He looked up and her heart seized. Pain unlike anything she’d ever seen flashed in his eyes before he blinked it away. “Go back to bed.”
She shrugged a shoulder. “Can’t sleep.” She plopped down next to him and offered him the water.
“Try.” He took the bottle and got up, giving her a fine view of his ass as he went to stare out the window.
“I never sleep well in new places.”
He snorted but offered no reply, so she tried again.
“Every time I closed my eyes, I’d hear those horrifying gun shots.”
Caleb head snapped around, disbelief evident in his expression. She shuddered, as if afraid, then blinked a few times for good measure. He obviously wasn’t buying her act.
Samantha wished they could stop playing this silly game. She wanted the freedom to go to him. Wrap her arms around his waist and hold him tight. Offer him some reassurance that he wasn’t alone. If he’d been anyone else, she wouldn’t have hesitated.
He didn’t care about her. Fine, she got that. But it didn’t mean they couldn’t be civil, did it? At least try to be friendly?
“Why are you still up? Can’t sleep either?”
Caleb opened the bottle she’d given him and took his time draining its contents. The muscles in his back bunched and flexed with the movement. He had the kind of build that came from hard work and diligence. The kind of build that made a woman sigh with pleasure.
His stern expression reflected in the window as he remained silent.
“Cat got your tongue?”
He turned to her. Heat pooled in her stomach as his gaze traveled slowly, deliberately, from her face. He seemed to take in every inch of her before stopping to linger over her bare legs. “I don’t sleep much. I’m sorry if I disturbed you.”
“You didn’t.” The devil in her insisted she cross her legs, exposing more of her thigh to his view. She enjoyed his eyes on her, as if he saw the woman she was instead of the pain in his ass he’d claimed her to be. She was tempting fate, knowing that any second he’d remember who she was and that look in his eye would change.
For now, she’d use any means to distract him from his pain. Her pain would come later, when she was alone again.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“Talk about what?”
“Why you’re still up.”
He chucked a thumb at the windows. “Daytime.”
She clamped her mouth shut before she said something she’d regret. And he thought she was stubborn. She pulled in a slow, steady breath. “True, but barely. On a normal day, I wouldn’t be up yet.”
“Exactly. Go. Rest.” He closed his eyes as if to shut her out.
She could feel his irritation, but, this time, it wasn’t directed at her. It gave her hope as she pressed on.
“Are you hungry? I could make us some breakfast. If you don’t mind me searching through your fridge, I’m sure I could find something edible.” In fact, she’d been surprised at the amount of food she’d seen. She’d half expected him to only have beer and water and maybe a stray bottle of ketchup. Like Alec’s fridge.
“For the love of christ, what do you want? I don’t want to eat. I don’t want to talk.” He sighed, apparently resigned to her company a few minutes more. “What do you want, Samantha?”
Right now? To slap the shit out of you.
Hurt invaded her chest as she stared back at him. Gone was the pain she’d seen earlier, as well as the male interest. What remained was the Caleb she knew. Cold, hard, angry.
She shoved the hurt away and bit back the sharp retort he deserved. She softened her features, allowing herself to appear vulnerable. It wasn’t much of a stretch. “Can I stay with you?”
* * *
Caleb jerked, surprised by her request. “That’s not a good idea.”
Even as he said the words, his cock came to life. It seemed the lower half of his body thought it was a very good idea. And seeing her in nothing but his T-shirt wasn’t helping. Jesus, he hoped she had panties on under there. A bigger, harder, part of him hoped that she didn’t.
Samantha shifted, exposing more of her delectable thighs. “It’s not like I’m asking you to get a root canal. You can wipe that horrified look off your face.”
Caleb checked his expression, doing his best to appear calm, bored even. She’d surprised the hell out of him, coming in his room like she had.
He was angry. Angry with himself and the past that wouldn’t free him. Angry at her for being here, for looking as if she belonged here. This was his space, damn it. How was he supposed to relax with her prancing around half naked, knowing she’d pleasured herself and called his name?
He wasn’t stupid. He suspected it was his fault she was awake, and now she was here—checking on him as if he was a child who needed coddling. He didn’t need coddling. His body demanded the satisfaction that would only come from pounding his aching flesh deep into her soft, wet pussy.
As tempting as that idea may be, he was still trying to wrap his head around how he felt about her.
“You’re tired. You don’t know what you’re asking.” And he couldn’t think straight. He was low on sleep and even lower on patience. He shoved his hands into his hair and blew out a breath. “You can’t be in here. Go back to bed.” Before he forgot all the reasons he shouldn’t fuck her silly.
“Why did I think… God, I’m such an —” She closed her mouth, her lips drawn into a thin, tight line. Her cheeks flushed as she advanced on him. “I’m sick of you judging me. Telling me what I should and shouldn’t do. If you hadn’t noticed, my night sucked. Hell, the last year has sucked. So, you can shove your overinflated male ego up your own ass. I’m not asking you to have sex with me for chrissake.” She stumbled back and planted her butt on the edge of the bed. “Just for once, Caleb, can’t you set aside your feelings? Forget your stupid sense of responsibility where I’m concerned and just be here for me like a normal person?”
What the fuck?
“My stupid sense of what?”
The laugh that escaped her lips made him uneasy.
“You heard me, horseman.” She eased back to her feet and sauntered toward him. “You think I don’t know how you feel about me? Let me see … troublemaker, instigator, bad influence.” She ticked off the words on her fingers. “Oh, and my personal favorite … menace. Really, Caleb. Menace? That’s a little strong don’t you think?” She fisted her hands on her hips, her eyes glittering with unshed tears. “I know you don’t like me. If it weren’t for Amanda and Alec, I wouldn’t be here and we both know it.” Her chest rose and fell in rapid succession as she glared at him. “And I’m sick of being your charity case.”
Caleb fought the urge to look away. She hadn’t lied about the words he’d uttered to describe her over the years, but to have them slung back at him just pissed him off.
“You want to know what I’m sick of, Samantha? I’m sick of you pushing my buttons. I’m sick of your stubborn-assed attitude when it comes to your own safety and I’m fucking sick and tired of you calling me horseman!” His shout rattled the windows, but he didn’t care. He was on a roll now, like a fucking train wreck, unable to stop.
Crossing his arms over his chest, he glared down at her. “If you and Amanda hadn’t decided the woods were the best place to partake in a little underage drinking, the boys and I wouldn’t have had to saddle up to go find your drunk asses before some wild animal made you a snack. Did you ever think of that, Samantha? During your little adventure with my baby sister, did you stop to consider the consequences? Do you ever?”
Samantha made a noise of disgust and stormed from the room. “This is what I get for trying to be nice,” she yelled.
Caleb went after her, following her into the spare room. “Nice? Nice?” The floodgates were open, his anger and frustration leaving any sense of self-preservation in the dust. “You think calling us the horsemen of the apocalypse is nice? Is that fun for you? Because all it does is remind me of being scared
out of my ever-loving mind that something was going to … that Amanda …” No, he wasn’t going back there.
Not. Going. There.
“And as for my stupid sense of responsibility, I protect what’s mine, damn it!”
Samantha’s sharp intake of breath drifted through his angry haze and punched him in the gut. She sank back to the bed and wiped the tear that escaped the corner of her eye.
It was like ice water to his soul.
This woman tested his restraint. No other woman, save his sister, had ever pushed him so hard. It was infuriating and intoxicating at the same time. She left him off balance, out of control—two things that spelled disaster where he was concerned.
Caleb ran his hands through his hair, settling his palms on the back of his neck.
“Samantha.”
His heart skipped a beat as emotion played out on her face. Sadness, regret, and finally … resolve.
“Get out.” Her voice was soft. “God, what was I thinking? Just get out.”
He stood there, unable to move as he struggled to comprehend the vulnerability pouring out of her. His gaze traveled over the delicate features of her face, the line of her shoulders. The rise of her breasts, her slim waist, and long legs. Her feet were bare. Her toenails were painted a rich red that spoke of fire. Passion.
She shifted on the bed and winced, making him feel like a total ass. Again. Her night had sucked. With her tough-as-nails attitude, Caleb hadn’t considered she might actually need comforting.
He took a deep breath. “I’ll stay.”
Her eyes, blue and blazing, snapped up. “Of course you will. Because why in the hell would you listen to me?”
“You asked me to stay.”
“I asked you to leave.”
“As you so diligently pointed out earlier, I don’t listen.” And he still had things to say.
She rubbed her temples, as if their argument had given her a headache. “Fine. Whatever.”
“Samantha. Look at me.” When she didn’t move, he crouched in front of her. He tilted her chin until she looked at him. “I don’t dislike you. I need you to know that.”
She offered him a sad smile. “The gesture is appreciated, Caleb. Thank you.” She pulled her face away.
Refusing to let her retreat, he tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and cupped her face. Soft, warm skin greeted his palm. He brushed his thumb across her cheek, amazed by its smoothness. “It’s the truth. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean —”
She put a finger to his lips and he barely resisted the urge to open his mouth and taste her.
“Yes, you did. And it’s okay. We may not get along, but at least you’ve never lied to me. Please don’t start now. I’m a big girl, Caleb. I can take it. And I owe you an apology. I’m sorry for not considering your feelings where Amanda is concerned.”
Her touch rocked him. Revamped his desire to have her wet and screaming his name. “I’m sorry for all that.” He offered her what he hoped was a reassuring smile. “I’m so used to you calling me horseman now, I’m afraid I’d never answer to anything else from your lips.” Those sweet, succulent lips. “What is it about you that makes me so crazy?” he murmured.
She chuckled. “I’m too tired to fight anymore, Caleb. The best course of action would be to find the evidence I need to bury Matteo. Then we can move on.”
The mention of her stalker snapped his brain back to attention. He had a job to do. Eliminate the threat and protect Samantha.
Best he remember that.
Distractions led to mistakes. He couldn’t afford any more mistakes.
He forced his voice level, undemanding. “It’d be a lot easier if you’d let us help. Let me help. Trust me to take care of this for you.”
Asking for her trust was a long shot. In truth, he probably didn’t deserve it. But, he had to try. Needed to try. He would protect her.
“Trust you?” She seemed to consider his words. After a moment, she surprised him by nodding. “I can’t promise miracles, but I’ll do my best to follow your lead … until this is over.”
Caleb resisted the insane urge to pump his fist in the air. “So, we have a deal then?”
She caressed her fingers over his jaw. He leaned into her gentle touch, feeling it all the way to his bones.
“Oh, now you’re willing to make deals?” She looked him dead in the eye. “All right then, but once Matteo is caught and the threat against me is gone? You’ll go on with your life and I’ll go on with mine, and hopefully, we can stay out of each other’s way. That’s the deal.”
She dropped her hand to her lap.
“After this, Caleb, we’re done.”
Chapter 5
Oh, hell no. Caleb pushed to his feet. “Explain that.”
She shook her head. “I don’t see how I was unclear.”
Jesus, he’d been on roller coasters that didn’t challenge his stability like she did. Just when he thought they’d finally reached an accord, she’d swiped the rug out from under his feet.
“Try again.” Because there was no way he’d heard her right the first time.
She shrugged. “You said it yourself. I make you crazy. I don’t see what you’re getting all worked up about. All we do is fight. Aren’t you the least bit tired of it?”
He opened his mouth to respond and she cut him off.
“I’m offering you an out. A way to be rid of me forever. Or, at least as much as possible, considering I have no intention of ending my relationship with Amanda. Or Alec. Come on, Caleb. I’d think you’d be happy. This is what you’ve wanted from the beginning. Me, out of your life. When this is over, you can walk away. No more feeling like you have to look out for me. No responsibility. No remorse.”
What if he didn’t want her out of his life? He knew one thing: she damn sure wasn’t going to decide for him.
She made him crazy all right. Caleb clenched his teeth against the pain in his groin. If she made him any crazier, he’d bust out of his shorts.
He was horny, tired, and fed up with Samantha and that sassy mouth of hers. Right now, he didn’t care what anyone else thought. He didn’t care about repercussions. She pushed his buttons like no other woman. He was ready to push a few of his own.
She’d screamed his name once, by god. She’d do it again. Live and in-person.
He softened his features and scanned his gaze over her body—the same way he’d done in his room just a few minutes ago. She’d found pleasure then; he’d seen the signs. The subtle change of her breath, the darkening of her eyes as her pupils expanded, the tightening of her nipples. Tight buds that even now pressed against her shirt. His shirt.
Caleb cocked his head to the side when his vision reached her lap, pondering once again whether she wore panties. His dick was painfully heavy, straining against the nylon of his shorts. One look and she’d know how hard he was for her.
He didn’t have to fake a hungry expression when he met her eyes again.
“Caleb? What the hell?” She crossed her arms over her breasts, appearing nervous. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
He watched the rise and fall of her chest, her breaths coming faster now.
His chuckle sounded foreign in his ears. Dark and husky. “Your hair is such a deep, rich red, Samantha. I wonder…” He let his gaze drift down once again. “Is the hair that covers your pussy just as red? Or do you shave?”
“Had a lot of experience with the grooming habits of women, have you? I wouldn’t have guessed that.” She laughed, seemingly unaffected by his blunt statement.
Caleb knew better, could see it in the flush of her skin and in the way she clenched her thighs together. He knew his way around a woman’s body. He took pride in giving pleasure. He’d learned to watch, to pay attention to every sound, movement, and shift. To ignore a woman’s needs in search of his own would be a grave injustice, because there was nothing more beautiful, more satisfying, than a woman in the throes of passion.
She cleared her thro
at. “I assure you, this color is natural, if that’s what you were wondering.”
“Hmm.” He pretended to consider her answer. He’d meant to shock her—give her a taste of what she’d given him over the years. But, the game didn’t matter anymore. There was only one way this was going to play out. “Your nipples are hard. I’ll bet they’re the color of your lips, and taste just as sweet.”
“Shut the hell up. You don’t know what I taste like. Whatever you’re trying to do, stop it. It’s not funny.”
His cock jumped at the thought of tasting her. For once, his brain and his lower extremity were on the same page. Caleb shoved his fingers through her hair and jerked her head back. “I’m about to find out.”
Samantha whimpered a second before he pressed his lips to hers. He waited a moment, savoring the feel of her soft lips against his and giving her time to slap the shit out of him. Instead, she reached up and grabbed the back of his head, holding him in place as she opened her lips and offered him her tongue.
Not offered. Demanded.
If the vixen thought she’d wrestle control from him, she had another thing coming.
He tightened his grip, a subtle reminder of where he wanted her.
She broke away. “Caleb. What are you —”
He jerked her to her feet and captured her wrists, forcing her hands behind her back. He crushed his mouth to hers in a brutal assault, need overpowering any thought he might’ve had about being gentle. He kept hold of her as he pushed his tongue past her lips, ready for her to either bite him or knee him in the balls. But the taste of her … so worth it. The sweet and spicy essence of her mouth filled him as he took possession.
Samantha latched onto his tongue and sucked hard, still wrestling him for control. Caleb tightened his grip, tugged her hands with a growled warning as he slid his tongue against hers. Like a man starved, he feasted on her mouth.
Samantha relaxed, her hardened nipples brushing against his chest, begging for attention. He shifted his grip, holding her tight with one hand while he smoothed the other under her shirt to cup her breast.
Shadow of Sin (The Martin Family) Page 5