Just Love Me Once Again

Page 33

Trixie.

As everyone dispersed, no one said anything to me. No one gave me a side looks or cruel snickers. Caleb circled his arms around my neck and pulled me to him, enveloping me in the safe, warm wall of his chest. I closed my eyes and breathed him in as a wave of relief flooded me.

"I'm sorry about not trusting you. And about what I did to your car, too," I said.

He laid his cheek on the top of my head. "Trixie, you're mine, and I'm yours. Every day you're going to realize that more and more. When you believe it without a doubt, then I'll have earned your trust."

"I am yours. I was just...was not sure if you were mine."

"Then, I'll make sure." He kissed my hair.

Caleb lifted me by the backs of my thighs, and I locked arms and legs around him as he carried me off.

COOL AIR CARESSED MY BACK, sending chills down my arms. My eyes drifted open at the draft, and an uncontrollable smile crept across my lips.

"You better not be asleep." Caleb rustled behind me as I lay in bed, probably removing his shoes.

A silent laugh escaped my lips as I turned onto my back and faced him. Hovering over me, the moonlight poured over his beautiful face. I couldn't get enough of the sight of him.

"You came climbing the pipes," I stated as he crawled into my bed and immediately positioned his body on top of me. He still wore his clothes.

Caleb and I sneak up to each other's room every night. We had been online constantly, taking down the video wherever we found it.

Our classmates also seemed to be laying off the gossip. But I was sure it had more to do with their respect for Caleb than their sense of decency.

A week ago, I thought I'd never live down that storm, but I was already concentrating on other things.

Caleb started a slow grind between my legs as his soft nibbles quickly changed to devouring and caressing. The chill that came into the room with him replaced by sweat and heat.

Oh. I breathed hard, the pulse between my legs twitched with the friction he was making.

"You know," I gasped. "I want you here more than anything, but my dad will wake up. He sleeps with one eye open."

He abruptly stopped and peered down at me like I was crazy. "I won't be able to stay away. Not with knowing that your cute little body is curl up in this nice, warm bed without me.

I folded my lips between my teeth to stifle a laugh.

As I guided my legs up and around him, he kissed me harder before whispering against my lips. "I love you, Trixie. And I'm here for you always. With or without the sleepovers, I just needed to see you."

I held the back of his neck as he raised himself to look down at me. "I love you, too."

The top half of his body slid off me, over the side of the bed, as he searched for something on the nightstand. I ran my fingers along his back. He popped back up with a box in his hand.

"What's this?" I asked.

"Open it," he urged gently.

I sat up, and he leaned back on his feet, watching me. Sliding the lid off, I pulled out a charm bracelet. Not the clunky, jiggling kind that makes lots of noise but a dainty, silver chain holding four charms. My eyes darted up to Caleb, but he just sat silently, waiting for something.

Eyeing the bracelet closer, I saw the charms were of a car, a letter T, a small daggling ball with a picture of my dad, and a heart.

"My lifelines!" I burst out finally, hitting me.

Caleb exhaled a laugh. "I want to make sure I never lose your trust again. I want to be one of your lifelines. I want you to need me. So..." He gestured to the bracelet. "The heart is me. One of your lifelines."

I ran the bracelet through my fingers, never wanting to let it or him go.

I didn't know what to say. The gift was beautiful, and I loved what it represented. A tear glided down my cheek, but I brushed it away quickly. "Put it on me?" I handed him the bracelet and blinked back more tears.

He worked the clasp and secured it around my wrist, not letting go of my hand as he sat back and pulled me on top, straddling him.

He brushed the hair away from my face, and I came down, meeting his lips. He tasted like heat and man, and I wrapped my arms around him, savouring the reality of just being here with him.

"Trixie." My stepfather knocked on the door, and we both jerked our heads up.

My heart thumped so hard it hurt.

Crap!

"I guess I need to go."

I clenched his t-shirt and touched my nose to his. "I know. Thank you for my bracelet."

"I'm going to spoil you." His hands caressed my hair.

I smiled. " Don't you dare. Just do me a favor. Leave your window unlocked. I may surprise you some night soon."

He sucked in a breath, and I crashed my mouth down on his. His tongue touched mine, and he dug his fingers into my hips, bringing me hard against him, I could already feel that was ready for him.

Damn it.

"Go on. Get out of here, please." I begged and stepped off the bed. He got up but grabbed me for one more kiss before he walked to the window.

I watched him climb safely back through his window, where he gave me one last look before turning off his light.

I stood there for a minute, watching the rain splatter.

Thunder rumbled in the night, reminding me of me and Caleb's first window look.

I was his. And he was mine.