15. Grace
Grace
I stood in the doorway of his kitchen, watching him meticulously load the dishwasher. Watching him be the perfect specimen he innately was.
“I can help, you know,” I protested, crossing my arms over my chest. “I’m not an invalid.”
I had never loaded a dishwasher in my life. Matter-of-fact, I’d never really washed a dish. But for Caleb, I was willing to learn.
He shook his head, reaching down to move a glass to the top rack. Once satisfied with his handiwork, Caleb grabbed a soap pod, placed it in the holder, and then closed the machine. He dried his hands on a dish towel, setting it down beside him before resting his back against the counter.
I met his magnetic gaze, clearing my throat before I uttered the words that had been running through my head ever since our dinner conversation. “You know, I really appreciate how you were honest with me about Noelle. I want to be honest, too. I really do.” I gulped and looked down at the floor.
I knew he wasn’t trying to deceive me by hiding this part of himself. Besides, who was I to judge? I’d gone out of my way, not to lie, but to conceal a huge part of myself and I knew he could tell I wasn’t being forthcoming, but he never pressed, never judged.
I admired him for sharing so much of his life with me. Even though it scared him.
I only hoped one day I could be so brave.
“Grace, I don’t expect anything from you in return. I know when you’re ready, you’ll tell me about yourself, right?” His voice was tender. He spoke in such a way that told me he was careful in his word selection, almost as if I was a skittish animal about to run off at the slightest thing.
I nodded, still looking at the floor. I wanted to tell him. I really did. And I was going to tell him everything. I just needed time. I had to believe that eventually, things would work out. That I would work myself out. That I’d be less scared of how he’d look at me.
“I wish I had a parent like you growing up.” I took a deep breath.
“My parents were too consumed with themselves to notice me or my older sister. Social hierarchy was ingrained into us from a young age. You were nothing if you weren’t seen at the right places with the right people.
They put on a good show in public, playing the part of attentive caregivers to a tee, but then behind closed doors, they were some of the phoniest and most miserable people.
I was barely in my teens when my mother found my dad in bed with his best friend.
Needless to say, Jacqueline immediately filed for divorce and ran to Page Six to spin the story her way.
The disgrace of her failed marriage was what she was most concerned about.
Image was so important, and she couldn’t take the black mark that was now paired with her name.
My older sister Julia and I were left in the dust. I was sent to boarding school, and Julia rebelled against anything having to do with wealth and high society.
So January, when I—” I closed my eyes, trying my best to calm myself.
It all became too much, and I recognized the signs of an impending panic attack.
My hands shook uncontrollably. My breathing was short and shallow.
I inhaled slowly and tried to recall the meditation exercises I’d learned.
Little by little, the trembling lessened and my breathing evened out.
When I was finally brave enough to open my eyes, I refused to look anywhere but the floor in case the walls decided to close in on me.
In my peripheral vision, I saw Caleb’s sock-clad feet make their way toward me.
Despite avoiding looking in his direction, I could feel his gaze as he approached.
It always hypnotized me. Like I was under his spell.
Which was part of the reason I couldn’t force my eyes up from the floor.
If I stared into those aquamarine eyes, I’d be powerless, willing to give him whatever he wanted.
It was all his anyway. And all he seemed to want was me. To comfort me. To care for me.
“It’s okay.” Caleb lifted my chin to make me look at him. “Tell me more at your pace. When you’re ready,” he added. “We’ve got time.”
I fixated on his shimmering, blue eyes. Damn, you didn’t see that shade every day.
I nodded, focusing on his words and letting them settle my anxiousness. As the panic wore off, I decided to lighten the mood by shooting my shot. “So?” I questioned and cocked my head to one side.
Before anything else could be said, Caleb grabbed my waist and brought me to him. Once our bodies were flush, his lips were on mine.
Hard, wet, filled with want.
Caleb made me feel desired. And man, did I yearn for him.
I had never once wanted a man the way I did Caleb. Come to think of it, all of my previous physical advances were more obligatory than passionate.
I lost myself in the kiss, the way his mouth molded with mine, the delicious sliding of his tongue as it tangled against my own.
I could tell by the way his breathy moans filled the air around us that he was enjoying this as much as I was.
When I slid my hands up his neck, wanting to pull him closer, to erase any distance between us, Caleb pulled away.
Damn, the willpower this guy had was incredible.
As my heart beat frantically in my chest, he took my hand in his and led me to the couch.
Once we both were seated, I wasted no time and thought now was as good a time as any to try to take things further, so I straddled him.
I shimmied into a comfortable position, moving until our hips aligned, and a groan came from Caleb.
It was a sound so rough and filled with want that my arousal spiked.
I looked down at him and smirked, taking in the hunger in his eyes.
He cupped my cheek and brought my face down to his. Caleb’s lips were soft against my own. I rolled my hips against him again, searching for friction. The sound that left me was shameless. I could have sworn he made one too.
Wanting to feel his skin on mine, I grabbed the hem of my blouse, but I was met with resistance. Caleb shooed my hand away, lowering the fabric. I broke the kiss and looked down at him, probably a little annoyed and definitely a lot frustrated.
“See something you like?” I asked, arching a brow as I held his gaze, taunting.
Caleb smirked, his lips shiny from my lip gloss and red from our kissing. I liked it.
He nodded. “Yeah, I do.” His eyes trailed over my body, and I shivered under his gaze.
Faster than I could have done, he had my shirt off and tossed somewhere in his living room.
I’d thankfully worn one of my newer La Perla bras. While none of my previous partners inspired me to dress in sexy attire for them, I did love lingerie. I wore it more for me than anything else. But judging by the look on Caleb’s face, he definitely appreciated this aspect of my fancy things.
I leaned down and resumed the attack on his lips. As I grabbed the back of his head, our noses scrunched up together. It was a sloppy, needy kiss.
I pulled away, desperate for air, but his lips didn’t leave my body. No—they just relocated to my neck, to my collarbone, to the tops of my breasts.
Caleb swiftly reached behind me and flicked open my bra. I slid my arms out of the offensive material, shoving it to the side so that my bare chest pressed against the cotton of his shirt.
Caleb rose from the couch, taking me with him, my legs wrapped around his waist and my hands clutching on to his shoulders for balance. I leaned up and gave him another kiss, savoring the way he tasted. Damn, I think I am addicted.
He helped me to my feet, and as soon as I was steady, he captured my lips once more and started walking us backwards. His hands roamed over my naked flesh, caressing the skin that had been revealed to him. Strong fingers teased along my rib cage, ghosting over the underside of my breast.
A loud bang echoed throughout the house as my back hit the wall, our steps faltering as we were forced to pull apart. Caleb stopped nipping at my lips, his eyes locking with mine.
Words weren’t needed to ask the question that was evident in his eyes … and then there was the prominent bulge in his pants.
I nodded once, slightly amused that he was finally breaking his “taking it slow” vow.
Caleb took my hand in his and led the way to his bedroom.
His room was filled with mahogany furniture.
The comforter over the king-sized bed was a deep gray, which matched the paint on the walls.
It had a sexy vibe if you ignored the pink, frilly items scattered throughout.
The bed was covered with extra pillows and blankets.
There were some princess blankets and stuffed animals on the bed.
No doubt left behind by his daughter, Noelle.
Caleb quickly grabbed the pile of little girl items and shoved them inside the quilted ottoman at the foot of the bed. He then stalked toward me. “Ready to run yet?” Caleb taunted.
For every step he took in my direction, I matched it with one of my own, moving backward, trying to keep some distance between us.
My progress was halted when my legs hit the side of the bed, leaving me no room to move.
I was trapped between this gorgeous man and his bed.
Which, all things considered, was not a bad situation to be in.
I shook my head and grabbed him by the back of his neck, pulling him into me. My lips practically attacked him, sucking and nipping, but I wanted more.
Apparently, he did as well because he grabbed my waist and tossed me onto the bed. My ass bounced against the mattress and I gasped.
When Caleb pulled off his shirt and proceeded to unzip his pants, I looked on shamelessly. He certainly didn’t have a dad bod. He was toned, not ripped, but equally gorgeous.