32. Thirty-two Freya
Thirty-two: Freya
T o say I hadn’t got much sleep that night would have been an understatement. The only time my eyes were shut was when I was coming around Kaleb’s cock, or when my face was being shoved into the pillow as he took me from behind.
He always cleaned me up after, wiping the sweat from my body before kissing every inch of me, his lips scalding my skin blissfully.Even when showering together, we couldn’t resist but bring each other to another orgasm, and I was certain we’d racked up a hell of a water bill.
I’d never felt so comfortable with anyone before—despite the fact that Kaleb was one of the most menacing people I'd ever met. His glare could halt wars, and even though he gazed at the rest of the world with harsh eyes, they softened when I was in view.
“Why are you squirming so much?” Hannah asked me with narrowed eyes as I continued to tap on the keys of my laptop, refusing to meet her gaze. I’d been acting strangely all day, and it was because I couldn’t think of anything other than having Kaleb on top of me again, our skin flush against each other and the sound of our moans intertwined. It was a beautiful symphony—my new favourite song.
“Freya.” Hannah snapped her fingers at me, stalking over to my side of the couch and moving to stand in front of me, forcing my laptop shut.
I sighed, meeting her amused gaze. “Can I help you? I’m really busy trying to look for a job. This was your suggestion, remember?”
She laughed, crossing her arms over her chest after flicking her mousy brown hair over her shoulder, the realisation causing her eyes to transform into saucers. “Oh. My. God. You got fucked.”
“You’re lucky nobody is here right now,” I told her, shaking my head, a small smile threatening to appear.
“So?”
I narrowed my eyes at her before sighing. “Okay, yeah.”
My best friend beamed, her hazel eyes glowing as she puffed her chest out proudly. “I take credit for that. My plan made you two inevitable.”
“Right.” I rolled my eyes. “Can we actually look for some jobs now? It’s our final year, and I want something lined up. I don’t want to be a floater.”
The thought of finishing college without a job placement frightened me, concerned about being stuck in a place of indecisiveness. I loved the kids I taught, but I didn't want to be doing it for the rest of my life. I had other ambitions.
Although the world seemed to be against me, I was actually doing pretty well with my classwork, and Hannah and I had been nominated to graduate early. It freaked me out as much as it flattered me, so she and I immediately cracked down to begin job hunting.
Hannah had already found a few of interest, applying to work in a museum and a company that scouted upcoming artists.
“There’s this one,” I said, turning my laptop toward her.
Hannah looked as if she wanted to pry about my budding relationship with Kaleb, but she clicked her teeth shut instead and focused on my screen. “We are looking for a talented and unique artist to help design book covers for our clients’ novels,” she read, her eyes flickering to me. “When’s the last time you read a book?”
I snorted. “It’s not about that. I’ll have a degree, and it’s a job I know I’d enjoy. My photoshopping skills aren’t bad either.”
“Then go for it. The worst they can do is say no.”
We spent the next hour applying for art-related jobs, and my mom called me midway through to update me on the house-hunting situation. Since our old home had been repossessed, our debt had been voided. The police weren’t taking my father’s situation seriously, so my mother had decided to find us a small apartment. We couldn’t stay with Jackie forever, and even though I agreed, the thought caused my stomach to lurch.
Not living with Kaleb—I didn’t like it.
I hadn’t told anyone about the fact that I was being followed. Only Kaleb, Brent and Hannah were aware because there wasn’t much I could say to people without giving away information about a secret investigation, which would put innocent people in danger.
That, and I knew that my mother would probably suffer an aneurysm if she found out I was being hunted by a murderous drug ring.
My head snapped up at the sound of the front door clicking open, and I clutched onto my thigh painfully, instantly relaxing when Kaleb appeared. I didn’t even need to look into his eyes to know he was up to something, the mischief and excitement radiating off him and crushing me against the back of the couch. The sensation was disabling.
“Do I even want to know what you’ve been up to?” I asked, taking a sip of my coffee.
“I have a gift for you.” He smiled, and I pinched my eyebrows together.
“Why do I have a feeling it’s not going to be a bouquet of fifty roses?”
Kaleb hummed. “Sweetheart, if I were to get you flowers, I wouldn’t stop at fifty. I’d make sure to get you five hundred roses and fill the entire house with them so you couldn’t even turn your head without thinking of me.”
Hannah almost passed out from behind him, sucking her bottom lip into her mouth as she shoved down an exasperated giggle. Meanwhile, I was doing my best to bury my yearning for him, but judging by Kaleb’s throaty laugh, I was failing miserably.
His hand slid behind his broad body, and he yanked out something from the back of his jeans, placing a small glistening handgun into my palms. The sight made me sweat.
“It took my chief a lot of convincing, but he eventually agreed I could give you one to help you protect yourself.”
My hands shook as I turned the firearm around in my palms, my eyes narrowing when I spotted the F that’d been delicately engraved into the handle. I wasn’t much of a shooter, but I couldn’t lie and say that having a weapon that I could access if I needed to didn't give me peace of mind.
“Thank you,” I said, smiling at him, and Hannah shuffled over to look at the weapon, releasing a whistle in admiration.
“It comes with a strap to hold it in place around your thigh. I know women’s clothing lacks pockets. You’ll need to practise firing it, too, but I can help you with that.”
“You’re going to be such a bad bitch,” Hannah exclaimed, grinning. “I want one.”
Kaleb turned to her with a raised eyebrow. “I think the last thing the world needs is you with a gun in your hands, chirpy.”
“Oh, come on! That’s not fair!” yelled Josh as Hannah grabbed one of his game pieces. She chuckled as Kaleb, Brent, Kaylee, and I laughed at his pouted lip.
We were having a games night at Brent’s house since his parents were out for the evening. Hannah was currently winning, and Josh and Brent were busy arguing, claiming she'd somehow rigged the board before coming over.
Brent chugged down yet another beer, slinging his arm over Kaylee’s shoulder, and she leaned toward him to plant a kiss on the side of his cheek.
The sound of the doorbell dragged me from my haunting thoughts, and Brent flung the door open to reveal a sheepish-looking Ty who clutched a crate of beer to his chest.
Kaleb turned to me with raised brows, and I shrugged at him.
“Ty, you made it,” Hannah called from next to me, waving him in and patting the space next to her, Josh still playfully seething over losing yet another round.
“Any more surprise guests?” Brent questioned.
“Be nice,” I murmured to Kaleb once I spotted his deepened brows.
He grinned at me, shooting me a wink. “I'm always nice.”