Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22359 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22359 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
“I…I gotta go.” But before I do, I stride to her closet where the dress from last night is hanging. Flashes of her in it hammer my mind. I see her again, drawing looks from other men that aren’t me, then grab it and storm out, racing downstairs as fast as possible.
“Seriously!?” she calls after me. “You do that and then you’re just gonna bail? And steal my dress? It’s not even mine!”
“Don’t care,” I growl. “If you wear something like this, it’s only going to be for me.”
And with that, I slam the door behind me, leap into my truck, and drive off.
Fuck me, what have I just started?
5
ELIZA
The whole house shakes from the door slamming downstairs. The sound echoes through the halls, and then silence. I stand in my room, deflated like a balloon, wondering what just happened.
Every inch of my body is tingling. My lips are on fire from the almost-kiss he was about to give me. I know he was. I’m sure of it. But he didn’t. He left me again, only this time I don’t feel abandoned and embarrassed. I feel angry. Hungry. Wanting more.
I can still feel his touch on my arm where he grabbed me—rough hands with such strength. All this time, I was sure he saw me as just a little girl who annoyed the hell out of him.
But now I finally understand. He didn’t leave because he didn’t want me—he left because he did. He’s putting distance between us because he can’t trust himself around me.
The realization is almost too much for me to handle. I fall back on my bed, overcome by craving. My hands run across my body on their own while I imagine they belong to him, touching me in places no man has ever touched me before.
He’ll know just what to do to me. And he’ll show me what to do to him. God, I can’t wait to learn.
Grabbing the hand mirror from my bedside table, I look at my reflection and giggle. My cheeks are flushed like ripe tomatoes, my hair is an absolute mess, and my lips are glistening. Caleb was this close to losing control. I wanted him to. But somehow, he managed to hold out. Somehow, that pissed me off but also turns me on at the same time.
Placing a hand on my chest, I realize my heart is absolutely racing—like dangerous levels. I close my eyes and focus on taking deep breaths, but all I see is Caleb’s face, dangerously handsome, staring at me like he sees right through me.
I see his lips…so close…moving in on mine…
And then my phone buzzes, snapping me back to reality. I sigh. Probably Mara, pissed off at me for not checking in with her. But to my surprise, it’s actually a text from Caleb.
Family dinner. 7. Don’t dress like last night.
My body instantly reacts, an indignant urge rising up from my belly. But it’s instantly washed away as I smile at the screen. Even now, when he’s not here, he’s trying to control me. Show me he owns me.
Well, we’ll just see about that.
The next few hours pass quickly, and I’m all dressed up and downstairs waiting when Caleb arrives. Sara is in the kitchen with Dad, finishing up whatever’s left to be done for the meal as I set the table.
I hear his engine shut off and prepare myself. Seconds later, the door opens, and I feel his footsteps against my heels—the same heels I wore out last night.
There’s a pause. From where he’s standing, he can see right into the dining room where I am. And from the fact that he’s not moving, I know my plan has worked.
“What is that?” he whispers, stepping close to me, but not too close.
“What?” I ask, innocently, turning to face him. Jaw tight, he motions first to my white crop-top and then to my black skirt. “You don’t like my outfit?”
Despite the fact that it’s a skirt, it actually shows less than the dress I wore to the club. His eyes scour me. I can’t tell if he’s excited by what he sees or angry that I didn’t listen to his commands and wrap myself up in a rug or something.
“Oh, there’s my son!” Sara calls out, coming in from the kitchen, plates filled with food in both hands. I take them from her, and she wraps Caleb up in a hug that nearly strangles him. To my surprise, I actually feel a tinge of jealousy in my chest.
“Hey, Ma,” he says softly. Despite his rough and tumble side, Caleb can be gentle when he needs to.
“I’m so glad you could come.” She smiles. “Daniel? Caleb is here! Let’s eat!”
Dad comes in with the rest of the food, and we all sit down to eat. Somehow, I end up sitting next to Caleb instead of in front of him like we normally do. And he just sits there quietly, acting like I don’t even exist, while he goes to town on his chicken and rice.