He doesn’t say anything, just stares at me.

I take a sip of my coffee and clear my throat. “You’re not so one-dimensional, Caleb, and you kind of rock my world because of it.”

Caleb shifts in his seat, not meeting my eyes. I can tell he’s feeling a bit uncomfortable with everything I just admitted, but it feels good to get it off my chest.

I watch him stare out the window, his brows drawn tightly together, mouth crumpled in the corners in concentration.

Just as I’m about to say something to change the subject, he opens his mouth.

“You know, that’s when I really started noticing you too. I mean, you were always this kind of force to be reckoned with, but it wasn’t until Delia went through all that shit and you were there for her that I realized how great you really were.” He finally looks my way. “Do you remember that night you went out with Delia after she and I broke up?”

I cover my face with my hands. “I was so drunk that night.”

He peels my hands away and gives me a lopsided smirk. “I meant before that part. You were just so…free, and fun. I was there for a while before I finally approached you two, just sitting in the corner watching you dance and flirt your way around the room, hoping and praying you’d come flirt with me too.” He winces. “Then I felt like such an ass because Delia and I had just broken up.”

“I kept calling you a douchebag the entire night and you wanted me to flirt with you?”

“I said before you were drunk, remember?” he teases. “Anyway, that was the first time I really felt a pull toward you. It’s increased every time I’ve seen you since.”

My heart is pounding in my chest at his words, my ears starting to thrum to the beat.

“Every time?”

“Every damn time. Hell, even though I live with you, it still increases daily. There’s just something pulling me closer and closer your way.” He shakes his head. “God, I sound so stupid.”

“I feel that too, Caleb.” I turn my attention to the window, my head swimming with so many thoughts. “According to Delia, it’s a good thing. She says we’re falling,” I say almost absentmindedly.

Just then Rosco appears at the end of the table, plates in hand.

“All right, two stacks of peanut butter banana pancakes, extra whipped cream, and a sprinkle of chocolate chips. Plus a side of bacon,” he says as he deposits our meals.

“Oh god, it looks just as good as I remember,” I nearly moan.

“Tastes just as good too,” Rosco promises. “You guys need anything else?”

“Syrup?”

He holds up a finger. “Ah ah.” Reaching into his apron, he pulls out a bottle of syrup that I know for a fact is going to be warmed and sets it on the table. “For the lady.”

I give him a thumbs-up. “We’re good to go then.”

He throws me a wink. “I’ll be back for my tip in a bit. Enjoy.”

I grab the syrup and pour a hefty amount all over my plate, including on the bacon.

“This is either going to give me a boner or a sugar rush,” Caleb says as he begins cutting into his pancakes. “Or both.”

I watch as he takes his first bite, his mouth closing slowly over the fork before he pulls it out clean. His eyes float closed and his body slacks in ecstasy. I would know, because I’ve been that person before.

“Fuuuuuck. You’ve ruined me, Zoe. Completely ruined me.”

“It’s amazing, isn’t it? You’re welcome.”

“It’s official: we’re retiring here.”

We’re.

I don’t miss it.

I’m certain he doesn’t mean it in the way that’s making my heart jump into my throat, but damn does the word feel good to hear.

We devour our meals in near silence, the only sounds are Caleb’s moans and our forks scraping against the plates.

As we’re pushing our empty dishes aside, Caleb speaks.

“For what it’s worth, Zoe, you rock my world too.”

Nineteen

“This was all an elaborate plan to get me to dog sit with you, wasn’t it?”

“No,” I say not so innocently.

“Uh huh.” Caleb rubs Magnus’s ears. “She’s a big fat liar, isn’t she Magnus?” He barks. “See, even he doesn’t believe you.”

“You’re full of shit, aren’t you, Magnus?” He barks again, and I lift my brow, silently saying, See, he’s clueless.

“Mittens is not thrilled with this situation right now.”

He’s not wrong. The cat is currently curled into a ball on my lap, throwing daggers his owner’s way. Mittens is rather displeased by Magnus’s constant need for attention from Caleb, and he’s even less happy that he’s now resting his head in his lap and staring over at him with mirth.

“I’m sorry, buddy. I’ll make it up to you.” Caleb goes to pet Mittens, but he bats away his attempt.

“Oooooh, sick burn, Mittens! High five.” I grab his paw and bump it against mine.

“You’re both horrible.”

“Says the betrayer.”

Caleb throws his arms in the air and Magnus whines at the loss of his touch. “It’s not my fault he’s attached to me.” He covers the dog’s ears. “The craziest part is that I don’t even really like dogs.”

As if he can hear and understand him, Magnus chooses that moment to amble away, head dropped low.

“Great, now you’ve hurt his feelings, Caleb.”

“He’ll be all right.” He turns toward me. “So, plans for tonight?”

“Can’t we just sit on the couch like we’ve been doing all day? It’s so comfy here.”

“I can’t deny that, but nope. I want to take you out. It’ll be our first official date as boyfriend and girlfriend.”

“That’s not true—we went to That Pancake Joint.”

“Okay, how about our first romantic date, huh?”

We’ve been at my parents’ house for several days now, splitting our time between soaking up the beach rays, hiking, and being lazy on the couch. To say it’s been relaxing is an understatement, but I can’t deny that I’m getting a little bored. Maybe a night out will do us some good.

I groan. “I guess I can put pants on for one night.”

Caleb grabs at the blanket I have covering my lap, trying to peek underneath. “You didn’t put any pants on after the beach? I want to see.”

I swat away his attempts. “Get out of here, you pervert! You cannot talk dirty to me when I have a kitten in my lap. That is just weird, Caleb.”

He lifts Mittens from my lap and holds the cat out in front of him, mock glaring at him. “You’re killing my game, bro.”

Mittens responds by licking his paw and not giving two shits. Caleb lets him go and then turns my way, his eyes darkening with desire.

He moves onto his knees and crawls toward me across the couch, his lips pulled into a teasing smirk. “Now, about that no pants thing.”

He’s lying on top of me now, settled comfortably between my legs.

“What?” I say.

“Are you really not wearing pants?”

“Maybe.”

He rolls his hips into me and I do everything I can not to gasp at the contact, but he can tell. He can feel it, can see the reaction in my eyes.

“Maybe…yes?”

“Maybe.”

Another roll into me. “Any answer yet?”

“Nope.”

“We’re going to be here all night at this point.” He titters.

I lift a shoulder. “Or I’m just waiting until you get me off.”

He lets out a surprised half-gasp, half-laugh kind of thing. “You’re such a little shit.”

Then he’s kissing me. His tongue begs for entrance and I allow it, pulling him closer and wrapping my legs around his waist, my heels digging into his ass. His lips move over mine with such finesse that it’s not long before my hips are the ones rolling. I’m desperate for any sort of contact. I grab at his shirt and he pulls away long enough to rip it off over his head, somehow still keeping that stupidly sexy baseball cap on his head.

Goddamn.

I race my hands over the muscles of his back, digging my nails in with just enough bite to keep it fun.

He lets out a gasp, the sound lost in the moans I emit as his erection drives into me again, rubbing against my clit. This feels reminiscent of our past activities, but somehow the need for more is stronger, harsher.

I want Caleb naked, and I want him naked now.

I drag my hands down his back and straight under the band of the boxer briefs he’s wearing beneath his sweats. I stop for only a moment to admire the number of squats he must do for his ass to feel this good before I trace a light path around to his front. I take my time teasing him, gently running my fingertips over his thighs before finally palming his hard cock.

Caleb tears his mouth away and rests his forehead against mine, his severe breaths so loud in the otherwise quiet room.

“We have to stop,” he begs as he pushes his hips into my hand.

He wants this just as much as I do, maybe even more.

“Why? We’ve been playing this game for days now. You keep dancing me to the edge and then BAM! You back off. I don’t even have balls and my balls are blue. You kiss me, touch me, and you won’t leave my stupid nipple rings alone, but you won’t bang me?”