Chapter 9
Caleb
What the fuck am I doing? I shouldn’t be doing any of this. She deserves so much more than I am.
“Caleb, please don’t stop, don’t change your mind. I want you. I know this is... Even if it’s just a release for you, I want it, too. Need it. I think we both do.”
“Not here. Not like this.” Helping her stand, I lift her bridal style in my arms. “My room or yours?”
“Mine. I repainted the room and got a new bed and bedding. I—I needed a clean slate.”
Thank god. I don’t want to be making love to her in another man’s presence. Because this is making love. Something I’ve never done before, and I damn sure want to get it right.
Laying her down on the mattress, I kiss her forehead. “Are you on anything?”
Her eyes go wide, and she shakes her head.
“I’ve got condoms in my duffle bag.” An unopened box that I don’t even remember buying. Hope they’re still good.
When I return, she’s sitting up blanket clutched over her chest, side lamp on. I sit on the bed next to her. Dropping a couple condom packets on the bedside table, I place the box in the drawer.
“We don’t have to do this. I won’t be upset if you’ve changed your mind.”
“I haven’t. I want you, Caleb. I— I’ve only done this with one other person. I’m a little nervous.”
I brush her hair from her forehead. “We aren’t in a rush. We can take all the time we want and need.
“How about we just lie down together and snuggle.” Taking in my T-shirt and sleep pants, she nods, not saying anything. “Lie on your side so I can nestle behind you.”
Pushing off my pants, I crawl in behind her. My still covered arm slides under her pillow and I cradle her head in the crook of my arm while I rest on my elbow and look down on her. Smoothing her gorgeous red hair with the other hand, I inhale her scent from her bath.
“You smell so sweet and fresh. But there’s a fire in you.
Isn’t there, my red-haired vixen. A teasing cunning that I’ve noticed when you smile and your dimples shine.
You may be innocent in some ways, but there’s fire beneath your softness.
Someone just needs to stoke the flame and like a wildfire you’ll take down anything in your path to get where you’re going.
“I want your fire, Grace. Will you burn with me?”
“Yes, Caleb.”
Urging her onto her back, I capture her lips. Soft and sweet. Slightly minty. Almost innocent. I want her to burn for me. Only me. Deepening the kiss, I swallow her needy moan and capture her restless legs beneath mine.
As my lips claim hers, I run a palm up her body taking her nightgown with it, breaking our union only long enough to toss the gown aside.
Her little moans and sighs only serve to fan the flames of my desire.
Edging my hips between her legs, I slowly, deliberately kiss a path from beneath her ear to her breast.
She gasps when I lick the first nipple like an ice cream cone and come back for a second taste. “Oh Caleb. Ooooh Caleb, that feels so good. Don’t stop.”
I don’t. After licking, nibbling, and sucking one I move to the other, then repeat. She’s arching and writhing beneath me, her fingers flexing against my side. She is so close. Just one more taste and she’ll explode with her first orgasm of the night.
Taking her nipple between my lips, I lightly graze her with my teeth while sliding my hand down her belly to tease and tweak her nub. Three strokes and she explodes, crying my name. “Caleb, oh my god, Caleb.”
Carefully easing my attention, I guide her down from her release. “Caleb, oh Caleb, that was... that was amazing.”
“I’m glad you liked it because that was just the appetizer.” Kneeling beside her I rip open a packet and roll on the condom. “On your hands and knees, babe.”
Once she’s in position, I kneel between her legs and smooth my palms down her torso from shoulders to buttocks and back up.
“Fuck, you’re soft. Soft and lush in all the right places.
You make me so hard, babe. So hard just for you.
I want to fill you with my cock. I want to join us so you never forget who wants you. Who needs you.
“Tell me you want my cock. You want me to fill you up. Tell me.”
“I want your cock, Caleb. I want you to put your cock in me and claim me. I want all of you. Give it to me. Give me all of you.”
Making sure she’s nice and wet, I notch my cock and slowly push in. Fuck, she’s tight. Warm and tight. It takes everything in me to go slow when I want to thrust in hard, filling her, claiming her. She deserves more. More gentleness, more romance, a more deserving man.
My feelings grow stronger with every thrust. With every whispered moan she utters. Every time she calls out my name asking for more.
I realize this isn’t sex. This is claiming. My destiny. I’ll do everything in my power to keep her, protect her, please her. A sense of something outside if me washes over my senses. A joining. A melding.
Mine. She’s mine now. I’ll protect her with my life forever.
She explodes. I follow. Settling in behind her, I hold her as she drifts into sleep.
“Love you, Caleb,” she whispers.
I love you too, Grace, I silently vow.