Little Wolf

Stacked Pulses-One Shot (Sylus x Zayne) God of War (6 Parts) (Sylus, Zayne x Non MC)

Nocturnal Hunt-One Shot (Xavier x Non MC) Guardian (4 Parts) (Xavier, Caleb x Non MC)

Beneath the Waves-One Shot (Caleb x Rafayel) Just Friends? (3 Parts) (Caleb x Non MC) Guardian (4 Parts) (Caleb, Xavier x Non MC) Endless Summer (5 parts) (Caleb, Zayne x Non MC) (COLLEGE AU) Lucid Dream (Caleb x Non MC) (SELF AWARE FIC)

Let It Snow-One Shot (Zayne x Non MC) Stacked Pulses-One Shot (Zayne x Sylus) Endless Summer (5 parts) (Zayne, Caleb x Non MC) (COLLEGE AU) God of War (6 Parts) (Zayne, Sylus x Non MC)

Beneath the Waves-One Shot (Rafayel x Caleb) Steamy Tones-One Shot (Rafayel x Non MC) Body Art (Rafayel x Non MC) Coming Soon

Confessions Tattoos & Tequila (Sylus, Caleb x Non MC) Ongoing Dark Signs Tainted (Sylus, Caleb, Zayne x Non MC) Coming Soon

Entwined Dangerous (Sylus x Non MC) Hidden Shadow (Rafayel x Non MC) His Gravity (Caleb x Non MC: Side story) Curious what Mephisto looks like as a human in Entwined Check him out here

Fairytales Neverland (Caleb, Sylus x Non MC) (PIRATE/PETER PAN FIC) Coming Soon

Healing Hearts Second Chance (Caleb x Non MC) Heat Steam-One Shot (Sylus x Non MC) Fiery Embrace-One Shot (Caleb x Non MC) Melt-One Shot (Zayne x Non MC) Coming Soon

Myths Annihilation (Zayne, Caleb x Non MC) When Night Comes (Sylus x Non MC) Netherlord (Caleb x Non MC) Ongoing Darkness Comes (Xavier x Non MC) Coming Soon

Sylus Abyssal Sovereign, Silverwing Fiend, Sylus' Birthday, Attitude Caleb Netherlord, My Provider, Caleb's Birthday

NOTE: There are 2 surprises coming in the chapter I will post next Wednesday & one of them is Valko. I took several hours yesterday to rewrite the last few chapters of this fic as well as the one that follows to include our wolfie. (He is one of the LI's in the next fic, Chaos & Moonshine. I won't be saying who the 2nd LI is, but you'll probably figure it out when you read Chapter 10 lol.) I posted yesterday saying that if Infold doesn't want to give Valko a voice & a story then I will & I intend to do so. JusticeForValko

Chapter 9

Five days later

Taking a sip of my iced caramel latte, I glanced at my phone for the hundredth time since I sat down.

The text messages from the day after everything went so wrong were haunting me…

Me: I’m going to use some of my pto & take a few days.

Sylus: No, you have appointments scheduled.

Me: Reschedule them. I need this & I have the time.

Sylus: Fine. But you can’t run from this forever, Bay. You need to make a decision.

That was the problem… I DID need to make a decision. And every time I tried, my brain shut down, my thoughts spiraled, and I ended up more confused than I was when I started.

It's not like I was unaware of how selfish I was being… keeping them both on a string like this... it was a pretty shitty thing to do but I was scared.

I was scared of losing them… I was scared of making the wrong choice…

I couldn't do it.

Not yet.

I took a deep breath, closing the messages and setting my phone aside.

It had been almost a week since I had sent those messages, and it had been radio silence from them both since.

And that silence was deafening.

I should’ve been relieved—they weren’t hounding me, they weren't showing up unannounced like Caleb had that morning after the fight. No more texts demanding answers, no more late-night calls from Sylus with his rough voice low and dangerous through the phone.

Just... nothing.

It was what I had wanted but it hurt.

Every time I checked my phone and saw no notifications or missed calls, my chest tightened until breathing felt impossible and all I could think was… They gave up on you.

They didn't chase me this time because maybe they finally realized how ridiculous this whole situation really was; maybe they'd decided to cut their losses before things got even messier than they already were… or worse?

I sighed, taking another sip of my coffee and staring miserably across the little outdoor café. The weather was hot, the sun shining brightly and the air thick and almost stifling even with the cool breeze blowing now and then.

It should've been a relaxing atmosphere, a nice place to chill out and clear my mind... instead, I felt a headache coming on.

I sighed and rubbed my forehead as if it would help.

"Is this seat taken?"

The voice startled me, making me jump and almost spill some of my coffee as I turned my head to see who was speaking.

Standing beside my table was a handsome man, tall and broad with dark hair, sharp, intelligent green eyes and a polite half-smile. He was wearing a pair of black slacks and a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows with a pair of sunglasses dangling from one hand while the other held a steaming cup of coffee.

I recognized him as the man whose cock I had pierced a little over a week ago.

Zayne.

He was just as gorgeous as the first time I’d seen him… unforgettable in every single way from his looks to his professional demeanor to the aura of calm he radiated just standing there.

If I hadn’t been hung up on two men already, I might have taken this opportunity to maybe flirt a little and possibly get a date out of him, but I wasn’t anything but curious.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," he said.

I swallowed and forced a polite smile. "It's fine," I said, gesturing to the seat across from me. "You can sit if you want."

He nodded his thanks and slid into the chair, setting his coffee down on the table then he leaned back, one leg crossing over his knee. "I recognize you," he said softly. "… you're the one who did my piercing."

My cheeks warmed slightly at the reminder that I’d had this man’s cock in my hands, and I took another sip of my coffee to stall. "Yes," I said, "I am."

He smiled, studying me for a moment before he leaned forward, resting his arms on the table and trailing his finger along the side of his coffee cup. "You have a very steady hand."

I shook my head, clearing my throat and crossing one leg over the other. "Well, I wouldn’t be a very good piercer if I didn't."

He chuckled. "I suppose that's true. I was surprised, is all."

I raised an eyebrow, my curiosity piqued. "Surprised by what, exactly? My steady hand or…?"

His lips curled up into a sly smile. "I was expecting someone a little more… rough around the edges when I came into your shop… I guess you could say."

I couldn't help but huff a laugh, my own smile mirroring his. "Ah, you mean you were expecting some big, burly, scary, tattooed punk, all leather and spikes?"

The corners of his lips lifted higher, that sharp intelligence flashing in his eyes as he leaned back. "Something like that," he admitted. "But you? You're… unexpected."

His gaze dropped to the delicate silver rings on my tattooed fingers—then up again to meet mine with a slow drag of his tongue over his bottom lip before adding, "In a good way."

There was something in the way he said it—the kind of quiet confidence that made me shift slightly. It wasn’t quite flirting… but it could be if I let it go there.

A quiet moment passed as our gazes lingered, my heart doing a strange kick in my chest that left me feeling a bit breathless.

He was charming, that was undeniable, but I couldn't let myself get caught up. Just because my situation was complicated didn't mean I was going to drag anyone else into this… even if the thought of having something uncomplicated was more than a little attractive.

His smile softened, as if sensing the hesitation. He took a sip of his coffee, those sharp green eyes never leaving mine over the rim of his cup.

"Something on your mind?"

I shifted uncomfortably, fingers tightening around my latte before forcing them to relax with visible effort. "Just... work stuff," I lied poorly while thinking You have no idea how screwed I am right now.

He studied me for a long moment—too perceptive by half—then set his cup down with deliberate care. "Hmm…" A pause then, "I know we don’t know each other very well besides the obvious…" he said with a small smile. "… but if you need to talk, I happen to be an excellent listener."

I was almost tempted to call bullshit on that last part because he was right… he hardly knew me, why would he possibly want to listen to whatever problems I had?

But as soon as the thought crossed my mind, I chided myself.

He was being kind… whether it was because he was the type of person who would sit and listen to the woes of others or because I had been there for such an intimate moment in his life didn’t matter. He struck me as the kind of man who cared about the people he knew… even the ones he met for such trivial matters as getting a piercing.

But… how did I explain I was in love with two men who wanted me to choose between them instead of me being able to have both to a perfect stranger?

I was about to decline; to brush off this stranger's random offer of listening to some random problems… but something made me pause.

He was being so normal. Friendly. Casual.

There was no judgment, no expectations… and the thought of having a conversation with someone who was on the outside felt like a lifeline.

He silently watched what I knew were a dozen different emotions cross my face… saw the way my grip tightened on the cup, how I bit at my lower lip like I was physically wrestling with something but he didn’t push.

Just let that charged silence stretch between us as he took another sip of coffee.

When he finally spoke again, his voice was quieter. "Look…" A pause as he leaned forward slightly over the table. "I don’t know you beyond the pleasantries we exchanged when you had me with my pants around my ankles."

The corner of his mouth quirked up at that before continuing, "But if there's one thing life has taught me? It’s that sometimes random strangers are better at listening to life’s troubles than those who actually know us."

His gaze held mine steadily… still not pushing but not retreating either; leaving room for me to deny him or tell him the truth while making it clear he wasn't going anywhere unless I dismissed him outright.

And dammit if part of me didn't want to spill every messy detail right then and there just to see what he would say...

"Okay," I found myself muttering before I could stop myself.

The word hung in the air like an invitation, heavy with a mix of relief and trepidation… but before I could find my head and take them back, he was leaning forward, his forearms resting on the table and his expression serious.

"Tell me what happened," he said, voice low and soft.

I took a deep breath to gather my thoughts and try to figure out where to begin…

He stayed silent, waiting with the kind of patience that didn’t feel like pity or judgment, just genuine care… and it was that that had me taking a trembling breath then I started talking.

He didn't flinch. Didn't even blink as I explained… his expression remained carefully neutral, but his fingers flexed slightly around his coffee cup before he forcibly relaxed them again.

"Sylus and Caleb," he repeated quietly, testing the weight of their names in his mouth like a foreign word, "You're dating two men? The ones who work with you at the shop?"

There was no judgment in either of those questions—just quiet observation and something else beneath it… curiosity? A flicker of intrigue?

"Yeah… well, sort of," I admitted with a huff of amusement. The word 'dating' felt so casual for all that had happened considering how this mess had started… but I wasn't sure what else to call it. "It's… complicated. Really complicated," I said with another half-laugh, shaking my head.

The corner of his mouth quirked up in a small, wry smile. "I get the feeling complicated is an understatement." His tone was dry, but the look in his eyes was understanding. "What's so complicated about it, if you don't mind me asking?"

I hesitated again, wondering how personal I should get with a man I hardly knew… but the offer to listen had been genuine. No matter what I said, and how personal I got he would listen with no judgement… and damn if it wasn't difficult to ignore how freeing that was.

"I… we…" I trailed off as a blush spread across my face and I took a drink of my latte, trying to think of how to say this.

The corner of his mouth quirked up, almost into a smirk, as if he knew what I was hesitating to say. "You're sleeping with both of them."

The words were pointed… blunt. Not an accusation… just a statement, and something about the way he said it without judgment had my cheeks flaming hotter. "I… yeah. I am."

"At the same time?"

I nodded, unable to meet his eyes. "Yeah…"

A slow whistle escaped him before he let out a quiet chuckle. "Okay, so you're sleeping with two men who work with you… both of whom are aware they're not the only one in your bed." He rubbed at his chin thoughtfully for a moment before adding dryly, "That is complicated."

The way he said it made me huff out another laugh despite myself because yeah… that was putting it mildly. "This sounds so bad," I muttered, dragging my hands down my flushed cheeks.

"I have no room to judge," he said with a shake of his head. "You're not the only one with a complicated love life, believe it or not."

My eyes widened, a mixture of surprise and curiosity suddenly overcoming the embarrassment. "No way? You?" I blurted out before I could stop myself.

He chuckled again. "Don't sound so shocked."

But I was shocked.

He was gorgeous, charming and intelligent… the guy probably had women and men throwing themselves at him left and right… and the thought that he was having his own complicated love life had me leaning forward, wanting to know more.

"I just… you seem so… cool and collected and obviously you’re gorgeous. I can't imagine you in a situation like mine," I admitted, shaking my head.

One eyebrow rose at my words but there was something like amusement gleaming in his eyes. "Is that so?"

My cheeks flamed again at the implication in his low voice, heat flaring beneath my skin. He gave me a slow, almost lazy smile as if he could see the way my mind was already running through questions and scenarios and it had me shifting slightly in my seat.

He leaned back, casually crossing his leg over his knee again and resting his arm along the back of the chair… the pose made him look languid and relaxed, but it also drew attention to his lean, muscled frame in a way that had my mouth going a bit dry.

"I'm in a complicated situation," he murmured, his voice dropping lower, "not like yours, but… complicated all the same."

"Okay, now I’m curious," I finally managed, trying to keep my voice even as my imagination ran wild at the possibilities… "What's your complicated love life, then?"

He glanced away, watching a few birds swoop back and forth between the trees, his expression turning uncharacteristically pensive.

"It's a long story."

I could sense the hesitation in his voice, the way his fingers drummed against the back of the seat… something that felt eerily familiar to the way I had been reacting since this conversation had started. "I've got time."

Several hours later, I walked through my front door feeling lighter than I had in days.

Something had lifted from my shoulders after spending time with and talking to Zayne for so long… and it wasn't just having a new, outside opinion on my situation.

It was talking to someone who wasn't wrapped up in this mess. Someone who wasn't emotionally invested. Someone who didn't expect anything from me, no judgement or explanations… no demands or expectations. Someone who understood on some level.

I dropped onto the couch with a sigh, dragging my hands over my face before finally reaching for my phone because despite everything?

I needed to know if they were even thinking about me.

There were two text messages… one from Sylus two hours ago and another from Caleb from thirty minutes ago.

Sylus: Where are you.

No question mark. Just a demand carved from ice and something far more dangerous beneath the words even through a text message.

I winced, swallowing hard at the way my skin suddenly felt like it was crawling.

He was pissed… but was it because I hadn’t messaged or called or was it something else?

There was no way he could know I had spent the afternoon and evening with another man drinking coffee then having dinner that involved nothing more than conversation, could he?

A sigh escaped me and I rubbed at the tension that had suddenly settled between my shoulders then quickly typed out a response.

Me: I’m fine. I'm at home.

His response came faster than I expected… and it made me want to throw something.

Sylus: Alone or with someone?

The way he phrased that—with someone—had my fingers freezing over the screen.

Me: Just me.

Not a lie, technically.

Zayne had technically been with me for hours today… but he wasn’t with me now.

Sylus: Good. Stay there. I'm coming over.

He was coming over? Now? After days of silence where I hadn’t been sure if we were even friends anymore?

Anxiety twisted in my stomach as I glanced at the clock, realizing it was almost eight at night already, which meant the shop had either closed early or he had taken off specifically to come talk to me.

So he could already be on his way, or he just now be leaving.

For a split second, I debated telling him not to bother or that we could talk when I was ready but the memory of his cold, demanding text made me stop.

He was already pissed. Telling him NO would only make it worse.

But… I still wasn’t ready to make a decision and him showing up here right now would only confuse me further so I typed out a response and put my phone down beside me while I waited to see what he would say.

Me: No. I still need time and you being here won’t help anything.

A minute passed… then another… and finally my phone vibrated with his response.

Sylus: Bullshit. You’ve had plenty of time. We’ve given you six days and not heard a damn word from you. I’m on my way. I'm walking through your door and we're talking.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes, annoyed at the way he was ordering me around like he had the right to make those decisions for me. I knew he was irritated… I knew he was ready for an answer but he had to know this kind of thing wasn't going to make me want to hear him out.

Me: You can't just come over without warning and expect we're going to talk about this. You need to give me more time. You haven't even tried to reach out until now and when you do, you’re demanding that I give you my attention and an answer all because you say?

His response came seconds later… more demanding than the last message.

Sylus: Yes.

One word. That was it.

No explanation, no plea—just a silent threat wrapped in silk that went straight down my spine like lightning. My fingers tightened around the phone so hard it creaked, heart hammering against my ribs as I stared at the screen.

He knew exactly what that kind of response would do to me—because he always did this when push came to shove… skip right past reason and go straight for control, daring me to fight back just so he could pin me down and make his point anyway.

I exhaled sharply through clenched teeth before typing out one last reply.

Me: Then I won’t be here when you arrive.

It was a stupid, risky thing to say when I knew he was already pissed off, but the thought of him coming here and demanding answers like I owed him something was enough to make heat flare in my chest.

He could try to find me if he really wanted to—but it would be on my terms, not his.

I pushed to my feet, grabbing my keys and backpack before tossing them over my shoulder and leaving the apartment.

It was windy, the night air biting against my face as I walked, but the sharp chill was almost welcome after the heat of the day. I kept my head down, hood pulled up to block as much wind as possible as I walked along the sidewalk.

I could have called for a cab to make my life easier, but I wanted to walk... needed to burn the restless energy and irritation that had been building for the last six days before I snapped.

It was ridiculous to put off this inevitable confrontation but… the urge to run away was hard to resist so I kept moving… entering a crowded area that was known for its nightlife.

The streets were full of people moving from bar to bar in search of an escape from life but they quickly became background noise as I tried to figure out where I was going.

I knew this area… knew the little hole-in-the-wall bars and seedy establishments where people gathered for a good time… had spent a lot of my youth here with Sylus and Caleb, getting into trouble and having fun.

This area was the perfect place for someone to get lost in and hide from the things they didn’t want to face in the light of day.

A few minutes later, I came across a bar I used to frequent with Sylus and Caleb and hesitated for a second before I took a shaky breath, pushed the door open and stepped inside where the sounds of rock and roll music, glasses clinking together and people talking filled the air immediately.

The name had changed but the inside hadn't since I last came in, the low lighting and music still the same as I made my way to the bar, ignoring the few heads that turned to watch me. I wasn’t here for small talk or pleasantries… I was here to drink away my worries and maybe get some clarity.

I dropped onto a stool, trying not to look too desperate as I reached for a menu and tried to ignore the way my heart was hammering in my chest.

The bartender—a handsome man with bright blue eyes and sandy blonde hair—sauntered over, wiping his hands on a rag. "You look like you're about to bolt," he said dryly, eyeing the death grip I had on the menu.

I exhaled, forcing myself to relax my fingers before letting it go entirely and placing it on the countertop in front of me. "Rough day."

He snorted but didn't push for details as he leaned his hands on the counter. "Alright then… whiskey? Beer? Something fruity with an umbrella?"

I almost laughed at his last suggestion but managed to keep it together and tried to act nonchalant as I leaned back slightly and studied the wall of liquor behind him. "Tequila," I replied, the word coming out a little too quickly. "And keep ‘em coming."

His eyebrows rose at my bluntness, and he let out another snort that had the corner of my mouth twitching. "Rough day indeed," he said teasingly. "You know it's bad when a pretty thing like you is asking for straight tequila."

I rolled my eyes, feeling my cheeks heat with embarrassment and annoyance at being called a pretty thing. "Yeah well, it's been one hell of a week," I said with a sigh, running a hand through my hair before adding, "Call me pretty again and I'll kick your ass."

He chuckled, the sound loud and amused as he placed a glass on the countertop then reached under the bar for a bottle of tequila before pouring me two fingers worth. "Feisty. I like it," he said, setting it down in front of me but not letting go of it.

I stared at him, unamused, as I tapped my finger on the countertop impatiently. "Yeah? No jokes or flirting… just tequila."

The glass slid across the counter toward me as he smirked.

"Ouch."

I took the glass and downed a long swallow, the tequila burning as it went down. It wasn't the cheap stuff either… it was the good stuff and it had a smooth, almost sweet finish.

I set the glass back down, already feeling the heat and irritation starting to bleed away as I shoved the glass back toward him with a head tilt indicating I wanted some more.

He chuckled again, taking the glass and pouring me another… this time three fingers worth. "Damn… a woman who can hold her liquor. Marry me?"

"Shut up," I muttered, taking the glass and downing half the contents in one swallow.

He chuckled as he turned and walked off to go help a man further down the bar, leaving me to my misery.

Somewhere between drinks two and three something shifted… my shoulders loosened just enough so breathing didn't feel like such an effort anymore. It was stupid that tequila could do anything other than blur edges around reality’s sharp corners but damn if it didn’t feel good.

I'd just finished drink number four when a group of people came into the bar, taking a table nearby and ordering a round of beers as they talked loudly about the concert they had just gone to and how they wanted to get the lead singers autograph tattooed on their skin.

By drink number six I was laughing and flirting with the bartender in the way only a tipsy person could… shamelessly and obnoxiously. He was enjoying the attention… flirting back as I leaned closer, my tongue slipping out to swipe over my bottom lip in a move I knew was provocative.

He was handsome, confident and charming… and any other day I would have been all over him for that alone, but those thoughts were shoved aside as I remembered why I was here in the first place.

I had a decision to make… an important one that didn’t involve dark-haired men who sat and listened to me drone on and on about the men I was in love with or blue-eyed bartenders who looked like they could wreck me without even trying.

"Can I ask you something?" I said suddenly, cutting off the bartender in the middle of a story. He raised an eyebrow at my bluntness, pausing to take in the look on my face before nodding.

"Sure… go ahead."

"You ever been in a situation where you can't have what you want?" I asked, taking another swallow of tequila.

He paused, studying me like he was trying to figure out the meaning behind my words then he nodded. "Yeah… I think we've all been there at one point or another."

I snorted, shaking my head and signaling for him to pour me another. "This isn't like deciding which brand of toothpaste to buy or what shirt to wear in the morning."

"Okay," he said, leaning his hands on the counter again. "Then enlighten me."

I paused, taking a deep breath before blurting out, "I'm in a love triangle."

He raised his eyebrows, surprise flashing over his features. "A love triangle? As in-"

I let out a sharp, bitter laugh, cutting him off. "Yeah." My fingers tightened around the glass, knuckles whitening as I stared down at the liquid swirling inside. "Two men—both of them incredible in completely different ways—and they want me to choose one."

"Damn," he muttered after a beat of silence, "They know about each other?"

I nodded once, the motion more a wince than anything. "Yeah… it's an entire shitshow."

"And they want you to choose one of them?"

I exhaled sharply, the sound rough and frustrated as I tapped my fingers against the glass. "Not just want me to," I muttered bitterly. "They're making it a damn ultimatum."

His expression shifted—something unreadable flickering in his eyes before he schooled it back into careful neutrality. His voice dropped lower when he asked, "And what do you want?"

That stopped me cold.

My throat tightened around words that had been spinning in circles for days now… words I hadn't let myself say out loud because acknowledging them made this all too real, "I don't know how to pick one. I can’t… and I won’t so I choose neither…"

NOTE: If you don't like Valko or agree with him being cancelled don't bother leaving a comment... keep your opinion to yourself. If you do decide to leave a comment, I WILL delete it. If you like Valko just know that my accounts are all a safe place for Valko girlies & you're more than welcome to talk about him here. On my AO3 & my TikTok. Happy reading!!

Part 2

The kiss was intense… almost brutal in its intensity. He gripped my face, his fingers digging into the flesh of my jaw as he kissed me, his tongue sweeping into my mouth and mapping every inch of the soft, wet flesh in long, slow strokes as he pressed me into the top of the desk.

I trembled as my fingers dug into the hard muscle of his arms, trying to anchor myself as my body arched against him, my mouth opening as wide as I could get it to accommodate his demanding tongue.

He groaned then broke the kiss, panting as a low, dark sound escaped him. "Did you think I wouldn’t find out? That you'd be able to sneak around like some common street rat?" His hand slid from my throat to grasp at the fabric covering my body, yanking it roughly so the thin silk ripped down the middle, baring my breasts covered in the flimsy material of my chemise to the cool air in the room. "Did you wear this for him? Let him touch what belongs to me?"

I gasped as the cool air hit my exposed skin, my hands flying up to cover myself… partly from shame that he would see the fancy chemise that I had had made, partly because I knew he’d see how hard and swollen my nipples were beneath the thin lacy fabric. "Y-yours…" I stammered, trembling under his furious gaze as he yanked at what remained of my dress until the beautiful garment was in tatters around me. "I am not yours!"

His hand shot to my throat, his grip light as he pushed me onto my back and leaned down so our bodies were touching. His voice dropped into something low and dangerous, "You are mine, Zaya! In every lifetime you’ve been mine and every lifetime after this you will continue to be mine."

His words sent a shiver through me, fear and desire warring with my common sense... my sense of self-preservation. "N-No..." I managed to gasp, my fingers clawing at his hand. "Y-you hate me. You ignore me. I-I don’t belong to you…"

But even as I said the words, I knew they weren’t true. There was a part of me that had always known that I belonged to him, would always belong to him... ever since the moment I had woken up and seen those piercing violet eyes.

He let out a dark, humorless laugh as he watched tears well in my eyes, thumb stroking over the frantic pulse in my throat. "Hate you?" The words came out rough, almost pained. "I don’t hate you, Zaya. I love you… more than anything. You were made for me, the other half of my soul. I spent the last eighty years watching you from the shadows like some lovesick fool trying to save you from the inevitable end. We shouldn’t be together… every time we’ve tried has ended in heartbreak… one of us always dying only for the other to bring us back then spend years trying to get them to remember. I was trying to save us from that, but I can’t stay away. Not anymore. I will take you… claim you… so you will never doubt what I feel for you again."

The tears that had formed in my eyes spilled over at the raw pain and anguish in his voice, the anger and possessive need making my heart ache and my body tremble. Every rational thought screamed that this was wrong—that he had spent years ignoring me, leaving me to wither in silence—yet the raw truth in his voice shattered any resistance I had left.

My breath came in short gasps as tears spilled down my cheeks, streaking through the kohl still clinging to my lashes. "Y-You… you watched me?"

He pressed a kiss against my pulse before his lips skimmed over my jawline then up my cheek, kissing along the tear trails before moving to my lips. "Yes, every second... waiting for the right time to come to you and now that I have you, I will never let you go."

I shuddered as his mouth covered mine in another punishing kiss… this one more desperate, almost bruising as he claimed me with harsh strokes of his tongue. My mind spun as my arms came up, trembling as I wrapped them around his neck and pulled him closer, arching against him as my legs wrapped around his waist.

He growled into my mouth, his hands grasping my thighs and yanking me to the edge of the desk, his body pressing tight against mine. He groaned, the sound low and pained, when my pussy grinded against his hard cock then his lips were leaving mine, trailing slow, burning kisses down the sensitive skin of my neck.

He paused at the hollow of my collarbone, scraping his teeth over the sensitive skin before his mouth moved lower, his tongue lapping at the sweat beading on my skin, his breathing rapid and harsh as he continued down my chest.

Grabbing the chemise, he ripped it down the middle like he had my dress and parted the fabric, exposing my bare breasts and belly to his gaze.

I swallowed hard and once again resisted the urge to cover myself, but it was quickly drowned out when his mouth closed over one peaked nipple. The sensation was electric—his teeth grazing just enough to make me squirm, his tongue soothing the sting in slow circles before sucking hard.

My back arched off the desk as a sharp cry tore from my throat, hands flying to tangle in his dark hair as pleasure burned through me like wildfire.

He growled against my skin, the vibration sending another jolt straight to my pussy. His tongue flicked over my swollen nipple again before he switched sides without warning, lavishing the other one with equal attention until I was writhing beneath him.

"My Lord, please," I gasped out when his teeth grazed too hard.

Those violet eyes snapped up at me from under thick lashes; dark and hungry as they raked over every exposed inch of my skin before landing on my face. He inhaled sharply at whatever he saw there then mumbled, "Caleb, not Lord," against the sensitive skin of my breast.

My breath caught, something stirring in my chest as I stared at him, the hunger in his eyes leaving me breathless. "Caleb," I whispered, the name feeling unfamiliar on my tongue yet so right… like I had moaned, whined and whimpered it a thousand times under similar circumstances and hundreds more.

He made a hungry sound low in his throat. "Say it again."

"Caleb," I uttered obediently, my heart fluttering with the intimate sound.

"Good girl," he growled, a feral gleam in his eyes as he moved lower, his lips and teeth scraping against the skin of my stomach… down the curve of my hip… down the inside of my thigh as he shoved my knees wider, making me arch.

My hands reached out blindly as I desperately sought for something to anchor me as he kissed, sucked and nipped at the sensitive skin above my knee… higher and higher until he paused at the flimsy material covering my pussy.

His breath hitched as he pressed his nose against the damp fabric, inhaling deeply with a low groan. "Hmm... you smell heavenly and you're already soaked for me." His voice was rough with lust as his fingers hooked into the thin cotton of my undergarments, tearing them down the middle without warning.

The cool air kissed my exposed flesh for only a second before his tongue dragged through my folds in one long, filthy stroke. I cried out sharply, back arching off the desk as pleasure shot up my spine like lightning.

He growled before diving his tongue inside me hungrily, two thick fingers joining seconds later without warning, scissoring inside me then driving in deep and curling.

I cried out, my body jerking violently as his fingers and tongue worked in perfect rhythm. My hands flew to grip the edge of the desk, knuckles turning white as pleasure built too fast—too intense—my needy, touch starved body not handling the new sensations well. "C-Caleb!" I sobbed, hips bucking against his face helplessly.

He groaned, the vibrations making me clench around his fingers while that wicked tongue circled my swollen clit with punishing precision. His free hand gripped my thigh and pulled it over his shoulder when I tried squirming away. "Stay still," he demanded darkly before diving back in deeper, tongue thrusting inside as another finger joined the first two, stretching me obscenely wide in preparation for his cock.

My breath came in ragged, desperate gasps as I stared down at him between my legs… this man who had spent decades ignoring me was now worshiping my body with a hunger that made my toes curl. His dark hair was tousled from my fingers, his lips glistening with the evidence of how much I wanted him, his eyes closed and cheeks flushed with pleasure. He looked beautiful.

"P-Please..." I begged weakly, not even sure what for anymore—more? Less?

He lifted his head just enough to meet my gaze through hooded eyes while those sinful fingers kept moving. "What do you want?" he rasped.

I whimpered, my hips jerking helplessly against his hand as I tried to form words through the haze of pleasure. "Y-You," I gasped, the truth tumbling out unbidden. "Please... I need you."

His eyes darkened with something feral at my confession, a muscle in his jaw twitching as he let out a slow breath through flared nostrils. His fingers slowed their movements just enough to make me squirm… just enough to be cruel before pulling them out of my body. "You need me?" he repeated in a low growl, moving so his clothed cock was pressed against my pussy.

I swallowed hard, my body shaking and trembling, so desperate for him I could barely see straight. "Yes," I whispered.

His gaze flicked to mine, dark and hungry, and the air seemed to crackle with something violent. "Prove it," he growled, his words like a command.

My breath hitched, eyes widening at the challenge and the possessive need behind it. "H-how...?" I managed to murmur, still trying to get my body under control.

He stood slowly, his hands gliding up my trembling body to my forearms. "I want that pretty mouth on me," he said, voice low and dangerous as he pulled me up until I was sitting then he leaned in and whispered, "On my body, on my cock… everywhere."

I shivered at the dark, possessive words, my body and emotions screaming yes… yes to whatever he wanted. "Okay," I whispered as he moved away so I could slide off the desk.

We switched places with him leaning back against the desk where I had just been laying across it, eyes never leaving mine as I sank to my knees. His gaze was fixated on my face, watching every expression as he removed the jagged pieces of cloth, belts and ribbons around his waist and threw them aside until he was left in nothing but a pair of form fitting black pants that hugged every part of his body from the waist down.

My breaths came in soft, shallow pants as I looked at the proof of his need straining the front of his pants then I reached up, running my hands up his strong thighs, tracing the lines of his taut muscles through the expensive pants until they fumbled with the buckle of his belt. The metal clinked loudly in the quiet room, making me flinch.

I finally got it undone and pulled his pants down his thighs to free him. He was huge. Thick and long, flushed dark purple at the tip where a bead of precum glistened invitingly with trimmed, dark hair around the base.

My stomach twisted in anticipation as I wrapped one hand around him experimentally… then another when that didn’t even cover half and lightly squeezed until the precum on his tip slid down his shaft towards my fingers. Fascinated, I ran a fingertip through the glistening fluid and brought it to my lips, letting out a low moan at his taste.

"Taste good?" he growled.

I nodded, my cheeks flushing at the question, but the look in his eyes made me want to tease him, so I licked my lips, his taste lingering like warm honey. "Yes," I murmured, then ran my thumb over his head, pressing against the underside lightly before leaning forward and sliding my lips as far down his length as I could go.

 He let out a sharp, punched-out groan as my lips stretched around him, his hips jerking forward involuntarily. One of his hands fisted in my hair—not guiding, just holding—as he watched with rapt attention. "Fuck," he rasped when I pulled back slightly to lick the underside of his cockhead before taking him deep again. My throat fluttered around him and a string of curses spilled from his lips as precum dripped onto my tongue.

His other hand suddenly cupped the back of my head—not forcing me down but making sure I didn’t pull away—his breathing ragged like an animal barely holding onto control, "That's it… take all you can."

I gagged slightly, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes as I fought to adjust to his size. My throat burned with each shallow breath through my nose, but the look in his eyes—the raw hunger and approval—made me want to push harder… to please him.

My hand trembled where it gripped his thigh for balance as I swallowed around him again, taking just a little more this time until he hit the back of my throat while stroking what I couldn’t reach with the other hand.

He groaned, deep and guttural like it was being ripped from somewhere primal inside him. "Perfect," he rasped out between clenched teeth; the hand still tangled in my hair guiding me as his hips started rocking against my face. "Fucking perfect."

I whimpered around his cock at the praise, the vibrations making him shudder. My throat fluttered wildly as I fought to relax but all I could focus on was him, the salt-sweet taste flooding my tongue with every bob of my head. Tears spilled freely down my cheeks now, smearing the kohl around my eyes in dark streaks as he rocked deeper into the wet heat of my throat.

The hand in my hair tightened—almost desperately—as he started to lose whatever control he had left. Every muscle in his body went taut, trembling like he was about to snap and just when I felt the first stirrings of his impending release, he pulled me off his cock with an obscene noise, bent, grabbed my arms and yanked me to my feet with a growl.

His face was flushed and a muscle in his jaw was ticking feverishly as he spun me around and pressed my front against the cool wood of the desk. I gasped when my hands hit the surface then he distracted me by dragging the thick head of his cock through my soaked folds, teasing me. "Say it," he ordered, voice rough as gravel. "Who do you belong to?"

My breath came in ragged pants, my body shaking so hard I could barely stand. "Y-you," I whimpered, my voice broken and desperate as I fought to keep from rocking my ass back to take his cock inside me. "You—ahhh!"

He slammed into me into one brutal thrust, stealing the breath from my lungs and the words from my lips as he filled me... deeper, rougher than I could remember ever being filled before. His fingers bit into my hips as he pulled me back against him, every movement rough, punishing.

A low, strangled moan tore from my throat as I clawed at the desk for something to hold onto, but everything was out of reach so I dug my fingernails into the shiny surface and held on as my thighs trembled and my pussy fluttered around his hard length, "Caleb! T-too much, I can't—"

"You can," he growled, one hand winding in my braided hair and yanking my head back until I was forced to arch back against his chest. His mouth moved over the sensitive skin at my throat… my shoulder… teeth sinking into the muscle hard enough to make me hiss. The hand on my hip tightened then he whispered in my ear, "Is my cock too much? Do you think I should stop?"

The words were like a jolt of lightning through my body, making every nerve ending come alive. "No," I gasped out, my words strangled and garbled. "Please, don't stop. I need you… please, Caleb, please-"

He let out a sharp growl, his free hand sliding up my side, over my chest and up my neck, fingers brushing against the sensitive underside of my jaw as he forced my head further back until I was looking up at him over my shoulder. "That's right," he murmured, lips hovering over mine. "You need me. No one else. Never anyone else."

I nodded frantically, tears spilling down my cheeks as his grip shifted from my neck to my breast. He tweaked my nipple, rolling the tight bud between his fingers as his movements inside me slowed to an almost agonizing pace as if he was waiting for my verbal answer before he would give me what I needed.

"N-No one else," I sobbed, the truth of it burning through every lie I'd ever told myself.

His eyes darkened with something feral at my surrender before he crushed his mouth to mine in a kiss that felt more like a claim than anything else. And then he started moving—harder, faster, deeper—every thrust punctuated by the sharp slap of skin against skin and the choked-off sounds tearing from my throat.

When he finally broke the kiss for air, I gasped weakly but all I got was another sharp thrust that made stars burst behind my eyelids.

"Open your eyes," he demanded darkly.

I obeyed instantly, forcing my lids open to meet his… violet and burning with something unhinged. My vision was blurred from the tears, but I saw it all—the way his jaw clenched as he watched me, the sweat-slicked muscle of his chest rising and falling too fast.

"You look at me while I’m inside you," he growled when my lashes fluttered dangerously close to shutting again. One hand slid up my body, fingers dragging a possessive path over my trembling stomach, gripping one breast in his large palm briefly before wrapping around my throat.

The desk creaked ominously beneath us as he bent over me, forcing me to lay flat with my ass in the air and his sweat-slick chest pressed against my back while that wicked mouth found the shell of my ear and growled, "Come for me."

It wasn't a request—it was an order laced with dark promise.

And Gods help me... I obeyed instantly.

My body seized, a white-hot explosion tearing through every nerve ending until all I could do was sob out his name over and over like some desperate prayer as my pussy spasmed around his thick cock and my hips stuttered against his.

He didn’t let up for even a second; if anything he fucked into me harder as he chased his release until finally with guttural groan that sounded ripped straight from hell itself… his cock pulsed, hot come soaking my insides then sliding out to drip down my thighs when he pulled out and shoved back in one last time.

He buried his face in the sweaty skin of my shoulder as we both gasped for air and I felt his body trembling before he finally let go of my throat and wrapped his arms around my waist to keep me from collapsing as he pulled me upright. "You think this is over?" His voice was rougher than gravel now—a warning laced through that sentence that made my stomach flip. "I’ve been without you for eighty years, Zaya, I’m nowhere near done with you."

I whimpered when one hand slid up to cup my breast, thumb flicking over my nipple until it peaked while the other hand trailed down between us… dipping lower between my thighs where I could feel his cock still hard inside me. A sharp cry left me when two fingers pushed against my clit without warning.

"C-Caleb! N-No more…"

"Sshh," he whispered as he spun us so his ass was resting against the edge of his desk with an arm around my waist so I was trapped against him while still impaled on his cock. "You can give me a little more. I know you have a little more for me."

I could feel the heat radiating from his bare chest as it pressed against my back, the hard muscles of his abdomen flexing with every slow roll of his hips. His fingers continued their merciless teasing between my thighs, alternating between firm circles on my swollen clit and rough drags where we were connected that made me jerk in his lap.

"Caleb—please," I begged again, though this time it came out more broken than pleading. My body was still oversensitive from the last orgasm he'd wrung from me; tiny aftershocks fluttering through me whenever he moved just right inside me, but my body and mind wanted more. More… more… more.

"What are you begging for?" he murmured. "Are you begging me to stop?"

I whimpered, my head falling back against his shoulder. "I—I don't know, I can't tell anymore," I whispered, my hands reaching down to grip his thighs so I could press my ass back against him.

He chuckled, the hand on my hip sliding up to my throat. "So sensitive," he murmured. "You think I'm being too rough with you?"

I shook my head. "N-No, that's not it… y-you just feel so—" I struggled for the right word. "Intense. You're being so intense, I can't think straight. I-ah!"

My voice cracked as he suddenly pinched my nipple, sending a sharp jolt of pleasure straight to my oversensitive pussy. I clenched around him, which only made his grip tighten further.

"Can’t think straight?" he repeated, his voice dropping into something dangerously low. His fingers tightened around my nipple—just shy of painful—as he ground his hips up into me with a slow, deliberate roll that made my breath hitch. "Hmm… good."

Before I could even process his words, he pulled his cock out of me and lowered me to the floor on my hands and knees with my ass in the air and my legs spread wide before he slammed back inside me to the hilt without warning.

A sharp, strangled cry tore from my throat, my body jerking violently as my fingers clawed at the floor, nails scraping against the polished wood as I fought to adjust to the new position.

"Look at you," he rasped, dragging almost completely out before slamming back in and setting a punishing pace—each snap of his hips punching ragged moans from my lips and sending shocks of white-hot pleasure straight through me until all I could do was shake and beg.

"Y-Yes! Oh yes!" I sobbed, my body convulsing as another orgasm ripped through me. My pussy clenched around his cock like a vice, milking him desperately as he chased his own release with deep, brutal thrusts.

"You take it so well," he muttered against the sweat-slicked skin of my shoulder before sinking his teeth in lightly. His movements stuttered before slowing completely then I felt his cock twitching inside me, hot spurts of come flooding my pussy as he came.

He growled, one hand sliding up to fist in the tangled strands of hair that had fallen from their braids. His free hand trailed down between us where we were still joined and smeared the wetness leaking out around his cock before pushing two fingers inside alongside his softening length just to make sure no more escaped.

A moment later, he pulled out of me and shifted us so I was laying on my back with my legs spread around his waist and his face hovering just above mine. He was close enough that I felt every breath across my face—felt the heat radiating from his body that made me shiver.

Before I could say anything, he was kissing me, his mouth as possessive and greedy as it had been the first time, stealing the words from my tongue before they could form.

I melted into the kiss, my body still trembling from the aftershocks of pleasure as his lips claimed mine. My hands came up to tangle in his dark hair, pulling him closer.

He broke away long enough to growl, "Mine," before diving back in with renewed energy. The word was rough with possession and something darker beneath it… something that made heat pool low in my belly all over again.

My breath hitched when I felt his softening cock twitch against my belly, already stirring back to life between us despite how thoroughly he'd just taken me. "C-Caleb..." His name spilled from swollen lips like a prayer and a warning combined.

He pulled back, his eyes burning into mine, the violet depths stormy with unspent hunger. "I won’t take you again tonight."

The words were more of a vow than a promise, but I still found myself whimpering at the thought of going back upstairs to my cold empty bed after having experienced what it was like to be in his arms. "Why not?" I whispered, my voice trembling slightly.

He was quiet for a moment, his gaze dropping down to my swollen lips then back up to my face. One of his hands stroked gently over my cheek, fingers trailing down my neck and across my jaw before his thumb swiped over my bottom lip.

"Because," he murmured, the word quiet and rough, "I don't think you could handle it."

My breath hitched at the blunt truth in his words. "Okay," I whispered then looked away as a tear escaped down my cheek.

"Don't," he murmured, the rough edge to his voice softening slightly. "Don't look away. You know I don't like that."

I swallowed hard, blinking back another tear as I forced myself to look back up at him, my eyes meeting his steady gaze.

He studied my face for a moment before he let out a long breath and leaned forward so his forehead rested against mine. "Why are you crying?" he whispered, his eyes closed.

"Because," I whispered back, hating the way my voice wavered. "I want you to hold me… I want to sleep beside you but-"

He cut me off with a kiss, his lips moving against mine before he pulled back, "Shut up."

I swallowed hard, my hands trembling as I lifted them to grip his arms to keep him in place. "But I don't want to go back to my room. I want—"

He shushed me gently, his hand cupping my chin to tilt my face up so I was looking at him. "What did I just say?"

I bit my lip, feeling a fresh wave of tears well up as I stared at him. "Y-You told me to shut up," I murmured, the words shaky with vulnerability.

He let out an exasperated sigh and got to his feet before pulling me up and yanking me against his chest in one rough motion. His arms locked around me like steel bands, trapping my face in the crook of his neck where sweat still clung to his warm skin and the scent of whiskey mixed with something uniquely him.

"You’re not going back to your room," he muttered into my hair, voice gravelly but firm enough that it brooked no argument. "Ever." A pause as if daring me to protest before adding gruffly, "Now stop crying, sweet girl."

As his words sank in, a wave of relief washed over me, quickly followed by a rush of fear and uncertainty. Did he mean I would be going to another room? His room? Or was he done with me and something was going to happen to me?

"What do you mean, ever?" I whispered into the damp skin of his neck, my fingers gripping his arms a little tighter.

He let out a low growl, pulling me closer until every inch of our naked bodies was pressed together. I felt so small and fragile against his muscular frame, like a doll in the arms of a giant.

"I mean exactly what I said," he muttered, his breath warm against my ear. "You're not spending another night in some cold, lonely bed. You’ll spend the rest of our days in my bed… in my arms… where you belong."

I let out a tiny, startled gasp as he lifted me effortlessly—my legs instinctively wrapping around his waist while my arms clutched at his shoulders. His bare chest was warm against mine, the sweat-slicked skin making it hard to grip properly as he carried me out of his study, down a hallway I’d never been in before and into a huge bedroom.

The room was dimly lit by the moonlight filtering through large windows that overlooked the lotus pond. It was decorated in dark colors, with oak furniture and deep purple and green accents. There was a large fireplace built into the far wall with a comfortable-looking leather chair and a matching couch with a low coffee table in front of them.

The bed was massive, taking up nearly half of one side of the room with its king-size frame with a dark purple comforter, fluffy pillows and half a dozen throw pillows in various shades of green and gold. Beside it stood a massive oak dresser and a bedside table, both covered in various knick-knacks and pictures that I couldn’t see in the dark. There was a door leading off to an equally lavish bathroom and another door that probably led into a closet.

He didn’t set me down until we reached the bed—then promptly dropped me onto the cool silk with zero ceremony. I bounced slightly before scrambling further up the bed on trembling elbows as he crawled over me like a predator, one knee sinking into the mattress between my thighs as he caged me beneath him in an instant.

"Stay."

The word was said in a dark, gravelly voice that made me shiver with a combination of fear and desire. My eyes widened as I trembled beneath him, suddenly feeling far too vulnerable with nothing but air between us.

"What are you going to do?" I whispered, my voice barely audible even to my own ears.

The low light coming through the window cast shadows across his face, his features set in a feral expression that made my breath catch in my chest.

"I want to take you again but I’m not sure you can handle that right now," he growled, leaning down so our faces were just inches apart. "But for now… we’re going to sleep. In the morning… we will talk."

He didn't say anything else as he rolled off me onto his back, pulling me against his side a second later. My head ended up on his chest, just above his heart, and I lay still, listening to the faint but steady thump of it beneath my ear as he started running his fingers through my tangled hair.

We lay in silence, listening to the sound of each other breathing as the room around us slowly cooled. I could almost hear my own heart slowing to beat in time with his own, the fear draining slowly out of me with each pass of his fingers through my hair.

I could feel my eyelids getting heavier as exhaustion set in, the events of the night finally catching up to me. Just as I was on the edge of sleep, he let out a frustrated growl then his voice broke through the silence, gruff and rough, "Sit up."

I froze at the rough command, my heart suddenly racing and a lump forming in my throat. I swallowed hard before awkwardly pushing myself up, my body trembling. My skin prickled with uncertainty as I waited for whatever he was going to do, my mind racing with a thousand different possibilities, none of them good.

He sat up behind me a second later, the mattress shifting under his weight, and one of his large hands came up to rest on my shoulder, silently commanding me to stay still. The without a word, his hands went to my hair and he started to unwind the braids, extracting the white lace, ribbons and flowers and tossing them onto the floor.

I shivered as his fingers worked through the tangled strands, my silver hair unraveling around us in soft waves that fell over my shoulders and into my face. Each tug sent a jolt of sensation down my spine—too sharp to be gentle, but not enough to hurt.

"Caleb..." I whispered, unsure if I was protesting or pleading.

He didn’t answer… just tightened his grip on the chunk of hair in his grip slightly before loosening it again when he felt me tense. When the braids finally came undone completely and all the decorations were in a small pile on the floor, he let out an annoyed breath.

"You will not allow another to touch your hair ever again. Understood?" he muttered darkly while running one hand down the now-loosened mass.

"Yes," I whispered, my heart skipping a beat at his words. The way he was holding my hair… his hand sliding through the strands like he owned it… it sent a shiver down my spine because it was almost as if he was jealous? of the maid who had braided it. "I won't… never again."

He let out another rough exhale through his nose before dragging me back against him with one sharp tug on my unraveled hair, forcing me to arch into him slightly so he could press his lips against the side of my neck in something too possessive to be called just a kiss. "Good girl."

I whimpered at the words—the praise making me shiver even while his possessive tone made me want to squirm. I felt so vulnerable right now, so confused as to what in the hell was going on… caught between wanting to flee back to my lonely, cold room and wanting to melt into him. "Caleb… I…"

He cut me off with a soft shush, his hand tightening in my hair again just enough to send a spark of awareness through me. "Quiet," he growled against my skin before inhaling deeply. "Sleep now… talk later."

I let out a shaky breath and nodded weakly, my body growing limp in his arms while I focused on the steady beat of his heart against my back while he slowly ran his fingers through my hair. It was a small comfort in this strange and uncertain situation and I found myself clinging to that steady rhythm as I tried to quiet my rapidly swirling thoughts.

After a few minutes, his grip in my hair loosened and he shifted, pulling me with him until we were lying down again. This time, he pulled the comforter over us before wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me against his chest.

I closed my eyes and listened to his heartbeat as it began to slow, the steady thump-thump-thump almost like a lullaby. My head was spinning with a million questions and emotions, but right now… it was just too much to think about. So, I forced those thoughts away, focused on the feel of his skin against mine and the way the heat was slowly soaking from his body into mine.

For now… I would let this be enough. I would sleep… and tomorrow, we could talk.

Epilogue: Free

Hayley

Two years later

I knew he was behind me before he even wrapped his arms around me and placed his hands on my very pregnant belly.

"How are my girls?" he whispered in my ear before placing a kiss on my cheek.

"You’re so sure it’s a girl," I said with a small laugh, dropping the pruning shears in my hand and leaning back against him as I turned my head toward him and smiled.

"Of course I'm sure," he said, one of his hands rubbing soothing circles over my stomach that made me melt back against him. "I'm never wrong about these things. Besides, I want a little girl that looks just like her beautiful mother."

He buried his nose against the side of my neck, nuzzling close and inhaling deeply.

"You keep saying that," I said in a soft voice, tilting my head to the side to give him room to do as he pleased.

It had been that way for the last few weeks.

The closer I got to my due date, the more he seemed to gravitate toward me.

He was always close, always making sure I had everything I needed but now it was like he couldn't stand to have even a few inches of distance between us.

"Because it's the truth," he murmured. "I want a little girl with your eyes, your laugh, your heart… your everything."

"And what if it's a boy?" I asked, turning in his arms to face him. "What then?"

"Then," he said, his hand splaying across my stomach like he was shielding our child from the world. "He'll be strong, stubborn, and protective… with my eyes and my build… but he'll be every bit as perfect as his mother."

"God, you're going to be such a sap," I teased, reaching up to cup his face.

"Only for you," he murmured before stealing another kiss—this one deeper than the last.

"You know…"

My fingers trailed down from his jawline toward the open collar of his button up when… a sharp kick.

My entire body froze mid-seduction attempt as our child decided now was not an appropriate time for me to try to romance their handsome father.

Caleb blinked then promptly burst into laughter so loud it probably startled our customers.

He pressed both hands firmly against either side of my belly like he was trying to physically contain the tiny rebel within my womb while grinning ear-to-ear.

"Seems like someone's feeling a bit feisty…"

Another hard kick.

"Definitely my child," he said with a fond shake of his head. He leaned down, resting his forehead against my stomach and speaking in a soft murmur. "Hey, don't give your mom a hard time, little one. She's had a long day."

Another kick.

Caleb laughed again, the sound warm and rough. Then, without warning, his hands suddenly slid down to my thighs, lifting me up and onto the table in a single, smooth motion.

"There. That's better…"

I gasped when my bottom hit the wood, surprise warring with a sudden spark of heat in my lower belly.

"Caleb..." I protested without any real heat, my hands immediately going up to steady myself against his broad shoulders.

"It never ceases to amaze me how mushy you two are even after two years of marriage," Sadie mumbled as she suddenly appeared and plucked the finished flower arrangement off the counter behind me. "Like for real… even Keith and I weren’t that… that…" she rolled her shoulders while holding the vase aloft as if searching for the right word then perked up, "… annoying."

My face burned hotter than a damn sunburn, and I shot Sadie the most unimpressed look I could muster… which was hard to do when my husband had me perched on a table and refused to move as I tried to look around him at my best friend.

Oh no… he just grinned, entirely unbothered by her comment as he slid his hands up to frame my waist.

"Annoying?" He repeated with mock offense before leaning in and talking to my belly, "You hear that, babygirl, your auntie thinks your mommy and daddy are annoying."

I couldn't help the laugh that burst from me as he planted a smacking kiss on the bulge of my stomach.

Even that small act made our child seem to kick and squirm with excitement—almost like he or she was actively trying to participate in the conversation.

Then I hissed as a sharp pain shot through my belly.

"Ow ow… what was that?"

Caleb's entire body went rigid, his playful smirk vanishing in an instant. His hands immediately went to my belly as he studied me with an intensity that would have scared me if I didn’t know him better.

"Was that a kick or—?"

Then another one hit… harder this time and I instinctively grabbed his forearms so hard my nails left marks.

My breath came out in short bursts as I shook my head rapidly, "N-No… this isn't kicking. It’s-"

"Contractions," Sadie said happily as she dropped the vase onto a nearby shelf with an audible thunk and lightly shoved Caleb aside so she could help me off the table. "It’s time to bring that baby into the world."

"What?!" I stumbled slightly, a sharp spike of panic making me dizzy as every muscle in my body tensed painfully. "No, no, it's too early," I gasped, grabbing for Caleb's hand blindly. He was there in an instant, his free hand cupping my cheek while the other clasped my fingers tight. "It can't be time. We've still got three weeks left."

"Babies don’t go off a timeline, sweetie, they make an appearance when they’re ready."

"And ours clearly has impeccable timing," Caleb added, trying to infuse his voice with some much-needed humor.

I let out a shaky laugh as another contraction hit me.

"I don't think I'm ready," I admitted. "I-I don't… I'm scared, Caleb."

His grip on me tightened slightly, his eyes turning impossibly soft as he leaned forward until our foreheads were pressed together.

"Hey…" he murmured, his voice a low rumble. "You're going to be amazing. You're the strongest woman I know and you’re going to be the best mother a child could ever hope for."

I let out a choked sob, his words wrapping around me like a warm blanket. My hands were shaking where they clutched at him, but I nodded weakly because if Caleb believed in me that much… then maybe I could too.

"Okay… okay…" I panted, trying to ride it out like we'd practiced in our birthing class.

Caleb was already moving before I finished speaking, scooping me up with ease despite my flailing protest and started toward the door at full speed.

Sadie didn't even try to stop us; she just grabbed her purse and sprinted ahead of us yelling over her shoulder, "Keith! Take over for us! Baby is coming… I repeat baby is coming! NOW!"

The last thing I saw before we burst through the shop doors was Keith choking violently on his coffee while Sadie vaulted into their car like an action hero and had the key in the ignition and the car cranked before we even opened the back door.

"Easy," Caleb murmured against my temple as he all but threw open the door and put me inside then followed me in and pulled me against his side. "Deep breaths."

My nails were still embedded in his forearm when another contraction hit halfway down Main Street… harder than anything yet and something warm gushed between my thighs all over the seat and floorboard.

Caleb froze for half a second before he locked it down and shifted into Colonel Mode.

"We're not making it to the hospital," he said, voice eerily calm as Sadie's car screeched to a halt on the side of the road.

Before I could even process the fact that we were no longer moving, my husband was moving… shoving open the back door and sliding out.

His pant leg was soaked, and he had small trickles of blood on his forearm from my nails but he didn't so much as flinch.

Instead, he dropped straight to his knees on the pavement right there between my legs in front of God and everybody else and shoved my skirt up around my waist so he could get a look.

Sadie let out a strangled noise and catapulted over the passenger seat and out of the car so she could stand behind Caleb and block the view of anyone who decided they wanted a front row seat, even going so far as to shove a man stupid enough to pull his phone out of his pocket like he was going to record the whole thing.

"Get out of here before I end you!" Then she was there between my legs also, "Caleb, the baby is almost here?!" she shrieked as soon as she peeked because apparently me giving birth to her niece or nephew on Main Street wasn’t part of her plan either!

But my husband?

My gorgeous husband ignored everyone and everything… because right now all that mattered was getting our baby into this world safely if we weren’t going make it time for an epidural or doctors or anything resembling medical assistance...

"Okay, angel. I need you to push."

A guttural cry ripped through me as I bore down. Sweat and tears ran down my face and I had a death grip on the seat below me.

"I can't," I pleaded through gritted teeth, the pain worse than anything I had ever felt. "I need a doctor, I can't-"

His face set into a determined expression and he covered my hands with his.

"Look at me," he said firmly. "You can do this, baby, I’m here and I’ve got you."

I let out a sobbing gasp as I met his eyes, the intensity in them steadying me. My chest heaved as I fought for air between contractions, but something about the way he held my gaze—like an anchor in this storm of pain and fear—made me nod weakly.

"Okay… okay," I choked out.

Sadie was already moving into action behind him, pulling her jacket off and shoving it over Caleb’s shoulder while barking orders at random bystanders who had stopped to gawk.

"You call 911! You… go to that store and get some water, towels, anything you can find! And you… put that phone away before I shove it so far up your ass you will be able to use your tonsils to speed dial the hospital!"

Caleb pressed a fierce kiss to my sweaty forehead before murmuring, "One more push."

My back arched as I bore down with every ounce of strength left in me, a scream tearing from my throat that probably startled birds for miles.

My vision went white at the edges—Caleb's grip on me the only thing keeping me grounded then… a cry.

A tiny, furious wail filled the air as Caleb caught our baby against his chest with one hand while using his other to cradle their head gently. Blood and fluid dripped onto his shirt, but he didn’t even flinch; he just stared down in awe at this perfect little human we’d made together.

Sadie let out a choked sob behind him before scrambling forward to help wrap them in her jacket like a makeshift blanket.

"Ambulance just pulled up."

Caleb nodded but didn’t take his eyes off the bundle in his arms.

"Hey there, babygirl," he whispered hoarsely when our daughter reached up and grasped his pinky while letting the world know she had arrived. "It's Daddy."

Then he leaned forward, putting her against my chest and pressed his forehead against mine as tears streamed down his face.

"My girls… my angels…"

Chapter 16: Peace

Caleb

Five months later

The day of our wedding had finally arrived and I was… nervous.

Which was strange for me because I didn’t get nervous… except when it came to the woman I was about to say ‘I do’ to and spend the rest of my life with.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, taking in the fancy black suit, white button up and beige tie I was wearing and the way the material hugged my broad shoulders and muscular frame…

I looked good but the anxiety churning in my stomach… that wasn't good.

Today needed to be perfect… for me. For Hayley. For the life I planned to have with her.

As I adjusted my tie for what had to be the fifth time in a row, my thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Come in," I called out, turning to face whoever was entering.

The door creaked open, and my best man, Gideon, poked his head inside.

"You ready?"

I exhaled a slow breath, my fingers tightening around the tie for just a second before I forced myself to relax.

"Yeah. "I’m ready."

He stepped into the room, shutting the door behind him and looked me over.

"Nervous?"

"Is it obvious?"

"A little," he said then placed a hand on my shoulder. "Relax. It's going to be perfect."

I nodded, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath.

"I know, I just… I want everything to go right. Today's the most important day of my life... I want it to be perfect for her."

His expression softened.

"You know Hay doesn’t care about perfect. She just wants you."

I huffed out another breath—this one amused—and unclenched my fists.

"And for the record," he added, adjusting his own suit jacket as if I needed proof of his confidence in this situation, "I'm nervous too." A pause then, "... mostly because Sadie threatened to stab someone if we were late."

That got a real laugh out of me and the tension in my chest loosened as I shook my head.

Allowing Sadie to plan our wedding had been interesting…

No sooner had Hayley said, ‘of course, you can plan everything,” we started getting lists, pictures and ideas through text messages, email, and even in our mailboxes.

The last five months had been hectic to say the least, but everything was worth it.

The location we had agreed on was stunning.

The way the sunlight peeked through the trees and cast a soft, warm glow over everything made it almost angelic.

There were white and pink roses everywhere, fairy lights hanging from the branches of the tall trees that twinkled and swayed gently in the breeze, and the smell of freshly cut grass mixed with the sweet scent of flowers.

There was a small lake just beyond the trees and the water was perfectly still, almost like glass, with a handmade altar and chairs sitting before it silently waiting for us to say our vows.

"That sounds like her," I finally said, smiling.

"It's going to be fine, Caleb. You two are meant to be together."

"Yeah," I exhaled. "We are."

He clapped my shoulder one last time before heading towards the door.

"Alright, enough brooding… you've got a beautiful woman waiting to marry you."

My stomach flipped at that, but not from nerves this time… no, it was pure anticipation.

"Let's go then," I said just as there came another knock on the door followed by Sadie’s muffled voice, “Five minutes or so help me God—!”

Gideon threw his head back laughing while reaching past me to yank open that door only for us both to immediately get pelted face-first with rose petals courtesy of Sissy who clearly took her job as ‘flower woman’ seriously.

Sadie snorted and swatted her sister on the shoulder.

"Pick those up!"

Sissy stuck her tongue out then turned to me with a smirk.

"You clean up nicely. I guess you can marry my aunt," she said bluntly.

I raised an eyebrow but couldn't help but chuckle.

"Thanks, I guess?"

Sadie shook her head exasperation.

"Sissy, be nice," she said, giving her sister a light shove.

"I am being nice," she retorted before turning to Gideon. "You’re hot."

Gideon's eyes widened and he shot an alarmed look at Sadie.

"Ignore her," Sadie said with a chuckle, grabbing her sister's hand and tugging her away. "She thinks everyone with a pretty face is her type."

Sissy winked at Gideon before finally being dragged out the door, her loud exclamations on how she was almost seventeen and could totally date an older man ringing out over the noise of people moving around us.

Gideon let out a slow breath, running a hand through his hair as he stared at me.

"Did… did that just happen?"

I barked out a laugh and clapped him on the back hard enough to make him stumble.

"Yes. Welcome to our family."

He groaned dramatically but couldn’t hide his grin as Sadie poked her head back through the doorway with narrowed eyes.

"Alright! Enough distractions!" She pointed firmly between us both like an annoyed drill sergeant. "You to the pergola!" she barked at Gideon. "And you to the altar!" she said, shooing me towards the small path that led away from the main building and down to the lake where the ceremony would be held.

My mouth was dry and the butterflies in my stomach turned into a tornado as I walked.

The trees swayed gently with the slight breeze, the light catching the leaves and casting dancing shadows across the ground.

I could see the lake glistening in the distance and people taking their seats.

My chest tightened with anticipation and nerves, but this time, it was the good kind.

I reached the altar, taking my place under the roses as the music began to play.

Sissy came down the aisle first, dropping pink and white petals on the ground as she went then behind her came Gideon and Sadie.

Then… there she was.

My Hayley.

At first glance, all I could see was a blur of white through the trees as she walked down the aisle on her father’s arm. The sunset painted everything in golden hues behind her figure—her dress shimmering like liquid light with every step forward toward me.

Then… her.

My breath caught.

The world fell away, and it was like time stood still. The sound of the guests, the music, even the wind all faded into the background.

She was stunning.

Her dress was simple yet gorgeous.

It hugged her curves just right, the off-shoulder neckline leaving her shoulders and collarbones on display. The lace and pearls glinted under the golden sun light; the off-white fabric contrasting with her golden skin perfectly. Her long honey brown hair was pulled back and decorated with flowers and a long veil fell over her shoulders.

I swallowed hard when our gazes met because for a second it felt like we were alone despite all the people around us.

Nothing else existed except Hayley…

My chest felt tight—too tight almost—like my heart might just burst right out of it if she kept looking at me like that… like I was the most important thing in the world to her.

Then her father placed her hand in mine, and the second our fingers touched, something settled inside me. The tension bled out of me, the nerves dissolved into pure certainty, and I relaxed.

"Hi," I murmured… just a single word laced with so much love it threatened to choke me.

She laughed softly before she squeezed my fingers.

A small smile curled my lips then I leaned forward, pressing my forehead against hers as I whispered, "You look incredible."

"So do you," she mumbled back.

The officiant cleared his throat pointedly beside us, making the crowd erupt in laughter.

"Right, sorry," I said with a sheepish smile before straightening up, bringing her hand to my lips and placing tender kiss there.

The man shook his head with an amused sigh before launching into the ceremony, but I barely heard a word of it.

My entire focus was on her—the way her bottom lip quivered while she fought back tears, how her fingers trembled slightly in mine… and then came that moment, the part where he said, "You may recite your vows."

I inhaled sharply as my mind went temporarily blank.

I knew I should read the notes I prepared, but suddenly the words I wrote seemed meaningless… not when what I really wanted to say came to me like it had been there lingering in the back of my mind all along.

Slowly, I lifted my hand, running my thumb over the smooth skin of her cheek and watching as her expression softened.

"The day I finally got up the courage to talk to you was one of the best days of my life…"

I let out a shaky breath, my fingers tightening around hers as I looked into her eyes—those beautiful eyes that had drawn me in the first time I saw them up close.

They no longer looked sad… they no longer looked uncertain or full of pain… now they shined with a happiness that I felt all the way to my toes.

"Back then, all I wanted was for us to be friends because I recognized that same sadness… that same need to have someone see me in you," I continued, voice rough with emotion. "And I wanted to be that someone for you."

My thumb traced down her jawline, and I watched as her lashes fluttered against her skin.

"But now? Now you're the one who changed everything… changed my life… saved me. You made me realize there's no version of forever where you don’t belong at my side."

Her eyes welled with a few tears as she smiled.

I let out a small laugh and wiped one away.

"You've given me everything, Hayley… you're my comfort, my home, my safety, my best friend… my entire world and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life by your side."

I took a moment to study her, drinking in the way she looked under the warm glow of the setting sun, the love in her eyes, the happiness radiating off her then the officiant cleared his throat again, reminding us we were still in the process of being married.

"Caleb," she murmured, her voice soft and slightly shaky. "I…" She took a deep breath, her fingers tightening around mine. "When I met you, I knew right away that you were special. You didn't care that I was shy and so awkward I almost knocked myself out with a potted fern..."

A small laugh left my lips, a warm tug in my chest as I remembered that day… the day I had finally chosen to approach her and talk to her instead of watching her from afar.

"From the beginning… you didn't treat me like I was fragile or broken… you just treated me like me."

Her lashes fluttered again before she opened her eyes—big and shining with unshed tears.

"You saw the parts of me that I had forgotten about… and for the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel scared to be seen… I felt safe. And every day since then you've made home mean something more than walls and windows and floors… home to me… is you."

My heart felt like it was going to explode, her words wrapping around me like a warm blanket and I couldn't help but bring her closer, pulling her against me and wrapping my free arm around her waist, keeping her tucked safely against my side.

Her head rested against my shoulder, her hair soft against my cheek.

"I am never letting you go," I mumbled. "You're mine now."

The officiant chuckled softly, his voice breaking the moment.

"I think you're supposed to wait until I say 'you may kiss the bride' before doing saying that…"

We both laughed, reluctantly pulling apart but only just enough to face each other.

"Sorry," I said, not feeling sorry at all. "Couldn't help myself."

She rolled her eyes, still smiling.

"I know."

There were a few giggles and laughs from the audience then Sadie yelled, "Just announce them husband and wife already!" from where she was standing right behind me.

The officiant shook his head with a deep, rumbling laugh.

"Alright, alright-" He raised both hands to silence the crowd. "Ahem. Before the kiss… rings please."

I had the rings… they were tucked safely in the inside pocket of my suit jacket because I had refused to let anyone else touch them or see them before my future wife did.

Not when I had had them specifically made just for this moment.

I pulled the velvet box from my pocket, flipping it open with a quiet click.

Nestled inside were two bands—simple yet elegant, rose gold with light green stones and crafted to match each other perfectly. Hers was slender and delicate with tiny engravings of vines and apples scattered along the metal and mine matched perfectly but was thicker, sturdy...

Her breath hitched as she saw them.

"Caleb…" Her voice wobbled as she traced a single fingertip over the stone in my wedding band. "They’re beautiful."

"I had them made especially for us," I murmured, fighting the urge to grab her hand and shove hers on her finger just so I could see her wearing it. "I wanted them to represent us…"

She smiled up at me, taking my band in her palm.

"They’re perfect."

"Caleb… repeat after me…" the officiant started. "With this ring…"

My heart was racing a mile a minute as I did what he said.

"With this ring…" I murmured, my fingers trembling as I reached for her hand. "I give you my heart… from this day forward, you shall not walk alone. My heart will be your shelter, and my arms will be your home."

I didn’t even try to hide how my hands shook as I slid her ring onto her finger first and the second it settled into place?

A shuddering exhale left me because with this ring she was well and truly mine for the rest of our days.

Then came my turn—and when Hayley slid mine on?

My throat closed entirely at the weight of it… not just cold metal against warm skin but an oath pressed into my skin saying that I was as much hers as she was mine.

"By the power vested in me… I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss-"

I didn't even let him finish saying it before I was yanking her into me, one arm wrapping tight around her waist as my other hand cradled the back of her neck.

Our lips crashed together… and the cheers from our friends and family faded into white noise as she melted against me, fingers clutching fistfuls of my suit jacket like she never wanted to let go either.

When we finally broke apart, breathless giggles spilled between us while Sadie dramatically fanned herself behind us, "Finally!"

Hayley laughed, her cheeks flushed with happiness and tears running down her face.

I wiped them away then leaned my forehead against hers.

"I love you," I murmured, my heart feeling so damn full it was almost painful.

"I love you too," she whispered back, burying her face in the crook of my neck.

I held her close, breathing in her scent… sweet like flowers and something uniquely her.

The world around us blurred into nothing but this moment as people started to wander off and the officiant muttered a quiet ‘congratulations’ and stepped away…

Sadie cleared her throat loudly.

"As much as I’d love to let you two stay locked in a marital make out session forever…" She gestured dramatically toward where our reception was set up under a covered pavilion sitting near the lake. "You have approximately 100 people waiting to toast your wedded bliss."

I grumbled under my breath about only wanting to spend time with my wife, but Sadie wasn't wrong. We did have a reception to attend… complete with cake and dancing and probably at least one drunk uncle attempting karaoke.

Hayley giggled before reluctantly pulling back enough to look up at me. Her fingers tangled in the fabric of my suit jacket like she was already regretting having to let go.

"You know," I said softly, brushing my fingers along her jawline, "we can sneak out early if you want."

A slow smile curled my lips as the implication settled between us… we had yet to do anything more than kiss and touch above clothing. We had agreed that waiting until after we were married would heighten the experience when we made love for the first time and while it had proved difficult at first… I knew it was going to be worth every moment.

Her breath hitched right on cue while Sadie choked behind us—then promptly threw her hands up in defeat as Gideon cackled beside her like an idiot.

Hayley swatted at my shoulder with a laugh, cheeks flushed and eyes bright with heat.

"Behave," she scolded, but her hand was still clutching my jacket, keeping me close.

I wanted nothing more than to throw her over my shoulder, haul her up to our cabin, and spend the night showing her just how much I adored her… but I restrained myself… for now.

There were people waiting, after all… and we had promised to make an appearance…

So instead, I grabbed her hand and lifted it, kissing her fingertips.

"Tonight," I whispered, voice low and full of promise. "We'll have all the time in the world."

The reception was beautiful and started off like any normal one would…

Sadie had decorated the pavilion with white tablecloths, curtains hanging from the rafters, dark wood tables with matching chairs, lanterns that glowed happily from the center of each table and more white and pink roses and foliage arranged around them beautifully.

There was food. There was cake, there was drinking, dancing and music...

Hayley was swarmed by people from all over the town, all of them gushing over her dress and how absolutely stunning she looked and how happy they were for her.

I spent most of my time watching her, my heart feeling tight in my chest every time she laughed or smiled or had that sweet, soft expression on her face.

The reception felt almost like a dream… but an incredible, perfect dream.

Then it was time for our first dance as husband and wife…

The lights dimmed as the music started, the soft, romantic beat filling the pavilion as I held out my hand to her.

She took it without hesitation and with one smooth movement, I pulled her against me.

She came willingly, her body tucking perfectly against mine as we swayed together, moving in slow, easy circles as I held her close and tried to focus on the lyrics of the song instead of counting down the minutes till I could have her to myself.

As we danced, I could feel the eyes of our guests on us and hear the mumbles of ‘they look beautiful together’ or ‘I’m so happy for them’, but I didn't care.

All that mattered was her; the way her lips quirked into a soft smile as the lyrics played, the way her hands settled perfectly on my shoulders, the way her body swayed against mine…

"You're perfect," I murmured.

She tilted her face up to look at me, those big eyes shimmering under the twinkle of the fairy lights… their green depths so full of love it made something in my chest ache.

"And you're my husband," she whispered back like it was a revelation.

The words hit me square in the ribs and for a second all I could do was stare down at this woman who had somehow become every good thing I never knew to wish for.

Leaning down, I pressed my lips to hers just as the song ended and then Sadie was there to guide us to our seats.

After that it was a blur of toasts from family and friends, the dinner Sadie had convinced a local chef to make us for free by simply telling him he could come to the wedding because Hayley’s flowers brought joy to his wife every time he brought them home.

Not long after the food was gone and the toasts had dwindled down to small talk among the guests it was time for Hayley to dance with her father.

I watched from the table as she danced and laughed, her smile radiant as her father spun her in circles and murmured in a low voice that only she could hear.

And I couldn't look away.

Her happiness was so radiant, it was infectious.

She was stunning and perfect and mine… it was that last one that I couldn’t get over.

Mine… this woman… this shy, awkward, beautiful woman who had done nothing more than stay by my side and unknowingly help me heal after years of torturing myself was mine.

I owed her everything and I was going to spend every moment from this day forward making sure she knew it.

"She looks so happy," a voice beside me said.

I turned to see Sadie leaning against the table, her eyes warm and fond.

I smiled and leaned back in my chair.

"She does," I murmured. "I… never thought I'd get this."

"Not many people are lucky enough to have a fairytale ending," she said softly. "But you two… you're perfect for each other and… you both deserve a second chance at love…" She trailed off for a moment, and I tore my eyes off my wife to look at her as I waited for her to continue.

"Thank you, Caleb. Thank you for everything you have done for her. Thank you for being there for her, helping her heal and loving her like she deserves to be loved."

My throat tightened as I turned to fully face her, my chest swelling with something fierce and warm.

"You don't have to thank me," I said gruffly. "She saved me just as much."

 She smiled, reaching out to pat my shoulder.

"I know. And I'm glad you found each other. I'm so happy for you both and that's all I've ever wanted for her. Just… promise me one thing?"

I reached up to cover her hand, squeezing it gently.

"Anything."

"Just… love her fiercely…" she said, her eyes glimmering with tears. "… even when that love scares you, even when things get tough… love her, protect her, and keep her safe like she’s the most precious thing on this Earth."

I swallowed hard, the weight of that promise settling heavily in my chest but not because I didn’t think I could handle it… no… because it was something I would do willingly and I would hurt anyone who stood in my way.

"I will," I swore. "I'll love her until the stars burn out and longer still. I swear it."

She sniffled, blinking back tears and patted my shoulder again.

"Now, I'm gonna go find a napkin to dab my face with before I start crying and ruin my makeup. And you… go enjoy another dance with your bride before its time to cut the cake."

Then she was gone in a whirl of pale pink and white lace, leaving me alone with my thoughts and watching the love of my life smile and laugh as she danced beneath the twinkle of the fairy lights.

Seconds later, I pushed up from the table and cut through the crowd toward her, wanting to reclaim my wife before anyone else could ask for a dance.

She turned just as I reached her, spinning into me with a surprised little gasp as her father released her and sent me a smile before wandering off to go claim a dance partner of his own.

"Another dance, my love?" she teased breathlessly.

"If it means I get you back in my arm? Of course, angel," I said softly before pulling us flush together and keeping her close as we danced until Sadie called for us to come cut the cake.

The cake was beautiful… and sweet… and tasted even better when I got to feed it to her.

She giggled as some of the frosting smeared across her lip and cheek and before she could reach up to wipe it away, I caught her chin and licked the sweetness from her skin.

Her breath caught and her cheeks flushed.

"Caleb-" her voice hitched when I trailed my thumb over her bottom lip, collecting more of that sweet frosting then bringing it to my mouth to lick it off.

"Mmm… you taste even sweeter than the cake."

The crowd erupted in whistles and cheers, but I barely heard them—my entire world had narrowed down to the way her breath hitched, the flutter of her lashes as she stared up at me with those wide, dazed eyes.

Sadie groaned dramatically from somewhere behind us.

"For God's sake, just go already! The cake is cut! The guests are entertained! The night is yours! Who needs to throw a bouquet anyways?"

I didn't need to be told twice.

Hayley let out a sharp squeal as I scooped her up into my arms, but she was laughing as she wrapped her arms around my neck, clinging to me like her very life depended on it.

I carried her through the pavilion, dodging the tables and guests all trying to get a final glance at the happy couple as I walked as quickly as possible toward the doors.

Once we were outside, I broke into a brisk walk toward our cabin… the one we would be staying in for two days until it was time to leave for our honeymoon… and I wasn’t going to stop for anything… not when I was finally going to be able to get her alone.

The cabin was a small, single-level building that looked more like a cozy cottage than anything else… but it had a bed, a bathroom, a small kitchenette and it had a lock on the door and that was all we needed as I pushed my way inside, kicked the door shut behind me, and let her slide out of my arms to her feet.

For a moment all we did was stare at each other.

The only sounds were the muffled sounds coming from the reception just beyond the door and our own heavy breaths… then I pressed my lips to hers.

I deepened the kiss, one hand sliding into her hair to tilt her head back as the other found the small of her back—anchoring us together.

Every nerve in my body was on fire, every thought narrowed down to her, this moment, this woman who had somehow become my whole world.

She tasted like cake and sweetness and something uniquely Hayley—something I could never get enough of.

My fingers tangled in that honey-brown hair as I backed us toward the bed with slow steps until we reached it.

Breaking away I murmured against her lips, "Forever starts now."

Epilogue

Chapter 8

Sylus let out a low snarl, the sound dangerous as he grabbed the wrist of the hand that was in his hair and twisted until Caleb let go. Caleb took a step back as Sylus came off the bed in one smooth movement, fists clenched and breathing hard.

"What are you doing here?"

Caleb stared at him for several seconds, his gaze slowly sliding down his naked body with a look I couldn’t place before rising back to Sylus’ face. "Just stopping by to check on Bay…" he said then his gaze shifted to me and I saw a dark glint in his eyes, a hunger I had never seen before, "I was… rough last night."

The tension in Sylus’ body increased, his jaw clenching and fists tightening so the muscles in his arms visibly flexed. He didn't take his gaze off Caleb, his expression cold as he growled, "She’s fine. You can go."

Caleb’s gaze moved back to Sylus, "No. I want to see her."

I could feel the air in the room grow tense as I slowly sat up and moved to the edge of the bed, dragging a blanket over my body as some sort of shield from what was happening. I wanted to say something… anything to stop this confrontation from happening but… I knew that if I did it might make this whole situation worse.

Sylus’ gaze darkened, the muscles in his jaw flexing. "You see her. She’s fine. Now go."

But Caleb didn’t move, his lips curving up into a smirk as his eyes flicked to me again before he looked back at Sylus, his voice low and almost mocking as he took a step closer to the other man. "I'd rather… stay… and see for myself how… fine she really is…"

"She. Is. Fine," Sylus ground out through clenched teeth. "I was taking care of her…"

Caleb took another step, standing so close that if Sylus moved even an inch, they would be touching.

My heart slammed in my chest, my mind racing as my eyes moved back and forth between them while the air in the room crackled with tension… and something else? Something that felt like lust and hunger?

No, I was imagining things… wasn’t I?

Caleb’s voice dropped to a mere whisper as his gaze flicked over to where I was for a split second, a smirk twisting his lips before turning his gaze back to Sylus. "She was whimpering… begging for my cock last night. I know you heard her… know you probably laid in your bed wondering what I was doing to her to make her make all those pretty little noises."

Sylus’ lips twisted into a smirk as he leaned down until his face was inches from Caleb’s. "You seem to be forgetting one thing… I had her begging for my cock first."

Caleb's expression darkened at that, his jaw clenching as his gaze flicked back to me again.

I could see the anger and… jealousy in his eyes as he looked at me sitting on the edge of the bed where it was obvious what he had interrupted… his gaze grew even darker when he looked back up at Sylus…

His eyes roved over Sylus's face, his heated gaze dropping lower to his neck, his shoulders, his chest… and I could tell he was looking at all the marks I had left on Sylus’ skin.

"Hmm… she really likes to leave marks when she’s getting what she wants, doesn’t she?" he mumbled, reaching up and touching the side of Sylus's neck, slender fingers tracing over the bruise on the juncture between shoulder and neck.

That simple action had them both tensing but Caleb didn’t move his hand away from Sylus’ skin… instead he let out a low, dark chuckle as his fingers traced over another bruise on Sylus’ chest before pulling the neckline of his shirt aside to show Sylus the marks I had left on him the night before, "She is… a territorial little thing, isn't she?"

The muscle in Sylus jaw clenched again, his hand coming up to grip Caleb’s wrist and push his hand away from his skin. "It's time for you to go."

"I don't think so..." Caleb said, pulling his wrist out of Sylus’ grip and stepping around him, "I want to talk to Bay, alone... without you here playing overprotective boyfriend."

Sylus' gaze darkened as he spun around, grabbing Caleb’s arm before he could reach the bed. "Like hell. I'm not leaving her alone with you."

"And why not?" Caleb hissed back, eyes narrowing as he tried to pull his arm free.

"Because I don't trust you," was the cool, cold reply.

"And why's that? Afraid I’ll fuck her again when you’re not looking?"

Sylus' glare sharpened as he pulled Caleb closer by his shirt, "Watch your tongue… I don't have a problem putting you on your ass if you keep running your mouth."

My eyes darted between them again, fear twisting my gut.

This was about to turn ugly. They were both so volatile, so dangerous, so possessive… and I was caught in the middle.

I couldn’t let this keep going… not when I was the cause of this whole mess in the first place. I slowly stood up, pulling the blanket tighter around myself and my voice was soft when I spoke, "Stop… please… both of you."

They froze, their eyes snapping to me as the anger and tension vanished in an instant then they both spoke at the same time, their voices overlapping.

"Bay…"

"Kitten…"

Hearing them say my name at the same time was like being struck by lightning but I swallowed the sudden rush of feelings and emotion, holding the blanket tight against me as I stepped forward, standing between the two of them and looking first at Sylus then at Caleb before whispering, "Don't fight… please."

Both men seemed to freeze at my plea, their eyes locked on me waiting… watching

Slowly, almost as if I was handling two wild animals, I turned, putting my back against Sylus’ chest and looking up at Caleb. "Please… just listen…"

A few long moments passed then Caleb's expression softened. He slowly reached out and took one of my hands in his, his gaze flicking from my face to where I was snuggled back against Sylus’ chest then he nodded, "Fine."

Sylus growled softly, his chest pressed to my back and his hand gripping my hip so tightly it hurt. He was still tense... his body coiled and his heart thumping wildly against my back... ready to attack in an instant.

"Sylus… please…" I murmured softly.

He took a deep breath and his grip loosened slightly. He was still glaring at Caleb, but this time the look in his eyes was calmer... less intense.

I sighed again and looked up at Caleb, "I don’t know how else to ease into what I’m about to say so I’m gonna just say it…"

"Say what?" Caleb asked, a wary look in his eyes as he looked down at me.

I chewed anxiously on my bottom lip, a habit I had never been able to get rid of and it was a while before I spoke again, "Last night... I wanted what happened… have wanted it for a while. But Caleb… I want Sylus too. I… I want you both. Want to be with you both. Not just one… both."

Sylus tensed again, clearly remembering the conversation we had had earlier, while Caleb's expression darkened. The tension in the room spiked again as they both stared at me without speaking.

I knew Sylus had told me Caleb most likely wouldn’t agree to the idea… it was insane… greedy even to want both men, but it was what I wanted… needed. I knew it was impossible… ridiculous even. But the more I thought about it… the more I wanted it. I wanted them both and I was determined to fight for it… and I could only hope they would be too.

I took a deep breath and continued, my voice almost lost among the heavy silence. "I know it's crazy… but it doesn't have to be. We can... figure it out. All three of us."

A few long moments passed in tense silence before Caleb slowly spoke, his words careful and cautious, "Let me get this straight… you… want both of us. At the same time. You want both of us to be your… what… boyfriends?"

I nodded, the words soft and shy when I answered, "Y-Yes… yes I do."

"And you expect us to just... share you… with no jealousy or fighting?" Caleb's tone was flat, his expression unreadable.

"Yes."

The word was so soft, so quiet and unsure as I got the feeling that I should stop and go no further but I pushed myself to say it, to show that I was confident that this was what I wanted.

Sylus was still tense against my back, his hands flexing slightly against my sides, his breathing deep and slow as if he was holding himself back from saying something, but we had already had this conversation, and he had warned me, but I hadn’t listened and now I couldn’t help but think I had made a big mistake.

Caleb's eyes flicked to Sylus for a second before returning to stare at me, then he took a breath and asked, "You realize how crazy that sounds, don't you?"

My lips parted at the harshness to his tone, and I stared at him for a moment.

"Caleb…"

He held up a hand and shook his head, the anger gone from his face and replaced with a deep frown, "No... you don't get to look at me like that. You don't get to ask me to… share you. Not after last night. Not after I finally gave in to what I’ve wanted for years and got my hands on your body and my mouth on your skin. I’m not sharing you… not with him…" he pointed at Sylus then out the window, "… not with anyone. You want me? You get me… and only me."

A hiss came from Sylus. "Listen to yourself. You really think she belongs to you because you got what you wanted for one night?"

Caleb’s gaze snapped to Sylus and if looks could kill Sylus would be six feet deep.

My heart was in my throat as they stared at each other. I knew that I should have just kept my mouth shut, but it was too late to back down now… so I kept going.

"Caleb… please. Just listen to me…"

"No," he snapped, his gaze returning to me, "I told you how it’s gonna be. Me or him. You don’t get both, Bay."

His words were like a blow to the gut, and my body started to tremble as I tried to speak. This wasn't how this was supposed to go… I was expecting this to be difficult, I was expecting some resistance, some anger, but not this… not this coldness… not this refusal to listen… not this ultimatum.

Sylus' body felt like a tightly coiled spring behind me, his hands clenching into fists so tightly that I heard his knuckles cracking and he growled softly like a panther about to strike.

Caleb's eyes were locked on mine, his gaze intense and unyielding… and I could see the anger and determination in his eyes… but there was something else there too.

A dark glint… a possessiveness that sent a shiver down my spine.

"Choose. Me. Or him," he repeated.

I stared at him… frozen… torn between what I wanted and what he was demanding. I loved them both. I wanted them both and the thought of having to choose between them… of having to give up one of them made my head spin.

Caleb let out a frustrated growl when I didn’t give him an answer right away then he was reaching out to lift my chin. "How about a little reminder then, huh?"

Then before I could say anything his mouth was on mine.

My eyes widened, my breath faltering as he pulled me onto my toes, his hand sliding into my hair, gripping it tightly as he deepened the kiss, his tongue plunging deep before I could even think of resisting.

It was an onslaught of teeth, lips and tongue, a possessive kiss that left me breathless, and I felt my knees begin to buckle as he held me up, his body pressed tightly against mine so I was sandwiched between him and Sylus… and I felt like I was drowning in sensations of what I wanted most but was being denied.

His hand tightened in my hair as if sensing my thoughts, keeping my head still, forcing me to take everything he was giving… demanding my submission.

Sylus let out a low, vicious growl from behind me and I felt his chest press to my back as he leaned down, his breath hot against my ear as he whispered, "Enough…"

Caleb stopped, breaking the kiss, his lips just a fraction of an inch from mine as he slowly pulled back, his eyes never leaving my face, drinking in my flushed skin and dazed expression.

There was a dark look in his gaze, an intensity that was almost feral and I could feel the possessive energy radiating off him in waves as he slowly ran his thumb over my lower lip, wiping away the moisture from our kiss…

"So sweet," he mumbled, tongue flicking out to swipe across his lips as if trying to capture my taste. "Remember, Bay, remember how it felt and tell me we wouldn’t be good together."

Then he took a step back, his gaze dropping from my face and moving over my body… lingering on the blanket wrapped around me.

My heart was pounding, my mind was a confused mess, and I felt like I was spinning out of control... until I felt Sylus' hand slide over my hip and it calmed me enough to pay attention.

Caleb took another step back, his gaze moving from me to Sylus and back then his eyes narrowed. "You know where to find me when you make up your mind."

Sylus kept his arms around me, his body tense and rigid as Caleb spun on his heel and left as silently as he had come. Once the front door slammed shut, Sylus spun me around and took my face in his hands, forcing me to look up at him.

His gaze was dark, intense… almost frenzied as his eyes searched mine.

"What the hell were you thinking, baby?" he growled, his voice low and rough, "What the hell were you expecting him to say?"

I swallowed hard, guilt clawing at my chest. I had messed up… made a mistake but hearing it out loud hurt more than I had expected.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, trying to ignore the shame that was making my heart ache and tears pool at the corners of my eyes.

"I just…" I trailed off and opened my eyes to look up at him, the tears escaping and running down my cheeks. "I just wanted everything to work out… I thought… he would at least…" I trailed off again and shrugged, dropping my gaze to the floor.

He sighed and used two fingers under my chin to lift my face then his thumbs were smoothing away the tears from my cheeks.

"You thought he might consider it…"

I nodded and wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly feeling cold.

His hands lingered on my face for a moment before dropping away and he exhaled loudly, raking both hands through his hair then he was reaching out and lifting me into his arms. He cradled me against his chest and I buried my face in his neck, trying to suppress the tears that were still falling as he sat on the edge of the bed.

He held me for a long while, his arms tight around me and his face buried my hair, just letting me burrow into him as he held me… protected me.

Finally, I took a deep breath and whispered, "I'm sorry…"

For a long moment he didn't answer. Just held me tighter, his breath warm against my skin as he exhaled slowly and his lips brushed against my hair.

"I know…" He mumbled, the words so soft I almost missed them.

I knew he wasn't angry with me; I could feel the concern and worry coming off him and it had the tears flowing harder as I clung to him tighter.

He held me until the tears had stopped and my breathing was almost back to normal. I was exhausted and probably would have fallen asleep snuggled in his lap, but he slowly pulled back and forced me to look at him.

"Let’s get some sleep… we can worry about everything tomorrow, okay?"

I nodded, too tired to argue.

I felt drained both physically and emotionally and I needed the rest. We could deal with the aftermath in the morning, right now I just wanted to crawl into bed and sleep in his arms.

He gently unwrapped me from my blanket cocoon then laid me down before climbing in beside me and pulling me close until I was tucked against him. His chest was warm and solid and comforting as I curled against him and he pulled the blankets over us, his fingers stroking my hair as his arm wrapped around me.

His touch was soothing, calming… and I felt my eyes getting heavy as he pressed a soft kiss to my forehead and whispered, "It's gonna be alright…"

And with those words swirling in my mind I finally fell asleep, wrapped up in the warmth and security of his arms, and hoping that he was right.

When I woke the next morning, the sun was streaming through the curtains and I let out a long, drowsy sigh as I stretched… and then reached out to feel the cold, empty space next to me.

For a moment I thought I had imagined the whole thing, that last night had been dream… but then the memories started rushing back and I groaned, burying my face in my pillow.

What the hell had I been thinking? I had asked Caleb for the impossible… to share me… and it had blown up in my face… and worse… I had hurt Sylus... and now he was gone too.

I laid there for a long while, my eyes squeezed shut as if that would make everything that had happened the night before disappear. I didn't want to deal with it… didn't want to deal with the fact that I had made such a mess of everything and ruined friendships that had lasted years in the span of a few minutes.

I would have stayed in bed until I had to go to work and face them both but the clock on the nightstand continued to tick, the sun shifted higher in the sky and no matter how much I wished the world would stop, the seconds… minutes… hours kept passing.

Finally, I groaned, pushing the blankets away and climbing out of bed.

My body was tired and sore from having so much sex when I had gone months without, my head hurt… and I needed a shower.

The water was hot, a little too hot but it was exactly what I needed, the water running over my body, the steam floating around me felt like a comforting blanket.

I stood there for a long time trying to clear my mind… but the thoughts were still there… going around in circles.

It was almost an hour later when I finally emerged from the bathroom, my hair wrapped up in a towel and dressed in a pair of shorts, a tank top and my favorite pair of slippers. I felt a little more like myself… but the knot of anxiety in my stomach was still there.

The silence was deafening when I stepped out of my bedroom… and I could feel the emptiness as I made my way down the hall.

I hesitated at the threshold to the kitchen… wondering if I should reconsider staying in bed and hiding for a few more hours but my stomach growled and made the decision for me. I needed to eat… and a little food would probably help my headache.

The coffee maker was gurgling quietly on the counter and the sun coming through the windows when I stepped fully into my kitchen… everything looked so peaceful but it just made me feel more alone.

I sighed and padded over to the cabinets, pulling out a box of cereal and a bowl before pouring myself a generous portion and adding milk before sitting down to eat.

It tasted like cardboard on my tongue and I had to force myself to swallow each bite.

When I was done, I put the bowl in the sink and looked around feeling lost… and wondering where Sylus was and why he had left me in the middle of the night. The shop was closed on Sundays, so he wasn’t needed there… so where was he?

There was a sudden knock at the door and my heart lurched in my chest as I froze, my body going tense and my eyes darting around the room like the sunlight or the loan fly buzzing around in the corner could tell me who was on the other side.

The knock came again, louder this time and I slowly padded over to see who it was.

When I opened the door, the last person I expected to see was standing on the other side.

It took me a moment to process the sight of Caleb standing there, his expression blank as if he hadn’t handed out an ultimatum the night before then left with the parting words that made it clear he didn’t want to speak to me unless I made a choice.

Surprise turned to confusion as I stared up at him. What was he doing here? And more importantly… where the hell was Sylus? Had something happened to him and Caleb was here to tell me? What was going on?

"Can I come in?" he asked, taking a step closer, forcing me to step back and let him in.

I could feel anxiety and worry twisting my stomach as I nodded and closed the door behind him, "Yeah… yeah sure…"

His gaze swept over me, slowly roaming over my body and I felt suddenly very exposed standing in front of him in just a tank top and shorts after what had happened the night before. "Is he still here?"

I looked up at him for a moment before slowly shaking my head and hugging myself as his gaze dropped to my bare legs where the hem of my shorts rested high on my thighs displaying the love bites on my pale skin.

"I… he's not here… he left in the middle of the night."

I was starting to feel uncomfortable with the intensity in his gaze, and I took a few steps backwards to put distance between us until my legs hit the couch.

He followed me and I froze, my heart racing as he stopped in front of me then reached out and cupped my chin, his gaze searching as he looked down at me with an expression that was almost predatory. "Good… did you make a choice?"

His thumb brushed over my skin, tracing my bottom lip and I felt goosebumps break out on my skin.

"N-no," I whispered, my voice shaking slightly even though I tried to keep it even.

"No?" he repeated quietly, his thumb moving lower to trace over the love bite at the base of my neck. My skin prickled with awareness and something else as his eyes locked on the mark, studying it before he asked, "You still think you can have us both, huh?"

Before I could answer his hand was knocking the towel off my head and gripping my hair, forcing my head back to leave my neck almost painfully exposed. His thumb pressed harder against the love bite, the pressure enough to bring a soft gasp from my lips.

"You think this is a game?" he murmured, the words hot on my skin.

"No…" I gasped, my knees trembling as he crowded into my space. I had never been more terrified and turned on at the same time.

"Then you better start making up your mind soon…"

The look in his eyes was intense, a mixture of anger and desire that seemed to be warring with each other and it made my heart constrict.

He leaned closer, his lips almost touching the shell of my ear as his voice dropped to a low growl. "… I won't wait forever… so choose wisely."

Before I could even think of a response, he was releasing me, stepping back while staring at me intently and then he was turning to leave without another word.

I watched him walk out the door, my legs shaking and my head spinning, a strange mix of desire and fear coursing through me at the same time. I had never experienced anything like this before… had never felt this mix of emotions and feelings…

I sank down on the couch then just sat there for a while as his words played through my mind again and again… like a broken record.

There was no way I could choose… no way I could live without them now that I had had them both and the thought of having to let either one of them go made my eyes burn with tears.

My thoughts were a chaotic jumble, my mind a tangled mess of worry and confusion and I knew staying in my apartment wasn't going to help. I needed to get out, go outside, breath some fresh air, anything so I didn't drive myself crazy sitting around all day.

After getting dressed, I grabbed my phone and keys before leaving the apartment and locking the door behind me then I started walking towards the park.

The walk was calming, the sun shining brightly and the slight breeze helping to clear my head. The park was quiet, only a few people milling about… a mother watching her kid on a tricycle, a couple of joggers talking animatedly about something, and a man painting underneath a tree while a woman and two children ate a picnic lunch beside him.

I sat down on a bench, leaning back and closing my eyes, enjoying the peace as I sat there.

An hour passed, with only the sounds of the park filling the air and my mind slowly calming down to a quiet hum when my phone suddenly buzzed in my pocket, the noise making me flinch and my heart race.

My hand shook as I pulled the phone out and my heart lurched when I saw who it was… Sylus. I hesitated, my finger hovering over the answer button but finally I decided against it and hit the button to ignore the call instead.

It was a coward's move, but I couldn't help it. I needed time to think, time to sort out the mess I had made, and talking right now was not going to help.

So I sat there, staring at the phone and waiting for it to ring again and trying not to cry.

It rang four more times, each buzz making my anxiety climb higher until it was almost unbearable.

When it stopped, I let out a shaky breath, my eyes pricking with tears that I tried to blink back. I knew I had to talk to him... talk to Caleb… make a decision of some kind… but not right now… it was too soon.

I let my head fall back against the back of the bench, closing my eyes and doing my best to calm the emotions twisting through me again and to hold back the tears that were threatening.

But the tears came anyway, slipping down my cheeks as the weight of everything that had happened suddenly crashed down on me. I was so damn tired of it all… tired of the way I felt, tired of my brain going in circles, tired of not knowing what to do, and I was tired of feeling guilty… for everything. A sob escaped me as I finally gave up fighting, and one by one the tears trailed down my cheeks. I was a mess, this was my fault… my stupid, selfish mistake and there was no going back.

Chapter 9

Part 1

I don’t remember much of my life before I woke in the Nether Realm.

Who I was… where I had come from… how I had come to be here… or even my name. Everything was a black hole, swirling with fleeting thoughts and memories that darted in and out of my peripheral vision like a ghost in the wind. Every time I tried to remember anything beyond the moment I woke here I would get a sharp pain in my forehead, and my thoughts would quickly flit away towards something safer… less painful.

My first memory was waking up naked in the middle of a large pond with lotus flowers floating around me while the most beautiful man I had ever seen stood over me with a cold almost distant look on his face.

And he was beautiful…

Tall with broad shoulders, lean muscular limbs, and long legs. Long dark hair with a braid on the left side wrapped in blue silk, a sharp angular face with high cheekbones, a straight nose and plump lips, gorgeous purple eyes and detailed markings in black, gold and green on his face, chest and arms.

His clothing was made of expensive looking dark fabrics with colorful details and stitched with gold thread. The uneven fabric of the cloth around his waist seemed to glow around the edges and there were belts, chains and ribbons along with a lotus blossom made of gold. His chest was bare besides a halter-like contraption completely covering one shoulder, showcasing a heavily muscled chest and stomach and there were knee high boots on his feet stitched with gold threading.

Even as confused and disoriented as I was, I had been able to appreciate his beauty and couldn’t help but wonder why I felt like an insect under his stern, emotionless gaze. It was almost as if he hated me… and I hadn’t understood why. I didn’t know him and I hadn’t done anything to him for him to hate me… unless I had done something to him before I had lost my memories.

Feeling awkward sitting in a pool of water while he and another man stood over me, I had slowly risen to my feet and stood there silently, wondering if I should cover up or ask for something to hide my nakedness… then I had noticed the way his gaze had darkened.

His eyes had trailed along my naked skin, following the droplets of water as they ran down my shoulders and trickled around my breasts and down my stomach before absorbing into the trimmed hair above my pussy.

He had continued to stare for a long moment, taking in my form with clinical precision then he finally spoke, his voice deep and quiet, "Your name is Zaya. You don’t remember who you are and you probably never will." He glanced at the man beside him. "This is Dagen, he will take you to your new home and if you need anything ask him and he will make sure you have it. Don’t leave your house, don’t wander around, don’t bug me and we will get along just fine."

With that he had spun around and simply walked away… hadn’t told me his name or who he was to me to have known mine… hadn’t explained why I was here or what I was going to do… just walked off like I was nuisance that he would rather not bother with.

I had felt… confused, vulnerable and dejected.

This man was giving me instructions like a stranger would, but he knew my name, and it made me feel uneasy. What did he mean when he said I would never remember who I was? Had he known me before? And if so… why did he hate me? What had I done?

I stood there, staring after him with frantic, angst-filled thoughts swimming around in my head then Dagen had stepped forward, snapping his fingers to get my attention and handed me a thick blanket to cover up before gesturing for me to follow him.

The days that followed were boring and uneventful… full of unanswered questions and doubts. Dagen would bring me meals and sometimes books for me to read. He wouldn’t speak or make eye contact or stay longer than it took to deliver what I needed before leaving again. I would often sit quietly for hours reading or staring out the window at the darkness beyond, trying to figure out what was going on and why the sun never shined.

I was curious about my surroundings… wanted to explore and see what this place, this Nether Realm, was all about but the man with the purple eyes had forbidden me from leaving the small one bedroom, one bathroom house I had been led to, and I didn’t want to make him angry.

It wasn’t until a year later that my monotonous routine was interrupted by a sharp knock on my door late one evening. I had been bored, my mind wandering as I stared blankly at the pages of the book before me, but the knock startled me, pulling my attention to my front door.

I set my book aside, curiosity stirring inside me, and stood up from the chair, padded across the room, pausing for a moment before reaching for the door handle. The knock sounded again, a bit impatient as I turned the knob.

And there he was… the angry man with the purple eyes who I hadn’t seen since that first day, leaning with one hip against the frame, arms crossed as he stared at me expectantly. His eyes roamed over me, his head slightly cocked to the side as a hint of a frown marred his otherwise flawless features as he studied one of the bland brown dresses Dagen had given me, my messy waist length silver hair and my bare feet.

"Come with me."

His voice was cold, his face a stoic mask of displeasure. He said it like an order, not a request, yet it managed to make my heart race and a small shiver run through me. It was nerve-wracking but I had done as he asked and followed him. All the way up the hill, past several small houses like mine, past several buildings where people were gathered watching as we passed by, past the lotus pond to a huge house.

It was breathtaking and awe-inspiring, massive compared to where I lived and had several tall columns surrounding a large porch, each carved with a blooming lotus flower in a different shape and color. The house itself was built from the same dark stone as everything else in this realm and there were huge windows with green and purple stained glass all over the place.

The air smelled sweet, like flowers and apples except deeper and richer. I inhaled deeply, loving the feeling of it on my tongue even as I stared at the house then him, wondering why he was bringing me here.

The thought of being in his house made me nervous and anxious. What was he going to do to me once we were inside? And why wasn't I more afraid of him than I was?

His stride was fast as he quickly walked up the cobblestone walkway then up the stairs to the porch and I struggled to keep up with him in bare feet. I was curious about where we were going and I longed to ask him questions, but I was afraid he would be annoyed.

The silence was deafening and awkward.

He led me silently inside and I couldn’t help but look around with a sense of awe at the lavish decor and expensive looking furniture. He led me through halls lined with statues and paintings and into what I assumed was a sitting room.

"Come here." He sat down on a sofa and patted a space on the cushion next to him. "Sit."

I slowly made my way toward him, taking note of every muscle that flexed in his arms and chest as I got closer. I sat next to him, keeping a respectful distance between us… the smell of flowers and apples stronger here, making me feel lightheaded.

He stared at me for a long, tense filled moment, his gaze intense and unreadable, before speaking again. "You will be staying here for the foreseeable future as Dagen had to return home to his family. Same rules apply. You don’t leave, you don’t wander and you don’t bug me. Got it?"

His harsh tone and cold eyes made me feel small and insignificant, but I managed an obedient nod, my eyes locked on his face. I was suddenly very aware of his proximity and the fact that we were alone in the room. I could hear other people, footsteps and idle chatter from somewhere deeper in the massive estate, but I couldn’t see anyone and that made me nervous because this man caused so many conflicting emotions in me that I didn’t know what to say… what to do or think.

I wasn't scared of him… even though my brain warned me he was dangerous. Instead… I felt… something else. Something I couldn't name or describe… something that would cause trouble if I ever figured out what it was.

"Zaya."

My heart jumped at the way my name sounded coming from his lips and I blinked, looking up into his eyes. I hadn’t even realized I was staring at his lips and felt like an idiot for how easily he could affect me without even trying. "Yes?" I asked, voice barely above a whisper.

"Do you understand the rules?"

I nodded again, my tongue feeling thick and clumsy in my mouth, my stomach fluttering with anxiety and something else… something primal.

He watched me for a moment before his gaze flicked down to my clothes, his brow furrowed and his upper lip curled in distaste. "Dagen gave you those clothes?"

I felt my cheeks warm in embarrassment.

The clothes were ragged and plain, nothing like what he was wearing, which looked expensive and well cared for. I felt like a street rat next to him, which was probably how he viewed me and it took everything in me to nod and not fidget under his intense gaze. "Yes, he did."

His expression seemed to sour even more. "It’s hideous. Take it off."

I froze as his words finally penetrated my brain, thinking he couldn't be serious. "You want me… to take my clothes off…?"

He nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Yes. Take it off. Now."

I could feel my cheeks getting warm, but the look on his face made it impossible to disobey. I hesitated for a moment, embarrassed and humiliated, but one sharp look from him was enough to make me stand up and start pulling off the dress. I kept my eyes off his face, but I could feel his gaze on me like a physical touch, sending chills down my spine as I pulled the dress over my head then looked around for somewhere to put it.

"Toss it to the floor."

That cold tone in his voice sent a shiver through me, but I complied, dropping the ragged dress to the floor at my feet. I was wearing a thin chemise underneath that was just as old and ragged as the dress, barely hiding anything, and I felt exposed and vulnerable under his intense gaze, my skin prickling with goose bumps as I fought the urge to cover myself with my hands.

"Come here." He beckoned me closer, his eyes raking over my body as I took tentative steps towards him, my knees feeling weak. I stopped a few feet in front of him, my arms now wrapped around my torso, trying to preserve what little modesty I had left. "Closer."

His voice was firm and commanding, his eyes darkening as he watched me obey, closing the distance between us until I was standing between his legs. He looked up at me, his gaze roaming over my body, his expression almost… hungry… then just as quickly the look was gone, and his expression was cold and distant again.

"You won't be wearing rags while you're here. You'll be expected to dress appropriately in what I provide for you. You will be expected to do something with your hair because this…" He gestured to my loose, frizzy hair with distaste. "… this is not acceptable."

He stood up, standing so close I could feel heat radiating from his body and smell his scent. "I have secured a position for you at the library across the way. You will go there every day, do what they tell you and return here every night. You will not talk to anyone, spend time with anyone or go anywhere that I don’t approve of. Understood?"

He stared at me, waiting for my response, and I could feel my heart hammering in my chest, the conflicting emotions that this man caused within me and the need to protest his instructions overwhelming me. I was intimidated by him, by his cold demeanor and his commanding presence, but there was something else too, something I couldn't put into words.

I nodded obediently, trying to ignore the fluttering sensations in my stomach, my hands gripping the thin fabric of the chemise as I dropped my gaze to the floor and muttered, "Yes."

He nodded, seemingly satisfied with my response even though I could feel the tension between us growing as he stepped closer. "Look at me."

His tone was calm but demanding, and I couldn’t resist obeying. I looked up, my eyes meeting his. His proximity was overwhelming, his gaze intense, something blazing within his purple eyes as he studied me, gaze roaming over every feature as if trying to memorize them.

I swallowed hard as his fingertips gently brushed against my cheek and I couldn't stop the gasp that escaped me, my body leaning into his touch without permission, as the light touch sent a jolt of need through my body.

His gaze dropped briefly to my lips before returning to mine, his hand moving from my face to lightly grip my chin, tilting my head up slightly so I couldn't look away. "You better get used to being here, little one, you won’t be leaving anytime soon," he muttered bitterly then he turned and stalked away.

That was the last time I saw him for a good long while. Eighty years to be exact…

Those eighty years passed in a blur—days blending into weeks then months then years then decades, the seasons turning but things never changing like the slow drift of the stars in the midnight sky. The Nether Realm itself never changed, its perpetual twilight unaffected by time… everything always dark, always dreary.

I grew accustomed to my routine… mornings at the library cataloging ancient tomes with ink-stained fingers; evenings returning to the Nether Lord’s opulent house where no one would talk to me or even look at me, where the silence was always thick enough to choke on.

The only reprieve I got from the endless monotony was when I snuck out of the enormous mansion and walked the paths through the Lotus Grove… the one place in the Nether Realm that felt like an escape. The paths wound through lush greenery surrounded by the fragrant, colorful blooms that seemed to glow when I got near them. The scent of the flowers was intoxicating, and the peaceful, quiet surroundings were a welcome respite from the solitude of the massive estate.

I often found myself wandering for hours, losing track of time as I watched the insects flit from flower to flower or listened to the sound of the nearby waterfall as I sat on the edge of the water, my thoughts lost in memories of my lonely time here…

And that was how I met the one person in this whole godsforsaken realm who wasn’t afraid to talk to me or be near me for fear of upsetting the Lord. Over the years people came and went, most of them fearful of me for reasons I wasn’t sure of. Most would walk wide births around me if they saw me or turn and walk in the opposite direction but not him… not Bryant.

The day I met him was burned into my mind, bringing a smile to my face and a giddy feeling in the pit of my stomach even two years later.

"You come this way a lot."

I was sitting on the edge of the lotus pond when I heard the deep, smooth voice behind me, startling me so badly that I almost fell backwards into the water. I managed to catch myself and turn around to find a young man with black hair and glowing golden eyes standing on the path behind me, watching me with a small, amused smile on his face.

My face heated with embarrassment as I nodded, feeling slightly awkward and nervous because someone was talking to me and not pretending like I wasn’t there. "Yes. I find this place to be peaceful… a nice escape from everything."

"Hmm…" He took a few steps closer and sat down next to me, staring out at the pond with a contemplative look in his golden eyes.

From the corner of my eye I watched as he leaned back, bracing himself against the damp bank of the pond, the movement causing his shirt to pull taut across his chest and shoulder muscles. It was impossible not to notice how attractive he was, all sharp angles and long limbs and perfectly mussed black hair.

I quickly looked away, my stomach twisting into knots, and tried to think of something to say to break the awkward silence.

He chuckled softly; his gaze still fixed on the shimmering water. "You're not very good at small talk, are you?"

I bristled at his teasing tone and turned to give him a sharp look, only to find a grin stretching across his face. "I… I am perfectly capable of holding a conversation," I muttered then blushed when I realized it had been so long since I had talked to someone that I in fact did not know how to engage in ‘small talk.’

He hummed, his leg brushing against mine as he moved closer, causing my cheeks to warm even more. He was close... way closer than anyone had been in a long time and it sent shivers down my spine, both from anxiety and something else...

I could feel his warmth radiating through the thin material of my dress and it sent a shiver through my body, making me swallow and nibble on my bottom lip. I risked a glance and caught him watching me, his golden eyes flickering with something dark and hungry as he stared at my face for a long moment then darted down to my lips.

He reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering against my cheek slightly longer than necessary before he pulled his hand away with a blush of his own. "I apologize… every time I see you, I’ve wanted to do that."

A small grin crept onto my face, his words and actions completely disarming me and making me forget my discomfort and anxiety. I looked at him and felt a strange thrill run through me, like the flutter of anxious butterflies. "You have...?" I mumbled quietly, not trusting my voice.

He looked down at me, his eyes dark and intense as he nodded.

A moment of tense, charged silence passed between us as the only sound was the distant buzz of insects and the gentle lapping of the water against the bank then he spoke in a low tone that made me wonder what he sounded like when he was aroused. "I’m Bryant."

"Zaya…" I murmured, unable to look away from the intensity in his golden gaze. It felt like I couldn't breathe properly, and my skin tingled with anticipation. For the first time in a long time, I felt alive.

"That's a pretty name…" he whispered, leaning in so his face was hovering only a few inches away from mine. I was acutely aware of how close we were, how he seemed to be taking up more space than was possible, how I could smell his scent – a mix of spice and something almost sweet - and how I wanted to get even closer.

"Thank you," I mumbled.

"Tell me about you, Zaya. I want to know everything."

I wasn’t used to people wanting to know anything about me, much less wanting to spend time with me. I swallowed, trying to get my heart to stop racing. "There... there isn't much to tell…"

He chuckled softly, leaning forward so our faces were even closer. His golden eyes were so intense, so mesmerizing, I couldn't look away. "I find that hard to believe… there has to be more to you than meets the eye, little one," he murmured.

Little one…? There was only one man who had called me that and he had been avoiding me for more than eighty years for reasons I didn’t know.

I felt a flush creeping up my neck and onto my cheeks, both at his words and his proximity but I didn’t move away… instead I started talking, telling him about me and everything I had done since waking up here.

The conversation flowed easily between us and before I knew it, it was late… well past the time I normally took when I was able to sneak out. I stood up, eyes widening as a wave of anxiety washed over me, realizing how long I'd been out here. "I have to go… I wasn't supposed to be gone for this long."

Bryant stood up quickly, grabbing my wrist. "Wait, when can I see you again?"

"I... I'm not sure," I stuttered, feeling torn between the need to leave and the desire to stay.

He stepped closer, still holding my wrist and leaning in, his face close enough that I could feel his breath on my cheek. "I want to see you again." His words were soft but filled with an urgency that made my stomach clench.

I could feel my resolve weakening, my body craving more of his touch. "I… I can try."

And I did... every night, like clockwork, I’d slip out the moment I could and meet Bryant in the exact same spot where we had met.

His face would light up when he saw me, and we’d talk for hours about nothing and everything—stories of places he claimed to have seen beyond the Nether Realm, jokes that made me laugh until my ribs hurt, even whispered confessions pressed between stolen kisses.

Every time I saw him, I found myself growing more attached to him... his golden eyes, warm smile, gentle touch all pulling at me like moth to flame. He made me feel alive... wanted, desired in a way I hadn’t felt in so long. All the doubts and fears that had clung to me like a second skin since I had woken up with a stoic man standing over me, slowly started to fade away and for the first time in a long time, I felt hopeful, almost... happy.

Wanting to look nicer for him, I conned a seamstress into making nicer dresses embroidered with flowers and gold or silver threading along the hemline, sleeves and neck. She took the stolen gold I had found in the Lord’s study and kept quiet about the garments. I also had slippers made so I didn’t have to run around barefoot all the time and the last step I took towards looking good for Bryant was trading out books with one of the maids so she would braid my waist-length hair and decorate it with anything she could find.

I wanted to look beautiful for Bryant and when he saw me dressed in my new clothing with my hair done in intricate braids and kohl lining my blue eyes for the first time the effort and the secrecy was well worth it… and I was happy… so unbelievably happy but things felt off… like I was living a dream, living the life I always longed for, but... not quite.

There was always something nagging at the back of my mind, a tiny sliver of unease that refused to go away… like Bryant wasn’t the one I was supposed to be with. Like I was supposed to be with or belonged to someone else…

I tried to ignore these feelings, tried to focus on Bryant and the joy he brought into my mundane life, but... those thoughts were like shadows, stalking me, whispering dark thoughts and fears, making me wonder if this happiness, this light in my life, was merely an illusion, something that would disappear as quickly as it had appeared.

And as weeks turned to months then into years, I pushed those thoughts aside as my world slowly grew brighter and fuller. Nights in the cold, quiet Nether Realm spent with Bryant were replaced with long conversations and stolen kisses in the cool, fragrant air of the Lotus Grove. He was the one thing in this dreary world that made me smile, the only thing I looked forward to.

It was during one of those nights together, tucked away beneath the fragrant blooms, that he held me, my head resting against his chest as we watched the stars. "I was thinking..." he whispered, fingers gently stroking my arm.

I hummed in response, my eyes closed, savoring the feel of his touch. "About what?"

"Us."

I felt my heart skip a beat, a mixture of excitement and nervousness twisting in my stomach. "What about us?"

He was quiet for a moment, his thumb tracing idle patterns on my skin. "We've been sneaking around for so long… it's exhausting," he muttered darkly.

I leaned back, looking up at him, his golden eyes catching the moonlight as they locked onto mine. "What are you suggesting?"

He reached up and pushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear, fingertips gently caressing my cheek. "Come have dinner with me… tonight."

"Really?" I asked, sitting up. "You want me to have dinner with you?"

He laughed softly, amusement lighting his features. "Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. I'm tired of this whole sneaking around, hiding in the shadows like we're doing something wrong. I want to be able to hold your hand, I want to kiss you whenever I want without worrying about being caught…" he sat up and pulled me into his lap so I was straddling him. "… and I want to be with you… feel your naked skin against mine. Do you want that too?"

His words sent a shiver through me, igniting a flame in the pit of my stomach. It was something I'd been wanting for so long but hadn't allowed myself to fully acknowledge. "Yes…" I whispered, the word escaping my lips before I could stop it.

"Good," he whispered back, his gaze locked on mine. "Because I can't go much longer without touching you… without feeling you…"

I could see the raw hunger in his eyes, the desire that matched a need that had been building inside me for months. I reached up, running a hand through his messy black hair. "Then take me," I murmured.

Our kiss was intense and urgent, the product of months of pent-up emotions, desire and need finally breaking through the surface. His hands slid underneath my dress, skimming along my bare thighs, making me shiver. He groaned into my mouth as his fingers skimmed over the edge of my undergarments, teasing me and driving me wild to the point that my hips started unconsciously rocking against his.

He pulled away just enough to break the kiss, his breathing ragged and his eyes almost black with need. "Dinner first… then we’ll see what happens."

I bit my lip, equal parts frustrated and turned on by his self-control. "Dinner first?" I repeated breathlessly, my hips still moving against him of their own accord.

He smirked that infuriatingly knowing smirk as he deliberately slowed the movement of his hands under my dress. "Mmhmm," he murmured, nipping at the sensitive spot below my ear just to feel me shiver. "Unless you'd rather we skip straight to dessert..."

The offer was so tempting but something made me pause despite how badly I wanted him. Seconds later, a shadow passed over us and for a split second it felt like we were being watched… like there were eyes burning into us from somewhere beyond the trees... but when I looked up? Nothing was there but empty air and shifting petals in the dim green glow of the lights filtering through the canopy above us.

A shiver ran down my spine and I sat straighter, looking around nervously. "I just had the strangest feeling… like we are being watched."

He chuckled softly, his eyes flickering in amusement. "You're just being paranoid, little one. There's no one out here but us."

His words were rational and logical, but the feeling of being watched was still nagging at me as I leaned back and looked into his eyes. "So what are you going to feed me?"

A lazy grin tugged at his mouth. "You'll have to wait and see."

I frowned at that, pouting slightly. "You're not going to tell me now?"

He smirked again, his hands gripping my hips tightly before giving me a playful swat on the ass. "Nope. And stop pouting. You look more petulant than adorable when you do that."

I laughed then let out a small yelp when he suddenly grasped my waist and lifted me off him. "Come on…" he murmured, lacing his fingers with mine and tugging me along behind him. "Let's get moving before I change my mind and take you up against one of these trees where anyone walking by could see."

I let out a small, involuntary whimper at the suggestion and let him drag me away... still feeling that strange presence watching us.

Several hours later I snuck through the front door of the Lord’s house, disheveled yet happy.

The house was dark and silent, the only sounds the faint rustle of leaves from the open windows and the soft creaks of wooden floors. I held my shoes in my hands as I walked through the dark hallway, trying not to make a sound.

I was so preoccupied with my thoughts that I wasn't paying attention so when a voice rang out calling my name I jumped about a foot in the air, nearly dropping my shoes as I spun around to face the maid who braided my hair almost every day.

"What... are you still doing awake?" I asked, my heart still racing as the maid stepped closer, her eyes curious and... a little sympathetic? "I thought everyone was in bed by now..."

She gave me a soft smile as I trailed off, her gaze flickering over my messy hair, wrinkled clothing, and flushed cheeks. "I was… but the Lord asked me to get up and wait until you returned."

I felt my heart drop, dread and anxiety twisting in my stomach as I realized that the Lord probably knew everything and I was about to lose what little freedom he had allowed me. "The Lord... he wants to see me...?"

"Yes." The maid gave me a knowing look and took a step closer, reaching up and patting my shoulder. "He's waiting for you in his study."

I nodded nervously. "Thank you…"

She gave me another small smile then turned to go, leaving me alone in the darkened hallway, staring in the direction of the Lord’s study. All I could see from my vantage point was the yawning hallway… inky darkness… no shadows cast by the dim glow of the lanterns on the walls… nothing moving… just empty space like a portal leading to an executioner's door.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the anxiety churning in my stomach before slowly walking towards the Lord’s study while sweat dripped from my temples and trailed down the column of my neck.

The door was already open, the faint light from the lanterns in the room illuminating the hallway as I approached. I could hear the crackling of a fire and the soft sounds of someone muttering to themself.

With trepidation, I stepped inside then froze, breath catching as I saw him for the first time in nearly a century. The dim glow of the fire burning in the fireplace cast long shadows across his sharp features, highlighting the tension in his jaw and the cold fury burning behind those violet eyes as he stared at the glass of amber colored liquid in his hand.

He was dressed much like he had been the last time I saw him… black trousers trimmed in gold and embellishments in purple, teal and pale pink along the bottoms of the jagged lengths of fabric wrapped around his waist. But this time… this time his powerfully muscled chest was completely bare as were his feet and his long hair was pulled up into a loose bun.

My fingers tightened around my shoes until my knuckles turned white as I fought the urge to run to him and trace my fingers along the defined muscles of his abdomen and the deep indent of the V-line at his hips.

He didn’t look at me… just swirled the whiskey glass with slow precision while ice clinked like a ticking clock. Then finally… after what felt like hours his gaze lifted to meet mine for a moment before trailing down my body… studying the expensive white silk dress embroidered with flowers and trimmed in silver, the dainty matching shoes in my right hand, the braids decorated with white lace, ribbons and flowers weaving in and out of my longer tresses then back to my face.

His gaze flicked from my eyes to my swollen lips then back up. "Did you let him fuck you?" he muttered in a deceptively soft tone that made every hair on my body stand up straight.

I blinked at the harsh words. "What...? I..."

The glass slammed onto his desk hard enough to make me flinch then suddenly he was moving, closing the distance between us so fast I had no time to react before he grabbed my upper arms and spun me around, backing me towards the edge of his desk.

My ass hit the edge painfully, making me release my grip on my shoes as a sharp gasp left my lips, and before I could register what was going on he was lifting me onto it. Then he was in my space… so close I could feel the heat from his body, the scent of whiskey and soap invading my senses as my heart jumped into my throat.

"Answer me," he growled as he shoved my legs wide then stepped between them, bracing his hands on the desk next to my hips, effectively trapping me between his massive arms and chest, leaving me no place to go.

I could feel the heat from his skin... the solidness of his chest and shoulders... his narrow hips pressing against the insides of my thighs… and those old wants and needs came rushing back in, overwhelming me with their intensity.

The feral hunger I saw in his eyes made my breath catch and heat pool in my pussy. My body began to tremble uncontrollably as his face hovered just a few inches from mine and his warm, whiskey scented breath warmed my lips.

He leaned closer as he lifted a hand, his fingers stroking a path down the side of my neck then he was gripping my jaw, his thumb tracing over my swollen lower lip. "Did you. Let him. Fuck you?" he repeated, his voice low and dangerous.

"N-No..." I stuttered, my voice shaking almost harder than my body as I stared up into his cold, hard eyes.

He leaned in even closer, his nose brushing my cheek, his body pressed against mine… "Good girl," he murmured, his thumb and forefinger tracing the line of my jaw then along my neck, his lips hovering a heartbeat from mine then he took my mouth in a heated kiss that left me breathless.

Part 2

Chapter 15: Love

Hayley

Fingers combing through my hair woke me the next morning.

Sighing, I snuggled closer and buried my face against Caleb’s chest.

"Hmm… morning."

"Mornin', angel. You sleep alright?"

I hummed, not opening my eyes and just relishing the feeling of waking up in his arms. It was a dream come true.

"Mhmm… best sleep I've had in ages."

Last night… had been one of the best nights of my life.

Hearing him tell me he loved me had been surprising because I had never thought our relationship could ever go beyond friendship.

I had been prepared to live out the rest of my days as his friend and nothing more… loving him from afar as he went about his life, eventually finding another woman to love and cherish and eventually marry.

But then he had invited me here… to this beautiful cabin in the middle of nowhere and I couldn’t help the hope that something would happen between us because a male friend didn’t invite their female friend on a vacation alone, right?

He had been fine when he picked me up from my house and helped me load my bags into the back of his truck.

Had taken Sadie’s teasing about the romantic vacation getaway he had planned at face value and had teased me when that had made me blush.

On the way up the mountainside things had been normal between us…

It was only after we had arrived at the cabin that I noticed his nervousness and I had thought maybe he had been regretting his choice to bring me here, so I had tried to do the normal things we always did when we spent time together… made lunch, tease him and joke around with him.

I thought it had worked but then he had spent a few hours avoiding me.

I was tempted to call Sadie to come get me, but I had wanted to stay, spend time with him even though he was acting strangely.

Finding the library had been a godsend, so I had settled down in front of the fire and started reading to take my mind off things.

Then he had found me, acting all mysterious… and I had wondered what he was up to.

Smores around a firepit and a confession that he was as in love with me as I was with him wasn’t what I had been expecting at all.

But it had made me happy and giddy, and I felt the need to shout it to the mountainside.

His hand running up and down my back in a lazy, soothing motion drew my attention away from my thoughts and back to him.

"That so? I got a good night's sleep, too... being able to hold you all night definitely helped."

I felt my cheeks flush and a soft smile spread across my lips.

After coming inside, we crawled into bed and talked for a while until we fell asleep and I was okay with that. I wasn’t ready for more and I had a feeling he wasn’t either.

He had held me the entire night... like he was afraid I would vanish if he let go for even a second, and I had been just as reluctant to not have his arms around me.

His lips brushed the top of my head, and I heard his soft sigh.

"We should get up, angel."

"Don't want to," I mumbled into his chest. "Want to stay like this a little longer."

A low rumbling chuckle made his chest vibrate against my cheek.

"C'mon, angel. The day's a-wasting and I have plans."

A small frown appeared on my face, and I sighed.

I really didn't want to leave the warmth of his arms… I could happily stay here in this bed with him until it was time to go home.

"No. Don't wanna."

He chuckled again then rolled us so he was leaning over me.

"Too bad. We have to get up."

He looked down at me, a smile playing at the corners of his lips, and despite the part of me that wanted to just pout and stay right where we were, I found myself smiling back, my heart skipping in my chest.

"You're mean," I accused him with no heat in my voice.

"I prefer the term 'determined'. And you love me."

I hummed, lifting my hand and tracing the sharp lines of his jaw with my fingers.

"Mmm I do..." I whispered. "So much… can we just have a lazy morning in bed?"

He seemed to be contemplating it for a few moments before a slow, almost devious grin spread across his lips.

"You are a very persuasive little minx, you know that?"

He leaned down, and my breath caught in my throat as he pressed his lips to mine. His mouth moved over mine, his kiss slow, deep, and gentle but at the same time making my body come alive.

I let out a soft gasp, my fingers curling into the material of his T-shirt as he pressed me down into the bed with the weight of his body.

His tongue traced the outline of my mouth teasingly, the action causing shivers to run down my spine and sending a jolt of heat pooling low in my belly as I opened my mouth to let him in.

My hands slid up his arms, enjoying the feel of muscles under my fingers as he shifted, positioning himself between my thighs but making sure not to press too much of weight on me, and I couldn't help the little moan that slipped out.

He broke the kiss, moving his lips to my jaw then down the side of my neck.

"Mmm… you're making me want to stay right here, angel."

"That was the idea…" I breathed, tilting my head to the side to give him more room.

He chuckled, his teeth nipping tenderly at the sensitive skin.

"You're a bad influence but… I have plans for us sooo…" He pulled back with a grin and tapped my nose. "… time to get up."

I pouted again, my arms tightening around him.

"Just five more minutes? Please..."

He laughed and grabbed my hands.

"I can't say no to that cute pout, but we really need to get up. I made some plans for us… we can stay in bed all day tomorrow."

"You suck..."

"I know, I know," he chuckled again and leaned down to kiss the tip of my nose before rolling out of bed, ignoring my protests when the warm blanket of his body left me. "Come on, angel. I don't wanna hear it, get up."

Sighing and resigning myself to getting up, I sat up and ran a hand through my messy hair.

"Fine… but you're still mean."

"Good thing you love me then." With a smirk, he arched an eyebrow and said, "Now, what do I need to do to get you out of that bed? Do I need to throw you over my shoulder?"

"You wouldn't dare," I said, trying to sound offended but it was difficult when I was trying not to smile.

His smirk turned into a wicked grin.

"Try me," he said, putting a knee on the bed beside me. "Don't think I won't."

I watched him for a moment, trying to decide if he was serious, but the gleam in his eyes was all the answer I needed.

Jumping off the bed, I laughed as he lunged like he was about to grab me.

"Hey! I’m up."

He chuckled, his gaze running over me and making my heart skip a beat.

"Good girl."

Rolling my eyes, I headed to the bathroom to brush my teeth and freshen up.

An hour and a half later, I was wondering if he had lost his damned mind as I looked from him to the rack of skis and back again.

"Are you trying to kill me?"

"Not trying to kill you. Just teach you how to ski. It'll be fun."

Glaring at him, I folded my arms.

"Skiing is all fun and games until someone gets hurt, and that someone will be me."

He chuckled, shaking his head as he reached out and adjusted my beanie so it sat right on my head then ran his fingers down the side of my face.

"I won’t let anything happen to you."

I sighed at the gentle look in his eyes and caved, a tiny smile pulling on my lips.

"Okay…"

A wide smile spread across his lips, and his eyes lit up.

"That's my girl," he murmured, his hand cupping my cheek gently. "I promise… you're going to enjoy yourself."

I had my doubts about that but the look in his eyes and the faith he had that everything would be alright, made my shoulders relax and my heart flutter.

I let out a soft sigh, giving in.

He wrapped an arm around me and led me over to where the skis waited.

"We’re going to be doing a simple bunny hill, so it's nothing too intense."

I nodded, taking a deep breath, and let him help me pick out some skis.

Half an hour later, I was standing at the top of a hill watching the other skiers with my heart in my throat.

The bunny slope was a gentle one, and I tried to remind myself of that each time I looked down and felt a flutter of panic in my chest, but it was difficult.

Caleb was beside me, holding my hand and giving my fingers a reassuring squeeze every so often. He was being patient and supportive as I took deep breaths and tried to calm my nerves.

"It's okay, angel… I'm right here."

"I can do this," I whispered, more to myself than him.

"You can," he reassured me. "Just take it slow, don't overthink it. I'm with you."

It took some time, but he was right.

I managed to get down the slope with only a few tumbles, and I felt a little bit better.

He was right by my side, offering praise and support and helping me up when I fell.

"See, you're doing good. Told you you could do it."

I let go of his hand to shove him lightly only to let out a yelp as I lost my balance.

He caught me before I could face-plant, wrapping an arm around my waist.

"Easy there, angel," he chuckled, his arm tightening around my waist to keep me upright.

I huffed, my cheeks going pink as I put my hands on his shoulders to steady myself.

"Maybe no shoving while you’re on skis?"

I stuck my tongue out at him, and he laughed again, one hand going to my chin and lifting my face so he could press a kiss to my lips.

"That's not very nice."

"You started it," I mumbled against his lips, my arms going around his neck.

"I did no such thing," he murmured, his voice a low, rough rumble that made me shiver.

"Okay, maybe you didn't," I gasped as he pressed his lips to mine and kissed me thoroughly.

When he finally pulled back, he was smiling, his eyes filled with warmth and affection.

"Ready to go down again?"

My heart was still fluttering and his smile was distracting, but I was determined.

"Yeah," I managed to say. "I'm ready."

"All right then," he said and handed me my poles. "Let's do this again. Remember, don't overthink it. I'm right here. I got you."

Over the next hour, I slowly started to get a hang of it, and my confidence grew.

Caleb stayed beside me throughout all of it, making sure to catch me when I stumbled, praising me when I managed to stay on my feet and making me laugh when I needed it.

He was patient, supportive, and never lost his cool, and I couldn't keep the smile off my face as he took my hand and led me up the bunny slope one last time.

"You ready to go get something to eat?" he asked as we reached the top.

"I am," I said, smiling up at him. "I'm starving."

He chuckled and gave my hand a squeeze, his gaze dropping to my face.

"Then let's go. I know this great little cafe near here. You'll love it."

As I took one last look at the slope, I felt a wave of gratitude.

"Thank you for today… I had fun, and you were a great teacher."

"My pleasure," he said, his smile warm. "It was fun. You did good."

"Hmm… thanks to you," I mumbled then laid my head on his chest.

We stood there for a few moments, just savoring the quiet and each other's company then he pulled away slightly, cupping my chin and raising my head so I was looking up at him.

For a long moment, he just stared at me, rubbing his thumb along my jawline then he said, "Marry me, Hayley."

My eyes went wide, and my heart skipped a beat.

"Wh… what?" I whispered, sure I'd heard wrong.

But he wasn't joking; I could tell by the look in his eyes. He was serious.

"I mean it," he said slowly. "Marry me."

My mouth opened and closed, words failing me for a moment.

For a moment, just one singular moment it crossed my mind that it was too soon for him to be proposing but then I realized love didn’t have a timeline… it happened when it happened. It didn’t come with rules, it didn’t come with instructions, it didn’t matter how long we had been together or when we had said I love you for the first time… all that mattered was that we loved each other and marrying him was something I wanted more than anything.

"Yes," I managed to breathe out, a smile spreading across my face. "Yes, I'll marry you!"

I didn't even get a chance to say anything else before he was kissing me, his arms wrapping around me and holding me tight.

When he pulled back, he was grinning, his eyes gleaming with happiness.

"I love you so damn much," he murmured. "I know it's a bit soon, but we don't have to rush… and I have a feeling Sadie will murder me if we get married without her."

"She absolutely will," I laughed, my fingers playing with his hair. "She's going to want to plan the biggest wedding imaginable."

A soft groan left his lips, but it was followed by a low chuckle.

"And we’re going to let her plan it because she’s your best friend."

I nodded and then bit my lip.

"She was right," I said softly.

That made him raise an eyebrow.

"Right about what?"

"She told me… that I was going to end up with you eventually."

A crooked smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"She's never going to let you forget that."

"No, she definitely won't. She'll never let us live it down."

He chuckled and pressed his lips to mine for a moment.

"I don't care," he murmured, his fingers tracing a line down my cheek and to my chin. "I just care about one thing."

I knew what he was going to say, but I still asked, "What's that?"

"You," he said without hesitation. "I just want you."

I could feel tears prick at the corners of my eyes at the sheer amount of love in his words, in his voice, in his eyes.

"God, I love you…" I whispered, blinking to keep the tears back.

He smiled and brushed his thumb over my cheekbone, gently wiping away a tear that managed to slip free.

"Don't cry, angel," he murmured, his voice low and rough. "I don't like seeing those pretty eyes filled with tears."

A smile pulled at my lips as I reached up to touch his face.

"I'm not sad," I whispered. "These are happy tears."

"Happy tears," he repeated, rubbing a hand along my back. "I'm glad to hear that."

"You know… you promised me lunch."

"That I did. Are you hungry?"

My stomach growled almost as if on cue, making me laugh.

"Very hungry," I said, resting my hands on his chest as I went up on my toes to kiss him.

He smiled against my lips and returned the kiss, his arms wrapping me up tighter again before he pulled away, gently tugging on my hand.

"Come on, angel."

I followed him back to the truck, feeling like I was walking on air.

Every so often he would look back at me, a crooked smile forming on his lips that would send a shiver down my spine and a swarm of butterflies through my stomach.

As we reached his truck, he opened the door for me… like always… and helped me up into the passenger seat… like always.

The small gesture still made my heart flutter, even after all this time, and a small, involuntary smile spread across my lips.

He leaned into the truck, reaching up to tuck a strand of hair back behind my ear.

"What're you smiling at?"

I couldn't help the soft laugh that left my lips.

"You," I said without hesitation. "You make me smile."

He leaned in and brushed a kiss to the corner of my mouth.

"Good," he murmured. "That's all I want."

He stepped back and shut the door, before circling the truck and climbing in.

A few seconds later, we were leaving the parking lot and on our way to the café he had mentioned.

As we drove, I felt the reality of what had just happened sinking in.

I was going to marry him.

We were going to be husband and wife, partners for life.

We were going to have children, grow old together and… I couldn’t be happier.

It still felt surreal, like a dream that I was afraid I would wake up from at any moment.

But it was my reality and I was getting everything I had ever dreamed of.

The drive back into town was filled with comfortable silence, and I could feel Caleb's eyes on me every so often.

When we reached the café, he parked the truck then climbed out and came around to my side and opened my door, holding his hand out to me, which I took…

The cafe, a cozy, little place called "The Hidden Bean", was bustling with people, all enjoying their lunch or a hot drink. The smell of coffee, pastries and other food wafted in the air, the sound of people chatting and laughing was a soothing background noise, and the warmth that hit us as we walked in was something I knew I could get used to.

Caleb squeezed my hand and led me to a table near the back, close to a window.

The view outside was of the snowy mountain range in the distance, the sun reflecting off the snow and filling the small cafe with bright light.

"This place is so cozy," I said, running my fingers over the surface of the table as I sat.

"I thought you might like it here," he said, sitting down and pulling a menu towards him. "They have the best cinnamon buns."

I could feel my mouth start to water and my stomach rumbled.

"Cinnamon buns?" I echoed, perking up in my seat.

"Yep. They're delicious."

"Good," I said, reaching for my menu to look through the rest of the options. "Ohhh… they have baked potato soup and sourdough bread."

"I know. They make it with cheddar cheese and real bacon. It's pretty good."

I let out a little moan at the thought of cheesy, soupy goodness.

"Have you tried everything here?" I asked, giving him a small poke in the arm.

"Just about," he laughed, grabbing my hand and kissing my knuckles. "They also have really good chili."

I let out another little noise of contentment as I glanced back down at the menu.

"Hmm… so many things to choose from..."

"Don't start overthinking. You always do that when you have more than two choices."

I stuck my tongue out at him playfully, but he was right.

I always had trouble making decisions when I had too many options and panicked when asked what I wanted to order and ended up ordering something I really didn’t want.

"That's because there are so many good things to choose from."

He shook his head, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips.

"We’re here for two weeks. You can have one of everything before we leave," he teased.

"You're right," I said, putting the menu aside. "But I think I know what I want."

He raised an eyebrow, sitting back in his chair.

"Oh? And what would that be?"

"Mmm..." I leaned forward, resting my chin on my hand. "Guess."

"Hmm... if I'm gonna guess," he said slowly then reached up, tapping his index finger against his chin. "The potato soup, the sourdough and a cinnamon bun along with some of that coffee you love so much?"

I pouted.

"How did you guess?"

"Because I know you, baby," he said, reaching for my hand and intertwining our fingers.

A smile tugged at the corners of my lips, and I let out a small laugh as the waitress appeared next to our table.

"Welcome to The Hidden Bean… what can I get you?"

"I'll start with a regular coffee, she’ll have a caramel latte," Caleb said then glanced at me, his thumb running over the back of my hand. "And can we also get a potato soup, a bowl of chili, a plate of sourdough bread and two cinnamon buns, please?"

She nodded, taking out her little notebook.

"Of course. Anything else I can get you?"

He looked at me, his expression soft.

"You want anything else, angel?"

"No, I'm good," I said, looking up at the waitress. "That's all for now, thank you."

She jotted down the order then smiled before tucking the notebook away in her apron.

"Perfect. Your order will arrive shortly."

He gave her a nod, and the waitress disappeared, leaving us alone again.

I let out a content sigh and twirled a strand of hair around my finger.

He looked at me across the table, his eyes following the movement.

"That's a new habit you've picked up lately," he remarked, gesturing to my hair.

I paused, my hand still in my hair.

"Oh," I said, feeling a little self-conscious as I dropped my hand into my lap. "I didn't realize... I used to do that a lot when I was a child... habit, I guess."

He watched me for a moment, his expression soft, before reaching out and running his fingers through my hair.

"It's a cute habit, I like it."

I leaned into his touch, letting my eyes drift shut for a moment.

"I love you," I murmured, opening my eyes and meeting his gaze.

He hummed, his fingers moving to the strands of hair framing my face.

"And I love you."

Just hearing those words made my heart skip a beat, and I could feel the familiar warmth spreading in my chest as I looked at him.

For a moment, we just stared at each other, enjoying the quiet intimacy between us then the waitress returned with our drinks, placing the steaming cups on the table.

"Food will be ready soon," she said brightly, placing some napkins with silverware on the table before turning and walking away.

Caleb took a sip of his coffee, watching me over the rim of the cup.

"So... I've been thinking…"

"Hmm?" I said, taking a sip of my own coffee. "About what?"

"I think… we should call Sadie and tell her the happy news," he murmured, his eyes never leaving mine as smile curled the corner of his lips.

A grin spread across my face.

"Yes. Definitely. We need to tell her," I took another sip of my latte, savoring the sweet flavor, then pulled my phone out of my bag.

"She's going to freak out," he said, his voice low.

I chuckled as I scrolled to her name and hit the call button.

"Oh, she definitely will. She's going to scream so loud you'll be able to hear her from here."

The phone rang a few times before I heard the sound of her voice on the other end, "Hello?"

I smiled, excitement bubbling up within me.

"Hi, Sad!"

There was a moment of silence and I knew she was wondering what we were up to.

"Hey..." she said, her voice tinged with suspicion. "What's up?"

Caleb chuckled and took a sip of his coffee.

"Caleb and I have something we wanted to tell you… something pretty great, actually."

The suspicion in her tone was replaced with curiosity.

"What is it? You guys are being all mysterious, and I hate it. You have to tell me now!"

I could almost see her bouncing in place on the other end of the call.

"Well..." I said. "You might want to sit down for this."

On the other end of the line, I could hear her shuffling around before she spoke again.

"Okay, I'm sitting. Spill."

"Caleb asked me to marry him."

She let out a squeal of excitement, her voice so loud it made my ears ring for a second, then I heard a loud crash followed by her husband saying, "That was my ear, woman!" then Sadie shouted, "WHAT?! Are you serious?!"

I had to pull the phone away from my ear, chuckling.

"Yes, I'm serious. We're engaged."

In the background, I could hear her husband exclaiming, "Why are you so loud?"

"Oh my God! This is amazing! I can't wait to plan the wedding. Wait! I am planning the wedding, right? Of course, I’m planning the wedding… it's going to be so big and beautiful and it’s going to be outside and there’s going to be fairy lights and lots of flowers, oh my God...! I’m so excited! I knew you were meant to be together…"

She kept talking and I looked up, meeting the eyes of the man who was going to be my husband and smiled when he shot me a wink.

Our wedding couldn’t come soon enough.

Chapter 16

Chapter 7

Fingers running through my hair woke me from a dead sleep.

"Time to wake up, kitten," a deep, smooth voice murmured as those fingers continued to comb through my hair, nails lightly scraping against my scalp.

I grumbled something unintelligible into my pillow in protest, not wanting to wake up yet, and I tried to pull my blanket over my head.

Sylus yanked the blanket away, and I rolled over to give him a piece of my mind only to pause when I realized it was still the middle of the night.

"What the hell?" I grumbled as I squinted at him, wondering how he got into my apartment. "How the hell did you-"

He put a finger to my lips, silencing me.

"Quiet," he said, his voice firm. "We need to talk."

I stared at him for a moment. "Talk?" I repeated, not really grasping what was happening. "About what?"

He didn't answer, his gaze focused on my face as he sat on the edge of my bed.

It annoyed the hell out of me that he had broken into my apartment and woke me up at the ass-crack of dawn without a care in the world and expected me to what? Have a staring contest?

He let out a frustrated sigh and shifted closer to me. "Sit up."

I scowled at him, feeling more annoyed by the second.

"No," I said, crossing my arms over my chest on top of the blankets. "It's like three in the morning and you broke into my apartment to wake me up for a talk? What the hell-"

"I didn’t break in. I have a key."

I paused, staring at him with wide eyes. "A… a key? You have a key to my apartment?"

He nodded, his expression as impassive as ever. "Yes, you gave it to me a while back."

I opened and closed my mouth several times, trying to remember when the hell I gave him a key to my apartment and why, but my brain was still trying to catch up.

"When-" I started to ask, but the look he gave me made me stop.

Right. He said we needed to talk, didn't he?

I groaned and pushed myself up into a sitting position. "Okay, fine. Talk."

He didn't say anything for a moment, just sat there, his gaze locked on my face.

I could see the tension in his body, the subtle way he twitched when I shifted.

He seemed… anxious? Upset?

"What's going on, Sylus? You're acting weird. Are you… okay?"

He let out a low sigh, looking down at the blankets in my lap and running a hand through his hair. He did that when he was stressed. "You fucked Caleb last night."

"I… what?" I muttered, feeling my stomach drop. "I… I did… but what does that have to do with anything? How do you even know about that?"

He lifted his head to meet my gaze, and I could see the anger and… hurt? in his eyes. "Caleb and I are neighbors, kitten," he said, his voice low and cold. "I heard you…"

I froze, feeling a rush of dread wash over me as I realized that Caleb had known Sylus would hear us… had deliberately brought me to his house knowing Sylus would figure out it was me in his bed.

"You… you heard us?" I asked, my voice coming out in a whisper.

He nodded, his expression hardening. "Every goddamn sound. Every cry." He shifted closer, reaching out to run his fingers down my face until he reached my throat. "Every whimper. Every moan. I heard you beg him… like you begged me…"

I tried to pull back from his touch, the reminder of how I had… begged Caleb last night making me flush with embarrassment. But Sylus' free hand grabbed my arm, yanking me back towards him until I was in his lap.

"Look at me," he demanded. "Look at me and tell me you weren't thinking of me last night."

A shiver ran through me at the anger and possessiveness in his voice, and I looked up at him reluctantly, meeting his sharp gaze. I knew he was expecting me to deny it… to tell him I hadn't been thinking of him while I was beneath Caleb, but I couldn’t because… it would be a lie.

I had wanted him there with us… naked, hard and wanting… just like I had always dreamed of… together… all three of us.

"I…" I started to speak but he growled, his fingers digging into my jaw. "Don't lie to me," he snapped. "Tell. Me."

The force in his voice made my heart pound, his grip on my jaw and the hardness in his eyes making me squirm in his lap.

I could tell he wasn’t going to accept anything but the truth, and I knew I owed him that.

"I… I was."

He froze, his eyes widening at my confession then something dark flared to life as he repeated my words. "You were thinking of me… while you were with him," he said. "Say it again."

"I was thinking of you," I whispered.

A dark chuckle left his lips, the sound sending a shiver through me then he was unwrapping the blanket from around my body in quick, hurried movements.

Within seconds, it was on the floor and I was on my back, the only thing covering me the shirt I had slept in which was clinging to my body, barely covering my thighs or that fact that I didn’t have any underwear on.

I let out a gasp, my hands flying up to press against his chest as he settled between my spread thighs, my eyes wide as I looked up at him.

"Sylus… w-wait, wait…."

He shook his head, his hand pressing against my stomach and moving up over the curves of my sides until he had my shirt pushed up, exposing my breasts to the cool air, then he was cupping one in his big hand.

"No. Not… after I had to listen to you… begging for someone else."

A gasp of surprise left my lips as he leaned down, his mouth closing over my neck and sucking hard. Next, his teeth grazed over my skin, nipping and biting, his hands roaming over my body as he marked me, his lips and teeth trailing over my neck and shoulders, leaving bruises.

One hand crept between my thighs and then his fingers were dragging through the wetness there before he thrust two inside my pussy and curled them.

I whimpered, my body trembling as lust, want, and need surged through me even with the rough handling.

"I… I want you both," I whispered.

He paused at that, his mouth leaving my neck as he lifted his head and stared down at me. When he spoke there was an edge of curiosity in his voice. "You want both of us?"

I nodded, unable to lie to him or deny what I wanted, what I had been thinking of… what I had been dreaming of.

"Yes," I whispered, my body arching up against his touch. "Yes, I… I want both of you."

For a moment, he was quiet, his eyes locked on my face, the tension in his body increasing as he seemed to be warring with himself.

"You can't have us both."

There was a sharp, bitter edge to his voice, and I flinched, my heart sinking. I knew he wasn't being mean… knew he was just being honest. But it hurt.

"Why not?"

His fingers paused then pulled out of me completely, and I could see the conflict in his eyes, the pain and anger and possessiveness… and the hurt. He was still struggling to control his emotions.

"Because while I might be willing to share you… he wouldn’t."

I felt a pang at his words, the idea that he was willing to… share me with Caleb, but Caleb wouldn't reciprocate. It was almost too much to wrap my head around.

"But… why-"

He shook his head, his expression dark and serious as he moved to the edge of the bed. "Don't… don't try to make sense of it. He's possessive… always has been, especially of you."

"But I…" I trailed off as I sat beside him, my mind spinning as I tried to make sense of it.

Caleb, possessive of me?

I thought back to all the times he got so… angry whenever I had tried to date anyone… how he had always chased them off. But I had always thought it was him being protective of me because he saw me as a little sister, not… possessive.

Sylus’ gaze softened slightly at my confusion, his touch gentle as he reached up and cupped my chin.

"You… didn't know?" he asked.

I shook my head. "He fucks anything that moves, Sylus… how could I have known?"

He let out a wry chuckle, the hand on my chin moving to gently trace my cheek. "How many of those women has he gone back to? How many has he spent a whole night fucking?"

His question was met with a stunned silence as the realization hit me.

Caleb had always been so casual with his relationships, so detached… always fucking women once and then never having anything to do with them again. But I had never thought it was because he secretly wanted me but was possibly too afraid? to admit it so he never said anything.

"He… I… I never… I never realized," I said softly.

He let out a sigh, his gaze roaming over my face as if trying to gauge my reaction. "Did you never wonder why he always sabotaged your relationships?"

Caleb's constant interference, the way he would always find fault in my boyfriends, the way he always showed up just when things were getting serious with a new guy and ruin things… I had always thought it was him being overprotective… I had never considered it might be more…

"He wants you for himself," he continued, his voice hoarse. "He always has."

I was frozen, unable to move as I tried to make sense of the pieces that were suddenly coming together in my brain. It all made sense… the way he ruined every relationship I had ever been in… including my fake one with Sylus.

I looked up at him, my voice trembling as I whispered, "You… you knew? That’s why you suggested pretending to date."

"I suspected," he admitted. "I had a feeling it was more than just overprotectiveness and wanting your attention. But I'd be lying if I said I was hoping I was wrong."

He traced my lower lip, his eyes locked on my mouth. "And then… we started pretending, and he… went off the deep end…"

His words sent a shiver through me as I remembered the way Caleb had reacted when Sylus and I had started ‘dating’… the anger, the hostility. And then last night… I thought it had been nothing more than a need to possibly one up Sylus since I had woken up in his bed to find him gone and had to make my way home on my own.

There had been no note to explain his absence… just cold sheets and my clothes in a pile on the end of the bed along with my handbag, phone and keys.

"I never…" I murmured finally. "… never considered that he… I thought…"

He pressed his thumb against my lips, "I don’t want to talk about him anymore, Bay."

The sharp change in his voice made me shiver, my body reacting automatically to the sudden commanding tone, and I went quiet, my gaze shifting to his.

He leaned until his face was only inches from mine, his hand sliding around the back of my head and tangling in my hair. "Stop thinking… talking about him. I'm here with you now."

The possessive edge in his voice sent a flutter through me, my stomach twisting at the way he pulled my head back, exposing my neck then he leaned in, his lips brushing over my throat as he murmured, "Don't think about him… only me."

My skin tingled under his touch as his teeth scraped against my throat and I knew one thing… I wanted him… again.

"I want you…" I whispered, my mind foggy with lust and need.

The hand in my hair tightened, and he used it to drag me into his lap so I was straddling him. "You want me?" he asked softly, chest rising and falling with his ragged breaths.

I nodded, my hands resting on his chest to steady myself as I looked up at him.

The tension in his body eased, a low growl leaving him as he looked up at me from under his lashes, something feral in his gaze. Then his hands slid under the hem of my shirt, his touch rough as he pulled it over my head and tossed it onto the floor.

His eyes roamed over my naked body, hungry and possessive, then he was leaning forward, his mouth against my chest, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin just above my heart as his hands slid around and gripped my ass to pull my hips against his.

I let out a whimper at the sudden movement, my hands flying up to grip his shoulders as my body trembled and arched towards him. My brain was already starting to turn off, the need in his touch and the way he looked at me making me shiver uncontrollably.

I knew that look… knew what it meant.

He was going to be rough… possessive… demanding… like he had been the first time we had been together and I wanted it so bad.

I gasped when he nipped the skin of my breast, reaching down and grabbing a fistful of his hair and pulling him up until his face was even with mine.

"Sylus…" I panted, my other hand gripping his bicep. "Please… take me…"

With a dangerous glint in his eyes, he gripped my hair tighter, his other hand sliding up my bare leg to the wet folds of my pussy.

"Ask me politely, and I will give it to you."

When I didn’t respond right away, he pushed my hands away from his head and gripped my waist, moving me so I was standing then he was pushing me back until I was against the wall. "Ask me…" he whispered, his voice rough.

He was being… dominant tonight.

Not that he wasn't always a little rough in his mannerisms and the way he spoke, but he was acting… almost feral… like his instincts had taken over and were driving him with a single minded intensity.

It was arousing, but he wouldn't give me what I wanted until I asked… politely.

I lifted my arms, going up on my tiptoes, reaching up and looping them around his neck, wanting, no… needing to be closer. "I want you... please, Sylus, I need you to take me…"

His fingers gripped my chin and tilted my head back, his mouth coming closer to mine until I could feel his breath on my lips as he murmured, "Since you asked so nicely…" before his mouth was crushing against mine.

I let out a whimper at the force of his kiss, my nails digging into his shoulders as he deepened it. He bit my lip, drawing a bit of blood, the sharp spike of pain making me gasp.

His hands left my face, moving down to grip my waist then he was lifting me off the ground. I wrapped my legs around him instinctively, my hands coming up to grip his hair as he moved towards the bed then laid me down on my back.

I tried to move, tried to sit up… but he was having none of it.

He pressed me down into the bed, his hand on my throat... "Don’t move, Bay."

It was an order, not a suggestion, and I obediently laid back, my hands going to my sides and clutching the sheets beneath me as he stepped back and started to remove his clothes.

My eyes moved down his body as he tossed his shirt aside, pausing at the waistband of his jeans as his long fingers went to the button and opened them before unzipping them and pushing them down his hips while toeing off his boots.

Once he was naked, he bent over me, using one hand to grasp the back of my neck while the other wrapped around my torso then he was moving me further up the bed.

I went willingly, my mind going blank as he moved me into the center, his movements quick and efficient. Then he was on top of me, moving between my legs and pinning me beneath him, his muscles tense and straining as he held himself above me.

His eyes flicked up to mine, and I could see the dark intent in his eyes as he lowered his body fully on top of mine.

I tried to wiggle again, wanting to arch into him. "Sylus, please… I need – oh!"

The breath left my lungs and my back arched as he suddenly shifted, burying his cock in my pussy in one smooth thrust.

I tried to speak, to say something… but my words got caught in my throat when he hooked his arms under my legs, spreading them wider and started to move, pulling all the way out of my pussy then thrusting back in hard.

All I could do was lay there, desperate cries of pleasure leaving my mouth, chest heaving, eyes locked on the way that he was looking at me as he took my body like he owned it.

I let out another sharp cry as he buried himself deep at the same time as he bent his head and sank his teeth into my neck with a low growl. My hands flew up to grip his shoulders, my hips spasming and back arching as I came.

He was being rough… almost savage and I loved it.

He wasn't just making love to me, he was marking me, claiming me. He was showing me that I was his…

"Did I give you permission to come?" he whispered against the skin of my neck.

A gasp left my lips at his words, my body shaking at the tone in his voice. I swallowed hard and whispered, "No…"

"No," he repeated, his voice dark as his fingers tangled in my hair. "I didn't."

He pulled out of my pussy, his eyes roving over my body as he sat back on his knees between my legs, his expression unreadable. His hands rested on my thighs, keeping my legs spread, the muscles in his arms tense, his breathing a little ragged.

I could feel my body clenching, needy and wanting… desperate for him to fill me again, desperate for more of what only he could give me.

"Please..."

Something dark flared in his eyes as he leaned over me, placing his hands on the bed on either side of my head, the muscles in his arms standing out in sharp relief as he shifted, slowly sliding his cock back inside me.

My head fell back against the sheets, a low moan leaving my throat as I was stretched around his thick length but he didn’t move… just kept still, seated fully inside my body while he stared down at me.

I knew exactly what he was waiting for.

Slowly I lifted my eyes from where our bodies were connected to his crimson ones, my voice little more than a whimper as I whispered, "Please… move…"

"As you wish," he said, his voice low and rough then he started moving.

I let out a sharp cry at the force of his thrust, my hands flying up, nails biting into the skin of his shoulder with one hand while the other dug into his hair and pulled.

A gasp left his lips as he felt my body clenching around him… and it was like he snapped, lost the ironclad restraint he had been holding onto.

He pulled away, pulling out of me and grabbed me by the waist, flipping me onto my front, then his hands were on my hips, my ass was in the air, and his cock was back inside me in seconds.

A whimper left my lips as I felt every inch of his muscled body against mine, his chest on my back, his hips against my ass, one of his big hands wrapped around my throat, forcing me to arch my neck back until his face was next to mine.

I could feel his breath against my skin, hot and ragged as he moved his hips in slow and deliberate circles before he picked up the pace, "Is this what you wanted?"

My back arched and my hips pressed back against him, "Yes…"

The hand around my throat tightened, the rough touch, the dominant pressure, the way he held me while he fucked me so hard sounds I had never heard before poured out of my throat as I pushed back against him, my pussy clamping down on his cock with each thrust.

Another whimper left my lips as the hand around my throat moved and he grabbed a fistful of my hair, pulling my head back against his shoulder while his other hand slid down my stomach between my legs.

Then I felt his thumb on my clit, pressing down on the little bundle of nerves as he whispered, "I'm going to make you come… and then I'm going to take you again… and again… and again… until I'm sure I've completely ruined you…" he pulled out then thrust back in, his cock head brushing something deep inside me that had my breath hitching.

"… you won't be able to walk…" he mumbled, thumb circling my clit until my body tensed and I clamped down on his cock as my body drew closer to the edge again, "won't be able to do anything but beg… for me to stop… for me to keep going…"

And with that he pinched my clit between his thumb and forefinger just as his mouth bit down on my shoulder… and I came, harder than the other times.

It was like a fire had suddenly been lit inside me, my mind turning blank as my body convulsed. The pleasure was almost too much…

"Sylus…"

It was the only word I managed to get out, the only sound I was able to make as he held me tightly with his arm clamped around my waist, keeping me from collapsing to the bed. I was completely wrecked… lost… all I could do was twitch, every inch of me sensitive, my body feeling like nothing more than a ragdoll in his arms.

He slowly pulled out of my pussy and lowered me to the bed before rolling me onto my back. My eyes immediately went to his hard cock, the long thick length glistening with my juices and I whimpered because I knew he was nowhere near finished with me. "Look at me."

I looked up at him, swallowing hard as he leaned closer, the look in his eyes intense as he whispered, "You know what happens next…"

My heart was beating so fast, my chest heaving with each deep inhale as I stared up at him. Of course, I knew what was going to happen… he had mumbled it in my ear moments ago… told me in detail how he was going to wreck me.

"I know…" I whispered, my voice a little hoarse from all the cries and whimpers.

I could see the dark glint in his eyes as the words left my lips and then he did something unexpected… he lowered himself so he was laying on the bed on his stomach and brought his mouth close to my pussy, blowing on my wet folds before he lowered his head and licked a strip up the center of my entrance.

A gasp left my lips as my hands flew to his hair, gripping the soft strands as my legs clamped around his head.

"Mmmmm…" his moan vibrated against my pussy, and I could feel his tongue delving into my folds as he grabbed my legs and spread them wide, holding them in place so I couldn’t move.

My back arched, my body shaking as my hips moved against his mouth. The fact that I had just come twice meant I couldn't handle much more but my body seemed to crave it.

And he knew it… knew that my body was sensitive… knew that I wanted more even though I wasn’t sure I could give him what he wanted and it had me whimpering his name.

"I… I can’t…" I whispered, my fingers pulling at his hair to get his mouth off my pussy.

He lifted his head to look up at me, his lips and chin glistening with my juices and he gave me that damn smirk. The smirk that made me want to slap him… but it was ruined slightly by the way his eyes were almost feral, like a cat with its paw in the cage full of canaries.

"Yes, you can."

Then his mouth was back on me as two long fingers slid deep inside me and started thrusting in and out of my body roughly while his mouth ate at me like he was starving.

The sounds I made… I didn't even think I could make those sounds… whimpering and whining and mewling like some damn desperate creature as I shook my head back and forth, pulling at his hair, hoarsely crying out loudly… for him. All for him…

And the whole time, he was in complete control… my body was his. Even though I felt so good, I felt wrecked and destroyed… not even sure if I could speak… not even sure if I could remember my damn name.

I don’t know how many times I came with his skilled mouth on me, but something drew my attention as a new voice broke through the fog my brain was in…

"Am I interrupting?"

My eyes flew open as the sound of Caleb's voice jerked me out of my lust-filled haze, my hands gripping Sylus's hair in tight fists.

Sylus shook his head so I was forced to let go then he pushed up on his hands between my legs, his expression dark and furious as he looked back over his shoulder towards the door. When he saw Caleb there, his voice came out in a deep growl, "What the hell are you doing here?"

I heard footsteps and then Caleb came into view, his purple gaze raking over my naked body, Sylus’ hard cock straining between his muscled thighs, and my juices smeared all over Sylus’ chin.

He smirked as he stopped at the side of the bed, his hands in his pockets but that smile didn’t reach his eyes.

I watched warily as he shifted, one hip cocked and his gaze dropped… slowly… dragging his gaze over my body from the top of my head to my legs then back up again before moving to Sylus, who was now kneeling between my spread legs with a scowl on his face.

"Looks like you're having fun," Caleb mumbled, those purple eyes flicking back to me.

I opened my mouth to respond but nothing came out… I didn’t know what to say, I didn’t know why he was here or what he wanted… I didn’t know what to do that wouldn’t make this whole fucked up situation better.

He looked at me for a moment longer, his eyes roaming over my sweat-slicked skin and how I was trembling from multiple orgasms before moving to meet Sylus’ crimson gaze. He let out a faint chuckle then reached out, lightning quick, and grabbed a handful of Sylus’ hair, yanking his head back and moving so his face was inches away from the other mans, "Seems like we’re both addicted to that sweet little pussy… aren’t we?"

Chapter 8

Chapter 14: Vacation

Caleb

As we pulled into the driveway of the cabin I had rented, the nervousness that had been simmering in my stomach since I had asked Hayley to come with me hit an all-time high.

It was stupid to be nervous… this was a vacation, a trip out of town, a chance to spend time together alone where no one could interfere, but the excitement was eating me alive because of what I planned to do while we were here.

I felt like a teenager again with butterflies in my stomach and the nerves were making me feel sick but I was determined to finally tell her how I felt.

It was snowing heavily, thick flakes drifting from the sky, creating a peaceful atmosphere with the backdrop of the tall trees and mountains setting the winter wonderland tone that I knew she enjoyed.

The cabin sat in the middle of the clearing, surrounded by thick forest, its dark wood, green shingles and red front door making it look quaint and cozy.

I turned the engine off and turned my head to see her looking out the passenger side window at the landscape and the cabin, an expression of wonder on her pretty face.

"You ready, angel?" I asked, the corners of my lips twitching.

She shifted her gaze from the window to me, her big green eyes meeting mine, and a small smile appeared on her lips.

"Ready."

That smile of hers… it was so damn beautiful it made my heart skip a beat.

"Good," I said, my own lips curving in a smile that was more confident than I felt.

I climbed out of the truck and grabbed our bags out of the backseat, my eyes falling on her again as I sat them on the snow-covered ground and paused while reaching for the bags of gifts and a few other things I had brought with me.

She was pulling her hair up into a messy bun while looking around, a few tendrils falling around her face and framing it.

The sight made my hands itch to touch her because she looked so goddamn pretty with her nose and cheeks pink and her eyes shining with happiness.

It made me want to abandon my plan, pull her into my arms right here and now and tell her how much I loved her, but I was going to stick to it and do what I had come here to do.

Nothing else would do…

Halloween night had… changed things for me.

When she had come downstairs looking like an angel straight from Heaven it had taken everything in me to hold myself back from grabbing her, throwing her over my shoulder and carrying her off and ravishing her until she knew how much I wanted her.

But I didn't… and the past month and a half had been a torture more painful than any that could ever be thought of.

My feelings for her had gotten too strong for me to handle.

I was tired of keeping it all in, tired of hiding my feelings, tired of ignoring everything that was building between us, and tired of pretending like she was just a friend to me.

I wanted more… needed more.

So I had brought her here… to a cabin where we would be alone for a week so I could tell her how I felt and what I wanted… which was forever.

I wanted forever with her.

I wanted marriage and children and to help her rearrange her shop with her on major holidays and to make her happy.

I wanted it all.

"It's so pretty here," she murmured, a small smile on her lips as she pulled her beanie out of her pocket and pulled it onto her head before reaching out to help me grab our bags.

I had to resist the urge to reach out and brush the snowflakes from her lashes.

"Let's get inside before you freeze."

She nodded and followed me as I grabbed the remaining bags and led the way to the front door, my heart beating wildly and my hands feeling sweaty despite the cold.

Now that I was about to go inside where I was going to confess, I was having… not second thoughts but doubtful? thoughts.

What if she didn't feel the same way? What if this ruined our friendship? What if she never wanted to speak to me again?

I knew I was overthinking… and being an idiot.

I had seen the way she looked at me lately and I had a feeling what I felt was returned.

Once we were finally inside and the door was shut behind us, I sat the bags down and went to work on the fireplace in the living room, needing to keep myself busy and chase away the chill in the air.

I heard her moving around behind me, putting her bag down on the couch and taking her jacket off.

A minute later, she was standing beside me in a pair of leggings, a baggy dark blue sweater and a pair of black fluffy socks.

She looked so damn cute and was already making herself at home. 

That made me so happy.

I wanted to kiss her, touch her, feel her everywhere.

Instead, I took a deep breath and started the fire, the small flames flickering to life and the room soon started to grow warm.

Straightening, I took a few more deep breaths to calm myself when she came to stand in front of the fire, her shoulder grazing my arm as she reached her hands out towards the flames.

Her touch set my nerves on fire, and I had to keep myself from letting out a shudder.

I wanted her so much but after everything she had been through, all her body, abandonment and trust issues… I needed to be smart about this.

She turned her head, her gaze meeting mine, her hair still messy from the hat with a few strands falling in front of her face as she tilted her head.

"You okay?"

I forced myself to give her a small, casual smile and a nod even though I was feeling anything but calm.

"I'm fine, angel. Just a little… tired from the drive."

She studied me for a few silent moments, her eyes searching mine, and I knew she could tell something was off, but after a few more seconds, she let it go.

"Okay… do you something to eat? I can… make us some lunch or something?"

The domesticity of her offer, the way she wanted to take care of me when I was the one who should be taking care of her, made my heart skip a beat.

"That sounds perfect."

She smiled, her cheeks turning that beautiful shade of pink that always made me want to investigate to see how far down the blush would go.

"I'll go see what I can whip up."

"Okay. I'll bring in the rest of the bags."

As she turned to walk out of the room, heading towards the kitchen, I let out a soft breath and pinched the bridge of my nose. I needed to get a grip on myself before I made a fool out of myself and just blurted it out without talking to her first.

The rest of the day passed by in a blur.

We ate lunch, sat by the fire and watched a movie, then made dinner together.

The entire time, I had to keep forcing myself to not pull her into my arms, press her against the counter and run my hands over her body.

I could smell her shampoo, the scent filling my lungs and making my fingers tingle.

Every so often she would give me a look as if silently trying to figure out what was wrong and I would give her what I hoped was a reassuring smile in return.

As the sunlight started to fade and the sky changed to shades of purple, orange and yellow an idea occurred to me.

I went and prepared everything I needed for what I had in mind then hunted her down, easily finding her in the small library sitting in an armchair reading.

There was something… so perfect about her.

Seeing her with the last rays of the sun shining through the window and hitting her face was something out of a dream.

I took a moment to admire her, my throat closing up because I loved her so much.

Clearing my throat to get her attention, I leaned against the doorframe.

"Hey, angel."

She looked up, her eyes lighting up when her gaze meet mine.

"Hey…"

I pushed off the doorframe.

"Come with me… I have something to show you."

Curiosity took over any confusion she was feeling, her head tilting to the side and a small smile tugging at her lips.

"Oh really? What do you have to show me?"

I smiled and held out my hand.

"You'll see…"

She chuckled and stood, marking her page and setting the book down on the table before approaching me.

"Okay, now you have my interest piqued…"

As she took my hand and I laced my fingers through hers, a wave of warmth rolled through me. I led her out into the hall, my thumb tracing small circles on the back of her hand.

"You'll like it, I promise," I said, giving her hand a soft squeeze.

"You sound awfully sure of yourself."

"That's because I am, angel," I said, tugging her closer and wrapping my arm around her waist. "I know you well enough to know you'll like this."

And she would… she was fond of sweets, and I had everything we needed to make smores.

She giggled and leaned into me.

"You're very cocky, you know that?"

"I've been told that a few times before," I said, dropping my hand to the small of her back and rubbing circles along the soft material of her sweater. "You still like me though, don't you?"

"Of course," she murmured, her voice soft and warm.

I smiled and planted a small kiss on the top of her head.

"Good… I like you a lot too."

I helped her into her jacket then wrapped her scarf around her neck after she put her boots on then led her outside, pausing on the back porch for a moment to watch the snow fall and tilt my head back to view the hundreds of stars in the sky.

"Where are you taking me?" she asked, looking up at me.

I smiled down at her.

"You'll see in a minute."

Without giving her any other information, I tugged on her hand and led her down the stairs and the short path that led to area where the firepit was.

The moonlight filtered through the trees as we walked, creating a soft, almost otherworldly glow around us and making her look like one of those angels that sat atop a Christmas tree.

Once the firepit came into view, I watched her eyes light up at the sight of the small fire going, the blankets and all the things needed to make smores.

"Smores?" she asked, a smile growing on her lips as she turned to me.

I returned her smile with a small one of my own and led her over to the fire pit.

"You like?"

She laughed softly and nodded, going willingly when I gently pushed her into one of the comfortable looking chairs then wrapped a fluffy blanket around her shoulders.

She snuggled into the blanket, burying her face in the soft fabric with a content smile, and I found myself having to resist the urge to lean in and kiss her, to pull her into my lap and hold her close… instead, I forced myself to take a step back and smile.

"Stay there," I told her, feeling a wave of tenderness wash over me. "I'll be right back."

Tearing my eyes away from her, I turned and walked back towards the cabin to get the last few things I needed.

The entire way there, I could feel her eyes on me… could feel the way her gaze was tracing over me as if trying to figure out what I was doing.

She was curious, I could tell, and I knew she had a million questions, but she was going to have to wait just a little longer.

Once I had the thermos full of hot chocolate, some cups and the small plastic bag full of marshmallows and other stuff, I quickly headed back outside only to pause on the steps.

She was looking up at the stars, her head tilted back and a soft, content smile on her lips.

After a few moments, I kept moving, trying to maintain a casual air as I held up the thermos.

"Hot chocolate?"

"Yes, please," she said, her hand reaching out eagerly.

I handed the thermos over, our fingers brushing together and sending a jolt up my arm.

She poured the liquidy goodness into each cup then put the thermos in the chair next to her.

"There's extra marshmallows in the bag," I said, gesturing to the bag sitting beside her feet.

As she reached into the bag and grabbed a handful, she gave me a knowing look.

"You knew I would want extra marshmallows, didn't you?"

"Of course I knew. I pay attention."

She smiled and popped a marshmallow into her mouth.

"You always pay attention," she murmured, her eyes meeting mine.

"I tend to focus on the important things," I said, keeping my tone nonchalant.

The way her cheeks pinked almost shattered my resolve, but I forced myself to stay put.

"And am I one of those important things?" she murmured, bringing her cup up to her lips.

My chest tightened, my heart feeling like it was about to explode, and I had to clear my throat to answer.

"Yes… you are."

The words came out rough; my voice strained with the effort it was taking to keep myself under control.

I wanted to say, no shout, that she was the most important thing in the entire universe to me. That I was in love with her and wanted to spend the rest of my life making her happy…

She stared at me for a moment, lips parted and a furrow between her brows as if confused, then she looked down and asked tentatively, "What else do you pay attention to?"

I swallowed, my hands gripping the arms of the chair to keep myself steady.

"Your likes, your dislikes… your mood, your happiness…" I trailed off, watching her. "I pay attention to every little thing about you."

She looked up, her eyes meeting mine, almost as if she was trying to see beyond my words.

"Why? Why are you so… observant of everything I do?"

"I told you… I like to pay attention to what's important."

Those big green eyes searched mine, and I could tell that she was starting to catch on.

"I pay attention to all the little things you do… like the way you get this crinkle beside your left eye when you're confused, or the way you chew on your bottom lip when you're distracted, or the way you fidget when you’re nervous, or that little sigh you let out when you're happy… I pay attention… to everything."

With each word, her eyes widened and I could almost feel the sudden rapid beat of her heart. The firelight reflected in her eyes, making them look almost liquid, and the air around us suddenly felt charged with tension.

She stared at me, her mouth opening and closing as if she wanted to respond but couldn't.

I took a deep breath, the air burning my lungs, and forced myself to keep going.

"I've always paid attention. But recently… I've been paying even more attention."

Without noticing, I had moved closer, leaning against the arm of my chair so our faces were inches apart, and now all I could see was the little flecks of gold in her eyes. The way the firelight made golden strands in her hair glow and illuminated the freckles that dusted her nose.

I took a deep breath and tried to keep my voice even as I continued.

"You want to know why I've been paying more attention?"

She nodded, her eyes locked on mine.

"Yes…" she murmured, her voice barely a whisper.

I knew if I got any closer, I would lose my last bit of control, but I found myself leaning in anyways, drawn to her like a damn moth to a flame.

I forced myself to take another deep breath, trying to find the words that had suddenly become so difficult to say.

"Because I love you. I have for a while, and I can’t help myself when it comes to you. Not anymore."

And there it was.

The words were out.

I had said it.

I had told her how I felt, laid out all my cards, and now all I could do was wait.

I watched her, studying her every expression, every movement, every twitch, waiting for her to say something… anything.

For a minute, we were both silent, the only sound being the crackling of the fire.

My heart was racing, my hands shaking, and I was starting to feel vulnerable.

I wasn't used to being so open, so honest when it came to my feelings… but when it came to her, I felt like I couldn't stop the words from tumbling out.

For a moment, she didn’t say anything, just stared at me, her expression shocked and confused.

I started to think I had made a mistake… that I had just ruined our friendship and made a fool of myself. But then she spoke, her voice shaky.

"Caleb…" she whispered. "You… love me?"

"Yes…" I whispered back. "I do."

For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath.

All I could hear was the sound of my heart beating and the blood rushing through my veins.

Her eyes searched mine, her face a mask of disbelief mixed with something else I couldn't place then she was out of her chair and in my lap, wrapping her arms around me and pressing her face against my neck.

"I love you, too."

Those words, spoken against my skin, sent a jolt of electricity through me and I couldn't help my reaction, my arms polling her tightly against me as her weight in my lap and the feeling of her breath against my neck sent a jolt of pure bliss straight through me.

"You have no idea how long I've wanted to hear you say that," I breathed.

"Why didn't you say something?" she mumbled, hands curling into the fabric of my coat.

I pulled back to look at her, my hands coming up to frame her face.

"Because I didn't want to ruin what we had... and I was scared," I admitted, my thumbs tracing small circles on her cheeks.

Her eyes searched mine.

"You were scared?" she asked, her voice soft.

"Terrified," I admitted, the word getting caught in my throat. "I was scared if I told you you'd reject me... that you'd tell me you didn't feel the same way, and it would ruin everything."

She gave me a small, almost sad smile.

"So, instead, you decided to keep quiet and suffer in silence? Hmm… we’re both idiots… because I didn’t tell you how I felt for the same reasons."

My heart skipped a beat at her confession.

"That we are," I murmured. "Two idiots in love."

She smiled, the words seeming to warm her from the inside out, and the sight of it made my heart feel like it had ballooned inside my chest.

I stared at her, taking in every detail of her face, and I was struck by how beautiful she was.

"I've been wanting to kiss you for so damn long," I blurted out without thinking.

A soft flush painted her cheeks and her eyes flicked down to my lips before returning to mine.

"Then what are you waiting for?" she murmured, her voice just a little above a whisper.

I didn’t need any more encouragement.

My hand moved to the back of her neck, my fingers tangling in her hair as I pulled her face close and captured her lips with mine.

The touch of her lips sent sparks of electricity through me, the feeling almost overwhelming after so long of imagining what it would be like.

She tasted like marshmallows and hot chocolate, sweet and warm on my tongue as she opened her mouth.

I deepened the kiss, my hands pulling her closer so there was barely any space between us.

It was as if the entire world disappeared, leaving us lost in the feeling of her in my lap, her body pressed against mine and her mouth on mine as we explored each other’s mouths.

Her hands ran down my chest, slipping inside my jacket and sliding over the thick layer of my sweater to rest on my hips.

I groaned, the feel of her hands on me making every muscle in my body tighten and desire pool in my gut. I could feel myself losing the last bit of control I had, all my thoughts and focus zeroing in on her and her alone, but I wanted to take things slow with her.

I didn’t want to just jump into bed with her after confessing that I loved her.

She deserved more than that.

Pulling back to get a breath of air, I reached up and ran my thumb over her cheek as I gazed into her beautiful green eyes.

"I love you, angel."

She smiled, her hand covering mine and holding it in place.

"I love you too, Caleb."

"Say it again."

"I love you."

"Again," I whispered.

"I love you," she repeated, her voice a little softer.

I pulled her against me again, my arms wrapping around her tightly.

"Again."

She laughed.

"Are you going to make me say it a hundred times?"

"Yes."

She snuggled closer, her head resting against my shoulder as she pressed a soft kiss to the skin of my neck.

"I love you."

"Again," I murmured playfully, my lips brushing against her ear.

"Stop it," she half-heartedly protested.

"Okay, I will for now," I whispered, my fingers tracing patterns on her hips.

For a few moments, we sat like that, holding onto each other, the scent of her making me feel almost lightheaded with how happy and content I was.

I had her in my arms finally, and she was mine. I was the luckiest man on earth.

After a few moments, I felt her shiver.

"You cold?" I murmured, my hands running up and down her arms, trying to warm her up.

"A little bit," she said quietly, snuggling closer.

"We should go back inside."

"Smores first."

"Okay, angel," I mumbled, my lips brushing against her hair. "Gotta let me up."

She sighed, her hands fisting in my shirt as she pulled back to look at me.

"No."

The word was almost a whine, and dammit if it didn't make me smile.

"No?" I repeated. "How we gonna make smores with you in my lap?"

A small pout appeared on her lips, and her fingers tightened on my shirt.

"But you're so warm, and I don't want to let go."

I bit back a groan, the idea of her sitting in my lap for the rest of the night suddenly very enticing but I had promised her smores, so we were going to make some.

"Angel..." My voice was rough and I could feel parts of my body starting to respond to her closeness. "As much as I want to stay right here for the rest of the night with you in my lap, we are going to make some smores because I promised you. So, you're going to have to let go."

She huffed, her lower lip still sticking out in a pout.

"Okay…"

"Good girl," I breathed and leaned forward to give her a quick kiss. "Now let me up."

She sighed, releasing her grip on my shirt with a pout and sitting back on my knees.

Shaking my head, I gently wrapped my hands around her waist and helped her up off my lap. The cold air hit us immediately, and I saw her shiver as she wrapped her arms around herself.

"Come on, angel. The faster we make them, the faster you get to sit back in my lap."

"You promise?"

"Yes, now stop pouting."

"I'm not pouting."

"Yes, you are."

"Nope… you’re seeing things."

I couldn't help the smile that pulled on my lips as I shook my head and led her over to the fire pit and got to work on getting the smores ready.

Once the smores were ready I settled down and pulled her into my lap again, one arm wrapped around her waist to keep her close while I brought the treat to my lips and took a bite.

She let out a pleased noise and snuggled against my chest, her head resting over my heart.

"Mm…. smores," she murmured, taking a bite out of her chocolate mess.

I chuckled, the rumble in my chest causing her to smile, and took another bite, the marshmallow and chocolate melting in my mouth.

"Mmm, they are pretty good."

She hummed in agreement.

"Happy?"

She made a small, content sound and nodded.

"Very happy."

I pressed a kiss to the top of her head, the small gesture making something warm flutter in my chest.

"Good. That's all I want, you to be happy."

After we finished off the smores we sat in comfortable silence for a while.

I felt content… happy… and peaceful, holding her in my lap while we sat by the fire. I couldn't remember the last time I had felt so… free.

Now all that was left for me to do before we left… ask her if she was willing to marry me.

Chapter 15

Chapter 6

An hour later I was dressed in a black skirt with a wide waist and pleats paired with a black crop top, fishnets, knee-high boots with buckles and studs, and my favorite black leather collar with ruby teardrop on a long silver chain that dangled between my breasts.

Thirty minutes after that… I was on the dance floor at my favorite club getting lost in the pounding music and the bodies surrounding me.

The bass pounded in my chest, lights flashed around me, and the heat of bodies pressed against mine. It was exactly what I needed to let off steam…

I could feel the gazes of men and women on me… their eyes roaming over me, taking in my outfit, the piercings, the tattoos, but I ignored them. I wasn't here for them; I was here to dance… and maybe drink some tequila until I couldn't remember my own name.

It didn't take long for the alcohol I had consumed to start getting to me, setting every nerve in my body on fire as I closed my eyes and let my body move to the beat of the music.

I didn’t know how long I had been dancing when I felt hands grip my hips then a chest was pressed against my back as someone put their mouth against my ear and whispered, "Looks like you're having fun."

I froze mid-motion and didn't have to turn around to know who that voice belonged to… I would recognize it anywhere…

Caleb.

The heat of his body against my back made me shiver and the smell of his expensive cologne and cigarette smoke made my mouth water. I could feel the long length of his cock pressed insistently against my ass as he let out a low chuckle then he was guiding my movements, grinding his cock against me in a way that had heat pooling in pussy.

After a few moments where my mind raced… wondering why he was here, how he had found me and why he was seconds from fucking me on the dance floor in front of almost a hundred people… my alcohol-soaked brain finally woke up and I turned my head, locking eyes with him.

The lights flashing around us flickered over him, highlighting the hard lines of his face and the dark look in his eyes. He had changed since I had last seen him… wearing a black button down that strained against his chest and shoulders and a pair of dark form-fitting jeans that hugged him in all the right places tucked into black boots.

I couldn't help but let my gaze roam, taking in how fuckable he looked and absently wondering… had he dressed like this to impress me or someone else?

His gaze went feral as he watched me check him out then he was wrapping an arm around my torso and placing his fingers around my throat so I was forced to tilt my head back against his shoulder to look at him.

"Did you really think I'd let you get away?" he murmured in my ear.

I felt my heart race at the feeling of his body against mine, his hand on my neck, his lips so close to my skin. I was so damn overwhelmed that it was almost hard to focus but… I still caught on to what he was implying.

"You… you followed me?"

"Of course I did," he replied, his voice low and dangerous. "You really thought I'd let you leave things like they were without talking about it?"

I felt my chest tighten, the realization hitting me hard that he had followed me here… to talk. I wanted to be angry… to yell and tell him to leave me alone like I had asked but with his body pressed against mine and his husky voice in my ear… I could barely think straight.

He chuckled, clearly noticing my struggle, and tightened his grip on my neck. "You should know better than to run from me, Bay. You can't avoid me, you can’t avoid the conversation, you can’t avoid the shit going on between the three of us."

I swallowed, trying to steady my breathing and get my thoughts in order, but it was so damn difficult. He'd thrown me off balance like he always did, taking control of the situation and of me with ease and demanding things I wasn’t ready to give.

But he was right.

I should have known he wouldn't just let me run away from this… but I was still didn’t want to deal with whatever this was… not now… not when all I wanted to do was dance and feel.

Huffing, I reached around and fisted my hand in his hair. "I didn't want to talk."

He hissed, a dangerous look entering his eyes. "Is that so?"

"Not right now," I replied, my voice low and a bit shaky. "I don't want to think right now."

"And what do you want instead?"

That was the problem. I knew what I wanted… what my body wanted… and I also knew it was a bad idea, but I was going to say it anyways because I had already dug a hole so deep I was lost so might as well go all in.

The tension in the air grew as he held my gaze, his fingers tightening around my throat and making it slightly difficult to breathe as if he already knew what I was going to say. But I ignored the slight pain and answered truthfully when I knew I probably shouldn’t have.

"You… I want you."

He went completely still, eyes going wide, and I couldn't tell if he was shocked by my answer or just surprised that I had said it at all.

Then his eyes darkened, his breathing became ragged, and I could feel his heart beating hard against my back. He seemed to struggle with himself for a moment then he was yanking me away from the dance floor and dragging me through the crowd.

I stumbled but I couldn't find the will to protest about being manhandled. I was too caught up in the tension between us and the feeling of his fingers around my wrist…

He pushed open a door before pulling me inside and slamming it behind him before locking it. The room was quiet and the music was suddenly just a faint pulse in my ears.

I barely got the chance to look around at the bathroom he had dragged me into before he backed me into the wall, pinning me against the hard surface with his body.

My body reacted immediately, my head spinning from the feel of his hard muscles against my soft curves, but I kept my gaze locked with his, refusing to back down even as my fingers clutched at his shirt.

"You want me, huh?" he asked, his voice low and rough. "How long, Bay?"

The question hit me hard.

How long? How long had I been wanting him... wanting him in ways I knew I shouldn't? How long had I been craving his touch... his voice... the heat of his body against mine?

I tried to keep my expression neutral, refusing to let on just how much he was affecting me, but I knew he wasn't fooled. He could see the truth in my eyes.

"Does it matter?"

"Answer me," he growled then grabbed my thighs and hoisted me up so I had no choice but to wrap my legs around his hips and grab onto his shoulders for support.

The position left me completely vulnerable and at his mercy, held up by his hands and the wall behind me. He was so damn close, the heat of his groin through the material of his jeans against my naked pussy making my head spin and my body ache that all I could do was stare at him for a long moment.

"A while," I finally managed to answer, my voice unsteady.

He let out a small sound, his grip on me tightening. "Why didn't you say anything?"

I tried to keep my expression calm even as my hands curled into fists in his shirt. "Would it have changed anything if I had?"

"Damn right it would have."

My breath hitched and I felt my face heat up as he leaned closer, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous whisper. "The things I would have done if I'd known…."

I swallowed, unable to look away.

"Like what?" I whispered.

He let out a dark chuckle, his eyes glittering as he leaned in until his lips were almost brushing against mine. "You really want to know? You really want to know what I would have done if I'd known you wanted me?"

My heart skipped a beat at the low tone in his voice, my body growing hot and my legs squeezing around his waist without me realizing it.

"Yes," I managed to murmur. "I do."

A feral grin spread across his face and he whispered, "I’m gonna show you." Then he pulled back, letting my feet drop to the floor, and grabbed my hand. "Let’s go."

I stumbled as he pulled me forward, my legs still shaky and my heart beating wildly in my chest, but it wasn’t from the alcohol… I had sobered up quickly as soon as he had lifted me in his arms and pressed me against the wall.

No, this was from nerves…

I didn't know what he was up to, but I knew it was going to be something intense, life-changing… and maybe I should have protested… but I let him lead me out of the bathroom and then out of the club without complaint, my eyes locked on him as I tried to calm my racing heart.

He led me to his motorcycle, a sleek black machine that was as sexy as he was and let go of my wrist to climb on.

"Get on."

Biting my lip, I eyed the bike uncertainly.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to get on and ride with him… I had ridden behind him and Sylus plenty of times but tonight… I wasn’t wearing any underwear.

"Caleb… I…"

"Get. On."

My body responded before I could even think about it.

I took a shaky breath and climbed onto the bike behind him, my body fitting perfectly against his back as I wrapped my arms around his waist.

He started the bike, the engine purring to life, and looked over his shoulder, his eyes dark and heated as he grasped my hands and moved them lower so my fingers were brushing against the hard bulge in his jeans.

"Hold on tight."

The ride was a blur.

I held on for dear life as he pushed the bike to its limits, weaving in and out of traffic and racing through the city streets. He was riding with a recklessness that was both terrifying and exhilarating, and my heart was pounding as I clung to his back.

Finally, he pulled the bike into a small alley.

We slowed down some as we approached what looked like a small garage then waited as he pushed a button on his wristwatch to open the door, pull inside and kill the engine.

I let out a shaky breath; my arms still wrapped tightly around his waist as I tried to steady myself. "Where are we?"

He didn't answer, just swung his leg over the side of the bike and climbed off, standing there and waiting for me to do the same. I took a moment to regain my bearings, my body still trembling from the adrenaline coursing through my veins, before sliding off the bike and standing in front of him.

He took a step towards me, his gaze roaming over my face and body before he reached out and wrapped his hands around my waist, pulling me flush against him then palming my ass so I couldn’t move.

"You're trembling."

I swallowed, unable to look away from his gaze as he held me in place against him. "It's cold," I murmured, my voice shaking slightly.

He raised an eyebrow, his fingers gripping my ass more firmly. "Is that the only reason you're shaking?" he asked, and I could hear the undercurrent of danger in his voice.

My breath hitched as he watched me, his eyes intense and unreadable. I knew what he was asking, what he was implying, and I wasn't sure how to respond. But with his hands holding me in place against his body and his gaze holding me captive, it was hard to lie.

"No," I finally admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's not."

He let out a low hum, a dangerous sound that sent goosebumps up my arms, then he was pushing me backward, his lips slamming against mine in a heated kiss as he pinned me between his motorcycle and the hard length of his body.

The kiss was relentless, and I was quickly losing myself, my body responding to him as if he owned it. But all too soon, he was breaking the kiss and pulling away, leaving me panting and shaking. He kept his hands on my hips, holding me in place as he watched me.

When he spoke again, his voice was rough and low. "You ready for me?"

All I could do was nod, unable to form words, my mind hazy and my body aching.

His eyes darkened, a wicked smile spreading across his face that sent a shiver down my spine. "Good. Because once we start there'll be no stopping."

I couldn't help the whimper that escaped me at the hunger in his voice.

"Please..." I hated how desperate I sounded.

His hands moved from my hips, trailing lightly over my thighs and then hooking under the hem of my skirt and sliding up between my thighs. "Hmm… no underwear… naughty girl."

I gasped, body tensing and breath catching as he began to tease me, his fingers moving slowly and deliberately around my clit as he watched me with a possessive look in his eyes.

He leaned down; his lips close to my ear as he whispered, "I should punish you for that."

"Caleb…" I breathed out, my body shivering with anticipation. "I… I…"

He chuckled as he continued to tease me, dipping two fingers inside to the first knuckle before withdrawing. "Yes? Go on, tell me what you want."

I could hardly think straight, but I managed to reach up, grasp a handful of his hair and pull his head down so I could whisper, "I want you to fuck me over your bike."

His expression darkened as a low growl rumbled in his throat. "Is that so?" he asked, his lips ghosting across my neck. "You want me to bend you over this bike and take you right here? Where anyone could see?"

I nodded and lifted a leg to hook it around his hip, widening my legs to give him better access and showing him how much I wanted what he was offering.

He growled, a hungry look in his eyes as he reached up and untangled my fingers from his hair. "You're something else, you know that?" he murmured, grabbing my hips and spinning me so my back was against his chest.

I gasped, back arching as he held me against the hard length of his body.

His breath was hot against my neck. "Put your hands on the seat of the bike."

I obeyed, placing my hands on the leather seat and gripping the smooth material.

"Good," he murmured, his voice like a growl in my ear. "Now lean forward."

I obeyed once again, spreading my legs to help maintain my balance.

"Just like that," he whispered, his hands moving over my bare thighs and pushing my skirt up to expose my ass to the cool night air. "You listen so well, don't you?"

I couldn't answer, a moan escaping me instead as he traced his fingers over my ass then palmed my cheeks and spread them.

"Hmm… " He murmured, dark satisfaction in his voice. "Beautiful…"

He moved his fingers down until they brushed over my entrance, causing me to shiver in anticipation, then suddenly he was pulling away, his touch leaving me aching and trembling and cold.

I whimpered at the loss of contact, my body tensing reflexively and my breath shuddering as I pushed up on the seat to look over my shoulder.

He was standing behind me, watching me as he unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans then pulled his long, thick cock out. "Turn back around," he murmured, his eyes dark and predatory as he looked down at me. "Don't move until I say so."

I swallowed and sank back down.

Seconds ticked by and my mind began to race, wondering what he was doing and what he had planned. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he reached out and wrapped one hand in my hair, grabbing a handful and pulling my head to side.

"I’m too worked up to be gentle, Bay. Can you take it?"

"Yes," I managed to gasp out, my body tensing in anticipation and excitement.

"Good girl," he murmured, and I could hear the smirk in his voice.

Then he shifted, the head of his cock pushing against my entrance but not inside.

"Caleb... please," I pleaded, my voice shaky and full of need.

There was a pause, a moment where everything went still then with a low growl, he pushed forward until his cock was fully inside me.

I cried out, my pussy clamping down on his length as he filled me.

My body was still sensitive from last night, but the leftover pain and the pleasure of his size mixed together, driving me mad with need.

"So damn tight, " he crooned, his fingers tightening in my hair and pulling my head back.

I could see the desire in his eyes, the hunger and lust as he looked down at me, and I let out a whimper. "Caleb…"

He let out a low noise, his eyes dark and his expression almost feral as he watched me. "Does that hurt, baby?"

"No," I managed to gasp. "Please… please move."

He kept his gaze locked with mine for a moment, studying me as if to make sure I was telling the truth, then his grip on my hair relaxed, and he chuckled. "Since you asked so nicely…"

He let go of my hair, his hands moving to my hips and gripping tightly then he started moving, but it wasn't the hard, demanding movements I had expected.

No, this was different... it was slow and deep.

I whimpered and pushed my ass back against him and circled my hips, "Faster… harder…"

He let out a dark chuckle. "Patience," he whispered as he moved his hips in slow, tantalizing circles against my ass. "I'll go as fast as I want. You'll take what I give you."

"But you said… you said you couldn’t be gentle," I whispered.

He laughed again, hand coming up to brush a strand of hair away from my face and tuck it behind my ear. "I did say that, didn't I?" he purred. "But I didn't say I wouldn't enjoy teasing you."

I growled, reaching up and fisting a handful of his hair. "Damn it… give me more."

He hissed, his cock flexing inside me and making me moan. Reaching up, he grabbed my hand and put it back on the seat of his bike. "I will," he promised, one hand moving around to grip my throat and pull me up so my back was pressed against his chest. "But not yet."

I let out a frustrated groan and tried to push back against him.

"Stop. Moving," he growled in my ear, his hand tightening on my throat in warning.

I froze, my pussy clamping down on his thick cock as he held me in place, his grip growing tighter for a moment before loosening again.

"You're so damn impatient," he murmured, his lips brushing against my neck. "You want it bad, don't you? You want me to wreck your tight little pussy?"

"Yes."

The only response I got was a low, dark chuckle then he gave me what I wanted.

I gasped, my head falling back against his shoulder as he buried himself deep inside me over and over until I didn’t know where I started and he ended.

He kept his hand around my neck, holding me in place, his other hand moving down, slipping between my thighs and finding that sensitive bundle of nerves, fingers teasing me in tight circles that brought pleasure and pain.

"Is that better? That what… you wanted?"

The scent of sex and sweat hung heavily in the air as I pushed back against him.

"Yes," I gasped out, my voice shaky. "But harder. Please… harder."

He tightened his grip on my neck again, his fingers squeezing in warning. "So greedy…" He leaned forward, his lips brushing against my ear, and I could feel the heat of his breath against my skin. "But I suppose… I can give you what you want."

My body tensed in anticipation.

He let out a low groan and his fingers pressed harder on my clit, his touch so intense it was almost painful. His hips picked up speed, the sounds of flesh striking flesh loud in the silence of the garage.

"C… Caleb…" I whimpered as the pleasure coiled deep inside me. Reaching up, I grabbed his wrist, digging my nails into his flesh as I pushed my ass back against him to take him deep.

"Oh, you like that, don't you?" he growled, his voice rough and low as his teeth grazed against the side of my neck. "When I make you feel good?"

My body shivered violently, my stomach clenching at his words and my body tightening around him. "Yes," I gasped out, my voice breathy and desperate.

"So good," he whispered. "You feel so damn good, baby."

"Please," I begged, my voice shaking. "I… I…"

His breath fanned across my neck, his lips brushing against my skin. "You want to come?" he murmured. "Is that what you're trying to tell me?"

I nodded, my mind so far gone I couldn't think of anything but him.

He let out a dark chuckle, his free hand grasping my thigh and pulling it up to rest on the seat as he picked up the pace again.

"That eager, huh? So desperate for me."

My head was swimming, my body trembling, my eyes half-lidded. I was so focused on the feeling of him moving against me that I couldn’t answer with anything more than a long drawn-out moan.

He let out a low growl and his hand tightened on my thigh. "Damn," he breathed. "I could listen to you make those sounds all day."

I reached up to grip his hair, clutching his head and pulling his face closer so I could look him in the eye. "Please," I whispered, my voice shaking. "I need it, Caleb. Please."

Something dark flashed in his gaze as he looked at me… something feral and possessive. "You shall have it," he murmured, his voice low and hoarse. "Come for me, baby. Let me feel you strangle my cock."

The words were all I needed to send me over the edge, and I shuddered violently as my body tensed and I cried out.

"Good girl," he purred in my ear, his hand slowly releasing his grip on my neck. He wrapped his arms around me as I lay against him, trembling and panting, whispering soft words in my ear as I came down.

I let out a soft noise of protest as he pulled his cock out of me.

"Don't worry," he murmured. "I'm not done with you yet. We’re just getting started."

He scooped me up into his arms, holding me against his chest as if I weighed no more than a feather, then carried me across the garage.

"Where… where are you taking me?" I asked, my voice soft and breathless.

"You'll see," he smirked. "Just relax. I'm going to take good care of you."

My head was still a little fuzzy, but I was aware enough to feel a shiver of excitement at the hungry look in his eyes and the possessiveness in his grip.

"But-" I started to protest weakly but he interrupted me.

"Hush now," he murmured. "I know you have more in you. I'm not letting you go until I say we're done. You're mine tonight."

I let out a sigh, resigning myself to a long night impaled on his cock, knowing there was no way I could fight him when he was like this, knowing that I didn’t want to.

He carried me through a door and up a flight of stairs to a door. He opened it with one hand, carried me over the threshold then shut the door behind us with his foot and set me on my feet.

"Arms up," he commanded.

I obeyed, lifting my arms over my head, my eyes locked on his as he reached down, grasped the hem of my shirt and pulled it off.

It hit the floor with a soft thud.

His hands slid down my sides to my skirt, caressing my skin and sending chills through me. "You're so damn beautiful," he murmured. "So perfect."

He knelt to push my skirt down, and I could see the way his eyes darkened as the fabric slid down my thighs and puddled around my ankles. His gaze locked on the way my fishnets hugged my thighs and the boots I was wearing climbed up my calves, the buckles and studs shining in the low light in his front hallway.

"You really know how to drive a man crazy," he breathed.

Standing up, he hooked his hands under my thighs and lifted me, pressing me against the wall beside his front door and in one quick movement he was back inside me.

I cried out at the sudden feeling, my arms clutching at his shoulders and my head falling back against the wall.

He leaned down, his mouth moving over my neck, hips moving in slow circles. "So damn perfect," he murmured. "Hope you’re ready, baby, because I’m gonna make sure to keep you under me all night."

Chapter 7

Part 5

The single word hung in the air like a gunshot.

Jake’s face twisted. "No?" His voice cracked with disbelief. "Laiken, what is wrong with you?! This guy-" He jabbed a finger at Sylus, whose smirk only widened as he casually adjusted his cufflinks. "He’s-"

Sylus let out a low, dark chuckle—the sound curling through the room like smoke and interrupting whatever Jake was about to say. "What exactly is wrong with me?" he purred, tilting his head as if genuinely considering Jake's accusation. "Your sister thinks I'm perfect."

Jake's face went through a series of expressions… confusion, anger, then something almost like pity. "This isn’t you!" he spat. "Did he drug you? Hypnotize you?" His eyes darted to the fresh bite marks on my neck. "Con you into thinking he’s one of those vampires you’re obsessed with?"

At the word ‘vampire’, Sylus let out a low, amused hum. "Oh, I can assure you, I am not a vampire," he said casually, taking a few steps toward Jake in his elegant, predatory stride.

Jake's gaze flickered anxiously to me, searching my face for any signs of coercion or doubt... and when he found none, his expression darkened. "Then what?" he snapped, gripping the stick so tightly that the wood creaked. "What are you?"

Sylus paused mid-step, his smirk fading into something colder—something predatory. "What am I?" he repeated, voice dropping to a whisper that made the air around us vibrate.

He lifted his hand slowly… and with a flick of his fingers, dark crimson energy surged from his palm in swirling tendrils. The mist coiled like living shadows before solidifying into jagged black blades hovering just above Jake’s throat—not touching him but close enough for the cold edge to brush against his skin.

Jake's breath hitched—his entire body going rigid as the shadowy blades glinted in the dim light.

Ryan let out a choked noise, his hands clenching into fists at his sides, but Kieran merely pressed him harder against the wall with a smirk.

Sylus tilted his head slightly, watching Jake’s reaction with detached curiosity. "Tell me," he murmured silkily, "do you believe in soulmates?"

My brother's mouth opened then closed, his grip on the stick slackening just slightly as he processed the question, eyes darting between me and Sylus with mounting confusion. "W-what?" he asked, his voice came out strangled, disbelieving. "That has nothing to do with—"

Sylus cut him off with a slow step forward, energy blades humming ominously near Jake’s throat as they pulsed in time with his heartbeat. "Answer me." The command was soft but unyielding—the kind of tone that made even Kieran still for half a second.

"No," Jake bit out, jaw clenched so tight it looked painful. "Soulmates aren’t real."

Sylus exhaled through his nose—almost a laugh but colder, more dangerous. "That’s where you’re wrong." The energy blades vanished with a sharp crack of displaced air as Sylus stepped forward and seized Jake by the collar in one smooth motion. "Laiken is my soulmate. Reincarnated hundreds of times and meant to find me time and time again."

Jake's eyes widened, opening and closing his mouth a few times before he managed to find his voice. "What?!" he spluttered, trying to pull away but unable. "That- that's insane. You can't just—this isn't some kind of fairytale."

Sylus hummed, pulling Jake closer until they were almost nose-to-nose. "Isn't it?" he murmured, a wicked glint in his eyes. "The universe is vast and full of endless possibilities. Who's to say that love can't transcend lifetimes?"

Jake's brow furrowed, struggling to process the idea. "It's impossible," he protested. "There's no scientific proof of reincarnation. It's all just superstition."

Sylus' grip on Jake's collar tightened imperceptibly, his smirk turning razor-sharp. "No?" he repeated, voice dripping with mocking disbelief. His free hand rose—slowly, deliberately—to press two fingers against Jake's temple. "Let me show you."

A surge of dark energy crackled through the room as Sylus pushed.

Not physically—but deeper. Into memory, into instinct buried so far even I hadn't realized it existed until now… flashes of my past lives flickering behind my brother’s eyes like broken film reels… moments where fate had woven my thread together with Sylus’ across centuries in countless forms.

A medieval princess clinging to her knight’s bloodstained armor; a stolen kiss between a pickpocket and the nobleman she’d robbed; soldier and nurse in a war-torn city; thief and judge lying on bloodstained concrete; countless of lifetimes spread over thousands of years… lovers torn apart by fire or betrayal or time itself that always find their way back to each other.

Jake choked out a strangled gasp as the visions flooded him—the weight of lifetimes clashing against his stubborn present-day mind until sweat beaded at his temples and tears pricked at the corners of his eyes.

My heart raced as I watched my brother struggle to process what was happening—a violent tug-of-war between the impossible and the undeniable. He looked so small then… so overwhelmed, like a leaf in a storm he had no hope of weathering.

Sylus held firm, his eyes glittering as the last of the visions faded from Jake's mind—leaving behind only the afterimages seared like scars into his memory. "What do you say now?" he murmured, his voice low and rough as he leaned in impossibly close.

Jake's breath came in shaky gasps, his eyes unfocused and distant as he slowly came back to himself. He seemed dazed, his mind reeling under the weight of the impossible truths he'd just been forced to face. For a long moment, he didn't say anything, his lips parted as if frozen halfway through a word. Then, finally, he found his voice, "How is this possible?"

Sylus' smirk widened, the edge of his fang flashing in the low light. "The universe is a strange and miraculous place," he murmured, voice so soft it was hardly more than a whisper. "Sometimes, it sees fit to bring two souls together across lifetimes... even when they were never meant to meet."

Jake swallowed, gaze flickering between me and Sylus—the disbelief in his eyes slowly giving way to realization. "All of this is true?" he finally choked out, eyes meeting mine. "Everything I just saw?"

Sylus watched the exchange with a predator's stillness, his grip on Jake tightening ever so slightly as he awaited my response. His crimson eyes burned with something fierce—expectation, possession, pride all tangled together in that unnerving gaze of his.

I stepped forward before Jake could say anything else. "Yes, it’s true," I said.

My brother’s breath hitched again at my answer; not just from disbelief but from something deeper… acceptance. The kind of slow-dawning realization that settles deep into the bones when you finally see what's been there all along—the pieces clicking into place despite how badly you wish they wouldn't.

"Laiken..." His voice broke around my name like glass under pressure… almost pleading for a denial even though he already knew it wouldn’t come. "You’re staying here… with him… aren’t you?"

Sylus' grip on Jake loosened just slightly—not enough to let him go, but enough to show the tension in his own body at my brother's question. His crimson eyes locked onto me with terrifying intensity, waiting for my answer as if it were a verdict that would shape fate itself.

I reached out and placed a gentle hand on his forearm—feeling the coiled strength beneath his sleeve, warm even through fabric. "Yes," I said softly but firmly. "This is where I belong."

For a moment, the tension in Sylus' body remained then he stepped back and pulled me against his side. "She belongs with me," he said, his voice a whisper. "I will never let her go."

Jake's eyes widened at the claim—at that word "belong" spoken with such possessive confidence. His gaze flicked between me and Sylus as if searching for some sign of coercion or deception again, but my expression remained steadfast and sure. "What do I tell mom and dad, Lai? What do I tell the school? You ran off with some ancient being to live happily ever after? Mom and dad won’t accept that."

"You can tell them whatever you like," Sylus said nonchalantly, his gaze never straying from mine. "The truth, a lie, a half-truth…"

Jake's face twisted into a frustrated snarl, "How can you be so flippant about this?!" he snapped. "You're ruining her life; you have to know that. She belongs with her family… she deserves to go to school and live a normal life. To get married, have children. She doesn’t belong here stuck here with you!"

"And what makes you think she doesn't have that here?" Sylus asked, his voice like silk but carrying a dangerous edge that made my spine shiver. He tilted his head in mocking curiosity. "What can your family provide her that I cannot?"

Jake spluttered, "Stability, normalcy, a future without risk or… whatever the hell you are."

"Bubba," I said softly, using a nickname I had used for my brother since childhood.

Jake's eyes flickered to mine at the nickname, softening for just a moment… but then his expression hardened again and he gritted his teeth. "Laiken, you don’t know what you're doing! You can't seriously be considering staying here."

I took a deep breath—in, out—and tried to force my voice to stay steady. "I know exactly what I'm doing, brother. I know exactly what I want and it’s him."

Sylus' hand slid up my back—like a snake slowly encircling its prey—and settled around my hip in a reassuring gesture that helped me relax.

My brother's jaw clenched so hard I swore I could hear his teeth creak at my words. "What you want?" he repeated incredulously. "This... creature! This is all insane, you have to see that!"

I stepped forward, reaching out to touch his arm again but he jerked away like my touch was fire. "It isn't," I said fiercely. "Everything I'm experiencing is real. Every emotion I feel, every memory I've uncovered… they are all very, very real."

Sylus' grip on me tightened—just slightly—as if he were holding back a growl at the sight of my brother flinching from my touch.

"Real," Jake repeated, his voice cracking. "You call this real?" He gestured wildly between us—the opulent coffin room, Kieran's predatory smirk where his lips were pressed against Ryan’s throat, Luke’s bored expression as he fiddled with a dagger that looked far too sharp to be legal.

Sylus let out a low chuckle—dark velvet laced with venom—and tilted his head as if studying an insect under glass. "This is her reality," he murmured silkily. "And you must accept that or lose her completely."

Jake's breath hitched, his entire body stiffening as the weight of Sylus' words crashed over him. His golden eyes—so much like mine—flickered between me and Sylus with something close to horror. "You mean that," he whispered, not a question but an accusation as tears filled his eyes. "You'd really cut me out? Your own brother?"

I swallowed hard before speaking gently but firmly, "No one is cutting anyone out…" I hesitated for just a second too long and Jake's face fell even further into heartbreak.

His voice came out strangled when it finally did. "...but you won’t leave him."

"No," I confirmed softly, meeting my brother's gaze head-on. "Jake…" I started then trailed off to lick my lips. "This isn’t goodbye forever. You will still see me."

Sylus' hand tightened on my waist as if to emphasize my words. "She's right," he said, his voice as smooth as ever. "I may be selfish, but I'm not completely heartless. You'll be able to visit."

Jake's eyes flickered to Sylus, his gaze darkening. "You would ‘allow’ me to see my own sister?" he snapped, his fists clenching tightly. "How gracious."

Sylus chuckled—the sound dripping with condescension. "Oh, I'm a generous man," he said smoothly, his voice like a viper waiting to strike. "But even I understand the importance of family… within reason, of course. But if you want to test me… I will take her away from here and never let her return."

Jake bristled, but he seemed to know he was backed into a corner.

I gently disentangled myself from Sylus' grip and stepped closer to my brother, reaching out to take his hand in mine. "Please," I said quietly, "can you try to understand? Can you please try to accept this? That I want him… that I belong with him? Please?"

Jake stared at my outstretched hand then the fresh bite marks on my neck, the way I stood slightly in front of Sylus as if shielding him. His face twisted through a dozen emotions: anger, betrayal, confusion… and finally something that looked painfully close to resignation.

"Fine," he ground out after a long pause. "But you swear to me that this is what you want." His gaze bored into mine with terrifying intensity—the same look he'd given me when we were kids and I swore not to sneak out past curfew.

I met his golden eyes squarely without flinching. "This is where home is for me now."

Sylus' breath left him in a slow, satisfied exhale—the tension in his body unwinding like smoke. His fingers flexed against my waist before sliding up to cradle the back of my neck, possessive and approving all at once. "Home," he repeated quietly—almost reverently—as if tasting the word for the first time.

Jake's jaw worked silently for a moment before he finally exhaled through his clenched teeth and nodded stiffly. "Alright then." He tossed aside the stick aside with unnecessary force so it clattered loudly against stone floor.

Kieran let out an amused huff from where he was still pinning Ryan against the wall but made no move to release his prey yet. "I’m requesting to keep this one, My Lord," he mumbled.

Sylus regarded him for a long moment, gaze calculating and considering, then nodded once in agreement. "You can keep him, for now," he said, his voice cool and measured. There was something dark flickering in his eyes, a cold glimmer that he quickly smothered and replaced with amusement when Ryan let out a strangled noise and started to struggle.

Kieran smiled smugly and nipped Ryan’s ear just to make him squirm more. "Thank you, My Lord," he murmured, his tone dripping with a satisfaction that sent a shiver down my spine.

As Kieran continued to taunt and toy with his new plaything, I felt Sylus' gaze slide back to me. His hand slowly slid along my side then up my back, trailing invisible lines along my skin that made me shiver even through the layers of fabric.

His crimson eyes glittered as he leaned in closer and his voice dropped to a low, velveteen purr in my ear. "You handled that beautifully, my love," he murmured.

The praise made me warm on the inside, sending a shiver down my spine. I leaned into him slightly, not even noticing when my head came to rest against his shoulder—it just felt right. "It wasn't so bad," I hummed, my gaze flickering to my brother then back to the man holding me.

Sylus chuckled softly, his breath warm against my ear. "Were you expecting him to forbid you from staying with me?"

"Truthfully?" I murmured, my hand slipping into his. "I was expecting to have to choose."

He let out a dark laugh at that. "Ah, the classic ultimatum," he said, his smirk deepening. "Either stay with your family or stay with the monster."

I let out a soft sigh, my body leaning even more into his. "Something like that, yeah," I admitted, my gaze flickering towards Jake who was having an intense staring contest with Luke.

"You would have chosen me regardless," Sylus said, his voice quiet and certain. He tilted my chin slightly, making me meet his gaze. His fingers traced the line of my jaw—gentle yet with an edge of possession that stirred something low in my belly. "Wouldn't you?"

I didn't even hesitate, the answer coming like a reflex. "Yes," I whispered, my eyes locking with his. "I would."

Sylus hummed, his smirk growing predatory at my immediate response. "My perfect, loyal, beautiful wife," he murmured, his thumb tracing my bottom lip. Then without breaking eye contact with me he said in a louder tone, "Luke, if you wish to keep the human all you need to do is ask, you know that."

Luke's eyes flicked from my brother to us, his smirk matching Sylus' in its deviousness. "You're too kind. I will try to be gentle when I break him in."

Jake's head snapped toward Luke, his face draining of color. "You're joking," he choked out, voice raw with disbelief.

Luke merely tilted his head before slowly approaching my brother until he had him crowded up against the wall. He leaned in, placing his hands on the wall on either side of Jake’s head and leaned. "I never joke when it comes to the things I want."

Sylus chuckled at the exchange, the sound carrying a dark amusement. His gaze lingered on them for a moment before returning to me. "Your brother has a lot to learn about what it means to be prey."

I studied the way Luke lowered his head and whispered something in Jake’s ear that had his golden eyes going wide and his breathing speeding up before turning to look at the man beside me. "He won’t hurt Jake, will he?"

Sylus let out a low, considering hum as he watched Luke's lips brush the shell of Jake's ear—close enough to be intimate but not quite touching. His crimson eyes gleamed with something between amusement and approval. "Hurt him?" he repeated, his fingers tracing idle patterns along my spine. "No... unless your brother wishes it."

Luke chose that moment to nip sharply at Jake’s earlobe hard enough to draw blood and make him yelp before licking the spot with a low hum. Jake stiffened for all of two seconds before his eyes slid shut and he almost seemed to melt against the wall.

"See?" Sylus mused, tilting his head as if observing something trivial rather than life-changing chaos unfolding before us. "Cooperation. Your brother seemed determined not to give it but has changed his mind." A pause; then his crimson eyes slid back to me, "Do you want me to intervene? Or are you content watching him learn his place among monsters?"

I watched as Luke continued to toy with my brother, his lips ghosting along his jaw and back up to his ear… all while Jake leaned heavily against the wall like his legs couldn't support him anymore. I swallowed, his question hanging heavily in the air between us—a test, in a way. My gaze lingered on my brother's face—the way his eyes fluttered shut and his lips parted slightly as Luke continued to toy with him—before looking back up at the man beside me. "No," I said eventually. "He will be fine."

Sylus let out a soft hum as the corners of his mouth slowly curved up—almost a smirk, yet not quite. "Wise decision. Learning his place among us will be… good for him." He shifted, hand sliding up my back. "But you…" he murmured, his voice dropping impossibly low. "I have entirely different things in mind for you. Shall we return home, wife? I believe I made you a promise."

Something hot and eager twisted in my gut at his words and the dark glint in his eyes. I couldn't help the shiver that ran through me as I remembered that he’d promised to take care of my needs as soon as I talked to my brother.

He chuckled. "I can hear your heart racing," he murmured. "Anticipating what I plan to do… how I am going to touch you, kiss you, claim you. Are you ready for me, wife?" The low, velveteen sound of his voice sent a shiver running down my spine.

I couldn't deny his words; I was suddenly very, very aware of every point of contact between us. The firm lines of his body against mine, his hand possessively gripping my hip, his breath warm against my ear, his hard cock against my stomach... it was intoxicating, and it made me dizzy with want.

I swallowed, trying to keep my voice steady. "Yes," I breathed, my eyes meeting his. "Home, please. Show me who I belong to."

He hummed in satisfaction, dark desire flashing in his crimson eyes. "Good girl," he praised softly, then without warning, he scooped me up bridal-style in his arms.

I let out a squeak of surprise, my arms automatically winding around his shoulders to anchor myself. He smirked, clearly enjoying the reaction he'd pulled out of me, and carried me out of the room and down the hallway.

Every step he took resonated through my entire body, making my heart beat faster and my skin feel overheated and flushed. The possessive way he was carrying me and holding me close, combined with the dark promise in his eyes, made it clear that he was not going to be gentle. He was going to take me apart, piece by piece… and I was more than ready for it.

I let my head tip back, exposing my neck to him as he carried me through the labyrinth of corridors and down a winding staircase. He carried me down a long corridor before stopping in front of a set of double doors carved with vines and roses that were probably beautiful at one time but were now brittle with age and falling apart.

His breath was hot against my exposed throat as he kicked the doors open with a sharp, impatient motion. The wood groaned in protest before both doors swung wide and collapsed to the floor with a sharp protest of hinges and a clap that echoed around the dark, empty chamber.

The huge room had clearly been a bathing chamber at one point but was now filled with crumbling stone, dirt, cobwebs and broken furniture. The air was thick with dust and the faint scent of old water, but beneath that—something else.

The room was steeped in shadows except for a single shaft of moonlight that spilled through a hole in the roof. It cut a path through the dust and cast everything in sharp relief.

Sylus stepped over the collapsed doors and entered the room. His footsteps echoed as he carried me across the decaying stone towards a raised platform in the middle of the largest pool with a huge broken mirror in its center. That’s when I realized this was the broken and shattered version of the chamber with the portal we had crossed through to get here.

Sylus' grip on me tightened imperceptibly as he took in the ruined chamber, his crimson eyes reflecting the fractured moonlight. "Fitting," he murmured, voice rough with something between amusement and hunger.

The bottom of the pool was slick with damp moss beneath our feet as he carried me toward the mirror—each step making my pulse spike higher. When we reached the edge of the cracked and crumbling platform he vaulted up onto it since the stairs were destroyed then stood before the portal.

I could see our reflections warped beyond recognition… him towering over me like a shadow given form… my face flushed and wide-eyed and chest heaving from having him so close.

He didn’t break eye contact when he finally stepped forward, carrying me through the portal to his Realm and where I would call home for the rest of my days.

We arrived in a vast garden of wandering paths, exotic plants and huge fountains. Moonlight filtered through a canopy of thick branches overhead, casting a silvery glow over everything. Even though it was late, the air was warm and sticky, thick with the scents of pollen and earth.

He carried me through the overgrown path, the sound of our footsteps the only sound in this dark space. My heart hammered in my chest, the anticipation of what was to come making me shiver. I knew what he planned… and I couldn't wait as he carried me past a maze of winding paths, taking me towards a large mansion that loomed up out of the darkness in the distance. The closer we got, the more details revealed itself.

It was a grand building made of dark brick; tall and imposing with three tall spires, floor to ceiling windows with red-stained glass and a huge set of polished black doors with roses carved into the surface and stained to look like they were alive.

Sylus' grip on me tightened as he approached the doors, his steps never slowing. The polished black doors groaned open before we reached them—no hand touched them, but they swung wide in eerie submission to his will.

The grand foyer beyond was a cavern of shadow and gilded opulence… marble floors streaked with veins of red like dried blood, walls lined with portraits that moved when I glanced at them—their painted eyes tracking my every step—and huge chandeliers made of gold and dripping with real jewels.

I recognized the room immediately… only now it was alive, warm and inviting. Not decaying, cast in shadows and overrun with vines while sitting in the middle of a rotted-out field people partied in for fun.

This was the castle that I had summoned him in… the castle that had decayed with no one to attend to it but this… this was it in all its splendor.

He carried me through the grand foyer, his footsteps echoing against the marble floors as he headed straight for a sweeping staircase. The air was thick with incense—sandalwood and something darker, more intoxicating—and I could feel my body responding to it already. My skin felt too tight, my breaths too shallow.

He didn't slow as he took the stairs two at a time, his grip on me unwavering even when I shifted in his arms out of sheer nervous anticipation. At the top of the staircase was a long open corridor lined with towering stained-glass windows on either side that cast fractured light across everything like liquid spilling over stone. And then—there it was.

The master bedroom door loomed ahead; tall and ornate with black lacquered wood carved in intricate patterns that twisted into thorns near its frame.

"Last chance," he murmured against my ear as he paused outside it then his voice dropped lower still, "You say you want to go... and I will let you go."

A lie wrapped in silk—we both knew that now. I shook my head frantically against him already half-drunk on want for what came next.

His smirk sharpened into something almost feral. "Good girl," he hummed, his voice a dark, rough purr that made heat pool low in my belly. He turned the handle, shoving the heavy door open and carrying me towards the bed.

The massive bedroom was steeped in shadows but I could see enough to know it was the same room as before. Dark silk sheets, red velvet curtains with gold threaded seams, black oak furniture, a dark rug… I barely had time to register more of my surroundings before he was lowering me onto the bed, his gaze almost searing as it roamed over me.

I lay there, feeling like prey as he pushed his suit jacket off his shoulders then began to unbutton his shirt with deliberate slowness—each undone button revealing another stretch of hard muscle and pale skin. He looked beautiful in the moonlight streaming in through the window, all lean muscle and power barely contained as he undressed.

His shirt slid over his shoulders and onto the floor, leaving him bare-chested. I swallowed hard, my hands clenching into the sheets to keep from reaching out and touching him because he was clearly putting on a show for me.

He caught the movement and smirked, prowling onto the bed and over me like a shadow. His eyes were glowing, practically glittering as he straddled my hips—boxing me in and pinning me to the bed. A chuckle echoed around the room as he watched me squirm beneath him. "You want to touch me," he murmured, his voice rough with hunger as his fingers trailed up my leg and underneath the hem of my gown. "But you're waiting for permission... aren't you?"

I bit back a gasp at the feel of his fingers against my bare skin, my own hands gripping the sheets tighter. His gaze was predatory… hungry… possessive in a way that made heat pool in my gut in a way I would never tire of. "Yes," I whispered, my voice already breathy. "Please."

His nostrils flared at my whispered plea, the corners of his mouth curving up in a cruel smirk that told me everything I needed to know. "Good girl," he murmured, fingers sliding further under the skirt of my dress, "You're being so good for me… so obedient..."

I sucked in a breath as his fingers crept higher, my thighs clenching in anticipation.

His gaze darkened as a low, rough hum rumbled from his chest. "So pretty… my perfect little wife… you may touch me." As the words left him, I released the sheets and let my hands drift up his muscled torso. I felt his stomach twitch when I ran my fingers over the hard ridges of his abdomen and then up his chest. My touch was light, reverent almost. He was all hard strength and lean muscle… a beautiful weapon in human form.

He watched me with half-lidded eyes, his fingers still tracing lazy circles on the inside of my thigh. "You like how I feel?" he whispered, his voice low and rough—the question more a taunt than a question. His tone made me shiver, the sound of it like silk drawn over stone.

My head was already starting to feel foggy from the need that was pooling in my belly—a need that only he seemed to be able to ignite. I traced a light finger down his sternum, feeling his heartbeat flutter in response. "You're so strong," I murmured, my eyes roving over his bare skin. "So powerful. Your heart is beating so fast."

His lips curled up into a small smile at the words and he shifted above me with a low rumble. "You have no idea what you do to me," he murmured.

Those words went straight between my thighs, my body immediately responding in a way that only he could spark within me. I felt desperate for more of him—more touch, more of his skin against mine… more, more, more.

I did have an idea what I did to him because he did the same to me.

He leaned down, his chest brushing mine and the feel of him… the size of him was suddenly so much more noticeable from this angle. I let out a soft gasp, my hands gripping his biceps to ground me as his head dropped to the curve of my neck.

I felt his teeth skim my skin as his breath came hot against my throat. "You smell so good," he murmured, voice rough. "Like flowers…"

"Flowers?" I breathed out in disbelief as he inhaled deeply at the base of my neck. His low chuckle vibrated through me when his tongue flicked over that same spot where his teeth had been seconds ago.

"No," he corrected himself darkly before nipping again, "You smell like mine."

I whimpered as his teeth sank into the soft flesh of my throat… not enough to break skin, but enough that I knew it would bruise. A fresh claim, a new mark. My hands slid from his biceps up to tangle in his hair, tugging slightly so he would look at me.

He lifted his head at the sharp tug, his crimson eyes glittering with so many emotions it was hard to identify one before another flicked across their surface. "My beautiful, darling wife," he whispered, his voice a low growl then he reached out and ran his fingers along my cheek.

His fingers traced the line of my jaw before drifting lower to brush along the pulse point at my throat, the movement so tender in contrast to the possessive hunger he harbored in his gaze. I could feel my heartbeat in response to his touch, skipping a beat under his fingers as my breathing hitched.

"In you, I've found my happiness," he murmured, his hand stilling on my throat. "You're my reason to fight… to protect… and to love," the last word was spoken almost reverently, like a prayer, and my breath caught at the sheer intensity in his eyes.

He leaned down and pressed a kiss to the corner of my mouth and murmured, "In this world of chaos, you are the only thing that makes sense to me."

My breath stuttered at his words, my heart skipping a beat as he spoke.

The sheer devotion in his eyes was both overwhelming and intoxicating, making me feel like I was the only person in the world that mattered to him. There was something almost reverent in his touch as he kissed me softly, his lips barely brushing against my skin like a feather's touch.

And as I lay beneath him, pinned to the bed and held in place by his bigger, stronger body, I realized that he was right. To him, I was the only thing that made sense, and the only one he could ever want… for within my soul, I carry my Beloved.

Netherlord

Chapter 13: Halloween

Hayley

"Sadie! I’m not wearing this, it’s too revealing!"

I looked at myself in the full-length mirror in Sadie’s bedroom, biting my lip while debating if a potato sack would be more appropriate.

After we had agreed to come to her party, Sadie had insisted we both get ready at her house.

I had been perfectly fine with that, but what I hadn’t realized was by letting her pick my costume I would be extremely uncomfortable.

She had picked an all-white corset dress that revealed a little too much of my upper chest and only fell to mid-thigh paired with a pair of low white heels and a set of matching angel wings that had glitter on them so they sparkled every time I moved.

My hair was braided into an intricate style on top of my head, leaving my neck and shoulders exposed and my makeup, something I typically never wore, was flawless and enhanced the color of my eyes and made them stand out.

"What's wrong with the dress?" she asked from the doorway. "It looks amazing on you."

I gave her a look, knowing perfectly well the reason she had picked it.

"It shows off a hell of a lot of skin."

"It's just for one night," she reasoned. "And it's Halloween. What's wrong with showing a little skin? Besides, you have a great body, and it should be shown off."

"I'm not comfortable showing off my body," I protested, feeling my cheeks flush. "I’m overweight and the… scars…" I trailed off when I noticed that the dress kept the scars covered.

She sighed, resting her hands on my shoulders.

"You're not overweight," she said firmly. "You're beautiful. You have an amazing body and those scars don't make you any less of a woman. They're a part of your story."

I looked at myself in the mirror again as if the reflection would look any different and tried to push the thoughts of insecurity and discomfort aside.

It was just for one night, right? I could get through one night.

"Fine," I relented. "I'll wear it."

"Good," she grinned, clearly satisfied with my answer. "Now, come on. Everyone's waiting for you downstairs… including Caleb."

"Wait, Caleb's already here?" I asked, surprised.

"Yep. He got here a few minutes ago."

I felt a slight flutter in my chest at the mention of him. The thought of seeing him after a few days apart was both exciting and nerve-wracking.

"Is he… already dressed up too?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Yes, he is… and he looks hot," she grinned, her eyes dancing with mischief.

I tried to keep my expression neutral but a part of me was wondering what she had dressed him in. The thought made me feel like a lovesick little girl but goddamn it… I couldn't help it.

"Okay," I muttered, trying to control my racing heart. "Let's get this over with."

She grinned as she grabbed my hand and started pulling me towards her bedroom door.

"Don't act like you aren't secretly excited to see him."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Yeah, yeah, keep telling yourself that," she said, her voice holding a hint of amusement.

We walked down the stairs, the sounds of the party growing louder and louder with each step, and my pulse raced in anticipation of seeing him while also dreading the way I would react to whatever costume he was wearing.

Was he wearing a full tuxedo or leather pants and a silky shirt? Horns and wings?

Once we reached the bottom of the stairs, Sadie led me towards the living room.

We stepped into the room and I looked around. Many people were already there, some I knew and some I didn’t, most were dressed in creative costumes, some… not so much.

It was then that I caught sight of him, a sharp inhale catching in my throat.

He stood on the other side of the room leaning against the wall talking to Sadie’s husband, and the mere sight of him was enough to make the air around me feel electric.

He was dressed in a black suit, the fabric hugging his body like a second skin, highlighting every muscle and contour. The contrast of black against his tan skin made him look like some kind of Greek God, and it took everything in me to keep my jaw from hitting the floor.

"You’re drooling," Sadie whispered, elbowing me in the side.

"I am not," I muttered, my eyes still glued to him.

I couldn't look away even if I wanted to, and by the smirk on Sadie's face… she had noticed.

As if he'd felt my gaze, his head suddenly turned and his eyes met mine across the room.

His expression became unreadable as he stared at me, taking in the way the dress hugged my curves and how it exposed more than I was comfortable with.

I could see the way his eyes raked over me, the way his jaw tensed just the slightest bit, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. Was he angry about the way I was dressed? But… why?

I stared at him for a moment longer hoping he liked what he saw but when he said something to Keith and didn’t look my way again, I dropped my gaze and took a step back, turning to head back upstairs.

This was such a bad idea… I needed to go change… get all the makeup off and put my jeans and sweater back on… maybe just get away from here and go hide somewhere and cry for making a fool out of myself.

I took another step but a hand on my arm stopped me.

"Going somewhere, princess?"

"Yeah, I'm going… upstairs," I murmured, refusing to look him in the eye.

He hummed and moved closer, his body crowding mine as he stepped in front of me.

"And why are you going upstairs?" he asked, his voice lower and huskier than usual.

"I'm… not comfortable," I mumbled, my eyes still glued to the floor.

What I didn’t say was I thought he was angry with me, I didn’t understand why and I needed to get away to try to figure out why me being dressed as I was would upset him.

He let out a small chuckle, the sound deep and low in his throat.

"Really? I quite like the dress… shows off your curves."

His words made me feel self-conscious and I wrapped my arms around my waist, trying to cover myself but he stepped closer, reaching out with one hand and gently nudging my chin up while the other pushed my arms away so they dropped by my sides.

"Don't do that. Stop hiding. I’ve told you and I’ll keep telling you… you’re beautiful."

His words were like a combination of a soothing balm and a sharp knife, soothing my insecurities but also deepening the ache in my chest.

He always knew the right things to say when I needed to hear them.

"You really think so?" I whispered, my voice small and uncertain.

"I know so."

The intensity in his eyes made my knees go weak and I had to resist the urge to lean into him. The effect he had on me was getting ridiculous, yet I couldn't stop it, even if I wanted to.

He released his grip on my chin, his hand sliding down to rest against the side of my neck, his thumb gently moving over my pulse.

I shivered at the touch, trying to steady my racing heart.

He was so close… so much closer than he normally would be… and my brain couldn't seem to function correctly…

"Stop thinking so hard," he admonished. "I can practically see the gears turning."

I huffed out a laugh but couldn't deny his words. I was constantly overthinking and overanalyzing everything when I would much rather just turn my brain off and enjoy the moment.

"I can't help it," I muttered. "My brain never shuts off, you know that."

He chuckled and his lips curled into a smirk, his thumb still stroking my neck.

"I know... it's one of the things I love about you."

I couldn't stop the shiver that ran through me… the sound of his voice, his touch, his proximity... it was like he was everywhere, overwhelming all my senses.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and tried to find my voice, to say something witty or sarcastic, something to break the tension that was crackling between us… because I knew he didn’t mean anything by those words.

He loved me but as a friend…

"Come on, princess, let’s have some fun. What do you say?"

"Fun?" I repeated, my voice sounding small and uncertain even to my own ears.

He chuckled, the sound sending a shiver down my spine.

"It is a Halloween party. There's food, games, music… let's go join in the fun."

I nodded, going when he wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me against him.

He led me back into Sadie’s living room and my eyes darted around, taking in the decorations and the people, trying to keep myself from focusing on how he was acting, talking… and how damn good he looked in his costume.

The black wings, the horns… the suit clinging to all the right places, accentuating all those muscles I had known were there but had forced myself not to pay attention to… it was more than a little distracting.

We made our way through the crowd, Caleb leading me with one arm around my shoulders as if he was afraid I’d run away.

"What do you want to do first? Grab a drink?" he asked, leaning down to speak in my ear.

The warmth of his breath against my neck made me shiver again and I had to force myself to focus on the question.

"Um, yeah, sure," I managed, hoping he hadn’t noticed. "I could use a drink."

"Come on then."

He led me over to the table where there was an assortment of alcoholic beverages as well as sodas, water and juice.

Knowing I wasn’t big on alcohol, he grabbed two waters and handed one to me, his fingers brushing mine as he placed the bottle into my hand.

He opened his own bottle and took a swig, his throat bobbing as he swallowed.

I took a sip of my own water to distract myself and looked around at the decorations Sadie had picked out. There was music playing from the sound system, and people were dancing and laughing, but I couldn't seem to focus on anything other than him.

He leaned against the table, his eyes flickering over me, taking in my costume then he seemed to realize what he was doing and shook himself out.

"I was wondering..."

His words caught my attention, and I turned to him, raising an eyebrow.

He took another sip of his water, his expression casual, but there was a slight strain to his voice when he spoke again as if what he was about to say wasn’t actually what he was thinking.

"How do you feel about dancing?"

The idea of dancing with him... of being close to him, his arms around me, his body pressed close... it was almost too much to consider.

Part of me wanted it more than anything, but another part was terrified of giving in further than I already had.

"Dancing?" I repeated, trying to keep my voice even. "I’m more likely to step on your toes than actually dance."

"Is that your way of telling me you have two left feet?"

I rolled my eyes, a small, nervous laugh escaping me.

"Yes."

A small smirk pulled at his lips, and he took a step closer.

"Come on. It's just dancing. It's not like we're on a stage in front of a thousand people."

"I don't even know how to dance," I protested weakly. "I'll make a fool out of myself."

"I won't let you. I'll hold you close. You just have to follow my lead."

I couldn't deny that the thought of being in his arms again, of feeling the solid strength of his body against mine... it made my head spin and my heart race.

"Okay…" I whispered.

He gave me a small smile and placed his bottle of water on the table then took mine and did the same before offering me his hand.

I looked down at it for a moment, took a deep breath and placed my hand in his.

His fingers closed around mine, his grip firm but gentle, and led me to an open spot in the center of the room and turned me to face him.

"Put your hand on my shoulder," he instructed, his voice low and steady.

I did as he said, my heart racing as my hand came to rest on his broad shoulder.

His hand came to rest on my waist, fingers gently gripping my hip and pulling me closer.

"Just breathe and relax," he whispered. "I won't let you fall."

I felt my breath catch as he pulled me flush against him, my chest now pressed right up against his. He was just so damn big and solid and warm...

He started moving, slowly and surely, guiding me through the steps even though the pace was slower than the tempo of the song.

I tried to keep up, moving my feet in time with his, but I still felt clumsy and awkward, self-conscious…

His hand on my waist tightened as he felt me stumble.

"Relax, princess," he murmured in my ear. "Feel the music. Don't think. Just follow me."

"Not exactly a slow dance kind of song," I murmured back.

He chuckled lowly and I could feel the deep rumbling in his chest.

"No, it is not, but it doesn't matter. Just focus on me, alright? And trust me when I tell you, you're doing great."

He gave my hip a small squeeze and his thumb began to stroke my side, moving in small circles against the material of my dress.

Eventually, my feet got the hang of the steps, and we started moving a little faster.

I found myself getting lost in the steps, in the music, in the feeling of his body against mine.

For the first time in a long time, I wasn't thinking about anything else.

There was no stress, no worry… only him… only us…

His hand moved to my lower back, pressing me closer against him, his body now completely molded against mine.

"There you go," he murmured, his voice low in my ear. "You're doing so well. You're not so clumsy after all, are you princess?"

I couldn't help the small shiver that ran through me as his breath tickled the skin on my neck. Even the small praise he was giving me was enough to make me feel… special.

"Guess not," I managed, my voice sounding breathy and shaky.

He hummed softly, his hand moving up my back to the exposed skin of my shoulder blades.

"You’re a natural," he murmured. "A quick learner. Perfect."

It was getting harder to focus on anything but his voice, the feeling of his hand on my back, the warmth radiating off him…

"Just… lucky," I whispered, my voice breathless.

"Lucky, huh? Or maybe you just needed the right partner."

"That must be it."

"Of course," he chuckled. "No one better than me."

His words made me shiver, the tone to his voice sending a small jolt of heat through me.

"And just what makes you so much better, huh?"

He chuckled again and spun me around in a circle before pulling me back against his chest.

"Oh, you shouldn't ask questions you already know the answer to."

I huffed at his smugness and shot him a playful glare.

"Cocky."

"Confident. There's a difference."

I rolled my eyes.

"Sure, keep telling yourself that."

He shook his head with a low laugh and pressed a kiss to my forehead.

We danced in silence for a few minutes with his head resting on the top of mine and his hand pressed against the bare skin of my upper back.

I leaned into him a little more, my head resting against his chest, and I heard him inhale deeply, his breath fanning across the top of my head.

"You smell good," he murmured.

I felt my cheeks warm at the comment.

"Thanks," I replied. "It's just my shampoo."

"No, it's not," he said with a small laugh. "It's you."

His words caught me off guard, and I felt my heart skip a beat.

"It's… me?"

"Yes, you. You have a distinct scent… sweet… like honey. I don't think it has anything to do with the shampoo you use."

His words made me feel both warm and confused as I wondered what had gotten into him tonight… he had never touched me like he was or given me so many compliments.

I didn’t know what to do with it.

"You make me sound like some kind of pastry," I mumbled.

"Not a pastry," he said with a laugh. "But something sweet for sure."

A small laugh escaped me and I shook my head.

"You're being weird."

He chuckled.

"I'm just being honest, princess. You smell good… really good."

I felt my cheeks warm and tried to keep my heart from fluttering.

"Let’s change the subject."

"Why?" he asked. "You don't like me complimenting you?"

I bit my lip, not knowing how to respond.

It wasn't that I didn't like it, quite the opposite, I enjoyed his praise a little more than I should. But there was something about his compliments tonight that seemed a little different than usual.

"No, it's not that. It's just… I’m not used to compliments…" I mumbled. "You know that."

He hummed softly.

"I know, but you deserve to hear how beautiful you are every day for the rest of your life."

The words made me shiver again, and I had to take a deep breath to steady my racing heart.

"Thank you, Caleb… I…" I trailed off because I wasn’t sure what I was trying to say.

He seemed to sense my conflicted emotions and chuckled.

"You're blushing, princess."

I tried to hide my flustered state by burying my face in his shoulder.

"Hush."

"You're cute when you blush."

I groaned and thumped my forehead against his shoulder. He was toying with me, teasing me, and it was driving me insane.

"Stop it, Caleb."

"Stop what?" he asked innocently, his fingers resuming their pattern against my shoulder blades. "Stop giving you compliments? Stop pointing out how gorgeous you are? Stop pointing out that you’re blushing?"

"All of the above?" I mumbled.

He laughed softly, the sound rumbling in his chest.

"Okay… how about this… how about I invite you to go on vacation with me sometime in December instead?"

I lifted my head to look up at him, feeling confused.

"That's… a huge shift of subject."

He grinned down at me, his eyes glittering with mirth.

"I know, but I was tired of complimenting you."

I couldn't help the small huff.

"You're something else, you know that?"

He laughed again, unbothered by my insult.

"Yeah… but that doesn’t answer my question."

"Of course she’ll go on vacation with you," Sadie suddenly said from behind me.

I jumped in surprise and spun around to find her standing there, grinning at us.

"Oh my god, don't do that," I said, my heart racing from the sudden interruption.

She chuckled, shaking her head.

"You need to work on your situational awareness, Hay. The amount of times you get surprised is astounding."

"I'm not that bad."

"Yes, you are," Caleb said behind me, his hand settling on my hip.

I glanced over my shoulder to glare at him.

"Traitor."

He shrugged, a smirk on his lips.

"Sooo…" Sadie said, placing her hands on her hips. "Where you guys going for this vacation? How long will you be gone? You have anything important planned? Will-"

"Whoa… I haven’t even said I’d go," I exclaimed, holding up a hand to stop her.

"Yet," Caleb interjected behind me.

I shot him a glare.

"Not helping."

"You'll go," he said, sounding confident.

"And how do you know that?"

He grinned, his grip on my hip tightening just the slightest bit.

"Because you want to go."

I huffed, feeling annoyed with his overconfidence because of course he was right.

I did want to go on vacation with him, and I didn’t care where we went if it meant I got to spend time with him.

"And what makes you think that?"

"Call it a gut feeling."

I rolled my eyes and muttered under my breath.

"Okay, fine, I want to go."

Sadie chuckled and patted me on the shoulder.

"Knew it."

I let out a frustrated sigh, feeling like they were ganging up on me.

"I hate you both."

Caleb chuckled, his breath ghosting over my ear and making me shiver.

"No, you don’t."

"Yes, I do," I lied.

"Is that right?" he murmured.

I ignored him, trying to ignore the heat seeping through my body. God, I hated how he affected me.

"Yes, it is," I mumbled.

Sadie laughed again, clearly amused by the whole thing.

"You two banter like an old married couple."

"What?" I choked out, my eyes widening. "We do not."

She smirked, raising an eyebrow at me like she knew how my heart had started to pound at the thought of being married to Caleb.

"Sooo… where you guys going?"

"There’s a small town in the mountains that hosts a lot of interesting events for Christmas. I’ve been wanting to check it out for a while but have never gotten around to it sooo… wanna go with me?" Caleb answered, his hand moving from my hip to my lower back.

It was so casually mentioned yet seemed so… intimate. The idea of going on a trip with Caleb to some small town to spend Christmas together sounded… wonderful.

"That sounds amazing…"

He smiled, his hand splaying out against my lower back.

"Then I’ll work out the details and let you know, sweet girl."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm down.

It was just a vacation… a vacation to spend time with the man I had been hopelessly in love with for a while now.

"Okay," I breathed, shooting him a smile then a thought occurred to me. "Wait… the shop."

Sadie let out a huff.

"Am I chopped liver? I’ll watch it so you can go on vacation. And no backing out because you haven’t been on a vacation in years."

I felt a rush of relief, feeling touched by her offer.

"Thank you."

"See, it's settling itself out," Caleb said from behind me.

I rolled my eyes but chuckled, the tension draining from me.

"Okay, stop gloating."

"Not a chance."

I heard Sadie let out a laugh then mutter something about us ‘really sounding like an old married couple’ as she walked away.

The music changed and a slightly slower one started to play.

His grip on my waist grew firmer and he pulled me close again.

"Come here, angel."

My breath caught in my throat from the sudden nickname, my heart fluttering wildly. Out of all the nicknames he had tried I liked that one the best and wanted him to keep calling me by it.

"I like that one," I mumbled as I followed his guidance with little resistance, letting my body mold against his.

A small, satisfied smile tugged at his lips as he pulled me against him.

"You like it when I call you angel?" he murmured, his breath warm against my ear. "Better than princess?"

I swallowed and forced my heart to steady.

"Yeah, I… I do."

He hummed.

"Angel suits you."

I felt a small flutter of pleasure at the words but didn’t say anything as I pressed my face against his chest and followed his movements.

Anticipation of our vacation kept my cheeks flushed and had my mind racing for the rest of the evening.

I didn’t know what was going to happen, but I had a feeling it would change our lives… for the better.

And that was something to look forward to…

Chapter 14

Chapter 5

"You seem to be walking funny, Bay."

I nearly jumped out of my skin as that sexy as sin voice suddenly whispered in my ear.

I spun around, hand clutching my heart and legs clenching together in a vain attempt to stop the ache between them. "Damn it, Sylus! You can't just sneak up on me like that."

He shrugged, that annoying, damnable smirk tugging at his lips as he eyed my body up and down like he knew what I looked like naked… and he did… very well. "I didn't sneak up on you. You just weren't paying attention."

I hadn’t been paying attention… he was right about that.

Instead of seeing the ink and other supplies I was stocking our stations with, I had been thinking about last night and how it felt to have him inside my body.

It’s ALL I had been able to think about since waking up alone this morning and coming into work even though my legs felt like jelly and my pussy was sore… but in a good way.

I glowered at him and crossed my arms tight over my chest, trying to ignore the way my heart was suddenly pounding. "I wasn't paying attention because I wasn't expecting you. How the hell are you so damn quiet anyway?"

He chuckled then stepped closer, his hands coming up to my hips and pulling me against him, completely shameless. "Practice," he murmured, eyes dropping to my neck and I knew he was looking at the collection of hickeys that were scattered all over my skin. "Lots of practice."

I shivered, my body tensing automatically and my brain going blank for a second before I pushed at his chest, glaring at him. "You're so damn annoying."

He didn't budge, didn't move an inch, just smirked at me as one of his eyebrows lifted. "You didn't seem to think I was annoying last night, kitten."

"Shut up," I mumbled, feeling my face heating up as memories from the night before flooded my mind again and I unconsciously clenched my thighs in response. "Bastard…"

He laughed, letting go of me and moving to lean against my tattoo chair. "Still sore?" he asked, his voice a low murmur as his eyes roamed up and down my body.

I scowled, trying not to squirm under his gaze as I turned and put the bottles of ink in my drawer before closing it and grabbing the boxes of gloves and sitting one on top of my station before grabbing the box and moving to Caleb’s.

"Of course I am," I muttered under my breath.

"Good."

I glanced at him, my hands pausing as I sat the box down on Caleb’s chair. "What?"

"I said… good," he repeated, a smirk on his face as he pushed off my chair and approached me. "I want you to be sore. I want you to feel me every time you sit down… every time you move."

I felt my face heating up all over again and bit my lip, turning away quickly and busying myself with gloves, ink and soap, not looking at him as I responded, "Yeah? Why is that?"

"You know why," he mumbled, one hand suddenly coming down on the chair beside me while his arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer.

My hands instinctively came to rest on his arms to steady myself as I tilted my head back to look at him.

His eyes glittered with something dark as he looked down at me.

"I like the thought that every little ache and twinge reminds you that I owned you last night… and…" He paused and leaned down, putting his mouth right next to my ear. "… and I want you to remember what it felt like to have me inside you… since it was only one time."

I couldn't hold back the soft, shaky gasp that left my mouth, and I clenched my thighs again, desperate to stop the heat that was pooling between my legs because I had learned that one time… wasn’t going to be enough.

I wanted him again… and it hadn’t even been twenty-four hours since he had left my bed.

He let out a dark chuckle like he knew what I was thinking, nipped at the skin of my neck above one of the bruises then pulled back, moving away from me.

By the time I got my brain back online, he was sitting in my chair like he didn't have a care in the world with his ankles crossed and his hands behind his head.

"… you're evil," I mumbled, glaring at him as I clenched and unclenched my hands a few times to try and calm down.

He chuckled. "Damn right I am."

I forced myself to look away, taking a few deep breaths as I tried to push away the thought of him bending me over my chair, in the middle of the shop. But that would be a disaster… right? Caleb would be arriving any minute and we were about to open in about fifteen minutes…

"You're a bastard," I muttered, quickly finishing putting the supplies away then tossing the empty boxes in a pile to take out back later.

Before he could respond the back door opened and shut then Caleb appeared from the back hallway. As soon as he saw us, he stopped dead, his eyes going from me to Sylus then back again, then his gaze swept over my neck, taking in the collection of hickeys on display and a scowl appeared on his face.

I automatically raised my hand, trying to pull the neck of my shirt up higher to hide them while silently cursing myself for not putting makeup over them to hide them or wearing clothes that would cover my neck.

Sylus' eyes flicked to Caleb, a flash of satisfaction passing over his face as he saw his reaction. "Morning, Caleb," he said, his voice low and smug as he leaned back in my chair like he didn't have a care in the world.

Caleb didn't respond, just continued to glare.

I shifted uncomfortably, suddenly feeling very awkward and wishing I could shrink into a hole and disappear.

The silence stretched out like a tight rubber band, building like a charge until the tension was almost too much.

Finally, Caleb broke it, his voice rough as he shifted his gaze to me. "Can I talk to you?"

My stomach dropped. I knew exactly what he wanted to talk about. I shot a quick glare at Sylus, who just smirked, then forced a polite smile on my face and nodded.

With another scowl at Sylus, Caleb jerked his head, a clear indication for me to follow him, and I did, walking past him and towards the hallway that led back to the break room.

Once we were out of earshot, he whirled around to face me, his eyes narrowed as he looked me up and down, his gaze landing on the collection of hickeys on my neck then he was stepping forward, backing me into the wall.

I stumbled a bit, my back hitting the wall hard then my hands were coming up to press against his chest to stop him. "Caleb, what-"

But he kept moving, boxing me in between his arms, and the look on his face made my heart pound and my throat go dry.

"Did you sleep with him?"

I felt my heart skip in shock, my eyes going wide and my mouth opening but no sound came out as I stared at him.

It was the last thing I expected him to say, and I swore my heart stopped beating completely for a second before I managed to croak out, "What?"

"You heard me," he snapped, leaning down so his face was right in front of mine, his voice low. "Did. You. Sleep with him?"

I blinked, mind going completely blank as I suddenly forgot how to breathe because the look on his face… the way he was looking at me… he looked livid.

… but that wasn't what worried me.

What worried me was the expression in his eyes, because there was something there, something that looked like hurt… and jealousy.

And I didn’t completely understand either emotion… because he had never shown any interest in me. Never once acted like he wanted me while he took all those girls to the break room and fucked them where I could hear them.

But now… now that I was with Sylus, even though it was fake and nothing more than one fuck, he was showing interest… I didn’t understand it.

"Why… why does it matter?" I managed to get out.

"It just does."

I bristled at the firm tone of his voice, the demand in it, but it was also the possessive look in his eyes as his gaze raked over my neck again.

"Don't avoid the question, Bay," he growled, stepping closer so his lower body was pressed firmly against mine. "Did you sleep with him or not?"

I gasped, my body going rigid, mind reeling as my body reacted to having him this close to me. I could feel the heat from his body, could smell his cologne… could feel the rigid length of his cock against my hip.

"Answer. The. Damn. Question." He said again, his hand coming up to grab my chin and tilt my head up to make to make me look at him… and I knew I couldn't lie.

I opened my mouth to respond but Sylus beat me to it.

"She did."

Caleb stiffened, his head whipping around to look past me.

Sylus was leaning against the wall, arms folded over his chest, his expression blank but there was something in his gaze that made me shiver.

Caleb's fingers tightened on my chin, his hand trembling a bit, and I knew he was fighting the urge to snap at him. But he bit back whatever response he was going to make and looked back at me.

"So it's true… you slept with him?"

I felt my face heat up but I held eye contact. "Yes…"

He flinched. "Why?" he asked, his voice a quiet whisper.

I felt my heart clench at his tone, and I wanted to reach up, touch his face… comfort him. But he suddenly let go of me, turning away until his back was to me and then he was running both hands through his hair.

I watched him, a feeling of helplessness washing through me as he stood there, his spine straight, shoulders tense then he turned around and the look in his eyes made my heart stutter in my chest.

"Are you going to keep sleeping with him?"

There it was… the question I had been dreading because even though Sylus and I had agreed that it was only going to be one time… I wanted more from him, and I didn’t mean just sex… I wanted more dates, more time together… I just wanted more and that made this whole thing more complicated.

I was caught between the two men I cared about, the two men I was attracted to, the two men I wanted more than anything and I knew that my answer to Caleb’s question was going to change things.

For the better or the worse, I didn't know, but I knew I couldn't lie.

This whole messed up situation was a mistake and I never should have agreed to this to get Caleb’s attention because now I was confused.

I wanted both men… Caleb with his sweet, laidback personality and Sylus with his demanding, in-your-face mentality.

But I couldn’t have them both… I needed to figure out what I was going to do now that I had made such a mess of things instead of being a grown ass woman and telling Caleb that I wanted him… telling Sylus that I found him attractive and I wanted things from him that no ‘friend’ should ever want.

I was… confused… very much so and what I really wanted was to get away so I could think but I couldn’t do that. I was here to do my job and if that meant avoiding the question then that was what I was going to do… even if it made things worse.

I opened my mouth to tell Caleb that Sylus and I had agreed that it would only be one time but then I hesitated again and I saw his fingers curl into fists.

"Don't lie to me," he said, his voice hoarse. "Are you going to keep sleeping with him?"

Sylus suddenly let out a derisive snort, and my eyes went wide as the sound snapped my focus to him. His crimson eyes were glittering as he pushed off the wall and took a couple of steps forward.

"And if she does?"

Caleb rounded on him, anger flashing in his eyes. "The hell does that mean?"

Sylus stopped a few feet from us, his eyes flicking between me and Caleb then his smirk widened marginally. "Just what I said. You’re going to tell her who she can and can't sleep with? Really? When you spend most of your shift trying to win an award for ‘The Most Customers Fucked in a Single Day.’"

Caleb's eye twitched at the insult, his teeth grinding as he took a step forward, looking like he was seconds away from punching Sylus. "Don't push me, you prick."

"Temper, temper…" Sylus said, chuckling as he crossed his arms over his chest, looking completely unfazed. "Why do you even care?" he asked, cocking his head to the side. "You're not her boyfriend."

Caleb flinched and he took another step closer to Sylus, his teeth clenched. "No... but-"

"Hello?!"

All three of us froze, the shout from the front of the shop cutting off Caleb's response.

Sylus and I exchanged a look, both of us realizing that while we had been arguing in the back of the store a customer had come in and was now demanding attention.

"Hellooooo. Anyone here?!"

Caleb sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Damn it," he muttered then shot one last glare at Sylus before turning to me. "We're not done with this conversation, Bay."

Before I could respond, he spun on his heel and marched towards the front of the shop, leaving me standing there with Sylus.

I let out a shaky breath.

That was not how I expected that conversation to go and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had majorly fucked things up between all three of us.

"Well… that was interesting."

I sighed and turned my head to look at Sylus.

He was leaning against the wall again, arms crossed and watching me.

"Don't start."

He chuckled and pushed off the wall, sauntering towards me. He stopped in front of me, and my breathing hitched as his hands came up to rest on the wall on either side of my head much like Caleb’s had moment ago, trapping me between his arms.

"I'm not going to start anything," he murmured, his voice low and smooth. "But I couldn't help but notice something…"

My heart skipped a beat, and I fought the urge to swallow. "And what would that be?"

His smirk widened a bit, his crimson eyes glittering as he leaned in, his face close enough that I could feel his breath on my face. "You have his attention. What do you plan to do with it?"

I felt my stomach clench at the question.

Caleb's attention… I had it… but it wasn't the kind of attention I wanted. He was acting… hurt, jealous, angry… and I wasn't sure how to handle that or what it meant.

"I… I don't know," I finally replied, my voice soft and uncertain.

He chuckled, his eyes roaming over my face, taking in my uncertain expression, and the corner of his mouth quirked up. "You don't know?" he asked, the words dripping with subtle mockery. "You don't have a plan?"

It was almost like he was baiting me, taunting me to react, and it was working.

I clenched my jaw and shoved my hands against his chest, trying to push him away but he didn't budge. In fact, he moved closer, crowding me until there was barely any space between us and I could feel the heat from his body seeping into mine.

"No, I don't," I hissed. "I didn’t think it would work so I didn’t plan that far ahead."

That only made him chuckle again, and he leaned in, lowering his head until his mouth was right next to my ear. "I see…."

I tried to ignore the fluttering feeling in my stomach as his breath teased the skin of my neck and focus on being annoyed with him, but it was difficult when he was so damn close.

"You should have a plan next time," he murmured, one of his hands leaving the wall and coming up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. "Because I have a feeling the next you have his undivided attention…" He pressed a kiss to my jaw. "… you’re not going to walk away without him taking some of that frustration out on you."

My breath caught in my throat, his words sending a shiver down my spine.

I tried to ignore the heat pooling between my legs as images of exactly how Caleb would take his frustration out on me flashed through my head.

Before I could say anything though, he pressed another kiss to the corner of my mouth then pushed off the wall and walked towards the front of the store.

I watched him go, my mind racing as I tried to process what had just happened.

He was right… I hadn't thought this through… I had no plan… not a good plan anyway.

I had been desperate to get Caleb to see me as more than a friend, more than a coworker, but now all I had done was make things complicated by pretending to be dating Sylus and having sex with him…

"Damnit…" I muttered, rubbing a hand over my face.

I didn’t want to be here anymore; I wanted to leave, go home and crawl into bed where I could wish the last few days away so things could go back to normal but nothing is ever that easy.

"Bay!"

I tensed at Caleb's loud and frustrated-sounding voice and reluctantly pushed away from the wall with a sigh and headed to the front of the shop to see what he wanted.

He was standing behind the counter; arms folded over his chest and a scowl on his face. My gaze ran over him for a beat then shifted to the woman standing on the other side of the counter with an expectant look on her face.

As soon as I was close enough, he tilted his head in her direction and mumbled, "She’s all yours," then stalked off in the direction of his chair where another woman was waiting.

Sylus was nowhere to be seen but I had a feeling he was still around here somewhere and would take any opportunity to touch me and remind me that I needed to come up with a plan of some kind to handle whatever Caleb decided to throw at me the next time we were alone.

But for now… it appeared I had a customer.

"Uh… hi," I said. "What can I do for you?"

The woman gave me a quick smile. "Are you Bailey?"

"Yes…." I replied. "That's me."

She seemed relieved. "Oh, good… I was worried I missed you."

I tilted my head. "Missed me? So you were looking for me specifically?"

She nodded enthusiastically and reached into her bag and pulled out a piece of paper then unfolded it and spread it out against the glass countertop. "A friend of mine got a tattoo from you a few weeks ago and I absolutely loved it, so I came here to get this one from you."

I couldn't help but feel a bit of excitement and pride at her words. It was always nice when someone liked my work enough to seek me out.

"Let me take a look," I said, stepping forward and picking up the piece of paper she had laid out. My gaze ran over the design, taking in all the details and getting an idea of the size.

"Oh… wow," I murmured as I looked up at her. "This is beautiful."

She smiled widely, obviously proud of the design. "I'm glad you like it."

"Can I ask who drew it?"

The woman's smile broadened. "My husband," she replied, her voice full of pride. "He's an artist," she continued, her eyes going slightly dreamy.

I smiled and placed the design back on the counter then reached over and grabbed the paperwork she needed to fill out to get things started. "Fill these out and give me about twenty minutes to get everything set up. It’s going to be $450."

She nodded, taking the paperwork from me, and settled into one of the chairs while I headed over to my station, grabbing the supplies I needed and getting them set up before I started working on the stencil.

I could feel Caleb's eyes on me every so often, his gaze burning into my side and making me conscious of every movement. I pushed down the feeling, focusing on what I was doing instead, and tried to ignore the fluttering in my stomach at being watched so closely.

 Thirty minutes later, she was prepped and ready to go.

"Are you ready?"

She nodded, her nerves clearly showing. "As ready as I'm ever gonna be, I suppose."

I chuckled and moved closer to her, positioning myself at her back and eyeing the stencil to make sure it was dry. "Just breathe. It'll be over before you know."

I heard her swallow then take a shaky breath and I started the tattoo machine.

After that I ignored Caleb, I ignored Sylus when he came back into the shop and I did what I was good at… all the while hoping and praying that both men would let things go.

But that was wishful thinking on my part.

The rest of the day was torture.

Both men kept watching me and each other, the tension in the shop growing stronger as the minutes passed. I felt like I was in the middle of a ticking time bomb that was five seconds from going off and I didn’t know how to handle it.

I had to force myself not to watch the clock, counting down the hours until the shop closed and I could make my escape.

By the time the last client walked out the door, I felt like I was about to explode. My nerves were frayed and my body was tense, my hands shaking from the effort it took to stay calm.

I let out a breath and leaned back against the wall, running my hands over my face and pushing my hair back, my eyes closing for a moment as I tried to steady my breathing.

I could feel both Caleb and Sylus' eyes on me, the heat of their stares like a physical touch.

Dropping my hands and opening my eyes, my gaze moved from one man to the other, my heart pounding in my chest. They were both staring at me, their eyes dark and intense, and I could practically feel the tension crackling in the air between us.

"We need to talk."

My stomach dropped at Caleb's words, and I swallowed hard.

Swallowing down my nerves, I pushed off the wall, squaring my shoulders as I turned to face him completely.

"No."

He raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting that response from me. "No?" he said flatly, a hint of annoyance creeping into his voice. "What do you mean, no?"

I lifted my chin. "I mean… no."

Sylus chuckled, the sound sending goosebumps up my skin and making my heart skip a beat. I could tell that he was enjoying this little powerplay. "Hmm… so feisty tonight, kitten."

That only earned him a glare from me. "Shut up, Sylus."

He smirked, raising his hands in a mockery of surrender. "Just making an observation. No need to get hostile."

I clenched my jaw, biting back more scathing words. "No, we don't need to talk. I’m going to leave and I don’t want to hear from either of you until Monday… we clear."

At that, they both tensed and the smirk on Sylus’ face settled into a scowl to match Caleb’s.

Caleb's eyes narrowed. "You aren't going anywhere. We need to talk."

I felt my heart rate pick up at the dangerous tone in Caleb's voice, but I refused to back down. I was leaving and I was going to go spend time by myself so I could think about what I wanted to do next because this shit was too confusing and with them both here… there was no way I would be able to think… to decide.

"And I said no."

Caleb clenched his jaw, clearly not liking my response, and I could practically see the anger burning in his eyes, but he didn’t say anything else and neither did Sylus.

Sensing that this was when I needed to leave before they tried to stop me again, I pushed off the wall and headed for the door, my mind racing and my hands shaking. But as I neared the door, I heard footsteps and a hand shot out, grabbing my wrist.

I froze, my heart skipping a beat as I looked down at the hand wrapped around my wrist, then slowly looked up to see who was holding onto me.

It wasn't Caleb… it was Sylus.

His fingers were tight around my wrist, holding me in place and refusing to let me go.

I swallowed, my body breaking out in goosebumps as he leaned down to whisper. "You can’t avoid him forever. Or me… whatever this is between us… we do need to talk about it."

I closed my eyes.

I couldn't avoid this forever, but I was too overwhelmed right now to deal with it.

"Not today," I said, my voice low and shaky. "But soon… I promise."

He nodded and let go before taking a step back and walking away.

I watched him for a moment then spun on my heels and left.

My brain was spinning by the time I made it home, the drive home a blurry mess of lights and sound that I barely registered. Normally, I would be able to go over what had happened during my day as I drove but right now my mind was too fuzzy… I was too on edge, too damn confused.

I stumbled through my front door, locking it behind me then leaned back against it and let out a long breath, closing my eyes and letting my bag drop to the floor.

The silence of my apartment was a welcome reprieve. It was peaceful and quiet, and I wanted nothing more than to sink into my couch and forget about everything for a while... but I had a feeling I needed something more… to let loose for a bit and not think about things.

After a long minute of just standing there, leaning against the door and letting my brain shut down, my eyes suddenly opened as an idea formed in mind.

I wasn't going to get any relief if I stayed here, not without something to take the edge off, and I was pretty sure I knew what to do.

With a new goal in mind, I pushed away from the door and headed to my bedroom.

Chapter 6