26. Caleb
CHAPTER 26
Caleb
W hen we get home, I can tell that the day has been emotionally exhausting for Bailey. After tucking Charlie into bed with Finn cuddled at her feet, I head into our room and straight into the washroom to run her a bath. I pull out some candles I have stored in the bottom drawer, light them, and drop a lavender-scented bath bomb into the water. While the water runs, I head into the room and silently lead Bailey into the washroom.
Neither of us says anything as I slowly take off each article of her clothing then mine. I turn off the water and step into the bath, offering her my hand. She takes it, stepping into the bath in front of me, and we both sit. We sit in silence, her back to my front and the only sound the gentle sloshing of the water anytime we move.
The warm water and the feeling of her body pressed against mine has me completely relaxed. I could fall asleep right here, perfectly content.
After a few minutes, I feel her chest heave. Opening my eyes, I see her biting her lip as she tries to hold back tears. One arm holds her tighter while the hand of the other reaches up and b rushes away a stray tear that’s fallen. I place gentle kisses on her temple and cheek, showing her my quiet support. Those kisses seem to break her because she stops holding the tears back and allows herself to cry in my arms. I hold her, allowing her to release all these pent-up emotions. She grips my arms tightly, and her entire body fully relaxes into me. As her sobs subside, I kiss her temple and whisper against her skin, “When you’re ready to talk, I’m right here.”
I watch the flickering of the candle lights and listen to her breath as it evens out.
Just when I think she’s fallen asleep, she says, “I’ve never felt this supported and cared for. It’s so much, it’s overwhelming.”
I don’t say anything, giving her the space to continue.
“When I was with Derek, I did everything around the house, even when I was pregnant. He didn’t come to any of the doctor’s appointments. He didn’t help decorate the nursery. I felt so alone despite being married and living with my husband. Then Charlie was born, and I was still left doing everything. Derek started coming home later, and that’s when the hitting really started. He swore up and down he loved me and it was my fault that he hit me. I wasn’t keeping Charlie quiet, wasn’t keeping up on the cleaning. I didn’t have dinner waiting for him every night. He was my first for everything. When we got married, I swore we were this great love story and we would spend the rest of our lives together. It was the broken bones that made me finally leave.”
I tense at her words. Picturing her in a hospital room with cuts, bruises, and broken bones has my chest burning. I close my eyes, lean my head against the side of hers, and take a few deep, steadying breaths.
When I’ve gathered myself I say, “That’s not love. I don’t ever want you thinking that’s love again. Someone who loves you supports you. Protects you. Treasures you. You’ve found a family that will do all of that. Don’t question whether you’re worthy of it because you are, and so much more, Bailey. You deserve the world.”
She turns her head and looks at me. I lower my mouth to hers. I kiss her slowly, reverently, affectionately. She turns in my arms, the water sloshing around us as she straddles my lap. Her lips leave mine and trail my jaw, down my neck, across my chest, and up the other side. I groan as she takes her time, dragging her lips over my skin. She rocks against me, and I harden beneath her. I grip her hips, trying to get her to stop.
Her lips find my ear. “I want you,” she whispers.
I groan as her teeth scrape across my ear lobe. Reaching between us, she grips my cock in her hand, giving it a couple of pumps. My hips jerk to match her movement. My grip on her hips tightens, and a sly smile spreads across her lips as she positions me at her entrance. As she slowly sinks down, she holds my eyes. The eye contact is more intimate than what we’re doing physically.
When she’s all the way down and her hips are flush with mine, she stays like that. I relish the feel of her stretched around me. I lean forward and kiss her. I want every part of our bodies connected. I need it. Her hands find their way into my hair, her nails scraping across my scalp since my hair is too short to grab. She slowly circles her hips and moans into my mouth. She lifts herself and slams down, causing both of us to moan and water to splash over the edge of the bath. She moves to lift herself off of me, but I stop her. My toe finds the plug and lifts it to allow the water to begin to drain.
She leans in and kisses me again. Her hands find my shoulders as she slowly lifts herself. My hips meet hers as she comes down.
“Yes,” she moans as her head f alls back, her chest pushing out towards my face.
I take advantage and lean forward, my mouth latching around a nipple. My tongue flicks over it, and I kiss my way across her chest, doing the same to the other.
She clenches around me. I use my thumb to find her clit and apply pressure. As my teeth scrape over her nipple, she comes, calling my name. She’s breathless as she rides out her orgasm. When she stops clenching around me, I lift her and we step out of the tub. I pick her up and carry her into the bedroom. Tossing her on the bed, I watch as her breasts bounce with her.
Groaning, I stroke my cock a few times as I stare at her. “Fuck, you’re sexy,” I growl as I drop to my knees in front of her.
She pushes up on her elbows and watches as I push her legs apart and position myself between them.
“So pink and wet for me,” I say, staring at her pussy.
She bites her lip. I lean forward and take my first taste of the night. I groan. I’ve never tasted anything as good as her. As my tongue flicks her clit, she drops onto the bed. Her hand finds the top of my head, grabbing the longer hair there. I grin as I bring a finger to her entrance and tease her. I slowly insert it, only going as far as one knuckle before pulling it out. I continue to tease her. I take my time, slowly building her up until she’s just about to fall over the edge, and then I stop.
I continue teasing her until she squeezes her thighs around my head and locks her ankles behind my back. I grin against her, sucking her clit into my mouth and using my tongue and teeth to bring her over the edge. Her back arches so high that only her shoulders and hips touch the bed. I work every last bit of her orgasm out of her. Playing with her until she’s pushing my face away.
I wipe my mouth with the back of m y hand before I climb onto the bed and up her body, slowly kissing my way up until I reach her lips. She kisses me back, and it’s such a turn-on that she doesn’t shy away from her taste on my tongue. Breathless, she breaks the kiss.
“On your hands and knees, baby.”
She slowly rolls over and gets on all fours. My hand between her shoulder blades pushes her chest to the bed. I’m not gentle as I slam into her. She quivers around me. She whimpers as I hit her G-spot with each thrust. Her arms move above her, pressing against the headboard, trying to stop her body from scooting higher on the bed.
I spank her, and she mewls. I do it again, and she clamps around me. I love her response to me. Reaching forward, I grip her hair and pull her head back. Her eyes roll backwards, and she comes around me. My hips move faster, and I watch as her ass bounces every time they slam into it. Heat builds at the base of my spine. I pull out of her and flip her onto her back. Gripping my cock, two pumps is all it takes before I’m coming all over her stomach and chest. I fall back onto my heels as I work to catch my breath.
I stare at her, and she stares back, a satiated smile on her face. I lean over and kiss her.
“You look good like this. You look like mine,” I whisper against her lips.
I leave the bed, making my way into the washroom and grabbing a wet washcloth to clean her up before we make our way back into the shower. This time, only using it to clean ourselves. After we dry off, we climb into bed and I hold her close. I kiss her temple softly and listen to her breathing slow as she falls asleep in my arms.
I wake up before Baile y and slowly climb out of bed, making sure not to wake her. I quietly get dressed before heading downstairs, throwing on a pair of shoes and grabbing a jacket. I step onto the back porch and call Liv, hoping she and Josh won’t be too pissed about me waking them up.
“Caleb?” her groggy voice comes through.
“Hey, Liv. Sorry for waking you, but I have a favour to ask of you.”
“Okay, what’s up?” Her voice sounds a little more clear now.
“Who is it?” I hear Josh ask on the other end.
“Caleb.”
“Why the fuck is he calling you at this time?” he grumbles.
“He has a favour to ask.” I smile as I listen to them. Josh obviously isn’t happy I woke them up.
“Sorry, Caleb. What’s up?”
“I was hoping that you’d go to the spa with Bailey today. I think she could use it. I’ll pay for it but thought she could use the company.”
“Spa day? I could go for a spa day. Everything okay with Bailey?”
“Yesterday was just an emotional day. I want her to relax and recharge today.”
“You’re sweet,” she says softly. “Yeah, I can pick her up in an hour.”
The sound of sheets rustling travels through the phone.
“Maybe make that an hour and a half,” she says with a laugh before the phone goes dead.
I head back into the kitchen and turn on the coffeepot. Just as I pour myself a cup, Charlie walks into the kitchen, rubbing her eyes. Finn is hot on her heels.
“Good morning, Little Bear,” I say.
“Morning,” she mumbles and wal ks up to me, wrapping her arms around my legs.
I run my hand over the top of her head. “So, I was thinking about making your mom breakfast in bed and then you and I can spend the day together. Just you and me. How does that sound?”
She looks up at me with a huge grin on her face.
“How do pancakes sound?”
“Yum, pancakes!”
I chuckle.
I quickly open the sliding glass door in the kitchen for Finn before filling his bowl and gathering the ingredients for breakfast. Charlie helps me make the batter and lay the bacon on a baking sheet before I stick it in the oven and get to work on the pancakes. Charlie puts some fruit in a bowl, and I find a tray to take up to Bailey. After loading the tray with the food and a cup of coffee, Charlie and I head upstairs. When I open the door, Bailey’s still peacefully asleep in bed.
Placing the tray on the nightstand, I run my hand through her hair. “Bailey, baby, we made breakfast.”
She mumbles something and snuggles into the bed.
Charlie climbs on behind her. “Mommy, we made pancakes.”
Bailey cracks an eye open and looks at me. I hold up the cup of coffee, and she smiles before sitting up, holding the top sheet to her chest.
“We made breakfast, and Olivia will be here in an hour to pick you up. You two have plans, and Charlie and I have plans today, so eat up.”
She looks at me, confused. I smile and give her a quick kiss before I usher Charlie back downstairs. We sit at the table and eat our breakfast together before I clean up while she plays in the living room. Bailey comes down and joins me in the kitchen while I finish cleaning the counters.
“So, these plans I have with Liv , what’s going on?”
“I thought you could use some time to relax and recharge, so you two are going to the spa. I have plans with Charlie, so all you have to do is take your sexy little ass and go relax. I’ve got dinner covered tonight, too, so you have nothing to worry about.”
She stares at me, not saying anything. I shake the rag out over the sink before refolding it and placing it beside the sink.
“You really organized this for me?” she whispers.
I walk over to her and wrap my arms around her waist. “Of course, baby. Liv should be here soon, so please go with her and relax.” I reach into my jeans pocket and grab my wallet. I pull out my credit card and hand it to her. “Use this to pay for both of you.”
She shakes her head. “No, it’s fine. I don’t need your card.”
“Baby, take it or I’ll just give it to Olivia and make sure she uses it. Go get a massage and have lunch with Liv. Put it all on here. I want to do this for you.”
I can see the reluctance in her eyes, but she knows I will give it to Liv, so she takes it and puts it in her back pocket and thanks me. The doorbell rings, and Charlie goes running towards the door.
“Little Bear, where are you going?” I call after her.
“To see who’s at the door,” she calls as she continues to run.
“You know the rules. Let your mom or I answer the door.”
She stops and turns to me, a sad look on her face, but she nods. I make my way to the front door, and she lifts her arms up as I get close. I pick her up and prop her on my hip as I answer the door.
A smiling Olivia is on the other side. “Good morning,” she says in a chipper voice. I don’t want to think about what led to that.
“Good morning,” I say, taking a step to the side so she can come in. “We have a couple pancakes if you’re hungry.”
She shakes her head. “I’m all good, thanks. Josh fed me before I left.”
She follows me into the kitchen where Bailey is working on her second cup of coffee. I place Charlie on the kitchen counter while the girls say their hellos and hug.
“Spa day! Are you excited because I am,” Liv says.
“Yup,” Bailey says, popping the p sound.
“I’m excited for a girls’ day. You joining us, Charlie?”
Charlie shakes her head. “No, I get to hang out with Caleb,” she says with a huge smile.
“That’s right. A Caleb and Little Bear day,” I say, running my hand through her hair.
Liv and Bailey smile at me.
Liv claps her hands and says, “Well, we should get going.”
Bailey rinses her coffee cup before putting it in the dishwasher and giving both Charlie and me a kiss.
“I’ll check the card,” I call after her and Liv as they make their way to the front door.
Turning back to Charlie, I say, “Why don’t you get dressed and then we can head out?”
She nods, and I help her off the counter and she runs upstairs. When she comes back down, I help her bundle up, and we take Finn on his walk before loading up in the truck. I get her settled in the back and put on Taylor Swift, knowing she loves it, and make my way to the hardware store. I decided that today we are going to pick out a colour to paint Charlie’s room and maybe some new furniture for her.
I grab a cart, and we head inside. Charlie holds onto the side of the cart as we make our way to the paint section. I watch as she takes in our surroundings. I didn’t tell her what we’re doing today; she was just excited to spend the day with me. This amazing little girl didn’t care what we did, she just wanted to spend the day with me. I realize more and more each day just how blessed I am to have these girls in my life.
I stop the cart in front of the colour selection and crouch in front of her. “Do you know what these are?” I ask while pointing to the wall of colours.
She shakes her head.
“These are paint colours. I thought today you could pick a colour to paint your room. Any colour you want.”
Her eyes widen.
“I can paint my room?”
“Yeah, any colour you want.”
She lunges herself into my arms, and mine instinctively wrap around her, holding her close. When she pulls back, she rushes over to the section of pinks. I smile, not surprised. I pull out a couple of options, and she picks a pastel pink. I put it in my pocket, and we make our way down the aisles. I grab the primer and a couple of cans of paint and all the supplies we need before we make our way to the mixing station.
Once I give them the paint and the colour choice, I pick up Charlie, positioning her on my hip so I can show her how they are making the colour for her. The entire process fascinates her.
When I finish paying, we make our way back out to the truck. In need of some more coffee, I hit a drive-through and grab Charlie a hot chocolate. Our next stop is a furniture store. I lead us straight towards the children’s bedroom section.
“So, you’ve picked out your paint colour. Now it’s time to pick out a new bed.”
She runs over to a loft bed and climbs up the ladder and settles on the mattress. “Can I have this one?”
I walk up to her and rest my arms on the side of the bed. “Yeah, Little Bear, you can have this one.”
She wraps her arms around my neck. The smell of her strawberry shampoo fills my nose, and I realize how much it relaxe s me because smelling it means she’s close by and she’s safe.
“You’re the bestest,” she whispers in my ear.
I continue to hold her, soaking in this feeling.
She pulls back and climbs down. I take note of the information for the bed so we can get it ordered, and we wander through the rest of the store.
I grab a chair, a couple bookshelves, and a small table to add to her room. She finds some glow-in-the-dark stars she wants to add, so we grab those, too. We make our way to the checkout, and I pay for everything. They say they can have the bed delivered today around 5 p.m.
Charlie is excited the entire drive home. When we get there, I carry everything inside and have her go up and move her toys into Bailey’s old room. Once everything is inside, I head upstairs and disassemble the bed in Charlie’s room while she watches a show in the living room. When I come down to get her, she’s excited to help me. She helps me lay the plastic sheeting on the floor, and I open the primer. I give her a brush and a small section to paint while I get to work. She asks for music, so I grab my Bluetooth speaker. I smile as she sings and paints.
While the primer dries, I make us an early lunch. After, I put together one of the bookshelves before heading back into Charlie’s rooms and start the first round of painting. I spend the next few hours putting together furniture and doing laundry before finishing the last coat.
Her bed is delivered shortly after I finish the last coat of paint, and I begin setting it up in the middle of the room. Once the walls are dry, I can move it. I texted Liv earlier in the day to keep Bailey out of the house as long as possible. I call in a delivery order of Chinese food and while we wait for it, Charlie and I put some finishing touches on her room. I’ve moved her bed, and Charlie is sitting on my shoulders sticking stars to the ceiling when Bailey walks in. Her gasp is what draws my attention. She’s standing in the doorway, mouth agape, staring at us.
“Wow,” she whispers.
“Hi, Mommy. Caleb let me paint my room and he got me a new bed and these really cool stars.”
Bailey smiles up at her. “I see that, Baby Girl. Did you have fun with Caleb today?”
“Uh huh, lots. He got me hot cocoa and made grilled cheese and tomato soup too. Aaaaaannnnd we get Chinese food for dinner,” she says excitedly.
I lift her off my shoulders and set her onto the ground. Charlie gives her mom a hug and then runs off to the new table with her collection of colouring materials, and I lead Bailey into the hallway.
“You did that for her?” she asks.
I cup her face and lean down for a quick kiss. “Yeah, I did that for her. I wanted to make it more her room instead of my old guest room. So I took her shopping. We had fun,” I say with a smile.
She reaches up and wraps her arms around my neck. “You’re amazing,” she says before she kisses me.
Her tongue licks at the seam of my lips, and I happily open for her. My tongue comes out to meet hers as my arms wrap around her. My hands find her ass, grabbing it and pulling her closer. I nip at her bottom lip, but as I go to deepen the kiss, the doorbell rings.
I groan, leaning my forehead against hers before kissing it and making my way down the stairs. We settle in and enjoy our dinner while Charlie tells Bailey more about our day.
When we finish, Bailey takes Charlie upstairs and gets her into the bath while I clean the kitchen. When I’m done, I go bac k upstairs, to ensure all the final touches are done in Charlie’s room before heading into my washroom and jumping in the shower.