Caleb's Mate Read online

  “Yep.”

  “All that without having sex.”

  “Right.” He released the clasp of her bra next and slid it down her arms. “Not saying you won’t find the need to scream out my name several times, but I can make that happen without penetration.”

  “Do I need to point out again that we’ve practically already had sex. Just because you haven’t entered my vagina with your penis doesn’t mean you can claim some sort of virginity.”

  He chuckled, loving her sweet conservative proper terms for their sex organs. “I’m clear on that. Once again, let me point out how damn hard it would be on me if you left me after I’ve been inside you.” He popped the button on her shorts and then dragged them over her hips.

  She was trembling when he slid his hands up her amazing body and cupped her breasts. Her voice was soft when she spoke. “I hate to admit this out loud, especially while you’re touching me and I’m naked, but I’m starting to understand what you’re pounding into my head.”

  He exhaled slowly as if he’d been holding his breath for two days. In a way he had. It was unfortunate that he had to break contact to remove his own clothes, but he did so as quickly as possible and once again had his hands on her hips in moments. “It’s strong and powerful and out of our control.”

  She nodded almost imperceptibly. He knew it was hard for her to grasp. It would take time to fully comprehend even after she consented to everything.

  Clasping her hands, he eased her into the shower and under the spray of water. She closed her eyes and sighed as the warmth hit her skin. He could do nothing but watch for several moments, taking in her high breasts, the nipples dark, stiff points. Her skin was tanned everywhere, the color a natural shade she’d been born with. Her waist was narrow, and her hips flared out slightly. He would never get enough of staring at her.

  When he slowly let his gaze wander back up her body to her face, he found her absorbing him in the same way. Her gaze roamed down his chest and then hovered on his erection. It flinched involuntarily under her gaze.

  She smiled and reached for him, letting her hand graze up and down his shaft. “Do you realize you’re a bit on the larger side?”

  He chuckled. “Can’t say I’ve compared my dick to anyone else’s.” He slid his hands into her hair, drawing his fingers gently through the wet strands, trying to focus on anything but the feel of her touching him.

  “I’ve only seen a few myself, so I’m no expert, but it’s gonna be a tight fit.” He loved how matter of fact she was. She lifted her gaze as she gripped him tighter.

  He pressed her out of the line of spray and flattened her against the glass wall, his hands sliding down to cup her breasts. “I’m not worried,” he murmured as he pinched her nipples.

  She moaned, her hand moving faster up and down his length.

  He slid one hand down her belly to find her folds. This showering idea had gone from zero to one hundred in two seconds. He shouldn’t have expected otherwise, and he didn’t care either. He flicked his pointer over her clit several times and then spread her folds and eased into her.

  She rose onto her toes, arching her hips toward him. “Caleb…”

  The sound of his name coming from her lips was music. Sweet, soft music. He prayed he would get to hear that every day for the rest of his life.

  Her hand sped up at the same time he added a finger and thrust into her faster. When she brushed her thumb over the slit on the tip of his cock, he closed his eyes and pressed his thumb against her clit.

  Her breath hitched, and the walls of her channel tightened. “Caleb.” That time she cried out his name. Also musical. The fact that he could bring her to orgasm so quickly made him fucking happy.

  The fact that she had him on the edge so fast too made him concerned about how many times he would need to come before the driving rush of excitement stopped pushing him over the edge like a teenager.

  He wanted her to come first, fearing his fingers wouldn’t function properly after his own release, so he gripped her breast, tormenting her nipple with his thumb. That made her cry out again, this time incoherently. Gorgeous.

  He forced himself to ignore his cock and watch her. Her mouth fell open when he added a third finger and eased into her deeper. Slowly stretching her. She was right. Her pussy was tight. Probably because she hadn’t had sex in a while and even then with only two people.

  She sucked in a sharp breath and held it as she tipped over the edge. Her pussy pulsed around his fingers while he rubbed her clit with his thumb. Her entire body jerked in tandem with the pulsing of her orgasm. It was the most gorgeous sight he’d ever seen, and he would never tire of it.

  Her hand had gone still around him as she climaxed, but the moment she came back to earth was obvious. Her face changed to a blissful smile, and her hand resumed milking him.

  He only needed seconds. He’d been that close. Before he could fully process a thought, he was coming, jets of his semen hitting her belly. The orgasm lasted an eternity, and when he finally caught his breath, he realized they were both trembling from the exertion.

  Caleb held her up by the waist, making sure she wasn’t going to collapse on him before he grabbed the soap and made quick work of washing his sexy mate and then himself.

  She was dazed, half out of it. Her eyes kept fluttering shut, and she sighed several times. Sated.

  His heart swelled as he turned off the water, patted her dry, and then squeezed as much water as he could from her hair. It would have to be damp. Neither of them had the energy to use a blow dryer.

  After draping the towels over the rack, he swept her into his arms and carried her to bed. He’d expected it to be difficult to fall asleep with her in his embrace, but instead, he found himself so relaxed and content that he only took the time to notice how their hearts beat in sync before nuzzling her soft neck, inhaling her scent, and drifting off.

  Chapter 15

  Elena woke to the smell of bacon. She groaned into the pillow as she rolled to her side. And then her eyes shot open when she realized where she was. Not at her apartment in Chicago. Not even at her Aunt Marge’s. She was at Caleb’s house. Apparently, he was making breakfast.

  What time was it?

  She sat up and looked around his room. As the sheet fell to her waist, she realized she was naked. She’s slept with Caleb. Naked. And he’d been naked. And they still hadn’t had sex.

  Damn, that man was obstinate. Elena wasn’t the sort of person to sleep with men on the first date or even the second, but Caleb was different. She would have had sex with him. There was little doubt. If he’d been willing.

  Elena had been exhausted when she entered this room last night. She hadn’t taken the time to look around. In fact, Caleb hadn’t turned on any more lights than necessary. She pulled the sheet up over her chest and took in her surroundings.

  It immediately became apparent that this room was decorated no more than his living room. The walls were painted in the original builder beige. The floor was carpeted in the same beige carpet that ran throughout most of the house she suspected. His bed, dresser, and night stands were a matched set in mahogany wood. The comforter and sheets were also beige. This man needed some color. And some artwork. He didn’t even have pictures of people on the walls or on the furniture surfaces.

  She could hear noises down the hallway and assumed he was in the kitchen. Her stomach growled, so she slid from his bed and glanced around for her clothes.

  They were probably in the bathroom where he’d stripped her last night. She headed there first. Used the toilet. Washed her hands and splashed water on her face. Her hair was a tangled mess—a disaster after going to bed with it wet and not even combing it—but she didn’t care right now.

  Her clothes were nowhere in sight. She had no desire to put them back on anyway. Instead, she padded back into his room and over to his chest of drawers. It only took two tries to find his T-shirts, and she grabbed one and pulled it over her head. It reached halfway down her th
ighs. Good enough.

  She padded down the hallway, and Caleb spun around the second she entered the kitchen. A smile spread on his face. “Morning. I hope I didn’t wake you.”

  She tucked her hair behind her ears as she approached. “The smell of bacon might have contributed, but I’m not sorry. I’m starving.”

  He reached out a hand, and she went to him, letting him pull her into his side. Any nervous energy she had from waking up in his home vanished the moment he touched her. When would she get used to that eerie sensation that all was right in the world as long as they maintained contact?

  “Did you sleep?” she asked. She’d been dead to the world and had no knowledge of anything except the fact that he’d held her tightly against him.

  “Like a rock.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’m not sure when I’ve ever slept that well. I think being surrounded by your scent soothed me. You’re like a drug.”

  She wrapped her arms around him and flattened her cheek against his bare chest, loving the scent of him just as much as he claimed to enjoy hers. This moment was surreal. It felt like she’d known him for years instead of hardly more than a day. Like she was playing house with a stranger in a strange home. Except everything about him and his house felt oddly right.

  And, she reminded herself, we still haven’t had sex.

  Standing here in his embrace made her body come to life once more. She wasn’t wearing panties or a bra. Just his soft T-shirt. Her breasts felt heavy and wetness pooled between her legs.

  When he hugged her tighter and elicited a soft moan, she shoved away from him and took a deep breath. “That connection thingy we have it too weird. I’m not sure if it’s a curse or a blessing.”

  “It can be both. At the same time apparently.” He flipped the bacon and then grabbed a carton of eggs. “You want juice? Coffee? Tea?”

  “You have tea?” That sounded heavenly.

  “Yep. My mom drinks it. She stocked my cabinet with a variety a long time ago so that I would have ‘proper beverages’ available for any occasion.” He shot her a grin. “Today is that day.” He nodded toward a cabinet. “In there. Unlimited selection.”

  “I think I love your mom.” Elena chose an herbal tea and found a mug. After filling it with water and popping it in the microwave, she leaned a hip against the sink.

  “She’ll be glad to hear that. Her life mission for several years has been to nag me to find my mate. I’m sure she’s beyond relieved and excited.”

  “You haven’t mentioned your parents yet.” Lord, when would they have had time? It’s like they were on some whirlwind courtship, jamming a lifetime of information into hours. “Where do they live? Have you told them about me?” Again, it had only been a little over a day. He hadn’t really had time yet.

  “They live here in Canyon Springs. I haven’t spoken to them since I met you, but I’m sure they know about us.” He lifted the bacon out of the pan with a spatula and set it on a paper towel. “They’re in Minnesota right now because my sister just had her third baby. They went with Hunter’s parents to help.”

  “Why would Hunter’s parents go?”

  Caleb glanced at her and smiled. “Because his brother Cory is mated to my sister. It’s a constant competition among the grandparents. The four of them have been friends since childhood. That’s why Hunter and I are so close. We’re more like brothers than friends.”

  “Wow, that’s kinda cute. Your sister and his brother got married?”

  “Yep. They are both younger than us too. And then they popped out three kids without blinking. Our parents have been over the moon, but they also nag us constantly.”

  “I thought you didn’t have any control over who or when you mated,” she pointed out as she removed her tea from the microwave and took a sip.

  Caleb cracked several eggs into the pan. “We don’t. Not really. But some people like to think that if they would just pay closer attention, visit neighboring towns, spend more time in crowded spaces or whatever, they might find their mate.”

  “Have you done that?” The entire process was interesting.

  “Yep. Hunter and I used to go out often, but we got tired of it. So tedious. We’d walk into a place, immediately know she wasn’t there, and then what? Stay? Have a drink? Wait for her to come in? That gets old. We gave it up a few years ago.”

  Elena shivered. “I can’t imagine thinking one day you might find someone or not and believing you would just know on the spot.”

  He flipped the eggs, set down the spatula, and reached out to grab her hand. “It’s just how our lives are. It happens when it happens. I have to say, I never visited Hyde Park. That’s where you’re from, right? Marge mentioned it sometimes.”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, it’s only a few hours from here. I believe Fate had a hand in ensuring we didn’t meet until She was ready.”

  Elena stared at their point of connection, tingling racing up her arm and spreading through her body. “You have to stop touching me,” she murmured as she eased her hand from his.

  He looked hurt, his eyes drawn together.

  “I can’t think when you touch me. Not rationally. And I feel like life decisions are being made without me fully participating.”

  “I understand. I’m trying to give you the time and space you need, but it’s hard.”

  She picked up her tea and took another sip. “Wait, you said your parents surely know about us. Why’s that?”

  “My phone is filled with texts and messages. I glanced at a few. Word spreads fast in Canyon Springs. I’m sure three of her friends called her in Minnesota before the sun set on Friday night.”

  Elena chuckled. “That’s so bizarre.”

  Caleb dished up plates of food and took them to the table. “They’re going to love you.”

  “What’s not to love? I’m every parent’s dream. I have a college degree that hasn’t served me much purpose at all, an apartment I can’t afford, a job in a department store that helps me scrape by, credit card debt, and no particular ideas about my future. Who wouldn’t think I was a prize?”

  Caleb laughed as he spun around and grabbed Elena by the waist, pressing her into the counter. His hands went to her cheeks, he kissed her lips soundly, and then threaded his fingers in her hair. “Elena, all my mom will see is a sweet woman who stole my heart. Oh, and cute blond babies. My sister’s kids all have dark hair.”

  Elena shuddered, her eyes shooting open wide. “Okay, slow down, big guy.” She flattened her hands on his chest, her heart rate picking up. “Let’s not get carried away.”

  He chuckled deeper and then kissed her neck before releasing her. “I was kidding. Obviously eight or nine kids. You can handle that, right?”

  “Ha ha.” She joined him at the table when he held out her chair. “Hey, what did you do with that box of letters?”

  “They’re on the coffee table. I figured I’d give you some time to go through them this morning.”

  “I’d like that.” She’d grown nostalgic since arriving in Canyon Springs, wanting to get to know her Aunt Marge. If Aunt Marge wrote all those letters to her sister, Mabel, who returned them… Damn. There was probably a lot of angst in those pages.

  Caleb gave her hand a squeeze and then released it to let her eat.

  When she finished, she smiled at him. “Well, at least I won’t go hungry if I let you lure me into your den. You can cook.”

  “Yeah, my mama figured if I ever did find a woman, she didn’t want me to lose her because I didn’t know my way around a kitchen.”

  “Well, she did a great job then.”

  “If you want to get dressed, your clothes are on top of the dryer. I washed them.”

  “And you’re just now telling me this?” she teased.

  He shrugged. “I like the look of you in my T-shirt. But if you must get dressed…” he joked in return. “I’ll clean up the kitchen while you dig into the letters.”

  They rose together, and then Elena grabbed his h
and and brought it to her face, brushing the backs of his fingers over her cheek. She loved contact with him. Craved it like a drug. She had to force herself to release him, step back, and flee the kitchen.

  Chapter 16

  January 6, 2005

  * * *

  Dear Mabel,

  * * *

  It seems like every time I write you it’s with a heavy heart. Mom is gone. Once again, I’m not there. I would have come despite your animosity toward me this time, but Josiah says it just isn’t safe enough to travel in this blizzard.

  I miss her so much already. It’s been over two years since I last saw her. She was doing so well. I guess 85 is a full life. She never seemed that old to me. She had good genes, I guess.

  Again, I won’t disrupt your life. Apparently, you intend to take your stubbornness to the grave yourself. I’ll come to Hyde Park and visit Mom and Dad’s grave site in the spring. I won’t look you up, but I need to visit them. I need peace. Lord knows I’ll never get it from you.

  * * *

  Love, Marge

  * * *

  Caleb left Elena alone in his living room with the box of letters. It would take her a long time to work through them. Every time he passed through the room, he found her intently reading. She was curled up in the corner of the couch, legs tucked under her, pages in hand, face down. He didn’t think she even noticed him.

  He wanted to go to her, sit with her, hold her, read with her. Anything but stay away. However, it seemed prudent to let her work through the emotional rollercoaster on her own. He might have only known her a little over a day, but already he could tell his sweet mate was sensitive. The letters would make her sad.

  Lost opportunities. Lost time. Lost family.

  He worked in the back yard for a while, mostly trying to occupy himself so that he didn’t go mad from the effort it took to stay away from her. The entire inside of his house already smelled like her. She hadn’t decided to stay with him, nor had she done a single thing to change the décor of course, but already the house was different. Permanently altered from her presence.