Always Red

by Isabelle Ronin

  What the hell were we talking about?

  “I guess you’d have a lot of responsibilities,” she prompted.

  Right. Work.

  I nodded, releasing that lock of hair she had tucked behind her ear and twirling it around my finger.

  I found that I had to touch her whenever she was near me. I couldn’t help myself.

  “I don’t mind. I’m more excited than nervous, and I’m looking forward to it. Although I wish you’d go with me.”

  “I can’t.” But I want to was what I heard in her voice. Of course she didn’t say it, but I knew anyway. “I have to work, Caleb.”

  Telling her I didn’t want her to work was on the tip of my tongue. Luckily, I shut my mouth before it came out. But there had to be some way.

  “If I offered you a job, what would you say?”

  She let out an annoyed sigh. “I’d say you can kiss my butt.”

  I knew it.

  “Okay.” Then I widened my eyes. “What? Right now? You’re so insatiable. I thought that parking lot session was enough, but I guess it left you wanting more. Now I have to satisfy you in…other ways.”

  Her mouth fell open. I just had to laugh.

  Although…I was serious. I was really serious. In fact I was thinking that—

  “Like what?” she asked.

  I froze. Her eyes had darkened. Damn. My pants felt tight.

  Then she shook her head as if to clear her thoughts. “I’m serious, Caleb. Don’t.”

  Huh?

  “Don’t what? Satisfy you in other ways?”

  She was blushing so hard that even the tips of her ears were red. I realized she hadn’t meant to have that unguarded moment when she asked, in that sexy, make-love-to-me voice, Like what?

  She had fried my brain with that simple question and the look in her eyes.

  I couldn’t keep up with her. She drove me wild.

  “No,” she replied quietly. “Let’s stop talking about sex for a minute, please?”

  Why?

  But I nodded. I didn’t want to push her on this. But damn. I wanted her so damn bad.

  And I really needed to adjust my pants. When she looked out the car window, I quickly did.

  “I have my own job. I don’t want you to give me work. I want to make it on my own.”

  We were back to this. Okay then. I let out a defeated sigh. There was no arguing with her when she was in this mood. I knew when to push something and when to let it go. The set of her jaw and the warning in her eyes told me this was nonnegotiable.

  “Okay, then I didn’t say anything. It was your imagination. Can I hold your hand now?”

  Her lips stretched into a pretty smile, and I reached for her hand, played with her fingers.

  “You said you had a deal with your mom. I’m trying to understand why.”

  “Why what?” But I knew what she meant. And it embarrassed me to talk about it.

  “Why wouldn’t you want to work for your company while you were in college? It would have been a big help to you, wouldn’t it? In school and for your position in the company now, if you had more training.”

  Embarrassed, I rubbed the back of my knuckle on the tip of my nose. “I did actually work for Ben before. You know I wasn’t always this responsible and respectable.”

  She raised her eyebrow. I know that very well, her expression said.

  I let out an uncomfortable laugh. “Even before my parents’ marriage completely fell apart, my dad had already moved out.”

  My embarrassment was replaced by resentment so quickly that I didn’t realize my hands had turned into tight fists until she pried them open gently. With her sweet, silent coaxing, she laced her fingers with mine.

  “I just switched off, I guess. I didn’t want to care that much. My dad wanted me to be one of the best hoteliers, so I worked my ass off. And when he left when I was in high school, I rebelled. Didn’t want to make him proud, didn’t want to do anything with him.”

  I looked down at our joined hands, swallowed the bitterness climbing up my throat, and took comfort in Red’s touch. She calmed me down.

  “But I realized that the more I resented him, the more I told myself I didn’t care, that he was not a part of my life, had no say in my life… It just meant I was letting him influence my decisions.”

  I looked up into her eyes. Dark cat eyes that always visited my dreams at night.

  “I was letting him control me. Giving him more power over me. And it had to stop. You know when I realized that?”

  She shook her head.

  “When I met you,” I confessed quietly. “You woke me up. I saw how hard you were working, how independent and dedicated and stubborn you are, and I felt…ashamed. But most of all, you inspired me. Still do. And you make me want to be a better version of myself.”

  I heard her draw a sharp breath, felt her fingers tighten around mine.

  “Sometimes I wonder what my life would be like if I hadn’t met you that night. I have very, very bad thoughts about that.”

  “Caleb,” she said tenderly and leaned forward to lay her soft lips on mine. “I need to tell you something.”

  “Okay.”

  “I know in your line of work you need…someone who can help you.”

  I straightened in my seat, alert now. Was she going to say that she wanted to work for me? Quit her job and just be with me?

  “Someone to make your personal and business life easier. A wife who has connections that will open doors for you. Who goes to club luncheons and charities. Someone in your social circle—”

  “Whoa, whoa, Red. Where the hell is this coming from?”

  And then I realized: Beatrice-Rose.

  Damn it!

  Frustrated, I raked my fingers through my hair, barely containing my anger. Beatrice-Rose was really testing what little patience I had left for her.

  “Listen to me,” Red ordered. “I’m not finished.”

  The quick flash of temper and sharpness in her voice shifted my eyes back to her face. Her eyes were dark and blazing with anger.

  Damn, I loved my girl when she was furious. I had to be sick.

  “Yes, master.” I couldn’t help it. I had to say it.

  She narrowed her eyes. “I know all that. And it might make your life easier if you marry someone with social standing like Beatrice-Rose.”

  “Now, wait a minute—”

  “I said I’m not finished.”

  I felt like a student getting a lecture. Except that I really, really wanted the lecture because the teacher was hot. Blazing hot. I realized I was grinning when she narrowed her eyes into slits again. I had to work hard to keep a straight face.

  “I didn’t grow up in your world, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know these things. I’m not stupid. I know it would be more beneficial for you to marry someone from a family with a prestigious name. Someone who could play the piano and eat caviar and goat cheese and snails and disgusting rich-people food—”

  “Snails give me indigestion, Red.”

  “—and someone who has a degree in art history or philosophy. Who wears Louboutin shoes and expensive dresses.”

  She was getting angrier by the second. And I was mesmerized.

  “Someone who manages your household and has her own business but still has energy when she comes home to you and knows all these wonderful tricks in bed.”

  “Wait, what tricks?”

  “Caleb.”

  Now her voice hitched, and when she looked at me, her eyes were vulnerable. My heart squeezed painfully.

  “I don’t care,” she said quietly. “I have nothing to offer you but myself. But that’s everything I have. That’s all I have. And it’s yours.”

  My chest filled with so much love for her that I forgot to breathe. If I’d been standi
ng, my knees would have given out on me.

  Oh, this girl. This girl owned me. Body and soul. I had never loved anyone like this.

  “Red.”

  She looked down at her lap.

  How could one girl consume me like this? But I knew. I knew. She wasn’t just any girl. She was the one meant for me.

  “It’s all I need,” I whispered.

  I waited for her to look at me before continuing. A tear fell onto her lap, and I felt…destroyed. I was nothing—nothing without her.

  “You’re all I need,” I said. “You’re all there is. Nothing else matters.”

  I held her hand and placed it where my heart was beating against my chest. “Sometimes when I look at you, this feels like it’s going to burst. I feel so much. So much for you. I never wanted anyone the way I want you, need you. I want it more than breathing. I don’t want anything or anyone else. Just this, just you, right here. Give me this, give me yourself, and I’m the happiest man on earth.”

  She wrapped her arms around me, and I felt her tears on my neck.

  I wanted her laughter again, her smiles.

  “I’m not very fond of those Louboutin shoes anyway,” I said. “Do you know how much those heels hurt? One girl stepped on me, and I swear my soul cried out in pain.”

  Her shoulders shook, but this time, I knew it was with mirth.

  “So…what kind of tricks were you talking about?” I asked.

  When she realized what I was talking about, she laughed, pulled away, and lightly smacked my arm. I looked at her face, and the sadness was gone.

  “I love you, Red.”

  “I love you, Caleb.”

  She took a deep breath and smiled at me so beautifully that my brain stopped functioning for a minute.

  I blinked. “Sorry?”

  “I said you’re going to be late for your flight. You better go.”

  I slipped out of the car to open her door, but as usual, she beat me to it.

  I held her hand as we walked to the door. She was just opening it when I stopped her.

  “Can I come in?” I asked.

  “Don’t you have to be there a couple hours before your flight?”

  “I’ll make it. I won’t stay long. Maybe ten minutes.”

  She tightened her hold on my hand and smiled. “Okay. Come in, Caleb.”

  As soon as I entered, I froze.

  Damon was sprawled on the couch, a big bowl of popcorn on his lap as he watched a hockey game on TV. He looked over when he heard us come in.

  What the hell was he doing here?

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Caleb

  I instinctively pulled Red close, possessively plastering her to my side.

  “Hi, Damon,” she said. “What are you doing here?”

  My gaze whipped from his face to hers. She was smiling. I gritted my teeth.

  “Oh, hey, Angel Face.”

  Angel Face? Who the hell does he think he is? Who the hell gave him permission to call her that?

  “My DVD player broke,” he explained. “I’m just watching reruns. I miss hockey.”

  No one asked you.

  But I wisely kept my mouth shut. I knew Red would just get annoyed.

  What the hell could I do? I was possessive when it came to Red. I wasn’t going to hide that.

  When Damon’s eyes turned to me, he nodded. I was sorely tempted not to return the nod, but I was raised to be polite. And I remembered Red telling me that Damon was the one who had texted her that I was at the club where he was working that night. For that, I nodded back.

  Still.

  I narrowed my eyes and studied him. I guessed some girls would think he’s handsome. With that tame-me, I’m-a-drifter look about him. But Red wasn’t some girl. She wouldn’t even consider Damon handsome…would she?

  And what was up with that guitar he carted around with him? He was probably using it as a chick magnet. Like a dirty old man carting around a cute dog so girls would flock around him.

  So what if he played guitar?

  So what if I had no musical talent whatsoever? If I decided to play something, it would be video games. Not a pansy-ass guitar.

  Wait. Did Red like it?

  Maybe I should start learning…

  I realized I was so absorbed in my thoughts that I’d missed some of their conversation.

  “That sounds good,” Red was saying. “Let me know what other jobs you can get for me. I’m free this summer.”

  What? She would accept a job from him but not from me?

  How the hell did that make sense?

  I was starting to feel frustrated on top of my jealousy. I was starting to feel aggressive. I didn’t care for it.

  “I have a gig tonight and tomorrow, and on Sunday, I’m serving drinks at a swank party. And standing around looking good,” he added, winking. “I can probably get you in if you’re available.”

  “Oh. Not this weekend. I have a shift at the shop tomorrow, and I have a special day on Sunday. By the way, where’s Kar?”

  “In the kitchen,” he answered. “Want some popcorn?”

  Enough.

  “No, she doesn’t.” I glared at him and took Red’s arm, pulling her toward the bedroom. “I need to talk to you, Red. Hi, Kar,” I added as we passed a surprised Kara, who just raised her eyebrows and gave me two thumbs up.

  “Wait,” Red protested, but we were already at the bedroom door. “What’s going on?”

  As soon as I pulled her in and closed the door behind us, I locked it. Without warning, I pushed her against it. Her dark eyes widened with shock at my behavior, but beneath the shock was desire.

  “Tell me you love me, Red.”

  “Caleb, what’s—”

  I closed the distance between us, fitting my body to hers—soft, generous curves and that scent that was exclusively hers. Hip to hip, she’d feel how much I wanted her.

  I closed my eyes tightly, fighting for control. The need to take her against the door like an animal was overtaking reason, but I didn’t want to scare her. I was sliding off the edge, and I desperately wanted to take her with me. But I had to be gentle.

  “Caleb.” Her voice was quiet and soothing, as if she knew what I was battling inside me. Perhaps she did.

  I felt her brush my cheek with her fingers, stroke my jaw in comfort.

  “I love you,” she whispered.

  When I opened my eyes, her face swam in my vision. Beautiful, dark cat eyes I wanted to drown in.

  With a kiss, I softened the rough way I handled her. Cupping her face with my hands, I fit her mouth against mine, exploring her taste with my tongue. She moaned, gripping my hair with her hands.

  When I pulled back, we were both breathing hard.

  “Kar and Damon are outside,” she gasped. “They’re going to know what we’re doing in here.”

  Good. I wanted him to know that Red was mine.

  “I don’t care.”

  Just like that, the need was back.

  “But…we just…we just…in the car…”

  “I still want you.”

  She bit her lip. “Oh. I…”

  God. She was so fucking sweet and innocent. And I just wanted to—

  She jumped suddenly when there was a loud knock on the door, followed by voices behind it.

  “Whatever you guys are doing, keep doing it. We’re leaving!” Kara yelled.

  I cleared my throat. “Thanks, Kar!” I called out.

  “You owe me, pal!”

  When I looked back at Red, her eyes were shining with humor and embarrassment.

  “Do you want to…” I began. My heart was racing. Why did I suddenly feel nervous?

  Only Red. Only Red could make me feel this way.

  “Do you want to touch me?” I
murmured. “Red?”

  Her eyes were half-closed as she stared at my lips, but she didn’t say anything.

  “I’m sorry. I don’t want you to think that you have to… I just…I just. Right now. I want to feel…” I let out a loud breath, scrubbing my face with my hand. “Fuck. You tie me in knots. I don’t even know what the hell I’m saying.”

  “I do.” She lifted her eyes to mine, and my breath caught. She was so beautiful. “Let me.”

  “I need you to.”

  “You’re going to miss your flight,” she rasped.

  I watched the rapid rise and fall of her chest, and I wanted—

  “I’ll catch another one.”

  I held my breath as her hands slowly reached for the bottom of my shirt. Tugged it up, then off. She let it fall to the floor.

  When she placed her palms on my naked skin, I hissed.

  Her eyes quickly shifted up and looked at me. Those eyes—they were dark, vulnerable, and full of questions.

  “Did I do something wrong?” she asked.

  “No, love. It feels so damn good.”

  I closed my eyes, breathing through my mouth. I didn’t want to come early, but…fuck… she made me feel.

  “Tell me what you like, Caleb. I want to…please you.”

  “This.” I placed her palm on my stomach. “You can’t possibly know how good your touch feels. Everything you do to me pleases me. Just do whatever you want with me, Red. Whatever you want.”

  “Caleb…”

  Her touch was hesitant, and I realized she hadn’t done this before. And I felt so damn good that I was the first one she would touch this way, and that no one else knew her this way—or would know her this way.

  She was mine.

  “Here.” I dragged her palm back where my heart was beating fast. “Feel that? You do this to me. Make my heart race, and you’ve just started. You have the power to make me feel whatever you want me to feel. Touch me.”

  Her eyes filled with understanding, gleaming with womanly knowledge that excited me.

  Her hands were soft, smooth, and curious as they traveled down my body. When she removed my belt and tugged my pants down, I swallowed hard.

  Slowly, leisurely, she placed her lips on my neck and kissed and licked her way down, down, down until…