Bella whined and grabbed his hair with both hands to keep him from backing away. “No, more.”
“Baby…”
“Please, Caleb. I’ve dreamed of you laying me down and kissing and touching me.”
He bit the inside of his cheek to keep in the desperate groan that nearly burst from him. “Just a little more.”
She nodded, closed her eyes, and waited for him.
“You are so fucking beautiful,” he said before going in for another kiss. This one was much hungrier than the previous one. He turned his head enough to open her mouth and then slide his tongue in deep. He wanted to taste every part of her.
They both groaned as her tongue shyly touched his. Her caress got a little bolder as the seconds passed.
When they both started panting and groaning for more, he tore his mouth away from hers.
“We’ve got to stop, little star.”
“Why?”
“Because, baby. I want the stalker to be caught before we take this to another level.”
“But why?”
“I want to make sure we go into this relationship on the right foot. I don’t want to mess anything up.”
“What if the stalker is never caught?”
“They will be caught. I can promise you that, and when that happens, we’ll talk about our relationship. Don’t for one second think I don’t want you because all you have to do is look down to see I do. I guarantee our relationship will grow. You’ve got me, baby. You can wait a bit longer, can’t you?”
“Yes. I’ll wait as long as I have to.”
“Jesus, woman. You’re killing me,” he moaned dramatically, making her laugh. He stood and walked to the door. “I’ll be in the kitchen when you’re ready.”
He couldn’t prevent the grin that crossed his face as he walked down the hallway. Jesus, he never expected he’d fall head over heels for anyone, but since the first time he saw her, he’d been hooked. His bachelor days were coming to a close, and he didn’t fucking care. She was his, and that was all that mattered.
Later that day, Caleb stood off to the side and grinned at the surprise and pleasure on Bella’s face when a giant cake was rolled in on a cart, and several presents lay around it.
Bella was so shocked, she burst into tears. Everyone wished her a happy birthday for the first time in her life, she’d told him, and it was just one more thing Helen had to answer for.
When they got back to the condo, Helen had given them both a furious, hate-filled look. Caleb decided to stay on the floor in Bella’s room until the woman was taken away.