Page 19 of Caleb

Taylor clutched the front of his jacket, her fingers curling into the fabric as she kissed him back, her mind spinning. Her purse slipped from her shoulder, forgotten as it landed softly on the floor.

Caleb broke the kiss only long enough to murmur, “Come on,” his voice husky, before grabbing her purse, taking her hand, and leading her down the hallway.

They didn’t make it far. He paused halfway to his door, pressing her gently against the wall as their lips met again. The soft glow of the hallway lights cast shadows over his face, but his eyes, warm and unguarded, were all she could focus on.

Her heart pounded as his fingers brushed her cheek, her jaw trailing fire wherever they touched. She responded in kind, her hands slipping to his collar, tugging him closer. It felt like the years between them melted away, the tension and hurt replaced by something she couldn’t name which scared and thrilled her in equal measure.

“Caleb,” she whispered against his lips, her voice a breathless plea.

He pulled back just enough to look at her, his forehead resting against hers. “Tell me to stop,” he said softly, his eyes searching hers. “If this isn’t what you want, just say the word.”

Taylor stared at him, her chest rising and falling in time with his. Every logical part of her screamed this was reckless, that she was letting herself get too close, too vulnerable.

But the way he looked at her—the way he had always looked at her—made it impossible to walk away.

She shook her head, her fingers tightening in his jacket. “Don’t stop,” she whispered.

Caleb’s lips curved into a faint smile before he kissed her again, slower this time, savoring each moment. Together, they moved the last few steps to his door.

He fumbled briefly with the keycard, his touch reluctant to leave her even for a second. Finally, the door clicked open, and they stepped inside, the tension between them thick and electric.

Whatever was waiting for them in the morning—questions, doubts, and the complexities of their past—they could wait. Right now, there was only this.

Whatever happened tonight, one thing was certain—it would only last one night. One night of passion that she deserved with the man who once held her heart.

CHAPTER8

As the hotel door clicked shut behind him, Caleb stood frozen, startled by the realization that they had somehow ended up in his room.

Somehow, against all odds, Taylor hadn’t run from him. She was standing in front of him, right here in his hotel room, her presence making it impossible to think straight.

And oh, how he wanted her here.

Logic told him it would be best to ignore the heat simmering between them, to push aside the pull that seemed to draw them closer every time they were in the same room. But, tonight, logic didn’t stand a chance.

Tonight, he just wanted her.

He wanted to feel her in his arms, to experience the softness of her skin against his, to lose himself in her touch. To know without a doubt, if the memories of their time together—the passion, the connection—were as vivid and real as he’d always believed.

She was here, and that was all that mattered.

She lifted her mouth to his, and he met her halfway. It was a kiss of desperation and longing that took Caleb completely by surprise. Her tongue urgently explored his mouth as she sought comfort in their intimate connection. And Caleb was more than happy to return her passionate kiss, his tongue intertwining with hers, eager to soothe and remind her that she was still alive.

Standing before him in his hotel room, Taylor was a living, breathing reminder of everything they had once shared—the closest he’d ever been to another being.

The pull was magnetic, impossible to resist. He was eager to remind her and himself of the connection that had once burned so brightly between them. He wanted to lose himself in her arms, to rekindle the passion they’d once shared.

And yet, somewhere deep down, he convinced himself it would be a one-time thing. A chance to satisfy the longing that had gnawed at him for years. By morning, they would part ways—sated, happy, and agreeing that it was best if they never saw each other again.

Or so he told himself.

He pressed her against himself, hoping that this was what she had in mind—praying that his damn ghost would not appear. His mind was screaming warning, but he refused to listen, feeling Taylor's nipples harden against his skin and the scent of her enveloping him. That subtle fragrance of hers still enticed him.

His hands slid under her top, up her back, tracing the curve of her spine as he held her close. The feel of her warm, naked skin beneath his fingers was intoxicating. In a million years, he would never have dreamed she’d be in his bed tonight.

Taylor let out a soft moan, encouraging him. Her hands pulled his shirt out of his dark jeans, and she reached beneath it. The touch of her fingernails gently raking his flesh made him groan, leaving trails of goose bumps in their wake. Their lips broke apart as he began to release the buttons on his shirt.

She disentangled herself from him and slowly stood back. With deliberate seduction, she slipped off her shirt, slid down the zipper on her skirt, and stepped out of the fabric that clung to her like a second skin. She stood before him in nothing but lacy matching panties and bra.

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