Chapter 20 Cal
CAL
My entire body is sore by the time Sunday evening rolls around. I’m exhausted and boneless and happy.
The latter is terrifying but I try to push it from my mind. Blake’s ability to extract every ounce of pleasure from me should be studied because it’s got to be some kind of otherworldly magic.
“What’s that look for?” Blake asks as he stands at the counter, slicing cucumbers for the salad he’s making. I’ve been relegated to the other side after one too many accidental grazes.
“Admiring the view.” He snorts out a laugh but I’m not kidding. “I’m serious.”
Very serious.
Because I’ve kissed every inch of him, licked and sucked and tasted him.
And he’s absolutely divine.
“I haven’t been to the gym in a while,” he says, looking briefly down at himself before sliding the vegetables from the cutting board into the bowl.
“I love your body,” I tell him, my cheeks heating not because I’m embarrassed but because just thinking about him wrapped around me—holding me, fucking me—has my body heating with desire.
My stomach flips and I have to swallow down the rest of my thoughts before I end up stripping off my clothes and offering myself to him right here on the island.
“Is that right?”
“Yes.”
Liam had been playful in bed—strong and usually silly. It was fun and we’d end up making love rather than anything hot and wild.
But Blake is wild.
And intense, his mouth filthy and his body tempting me in ways I never could have imagined.
Guilt threatens at the periphery of my mind and I have to push that back too. I don’t deserve to have this moment ruined. I’m not replacing Liam, just enjoying my time with Blake.
It’s temporary.
I push that thought away too.
I’m so distracted I don’t realize that Blake has moved around the island, his big body caging me in where I’m sitting.
“Stop looking so sad,” he demands, the words quiet as he stares pointedly into my eyes.
“I’m not,” I retort, cupping his face in my hands and pressing my lips to his. “I’m not,” I say again, kissing him deeper as I push my tongue into his mouth, like I’m trying to convince us both.
“Are you thinking about him?” His whispered question breaks my heart.
Don’t lie to me.
“Yes,” I admit, and his body tenses slightly, almost involuntarily. “You’re different and I like that. It’s just”—sighing, I try and think of how to explain it—“I haven’t been with anyone that has made me experience anything other than simply one moment in time.”
“I’m not trying to replace him or anything.”
“I know,”—I hold him tighter when he tries to pull away—“and I’m not saying you are. I know this is temporary, but I like the way you handle me.” This earns me a halfhearted smile. “But it’s still a lot to process.”
“Okay,” he says and this time when he pulls away, I let him. I don’t want him to be upset, but I don’t know how to make it better.
Luckily I don’t have to because our phones go off at the same time.
And then again.
MONTANA: Ellison is in labor and she currently hates me—I’ll keep everyone posted
JUDE: Same—but Arden doesn’t hate me
My eyes widen as I read the first message and then the next, Blake’s surprised expression matching my own.
“Huh,” he says, his brows furrowing as he sets his phone on the counter. “Do you want to eat and then head to the hospital?”
“Definitely.”
Because this is incredible and it just might be the change of scenery we need.
BLAKE
I shouldn’t have asked about Liam but I’m a glutton for punishment and couldn’t help myself. This weekend has been the best of my life, and not just because of the sex—the intimacy and connection I felt with Cal has shaken me to my core.
“I haven’t been with anyone that has made me experience anything other than simply one moment in time.”
How soon is too soon to fall for someone? And how much of a fool do you have to be to do it even though the other person will never love you back?
I still haven’t figured out the answer by the time we make it up to the maternity ward at the hospital.
The waiting room is packed with people I recognize from the baby shower, everyone hugging and talking all at once. Cal dives into conversation with a couple of women that I think are probably Ellison’s book club friends, and I’m suddenly very out of place.
I don’t fit here.
I try to shake the thought away. Today isn’t about me; it’s about Ellison and her sister and their babies.
“Are you all right?” Ellison’s father asks as he drops into the chair next to me. We were never close, but he seemed more like a societal hostage after Ellison left Savannah.
“I’m all right,” I tell him before adding, “I’m excited for Ellison and Arden although I admit I don’t know Arden all that well.”
He looks pained for a moment before it’s gone from his face.
Apparently, we’re all hiding our feelings today.
“Ellison said you’re dating her friend Cal. How’s that going?”
“It’s good,” I manage, because this is officially the weirdest conversation we’ve ever had.
“That’s nice that it’s worked out this way.” He nods, his voice full of sincerity that catches me off guard. “Maybe we can go to lunch, catch up a little.”
“Oh, um, sure.” I swallow hard, fighting off the unexpected wave of emotion that threatens. Evan Mills has never been unkind, but the simple offer has something tightening in my chest. “That would be great.”
“Good, good. I’m glad you decided to come to Blackstone Falls. It’s nice to have you here.”
“Thank you.”
Cal throws me a wink from across the room and Evan smiles. “I’ll get ahold of you about that lunch.”
“Great.” It’s the only word I can get out before Montana comes bursting into the waiting room as we all wait with bated breath for the announcement.
“It’s a girl!”