It was almost seven when his phone finally rang. His last client had left about twenty minutes earlier and he’d been restlessly moving around his workspace, arranging and rearranging his tools. He was on the schedule till closing, on walk-in duty.
“Caleb? It’s Aubrey.”
“Hey. How are you? How’d the exam go?” He realized his heart was beating faster, his voice a little breathless and he took a deep breath, sitting down on his work stool.
“I’m good. The exam…maybe not so good. But I know I’ll pass. I’m sorry I didn’t call sooner, but the day just got away from me.”
“Where are you? At your parents’?”
“Yeah. We’re just sitting down to dinner. Did you still want to…”
“Yes.”
There was a brief silence and then they both burst into laughter.
“Are you still missing me, Caleb?”
There it was, that sultry voice. The giddy feeling started in the pit of his stomach and he grinned, a grin he knew was wide. He probably looked like a love-drunk teenager. But he didn’t care.
“Yeah, Aubrey. I still miss you. But not for much longer. What time should I pick you up?”
“Give me an hour, maybe closer to eight-thirty? Is that too late?”
“I go in to work late tomorrow, not till three. So no, it’s not too late. For you, it’s never too late.”
She laughed again and then said she had to go because her mother was calling her to dinner. He flipped the phone shut, still smiling. When he looked up, Cass was watching him, wearing a scowl. Andy was standing beside her, shaking his head, a knowing smile on his face.
“Told you, Caleb. Never play poker. I suppose now you’re gonna ask me if you can leave early. Go on…get out of here. Judging by the goofy grin on your face, you’re no good to me anymore today anyway.”
“No, I can stay. Really…”
Andy waved his hand, still smiling. “I said go, before I change my mind.”
Caleb knew better than to question Andy. He grabbed his jacket and headed out the back door. This was an omen, the stars were aligned, and he was going to make the most of this. And he was pretty sure he knew where to take Aubrey.
***
Aubrey closed her phone, holding it in her hand for a moment longer, leaning against the window. She was smiling, a smile so big her face hurt. Even though it was dinnertime and whatever Elise, her parents’ cook, had made smelled amazing, she was far too excited to think about eating.
“Aubrey! This is the second time I’ve called you. Dinner is on the table and your father is waiting.”
Her mother stood by the doorway to the study, hands on her hips. She was wearing a skirt and blouse, her ever-present strand of pearls, and her seemingly ever-present look of disapproval.
“I needed to make a phone call. I’m on my way now.” She pushed away from the window and walked toward the door.
“Was that ‘friend’ the ‘someone’ you had to have dinner with last night? The friend that was more important than your family?”
“Mom. It was…unexpected. And his name is Caleb, not just a ‘someone’.” She pushed past her mother and headed to the dining room, where she found her father already seated at the head of the table.
“There you are. We’ve been waiting.”
“She had a phone call…”
“Mom. Drop it, okay? I’m here now, so we can eat.”
“Fine.” Stiffly, her mother took her seat at the other end of the table. Aubrey pulled out her chair and slid into her seat, dropping the linen napkin onto her lap.
Dinner was a tense affair, peppered with questions from her mother about school, her practice sessions, her eating habits. Aubrey answered as patiently as she could, waiting for the inevitable. And then the questions started about Caleb.
“How did you meet this Caleb?”
“Like I said yesterday…”
“Don’t start a sentence with ‘like’. It’s low class.”
Aubrey sighed. “As I said yesterday, some guy grabbed my purse. Caleb was there, ran the guy down, and got my purse back. And then he offered to buy me dinner. He was being nice…he is nice.”
“Aubrey. That is not what you told me yesterday. You said…”
“I know what I said. And if I’d tried to explain to you yesterday what happened, we’d still be having this conversation. You’d still be asking me twenty questions about Caleb.” Aubrey sat back in her chair, exasperated.
“When are you going to understand I’m an adult? How do you think this is going to be if I get the audition? I’ll be gone, living in Atlanta, traveling, unable to come to dinner and be at your beck and call.”
There was a moment when Aubrey became aware of the strident tone of her voice and wondered just how far her mother would let her go. But the interruption came from her father in the form of a not-so-subtle cough. Aubrey straightened.
“I think you owe your mother an apology. She’s only looking out for your best interests, Aubrey.”
Aubrey blew out a sigh. “I know. But this Q&A just magnifies everything, makes the pressure more intense. I’d like to just have dinner sometime and not talk about music or school…or who I’m seeing.”
“He’s more than just a friend then? You realize you have an audition next week? You have to focus, Aubrey. This isn’t the time to let up. You need to…”
Aubrey rose, throwing her napkin down on her plate of uneaten food. “I’m very aware of when my audition is. Monday, nine a.m. sharp. Not a moment sooner nor a moment later.”
“Aubrey…” Her father’s voice rumbled from the head of the table.
“I know. An apology is due. But I’m done apologizing for nothing. I have feelings and I’m tired of not expressing them. Mother, Daddy, enough.”
She turned and strode out of the room. Her mother’s voice followed her briefly before the deeper murmur of her father’s voice silenced it. She knew there’d be hell to pay at some point, but she didn’t want to think about it. Not now.
Her jacket and a different purse rested on the settee in the foyer. She scooped them up and opened the front door, took the front steps two at a time, and sat down on the bottom step. It was the same step she’d sat on countless times after a fight with her mother, sometimes sneaking a rebellious cigarette. The difference now was she wouldn’t be turning back, trudging up the stairs to face her mother’s cold stare. Tonight she’d be whisked away by a man in leathers riding a motorcycle.
Aubrey’s heart did a little flutter at the thought of Caleb. The tingle she felt on her skin during the day had brought back vivid memories of all the things he’d done to her, with his tongue and lips and fingers. She’d had to drag herself back to her exam, and then the droning lecture she’d attended. But all day, just under the surface, was Caleb.
Paul had cornered her as well before class, practically demanding an explanation, sounding disturbingly like her mother. She’d told him the truth, watched his face fall and then left him open-mouthed in the hall to take her exam.
She shook her head. There were so many people, all expecting her to be the same submissive Aubrey she’d been. But her day and night with Caleb had changed her. She wished there was some way she could show everyone she was different, let the world know she wasn’t the same Aubrey she’d been just yesterday morning.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the roar of a motorcycle, and her heart leapt in her chest. She looked up. Caleb was just turning the corner onto her street. She stood and crossed the sidewalk, practically standing on the street.
He pulled up and she was on the bike behind him almost before the bike had stopped moving. He looked at her over his shoulder and she nodded.
“Go.” She knew he couldn’t hear her, but he understood. The bike roared beneath her and they were off down the street. Aubrey didn’t know where they were going, and she didn’t care. With her arms around Caleb and her head resting on his shoulder, anywhere with him was where she wanted to be.
; ***
Aubrey’s arms were around his waist, holding on so tight he thought he could feel her heart beating against his jacket.
She’d been waiting for him, her face so open when she saw him that it made his heart swell. Then she’d been on the bike, mouthing the word ‘go’ even before he’d put the kickstand down. He’d nodded and taken off down the street.
The lake came into view and he drove slowly along the road toward the pavilion, parking next to the ornate building before turning off the bike. Everything was quiet, the quiet lapping of water against sand and the distant murmur of traffic the only sounds they could hear.
He climbed off the bike and helped Aubrey dismount. She gave him a questioning glance.
“Unexpected? Dessert by the beach. I thought, after all the chaos you’ve gone through today, someplace quiet with just the two of us might be the right thing. If not, if you don’t like the lake, we can always go anywhere you want.”
Aubrey took Caleb’s hand, pulling him to her, smiling up at him. “I think the lake is perfect. And unexpected.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed him quickly, her lips soft and warm. He pulled her close for a moment, enjoying the feel of her in his arms, before reaching down to unsnap the side saddlebag on the bike. He pulled out two small white paper bags and handed them to Aubrey. From the back of the bike he undid the shock cords and grabbed a folded blanket.
“Look.” He pointed over her shoulder and she turned. A full moon sat on the horizon, fat and yellow, its reflection cast on the water, a shimmering trail of gold and silver.
“Oh, Caleb. It’s beautiful. It’s been so long since I’ve been outside. I’m either studying or practicing or sleeping. I’d forgotten how beautiful the moon is.”
He took her hand and they walked down across the sand. He chose a spot that gave them a view of the water and the moon. He laid out the blanket and then took the paper bags while Aubrey settled herself. The night was warm, a soft breeze blowing against their skin. He sat down beside her.
“So, let’s see. We have a chocolate cheesecake with dark cherry filling that looks pretty damn good.” With a flourish, he pulled out a plastic container and fork and set them on the blanket. In the moonlight, he saw Aubrey smile and a little of his nervousness at pulling this off faded.
“And if you’re not into chocolate, there’s lemon with some sort of blueberry topping.” He held up the second container.
“I think…I want both. We can share.” Reaching for the chocolate cheesecake and opening the container, she scooped up a small bite and held it out to Caleb. He shook his head.
“Let me.” Gently, he took the fork and held it in front of her. She opened her mouth and he slid the fork between her lips.
“Oh, Caleb.” She covered her mouth with her hand, speaking as she chewed. “That’s amazing. Here…”
She took the fork, scooped up a piece, and held it out to Caleb. He leaned forward and she fed him the morsel. The intense chocolate hit him first, followed by the lush sweetness of the cherries. He nodded.
“Mmm.”
They shared the remaining chocolate, then opened the lemon. Aubrey finally sat back on the blanket, hand on her stomach.
“I’m so full, I think I’m going to burst.” She was looking out over the lake, leaning back on her elbows, the moonlight in her hair.
Caleb leaned over and she turned her face to him. His lips were on hers, tasting of chocolate and lemon, and she lay back on the blanket. Stretching out beside her, he touched her face, felt the softness of her cheek, the line of her jaw, the curve of her neck.
After a long moment he moved away, looking down at Aubrey, who lay still, her eyes closed, a contented smile on her face. “You look more relaxed.”
Opening her eyes, she turned to look up at him. “This is heaven, Caleb. Really. Unexpected…” She laughed softly.
“But perfect. I wish we could stay here forever. Or at least eat all our meals here.” She made a face. “Dinner with my parents is far from relaxing.”
He settled down beside her, propping up his head on his hand. “Want to talk about it?”
She was quiet for a long time and he thought maybe he’d asked the wrong question. But she finally drew a deep breath, blowing it out slowly, looking up at the night sky.
“I know they want the best…or I think they do. It’s just that I can never seem to do what they want or please them. Nothing I do is ever good enough.”
Looking at Caleb, she reached for his hand. “I lost it tonight with my mom for the first time. It felt…liberating. And I felt a bit mean. But since yesterday, since I met you, I feel different, like I have the courage to…I don’t know…say what I feel.” She shrugged.
“I feel different in a really good way. And I wish everyone could see that.”
Aubrey sat up, taking Caleb’s arm. “Here. You have these…” She traced a line across one of his tattoos. “It’s visible. You got it for a reason, right?”
Looking at the tattoo she was touching, he nodded. “Yes, I did. It’s…a story I’ll tell you sometime. But yeah, there’s a reason for almost all of them.”
“I want a tattoo. Something that the rest of the world can see so everyone knows I’m different now.” Her voice rose, excitement evident, and he was pretty sure where this was going.
“Can you give me a tattoo?”
Caleb sat up. “Aubrey, you shouldn’t rush into it. I get why you want one; lots of people get tattoos to mark a milestone, a personal journey or whatever.”
Her face fell and he felt a stab of remorse. He took her hand, tracing his finger over the palm and up her wrist.
“What would you want? What means the most to you?”
She was quiet for a moment. “I know what you’re saying about not rushing into something big. I love music but it’s a double-edged sword right now. It’s my love, but it’s what I’ve been pushed into.”
His finger lingered on the inside of her wrist, feeling the flutter of her pulse. “Here…how about this? You have a favorite piece of music, right? Something you love, regardless of how you feel about the pressure from your parents?”
Aubrey nodded. “My audition piece, Bach. I’ve played it for years, love it to death.”
“I could do something here…” He traced his finger along her skin at the base of her palm and felt her shiver beneath his touch. “The name of the piece, or the first few notes?” He glanced at Aubrey and saw tears brightening her eyes.
“Yes. Caleb, that would be perfect. The first notes; I know them by heart.”
“Then we’ll do that.”
“Will it hurt?” She laughed, sniffling a little. “I suppose that’s the first question everyone asks, isn’t it?”
Caleb held her wrist up to his lips, kissing it softly. “I can’t say it won’t hurt, but it’ll be small and I’ll be as quick as I can.”
“Tonight? Can we do it tonight?” She suddenly sounded like a little girl, begging to open Christmas presents early.
“Tomorrow. The shop is closed; my boss Andy…he’s not happy with after-hours tattoos. We’ll go in early, around noon…it’ll give us time to sleep in.”
She glanced up at him then dropped her eyes, suddenly shy, and he imagined she was blushing. It made his heartbeat pick up just a little, a thrill running through his body.
“I’d like you to come home with me, Aubrey, spend the night. And sleep in tomorrow, if you can do that.”
“I’d like that.” She brought her face up, meeting his gaze, and he saw what he wanted there, her eyes alive with passion. He leaned forward, catching her lips with his, her mouth warm and mobile beneath his.
They finally broke apart, breathless. Aubrey was the first to stand, reaching down to take his hand.
“I think I’d like to go home with you now, Caleb.”
He rose and they gathered the blanket, shaking out the sand. With less care than he’d taken before, he bundled it on the back of the bike. In minutes they were on the way to his house, Aub
rey pressed against him.
“Then let’s go.”
***
Aubrey lay beneath him, spent and sated, her body still trembling slightly. He moved to lie beside her but she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Stay here for a little bit. I like this…I like having you close.”
He settled himself against her and she sighed deeply, her hands moving over his back, tracing a line with her fingertips over his skin. An involuntary shiver ran through him and he heard her soft laugh.
She’d been all passion and had taken the lead as they fell naked onto the bed. He’d been surprised but was more than willing to follow. With eager touches, first with her hands, and then with her lips and tongue, she’d set him alight like no woman ever had. It hadn’t taken long before he was at her mercy, writhing on the bed, moaning as she did things to him he’d never imagined she would do.
Sometime during the night, he’d unleashed a tigress and now she was taking him on a wild ride, bringing him to the brink of release over and over, teasing him until he was beyond reason. He finally pinned her to the bed, taking her hard as she raked her nails across his back. There was a moment he’d half-expected her to bite him.
And now she lay on her back, almost purring, no longer tearing at him, her fingers softly caressing him. When he finally rolled onto his side, she moved with him, and they settled in a tangle of arms and legs. On the verge of sleep, she nestled her head against his shoulder.
“Thank you for dessert. You made my day.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.
“Anytime.” He wanted to tell her she’d made his day, too. But she was asleep before he could say another word.
Chapter Six
“Aubrey, wake up.”
She heard her name and was momentarily disoriented. This wasn’t her bed, but then it came back to her. This was Caleb’s bed and she’d spent the night.
Opening her eyes, she saw him sitting on the edge of the bed, wearing a faded pair of sweatpants. She realized she was smiling, and then realized she was mostly uncovered, the sheet draped over her hip. Blushing, she reached for the edge of the sheet. Caleb caught it before she could cover herself.
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