Instinctively, I move toward him, climbing on the bed as he fights, wrapping my arms around his body and pressing my warmth into his sweat soaked skin.
‘Please! Please!’ he’s begging, ‘Oh God, help us!’
‘Shhh’ I soothe, plastering my body to his and starting to stroke his hair, ‘it’s OK, everything is OK.’
Caleb whimpers, but his body starts to still, the older man curling toward me, his grip on the bed releasing only to grab onto my sleep shirt and hold on tightly.
‘That’s it Caleb, that’s right, you’re OK’ I whisper, gently rocking us as I gather him tighter.
‘I’m so sorry’ the difficult man in my arms whimpers, ‘I let you down, please don’t hate me. Please, come back, I don’t want to be alone.’
‘No one hates you Caleb’ I murmur, ‘nobody blames you, it isn’t your fault, none of it is your fault.’
I don’t know what he’s dreaming about, but my words seem to soothe him, his eyes are still closed but are no longer screwed up in pain.
‘There you go, that’s right, just relax, I’ve got you’ I continue, ‘I’m right here, you aren’t alone.’
I rub circles on his back, my chest hurting as the strong man in my arms whimpers like a scared child, clinging to me. Slowly, his breathing evens out and the vice like grip on the back of my shirt relaxes.
Delicately, I try to extract myself from Caleb’s arms, but the sleeping man’s grip immediately tightens again, the anguished whimpers returning until I give up and lay down beside him, holding him close to me.
His body instantly relaxes again, his muscular arms wrapped around my waist, holding me close so that we are chest to chest, the silver metal dog tags that are around his neck, resting between us, warm from his body heat.
As I’m unable to move, I take the opportunity to study the man beside me, taking in his dark blonde hair that’s cut close to his head. The chiseled jaw that has just the hint of scruff to it, making me want to rub over it with my palm, feel the roughness against my skin.
His lashes are long and dark, dusting across his skin as he sleeps, full lips slightly pursed as he breathes deeply, his warm breath skating over my face.
I trail my gaze down his body, which is still exposed from kicking off the sheets during his night terror. Firm muscles, that are usually hidden by the expensive suits he wears, bulge enticingly from his arms. His legs are thick and solid, proof of what must have been years of dedication to his physique.
I blush slightly as I realise he’s only wearing a pair of black boxers which hug his frame and I wish I could wriggle slightly to see more of what that bit of fabric is covering.
I gently run my fingers over the ridges of Caleb’s back, following the curves and bunches of his muscles, careful not to wake him.
Inhaling deeply, I swallow the groan that tries to escape, even after his nightmare, the man smells amazing. Something citrusy with a woodsy edge that makes me want to press my nose into the crook of his neck and lick him.
The man shifts beside me and the movement causes him to brush against my leg, my breath hitching from the feeling. Something long, hard and steadily growing harder sends electric tingles through me. My God, how big is he?
Caleb moans softly, murmuring something quietly and I lean closer trying to make out what he’s saying but I can’t catch it. He shifts again, turning so he’s lying on his back, pulling me with him so I’m sprawled across his chest. His hand releases the back of my top, his fingers trailing across my back and comes to rest on my hip. I can feel the warmth of his palm through my thin sleep shorts, his possessive hold scalding the flesh underneath causing heat to pool between my legs.
It takes everything in me not to rub myself against him, my beaded nipples aching from their contact with his hard planes
I need to leave! Placing a hand on the other side of his body, I slowly push myself upwards, hovering over him as his hand slips from my side and lands on the bed beside him. I still, holding my breath as I wait to see if the movement will wake him, but other than a mumbled protest, my stepbrother remains asleep.
Inching myself to the side, I roll over to face the wall, preparing to slide out of the bed when huge, heavy arm falls across me and I’m hauled back into a firm chest.
‘No’ Caleb mumbles sleepily, ‘stay, don’t want to be alone.’
I peek back in surprise over my shoulder at him but he’s still asleep only now he has me caged against him, my back to his front, the erection I could feel against my legs moments ago now nestled between my ass cheeks. A light snore tickles the back of my neck and I force myself not to concentrate on what’s poking me, knowing I need to get out of here before Caleb wakes up.
I silently huff, wriggling again to no avail before sighing softly and relaxing into the mattress. I’m obviously not going anywhere at the moment, I’ll just have to wait, give him a few minutes and he’ll probably get over heated and let me go, then I can go back to my own room.
Yep, that’s what I’ll do, I just need to be patient and his grip will loosen on me as he falls deeper into sleep. He’s probably still raw over the nightmare, holding on to whoever it was he was dreaming about, he’ll let go soon.
I yawn, my eyes drooping slightly, just need to wait . . . I’ll head back to bed soon, just needs a few minutes . . . .
Mackenzie’s POV
My fingers shake slightly as I hold the piece of paper between my thumb and forefinger that was delivered through the post this morning, reading the black printed words for what feels like the fiftieth time.
‘You won’t get away with what you’ve done, you can’t just take what’s mine and run.’
That’s all it says, no name, no signature, nothing. I grab the envelope and look over the front, trying to see where it was posted from, but the stamp is smeared, making it impossible to read.
I suck in a breath, knowing that I can’t ignore what’s going on anymore, I need to involve the police.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.