I walk back into the bedroom after going to find some juice in the kitchen. He'd clung tightly to me after he came. When he finally rolled off me to tie up the condom and toss it in the wastebasket next to the bed, the silence that filled the room was heavy and measured.
I needed to breathe and I needed the hope that would come with hearing him tell me he still wanted me. I'd left to search for a drink to give him time to gather his emotions. I'd witnessed him sob. I'd felt the tears as they hit my skin. I'd wanted to comfort him, and hold him, but he'd brushed his hand across his face and the moment had passed without a word.
"My beautiful Bell is back."
The words collapse me from the inside out. I feel my knees buckle beneath me and the glass of orange juice that I'd carefully poured is now spilled all over the floor mixed with the shards of broken glass.
"Be careful." He's on his feet, scooping me up in his arms. "You'll cut your feet."
"I should clean that." I mutter against his chest. "I can get something to clean that up."
"I'll do it." He sets me on the edge of the bed. "I'll go get another glass of juice and then I'll clean it up."
He turns to go and I pull on his elbow to stop him. "No. Don't go."
"I won't." He smiles at me as he tucks my legs beneath the blanket that we just made love on. "Your feet are chilled. You should get under the covers."
I stare at him. I drink in the sight of his flushed skin and the muscular smoothness of his chest. I've always thought of him as the most attractive man I've seen, but now, in the light of the bedroom's lamps and in the glow of my orgasmic high, I see something more. He's not only beautiful to look at. He's kind. It's there in his eyes and in the smile that he reserves for only me.
Caleb Foster is ruthless when it comes to business. He'll take on anyone who threatens what he has built for his family. I've never seen him back down from anyone, but tonight I see traces of the boy who used to tease me endlessly.
"I stole one of your sweatshirts."
"I don't have sweatshirts." He tips his chin so his forehead touches mine. "Do I look like a sweatshirt kind of guy to you?"
I tap him on the shoulder. "I'll bet you have sweatshirts. I'll check out your closet."
"You stole some dude's sweatshirt," he teases. "Why the fuck would I let you look in my closet? Do you know how expensive the suits are that are in there?"
I pull my hand over my mouth to stifle the laughter. "You got those suits for free. You own the company that makes them."
"Good point." He furrows his brow in a mock scowl. "Now, back to the clothing that you've been stealing. What's up with that?"
I stretch my legs beneath the sheet, pulling it up higher to cover my breasts. "When we lived next door to each other, I took one of your sweatshirts. You left it hanging on the railing of your stoop."
His breath catches as he brushes his lips over mine. "Why? Why did you take it?"
I kiss him harder before I pull back to rest my cheek against his. "I wanted something of yours for me. I wanted to have it when I slept. I still have it."
"We wasted forever." He strokes his hand over my hair. "We fucking wasted forever."
***
"I can't believe you got me a ticket." Graham waves the embossed invitation in the air as if it's the golden ticket to a chocolate factory raffle. "I'm actually going to a Foster Foundation Gala."
"You are." I turn to flash him a smile. "We're both going to sit with Fosters."
"You'll introduce me to all of them, right?" He adjusts the bow tie of the tuxedo he rented. "You do know all of them, don't you?"
"Most of them." I half-shrug as I point to the back of my dress. "Can you zip me?"
I'd chosen a dress from one of the Arilia boutiques. Caleb has no idea that I'm wearing a dress fashioned by one of the company's designers. I paid for it myself because I want to surprise him. I may not see myself working for his family, but I can support them. Wearing this dress to this event is going to show him just how much I treasure my life long connection to him.
"That dress fits you like a glove." Graham motions for me to twirl. "Let me see the entire thing."
I twist around slowly, wanting to make certain he catches me in every angle of the royal blue dress I picked for tonight. "Do you like?"
"I love." He brushes past me. "There's a sapphire necklace in your jewelry drawer. I'm going to grab that."
I don't stop him. I want to look as perfect as I can. Tonight is the night I get to enjoy being Caleb Foster's official date.
Chapter 49
"Do you work for Gabriel?" He holds out his hand to gently take mine.
I need to check my social media profiles. Apparently, someone has hacked into them and listed Gabriel Foster as my employer. "I work for Corteck, but I'm an old family friend of the Fosters."
The corner of his mouth slides into a grin. "I'm a Foster."
"No." I laugh nervously. "I'm an old friend of Gabriel, Caleb and Asher."
He points towards where Asher is standing next to his mother. "Then you're a friend of my cousins. I'm Ben."