He closes the distance between us, stretching over the counter to press a soft, sweet kiss to my waiting lips.

That’s all it is, one small kiss, and then he’s settling back into his seat, bringing his slice of pizza back to his mouth.

So why does it feel like so much more?

Mittens jumps onto the counter, somewhere he’s not usually allowed, and begins to rub against me.

“What about him?” Caleb asks. “Is he going with us?”

“Oh definitely. There’s no way I’d leave the little guy here.”

“And your parents are cool with bringing him?”

“Are you kidding? My mom is half in love with him already and she hates cats, and my dad cannot wait to snuggle the little guy.”

Caleb tilts his head at me. “Have you been sending your parents pictures of my cat?”

“Hell yeah I have. He’s adorable as shit!”

“You’re not wrong.” He dips his head down. “You also know he’s sniffing at your pizza, right?”

I glance down. “Shit! Mittens!” I shoo him off the counter. “Get!”

He takes off, his paws slipping against the counter, causing his legs to catch my plate and flip it up. My pizza goes flying into the air and makes a loud smack against the kitchen floor.

I look down at it, annoyed. “Guess I should just be glad it’s not on the carpet.”

Caleb smiles at me sheepishly. “Sorry. He’s really cute though.”

“Argh. I know.”

I pick up the slice of pizza and deposit it in the trash before pulling off a paper towel and wiping up the mess on the floor.

“So, uh, what did Delia say?” Caleb asks.

I peek his way and notice how he’s not looking mine. He’s curious, but he’s also scared. He doesn’t want her to hate us either.

I rest against the counter, staring at him. “She wants me to be happy.”

“And are you?” He finally looks at me. “Are you happy, Zoe?”

“I’m well on my way there.”

Sixteen

“We need to head to bed. We’re going to have a long day tomorrow.”

We.

The word rolls off his tongue so easily, and I love the way it sounds.

Caleb and I have been sharing a bed for a few weeks now and, much to my surprise, it’s been tame. We’ve spent several nights kissing until our lips are numb, but it’s not moved any further than that.

He clicks off the TV and stands, holding his hand out to me. “Come on.”

I place my hand in his and let him pull me up. “But I’m not sleepy.”

“If you at least come lie down, I’ll make sure to wear you out.”

He sends me a saucy wink, and I barely hold in my laugh as we make our way down the hall to my bedroom.

Our nighttime routine is habit now. Caleb pees then brushes his teeth while I slip off my bra. Then I brush my teeth while he changes into his sleep pants, moves all the pillows off the bed, and folds the covers down.

Coming back into the bedroom from the bathroom, I click off the light just as Caleb’s pulling the blanket up and around his neck.

“Ugh. Am I going to have to fight you for the covers all night long again?”

“Maybe…but you secretly like it.”

“How could I possibly like it?” I say, climbing into bed and nestling down next to him.

“Because then I’m all warm and cozy and you get to snuggle up close to me.”

“Is that what you think? That I like sleeping plastered to your side so your boner pokes me in the back all night long?”

“Yes.”

I laugh at his honesty. “You’re only half right.”

“That’s good enough for me.” Caleb stretches an arm around me and pulls me closer to him. “Hi,” he says on an exhalation.

“Hi.”

He presses a feather-light kiss against my forehead and I sigh.

“Did you just sigh?”

I stiffen at his question, self-conscious. “No.”

His body shakes with laughter. “Liar.”

“You are so annoying.”

“But you like me.”

“That’s highly debate—”

Caleb’s lips capture my own, and suddenly we’re lost in a kiss.

The way he moves his mouth over mine, the way his soft lips feel, it’s all so…noteworthy, and I can’t seem to get enough of him. I want more—so much more.

We roll until he’s lying on top of me, our lips never once disconnecting. I’m pressed against all his good parts as his mouth continues to work mine over, his tongue pushing against the seam of my lips. I open for him and nearly sigh again as he invades my mouth.

His movements are so slow, calculated. It’s like he’s making love to my mouth. His hips are rolling into me just as his tongue sweeps over mine. He knows exactly what he’s doing to me.

He pulls his mouth from mine, running his lips down my chin and over my throat before blazing a path down to my chest. His hands snake under the t-shirt I’m wearing, slowly climbing higher and higher until I can feel his fingers graze the undersides of my breasts.

We’ve never gone this far before. He knows, and I know it too.

His eyes find mine, seeking permission, and I nod.

Gently, he cups my breasts, and he’s delightfully surprised when he finds what’s waiting for him.

“Your nipples are pierced?”

“They are.”

He drops his head into the crook of my neck, groaning. “Oh fuck, Zoe.” He rocks his hips against me again. “Fuuuuuuck. You’re killing me here.”

“Caleb.”

He doesn’t move, but I can feel his heavy breath on me as he tries to calm himself.

“Caleb,” I say again.

This time he lifts his head, and his dark blue eyes are nearly black.

“Pull my shirt off.”

Moments later I’m lying topless, hair fanned out around me, a hungry Caleb staring down at me with pure desire.

“Can I…”

“Please,” I beg.

He holds my stare as he dips his head and closes his mouth around my left nipple. I nearly fly off the bed. The perfect pressure, the perfect connection…

He’s the perfect guy.

I wrap my legs around his waist, pulling him closer with every touch. I hold his head to me as his tongue sweeps over my nipples, taking time to kiss and suck on each one. His hips drive into me, his erection rubbing against my clit with every move he makes.

My panties are soaked, and I know he can feel the evidence of what he’s doing to me.

“Caleb…” His name leaves my lips on a moan.

“I know, Zoe. I know.”

He reaches down between us, his hand dipping into the waistband of my sleep shorts. His fingers graze over my mound, sliding down until he finds my clit. He begins drawing slow, lazy circles with the tips of his fingers, and I want to scream and cry and fall apart all at once.

Between his mouth on my breasts and his fingers on my clit, I’m about to combust.

“I…can’t… It’s too much.”

My nipple pops free of his mouth, his teeth catching just the tip, and it’s enough to send me over the edge.

My legs begin to shake, back arching off the bed. I can’t seem to catch my breath as my orgasm washes over me.

I can feel Caleb’s smile against my cheek as he peppers kisses across my face.

“You okay?” he asks.

“Oh yeah.”

He laughs and rolls off me, sitting up next to me. “Good.”

“Are you okay?”

“Me? Oh I’m good.”

“Do you need me to…you know.”

He flashes his eyes downward. “You did.”

“What?” I lift up on my elbows and peer around him.

Sure enough, there’s a wet spot on the front of his shorts.

“Did you come in your pants without me even touching your dick?”

He coughs out a laugh. “When you put it that way, I sound like a juvenile teenager who can’t control his pecker.”

“No, no, it’s not that. It’s actually kind of…hot.”

“Hot?”

“Oh yeah. A woman loves when a man loves pleasuring her. That’s proof right there that you got off on me getting off.”

“Or it was me basically grinding into your mattress.”

I shake my head and lie back down against my pillow. “Don’t ruin the magic, Caleb.”

He leans over, his arms caging me into a box as he stares down at me.

“That was all you, Zoe. Watching you fall apart, feeling you beneath me…” His eyes dart to my exposed breasts, gaze turning lustful again as he bites at his lip. “Those fucking nipple rings of yours…” His attention returns to me. “It was all you.”

I grab at his shirt and pull him down until I’m able to press a kiss against his lips. “Good.”

He points to his lap. “I’m going to clean this up. Sleep.”

“We would have been asleep ages ago if you weren’t all over me.”

“It’s your fault you’re so irresistible.”

“That so? I’m going to hold you to that, Caleb.”

He mutters something indecipherable as he makes his way to the bathroom. I hear the shower kick on and I roll over onto my side, thinking.