He jogs over and helps me out of his truck once we pull up to his house. “You’ll be spending a lot of time here, Rile, so I hope you like it just as much as I do.” I laugh and he raises a brow in question. “What? You don’t believe me?”
“What makes you think that I’ll like you as much as I used to?”
He pushes the door open and pushes up behind me, guiding my body with his into the house. His lips brush my ear. “I have a pretty good feeling,” he whispers. “You’ll like me even more . . .”
Walking around me, he throws his keys onto the kitchen island and walks over to the oven with a confidence that makes me melt. “Make yourself at home, because you’re spending the night. We’re having a movie night and I’ll take you home before eight in the morning to change for work.”
This time, I’m the one lifting my brows. “How do you know what time I work tomorrow, Cale?”
He opens the oven and pulls a pan out, setting it on the stove. “Because I asked on my way out. You didn’t think that I would be making all my future appointments without booking with you, did you? You’re the only woman that I’ll be getting a massage by from now on. I promise that.”
I swallow hard and try to keep my nerves from jumping all over the place. He has no idea what his words are doing to me. He may not be trying, but they’re definitely making me extremely hot.
I take a seat at the table when Cale refuses to let me help with anything, and within ten minutes the table is covered with food: baked chicken alfredo, breadsticks, salad, wine for myself, and beer for Cale.
Looking at all of the food makes my mouth water in anticipation. Cale cooked all of this knowing damn well that it’s my favorite meal. I’ll definitely owe him for this later and I’m positive he won’t forget to collect. It’s a good thing that I know practically all of his likes and dislikes. At least . . . I used to.
We don’t talk much until we’ve both eaten a good amount and we’re both on the verge of being stuffed. Cale must notice me slowing down, so he leans back in his chair and smiles up at me.
“So talk to me, Rile.” He takes a swig of his beer and looks at me, ready to listen.
I take another huge bite of noodles, before licking my lips and smiling up at him. “About what?” I breathe out, feeling like I’m about to pop from overeating. “About how damn delicious this food is? Holy crap, Cale. This is so good. I’m very impressed.”
He bites his bottom lip and leans in closer to me. “Told you I’d only put tasty things in your mouth.” He shakes his head with a slight smile as my face undoubtedly turns beet red. “But I want to know about you. What’s been going on? Where’s the boyfriend? Why are you at your parents’ house? That kind of stuff.”
I take a huge drink of my wine and reach for the bottle to refill it. “We broke up before I left. It’s a long story that I don’t feel like talking about right now. I’m only staying with my parents until I can find my own place. Aspen offered to let me stay there, but I don’t want to intrude on her and Slade.” I take another drink and pretend to be unaffected. “I’m sure that I’ll find a place soon and being back in Chicago will feel like home again. It will just take some time.”
He looks me in the eyes for what feels like an eternity before he speaks. “Come stay with me.”
I smile at his offer. “Thanks, but I don’t know about that, Cale. My parents don’t mind me staying there for a while. We haven’t seen each other in six years and I don’t want things to be awkward.”
I stand up and get ready to clean up my mess, but Cale stops me and tells me to leave it on the table. “I’m not worried about that mess right now. What I’m worried about is spending time with you and there’s no way in hell that things could ever be awkward between us. I don’t care if it’s been twenty years, we’re still Rile and Cale and I always have the time and room for that in my life.” He pulls me up from my chair and grabs my glass of wine. “Pick out a movie and I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Are you sure you don’t–.”
“Hell no, Rile. I invited you here for dinner. There’s no way I’m allowing you to clean up.” He pulls me by the back of the neck, until our faces are almost touching. “Now go to my room and find a pair of my boxer briefs and a shirt. I’ll meet you on the couch.”
I close my eyes and nod as his smell surrounds me. He smells so damn good that I just want to snuggle into him and run my nose all along his chest and neck. “Okay,” I say softly.
Without warning, he releases my neck and walks over to the table to start cleaning up. I watch him for a second to try and imagine what it would be like living here with Cale. Seeing him every morning when I wake up and every night before bed. I have a feeling there’s no way I could handle that without wanting more. Plus, it would kill me to see him bring other girls home. Cale truly has no idea how much I care about him and I’m hoping to keep it that way.
After slipping into some of Cale’s clothes, I take a seat on the floor and search through his DVDs. I instantly spot a new comedy that I’ve been wanting to see, so I pop it into the PS4 and curl up on the corner of the couch to wait for Cale.
A few minutes later I hear Cale approaching, so I look up. Without a care in the world he yanks his shirt over his head before stepping out of his jeans, making my heart race with every movement that he makes.
He smiles at me when he notices me watching him. “I’ve been waiting to get out of these clothes all fucking day.” With his abs flexing, he walks toward the couch and takes a seat, practically pulling me into his lap. He reaches for the blanket on the back of the couch and drapes it over us before pressing play with the controller. “You comfortable,” he questions.
Yes . . . and no.
He isn’t hard, but feeling his dick pressed against my ass definitely steals my breath for a brief second. There were so many times in the past that I wanted to feel him against me, but was too afraid to get close to him, so I always found ways to avoid contact with his junk. There’s no way I would have been able to withstand begging him to take me, and right now . . . I’m fighting that urge.
“I’m fine.” I lie. “Just let me know if you want me to move and I will.”
He pulls me tighter against him and smiles into my neck. “I haven’t seen you in six years. There’s no way in hell that I’m letting you move away from me.”
My heart beats faster from his words and I have to admit to myself that those are the exact words I wanted to hear. Being with him feels like old times and I’m happy to see that Cale wants me around just as much as in the past. I was scared things would be different . . .
I just hope that I can keep my feelings under control before I mess up everything we’ve had over the last ten years.
RILEY FELL ASLEEP IN MY arms over two hours ago, but I haven’t had the heart to move her so that I can get comfortable. She’s sleeping like a damn baby, as if she’s completely exhausted and hasn’t slept in days. I can’t even imagine how much of an effect this huge change must me taking on her both physically and emotionally.
Everything has changed dramatically for her in the last week. Her grandmother has gone off to a nursing home, she’s packed up all of her things to move from the home she has known for the last six years, and on top of that has just gotten out of a relationship that I’m guessing was not by her choice.
I’ll sit here all night if she’s content and at home for the first time since she’s left Mexico. She loves her parents, but there’s no way she will be able to be herself there without having them on her ass constantly, making her feel as if she’s a kid again; not to mention that she has to feel lonely there without someone she’s close to. That’s why my offer for her to stay here will always stand.
I feel her stir in my arms before she looks up at me with tired eyes and attempts to sit up. I pull her back into me and smile down at her as she begins to speak. “How long have I been sleeping?” She asks tiredly. “Sorry if I drooled on you.”
I give her a smal
l smile as she wipes her mouth. There’s a wet circle of drool on my chest, but I could care less. “You’re all good, Rile. Nothing that I haven’t dealt with before from you.” I help her stand up before I get to my own feet. “You dozed off a couple hours ago. I figured you needed the rest so I didn’t want to wake you.”
“Cale.” She smiles at me gratefully and pulls me in for a tight hug. “You’ve always been so selfless when it comes to our friendship. I think I’ve missed that the most about you.”
I smile against her neck. “Now why don’t you go crawl into my bed and fall back to sleep. I’ll take the couch for the night.”
She pulls away from me and looks as if she wants to say something, but doesn’t. She just turns away and starts heading for my bedroom, before stopping at the door and turning back around. “Night, Cale.”
I turn off the lamp and strip out of my boxers, while holding the blanket against me. “Goodnight, Rile. I’ll wake you up in the morning.”
Her eyes linger down to my hand that is holding the blanket, before she nervously turns away and disappears into my bedroom.
I might have forgotten to mention the little fact that I always sleep naked. It was a struggle for me when Aspen and Slade were staying here, but as soon as they left I went back to my nudist ways.
If Riley agrees to stay here, then she’s going to see me naked whether it’s me running around the house or me on top of her, burying myself between those thighs of hers. I just hope that she’s ready for me.
I’ve been more than ready for her . . .
THE ALARM ON MY PHONE woke me up at seven, not that I really slept much anyways. Having Riley sleeping in my bed kind of prevented that. I kept thinking about crawling into bed with her, but decided that it’s probably too soon. There’s no way I would’ve been able to lie next to her without wanting to pleasure her and make her scream until she fell asleep in my arms from exhaustion, so I spent most of the night fighting with my damn dick.
I quietly slip into my boxers and prepare a quick breakfast before waking Riley up. There’s no way I’m sending her to work on an empty stomach.
I walk into my room to see Riley curled up in my bed, holding my spare pillow against her body for comfort. Every part of my body aches to be that comfort. It’s probably been a while since she’s slept alone, and seeing her having to use a pillow makes me want to show her what my body could do for her.
She looks so damn beautiful and peaceful, lying there in my clothes and bed, that I feel bad for having to wake her so early. A part of me just wants to crawl into my bed with her and say fuck everything else. Fuck Sensual Touches and fuck Walk Of Shame. I want Cale and Riley time and you better believe that I will be getting it as soon as I get off work tonight.
Just as I’m about to lean in and brush her beautiful, brown hair out of her face, she opens her eyes as if she can sense I’m next to her.
She stretches and smiles up at me, looking sweet and innocent. It makes me wonder just how innocent her sexy little body really is; although, I have a feeling that it hasn’t been as innocent over the last six years as I’d hoped. “Morning.” Sitting up, she looks around as if trying to figure out what time it is. “Did I over sleep? Shit!” She changes position in a panic, tossing the pillow aside.
“Hell no, Rile. I wouldn’t let that happen. I got you.” I reach for her hand and help her up to her feet. “Come eat so that I can take you home to shower and get ready for work.”
She stops walking and gives me a funny look. “You cooked us breakfast?”
I give her a light slap on the ass to get her moving again. “No.” I laugh as her eyes light up at the food on the kitchen island. “I made you breakfast. I hardly eat in the morning. Plus, it’s early as hell, Rile. I’m never up this early.” I lean against the fridge and cross my arms as she pulls out a stool and takes a seat. “I’m going back to sleep as soon as I drop you off. I have to work later tonight.”
She holds up a pancake, before slapping it down onto her plate. “Thank you. You really didn’t have to do all of this. I could have stopped for a quick sandwich on the way to work. That’s what I usually do.”
I shake my head. “You’re in my house; therefore, I feed you. Now eat up.”
It’s silent for a few minutes while she eats, before she finally speaks up, breaking the comfortable silence. I bring a glass of orange juice to my lips. “You work at the bar tonight? Bartending, right?”
I choke a little on my orange juice, realizing that I haven’t mentioned the small fact that I’m a fucking male stripper. The last time we had talked I was mostly bartending. I didn’t think the stripping part was going to last.
I set my orange juice down and walk over to grab her empty plate, bringing it to the sink. “Why don’t you go and change real fast and we’ll talk on the way to your parents’.”
She nods her head and sets her empty glass into the sink. “Good idea. I’m running out of time and I can’t afford to lose this job if I want to find my own place soon.”
I quickly dress and we both end up meeting by the front door in less than five minutes. Opening it for her, I lock the door before closing it behind us.
It feels so strange being outside at this time in the morning. It’s so quiet and peaceful. I have to admit, I sort of like being up right now, and having Riley by my side makes it that much more enjoyable.
After helping her into my truck, I jog over to the driver side, mentally preparing myself for the bomb drop. I just hope that she can handle it without thinking any less of me. I never really cared what anybody thought about it until . . . now. She’s always known me as the sweet Cale. I’m definitely far from her sweet Cale today, especially with my body.
She smiles and faces me as I pull out of the driveway and onto the road. “So . . . tell me about your job, Cale. I want to know what you’ve been up to. I want all the details.”
I grip the steering wheel and grind my jaw, preparing for her reaction. There’s really no way of sugarcoating this. I just have to come out and say it and hope that she accepts it. “I’m stripping tonight.”
She lets out a small laugh as if she thinks I’m joking. “Stop playing around, Cale.” She grabs my knee and squeezes it. “Really, tell me.”
I stop at a red light and look over at her. I give her a serious look to show her that I’m not joking. “I’ve been stripping at Walk Of Shame for a while now. I only bartend a couple of nights a week now.”
“Green light,” she says quickly.
I turn away from her to pay attention to the road, just waiting for her to say something else. I want to know what she truly thinks about me now. I always want nothing but the truth from her and I always know that she’ll give it to me straight.
“That’s actually pretty cool. I bet you make a lot of money,” she says, as if it’s no big deal. “If you have the body, then hey . . . show it off. I can’t imagine anyone complaining.” She smiles at me and I feel a flood of relief wash through me.
“I haven’t had any complaints yet.”
She laughs. “Well obviously, Cale. You have the body of a God.” She gives me a look that makes me want to rip her clothes off and fuck her right here. “I’ve always wanted to go and see male strippers. I’ve just never had the opportunity.”
I lift an eyebrow. “You going to come and watch me one night then?”
She gently bites her bottom lip. “We’ll see.”
I pull into her parents’ driveway and lean in to give her a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll come pick you up when I get off work tonight. We still have a lot of time to make up for, and until then you’re mine.”
She huffs and glances at the house, looking as if she already wants to run away. “I’ll be here, waiting. I’m off by four and I’ve been thinking about swinging by to see Aspen for a bit.”
“Sounds good, Rile. Tell Aspen that she needs to come and see me soon. It’s been too long.”
“Will do.” She smiles one more time before hopping out of th
e truck and walking away, stopping to smile back at me, before disappearing into the house.
Damn, this is going to be a long day.
I’M JUST GATHERING UP MY things to leave work for the day when Hailey stops me by poking her head out of her door.
“Hey. Are you leaving?”
I nod my head and look down at the keys in my hand. “Yeah, I’m heading out right now. What’s up?”
She gives me a sweet smile, obviously trying to butter me up for something. “I’m running a little behind and I have a client that’s been waiting for like twenty minutes. Kylie has been on my ass and I can’t handle her shit right now. Can you please take care of them so I can finish up?” She nods her head toward her door and whispers, “This suit pays a lot of money and he’s not ready to leave yet. So?”
I look down at my phone in my hand to see that Aspen has finally responded to my message. Holding up my finger to Hailey, I quickly check the message to see that Aspen won’t be home until at least five thirty. I really have nothing better to do anyways.
“Yeah, I can do it. I’ll tell Kylie to send them to my room.”
Hailey flashes me a half smile, before disappearing back into her room.
“Yeah, you’re welcome,” I mutter to myself.
I walk down the hall to find Kylie at her desk. She looks up from twisting her purple hair around her finger and waves me over when she hears me coming. “You better hurry up and get out of here before that skank cons you into staying longer.”
I let out a frustrated breath and lean against the desk. “Too late. Send her client to my room.”
“Seriously?” She questions. “You’re that easy, huh?” She grins while reaching for the phone. “I had a feeling that was going to happen so I didn’t tell Hailey who her client was. You just keep getting lucky, sweets. I’ll call and tell him to come back in.”
Cale (Walk of Shame #3) Page 3