Raphael lifts his head, turns around, and just watches him for a moment. “We’ll see.”
Before Caleb can move or do anything, Raphael pushes himself off the table and roughly twists his fingers into Caleb’s hair. Caleb winces as Raphael slams him down on the table and presses his head against the wooden surface, sending pens and papers flying.
Raphael lowers himself until his lips brush Caleb’s ear. “I’ll beat your ass and fuck you until you scream, you little bitch.”
Caleb takes a deep breath as Raphael tugs down his pants. He stares at the wall, trying to block out the feel of cold breeze on his bare skin and the sound of Raphael’s belt pulling out of the loops.
“You, get out!” Raphael snaps, and Caleb can hear the door open and close.
Caleb sighs in relief that at least Jade won’t have to witness what will happen. The first slap of leather against his skin jolts him up, but then he grits his teeth, determined not to give Raphael the satisfaction of hearing him cry out. As the blows rain down on him, he closes his eyes and pictures Lilith’s beautiful face, as if she were an angel who could take away the pain.
When I open the door of my apartment and see Caleb’s serious face, tears nearly well up in my eyes from relief. I usher him inside, but as I come closer, he backs away.
“I need to talk to you,” I say.
His usual fake smile slips onto his lips as he tilts his head, his fingers going for the buttons of his shirt. “Talk? No, you don’t need to talk. You need something else.” He stalks toward me until his lips almost touch mine. I place my hands on his chest, swallowing hard.
“I’m sorry about what happened at that party,” I say, and he just blinks at me in confusion.
“Sorry? Why?”
“What Raphael did to you because of me...” I search his face for any reaction, but he gives me nothing. “And because I didn’t do anything to stop that man from hurting you.”
“What are you talking about?” He frowns. “You saw me have sex with a man. Is that what bothers you?” The corners of his lips quirk up. “Are you jealous? Do you want me only for yourself?”
“No, it’s not that.” I run my hand through my hair. “I know you didn’t enjoy yourself.”
“Ah, because you know me so well, don’t you?”
“I don’t, but I know what I saw. And you can’t convince me that it’s okay that Raphael treats you like that just because you didn’t want to talk to me. Does he always do that? Hit you when you don’t act like he wants you to? You don’t have to stay with him, you know. You can go off on your own.”
“I told you, you shouldn’t have come to that party. It’s not a place for you. You don’t understand how things work there.” He presses his forehead against mine. “I can take you to another one. Show you just how much you don’t understand what’s going on. You were standing way too far away to see if I was enjoying myself or not.”
“But...”
“Shh.” He places his finger across my lips. “You don’t know what I like, and I appreciate your concern, but I know what I’m doing.” His other hand finds my thigh and his fingers trail up. “And I know whatyoulike, so...”
“I...” His hand slips into my panties and a soft moan escapes my lips. My fingers gently close around his wrist. “Stop. I don’t want you to touch me.”
He immediately lets go and steps away from me, but his calm mask is cracking a little. “Then what do you want?” he asks.
Katherine is right. No matter what I say, Caleb will find an excuse for Raphael or anything that happened. And really, why should he trust me? For all he knows, I could be Raphael’s spy. But no matter what, I can’t sleep with Caleb again. “I want you to help me make a pizza.”
“What?” He gapes at me. “Don’t tell me you asked to see me just so we could make food together.”
“Why not?” I shrug. “I like your company.”
He gapes at me as if suggested something absolutely crazy, but his eyes are soft and filled with an inner glow. “Okay, I can try to help you. I guess.”
“I give up.” I sigh, holding up my hands that are caked in flour. There’s dough all over me, and I’m sure I have bits and pieces of it in my hair. “This was a terrible idea. Let’s just call the delivery.”
“Oh, come on. Don’t give up so early. See? It doesn’t look so bad.” He shows me the dough he’s rolled out, a big grin on his face.
“But it’s all over me!” I look at my fingers with tiny bits of dough under the nails, and I can’t get it off. Too late I realize I just wiped my sweaty forehead with the floury back of my hand. Now I probably have flour on my face. “Fuck.”
Caleb looks up at me and bursts into laughter so hard that he nearly doubles over. “You look like you’re going into a battle.”
“Oh shut up!” I grab a handful of flour and throw it at him, sprinkling half of the kitchen floor with it.
