Chapter 8
CHAPTER 8
A s the hotel door clicked shut behind him, Caleb stood frozen, startled by the realization that they had somehow ended up in his room.
Somehow, against all odds, Taylor hadn’t run from him. She was standing in front of him, right here in his hotel room, her presence making it impossible to think straight.
And oh, how he wanted her here.
Logic told him it would be best to ignore the heat simmering between them, to push aside the pull that seemed to draw them closer every time they were in the same room. But, tonight, logic didn’t stand a chance.
Tonight, he just wanted her.
He wanted to feel her in his arms, to experience the softness of her skin against his, to lose himself in her touch. To know without a doubt, if the memories of their time together—the passion, the connection—were as vivid and real as he’d always believed.
She was here, and that was all that mattered.
She lifted her mouth to his, and he met her halfway. It was a kiss of desperation and longing that took Caleb completely by surprise. Her tongue urgently explored his mouth as she sought comfort in their intimate connection. And Caleb was more than happy to return her passionate kiss, his tongue intertwining with hers, eager to soothe and remind her that she was still alive.
Standing before him in his hotel room, Taylor was a living, breathing reminder of everything they had once shared—the closest he’d ever been to another being.
The pull was magnetic, impossible to resist. He was eager to remind her and himself of the connection that had once burned so brightly between them. He wanted to lose himself in her arms, to rekindle the passion they’d once shared.
And yet, somewhere deep down, he convinced himself it would be a one-time thing. A chance to satisfy the longing that had gnawed at him for years. By morning, they would part ways—sated, happy, and agreeing that it was best if they never saw each other again.
Or so he told himself.
He pressed her against himself, hoping that this was what she had in mind—praying that his damn ghost would not appear. His mind was screaming warning, but he refused to listen, feeling Taylor's nipples harden against his skin and the scent of her enveloping him. That subtle fragrance of hers still enticed him.
His hands slid under her top, up her back, tracing the curve of her spine as he held her close. The feel of her warm, naked skin beneath his fingers was intoxicating. In a million years, he would never have dreamed she’d be in his bed tonight.
Taylor let out a soft moan, encouraging him. Her hands pulled his shirt out of his dark jeans, and she reached beneath it. The touch of her fingernails gently raking his flesh made him groan, leaving trails of goose bumps in their wake. Their lips broke apart as he began to release the buttons on his shirt.
She disentangled herself from him and slowly stood back. With deliberate seduction, she slipped off her shirt, slid down the zipper on her skirt, and stepped out of the fabric that clung to her like a second skin. She stood before him in nothing but lacy matching panties and bra.
"God, Taylor, you're stunning," he whispered hoarsely as he reached for her.
He leaned over and kissed the tops of her breasts that spilled forth from her bra, allowing his tongue to trail over the soft mounds of flesh as she arched her back in pleasure. Eagerly taking her cue, he trailed kisses up her throat until he reached the sensitive area below her earlobe. He wanted to make her feel good, to chase away the doubts, and let this reunion be one to last a lifetime.
She skillfully unbuttoned his jeans and slid them down his thighs. Caleb was initially surprised by how she took control, but then he realized that Taylor needed to be in charge tonight. It was her way of showing him she wanted this done her way.
He didn't mind. He'd wanted to get her into his bed since the first day he’d seen her in the convention hall, and he could feel the empty part of him beginning to fill just being near her.
Was this the part that Eugenia wanted him to release? Pushing the thoughts of the ghost aside, they fell onto the bed together.
“Do you have a condom?” she asked.
At least one of them still had their senses about them.
"Yes," he responded, nipping at the nape of her neck as she shuddered with desire.
"God," she whispered, wrapping her arms around him to cling tightly. "I want you so badly."
His fingers found the clasp of her bra and released it, allowing her breasts to spill free. He hungrily took a nipple into his mouth and suckled until she moaned again.
With him lying next to her on the bed, his mouth eagerly sought hers with fervor as his hands roamed over every inch of her body. Taylor wrapped her fingers around his throbbing erection and began to stroke him gently at first, then more firmly.
Caleb moaned at the sensation, but he was determined to focus on pleasuring her. He let his fingers find her slick, sensitive core and began to tease her, coaxing soft gasps and squirms from Taylor as she writhed beneath him.
With each kiss, each lingering touch, he poured every ounce of longing and desire into her, a silent confession of how deeply he had missed her. When Taylor’s body arched beneath his, a soft gasp escaped her lips, her tension giving way to the heat building between them.
"Caleb," she cried out in ecstasy as her body shuddered beneath his touch.
Nothing gave him more pleasure than seeing her in the throes of passion. Seeing her come undone in his arms.
"Oh my," she panted as they shared a tender kiss.
Caleb grinned before reaching into the nightstand drawer and tearing open a foil packet. He stretched the condom over his penis and looked up at Taylor with anticipation.
Her desire was evident in her eyes, and Taylor rose to her knees and straddled him. The connection they shared was purely physical, a fleeting indulgence that silenced the chaos around them. It wasn’t about solace or understanding—just the magnetic pull of two people seeking to lose themselves in the moment. Two people indulging in the past. As she carefully lowered herself onto his erection, the overwhelming sensation nearly brought him to climax.
With each undulation of her hips, their passion intensified. Caleb teetered on the edge, the moment slipping through his grasp like grains of sand. Yet, he clung to it fiercely, wishing it could stretch into forever—because once it was over, the questions would come. And he wasn’t ready to face them, let alone offer answers.
"Taylor," he moaned as he felt the pressure build. What was it about this woman that unraveled his every defense, leaving him reckless and unguarded? Why couldn’t they have exchanged polite hellos and kept moving like strangers passing in the night?
She continued to ride him while his hands roamed over her breasts as their heartbeats pounded together in unison. Their gazes held one another's as they soared toward their release.
Caleb ground into her one last time as they both reached their peak in a chorus of moans and ragged breaths.
Now, the questions would come. She’d want answers about his behavior all those years ago, answers he wasn’t ready—or willing—to give. Why couldn’t they savor this fleeting moment and part ways with no strings, no expectations?
Because for Caleb, nothing had changed. Taylor might always hold his heart, but his mind refused to entertain the possibility of a future together. Some things were too broken to fix no matter how much he wanted otherwise.
Taylor collapsed onto Caleb's chest while they both reveled in the aftershocks of their passion. It wasn't long before he gently rolled her to her side, pulling her close in a protective spooning embrace.
"Taylor," he whispered against her ear, "that was fantastic. Even better than I remembered.”
She smiled against his skin, her breath warm and teasing. “We were always good at this, weren’t we? A one-night stand—it’s the perfect solution. We get what we want, no strings, no complications. Just pleasure, and then we move on.”
He froze, stunned, his eyes searching hers for some hint of irony. Had she just read his mind? Spoken aloud the very wish he hadn’t dared to voice? The way she said it, so matter-of-fact and without hesitation, left him reeling. Was she really offering him exactly what he thought he wanted?
“Do you have more condoms?” she asked.
Disbelief filled him. “Yes.”
“Good, let’s do it again for old time's sake,” she said.
The universe had handed him his deepest wish on a silver platter—no questions, no awkward moments, just his for the taking. Why did it feel so empty?