Chapter 6

6

GAbrIELLA

“ Y ou want me to live here with you?” I ask. This is the fanciest place I think I’ve ever been in. I'm hesitant to touch anything. It screams wealth and stature. Two things I know little about.

“Do you not like it?” Caleb glances around. The place is beautiful but it is also bare. I suppose that really makes it a blank palette for holiday decorations. I’ll be able to make it more warm and welcoming. There are so many ideas already floating through my mind.

“It’s so shiny and nice.” I hold my suitcase closer to me while Caleb sets my trash bags right down on a fancy bench thing that is next to the elevator. They appear so ridiculous and out of place. I think a bit like me. This is all so surreal.

“Relax, Gabriella, it's just things and a house.” Caleb, being his normal sweet self, tries to reassure me. “This controls a lot of the house.” He picks up an iPad. At least that’s what it looks like. I follow him deeper into his home, my eyes taking everything in. It even smells brand-new in here. It’s hard to describe the aesthetic. Everything has a place. If I had to, I would say the space looks as though it’s staged for a showing. There are no personal touches around.

We enter what I’m guessing is a living room. You step down into it. Couches surround it, forming a giant U shape. There is a stone wall with a massive fireplace carved out. I can see decorations and stockings hanging from it in my imagination. It wouldn’t take much to warm this place up a bit.

“See here.” He shows me the pad, clicking away. The fireplace sparks to life while a TV begins to descend from the ceiling. The amount of technology in this place is a bit overwhelming. All of it is incredible. With another press of a button, the curtains begin to pull back to reveal floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the city.

“Wow.” I walk over to the window to get a better view. It’s breathtaking. The way the falling snow looks from this high up makes me feel as though I’m inside a snowglobe. You can see forever from all the way up here. The bridge in the distance is adorned with holiday lights.

“There are two bedrooms on this floor and three upstairs.” He motions toward the glass staircase. My first thought is that I could put garland up with lights. “I don’t really use the second floor, but there is a rooftop area up there you can go out on.”

“This place is amazing. Kind of reminds me of the future or TV."

Caleb comes to stand next to me. "I want you to be comfortable here." I peek over at him. He catches me because he’s not staring out the window but at me. “It’s just money, too.” He keeps going. “I have more than I’ll ever be able to spend, so I don’t want you to fret over thinking you might damage something.”

Why does he always have to say the right things? No one has ever gone out of their way for my well-being. He’s going to make me fall in love with him. This might not be a good idea, after all. I could really get my heart broken.

“What’s it like? To have all that money. Are there no worries in the world?” The concept is so foreign to me. There were times where I had to plan my spending down to the penny, often going without something in order to make ends meet.

“The only thing money truly gives you is freedom. You can still have a whole slew of other problems.”

“Like heartbreak and loneliness?” Those are the first things that come to mind for me.

“I suppose.” I nod in understanding. I have had a lot of both.

“I don’t want you thinking I’m using you either,” I add. I bet that happens a lot when you’re rich. Caleb throws his head back and laughs. I smile. I don’t think I have ever seen him laugh that deeply before. I could get a low chuckle or a smirk out of him on occasion, but this is something else. I want to reach out and touch him.

"I had to persuade you to come here, but I honestly couldn't care less. As long as you are here." I can see the sincerity in his eyes when he says it.

"I really do want to be here," I admit. "I was sad when I thought I wasn't going to see you ever again."

"Never would have let that happen." Caleb steps closer to me.

His words about us being way past being professional come back to mind. I turn more to face him. His eyes drop to my mouth, prompting me to lick my lips. Is he going to kiss me? Do I want him to? Yes!

“Are you thinking about kissing me?” I ask. I want to pinch myself. I’m such a dork. You’re supposed to let it happen, not talk about it.

“I’m always thinking about kissing you, Gabriella.” He takes another step closer to me. “I bet your lips are as soft and sweet as the rest of you.”

“Maybe.” I drop my head back more. “I want you to kiss me so badly, but—” Caleb cuts off my reason for why it might be a bad idea by pressing his mouth to mine.

His arm encircles me, drawing me closer to his body. I grab the front of his shirt as his mouth moves against mine. When his tongue slides across the seam of my mouth, I let out a small gasp, my lips parting for him. His tongue dips inside, kissing me deeper.

I mimic his movements, oblivious to the fact that I have no idea what I'm doing. This feels so freaking nice.

“Gabriella.” Caleb groans into my mouth. My body feels weightless. It takes me a moment to realize that this sensation is due to him lifting me off my feet. I wrap my legs around him, slipping my hands up his chest and around his neck.

His mouth leaves mine, traveling down my jaw to my neck. “Caleb.” I breathe out his name. I can feel his hard cock pressing against my sex.

“You taste so damn good.” Caleb lifts his head, his eyes meeting mine.

“You taste pretty good too,” I admit. My lips feel swollen and well-used. “You French kissed me.” I smile. When did he move us to the couch? I’m straddling him. His kisses truly made me forget everything.

“I did.” His hands slide to my ass. He gives it a squeeze, making me let out a small gasp.

“I’ve never been French kissed before,” I admit.

“Fucking hell.” Caleb presses his face into my neck.

“Is that bad?”

“No.” He kisses my neck. “You’re pure as snow.”

I let out a small laugh. “Never had time for kisses or much desire.”

“Me neither,” Caleb responds, standing with me in his arms. Does that mean he’s never French kissed someone before or never had the desire to do it? I suppose you could try it out without any desire being there. I can’t imagine Caleb not having women fall all over him. He’s not only handsome but sweet too.

He puts me back on my feet before releasing his hold on me, taking a few steps back.

"Are we finished kissing?" He’s putting space between us.

"I believe I'll never tire of kissing you, Gabriella." I love the way my name rolls off his tongue. Most people call me Gabby, but not him.

“Then why the space all of a sudden?” I tilt my head to the side, studying him.

“Because I don’t want things to go too far.”

“Oh.” I tuck one of my curls behind my ear. I glance away now, feeling shy.

“Hey.” Caleb steps back into my space. He puts one finger under my chin to tilt my head back to stare up at him. “Not that I don’t want to, but you’re barely in the door, and I’m all over you.”

“I don’t mind.” I smile, thankful that he’s giving me the truth so I don’t have any doubts.

“You’re not making this easy.” He chuckles, shaking his head. “I want to get you settled in, and I’m sure you want dinner.”

“I could eat.”

“Then I need to feed you.”

How did this go from the worst day ever to the best?