Chapter 12 Cal
CAL
Iwas not supposed to kiss him like that.
Hell, I wasn’t supposed to kiss him at all. But the second his lips touched mine, I just wanted more…and I took it. Blake was right; I absolutely took control of that kiss, and it physically pained me to stop it.
To pull away.
And get out of the car.
I’d be lying if I said it was just a kiss because it wasn’t.
If we were standing, I’m pretty confident my foot would have popped off the ground like one of those cheesy romantic comedies.
My whole body was in agreement that the front seat would do for a quick, chaotic fuck or at the very least heavy groping and grinding until we both came.
But he was trying to be good.
Respectful.
For me.
And I could see the pain in his eyes, the pleading to make the right choice so I wouldn’t regret the wrong one.
What is the right choice?
“What’s good here?” Blake whispers, startling me from my thoughts. His shoulders shake with silent laughter and I blush, my composure nowhere in sight.
“I’m getting a western omelet, fried potatoes, corned beef hash, and rye toast.”
“I didn’t know you liked to get wild on a school night,” he teases, looking down at the glossy menu in his hands.
“I’m not that old.”
“I am.” He snorts. “I’m what, ten years older than you?”
“Hardly.” I roll my eyes. “I’m twenty-nine.”
“And I’m almost thirty-five.”
“The horror.” I gasp as we make it to the front counter where Beverly waits with a scowl and an impatience that never fades no matter how nice you are to her. “Good evening, Beverly.”
“What can I get for y’all?” she drones before giving me a skeptical look. “Little early in the week for you, isn’t it?”
Busted.
“It was a long day.” She hums as I rattle off my order. Blake asks for blueberry pancakes with sausage, and for a fleeting second, I want to tell him he can have my sausage.
Luckily I don’t get the chance as Beverly yells the order through the window at whoever is in the kitchen. He yells something back I can’t hear.
It’s comforting being here, and maybe that’s why I wanted to come.
But why did I bring Blake?
It’s a question I can’t answer…not right now.
“How often do you come here?” Blake asks and I angle my body toward him, not realizing how close he is already, the scent of his cologne already familiar.
Expensive.
Delicious.
It’s a little faded after being on all day, but it just makes me want to peel his clothes off and drag my tongue over every inch of him.
I’m such a fucking mess.
It would be so much easier if I could just give in to this primal need to have Blake—to let him claim me.
Ravage me.
Claim me?
No. I don’t need anyone claiming me. I just need a good long fuck to even me out.
“Order up!” Beverly yells, and because I need to get us out of here, I thank her before snatching the food and leading us back into the parking lot.
“If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be?” Blake asks as we sit on one of the rocks overlooking the secluded pond I found by accident after moving to Blackstone Falls.
“I’d say a painter but honestly I don’t think that would be enough, you know? I love working with kids—helping people—even the kids on the cross-country team. They confide in me about things happening at home and at school and I like that. I like thinking I make a difference.”
“I think what you’re doing is incredible.”
My cheeks heat at the praise, the low rumble of his voice sending a shiver down my spine. Suddenly I’m thankful for the darkness because I don’t need him knowing how much his words affect me.
“What about you?” I practically squeak. Why does he make me so unsettled? And why now? Why him?
Snatching up the bottle of water next to me, I take a healthy sip as I wait for him to answer.
“I don’t know honestly. I fell into my job.”
“How?”
“Birth,” he deadpans and I snort out a laugh. “Seriously though. I’m Blake Henry Reynolds IV and I’ve always known that I’d run the company someday.”
“What do you do? I feel like I should know this.” The last part is added sheepishly as he leans one hand behind him on the rock, the position making him look like some model ready for a photoshoot.
And suddenly I wish I could paint him—commit this moment and him to memory.
“My family is in advertising. We do a variety of different things with different companies. I’m good at my job and I was never just handed a position,” he tells me, meeting my gaze before continuing. “I’ve worked for everything I have.”
“What about cooking?”
“I do that for myself.”
“And me,” I say automatically, his smile mischievous as he looks at me before glancing away.
“I do like cooking for you. It’s relaxing and there’s no pressure. No deadlines and I can experiment without any real risk.” Lifting one shoulder, he lets it fall. “I can’t do that with my job.”
“But you don’t like your job.”
“I’m not passionate about it,” he corrects, “but I don’t have any other skills. My path was always decided and I never deviated from it.”
“That hurts my heart,” I blurt out before I can stop myself.
“Why?” He’s amused, his lips curving up on one side.
“Because you have so much to offer and you’re stuck doing something you hate.”
“I don’t hate it per se. The gala I’m organizing will help fund lymphoma research. My uncle passed away from it when I was a teenager. It was hard on all of us, and the money raised will make a difference.”
“You’re incredible too—and you’re right. What you’re doing will make a difference.”
“The money will make a difference.”
“Is this a ploy to kiss me again?” I ask, half joking and half not because I can’t quite tell if he’s intentionally diverting attention away from his accomplishments or if he’s that oblivious.
“No. I’m just a guy from a wealthy family that is trying to not be a total dick in this world.” His expression is sad. “We should probably get back to your house; you have school in the morning.”
“I know but—”
I hate the way he said your house as if he’s trying to put walls up between us. I feel like a hypocrite, and I’m fully aware the only one to blame for this whiplash is me.
“Not tonight. Thank you for letting me come with you tonight. I really enjoyed it.”
Me too.
“Anytime.”
I mean it and I try to pour every ounce of sincerity into my expression as he meets my gaze, because tonight was amazing and it’s exactly what I needed.