Chapter 18
Game plan
Caleb woke slowly, his body warm and heavy, cocooned in a rare, unfamiliar sense of peace. The sheets were soft against his skin, the air hushed save for the distant trill of early morning birdsong filtering through the windows. For a fleeting moment, he allowed himself to exist in it; to sink into the quiet, into the ease, his mind blissfully blank, his muscles lax in a way they hadn’t been in what felt like a lifetime.
Then, like a dam breaking, the memories surged forward, flooding every corner of his mind. Luca’s sighs, low and desperate, still clinging to the air. The taste of him, sharp and intoxicating, lingering like the ghost of a kiss. The way his body had felt beneath Caleb’s hands; hot, trembling, undone, as they’d crashed together in a storm of need and longing. Caleb’s breath caught, his heart thudding hard against his ribs as the images played out, vivid, visceral.
His eyes snapped open, and he was met with a mop of dark hair splayed across his chest. Luca . His weight pressed warm and solid against Caleb, one leg thrown between his thighs, their bodies intertwined in a quiet, unconscious claim. It mirrored that morning in Diego’s house, but this time, there was no tension coiling in Luca’s shoulders, no battle waged beneath his skin. Just the slow, steady rhythm of his breath and the soft, absentminded way his fingers traced shapes against Caleb’s stomach.
The touch was light, nearly teasing, sending a shiver down Caleb’s spine. He stayed still, unwilling to break the fragile moment, his gaze drawn to the slow drag of Luca’s fingertips over his skin. There was something unbearably intimate about it, something quiet and devastating in the familiarity.
A lump rose in Caleb’s throat, emotion swelling fast and heavy in his chest.
God, how he had missed this. How he had missed him.
“Morning,” Luca whispered softly, his voice rough with sleep but warm, almost tender. He shifted, lifting his head to look at Caleb, his green eyes heavy-lidded and soft in the early morning light. Caleb’s breath caught in his throat, his heart stuttering as he took in the sight of Luca above him.
The man had always been beautiful, but like this; his hair messy, his lips slightly swollen, his skin glowing in the pale sunlight, he was breathtaking. Caleb was struck speechless, his mind going blank as the thought he’s never been more beautiful flashed through him, rendering him mute.
Luca must have seen it in his eyes, because a slow, beautiful smile spread across his face, his lips curving in a way that made Caleb’s chest ache. But then the smile shifted, turning into something darker, more dangerous, calculative, almost predatory. Caleb’s breath hitched, his body responding instantly to the change in Luca’s demeanor.
Luca didn’t say anything. Instead, he leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to Caleb’s chest, just above his heart. The touch was gentle, almost reverent, but it sent a shiver through Caleb’s body. Luca kissed him again, lower this time, his lips trailing down Caleb’s chest, leaving a path of fire in their wake. Caleb’s hands twitched at his sides, his fingers curling into the sheets as he tried to keep himself still, to let Luca set the pace.
But then Luca shifted, moving so that he was straddling Caleb’s hips, his weight pressing down in a way that made Caleb’s breath catch. Luca’s hands slid up Caleb’s sides, his touch firm but gentle, as he continued to kiss his way down Caleb’s stomach. Each kiss was deliberate, each touch sending sparks through Caleb’s body, until he couldn’t hold back anymore.
Caleb’s head fell back into the pillows, a soft moan escaping his lips as one of his hands tangled in Luca’s hair, his grip gentle but insistent. His back arched, pressing his body further into Luca’s lips, his hips lifting off the bed in a silent plea for more. Luca hummed against his skin, the sound vibrating through Caleb’s body and making him shiver.
“Luca,” Caleb breathed, his voice rough and desperate, his fingers tightening in his hair. Luca didn’t stop, his lips trailing lower, his hands sliding down to grip Caleb’s hips, holding him in place. Caleb’s breath came in short, sharp gasps, his body trembling with need as Luca’s mouth moved lower, his kisses growing hotter, more demanding.
When Luca finally took him into his mouth, Caleb’s back arched off the bed, a strangled cry escaping his lips. His hand tightened in his hair, his hips lifting instinctively, but Luca held him down, his grip firm but not painful. The sensation was overwhelming, the heat of Luca’s mouth, the way his tongue moved, curved around the head of his cock, the way his hands held Caleb in place, all of it combining to drive Caleb to the edge.
“Luca,” Caleb gasped again, his voice breaking as he tried to hold on, to keep himself from falling apart. But Luca was relentless, his movements slow and deliberate, each one designed to push Caleb closer to the edge. And when Caleb finally came, his body shuddering with the force of it, Luca was there, holding him through it, his touch steady and grounding as he swallowed his cum.
When it was over, Caleb collapsed back onto the bed, his chest heaving as if the very air had been stolen from his lungs. Every muscle in his body felt like it had been pulled to the edge and left to unravel. His body was boneless, spent, each breath a struggle to ground himself in the reality of what had just happened. A slow, contented tremor moved through him, echoing the aftermath of their intimacy, leaving him raw and exposed.
Luca didn’t give him a moment to recover. Instead, he crawled back up Caleb’s body with fluid, deliberate movements, his hands brushing against Caleb’s skin, leaving trails of heat in their wake. His lips, warm and eager, found Caleb’s again in a kiss that started slow, almost teasing, as if Luca was savoring every inch of him.
Caleb’s hands slid down Luca’s back, feeling the muscles there. He pulled Luca closer, his fingers digging into the skin of his plump ass, urging him to fill the space between them once more. His body trembled, still reeling from the aftershocks, but every press of Luca’s lips, every flicker of his tongue against Caleb’s, made him crave more, push further into the kiss, unable to stop himself.
Luca responded in kind, his hand cradling the back of Caleb’s head as he deepened the kiss, coaxing his mouth open with a slow, possessive pressure, his still hard cock pressing into Caleb's hip. The heat between them reignited, flickering like a flame caught in the wind, unpredictable and wild.
Luca’s lips slid against Caleb’s, parting slightly, inviting him in, and Caleb couldn’t resist. His tongue met Luca’s in a slow, sensual dance, their mouths melding together in a rhythm that felt like haven; sensitive, hungry, a reflection of everything they couldn’t put into words.
As the kiss deepened, the world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the heat of their connection, the press of their bodies, the unspoken emotions that swirled between them. The rhythm of their kiss quickened, growing more urgent, as if neither of them could wait any longer for the closeness, the connection, the reassurance that they were still here , still together.
When they finally broke apart, both of them were left breathless, their chests rising and falling in tandem. Caleb’s heart thundered in his chest; his whole body still alive with the sensation of Luca’s touch. He opened his eyes slowly, finding Luca watching him with that familiar dangerous smile, the one that made Caleb’s pulse spike with something raw and possessive.
“You’re incredible,” Caleb whispered, his voice thick and rough with desire, tinged with awe. His words were genuine, the admiration in his tone unmistakable as he traced the outline of Luca’s jaw with a shaking hand. The way Luca made him feel, had always made him feel; alive, consumed, and completely his, left him almost speechless.
“You’re not so bad yourself,” Luca murmured, his voice low, teasing, sending a thrill through Caleb’s chest.
Before Caleb could respond, Luca leaned down again, capturing his lips in another kiss. This one was different from the first, sharper, more demanding, like a flame that had caught the wind and couldn’t be controlled. Caleb’s body arched into him once more, feeling every inch of Luca pressed against him. His hands roamed, tracing the hard lines of Luca’s back, pulling him closer as if he couldn’t get enough. There was nothing soft about this kiss; it was an invitation, a challenge, and Caleb accepted it, his tongue meeting Luca’s with equal fervor.
His hand slipped into Luca's underwear just like it did the previous night, his fingers wrapping around his cock. Luca moaned brokenly, his lips desperate, his hips restless as he started to fuck into Caleb's fist like a man possessed.
"Fuck..." Luca sighed, his cock leaking as Caleb squeezed harder, his head falling back and exposing his neck which Caleb took as an invitation. His lips descended upon the soft skin there, kissing, sucking, biting on it as Luca moaned unabashedly.His other hand still gripping his ass, slipped lower, his middle finger slowly massaging circles against the rim, though never entering.
"I'm gonna... Fuck, I..." Luca moaned, his voice broken, his breaths coming out in stutters just before he came, spraying his load all over Caleb's hand and his underwear.
When Luca came back to himself, their foreheads resting together, both of them trying to catch their breath, Caleb couldn’t help the low, satisfied laugh that escaped him. “You’re trouble,” he whispered, a grin tugging at his lips despite the tension still hanging between them.
Luca chuckled softly, his lips brushing against Caleb’s one last time; a brief, lingering kiss that said more than words ever could. “Good thing then, that you always liked trouble,” he murmured, the smile never leaving his face as he settled beside Caleb, pulling him close.
???
The dining room was bathed in the soft glow of early afternoon light, the long table laden with plates of savory dishes. Luca and Caleb walked in together, their shoulders brushing lightly as they took their seats.
The rest of the Morettis were already there; Enzo at the head of the table, his boyfriend Dr. Julian Carter speaking quietly to him, Matteo and Aldo were seated side by side across from them, their plates half-empty as they made googly eyes at each other. The atmosphere was calm, almost domestic, but the undercurrent of tension was impossible to ignore.
Matteo was the first to break the silence when they took their seats, his mouth curling into a mischievous grin as he leaned back in his chair. “So, Luca,” he began, his tone far too casual, “where’d you disappear to last night and this morning? I came by your room to check on you twice, and you were gone. You weren’t answering your phone either.”
Caleb choked on his coffee, coughing into his fist as his face turned red. Luca froze, his fork halfway to his mouth, before slowly setting it down. His cheeks flushed a deep crimson, and he shot Matteo a glare that could have melted steel. “None of your business,” he muttered, his voice low and dangerous.
Matteo’s grin widened, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Oh, come on, little brother. You can’t just...”
“Enough,” Enzo interrupted, his voice sharp but calm, cutting through the tension like a knife. He set his coffee cup down with a soft clink, his gaze sweeping over the table. “We have more important things to discuss than Luca’s… whereabouts.”
Matteo opened his mouth to argue, but a single look from Enzo silenced him. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest, but the smirk never left his face. Luca shot him another glare before turning his attention to his plate, his ears still burning.
Enzo cleared his throat, his expression serious as he addressed the table. “We need to figure out how to deal with the situation at hand. The DEA, the mole, Castillo; it’s all connected, and we need a plan.”
The room fell silent as everyone considered the problem. Caleb shifted in his seat, his fingers drumming lightly against the edge of the table. After a moment, he spoke up, his voice quiet but firm. “I should deal with the DEA and the mole on my own. It’s not your problem, and I don’t want to drag you all into it.”
Enzo’s gaze snapped to Caleb; his expression unreadable. “I know you’ve been away for a while, Smith,” he said, his voice steady but with an edge of finality, “but in this family, we deal with our problems together.”
Caleb stared at him, his chest tightening at the words. Enzo’s tone left no room for argument, and the implication was clear: Caleb was part of the family now. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, he was speechless. Just a few months ago, those words would have sent him running for the hills. But now, after everything that had happened, after the past week with Luca, after last night, they felt like a benediction. His eyes stung, and he nodded softly, his throat too tight to speak.
Under the table, Luca’s hand found his, their fingers intertwining in a tight, reassuring grip. Caleb glanced at him, but Luca’s face was impassive, his attention fixed on Enzo as if nothing had happened, except for a small smile playing at the edge of his lips. The warmth of his hand grounded him, and Caleb took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus.
The silence stretched for a moment longer before Aldo spoke up, his voice calm and measured. “I actually have something you’d be interested in, Caleb,” he said, drawing everyone’s attention. He reached into a briefcase beside his chair and pulled out a folder, sliding it across the table toward Caleb. “I hope you don’t mind, but I tasked one of my IT guys to snoop a bit. He found some… interesting connections between the DEA and the cartel.”
Caleb’s eyebrows shot up as he picked up the folder, flipping it open. His eyes widened as he scanned the contents; pages of financial transactions between Miguel Castillo’s shell companies and an offshore account linked to Sara Ramirez, and then from her account to a number of others, all of them agents at the DEA. There were photos too, showing Sara and Castillo together, their body language far too cozy for comfort.
“This is legit?” Caleb asked, his voice barely above a whisper. “You’re sure?”
Aldo nodded, his expression calm but confident. “Absolutely.”
Caleb exhaled sharply, a slow smile spreading across his face. “This is it,” he said, his voice filled with a mix of relief and triumph.
“What is it?” Luca asked, leaning over to look at the folder. Caleb handed it to him, his fingers brushing against Luca’s as he did. Luca’s eyes scanned the documents, his expression hardening as he took in the evidence. “Sara,” he muttered, his voice low and bitter. “I knew it.”
Enzo leaned forward, his hands steepled on the table. “I trust this is enough to clear your name?” he asked, his gaze fixed on Caleb.
Caleb nodded, still a bit stupefied. “Yeah,” he said. “This is more than enough.”
Matteo grinned, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied smirk. “Atta boy,” he said, his tone teasing but not unkind. “We’ll have you nice and straight-shooting in no time, Agent Smith. Maybe they’ll even promote you.”
The words were meant as a joke, but Caleb felt Luca freeze beside him. The hand holding his under the table fell away, and when Caleb glanced at him, Luca’s face was blank, his eyes fixed on the table. Caleb’s chest tightened, but before he could say anything, Enzo spoke up again.
“We’ll deal with Castillo first,” Enzo said, his voice calm but firm. “I’ll schedule a meeting with him under the guise of brokering peace. Once he’s in the open, we’ll take him down.”
The room fell silent for a moment as everyone absorbed the plan. Then, slowly, the tension began to ease. Matteo leaned back in his chair, cracking a joke that made Aldo roll his eyes but smile, nonetheless. Enzo joined in with a dry remark, and soon the dining room was filled with quiet chatter and the occasional burst of laughter. Even Caleb managed a small smile, though his mind was still racing with the implications of the plan.
Luca, however, remained quiet. He sat stiffly in his chair, his fork pushing food around his plate without actually eating. His expression was unreadable, his eyes distant, and Caleb’s stomach filled with dread as he watched him. He wanted to say something, to reach out and reassure Luca, but the presence of the others made it impossible. The words stuck in his throat, heavy and unspoken.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Luca stood up, his chair scraping against the floor. “Excuse me,” he muttered, his voice tight, before turning and walking out of the dining room without another word.
The room fell silent for a moment, the others exchanging glances, but no one said anything. Caleb hesitated for only a second before standing up and following Luca, his heart pounding in his chest.
But by the time Caleb reached the hallway, Luca was gone.
???
In the early evening, the sky was streaked with orange and pink as the sun dipped below the horizon. Luca sat on a small bench in the garden, elbows on his knees, face buried in his hands.
He’d been there for hours, his thoughts tangled in a mess he couldn’t unravel. No matter how much he tried to reason with himself, to push past the ache in his chest, it refused to fade.
He’d been a fool.
What had he expected, getting involved with Caleb Smith again? That he would just walk away from his entire life, his career, for... what? A moment of recklessness? A fantasy?
Luca let out a bitter sigh, fingers digging into his hair. He’d done this to himself; fallen for the same illusion twice.
The sound of footsteps on the gravel path made him tense, but he didn’t need to look up. He knew who it was. He could feel it; Caleb’s presence, familiar and steady, before a single word was spoken. He sat beside him on the bench, the wood creaking under his weight.
“I’ve been looking for you,” Caleb said quietly.
Luca sighed, lifting his head just enough to stare at the ground. “Well, you found me.”
“Luca…” Caleb started; his voice hesitant.
Luca cut him off, his tone carefully detached. “So, when are you thinking of leaving? I’ll tell Enzo to arrange your transport back to New York.”
Caleb was quiet for a moment, the silence stretching between them like a chasm. When he spoke, his voice was low, barely above a whisper. “Is that what you want? For me to leave?”
Luca let out a hollow laugh, shaking his head as a small, bitter smile spread across his face. “Since when does what I want matter? It didn’t back then. Why would it now?”
Caleb didn’t answer right away. He could feel the tension rolling off him, but Luca was too tired to dig. Too raw to care.
Finally, Caleb exhaled. “I’m not going back to work for the Agency.”
Luca’s head snapped up, his eyes locking onto Caleb’s face. He wasn’t looking at him, his gaze fixed on the badge in his hands, turning it over like it was a relic from a past life.
“I’m going to clear my name,” Caleb continued, his voice steady despite the weight behind it. “And then I’m resigning.”
Luca stared, his pulse kicking up as he tried to process the words. Before he could, Caleb kept going, like he’d been holding this in for too long.
“I thought that was who I was,” Caleb admitted, his voice edged with something close to regret. “Caleb Smith, DEA agent. Respected. Honorable. Good. But it was all a lie.”
“You are,” Luca interrupted, his voice rough. “You are all those things.”
Caleb shook his head, still staring at the badge. “After what happened, after what they did to me, to my name, despite everything I gave them, everything I sacrificed…” He paused, his throat working around the words. When he spoke again, it was quieter. “I’m never going back, Luca. I don’t want to.”
Luca exhaled slowly, his chest tightening with something between relief and disbelief. He reached out, hesitating only a second before taking Caleb’s hand. Their fingers locked together, warm, solid. Real.
“Okay,” Luca murmured. “That’s okay. We’ll figure things out.”
Caleb squeezed his hand, like he was grounding himself in the moment. Then he spoke again, softer this time, but the words made Luca freeze.“I’m not going back to NY either.”
“Oh,” he said, voice hollow. “I see.” Luca’s breath caught. His hand slipped from Caleb’s as he stared at him, his mind scrambling to make sense of it.
“I don’t think you do,” Caleb said, reaching for his hand again, gripping it tighter this time. “I told you; I don’t want that life anymore. And I know you don’t either.”
Luca’s throat tightened. He searched Caleb’s face, looking for something, anything, that would make this easier to believe. “What are you saying?” he asked, though part of him already knew.
Caleb’s gaze was steady, filled with something that made Luca’s chest ache. “You told me once that you didn’t want this life, but you didn’t have anywhere else to go.” He paused then and Luca's hands started to tremble. “What if you did?”