Becoming Calder (A Sign of Love Novel)(62)

Somewhere in the next wing I heard soft voices. I moved quickly down the stairway and across the large expanse of the two-story living room.
I moved through the empty kitchen and down the back hallway until I stood outside the laundry room. Everything was utterly quiet now.
I put my hand on the doorknob and turned it very slowly and opened it on a small squeak. I froze and waited and when no other sound came from anywhere in the house, I opened the door and slipped inside. A hand went over my mouth and an arm went around my waist. Calder's eyes were narrowed at me. He let out a breath and took his hand off my mouth.
"Are you crazy?" he whispered.
I threw my arms around his neck and buried my face at his throat and inhaled his delicious scent, calm washing over me. I nodded my head yes to answer his question.
He released a breath and brought his arms up and around me. I leaned back and whispered, "You're so close. I couldn't sleep. I—" His mouth came down on mine and he kissed me passionately, as if to tell me he had been feeling the same way.
After a few minutes, he broke away from my lips and put his forehead to mine, breathing harshly. "Eden, we can't risk this. Hector's . . . I don't know, like we talked about, he's different. I don't know if it's just what he's seen between us, or something that happened on his pilgrimage, or something more. But if we're going to get out of here, we have to be so careful."
"I know. Calder, what happened today? I was so worried about you. I thought you would drown. I didn't know what to do."
He put a finger to my lips, looking tenderly into my eyes. "I was fine. I'll fight if I need to, I promise. But you have to trust I'll know when that’s necessary and when it's not, all right?"
I nodded. "Okay."
He smiled again. "Okay." He looked over my shoulder for a minute and then back at me. "Today, Eden, when my head was under that water and I could just make out Hector's words, I . . ." he paused for a minute, seeming to collect his thoughts, "I don't know, this feeling of peace filled me, like I was being told everything was going to be okay. It was as if the gods weren't cruel or judgmental like Hector'd have us believe. I felt this feeling of acceptance. I felt like they were offering me strength to get out of here, to make a life for us. It's hard to explain. Do I sound oxygen deprived? Do I sound crazy?"
I smiled and shook my head. "No. What you're saying is the first rational-sounding thing I've ever heard. I think it was the God of Mercy whispering to you."
Calder chuckled. "It made it more clear to me that we need to get out of here as soon as possible. And that's why," he kissed my lips softly, "you can't be down here."
I let out a breath. "I know. I'll go in a minute. I just . . . I need you so much, Calder. I want you. I want all of you. And I want you to have all of me. I want you . . . inside of me." My eyes widened and so did his. "Maybe if you took me, and we told Hector . . .  he'd make us leave."
"Shh, Eden," Calder said, smoothing my hair. "I’m not taking your virginity when it has anything to do with Hector at all. And if Hector made us leave today, we'd have to come begging back by morning." His jaw ticked. "When we leave, it has to be for good."
I nodded. He took me by my hand and led me to a blanket and a flat pillow that was lying on the ground under the window. Two dogs, overly friendly mutts that did nothing more than raise their heads and moan softly, lay on dog beds in front of the large washing machine, beds far more plush than what Calder had been given.
We sat down on the blanket and Calder lay back, bringing me with him so I was lying against his bare, muscular chest. I turned my nose into his skin and inhaled.
"I've always slept on the floor. This is no hardship for me. In fact, see this," Calder said, pointing his finger out the window, "now, I have a perfect view of the moon, and the city lights. I've never slept next to a window before. I've never had cool air that came right out of vents in the floor," he said, gesturing over to the other side of the room. "Soon, we're going to be out in that city, under that same moon." He wrapped both arms around me and pulled me tightly against him. "And when you go back to your room tonight, I'll know I'm closer to you than I was yesterday, and my bed will have your smell all over it." He smiled down at me and leaned forward and kissed my forehead.
"On the floor with dogs, or in a bed fit for a king," I whispered back, "I'd choose you, Calder. I'd sleep on a bed of nails if it meant I was touching you."
"Don't give Hector any ideas."