Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 115706 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115706 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
“I love you, too.” He pulls me to him for a tender kiss. And when he releases me, he presses his forehead against mine. “I’ll always protect you and Raine. Please, never doubt that.”
“I never will.” I kiss his cheek. “Come on. Let’s get you home and to bed. I’m sure you’re going to sleep for hours.”
When we got home from the police station, Caleb and I crawl into bed, both of us intending to crash after our long, sleepless night.
But when we’re lying nose to nose, I kiss him. And he kisses me back.
And the next thing I know, we’re both naked and Caleb is on top of me, sinking himself inside me. As he thrusts, I wrap myself around his torso and inhale his masculine scent. Sink my fingernails into his bare back. Revel in his strength. His courage. His love.
Caleb’s thrusts are greedy and animalistic now, my mouth ravenous as it devours his. I caress his hair, back, and shoulders, as he claims me without holding back.
Our walls are non-existent now. There are no secrets left to keep. He’s got me. All of me. And I’ve got him the exact same way. Good, bad, ugly. Although, when it comes to Caleb, I don’t think there’s an ugly bone in his beautiful body.
“Aubrey,” Caleb grits out, as he moves his body in and out. “I love you, baby.”
“I love you so much,” I choke out, my voice stretched and desperate.
A current of electricity explodes between our bodies, as our souls fuse and an eternal commitment is forged. I thought those romantic carvings on the tree outside were the perfect testament of Caleb’s eternal love and devotion. The biggest grand gesture possible. But now that he’s gone and done that primal, secret thing to protect our family from harm, forever, I feel like my very soul has joined with his. We’re in this together now. Forever.
Caleb loves me, and his daughter, with every ounce of him, including the most primal parts. The wildest, most untamed parts that shouldn’t be named, unless it’s in secret, hushed whispers. And now, Caleb knows I love him back, every part of him, the exact same way.
He’s mine. I’m his. We’re a family now.
Forever.
Chapter 41
Aubrey
A week later
Irap on the door of the bathroom stall and call out to Raine, “You okay in there, Boo?”
“Mm hm. I go potty like a big girl.”
“Good girl. But are you maybe all done now and sitting there watching a bug?”
“No, I go potty and watcha da bug.”
My mother said it’s normal for kids during potty training to have false alarms that consume ungodly amounts of time. Also, real alarms that take forever, too. She said patience is the most important thing, letting them know they’re doing great, so they don’t get self-conscious and get their wires crossed and start to regress.
“Did you turn into an Italian New Yorker in there?” I tease, chuckling at my own joke. When she doesn’t reply, I explain, “Watcha da bug sounded right out of The Godfather.”
“No, I Rainey.”
I giggle. Amusing myself at times like these, sometimes at Raine’s expense, is a must to preserve my sanity. “Yes, you are. Take your time in there, Pooh Bear. You’re doing great.”
I look at my watch. The live band started playing their second set right before we walked into the bathroom. So, according to the festival schedule, we still have plenty of time before the live auction begins. I don’t want to miss any portion of that. It’s always my favorite part of the festival, but with all the amazing donations Caleb’s sister and friends gathered for us this year, it’s going to be one for the record books.
Raine starts humming “Pretty Girl” by Aloha Carmichael on the other side of the stall door, so I reflexively start doing the hand movements from the music video on my side.
“I’m doing the dance,” I announce to Raine, before returning to humming along with her.
“Me, too,” Raine says with a giggle.
I laugh. “Less dancing, more pooping, dude.”
Raine giggles again.
“Also, less ‘watching da bug.’”
“He my friend.”
“Did you name him?”
“Buggy.”
“Naturally.” It’s totally on-brand for her. Her stuffed pig is Piggy. Her stuffed horse is Horsey, and so on.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, so I stop dancing and check it, thinking Caleb or my mother is texting to ask if Raine fell into the toilet or what. But to my surprise, it’s a text from an unknown number, claiming to be from my ex-boyfriend, Trent; presumably, because I’ve blocked his old number.
Hey, Aubrey. It’s Trent. I won’t bother you again after this. Just wanted to say I’m sorry for what I did to you and I’m glad you found a good guy to take care of you right. I saw the news about C-Bomb shooting Claudia’s father. So fucking wild! When I saw that, I thought, “Damn, C-Bomb let me off easy!” Haha. Honestly, getting slapped on the street by the best drummer in the world was pretty cool. Plus, he knew my name? AWESOME! It’s too bad I can’t tell the story to anyone, cuz then I’d have to admit the awful thing I did to deserve it. It’s a bummer, but I deserve the punishment. At least, I’ll always have a cool memory. Anyhoo, just wanted to wish you and C-Bomb the best and tell you I’ll always be sorry and ashamed of what I did. Take care, Aubs. I really blew it with you. PS I swear I’ll never contact you again, so tell C-Bomb not to hunt me down and do to me what he did to Ralph! Haha! Damn.