Chasing Red (Chasing Red 1)

“Caleb! What are you doing?”

The doors closed, and the elevator ascended.

“You were about to pass out. I can’t let that happen,” he replied, leaning against the wall with a long sigh.

He must have been exhausted too since he could barely stand up. Today had been incredible, but it had been a long day.

“I’m okay now, I promise. Please put me down.”

“Nope.” He squished me closer to his chest, brooking no argument.

Suddenly, the doors opened and I stared in horror as an older woman stepped in, shock on her face. When she recovered, she glared at us and then stood as far away as possible inside the cramped space.

“Young people nowadays,” she muttered under her breath in a disapproving voice. “So disrespectful, so disgusting.”

I slapped Caleb on the arm. He was grinning, the bad boy! I pinched him, but he wouldn’t put me down. In fact, he hitched me up higher in his arms and dipped his head to kiss me.

The lady’s muttering grew louder.

“What have we planned for tonight, love?” he asked, his lips still hovering over mine.

He was probably going to say something that would shock this older woman into an early grave, but that wasn’t why my heart started pounding. My lips were still tingling from his kiss, and he had never called me “love” before.

Oh no, Caleb… What was he going to say now?

“Whips and chains on the menu tonight? No? Ball gag, then. You can tie me up.”

I groaned. Oh good Lord.

He started humming “S and M” by Rihanna. Bobbing his head up and down, making his voice sound rough as he growled a little bit.

Mercifully, the doors opened and the woman ran out, glancing back to give us a look of revulsion before the doors closed.

“You’re crazy,” I whispered, giggling.

“I don’t like it when people judge others.”

“You did mention whips and chains,” I reminded him.

“Yeah, but I only did that because she was complaining about me carrying you in the elevator. What’s so disrespectful and disgusting about it? What if I was carrying you because we just got married? Or maybe you hurt your ankle, and I—as your husband—was carrying you so you didn’t have to walk.”

Your husband. I had to let that pass so I could concentrate on the other things he was saying.

“People shouldn’t be so quick to judge. She could be guilty of doing the same things she criticizes other people for…or worse. It’s so hypocritical.” He blew out a breath.

“You know her?”

“She used to teach at a prestigious school. Let’s just say she won’t be teaching any kids in the future because of what she’s done.” He shook his head. “Just because they’re older doesn’t mean they’re always right. I automatically give respect to people I meet unless they do something to take that away. I won’t disrespect them, but I can be blunt.”

Oh, Caleb.

The doors opened and he walked out, still carrying me. He glanced down at me with a puzzled smile on his lips.

“Why are you looking at me that way?” he asked.

I dropped my gaze, blushing. Thankfully, he didn’t comment on it.

He had to enter the code to his apartment, and I expected him to put me down once we reached the door, but he didn’t.