“Your eyes, babe. I need you to look at me.”
I complied, though every instinct told me to look away. I’d worked hard to erect my wall, built safe around Mason and me.
“I haven’t taken you because I want you to give yourself to me,” he told me, his tone raw and gaze heated. “I want you to trust me, to feel safe with me. When I kiss you, I won’t be able to stop there and when I’m inside you, I need you to understand that you’re mine.”
I could barely breathe.
“I’m firm on that.” He winked, interjecting some humor into an otherwise heavy moment between us.
I took a deep breath, grateful for the reprieve. “Firm on that, huh?” I murmured through barely moving lips.
“Come here, darlin’.” He moved us to the bed, sitting on the edge and pulling me into his lap. His fingers raked through my long hair. “I want to build something here, Jill. I’ve wanted that for a long time. I know there’s a lot in your past you haven’t shared. I want to get to a place where you feel like you can. And Mason? I know he’s yours, baby. I’d never dream of trying to take your place or stepping on your toes. I do hope to have a place in his life though—and yours.”
I nodded, biting my lip against the burning behind my eyes. “It feels so natural, so good to have you around. I’ve never had something good in my life last, except for Mason.”
He pulled me closer, kissing the top of my head. “Well, then consider yourself due.”
I laughed through tears. “Yeah, I am due.”
“You want to build something with me, Jill?” His deep voice held a note of vulnerability that slayed me.
There was only one answer to his question. “Yeah, Cal, I do.”
“Come sleep with me. I want to hold you,” he commanded, rising with me in his arms.
I squealed. “You’re carrying me!”
He chuckled, his eyes bright as he started for the door.
“I don’t have any of my sleep stuff,” I protested.
He carried me over to the dresser.
“Are you serious?” I laughed. “You’re not gonna put me down?”
“Nope,” he replied.
I reached down and grabbed my sleep clothes out of my drawer in an awkward maneuver. I looked at him expectantly. “My toiletries?”
He chuckled and carried me into the guest bath so I could grab my face wash and toothbrush. “You good?” he asked.
“Well, I could have you carry me into the kitchen so I could whip up some cupcakes, but I think that might be pushing it.”
He cocked a brow. “Is that a challenge?”
I laughed. “No, no. I have no doubt you could carry me to Vegas and back if you needed to. If you’re so determined to have me sleep with you, let’s go to bed.” I swept my arm forward for him to lead the way.
He carried me into his room and set me on my feet. His room was large and sparsely furnished with a king-size bed, a dresser, and a nightstand. Everything was decorated in either blacks or grays, and though simple, felt comforting. It looked and smelled like Cal.
I slipped into his bathroom to get ready for bed, trying to quiet my pounding heart at the prospect of sleeping with Cal.
When I slipped back out moments later he traded with me, shutting the door behind him. I crawled into the side of the bed without the nightstand, assuming that wasn’t his side.
His sheets were soft and smelled delicious.
When he walked out of the bathroom moments later dressed only in boxers, I lost my breath. His golden skin rippled with muscle, his broad shoulders and chest tapering into a delicious six-pack, complete with that V I’d only ever read about.
He turned out the light and slipped into bed, immediately reaching over to pull me close against his warm strength.
