Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Elisa
I use the bathroom first, purposely dressing in pajama shorts and a matching top rather than one of the silky nightgowns I normally prefer to sleep in. Butterflies swoop into my stomach as I emerge from my en suite bathroom to find a shirtless Caleb sitting on the edge of my bed, flicking through one of my art-history books. “Bathroom’s free,” I say, gulping back nerves as I pad in bare feet toward the bed. I dump my clothes on the chair and try not to gnaw off the inside of my mouth.
“Come here, Lili.” Caleb’s deep voice does all kinds of twisty things to my insides. I turn and face him with a flaming face. Pulling me between his parted legs, he peers up at me. “You set the pace, angel, remember?”
I just know my vulnerability is playing across my face as I stare into his stunning big blue eyes. Caleb is so undeniably beautiful and I’m so, so in love with him.
“We’re just going to sleep, and you don’t need to be nervous.” He plants a soft kiss on the underside of my hand. “I promise. Okay?”
I nod and stand back as he rises to his feet. “You’re so precious to me, Lili.” His fingers sweep across my cheek. “And you’re just too fucking adorable.” His lips fight a smirk as his gaze rakes over my sleepwear. “Climb in and make yourself comfortable. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Crawling under the covers, I scoot over until I’m facing the wall, trying to talk myself off a ledge. I’m being ridiculous. He’s only sleeping beside me. I’m twenty-two, almost twenty-three-years old, and it’s crazy to be this nervous about a guy just sleeping beside me. And it’s Caleb. I trust him with my life. He won’t force me to do anything. He’s already promised. Rolling some of my aromatherapy stick on my wrists, I inhale deeply, forcing myself to calm down until I’m relaxed.
The door to the bathroom opens and closes, and the bedroom light goes out. I hear him dropping his clothes on the chair over mine, and then the covers are peeled back as he gets in. Heat immediately warms me from behind.
“Lil,” he whispers in a soft seductive voice. “Can I hold you?”
“Yes,” I whisper back, barely breathing.
His body glides up against mine from behind, and his bare chest presses into my back. He keeps his groin away, and it only makes me love him more. This is so far removed from what he is used to, but he’s not complaining, only accommodating. Taking his arms, I wrap them firmly around my waist and hold on to them.
“I could get used to this,” he murmurs against my ear, making me shiver all over.
“I love you,” I tell him, lifting my head and turning around so I’m looking at him. I can just make his features out in the dark room. “Thank you for tonight. I had the best time.”
“Me too.” He brushes his lips against mine. “Love you, Lili.”
We kiss softly for a few minutes, and he breaks our lip-lock first. “Sleep, angel.” He presses a kiss to the back of my head. “I’ve got you.”
I’m not sure how it happens, but I fall asleep almost immediately, and I don’t wake at all during the night.
My eyes pop open five minutes before my alarm is due to go off, and I suck in a gasp when I find myself facing Caleb with my head on his bare chest and my leg thrust in between his. His arms are still around me, and he’s sound asleep, his face peaceful in slumber. Shutting off my alarm, I bask in the warmth of his embrace for a few minutes, slyly checking him out.
His upper body is a work of art and an ode to regular sessions in the gym. His shoulders are broad, his chest smooth, and the dips and curves of his abs almost look painted on. He’s all silky tan skin, and I’m tempted to lick him all over. My eyes widen as I lower my gaze down his body, my mouth forming an O. The covers have drifted down the bed, revealing the very large bulge straining against his designer boxers.
Holy Hades. That thing is a giant, although I’ve only seen one other penis in comparison. I stare at it in fascination, wondering what it looks like without anything covering it.
“Liking what you see, Lili?” Caleb asks in a sleep-drenched voice, and I hear the humor in his tone.
“It’s so big,” I blurt, and he chuckles, pulling me in closer to his chest.
“You do wonders for my ego.” His eyes blink open, and they’re instantly adoring.
“Just stating the truth.”
“You can touch it if you like,” he says, taking my hand and hovering it over his groin.
Propping up on one elbow, I lower my hand and tentatively touch him, feeling the weight of him through the material. “And thick.”
He smothers a groan by burying his face in the pillow as his cock jerks under my palm. I run my fingers up and down the length and sides of his cock, tracing the outline through his boxers. It jerks a few more times as I stroke it, and my pussy clenches with need.
“What time do you need to leave?” he asks, snapping me out of the lusty daze I’m in.
I look at my phone. “Shit. I need to leave soon.” I bite on my lip, wishing I could stay and explore his naked dick, but I’ve got a tutorial to get to.
“Take a shower, and I’ll make you something to eat,” he says, lifting me off the bed and setting my feet on the ground.
“What about you?” I eyeball his erection. “Does it hurt?”
He chuckles as he adjusts himself before climbing out of the bed. “I’m okay. It’ll go down.” He chuckles again as he watches me in amusement. “But not if you keep looking at it like that.”
“Sorry.” My cheeks inflame.
“Don’t apologize. You’re perfect, Lili.” He presses a kiss to my cheek. “So fucking perfect you have no idea.” He swats my ass. “Now go and shower. You’re not being tardy on my account.”
The next few weeks fly by in a flurry of activity. I’m in the throes of exams but managing to keep my stress levels down, thanks to Caleb. His study care package helped a lot, and he surprises me with impromptu lunches and takeout dinners. He even helps me run through my study notes, and he stays over some nights. It’s still strictly PG, and I still ogle his morning wood like it’s my favorite popsicle. I’m pretty sure he drives me to school with the biggest blue balls.
“Will you be home later?” Beatrice asks on Saturday evening when I call time on studying. I have two exams left next week, and then I’m home free. I’m as prepared as I can be, so when Caleb offered to cook dinner, I jumped at the chance.
“Not tonight, no. I’ll be back sometime tomorrow.”
“Enjoy.” Her smile seems insincere, but I accept it at face value. Beatrice is a bit of a strange one. She can be friendly and helpful, and then it’s like a switch flips, and she’s a little catty and jealous. I’ve seen how she looks at Caleb sometimes, and I don’t like it, but I’m not going to say anything because our lease is up in a month, and we won’t be roommates for much longer. No point creating tension when I most likely won’t see her after we move out.
I’m still wondering what her deal is when I slip out of the building, heading toward the road. Caleb sent a driver to pick me up because he doesn’t like me walking the city streets alone. Especially not after pictures of us have appeared online and people are gossiping over the nature of our relationship.
I grasp my bag tighter as I walk toward the car in the near distance. All the tiny hairs on the back of my neck lift, and I glance around as prickles of apprehension wash over me. I pick up my pace, hurrying toward the car as the sensation of eyes on my back follows me all the way. It’s not the first time. Recently, I’ve had the feeling someone is watching me, but there is never anyone there.
“Good evening, Miss Salerno,” the driver says when I all but fling myself into the back of the car.
“Hi. Thanks for coming to pick me up, Roberto.”
“It’s my pleasure, ma’am.”
I scout the area outside as we drive off, looking over my shoulder and back at my apartment building, but there is no boogie man watching me from the shadows. Putting it down to my overactive imagination, I settle in with my Kindle as we make our way through the usual busy traffic toward Caleb’s penthouse.
Caleb is waiting for me at the door when I exit the elevator at the top level. “Hello, beautiful,” he says, instantly pulling me into his arms and slamming his lips down on mine. I melt into his arms and his kiss, soaking up his scent and the feel of his body against mine. “Come,” he says when we finally surface for air. He grabs my bag. “I made a prawn curry with fried rice, and it’s just now ready.”
“Sounds yummy, and I’m starving. Studying always make me ravenous,” I admit as he leads me into his place. I’ve only been here one other time, and it was a complete mess, but today it’s like a different apartment. “I see the cleaners were here,” I tease.
He pins me with a look. “You’ll pay for that sass.” He sets my bag on the ground and gently squeezes my ass. Based on how often he fondles my butt, I’m going to hazard a guess he’s an ass man. Given my rather modest chest, that can only be a good thing. “I’ll have you know the cleaners have not been here since Wednesday. This is all me.”
“I’m impressed.”
“Good,” he says. “I cleaned up my act for you.”
I burst out laughing, faltering when I see his serious expression. “For real?”
“Yes. I’m trying to be a better man for you. Plus, Joshua has been busting my balls for years over the state of the place.”
“I’m flattered, Caleb, but you don’t need to change for me. I love you just the way you are.”
“Perfect,” he mutters before swooping in to steal another kiss. “You’re just so fucking perfect.”
“Now you’re the one feeding my ego.”
“It’s all true. Take a seat.” He pulls out a chair at the dining table propped against the floor-to-ceiling window.
“You look pretty, by the way,” he says, leaning down to kiss my cheek after I’m situated.
I’m only wearing a casual dress and tennis shoes, but I took some time to fix my hair the way he likes it and I’m wearing a little makeup. “Thank you.” I beam up at him, and he winks as he moves over to the kitchen to plate our food.
I admire the view of the city and the park through the window before my gaze trails over the rest of the open-plan space on this level. “I can actually see what your place looks like now. I like it.” It’s expensively decorated but still homey. He has family photographs pinned to the walls along with some impressive, framed artwork. Rugs soften the dark wooden floors, and colorful cushions brighten the white leather sectional.
“When you move in, you can redecorate if you like.” He just casually throws it out there as he sets a bowl of delicious coconut-scented curry in front of me.
I blink repeatedly as I stare at him, and he chuckles as he slides into the seat beside me. “We’re inevitable, Lili. You don’t need me to tell you that.” He lifts a forkful of curry. “Eat before it goes cold. I spent ages cooking everything from scratch.”
“I love that you still love to cook,” I say before groaning as I swallow the first delicious mouthful. “Wow, this is so good.”
“Good.” He pecks my lips. “It’s a new recipe I got from Mom.”
“I find it so funny that you caught the cooking bug from her, yet Joshua is practically allergic to the kitchen.”
“Not totally.” He waggles his brows and grins. “He can boil water.”
I throw back my head and laugh.
Caleb plays music low in the background as I try not to shovel the food in my mouth like a greedy pig.
“I meant what I said,” he adds in between mouthfuls. “You haven’t found anywhere to live yet after your lease is up, right?”
I shake my head. “I haven’t had time to look. I figured I’d probably stay in Uncle Ben’s penthouse until I found office space and a new apartment.”
“Move in here. You’d have Gia right next door, and it’s central and secure.”
“You’re really serious?”
“As a heart attack.”
“We’ve only been dating three weeks.”
“Who gives a shit?” He shrugs. “We’ve known each other for almost fifteen years, Lili, and we’re endgame. You know it as well as I do.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes.” He lets his vulnerability shine through for a minute while I try to work out if this is crazy or inevitable.
“I got us a new bed,” he adds, rubbing the back of his neck. “And sleeping beside you is the best sleep I’ve ever had in my whole entire life.”
“I sleep great with you too,” I admit, stuffing another mouthful of curry into my mouth while I contemplate doing this. Excitement fizzes in my veins, and when I see the raw need on his face mixed with sheer terror, I know what I need to do.
“Okay.” A wide smiles races across my lips. “I’ll move in with you after graduation.”