It was faint, but I detected hurt in his voice. My anger faded.
“No, Caleb.” I looked him in the eye so he could see my honesty. “I’m not with someone else. But I’m not with you either.”
“Yes, you are,” he insisted.
“No, I’m not.”
“What do you call what happened last night, then?” he challenged.
I kept my mouth shut.
“I kissed you. And,” he added, “you kissed me back.”
I gritted my teeth.
“You kissed me just a couple minutes ago,” he pointed out. “Do you need a reminder?”
His tone wasn’t playful anymore. It was serious and territorial.
“I am not your property,” I informed him, balling my fists.
He was in front of me in a flash. Close, oh, so close. “You drive me crazy,” he whispered roughly.
His breath fanned my face. “Crazy,” he repeated before he lowered his head. He kissed my bottom lip lightly, biting and pulling at it until I gasped.
I closed my eyes, wanting more. I could feel myself leaning closer to him, wanting to pull him to me, wishing he would—and then he did. Pleasure and desire flowed through my system as he continued to kiss me.
“What do you want, Red?” he murmured.
His tongue traced the seam of my lips, and a moan escaped from my throat.
“The way you kiss me tells me you want me. And not just as friends.”
Torn, I pushed away from him. He was too much. I turned away, ready to walk out. He grabbed my arm firmly, then let go as I faced him again.
“Please, don’t run away,” he said softly. “I don’t think I can be your friend. If you just want to be friends, then I want nothing from you.”
My heart was beating too loud, too fast.
His eyes blazed. “I want too much from you to just be your friend.”
All or nothing? It was an ultimatum. Panic was budding in my chest again.
I don’t want to lose you yet, Caleb.
“Don’t ask this of me. You want too much. It’s all so fast,” I blurted out.
He closed his eyes, lowering his head and gripping the back of his neck with both his hands as he sat on the chair.
“I’m sorry. You’re right,” he said softly. When he looked up, his eyes were solemn. “I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. I know I’m handling it all wrong, but I can’t seem to stop. I just want it all with you. Everything. And I’m clueless how…” he finished helplessly, his hands falling to his lap.
My heart felt heavy. Why did I feel like I wanted to gather him in my arms and take away his pain?
I was falling, falling…and there was no safety net. He was asking me to risk everything.
I swallowed. “Can we take it slow?”
He took a deep breath, nodding. “Let’s do that. How about you get ready, and I’ll drive us both to school?” He smiled adorably. “If that’s okay?”