Why did Dad have to drag us to small towns every weekend? Why couldn’t we just go to McDonald’s—or better yet, Dairy Queen?
I slumped on the stone bench in front of a big, old garage, kicking my feet, which barely reached the ground. There was a forest out back that reminded me of that horror movie The Blair Witch Project I’d seen with Ben the week before… Ben, my older brother who wasn’t with us this time. I sighed.
My dad had disappeared inside. What if he died in there? What if there was an ax murderer inside?
I snorted. That was only in the movies. Things like that didn’t happen in real life, did they? But if they did, that would be pretty cool. I could be a detective who strapped guns underneath my long, black coat to hide them.
I would have stayed home and played the new Crash Bandicoot game on my PlayStation, but Dad had promised he would buy me that new bike we saw on TV the other day if I tagged along.
A real mountain bike, not the girlie bike my mom got for me. Ben teased me all the time when we went biking, and now I refused to ride it. It was green too. Why couldn’t it be black or red?
“Caleb!”
I turned and saw my dad standing beside a fat, old guy who was drinking beer. The guy looked like Santa Claus, with a cloudy white beard and a potbelly. I was waiting for him to spit out a booming laugh and shout Ho, ho, ho! But he just stood there smiling at me.
“Why don’t you walk around and find someone to play with?” my dad said. “But don’t go too far.”
I jumped off the bench, slightly offended. He wanted me to look for a playmate in this old town where only old people lived? There was no way kids lived here. The houses were old and scary looking, with peeling paint and weird rocking chairs on the porches. I didn’t see a McDonald’s anywhere.
I walked along the trail behind the garage. I was just going to walk straight so I wouldn’t get lost. Besides, the sun was up. In the movies, bad things only happened at night.
I picked up a broken branch from the wet ground and wished I had a dog to play with. My ears perked up when I heard running water. I followed the sound and cried out in happiness when I saw a long, wooden bridge at the end of the trail. I ran to it, my footsteps making a hollow thumping sound on the wood planks. I stopped to stare at the water rushing under the bridge.
“Cool!” I yelled. I crouched and saw a bunch of fish gathered behind some rocks, protecting them from the current.
I jumped and nearly fell in the river when I heard a small voice. “You’re going to fall just like that stupid boy.”
I looked up and didn’t see anyone.
“He didn’t even know how to swim,” she added, as she leaned back and looked at me from behind one of the thick wooden posts. That explained why I didn’t see her right away.
First thing I thought was that her eyes were like a cat’s. I’d never seen eyes like that before.
“Who are you?” she asked, tilting her head to the side. Her long, black hair fell across her shoulder.
“Caleb. Who are you?”
Her mouth broke into a grin, showing a gap between her front teeth. She must have lost a tooth recently. “I’m Batgirl today.”
I noticed she was wearing a Batgirl costume but didn’t have the headgear for it.
“Batgirl?”
“Yep. She smacks and kicks and always, always wins against the bad guys. I want to be like her!”
She was weird.
Her face scrunched up. “I’m hungry. Do you have any food?”
I suddenly remembered the sandwich in my pocket that my dad had made for me that morning. I walked toward her, glad to have found someone to play with.
“Here.” I sat beside her, offering her the sandwich. “It’s peanut butter.”
She didn’t take it but eyed it suspiciously instead, scratching her chin. “Oh.”
“You don’t like peanut butter?”
She shook her head. “Nuh-uh. I never had it before. The bad guy in my house hates it, so we don’t have it.”
The bad guy? “Well, I’m allergic to it.”
Her cat eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Why do you have it in your pocket, then? Is there poison in it?”
I stared. Her eyes were really pretty. I blinked when she waved both her hands in front of my face, trying to get my attention.
My cheeks felt hot. I shrugged. “My dad forgets I’m allergic to it.”
She nodded as if she understood.
We sat together quietly. Girls were usually weird and a pain in the butt to play with, but she was…nice.
“How old are you?” I asked.
She wiggled four fingers. “Five.”
“This is five,” I corrected, wiggling five fingers. She didn’t look interested. “I’m seven.”
“Are you still going to give me that sandwich?”
I chuckled and handed it to her. She looked at it for a moment, sniffing it before she unwrapped it and took a small bite. Her eyes widened. “Mmm…peanut butter is my favorite sandwich forever starting today.”
I laughed.
Facing the water, I dangled my feet low enough to touch the surface. When I turned to Batgirl again, I saw Red’s face.
She smiled at me and reached for me, tracing my eyebrows, my nose, my lips with her fingers. “Thanks for the sandwich, Caleb.”
When I opened my eyes, there was Red’s beautiful face, her dark cat eyes staring at me in surprise.
* * *
Veronica
“Good morning,” Caleb murmured, his voice rough from sleep. “I dreamed of you.” Then he flashed a naughty I-am-going-to-get-you-in-trouble smile. “Wanna know what it was?”
The sunlight reflecting in his eyes made them almost seem transparent. His arm was still draped across my chest, his leg pinning me to the mattress. Even through my tank top and bra, I felt the heaviness of his arm and the warmth of his skin. A blush crept onto my cheeks, and I knew I probably looked like a ripe tomato.
I yelped as his arm hooked around my waist and pulled me closer. I quickly scooted away and jumped off the bed.
I didn’t want him to smell my morning breath.
I darted to the bathroom, glancing in the mirror and groaning when I saw that my hair looked like a bird’s nest. After a storm. Grabbing my brush, I attacked my hair, desperately trying to tease out the snarls and twists. It was so thick and long that it took me a few minutes to make it look presentable. I washed my face and brushed my teeth as fast as I could. Just as I was drying my mouth with a towel, Caleb came in.
His hair was mussed from sleep, his eyes bright and happy and so green as they met mine in the mirror. His sweatpants were riding low on his hips as he lifted his T-shirt and scratched his flat stomach.
I took a step back when he started toward me. He raised his eyebrows.
“Can’t handle me in the morning, can you?” he drawled, his eyes dancing with mischief.
He kept walking closer, and I kept backing away until I hit the wall.
He grinned. “Nowhere to go?” His voice was as dangerous as the big, bad wolf’s.
A very sexy big, bad wolf.
He was so close that I had to tilt my head up to see his face. Good Lord, he looked so good he should be illegal.
“Want to shower with me?” he whispered.
I gulped and shook my head. My voice seemed to have left me.
“Is that a no?” he teased.
I nodded, then shook my head again.
What the hell is wrong with me?
He stepped closer and lowered his head. His lips brushed the side of my ear as he murmured, “What do you want to do with me, then?”
I shivered. I smelled mint on his breath. I realized he must have gone back to his room to brush his teeth—the devil.
“I know you’re not ready but we can do…other stuff,” he said in a husky voice.
I had been thinking about that a lot…the other stuff.
“Red?” I felt him take a deep breath, his nose nuzzling my neck. “Wanna?”
Oh God.
I nodded weakly.
I do. I really do.
I blew out a breath as his hands gripped my hips, pulling me closer. My eyes widened as I felt the hardness below his hips.
Holy crap. Is that—
Caleb’s voice cut into my thoughts. “I haven’t kissed you yet, and you’re already trembling.”
My knees felt weak and rubbery. I had to place my hands on his shoulders so I wouldn’t fall.
His intake of breath was audible as I touched him. He slowly rubbed my hips with his hands, shifting me so that I was cradling his hardness between my legs. I clamped my lips tightly to prevent myself from whimpering.
Those big, wonderful hands pressed against the small of my back, then traveled down to cup my ass. He squeezed and gently thrust his hips against mine.
I closed my eyes and moaned.
Hot. I felt so hot, but the burn felt really good.
His hands traveled to my waist, his thumbs leisurely stroking the exposed skin just above my shorts. Then they moved under my shirt, slowly caressing my ribs, just below my bra.
My heart started pounding.
“Look at me,” he said, his voice low.
I opened my eyes and noticed he was clenching his teeth, the skin on his cheeks stretched taut. I held my breath as my eyes traveled up to his and I saw the desire in them.
“I remembered how you tasted in the morning,” he whispered.
My lips parted as his thumb slipped inside my bra, caressing the side of my breast.
He lowered his head, then paused, his lips hovering an inch from mine. “I want to refresh my memory.”
My head spun as his thumb lightly brushed my nipple.
“Oh God, Caleb,” I moaned, leaning into his touch.
I heard a growl at the back of his throat before his mouth devoured mine. He took what he wanted, and I gave it to him—because I was helpless not to, and because I wanted to.
His kiss was hungry, his hands squeezing me gently. I whimpered as he released me, then gasped as he lifted me up. My arms wrapped around his neck, my legs around his waist. He cradled my ass, grinding against me.
I bit back a cry as his mouth dragged along my cheek and down to my neck, where he licked and sucked. My hands plunged into his hair, gripping hard as I felt his teeth bite me lightly.
He pressed me against the wall, and his lips found mine again. The kiss was wilder, more passionate. I felt myself giving in, letting my senses overtake me as I jumped blindly into madness.
I felt him lowering both of us onto the bed. I was drowning so deeply in his kiss that I hadn’t even noticed he had walked us to the bedroom. His weight was delicious as he climbed on top of me, all the while never breaking our kiss.
I heard him growl again as he wrenched his lips away from mine, raising himself up. Wide-eyed, I watched as he reached back and pulled off his shirt one-handed and tossed it on the floor. There was nothing soft about him. The strong muscles in his arms rippled, his stomach flat and hard. My hands reached out to touch his naked skin, and his muscles tightened beneath my fingers.
And then his warm, hard body was rubbing against mine again, and he was kissing and biting my lips.
“Touch me,” he pleaded, his voice hoarse. He shifted his weight to his forearm. Reaching for my hand, he placed it on his chest. “Please.”
His skin was burning; it felt so good under my fingertips. Instinctively, my other hand followed, fingers exploring. I wanted to taste his skin, but his mouth grazed beneath my jaw and then his teeth lightly scraped my neck. My hands roamed over his chest, my fingers digging into his skin as sensations flooded me.
Was there a part of his body that wasn’t hard? He was all sinewy muscle and warm skin. I felt consumed. Consumed by him.
In one fluid motion, he pulled back, taking me with him. An alarmed cry escaped my throat as he lifted me up and wrapped my legs around his waist. He kneeled back on the bed, settling me on his lap. With me straddling him, our gazes were now even. His nostrils flared, and the hunger and heat I saw in his eyes crackled through my body. I groaned, involuntarily grinding against him. I could feel all of his hardness.
“Red,” he murmured. “Shall we get rid of this?” He tugged at my tank top, raising his brows in question.
I bit my lip and nodded. I could do this. I wanted this.
Holding my gaze, he lifted my shirt and discarded it on the floor.
His eyes were possessive as he took in my near-nakedness. I still had my bra on, but I suddenly felt shy, my arms instinctively covering my chest.
“Wait,” he implored, touching my shoulders. “Let me look at you.”
My heart was beating so fast that I wondered briefly if he could hear it. I lowered my gaze as I slowly moved my arms to my sides, my hands balling into fists.
I’d never done this before, and I thought I’d never meet anyone I would want to do this with. But with Caleb—only with Caleb—I wanted to. God, I wanted him.
“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
He tipped my chin so I was looking straight into his smoldering eyes.
“The most beautiful,” he repeated, his lips softly kissing the side of my mouth.
His hands slid down my arms and gripped both my wrists. He leaned forward, locking my arms behind me and making me arch my back. A harsh breath left my lips as his tongue glided on my skin.
“Caleb!” I cried out, then moaned as he sucked on my breast through the fabric.
My arms strained against his grip as he kept on sucking, biting lightly. My legs tightened against him as he ground between my legs. The sensation was so intense that I thought I was going to faint.
“Do you want me to stop?” he asked as he dragged his lips between my breasts, then up my neck.
I don’t want you to stop.
“Tell me”—he licked a sensitive spot on my neck, and I shivered—“to stop.”
He released my wrists. His long fingers streaked up my back. He curled one finger under the left strap of my bra, tugging it toward my shoulder.
“Red?” His eyes sought mine. “Do you want me to stop?”
I wanted this. I wanted him.
“Don’t stop,” I answered.
His pupils dilated, his lids lowering.
“Are you sure about that?” He pulled the other strap of my bra.
I bit my lip. He started releasing the hooks of my bra behind me. No one had ever seen me naked before. My breathing hitched, my heart pounding against my chest.
Was I ready to do this?
“Wait!”
He froze, his eyes lifting to mine.
“You want to stop?”
I nodded.
His jaw tightened, his body straightening. His hands drifted down to his sides.
Lowering my gaze, I lifted my hands to cover my breasts and keep my bra in place. I suddenly felt very naked. I wanted to grab a blanket and hide myself, wanted the floor to open up and swallow me.
Embarrassment flooded my whole being as he stared at me for what seemed like an hour, though I knew it was only a few seconds.
He dipped his head, letting out a breath. When he lifted his head, he was smiling. “I understand, baby.”
He sounded like he was in pain. “Here. Let me.” He reached around and hooked my bra closed, pulling up the straps on my shoulders. I kept worrying my bottom lip as he blew out another breath and rubbed his hand over the stubble on his chin.
Silence.
“Please stop doing that,” he said in a hoarse voice, his thumb gently pressing on my bottom lip.
I released my lip once he removed his thumb. My skin tingled where he’d touched me…which was everywhere.
“Never hesitate to tell me when you’re not ready,” he said. “Understood?”
He was still hard. I could feel him beneath me.
I nodded, lowering my head. I felt like a killjoy, a prude, unable to give Caleb what he wanted, what I wanted.
Because I wanted to…make love with him, but something was stopping me. I just couldn’t do it.
“Hey.” He cupped my face and urged me to look at him. “What’s wrong?”
I shook my head, closing my eyes.
“Do you feel bad that you stopped me?”
My throat felt thick, tears threatening to flow. “Caleb…”
“Open your eyes.”
I did. His gaze was sincere as he looked at me.
“Don’t ever feel bad when you tell me to stop. I’m a guy. I’m attracted to you. This may not be the only time you’ll tell me that, so you might as well get used to it, okay?” He kissed my forehead. “I better get used to it,” he added, frowning in thought.
He gently lifted me off his lap and set me on the bed. Then he stood up and raked his hands through his hair. “But now I need a very cold shower.”
He paused as he reached my door, turning to look at me. “Wanna join me?”
I laughed and shook my head. And just like that, he made me feel better.
