Playboy was the only one acting even close to normal and he was still quiet as hell compared to normal.I’m really confused about everything and want to know if something else happened with the stalker.
Now, the kids are in bed and I’m sitting in the living room with my second glass of wine.I rarely drink and when I do, it’s only one glass of wine.After the last several months, I need it.This is the first time I’m allowing myself to lose even a slight bit of control in my life.I’m usually sober because my kids need me to be that way.Luca is here, Caleb is in the shower, and there are guys standing outside the house.I’m not alone and if the kids need anything, they’ll be taken care of.Sam told me to do this before leaving to go back to the clubhouse with Shy.She wants me to forget about everything and let myself be able to relax.They all know I’m not sleeping and haven’t since I first saw Darren outside the diner.
Relaxing back into the couch with a blanket draped over my legs, I realize I’m not dressed very appropriately.I’m wearing a pair of booty shorts that I only wear to bed and a tank top without a bra.Grabbing the blanket, I pull it up higher on my body even though I’m the only one in the living room.Luca is sitting in the kitchen at the island with his phone in hand.I’d think he’s talking to Maysen with the way he’s glued to it, but they still aren’t there yet.They only continue to steal glances at one another from across the room.They’re so cute and I miss that stage of a relationship.I kind of had that with Caleb if I allow myself to think about us when we were younger.Always stealing glances at him and trying to be close to him without it being obvious.Kreed says it was the same for Caleb, but I never once saw it.Maysen and Luca have caught one another looking at each other from across the diner on more than one occasion since their little dance around one another started.
“Cali, has Kreed come back yet?”Caleb asks, walking out of the hallway as I turn to face him.
My mouth drops open and I almost want to check to see if I’m drooling.It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Caleb wearing less than a tee-shirt and jeans or shorts and a tank top after he’s done working out or sparring with someone in the club’s gym.Right now, he’s shirtless and wearing nothing more than a pair of shorts.His body is on display as I take in every inch of him.He’s got a tattoo on his left arm and I know if he were to turn around, he’d have a full back piece of the club colors.He has even more defined muscle than ever before as I let my eyes travel down his chest and abs.Caleb has always been bigger than Kreed and Darren and now it’s even more evident than before.Holy shit!
“See somethin’ ya like, Reina?”Caleb asks, breaking me out of my perusal of him as I dart my eyes up to his face.
Caleb is smirking at me as he leans against the wall with his arms now folded across his chest.I can’t stop from looking down at them before clearing my throat and trying to keep my eyes locked on his face instead of letting my gaze continue to wander over his body.I’ve never had this problem in the past and have to blame it on all the changes to Caleb over the years as to why I can’t stop staring at him.Or maybe it’s the second glass of wine.I can’t tell at this point.
“Um, how about I don’t answer that question,” I say hesitantly as I pull the blanket up even higher on my body and use it as a shield against him.
“You don’t have to answer it, Reina.I can see the truth in your eyes.You’ve never been able to hide anythin’ from me.It’s been a long time since I’ve seen that look on your face, Cali,” Caleb says, pushing off the wall and walking closer to me.“I can remember the last time you looked at me that way.It was the mornin’ of your sixteenth birthday.The day that changed everythin’ between us.”
I remember the day he’s talking about.It was the first time Darren kissed me and the day we went out on our first date.That was the day I had to let go of the dream of ever being with Caleb for the first time.
Caleb continues walking over to me until he’s standing right in front of me.I look up at him and can’t help but take in every inch of his body once again.When I look in his eyes, I almost melt into them and the soft look he’s giving me right now.Caleb has a tenderness about him I haven’t seen in so long.Not that I’ve allowed myself to truly look at him long enough to figure out how he’s looking at me.
“Caleb,” I whisper, not knowing what else to say as I continue to look at him and everything around us disappears into nothing.
Without a word, Caleb leans down and lifts me in his arms.He carries me bridal style from the living room to the master bedroom.Once we’re through the door, Caleb kicks it closed behind us while continuing to move to the bed.He lays me down with my legs draped over the side and stands up to look down at me.Reaching out slowly, he removes the blanket I was using as a shield.With every inch of skin that becomes exposed, I feel more vulnerable.Caleb stares at me and I feel as if he can see right through to my soul.I’ve never felt more alive and exposed in any moment of my life.
“You’re so fuckin’ beautiful, Cali.Never seen a woman sexier than you are in any given moment.Even when you think you’re lookin’ your worst, you’re not,” Caleb says, his voice rough and deeper than normal as he continues to look over my body while his fists clench in the blanket he’s still holding.It’s like he’s holding himself back from reaching out and taking what he wants.That we’re both fighting the urge to take the last step of being together in ways we’ve only imagined over the years.
“What are we doing here, Caleb?”I ask him, needing to know if this is just in my head or something we’re both feeling and are unable to deny ourselves any longer.
“You know what we’re doin’, Cali.I can’t fight this shit any longer.I need you,” he whispers, leaning down slowly to give me the chance to back out and tell him I don’t want him.
“I’m yours, Caleb,” I whisper the only words I can imagine speaking in this moment.It’s the truth and one that’s always been between us.Maybe it’s the reason Darren and I were heading the way we were.
Caleb doesn’t stop moving until his lips are pressed against mine.It’s a chaste kiss but holds so much emotion and pent-up longing.I open my mouth for him and it seems to snap something loose inside the man I’ve known, and wanted, most of my life.Caleb deepens the kiss and it’s full of a deep-seated hunger I’ve never experienced before.He makes me feel as if I’m the glass of water he’s desperately been searching for.Like I’m the air he needs to breathe and the light to guide him home when he’s lost in the dark.It’s a desperation between the two of us as I kiss him back and can only feel him and nothing more than what’s happening at that exact second.
After several long minutes, Caleb breaks the kiss.We’re both breathing heavily as our chests rise and fall rapidly.Goosebumps break out all over my skin as Caleb starts kissing my jaw before moving down to my neck.He sucks the skin right under my ear and I know he’ll leave a mark behind.The only way he can claim me.I arch my neck for him to have better access and tilt my head to the side.My fingers fist the blanket beneath me as Caleb starts to run one of his hands down my body until he reaches the hem of the tank top I’m wearing.He slides his hand under the thin material.The first contact of his hand against my skin is rough from all the work he does in the garage on a daily basis.More goosebumps pebble my flesh while he continues kissing his way down my body.
