One Step Closer(95)

All conversation stopped as he pushed into her willing body. Her flesh was hot and tight as she stretched to accommodate his size. He couldn’t tell if the ecstasy came from her body or the way he loved her and it didn’t matter. Their hands and mouths were desperate and clinging as they explored and devoured each other in insatiable desire, the longing almost unbearable. He moved on her and inside her, played her body like an instrument, and the closer he got, he still wanted more. The room fell silent except for panting breaths, sighs, and soft moans as love and pleasure started the slow build that Caleb controlled.

“I love you, Wren.” He’d wanted to admit that to her for years and now there was no holding back. His body dug deeper into hers in long slow thrusts that drew out answering surges from her hips. It was like the most perfect dance Wren could ever imagine was playing out between them.

“Jesus, I love you so much. Promise you’ll never leave me,” he breathed against her mouth between kisses.

Emotion overtook her as his words registered a split second before he swooped and took her mouth in another hungry kiss. He tasted so good, and she was starving for him.

Her fingers curled into the flesh of his back, her arms and legs wound around him as tears filled her eyes. Her hips surged against his, her insides clamping down to hold him tighter. She wanted to get closer to his body, to let him feel what he meant to her; to melt right into him as love made her fall apart in his arms. “Oh, Cale. Oh, my God.” Her voice cracked and she couldn’t breathe. “I love you so much, it almost hurts.”

Caleb was overwhelmed, even as his orgasm started to overtake him, his eyes started to burn and his chest felt like it would explode. It took a lot for Caleb to let down his guard, but he trusted Wren and with her, he could crack open. With her, vulnerability wasn’t wrapped in risk; it brought the biggest gift of his life.

He turned and kissed her temple, as his eyes closed and he poured into her. “I know, Wren. Uhggggg,” he groaned deeply. His body jerked and heaved against hers as he came hard. “It’s painful as hell, but it’s so amazing.”

His arms were tight around her and he rolled on to his back, taking her with him as she fell apart around him; her flesh convulsing and quivering, pulling on his. His chest was heaving with the intensity of their lovemaking and the love that threatened to suffocate him. He could feel her hot tears fall onto the skin of his shoulder and neck, mixed with the warm rush of her breath as she struggled for control. They had just laid beautiful and passionate claim on each other and now, still wrapped tightly in each other’s arms, his body still buried in hers, they stilled. Only their breathing came down slowly, and the thin sheen of perspiration covering their skin started to evaporate, making Wren shiver. She was on top and half of her body was bare to the air, so he bent slightly to grab the edge of the comforter to pull it up over her.

The fingers of one of his hands threaded through hers and his other soothed in long strokes down her back as she remained where she was on top of him. He knew she was crying and he blinked quickly to keep his own eyes from tearing up. Caleb wished he never had to move from her bed for the rest of his life.

“There’s no going back for us. Promise me, Wren. He said it again, his voice growing thick. “I could lose everything and anyone and live through it, but I can’t lose you.”

She closed her eyes as her heart squeezed hard inside her chest. She never thought she’d hear more beautiful words. “I promise, Cale.”

He relaxed against her, though his arms still held her close. Wren’s head rested on his chest below his chin, and she could feel him breathe and hear his heart thunder under her ear, proof that he was alive and that he loved her.

“You won’t lose me. Ever.”





When Wren woke and made her way down to the kitchen, she found Jonesy had already started her day. A big bowl of fresh bread dough was covered with a linen towel and left to rise on the counter while the old woman puttered around cleaning up after herself. She was softly humming as she wiped down the cabinets and countertops. She offered Wren a glorious smile when the young woman walked into the kitchen.


“You look happy today, Jonesy!”

“I am!”

It took about a minute and a half for Jonesy to elaborate. “Caleb is out for an early run and then going out to lunch with Dex. And, hallelujah; I think we’ve seen the last of Macy!” Wren took a seat on one of the stools near where Jonesy was working, not bothering to get any coffee or orange juice. “She didn’t look very happy when Caleb put her in that Toyota, I can tell you.”

Wren nodded without thinking. Jonesy had no way of knowing Wren was privy to the other young woman’s plans. She couldn’t help a small sigh of relief. “That is a plus. How’d he take it?”

“Hummph!” Jonesy wrinkled her nose and rolled her eyes.

It was such so unusual to see Jonesy mocking anyone, it almost made Wren laugh out loud. “That good, huh?” She smiled.

“I don’t know what he saw in her in the first place. She was about as nice as a wildcat in a fight with a rattle snake.”

“I thought she was pushy, that’s for sure.”

Wren wished she could confide in Jonesy about Caleb, but didn’t feel right about doing it before they both agreed.

“Pushy!” Jonesy scoffed. She took out a pan and put a few eggs on to boil, adding the cold eggs, some salt and white vinegar to the water. “She’s a bulldozer!” She huffed wryly as she set a glass of orange juice and a warm mug of coffee in front of Wren.