Page 35 of Wishes for August
“I’m good, thanks.” And because my mouth was moving of its own free will I added, “I’m not looking for a Daddy.”
“That’s a pity,” the stranger quipped, a mischievous grin prominent on his handsome face. “I’d love to put you over my knee… such a shame. You sure I can’t convince you?”.
“I’m sure,” I said, pulling my arm from under his. He shrugged, gave me one final look over and walked away, leaving behind his rich scent and his lingering words.
They turned hot and sticky inside me and a tingle of arousal started in my toes, creeping up my spine. Forest green eyes flashed in my mind, and my body instantly reacted, my heart beating so wildly I couldn’t hear anything besides its unsteady rhythm in my ears.
Caleb.
I needed him. I craved him.
Pushing myself up from my seat, I paid my tab and stumbled out of the bar, ordering a rideshare to the one place I wanted to go more than anything. My actions were selfish, I knew it. The last thing Caleb needed was me in this state. Angry and hurt ready to fight the world or hide from it, I wasn’t sure.
Pulling up my messages and finding his address, from the time we'd shared a cab to the airport, I ordered a rideshare withone destination in mind. Like I said, it was selfish, but I did it anyway.
Chapter 20
Caleb
I’d thought about inviting August over about a thousand times since we arrived back in London but every time I did I warred with myself, because as much as I was enjoying this arrangement - and I was fucking loving it - I was also struggling to not get attached, to keep my distance, to walk away at the end of the night.
On our last night in New York, it had been a fight to climb out of his bed and into my own, my gut churning with every step I took away from him. The whole time I kept asking myself if he’d really end this thing between us if I stayed, if I cuddled him and fell asleep with my legs entwined in his, my lips against his neck. But I didn’t want to take the risk. Whatever this was between us, I was not ready for it to end.
I warred with myself but in the end decided to give him space and just see him on Monday.
“Come on boy, bedtime,” I said to Hamlet, standing and ushering him off of the sofa where he had been sleeping next to me. I closed him in the kitchen and made my way up to my room where I changed and brushed my teeth before pulling the blanket down and climbing into bed.
My head had just hit the pillow, sleep edging on the periphery when I heard a loud knock on the front door. Perplexed at who would be stopping by at such a late hour, I climbed out of bed, threw on a t-shirt and padded downstairs.
The night was cool and I shivered as my bare feet walked along the hardwood floors. I heard Hamlet stirring in the kitchen but didn’t let him out. Opening the door, I was surprised but not displeased to find August.
He stood there, his cheeks flushed, and his eyes wild. Over the few weeks we’d gotten to know each other, I’d become an expert at reading the emotions that flitted unguarded across his face. But this August? This was new and honestly, a little unnerving.
His eyes flicked to mine and I noticed they were ever so slightly red rimmed and he was swaying slightly. He had an intensity about him that stalled my breathing, making me both nervous and aroused.
“Hi,” I said as his gaze held me trapped, rooted to the spot.
His body was tense as he stepped right into my space, fumbling slightly over the lip of the door frame. He pressed both his hands to my chest and pushed me firmly backwards and into my entry hall, pushing until I was across the room. I stumbled backwards and my back hit the wall with a thud as a whoosh of air escaped my lungs. August rounded on me, coming so close I could smell the liquor on his breath.
“Babe? Are you drunk?” He didn’t answer me. Instead, he brought his arms up, caging me in on either side of my head. I pressed one palm to his chest and felt his heart beating wildly against it. I opened my mouth to ask him what was wrong buthe silenced me when he slammed his mouth against mine and pressed his tongue between my lips. None of this felt right and my heart tripped at the onslaught of his fierce kiss. I let him in, a groan escaping his throat as I did. His mouth tasted bitter and so unlike him that I pulled away, pushing him a step back.
“August, what’s going on?” I panted. He had been fine when we were texting earlier so what had happened since then?
“Nothing. I’m fine,” he snapped at me as he stepped forward again, gripping me tightly by the hips and pulling me forward to crash against him. “Take off your clothes, Caleb,” he said, his voice cold and commanding as he reached for my joggers and started pulling them down roughly.
For once I didn’t want to obey him.
“Stop August, stop.” Grabbing his hands on my waistband, I held them steady, halting his movements. “What’s going on?” He shook my hands from his as he took a step back, his eyes burning with fire.
“I want to fuck, Caleb. Take. Off. Your. Fucking. Clothes.” He said each word like a snake spitting venom and my heart dropped in my chest at the bite in his voice.
“This isn’t you August, please talk to me, tell me what’s going on,” I pleaded with him as I reached out my hand. He stepped back again, creating a bigger distance between us and closed his eyes. I noticed his body vibrating subtly, simmering with lust or anger I didn’t know.
“Aug,” I tried again but he opened his eyes and interrupted me, his words a slap to the face.
“If you don’t want to fuck, then why am I even here Caleb? This is a complete waste of my time. I have options, plenty of options. Hell, I turned down a perfectly good time to come here, so if you don’t want me anymore, I will find someone who does.”
I knew this thing between us was likely to be temporary but I’d fooled myself into thinking we’d have so much more timetogether and that in time, he’d change his mind about just being friends. Though he vehemently insisted this was only sex between us, my heart had convinced me otherwise.