“Liya. It’s too late for me. I’m falling for you hard already, Angel. You say you can’t do relationships, but you’ve already been in one for the past couple of months. I’m pretty sure you’ve let me in already, baby. We may not have said the words yet, but that doesn’t matter to me. You’re mine. You’ve been mine since the first moment I kissed you.” I pushed a strand of wet hair back from her face and tucked it behind her ear.
“I swear we could make each other happy Liya, so fucking happy. The past couple of months of us being together, is the happiest I’ve ever been. Don’t we both deserve something good after the shit we’ve been through in our lives? Just give us a chance.” I whispered in her ear and rested my forehead on hers.
I could see the internal struggle happening behind her eyes. She started to chew her bottom lip. I tugged the lip free and cupped her jaw. “Liya. Give me an answer me, babe.”
She was silent for what felt like longest minute of my life.
“Okay.” She finally whispered quietly. My heart thudded at the single word.
“Okay?” I asked for confirmation.
“Yes. We can try this.” She said as her hands rested on my chest.
I placed a deep kiss on her lips, seeking entrance and tangling her tongue with mine. Winding an arm around her lower back I drew her closer into my body. Breaking of the kiss, I pulled back slightly to look into her beautiful brown eyes.
“Thank you for taking a chance, Angel. You are not going to regret this, I promise.” I pressed a soft kiss to her lips. I took her favourite shower gel and started to lather up her beautiful caramel skin.
After I’d washed all the soap suds off her, we stepped out of the shower I wrapped a towel around her wet body, taking my time drying her. I felt the atmosphere change between us as she took another towel and returned the favour by drying my body.
She palmed my stiff cock in her hands, stroking firmly along my aching length.
I started to push her hand away, not wanting to fuck her so soon after she had been so emotional. “Liya, no…”
“Don’t.” she whispered “I need this” she said pressing herself into my body, pulling me down to her for a kiss.
I licked at the seam of her pouty mouth, realising how easily I got drunk off her kisses. I pinched a nipple hard, causing her to moan into my mouth.
“No teasing today, please Cal. Just take me.” she whimpered as I traced the folds of her pussy.
I pushed her up against the door, wrapping her legs around my hips.
Feeling how wet she was made my control snap.
Trailing kisses up her neck I whispered in her ear, “You’re mine now, Maliya.”
She moaned, trying to rub her soaking core against my cock.
“Say it, baby. Tell me you’re mine.”
“I’m yours Caleb. Only yours.”
Chapter 23
Caleb
“Will you finally admit that I’m right?” I asked with a smirk as she got into my warm car.
“No. Because you aren’t.” Liya said stubbornly as she put on her seatbelt.
“I am. That car needs to go. Today is the second time this week, it’s not started.”
“She just needs some extra persuasion in the mornings, which I didn’t have time to do today. Don’t make me regret having called you, Jameson.” she shot me a dry look.
I leaned over and pulled her to me “I’m glad you called me, baby. Especially as it means I get you see you in these sexy scrubs.” I said scanning her light pink uniform covered in colourful cartoon characters.
Liya rolled her eyes. “Ha Ha. You’re hilarious. I left my change of clothes at home, so we got to stop there quickly before we go to pick up Niki.”
“The things I do for you.” I said with an exaggerated sigh as I started the engine.
She grabbed my face by my chin, initiating a kiss that I took control of and deepened. We hadn’t seen each other in a couple of days and I was desperate for her. I was about to drag her over to the driver’s seat and make her straddle my lap, when she broke off the kiss and pulled back.
“Thanks handsome. Now shut up and drive. We got to get going or we’re going to be late.” She said in an overly sweet teasing tone.
“You’re an awful tease, Liya.” I growled frustrated
“I don’t know what you mean.” she said with a grin.
During the drive we made our usual comfortable small talk about work and our plans for the next day. Trudy had refused Aunt Deb’s invitation of spending Thanksgiving dinner at our house, so Niki had spent most of the morning with Trudy at the retirement home and Liya had decided to go see visit her tomorrow.
We pulled up to the house and walked up the door with our hands intertwined.
“How about I come with you tomorrow?” I asked her.
She looked adorably confused, as she rooted around in her bag for her keys. “You want to come with me to see Aunt Trudy tomorrow? Why? An afternoon filled with a load of geriatric people pinching your cheeks and unending games of scrabble sounds like an exciting time to you?”
I wound my arms around her waist, pulling her into “No. But an afternoon with you does.”
“That was so horribly cheesy, Caleb Jameson. I expected more from you than that. If you’re trying to get in my pants it’s not going to work.” Liya said her face scrunched up.
“The fact that you think I only want to be around you for sex is hurtful, Liya.” I sighed as I groped at her ass, my mouth trailing kisses along her neck.
“Oh yeah, abstinence is definitely your strong suit. Off you horndog, I need to go change.” she said sarcastically and slapped away my roaming hands.
“You sure you don’t need any help getting changed?” I asked with a hopeful grin.
“No way, handsome. I don’t want to be late. If you follow me in there, we may never end up leaving the house tonight.” she said with a resolute look on her beautiful face.
“Fine, but I still think many hands making light work would be very applicable, when it comes to getting you dressed.” I could feel her roll those big eyes behind my back.
“Not if those many hands are trying to keep the clothes off. Could you do me a favour and grab my black scarf from the chair in the dining room, babe” Liya asked as she left the room. “Also a warning; don’t look the goldfish directly in the eyes. It’s evil.”
`
As I walked into the dining room that adjoined the kitchen, which the sisters seldom used and saw a small circular tank in the corner, that I never paid any attention to.
I went over to have a closer look at the lone fish innocently swimming around the fish bowl.
“You’re a pretty little weirdo, Liya.” I said loud enough for her to hear.
I looked at the puffy orange goldfish and was suddenly immobile. I tried to move but was unable to look away from the fish’s big bulging eyes as if I had been hypnotized. The goldfish swam up and then down and then from side to side as my gaze followed the fish’s movement mesmerised. I could swear I heard unintelligible ghostly whispers in my head that made no sense at all.
I wasn’t sure how much time had passed, when Liya finally came back in the room and grabbed my arm and shaking me out of my trance. “What the fuck? That was unnatural. It was like all time just stopped when I looked into the fish’s eyes.” I said still slightly dazed.
She looked at me smugly. “Told you so.” She pointed at the tank, not looking at it. “Demon fish! I once lost an entire afternoon just standing in front of that tank unable to look away. I also think it may be conspiring with the cat.”
I shook my head in agreement. “Let’s go, Liya.” I pulled her toward the door, still slightly freaked out.
Why do I have a sudden urge to go look for worms?
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Maliya
“You know, I really don’t think you made enough food, Niki.” I said dryly as I struggled up the pathway of the Jameson’s house with several boxes filled with di
fferent types of desserts.
Because nothing says Happy Thanksgiving like giving someone Type Two diabetes…
“Really?” Niki asked looking mildly panicked and her eyes darted back at Caleb’s car “Should we go back to the bakery and pick up another tart?”
Caleb stared at her in disbelief, one arm weighed down by big bowl of trifle and the other by a baked rice pudding. He turned to me “Is she serious?”
I sighed “Sadly, yes. Annika. There are going to be ten of us at dinner. You’ve made thirteen different desserts. Ponder that fact for a moment, please.”
She bit her lip. “I got carried away again?”
“Yes, sweet sister. Very much so.” I said soothingly “But it’s okay because now other people, besides me, will be aware that you’re batshit crazy.”
“I’m not crazy! You’re crazy.” she said defensively.
“Yeah. Crazy awesome.” I said with a flip of my hair.
“If the both of you are done arguing like children, can we go into the house now, before my arms drop off.” Caleb said amused.
“You’re clearly been spending too much time with my sister; you’ve turned into quite the drama queen. You carry humans out of blazing buildings for a living. A few desserts shouldn’t pose a problem.” Niki said walking up the porch steps.
The door flew open and Niki was relieved of the bags she was carrying. She squealed as a tall blond with broad shoulders and sparkling blue eyes picked her up and spun her in a circle.
“Oh my God. Who are you? Put me down!” Niki screeched. The blond complied, but then immediately stepped behind her wrapping his arms around her frame, “But you’re such an adorable little thing.” He said squeezing her and rocking her body from side to side. Niki’s her eyes widened with shock.
I couldn’t hold back the my laughter, when another similar looking blond man appeared and fell to one knee in front on Niki, bowing his head he took one of her hands and pressed a kiss to the back of it. “I am honoured to finally meet you, o beautiful creator of my daily, delicious, spiced delicacy.”
As much as you would love to see how this plays out, you should probably go intervene and rescue Niki now, before she runs away and never comes back.
“Excuse me, tall, strange men who I’m assuming are Josh and Jake, could you please release my sister before she passes out from shock.” I said to them stepping into the house. I glanced over at Caleb who looked as if he would be throttling his brothers if his arms weren’t full.
I snorted in amusement when they finally released Niki and she immediately fled to my side. “See Niki, you don’t need to worry about all of them judging you, they’re all batshit crazy too!”
I placed the boxes on a side table and was about to take off my shoes, when Addie came flying towards the door to give me a huge hug, but miscalculated the distance and I somehow ended up with a pointed elbow in my chest.
I grunted in pain “Addie! You just elbowed me in the boob!”
“I’m sorry about my sister’s appalling behaviour, Liya. Want me to rub it better for you?” the blond twin with the longer hair asked with a smirk.
“Do you want to get punched in the face, Joshua?” Caleb growled at him.
Addie, far from looking contrite, was bent over double laughing. “I’m… so…sorry… Liya…”
“I’d be far more inclined to believe you if you didn’t have tears of laughter streaming down your face.” I said with a raised eyebrow.
I looked over at the twins who were grinning, noting the differences between them. They were both massive with broad shoulders. It seemed like the Jamesons were a family of behemoths.
Joshua had slightly lighter, longer hair that fell past his sharp jaw and he much more sharply chiselled features, whereas Jake was huskier. His jaw was square but softer and covered in stubble, his short hair was a darker blond than his twin. They both had the same sparkling bright, blue eyes that shone with mischief.
“Liya, these two idiots, as you rightly guessed are Jake and Josh. You’ll probably be hearing us apologise for them a lot tonight.” Caleb said trying not to lose the grip on the bowl in his hand.
“What on earth is going on? Why are you all just standing here? Are all these boxes filled with pies?” Debbie asked, as her, Jeremy, Nate and Caleb’s friend Mikhail joined the gathering by the door.
“Not all. There are four pies; pumpkin, sweet potato, apple and maple and pecan, a devil’s food cake, a salted caramel and pecan cheesecake, a baked spiced rice pudding, an English trifle, a cranberry Pavlova, some profiteroles, a bowl of pumpkin mousse, a pear upside down cake and a mixed fruit crumble, though I think you call them crisps over here.” Niki said in one long breath as all eyes in the room went to her.
“I wasn’t sure what you all would like. I may have gone a little overboard. Sorry” she said quietly looking at the floor.
Jeremy broke the silence by bursting out laughing. “Sweetheart, why are apologising for bringing food into this house? My nephews and niece eat like animals.” He carried on talking over the sounds of protest from Jake, Josh and Addie. “I guarantee most of it will be gone by the end of the night.”
Debbie picked up a few of the boxes from the side table. “It’s true. Promise you won’t judge us too harshly when you see them eating. I swear we raised them better than what you’re about to witness.”
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Sat around the table that was heaving with food, we bowed our heads and held hands as Jeremy said grace. As everyone started reaching for the food, Debbie cleared her throat.
“Wait. Before we eat, we need to say what we’re thankful for.” Debbie said firmly from one end of the table.
The Jameson siblings groaned. “Not a mouthful will be eaten until everyone has what they’re thankful for. I’ll start” she beamed at me and Niki “I’m thankful for the new faces we have around our table and the ones that have been here before.” She said looking Mikhail “And I’m thankful for my beautiful kids, even if they act like barbarians at times.” There was a pause.
I decided to bite the bullet and went next “I have no idea if I’m doing this right but I’m thankful for being invited to share this special meal with all of you and I’m thankful for the year I’ve had and all the changes that has come with it.” I said squeezing Caleb’s hand under the table.
Jeremy, sat at the other end, went next “I’m thankful for my beautiful wife and all the people around my table. And my new Mustang.”
Debbie turned her expectant gaze on Nate, who sighed “I’m thankful for all too.”
“Well done, Nathan. You actually got words out this year.” Addie said rolling her eyes “I’m thankful for all the people around the table, for new friends, for all the food on the table and for the impending sugar rush that will come from devouring my body weight in desserts.”
Alex snorted next to her “I’m thankful that I’ve finally saved enough this year to open my own shop. And no, there will be no family discounts.”
Mikhail chuckled. “I’m thankful to be invited to your home for this beautiful meal once again. You never fail to make me feel at home, for that I thank you.” He said looking between Jeremy and Debbie.
Jeremy clasped Mikhail’s shoulder and said gruffly “You’re family, son. You always have a place at our table. Don’t you forget that.” Mikhail nodded briefly and smiled at him gratefully.
Josh leaned back in his chair with a naughty look on his face. “I’m thankful for all the lovely ladies I’ve gotten to know really, really well over the past year.” Josh yelped as Jeremy cuffed him around the head.
Jake shook his head at his twin, “I’m thankful that I get up every day and am able to do what I love for a living and I’m thankful for our family. And I’m thankful for cinnamon rolls.” He said smiling across the table at Niki, who blushed.
Caleb looked at me “I’m thankful for all of you and I’m especially thankful to Niki for being brave enough to move here and for bringing her b
eautiful sister along with her and I’m thankful for all the events that lead to her being brought into my life.” He lifted our entwined hand and placed a kiss on the back of mine.
Well…don’t I feel just like the Grinch when his heart grew three sizes.
“You’re thankful for being hit by a car?! Aww, Caleb that’s so disturbing and sweet, I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.” Addie said with grimace.
“Adelaide!” Debbie chastised. “That was beautiful, Caleb. What about you, Cutie?” she said looking at Niki.
Niki looked down at the table and paused. “I’m thankful that my first thanksgiving experience was here with all of you, in this beautiful house filled with happiness and laughter. And I’m thankful for my parents who I’m sure are watching over us and brought us here to meet all of you and I feel so thankful that we’ve been given a chance to become a part of this incredible, loving family.” She finished talking and refused to look up.
Falling Completely (Starling Falls #1) Page 18