JULIET
I wakeon Sunday morning to bright sunlight painting ripples on the ceiling.
A shiver of excitement travels up and down the length of my body, as I remember what happened yesterday. The water. The blindfold.
The mind-blowing, earth-shattering sex.
I stretch, happily feeling the ache in my limbs; an echo of how far Caleb pushed me to my limits. I wonder what he has planned for the day. Something tells me, it won’t just be browsing the Sunday newspapers and getting brunch.
No, Caleb Sterling would have more wicked things in mind.
I roll over, reaching for him—
But there’s nobody in bed beside me. I roll over and confirm it. He’s gone.
My stomach sinks.
Has he left, already? Was it all an act, after all?
Olivia’s words come back to haunt me. ‘When he gets what he wants… Game over. He can’t get away from them fast enough.’
By surrendering to Caleb, have I rendered myself useless to him now?
Before my anxiety can whirl out of control, I notice a note on the bedside table.
On a run. Be back soon. – C
I exhale in relief—and then promptly feel embarrassed that I spiraled so quickly.
And that the rejection I felt wasn’t just sexual.
Are you catching feelings?
I push the thought aside, and pull on a soft robe that’s hanging on the closet door. In daylight, I can see that his bedroom is just like his place in New York—spotless, with few personal effects, giving little hint to the man that he is.
But I want to know more.
I wander out, and down the hallway, paying attention to my surroundings now. Curious, I peek into a series of immaculate guest rooms… Laundry… A gym… Downstairs, I find more signs of life. Framed artwork on the walls. Well-thumbed books and mementos on the bookcase. A ship in a bottle, a signed baseball in a case.
I come to a photograph and pause. It’s Caleb and his parents, in front of the Green Lights. He must be about twenty in this photo—a bit gawky, not yet filled out like a man. His father could be his twin, except for his graying hair. His mother... she’s a beauty. She’s wearing a bikini top and loose pants, her skin sun-kissed, and looks almost like a young adult herself. Though they’re smiling, there’s something in her eyes that looks distant, not quite happy. She isn’t looking at the camera—her eyes seem to be caught by something happening off to the side.
I stare at it too long. Eventually, I tear my eyes from it, peering in each room, until I come to an office. This one is cluttered with books, and some framed maps on the wall. Caleb’s laptop is sitting there on the desk, open, the screen glowing.
My curiosity burns brighter.
I slip behind the desk and pull it closer, sure it’ll be password-protected.
It’s not.
All of Caleb’s information is right there, waiting to be uncovered.
I hesitate there, my fingers on the trackpad. Should I do this? After everything we shared last night, it feels different now.
Maybe Olivia is wrong.
I deliberate a moment, then push the laptop away. It feels wrong to betray his trust here, in his own home. The office is different, but everything about this is personal.
Private.