#salemrequest

You could almost see his face through the words, those big puppy-dog eyes, all golden retriever sadness, looking down at you with that soft tilt of his head. Your cheeks burned at the thought, and you ended up doing exactly as he asked.

When he pulled up in a rented car to pick you up, his grin was wider than the horizon.

“Do you have everything?” he asked.

You straightened up and gave him a mock salute. “Yes, sir.”

He laughed, warm and bright. “That’s my good pipsqueak,” he teased, ruffling your hair with a playful pat.

“Are you going to tell me where we’re going, or do I just trust you blindly?” you asked, leaning your head against the window, trying not to smile.

Caleb grinned, his teeth flashing. “Trust me blindly, obviously. That’s half the fun. Besides…” His voice dipped, teasing. “You look really cute when you pout. Makes me want to stop the car just to pinch your cheeks.”

You gasped dramatically. “Don’t you dare, Caleb!”

“Oh, I dare,” he said, steering with one hand as his other swooped over to lightly squish your cheek. You swatted at him, giggling.

“Focus on the road!”

“Relax, pipsqueak. I can drive with my eyes closed if you want.”

“Caleb!”

He laughed, that warm, sun-soaked sound that made your chest feel lighter. You turned away to hide your blush.

Caleb pull over to the spacecraft port, where his aircraft was waiting. He grabbed your bagged and lead you to inside.

You buckled yourself in, watching Caleb go through his pre-flight routine like he’d done a hundred times before—checking gauges, adjusting knobs, flipping switches. His brows furrowed in concentration. You absolutely absorb how light hits his face. Dancing over his eyelashes, painting that beautiful nose and contouring his dry lips. How many times have you told him to use balsam?

“You know…” you said, leaning back with a smirk, “it’s kind of hot when you get all serious like that.”

He froze for a second, then glanced sideways at you, a grin tugging at his lips. “Oh yeah? Should I wear aviator shades next time?"

Laughing, Caleb reached over and tugged gently on your seat belt strap, making sure it was snug. “All secure. Don’t want my favourite passenger flying around the cabin.”

You arched a brow. “You do know I’ve been in this plane plenty of times, right? I know how seat-belts work.”

“Yeah, but I like finding excuses to lean closer.” His words brushed over your skin almost as much as his breath did. So close, the distance of a kiss, you feel the pull and need to do so. Butterflies make their way in your chest, you sigh low and your eyes lit relax. You swore the air itself thickened, shimmering in the sunlight that poured through the cockpit windows.

Caleb’s gaze dipped briefly to your lips before darting back up. He swallowed and with that, the brief tension in his violet eyes were gone. He winked before pulling on his headset.

“Ready to chase the sun with me, pipsqueak?”

Takeoff was smooth, the small plane tilting up into the sky. The city shrank beneath you until there was nothing but clouds and sunlit blue stretching forever. You pressed your forehead to the glass, watching how the cotton clouds moves under you.

“It’s beautiful,” you breathed.

Caleb stole a glance at you, his voice softer this time. “Yeah. Sure is.”

You pressed your palms against your knees, trying to steady the pounding in your chest. Why were you so nervous? You’d already kissed him. You’d already given yourself to him, on his birthday, no less. That night had been real, messy, tender in ways you hadn’t expected. And yet… everything still felt so new. So delicate. Like every step forward had to be earned all over again.

Even after your last vacation, when you’d worn that new bikini just for him—he hadn’t been able to look at you. His face had gone red, ears burning as he’d stammered some excuse about, “You’ll catch a cold, pipsqueak. Put on something warmer.” You’d laughed then, but your heart had squeezed at the same time. Stupid Caleb!

Now, here in the sky with him, the same shyness lived beneath every teasing word.

Once the plane levelled out, Caleb flicked a few switches, then leaned back with a satisfied sigh. “Autopilot’s on,” he announced, unbuckling his belt and stretching before standing. “Want a snack?”

You tilted your head, curious, as he rummaged through a small duffel tucked behind his seat. He came back holding a pack of chocolate bars, looking way too pleased with himself.

“I knew I couldn’t trust you to pack the important stuff,” he teased, waving one.

You laughed, snagging it from his hand. “Excuse you, I would’ve packed snacks if someone had told me the destination beforehand.”

“That would’ve ruined the surprise, pipsqueak.” He smirked, unwrapping his own bar and plopping down beside you instead of back in his seat.

You nibbled on a piece, savouring the sweetness, but when you glanced at him again, Caleb was staring at you with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“What?” you asked.

He leaned in slowly, voice dropping into that a teasing tone. “You’ve got a little something…” His finger hovered near his own lips. “Right here.”

Your cheeks burned instantly, and you swiped at your mouth with the back of your hand. “Better?”

“Nope.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “Still there.”

“Where?” You fumbled, wiping again.

Caleb’s grin widened as he leaned even closer, violet eyes locking with yours. “Let me.”

Before you could protest, he brushed his thumb gently against the corner of your mouth. The warmth of his skin lingered, sending sparks down your spine. He didn’t move away right away either, his face so close his breath mingled with yours again.

For a heartbeat, you swore he was going to kiss you. But then he pulled back with a playful wink, popping another bite of chocolate into his mouth. “Got it,” he said smugly, leaning back like nothing happened. You want to kill him. How can he be like that? Change of strategy maybe if you play a bit coy, you can...

“Caleb,” you whispered, your thumb brushing over the back of his hand. “You don’t have to hold back...”

His breath hitched, and for a moment the silence stretched between you. “I’m trying... not to mess this up, pipsqueak.”

“Caleb…” you whispered. “Don't you like kissing me?”

His eyes met yours, full of something fierce and unguarded, yet he still hesitated. His lips parted, his gaze dropping to your mouth before snapping back up again, like he was afraid to take what he wanted.

His jaw tensed, a shaky laugh leaving him. “If I kiss you now…” He swallowed. “I don’t think I’ll be able to stop.”

Your heart thundered. His hesitation burned like static in the air, and you couldn’t bear it any longer. Before he could lean in, you closed the gap, pressing your lips to his in a kiss that was sure and entirely yours.

You poured all of it into him: that you wanted this, that you had no regret, that you wanted to keep this delicate, fragile, precious thing between you. Caleb froze for a fraction of a heartbeat. His lips were parted, his cheeks flushed, and his eyes shimmered with something you couldn’t quite put into words.

But then all the restraint snapped like a rope pulled too tight. He kissed you back with a sudden intensity that made your breath catch, his hands framing your face, pulling you closer as if the small space of the cockpit wasn’t enough.

Your seat-belt pressed against you as he deepened the kiss, his lips hot, hungry, yet still achingly tender. It was overwhelming, how much he gave, how much he demanded in return. You clutched at his shirt, tugging him nearer, and he chuckled low in his throat, the sound vibrating against your lips.

His hands slid from your cheeks to your waist, tugging you closer until the seat-belt strained. With a huff, he unbuckled you in one quick motion, and before you could even think, you were pulled across the narrow space and into his lap.

“Caleb—” you tried, breathless, but he swallowed your words with another kiss, deeper this time. His fingers threaded into your hair, holding you steady as if he couldn’t bear even an inch of distance.

You clung to him, heat flooding your chest and pooling low in your stomach, until your lungs screamed for air. When you finally pulled back, panting, he chased after you. Pressing one more lingering kiss to your swollen lips, then another against your jaw.

Your hands fisted in his shirt, pulling him closer, Caleb only grinned against your skin, brushing his lips to the corner of your mouth. “Pipsqueak,” he whispered, “if you keep looking at me like that, we’re not making it to the getaway.”

You laughed, shaky and breathless, but kissed him again anyway.

Before you could reply, his strong arms swept under you. He lifted you from his lap with ease, your breath catching as he carried you down the short aisle. The steady hum of the plane surrounded you, but all you could hear was the pounding of your heart and the uneven rhythm of his breath.

He laid you down on the sofa, the leather cool against your back. The last streaks of sunlight poured through the side windows, painting him in molten gold as he hovered over you.

The world dissolved into soft moans and gentle, desperate gasps as your mouths moved together. Caleb’s touch roamed carefully, reverently, his hand sliding over your waist, tracing the curve of your hip as though memorizing you. His lips left yours only to trail down your neck, leaving sparks in their wake. His hand tangled with yours, fingers lacing tight, while his other palm pressed against your back, urging you closer, merging you against him until there was no space left between.

The fading sunlight bathed you both, gilding the moment in warmth, soft and golden, yet burning with passion too strong to hide.