Chapter Six
Lily hooked her leg over Caleb’s bare thigh as she sat down next to him on the couch, luxuriating in the feel of his skin next to hers. Her leg looked pale against his darker skin. She glanced at the clothes scattered across the floor, surprised she hadn’t rushed to put them back on. She felt comfortable with Caleb. Sitting naked with him felt natural. Right. She refused to question it and simply enjoyed the feel of his hard body next to hers.
She cuddled into his chest. The arm he’d thrown casually around her shoulders tightened and his fingers lazily stroked her skin. The occasional sound of traffic filtered from the street below, but in the loft, it was quiet. Lily had the sudden urge to giggle. She’d just had the best sex of her life, well that she could remember anyway, and she was in an art studio in San Francisco cuddling with a very sexy naked man and drinking coffee. Her friends wouldn’t believe it of her if she told them. Not that she would. This weekend was special. A honeymoon before the divorce.
She shifted her leg, loving the feel of coarse hair against her sensitive skin, but hating the drift her thoughts had taken. Lily sipped the dark brew Caleb had made. “I have a question.”
Caleb’s fingers paused stroking the skin of her shoulder. “Just one?”
A tremor of need shot through her body as his voice rumbled through his chest. She half-turned to look at him. “For now.” She leaned forward to set down her mug on the coffee table and turned to face Caleb, tracing one buff-colored nipple and watching it harden on his muscled chest. “How did you know how I liked my coffee?”
Caleb chuckled. “I watched you make it this morning.”
He pulled her onto his lap and she snuggled into his arms, breathing in the rich scent of coffee and man mingled with the heady musk of sex. Closing her eyes, she thought she’d never been so content. Don’t get any crazy ideas, Lily. That’s what several good orgasms will do for you. Her head fit under his jaw and she could feel him harden and lengthen beneath her. She shivered.
“Are you cold?” He slowly stroked the skin on the back of her arms with his fingertips.
“Not at all.”
He nibbled her neck.
“Caleb?”
A low groan in his throat sent chills over her entire body.
“More questions?”
She pulled back to look at his face. “No. I just wanted to say that you are very talented.”
Caleb froze but his eyes widened before he smiled. “You have no idea.” He pushed her down on the couch and kissed her neck. His erection pressed into her thigh, needy.
Desire instantly flooded her body, leaving her wet and ready. “I meant your work, your painting. It’s very good.” Lily laughed.
Balancing his weight on his elbows, he stared into her eyes, his gaze open and sincere. “Thank you, sweetheart. That means a lot to me.”
Oh God, she could fall hard for this man. She closed her eyes. No, that wasn’t in the plan. She had a life, a future waiting for her. Everything she ever wanted. But was that what she wanted now?
Her connection, her attraction to Caleb was physical, hormones. They had fire, passion but nothing else in common.
Lily opened her eyes. Caleb was still gazing at her and a surge of moisture dampened the curls between her legs. She wanted him again.
He suddenly smiled, dimples creasing the tanned cheeks. “But let’s talk about my other talents, shall we?” He kissed just under her jaw and then licked up to her ear to take the lobe between his teeth.
Reaching down, Lily grasped his firm ass. While she was here, she’d indulge herself, get as much of him as she could, give as much as she could and then, on Sunday, she’d go back to her real life. She leaned forward and captured his mouth in hers and wrapped her legs around his waist. The kiss deepened, stealing her thoughts, leaving only her need to get closer to Caleb, to get him closer, inside of her. He cupped her ass and spread his fingers, teasing her sensitive flesh.
They both froze as footsteps sounded on the stairs outside the door. Lily glanced at Caleb. He shrugged, but rolled off the couch, grabbing his jeans and throwing her his shirt. Even in the panic of the moment, Lily had to appreciate the perfection of Caleb’s body and then laughed as he winced trying to zip his jeans over his erection.
She’d pulled the shirt over her head when the door opened and a woman with mahogany skin and short, curly, dark hair walked in. The woman froze in the process of shutting the door while she took in the scene and then closed it and turned. “Caleb…” She smiled and glanced at Lily. “Oh. I’m sorry.” Startling blue eyes rimmed in black sparkled. “Is this a private party or can anyone join?”
Lily fought to control the heat that flushed her skin and failed. She glanced at Caleb but he only chuckled.
“You know I don’t share. Monique. Meet Lily. Lily, Monique.”
“Yes, so you’ve said. Such a pity.” Monique tilted her head and unabashedly examined Lily, a smile playing on her mouth. “A real pity.”
Tugging at the hem of Caleb’s T-shirt to deny Monique a show, Lily stood and stepped forward to offer her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Not as nice as it is to meet you.” Monique raised a pierced eyebrow and glanced from Lily to Caleb.
“I didn’t realize you’d be back,” Caleb said.
Monique shrugged. “I came home early. My mother can be… well… Do I smell coffee?”
“Yeah, help yourself.” Caleb glanced at Lily, offered a half smile and mouthed the word, “Sorry.”
Lily collected her clothes and headed toward the bathroom.
“You don’t have to stop on my account you know,” Monique said. “I wouldn’t mind seeing you in action.” She winked at Caleb. “Either of you. Might fuel my creative process.”
Taking a deep breath, Lily turned and smiled. “I don’t share either.” She hurried into the bathroom to the sound of Monique’s laughter.
When she returned, Caleb sat on the couch deep in conversation with Monique. Lily threw Caleb his shirt. He caught it and smiled. “Your coffee is cold. Monique made some espresso. Want some?”
“Um, no thanks.” Lily leaned against the counter. Caleb had said he didn’t bring women to the studio but Monique and he were both so casual about it when she couldn’t help but be mortified. She took another deep breath. She wasn’t here to interfere with Caleb’s life any more than she’d let him interfere with hers once she returned to Boston. “Caleb, I’m going to do some shopping. I’ll meet you at the apartment later?”
Caleb rose to his feet. “No. I’ll come with you.”
“Give the woman some space, Caleb. I didn’t think you’d be the smothering type.” Monique’s red lips turned up at the corners.
“No, really. I just have to pick up a few things. It won’t take long.” Lily assured him. “I’ll be back at the apartment in time for dinner.”
Caleb ran a hand through his blond tresses. “You know where you’re going, how to get home?”
Lily laughed. “Caleb, I’ve traveled around the world. I think I can manage San Francisco. I have your address. I’ll be fine.” She turned and headed toward the metal door.
As soon as the door shut, Monique turned to Caleb. “My God, man, she’s adorable. Where did you find her? Never mind. Dinner? Back at the apartment? Spill it, Anderson. With the one God awful exception, you’ve been flying solo too long. Not that I’m objecting to you getting a little action, and now that I think about it, what’s with the worried alpha male thing?”
Caleb rubbed his temples. “It’s a long story.”
Monique shrugged and pulled one dark curl straight before releasing it to join the others. “I got time. And apparently, so do you. At least until the little woman calls, then I have a feeling you’d go a running.” She smiled, revealing white even teeth.
“It’s not like that. Lily is just here for a few days.” He glanced at his friend and then shrugged. Sometimes honesty was just easier. “I met her in Vegas a few years ago. We, um, got ma
rried and I thought we had the marriage annulled but turned out some clerk didn’t file the paperwork.”
Monique laughed. Her tongue piercing caught the light. “So you’re married. That’s your wife. Damn, man. She’s a hot little number, but she doesn’t seem your type, you know?”
Caleb closed his eyes and leaned into the couch. “You of all people should know not to judge a book by its cover. Yeah, she’s cultured and restrained on the exterior, but underneath there is this passionate woman, this free spirit, fluttering to get free.” He opened his eyes.
“Oh shit, you sound like a fucking Hallmark card.” Monique drained her espresso and moved to rinse the cup in the sink. “So why’s she here? You two gonna try and make it work?”
Caleb shook his head. “Mrs. P found out I was married. Wanted to meet my wife. In a moment of panic, I told her that Lily worked in Boston, which is true. Mrs. P wanted to meet her. You don’t say no to Mrs. P.”
“So you called Lily and she came running?” Monique’s eyebrow disappeared beneath the short ringlets framing her face.
“It’s not like that. She’s doing me a favor.”
“That was some favor she was doing when I walked in.”
Caleb shook his head.
“Holy fuck, Caleb. Don’t tell me you’re in love with her.”
“I won’t tell you that. It’s not true.”
Monique set the cup down on the table. “Shit, buddy. You’re in deep.”
Caleb stared out the window and watched as dark clouds swirled against the pale grey sky. “I’m not in anything, Mo. She’s leaving in two days.”
Chapter Seven
The scent of tomatoes and garlic brushed by him in a gust of warmed air as Caleb opened his apartment door. “Lily?” He walked into the kitchen to find Lily removing bread from the oven.
“Perfect timing.” She grinned, set down the tray of bread and stirred a steaming pot with a long wooden spoon.
Caleb watched in wonder. He couldn’t remember the last time someone, besides his mother, had cooked for him. He sniffed at the red sauce bubbling in the pot. “Smells wonderful.”
“Thank you.” Lily beamed and tucked a stray lock of caramel-colored hair behind her ear.
Caleb noted the small table set for dinner with candles. He walked further in the kitchen to wrap his arms around Lily’s waist. She placed the bread in a cloth-covered, small wicker basket as he bent to nuzzle the back of her neck. He loved the taste of her skin and the fresh floral scent that seemed part of it. With a tinge of shock, he realized how much he’d missed her while he was at the studio. “You smell wonderful too.”
She laughed. “If you keep doing that you’ll distract me and the sauce will burn.” Pulling off a piece of bread, she dipped it in the bubbling red sauce and turned in Caleb’s arms. “Try this.”
He opened his mouth and accepted the morsel from her fingers. He smiled around the bite. “Hey, that tastes even better than it smells.” Without taking his gaze from her eyes, he lowered his head. Her pupils expanded and her lips parted slightly, fueling the need that had grown since he walked in the door. He flicked his tongue over her bottom lip, delighted in her soft gasp. He moved to repeat the action but she opened her mouth, her tongue capturing his. Soft and full, her lips moved against his as she explored his mouth. She’d tried the sauce too. His cock pulsed between them and he was breathing hard when he rested his forehead on hers, fighting the urge to pick her up and take her to the bedroom. “Like the sauce, you taste even better than you smell.”
Lily grinned. “You’re comparing me to sauce now?”
“You’re both edible.” His fingers brushed the swell of her breast.
Lily ducked under his arms, laughing. “Oh no you don’t, bucko, I’ve been cooking for the last hour. Eat first and then….” She glanced over her shoulder. “We’ll continue where we left off.” After opening and shutting a few cupboards, Lily turned. “Okay, I give up. Where’s your colander?”
Caleb retrieved the item and leaned against the counter to watch Lily in action. The steam from the boiling pasta had pinked her cheeks, but he didn’t think steam had anything to do with the sparkle in her eyes. She’d pulled her hair back and soft tendrils curled against the nape of her neck. He knew the skin there was soft as velvet and his fingers itched to touch it again. She drained the pasta, retrieved two plates and dished the spaghetti noodles on them. A delicious smell filled the kitchen as she poured the sauce over the pasta but his eyes were on her firm ass under the blue jeans. His cock twitched.
“Bon appétit.” With a flourish, she set the plates down on the table. She turned to look at him and her brow creased. “You are hungry, aren’t you? You didn’t eat…?”
He stepped forward, his gaze traveling up and down her body. “I’m starving, but it will have to wait. The food looks almost as tempting.”
Lily stilled, her eyes darkened with desire. Had her nipples had tightened too? He longed to discover the truth himself. Closing his eyes, he mentally sighed. She’d made him dinner. Although he wanted to lick her from head to foot, it could wait. “Shall we?” Caleb asked.
“Oh!” She squeezed by him to retrieve a bottle of wine. The brush of her arm against his caused his erection to strain against his briefs. He’d never wanted a woman like this. It was a primal urge to possess. He shook his head.
“I almost forgot.” She handed a bottle to Caleb. “You open it.”
He glanced at the label and whistled. “This is a bit finer than the wine I usually drink.”
Lily grinned. “Sorry, but those boxes are so damn hard to carry.”
Caleb laughed. “Very funny.” He worked the cork off, poured two glasses of dark burgundy wine, set them on the table, and walked around to hold Lily’s chair. She smiled as she sat and waited for him to settle in his chair.
Lily held her breath while he served himself and then took a bite. “Beautiful, great in bed and a good cook too. Damn girl, you’re a catch. I’m glad I married you.”
Two perfect dimples formed on Lily’s cheeks as she smiled. “Shut up. Between you and me, spaghetti is the only thing I can cook.” She gently swirled the wine glass and sipped the dark liquid.
Caleb grinned, watching the delicate muscles of her throat move as she swallowed the wine. “You made the sauce, right?”
Lily tilted her head. “Yes.”
“Then mix it up a bit. You change the noodles and before you know it, you can make lasagna, rigatoni, angel hair…”
Her smile took his breath away. “Thank you, Caleb.” She scooped up some noodles with the tines and then rested the fork on a spoon before spinning. “Do you cook?”
“I’m a bachelor: If I don’t cook, I don’t eat.” He sipped from his glass. “Hey, this is really good. I do grill a fairly mean steak, if I do say so myself, but most of the time I make things that are fast and easy: salad, baked chicken, top ramen.” He took another bite. “My mom gave me a crock-pot last year for Christmas. That really helps, especially in the winter. I can come home to stew or roast.”
“Wow, you really do cook.”
Caleb shrugged. “Who cooks for you at home?”
“The microwave, or I go out. I’m not home very much. Stewart likes to eat out.”
“Your guy friend.” Caleb almost choked on his bite, his irritation rising. “He won’t want you to cook?”
“Heavens, no. He’ll expect us to hire a cook.”
“I see.” Caleb drained his wine. “Does he know you’re here, with me? And um…”
“No, he doesn’t know and no, we don’t have an exclusive relationship. He doesn’t care who I’m with as long as I’m discreet and don’t embarrass him in some way.”
Caleb shook his head. “If you were my…” He stopped. She wasn’t. Not really and he needed to get that little fact through his thick skull. “And that’s the kind of relationship you want?”
“I’m sure it will change after we’re married,” she said, staring into her wine inste
ad of meeting his eyes. “He cares about me, we’re well-suited, come from similar backgrounds, want the same things out of life.”
Caleb thought of his parents, of the little things they did every day for one another that said I love you better than words. That’s what he wanted. He couldn’t imagine Lily in the sterile environment she described. It would suffocate her. “What about your singing, Lily?” What he wanted to say was what about love? What about passion? But he didn’t dare.
“That’s a pipe dream.”
“So you just abandoned it?”
Lily shrugged. “We live in the real world. Sure it sounds romantic to run off and pursue your dreams, but that’s how—”
“You end up living in a run-down one bedroom apartment barely able to pay the bills?” he finished.
“Caleb, I didn’t mean—”
“No. That’s okay. I’m not ashamed of it. You see, even if my dream doesn’t come true, the fact that I pursued it, that I risked and suffered and loved…” He shook his head. “I can’t see regretting that. I lived. I live.”
“And I don’t?”
“Do you like being stuck in an office all day? Do you like what you’re doing?” He saw the hesitation in Lily’s eyes.
“Most of the time.”
“That’s good. But when you’re old and grey, will you say ‘what if’?”
This time Lily’s hesitation lengthened. “I will have had a good stable life.”
“There is more to life than stability, sweetheart.”
“Can we talk about something else now?” Lily asked, refilling Caleb’s wine glass.
Caleb wanted to take her in his arms, reason with her. Face it, bud, you want to talk her into staying. “Are you trying to get me drunk?”
“Do I need to?”
“Hardly.”
A dimple appeared on her cheek and he wanted to kiss it.
“Did you and Monique have a good chat after I left?”
“Good? She quizzed me about you for a half an hour and remembered a date she’d made. I worked for a bit and came home.”
“What did you tell her?”
He shrugged. “The truth.” He didn’t add that Monique had accused him of being in love with Lily.
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