One Step Closer(108)

“There are two months of rehearsals and then it goes into production for the season.”

“Will they take it out with a touring group next year?”

“Yes, but I don’t have to do it, Cale. I’m not sure what I want to do, but I already miss you.”

“We’ll see each other. I can commute on the weekends sometimes.”

Wren’s head lifted and she met his eyes, a hopeful smile curving her lips. “Really?”

“I’ve missed your face. You’re so beautiful, Wren.” Caleb’s index finger ran down her velvety cheek and he bent his head to kiss her.

Wren’s mouth opened under his and his tongue slid inside. The kiss deepened when Wren’s hands wound in his hair to cup the back of his head and instinctively, Caleb shifted her beneath him. Her legs parted to welcome him into the cradle of her body and he pressed his rapidly hardening erection into her soft heat. It wasn’t long until they were making out like a couple of high school kids, kissing wildly and dry humping through their clothes.

Caleb pulled his mouth and collapsed on top of her with a groan. “Uhhhhh,” he breathed. “I can’t take this, Wren. Unless you want to give Molls an all-night show, we have to get out of here.”

“Molls?” Wren’s eyebrow lifted wryly, as Caleb climbed off of her to stand up, then turned his back and adjusted himself. Jeans and a hard dick did not work well together.

“Yup.” His expression was coy when he turned back around. She was grinning so obviously she was aware of his uncomfortable predicament. “Come on. Get whatever you need for tomorrow and let’s go into the city.”

“I’m so tired, Cale. I don’t want to run around Manhattan.” Wren went limp, still lying where he left her, but her eyes dropped suggestively to the bulge still visible in his pants. She smiled suggestively. Wren was really tired, but she was enjoying the casual play with Caleb.

“Who said anything about running? We’ll take a cab.” He grinned, then bent and lifted her like she was a child before setting her on her feet.

“Hurry up. I’m about to take advantage of you, and we need a bigger bed, privacy, and room service.”

“Pretty sure of me, I guess?” Wren went to the dresser that stood across the room and took a clean black leotard a pair of tights, and a short wrap skirt out of the top drawer. She went into the closet to get a light pink blouse and a pair of black jeans, and after swapping out her dirty clothes, she packed up the duffle bag Caleb had dropped just inside the door.

“Taking advantage of you is optional since you’re wiped out, sweetheart. I’ll run you a bath and order a nice dinner. We can just relax, and I’ll rub your feet or something.”

Wren giggled softly. “Or something,” she repeated.

It wasn’t ten minutes later, and Wren was falling asleep against Caleb in the back of a cab on their way into Manhattan. New York was a big difference from Downtown Denver or even San Francisco. Skyscrapers towered into the sky for miles and the city was bustling with people walking the streets in masses. The giant billboards, endless lights, honking horns and seas of yellow cabs and black sedans cutting each other off were unnerving to Caleb. Wren, however, was fast asleep with her head on his shoulder and clinging to his arm, oblivious to her surroundings. He had one arm draped over her legs; his hand wrapped possessively around her opposite thigh.

He couldn’t believe how possessive he felt about her; how proud he was of all she’d accomplished, or how much contentment he had just knowing he had her heart. In a man and woman way, not because of how he’d always taken care of her.

Twenty-four hours earlier, his life could have come crashing down in an irreparable mess. He couldn’t bear to think about it. Glancing down at Wren’s sleeping from, cuddled so close against him, all of the bad thoughts fled his mind. They each had a horrible, dark past that brought them together, but the future looked incredibly bright.





CALEB HAD CHECKED into the Hilton Suites in Midtown Manhattan before he’d gone to find Wren’s apartment. He dropped his bag off in the luxurious room. The suite was top of the line and he’d requested one with a big Jacuzzi bathtub. He’d been confident enough to hope Wren would spend the night with him, and if so, it would help soak away any aching muscles.


The second the door to their suite closed, Caleb dropped Wren’s bag and took her in his arms. He’d been aching to go wild on her from the moment he saw her walking toward him on the sidewalk.

On the way to the hotel, he’d told himself that he wouldn’t attempt to make love to her because she was physically spent. But once they were alone together, there was no holding back for either of them.

He quickly turned her around so her back was against the door. Instantly, he was pressing her into it with his own body. Desire drove them both, as they frantically grappled with each other’s clothing during an assault of passionate kissing.

Caleb pulled at the hem of Wren’s shirt, and she raised her arms so he could remove it more easily. “You don’t need this,” he breathed against her mouth, tossing it to the floor without taking his eyes off her. He was lifting her higher against the door at the same time his tongue slipped into her mouth.

Wren moaned softly as she felt the evidence of his desire pushing and pressing into her as he thrust slowly against her. Her fingers worked madly to free the buttons of his white dress shirt so they could hungrily explore his chest. It was delicious and frantic, yet it turned into slow, sweet torture.