Page 85 of A Temporary Forever

And one more thing, black swan, we are fucking exclusive.And that naive girl that still lives somewhere in me rejoiced.

The week after that carried in a fever of work and fucking on repeat. We’ve yet to make it upstairs, but I don’t mind the urgency with which he devours me. Every. Single. Time.

I believe him when he says we’re exclusive. I’m also quite aware of the expiration date on this. Our convenient arrangement morphed into an exclusive relationship, but Caleb has made it clear several times he would rather spend Christmas with his father than commit.

His infatuation will run its course eventually. So as his hands run mindlessly through my hair and down my back, stroking lazily, I let myself enjoy the languid quiet of my post-climatic daze, while I regroup to step out of the role and regain my independence.

Caleb’s phone buzzes, and he groans and pats the floor to find where it landed at some point.

“Yes.”

I hear a male voice, and then Caleb continues, “Send it up. Thank you.”

“Another delivery?” I ask as we both scramble to straighten our clothes.

I get a gift every day. I don’t need them, but they work their magic like his praise does. They’ve been thoughtful, like he got a manual to everything Celeste. I got a massage. A box of croissants. A small but valuable painting. A beautiful vintage watch. I’ll never wear it, but it’s the thought that counts. The fact that he noticed the state of the one I wear.

“Cookies.”

That’s all he says, and I swear his cheeks color pink a bit. There’s always a jar of homemade cookies in his kitchen, but I assumed the housekeeper stocked them.

I tried one before, and quickly stashed the jar into a closed cabinet because those things are addictive, and I couldn’t have them on display at the breakfast bar.

Caleb tips the concierge and carries the jar to thekitchen. This is so bizarre. “I didn’t know you had such a sweet tooth.”

“They’re just a gift.” He drops the jar on the counter and busies himself with the espresso machine. “Do you want coffee?”

“No, but I would like to know who sends you cookies. Regularly.” I open the cabinet and point to the other glass jar with identical goods.

The grinder’s rumbles fill the room while Caleb casually walks to the box with my new underwear.

It’s quite ridiculous it still lies in the kitchen, but Caleb insisted he needs access to it. And we usually get toobusyto tidy anything up.

He inspects the contents and pulls a pair out. “Wear these today.”

“Stop deflecting. Who bakes for you?”

Leaning down, he shoves the panties into my cleavage and breathes—just fucking breathes—at the sensitive spot on the side of my neck. “Are you jealous, black swan?”

His warm breath sprouts goosebumps all over my skin, and I shudder. This man can direct my body like an award-winning conductor.

“Well, since baking isn’t something I can compete with…” I tease.

Stepping back, he feigns shock and puts his handwhere his heart is. “You didn’t disclose your lack of domestic skills before I wed you.”

I laugh. “It’s a good thing you can hire a chef, but don’t try to distract me from this. What’s the cookies’ story?”

He groans. “They’re from my former nanny.”

I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this. “Your former nanny still bakes cookies for you?”

“It’s not what you think.” He shakes his head, picks up his coffee, and takes a cookie from the jar. After taking a bite and downing it with his shot of java, he sighs. “I found out recently that my father fired her when she didn’t reciprocate his advances. He refused to give her a reference and got her blacklisted from working as a nanny for pretty much anyone in New York.

“She ended up on welfare. She’s been struggling for years. I got her a job, and I bought her a small apartment last year. She insisted on at least baking for me.”

He tells the story devoid of emotion, like the whole thing is an embarrassing nuisance.

On instinct, I reach to take a cookie and step closer to him where he’s leaning against the counter. I bite into the scrumptious disk. “You’re a good man, Caleb.”

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