Without meaning to, my eyes drift to his lips. His pink, puffy, kissable lips. Have they always looked that nice? My mouth fills with saliva, and I swallow.
Caleb stares back at me. His eyes drift to my lips, but he steps away from me, clearing his throat. “Uh... yeah. It’s no big deal. I don’t use them anymore, anyway. Just make sure you ask before you come in here. The books you can borrow anytime you want, but the space still requires respect and permission.”
“Can I ask what this space meant to you? I know it was your father’s but... is there a memory attached to it?”
Caleb recoils.
Shit.
“I’m sorry. That was insensitive. I didn’t mean to pry. I have no right.” I exhale.
“No, you don’t.”
Embarrassed, I close my eyes.
“But,” he starts, “it doesn’t hurt to talk about.”
“To be honest, I wasn’t in here much. Sometimes, as a pup, I would sit on his lap while he worked, but other than that, I don’t have too many memories in here.”
I’m confused. He wanted me to ask for permission, yet he’s not attached?
“Every time I open that door,” he points to it. “I think he might be behind it. And when I keep the door closed, I can imagine he is.” He wanders over to the bow, and I can breathe with the increased distance between us. “Sometimes, I talk myself so well into believing he is, that I open the door and... Well, that’s why I’m here... holding this bow I’ve never even used.” He laughs softly, but the pain in his voice causes my wolf to whimper.
“Let’s use it.”
“Excuse me?”
“Yeah. Why not?” I shrug. “We could go together.”
“Together, huh?” He cocks an eyebrow. “You want an excuse to be in the woods with me and hunting gear?”
I still. “Okay. Not my best idea.”
“I think it might be your best.” Caleb grins wickedly. He steps toward me, and I mimic his movement, rearing back. He herds me until my back is against the bookshelf. His arms cage me in. “You seemed to like the last time I hunted you. Do you miss it?”
I gulp.
There’s a knock on the door, and Tyler enters without permission. We shrug everything off and pretend like nothing just happened. Or try to, at least.
“Am I interrupting something?” Tyler asks quizzically.
“No. Of course not.” Caleb moves farther away from me.
He’s back to the cold male I know him to be.
“Okay. I came to see if you wanted to go hunting. I know you and your dad always used to go on your birthday, and I just thought—”
“It’s your birthday?”
Caleb grimaces. “Yeah . . .”
“Oh, now wedefinitelyhave to go!”
“We?” Tyler raises an eyebrow.
“Uh... Yes. I can’t let her out of my sight, now can I?”
A long silence passes between them, and I figure they must be speaking through their mindlink. I wait like the odd one out until Tyler finally speaks.
