Caleb (13 page)

But there was more at stake here.

Already, he’d had a hell of a time keeping his heart out of the mess. Day after day of watching her lovely smile and listening to her funny stories tied his heart into a thicker knot.

He couldn’t force himself to put his heart through the wringer and not come out whole on the other side. Things had ended ugly with Debra, and though he could out lift and outride most guys, he hadn’t been able to build a strong enough wall around his heart.

Rachel wanted him. But only for tonight. Or maybe a few more nights, but then his time would be up. She’d pay him, and he’d have to pack his things and leave. Despite their marriage, he had no rights to her or her life. This was only ever meant to be a temporary situation.

He knew part of his heart would stay with her regardless of what happened between them. But he couldn’t subject himself to another emotional desecration. He didn’t have it in him to rebuild it from scratch again.

“Sorry.”

The sound of Rachel’s voice jerked his gaze away from the fire. She stood with a mortified look on her face. “Could you help me? My damn zipper is stuck. I can’t tell if a string or something is caught in the teeth or if it’s just broken.”

“Of course.” He stood as she approached him. She turned and drew her long hair to the side, over one shoulder and out of the way. A cloud of sensual perfume wafted out in its wake.

He exhaled and tried to focus on the zipper. He took hold of the tab, jerked it, but it didn’t budge. “There’s nothing on this side that I can see blocking it.”

As he slid his fingers beneath her dress, his fingers brushed the softest skin he’d ever touched. The devil had tossed an incredible temptation in his path.

He tipped the back of the zipper so he could look for the problem, but he found himself studying the threads of silver woven through her white dress and the tender skin along the base of her neck. The angles of her shoulders where they emerged from her dress.

She turned her head toward him, drawing several fat curls along with her. The strands tickled his forearms and hands.

“Can you see the problem?”

He focused on the issue. “It looks like the fabric has been pulled beneath the zipper on one side.”

“Great.” She released a frustrated sigh. “Can you get it to budge?”

“Let me try again.” He drew his hand along the top of her back, gathering her thick hair and dragging it over her shoulder. How he ached to wrap it around his hand and tug her head back so he could taste her lovely throat.

Her hand brushed his as she took the bundle of hair from him and held it out of the way.

He swallowed and gripped the zipper again. Now that he knew the problem, he used a little more force. The zipper cooperated for a few inches before it became stuck again.

“Now what?” Her impatience echoed his desire. They both wanted each other, couldn’t have each other, which left them in an uneasy state.

He slid his hand farther down her back and tilted the zipper again. “Still stuck on the fabric.” He tried again to no avail.

“It’s okay.” She twisted from his grasp. “I’ll call downstairs and see if they have a pair of scissors. It’s not like I’ll ever wear it again.”

“What? No, don’t ruin it. Not your beautiful dress.”

Irritation flashed in her eyes, and he knew he was the source of it. “I can’t wear it forever.”

“Maybe you can slip it over your head. The zipper did come down a little.”

“Fine. I’ll try.” She huffed as she strode back into the bathroom.

A few moments later, she came out with fire burning in her eyes. Moisture evaporated from his mouth as his heart thundered in his chest. She’d lifted the bottom of her dress partially up her body, exposing a tiny pair of silky white panties and an amazing pair of legs.

She’d trapped one arm inside the dress, while the other was at an odd angle with her hand near her ear. The murderous look in her eye along with his rock hard cock kept him from laughing.

He hurried forward. “Let me help you.”

“Push it back down,” she commanded. “I’m cutting it off.”

“No. If you put your arms straight up, I think we can get it. You’re already most of the way there.”

She pinned a heated gaze full of anger on him but remained mute as she lifted both hands skyward.

He worked to keep any reaction from his face as he slid his hands up her sides. Her skin was as soft as a new kitten, and he ached to slow and savor each inch of her.

She closed her eyes and bit her bottom lip.

He slid the exquisite dress farther up her body, alternately tugging the hem upward and shimmying the rest to roll it up her skin.

She had her hands straight in the air, the hem of her short dress near her ears. When his fingers crested her breasts, he realized she wore no bra.

“Fuck,” he cursed as his breath whooshed out of him in surprise. Need threw his pulse into overdrive.

She speared him with her gaze as though to keep him from looking down. But hell if he could resist. Taut, rosy nipples jutted out from lush breasts begging to be teased and sucked. He cursed again, feeling as if someone jerked his groin, trying to pull it out his throat.

“Stop.” She took a step back from him, her voice full of anger and vulnerability.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t…” He swallowed the hard lump of desire lodged in his throat and stepped forward. “I won’t look.”

She averted her gaze as tears puddled in the corners of her eyes. “You should have let me cut it off. It would be better than this humiliation.”

“No,” he whispered. Not this beautiful dress. He tugged the fabric over one shoulder and then the other. Suddenly she was free.

She grasped the garment and covered herself as she backed away. Then she turned and hurried toward the bathroom.

He wasn’t sure what made him go after her, but he couldn’t let her leave. Not now. Not like this.

He caught up to her within a few strides and grabbed her elbow. “Rachel.”

She swung around, anguish twisting her features.

“I’m so sorry.” He’d done this to her. “I just didn’t want you to ruin it. You looked so beautiful tonight and…”

Wet eyelashes grazed her cheeks as she blinked and tried to step away from him.

“No. Wait.” He closed the distance between them and cradled her lovely face between his palms. He’d meant to give her a more sincere apology, but temptation won the battle.

“Rachel,” he whispered and then claimed her lips, using his kiss to search for a deeper connection with her.

She remained stiff at first, but he refused to give up. He’d hurt her. This might take time. He pulled back, searched her face, and wiped the tears from beneath her eyes. “You’re so beautiful.”

He kissed her again, tilting her head to the side so he could claim more of her. When she relaxed and placed a hand on his back, immense relief flooded him.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered between kisses. “I’m so sorry.”

He reveled in the feel of her satin skin as he slid hands behind her back and crushed her against him. Even if he’d wanted to, he couldn’t keep his fingers from tracing her spine or exploring the curve of her hip.

When he thought he might explode, he lifted her into his arms and headed for the big, luxurious bed only a few feet away.

“What are you doing?” she asked, her face only inches from his.

“I’m your husband, and this is our honeymoon. What the hell do you think I’m doing?”

Rachel’s insides constricted into a tight bud of desire as Caleb carried her to the bed. “You can’t do this.”

“I can, and I will.” He deposited her on the soft velvet quilt and followed her down. When he had her pinned beneath him, he captured her gaze. “Are you saying you want me to stop?”

Her breaths came hard and heavy as she stared into his fiery gaze. He had her, and he knew it. “Yes. I want you to stop.”

He stared at her for a hard second and then moved to get off her.

“Wait.” She wrapped her legs around one of his thighs and dug her fingers into the back of his firm biceps.

“Yes or no?”

She held his gaze, willing her breathing to slow. “I want you to stay. But only if you want to.”

His expression softened. “Rachel, I’ve wanted you from the moment I laid eyes on you. You had to know.”

She slowly shook her head.

He searched her gaze, pushing her hair back from her face. “Those eyes.” He lifted a curl and twisted it around his finger before he let it fall to her shoulder. “That hair. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to bury my fingers in your gorgeous hair and love you until you begged me to stop.”

“Do it,” she whispered, excitement running wild through her.

He claimed her mouth without hesitating as he slid a hand behind her head and into her hair. The act was so sensual, she thought she might explode right then.

She wrapped her legs tighter around him as his tongue teased her lips. She opened, wanting him, needing him inside her. The feel of his mouth on hers shifted her to a new dimension, one full of lust and beauty and pleasure.

She drew her fingers across his back, reveling in the contours and strength. “How did I get so lucky?”

He chuckled and kissed her again. “You mean, how did
I
?” He shifted his attention to her neck, tugging her hair, forcing her to expose more skin. She tightened her legs around him, pressing her heated core against his thigh. She needed more contact, more of him touching her everywhere.

His lips burned a trail down her neck, setting off sensation after sensation, filling her with anticipation. Her breaths became more erratic the closer he came to her breast.

“Oh, God.” She squirmed beneath him, eager to have his mouth on her nipple. Arching her back, she encouraged him to taste her.

He chuckled and palmed her breast. “Was there something you wanted?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

The sound of his deep voice scratchy with desire left her aching. “Maybe something here.” He lifted her finger to his mouth and sucked on it, tickling the pad with his tongue. When he removed it, he guided her finger to her nipple. She inhaled sharply as he forced her to trace circles around one hard bud.

“Oh, God, yes,” she hissed.

“
Damn, girl
.” He pushed her hand out of the way and claimed her for himself.

She moaned as pleasure swirled through her. “
Caleb
.
This is…so…”
Her words were breathy and wanting, and oh, God, did she want.

As he made love to her breasts, she tried to slip her fingers beneath the collar of his shirt. When she made little progress, she focused on holding his head, while he worked on blowing her mind.

A delicious shiver rolled through her body, tightening her muscles, making her gasp.

He grinned. “Liked that, did you?”

She inhaled, trying to catch her breath, and shook her head. “You are so bad.”

“Just wait.” He lifted to his knees, grasped her panties and pulled them from her with a quick swipe. “Oh, hell yeah.” He visually feasted on her naked body, generating tiny vibrations throughout her.
Want
was written all over his features, bringing forth shivers of excitement.

“Let me take off your shirt,” she pleaded. She wanted his bare skin next to hers.

“Not yet.” In a quick move, he spread her thighs and lowered himself between her legs, his face close to her heated center.

She stiffened when she realized his intent. Elle had long praised the virtues of oral sex, but Rachel had never trusted anyone enough to let them that close to her. “Caleb…”

His gaze was firm and demanding. “You’re all mine for the night, and I intend to play. You might as well enjoy it, too.”

She sucked in a sharp breath when his tongue connected with her. “
Oh, God
.” She’d never had anyone be so personal with her.

Then he licked. She would have come off the bed if he hadn’t been holding her down. All thoughts of modesty abandoned her, and her eyes rolled back in her head. Sweet heavens above.

He stroked her and teased her bud until she trembled. Something powerful rumbled beneath the surface like a volcano ready to blow. She sensed it, but could do nothing but let it come.

When it peaked, she gripped the velvet beneath her and squeezed her eyes as her body convulsed of its own accord.

By slow degrees, reality crept in. The softly lit room. Crackles coming from the fireplace. The amazingly hot man hovering over her with a huge smile on his face.

“I love watching you come.”

She exhaled a laugh as the heat of a blush stole over her. She’d been so lost in the experience and hoped she hadn’t looked ridiculous. “That was beyond amazing.”

“You’re beyond amazing.”

Yet, he still wore all his clothes. She shifted beneath him, squirming higher on the bed. When he tried to stop her, she persisted until she’d escaped his grasp. She rolled to her knees, meeting him face to face on the bed.

“My turn.” She pushed him until he fell back with a laugh, his head landing on a pillow next to them.

“Oh, damn,” he said as she straddled him.

His black pants were rough against her sensitized inner thighs, but she didn’t care. In a moment, she’d have him naked beneath her.

She leaned forward, her hair falling around her shoulders as she began to open the buttons on his shirt. He snuck beneath her arms and traced a nipple. A violent shiver spread through her, and she slapped his hand away. “Behave.”

His grin grew cocky, but he remained silent.

When she had the last button undone, she spread his shirt open, exposing his chest. She murmured her approval as she traced the contours and then circled her finger around one of his nipples. “Nice,” she whispered.

His eyes glittered with seduction, and she sensed he fought to remain still. “I’m glad you approve.”

“Very much so.” She shimmied backward until she sat on his thighs, revealing his zipper and the large bulge beneath. She popped open the button at his waistband and then checked his gaze.

He stared at her for a long moment and then glanced downward as though to urge her on.

It was her turn to grin. “Was there something you wanted?” she mimicked his earlier tease. “Maybe this?”

She ran her palm over his zipper, tracing the length of him beneath.

Without notice, he tugged her forward, capturing a nipple in his mouth. She gasped. Hot darts of desire pierced her core.

“No.” She pulled away even though she didn’t want to and pinned both of his hands to the bed. “Don’t move.”

She took her time unzipping his pants and pushing them down his hips a little, widening the opening. He lifted, and she slid off him to help remove them completely.

Black boxer briefs were the only thing standing between her and what she wanted. She slid closer to him and tucked her fingers beneath the band, pulling them down to reveal his hardened cock.

He inhaled a sharp warning.

He jutted out, ready and waiting for her. She removed his briefs before she encircled him, running the length of him several times. His skin was soft, concealing the virulent power lying beneath. She opened her mouth and covered the head, swirling her tongue over the ridges.

“Oh, fuck,” he hissed as he stiffened.

She worshipped him for another minute, and then he forced her to stop. Before she could question him, he’d rolled them over and pinned her beneath him. Her breaths came fast as she marked in her memory the delicious feel of his body on hers.

“Why did you stop me?”

“Because I’d rather have this.” He slipped his fingers between them, stroking her heat. He groaned, moved his hand, and then buried himself inside her.

“
Oh, sweet God
.” He filled her, stretching her until she gasped.

When he was fully inside, he stopped and lifted on his elbows, capturing her gaze. She couldn’t move, could barely breathe as he pierced her with intense green eyes. He stared at her as though searching for something.

She lifted her hand to his cheek, and a slow smile curved his lips.

“We need a condom, my love,” he said.

She widened her eyes, surprised she hadn’t considered protection. “I completely forgot.”

“I did, too.” He pulled from her, gave her a long, lengthy kiss, before he left her long enough to take care of business.

When he returned, he rekindled her fire within seconds with a scorching kiss. She closed her eyes as he slipped inside, and suddenly she was lost, running through the hazy labyrinth of sensuous desire, thirsty for another taste of oblivion.

He made love to her until she was a ragdoll, satiated beyond belief. When at last he allowed his own pleasure, she thrilled at the look of surrender on his face before he collapsed next to her.

“God, that was good,” he said, breathless.

“So good.” She lifted a hand and placed it on his belly, immediately stroking his skin, still wanting and needing his touch.

They lay that way for several minutes with nothing but the sounds of their breaths filling the quiet room. Then he rolled to his side and pulled her to him, her back against his chest, and gave her his arm as a pillow.

He wrapped his free arm around her stomach and cupped one breast in his hand. Slowly, he stroked the side of her breast. His thumb and forefinger eventually moved to her nipple where he rolled her bud between them. Embers caught fire, seducing her again. She arched her back, pressing her ass against him only to discover he was halfway to hard once again.

“Really?” she asked with a soft laugh.

“I have no guarantees beyond one night, so I’m going to gorge myself on you.”

She shivered at the thought.

“One more time on this bed,” he whispered against her ear. “Then I’m carrying you to that big, beautiful tub, and I’ll make love to you all over again. After that, in front of the fireplace, and who knows where we’ll go from there.”

She shifted until she faced him and threw a leg over his hip to draw them closer together. In answer to his statement, she slipped her hands behind his neck and kissed him like there was no tomorrow because, for them, tomorrow would only come a limited number of times before their relationship would have to die.