Chapter 5 Caleb
CALEB
Lucas slung his bag over his shoulder and walked out without looking back.
Marisol followed him onto the porch. She leaned into the open door and kissed his cheek. “I love you.”
He nodded. “I know.”
The door shut. The engine turned over. And just like that, he was gone.
She stayed on the porch long after the taillights disappeared down the road, her arms wrapped around her middle like she could hold her world together by force alone. Her shoulders were stiff. Her breathing shallow.
I stood behind her. Close enough that she could feel me there. Not touching her. Not crowding her. Just there.
Finally, she whispered, “Take me with him.”
“Tomorrow.”
Her voice cracked. “You promise?”
“I swear.”
She nodded, but I could see the fight still burning in her eyes. The need to follow him. To keep him in her sight. To make sure he stayed breathing.
I placed my hand at the small of her back. “We’ll catch up with Lucas tomorrow. Tonight, you’re staying with me.”
She didn’t argue as I grabbed the bag she’d packed and led her across the street. Marisol stood just inside the doorway like she wasn’t sure she was allowed to cross the threshold. Her hands shook as she smoothed them down the front of her jeans and my house had never felt smaller.
“Do you want tea?” I asked.
She nodded. “Please.”
I busied myself in the kitchen and we waited in silence until the kettle whistled. I poured the water and handed her a mug. She wrapped both hands around it like it was the only solid thing left in her world and sank onto the couch.
For a while, neither of us spoke. Then her shoulders started to shake.
“I thought I was going to lose him,” she said. “I really thought they were going to take him.”
“You didn’t lose him.”
“But I could have.” Her breath hitched. “I keep seeing it. Him getting into that car. The door closing. Me standing there and not being able to stop it.”
“It never should have happened,” I said. “They never should have been able to get that close to him. To either of you.”
“Caleb—”
I pulled her up from the couch, dragging her into my arms like I could anchor her there. Like if I held her hard enough, nothing could ever touch her again.
She gasped and clutched my shirt, her fingers curling tight into the fabric.
“I was so scared,” she whispered.
“I know.”
Her body shook against mine. “I didn’t know what to do.”
“You did everything right.”
Her face pressed into my chest. I could feel her tears soaking into my shirt. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her like I meant it. Like she was mine to protect.
“I can’t lose you,” I said into her hair.
She stilled. Then she lifted her head and looked at me.
“So don’t,” she said. Her hand came to my chest.
My pulse kicked hard. “Marisol…”
“I know,” she whispered. “I know what this is. I know what you are to me. And I know what you’re not supposed to be.”
“This is a bad idea.”
“So is loving someone who might not come home.”
She rose onto her toes and the line disappeared as she pressed her lips to mine. The kiss was slow at first, then I took control.
Her breath hitched as I backed her against the wall, my hands sliding down her sides, gripping her hips like I could fuse her to me.
She gasped when I lifted her, her legs wrapping around my waist instinctively, her fingers tangling in my hair as I kissed her again…
harder this time, deeper, like I was trying to consume her.
With her back pressed against the wall, her body arched into mine, and I could feel the heat of her through the thin fabric of her shirt.
I growled against her mouth, my teeth grazing her lower lip before I pulled back just enough to yank the shirt over her head.
Her hands were already at my belt, fumbling with the buckle, her breath coming in sharp, needy gasps.
“Caleb,” she whispered, her voice raw, and the sound of my name on her lips sent a jolt of fire straight through me.
I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. Not with words.
Instead, I crushed my mouth to hers again, my hands sliding up her thighs, gripping the waistband of her jeans and tearing them down in one rough motion.
She kicked them off, her fingers clawing at my shirt, pulling it over my head before her nails raked down my back.
The sensation was electric—pain and pleasure twisting together, making my muscles coil tight. I pinned her back against the wall, my hips grinding into hers, and she moaned, her head falling back as I kissed down her throat, my teeth scraping over her pulse point.
“You have no idea,” I growled against her skin, “how many times I’ve imagined this.”
She whimpered and raked her fingers through my hair. “Show me.”
I didn’t need to be told twice. I carried her to the bed, laying her down before stripping off the last of her clothes, my eyes raking over every curve, every inch of skin flushed with need. She reached for me, but I caught her wrists, pinning them above her head as I settled between her thighs.
“Not yet,” I murmured, my voice rough. “I want to taste you first.”
Her back arched off the bed as my mouth found her, my tongue sliding over her in slow, deliberate strokes. She gasped, her hips bucking against me, her fingers twisting in the sheets. I groaned against her, the sound vibrating through her, and she cried out, her body trembling.
“Caleb… please…”
I didn’t let up. Not until she writhed under me, her breath coming in ragged gasps, her thighs shaking around my head. Only then did I pull back, kissing my way up her body, my hands gripping her hips as I positioned myself at her entrance.
She looked up at me, her eyes dark with desire, her lips swollen from my kisses. “I need you,” she whispered.
I didn’t hesitate. Within seconds I’d grabbed a condom from the nightstand and rolled it on.
I thrust into her in one deep, relentless motion, and she cried out, her nails digging into my shoulders.
I groaned, my forehead pressing against hers as I stilled for a moment, letting her adjust to the feel of me.
Then I moved.
Her body met mine with every thrust, her hips rising to meet me, her breath coming in sharp, desperate gasps.
The bed creaked under us, the headboard slamming against the wall, but neither of us cared.
The only thing that mattered was her body wrapped around mine, her voice in my ear, and the way she clung to me like I was the only thing keeping her grounded.
“Fuck, Marisol,” I growled, my hands gripping her thighs, spreading her wider as I drove even deeper into her. “You feel so good.”
She whimpered, her fingers tangling in my hair, pulling me down for another kiss. Her tongue slid against mine, hot and desperate.
I flipped her onto her stomach, pulling her up onto her knees before slamming back into her. She gasped, her fingers clawing at the sheets as I gripped her hips, my thrusts becoming more erratic, more feral.
“Caleb… I’m…”
“I know, baby,” I growled, my hand sliding around to press against her clit, rubbing in tight, relentless circles. “Come for me, sweetness. Let me feel you.”
She shattered with a cry, her body trembling around me, her walls clenching tight. I groaned, my own release crashing over me, my hips stuttering as I spilled into her, my fingers digging into her skin hard enough to leave marks.
We collapsed onto the bed, breathless, tangled together, our bodies slick with sweat. She curled into me, her head resting on my chest, her fingers tracing idle patterns over my skin. For a long moment, neither of us spoke.
Then she lifted her head, her eyes meeting mine. “Don’t ever let me go,” she whispered.
“Never.” I pulled her closer, pressing a kiss to her forehead. I wanted to believe I’d found the one thing worth fighting for.
She rested her head on my chest, her breathing finally steady. I curled my arm around her, holding her tight against me, her soft curves molding to me. No matter how long we stayed like that, it wouldn’t be enough.
My phone rang.
She lifted her head. “Is that Lucas?”
I answered it before checking. Gray’s voice was sharp. “They tried to intercept the convoy.”
My blood went ice-cold. “Status.”
“They forced space, tried to block the rear vehicle. We pushed through. No breach. Lucas is secure.”
“Anyone hurt?”
“No. But they made a statement.”
I closed my eyes. “We’re burned,” I said. “Valor Springs is compromised.”
“Do what you need to do,” Gray said. Then the line went dead.
Marisol searched my face. “What happened?”
“They tried to take him.”
Her hand flew to her mouth. “Is he okay?”
“He’s safe.”
Relief hit first, then fear rushed right back in. “Then why do you look like that?”
I didn’t want to answer, so I swung my legs over the side of the bed and started pulling on my jeans.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Packing. I need to get you and Lucas out of town for a while.”
Her heart started racing again. I could hear it in her voice as she grabbed hold of my arm. “Where are we going?”
“Broken Bend.” It was the only place I knew I’d be able to protect them. “You’ll be safe there.”
“Are you sure?” Her voice cracked.
I cupped her cheeks with my hands. “I’m not going to let anyone hurt you, Marisol. If they want to try, they’ll have to go through me first.”
I’d fucked up and let my cock get in the way of doing my job.
I’d let down my guard and danger had found us.
No matter how I felt about Marisol, she was an asset.
Mine to protect, not to fuck. I might’ve lost my discipline, but I hadn’t lost my edge, and anyone who came for her was about to find that out the hard way.