Page 28 of Steamy Dreamy Hearts

Our breath mingled. We lay on our sides, our faces close. I kissed him slowly this time, exploring the shape of his mouth, the sweet taste of his tongue. I cupped his cheek in one hand, my thumb caressing the patches of skin. I teased his tongue with mine. Caleb whimpered softly, and something warm and wet landed on my fingers.

I reared back, ending the kiss. “Are you crying? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Youreallywanted to kiss me.” Caleb’s eyes filled.

“Hell yes. Why wouldn’t I? Kissing you is all I’ve thought about for hours.” I hugged him. “And it’s even better than I could have imagined.”

“That’s so…damn nice.” Caleb burst into tears.

Confused, I gathered him into my arms, offering a safe harbor. He sniffled at my chest, crying softly. I rocked him for a long moment until Caleb calmed.

“After my accident, when my face was damaged like it is, Tanner hated kissing me.” He lifted his head off my shoulder andpeeked up at me. “Nobody has kissed me like this in a long time. I almost forgot what a kiss felt like…” His shoulders tensed.

“I’m sorry.” I fought an urge to yell or punch a wall. At the same time, I equally wanted to take care of Caleb, massage his shoulders, ease his tension.

“It’s okay.” Caleb shrugged.

“It’snotokay,” I said. “That’s shit of him. How about this is the last time you waste any tears on Tanner?”

“A fucking fabulous idea. “

“Yeah, I have a good idea every decade or so.”

We laughed, but Caleb’s voice was still laced with sadness.

He reached out and stroked my face, jaw, down the column of my throat. My pulse raced at his touch, even as he simply rested his hand there.

“I’m exhausted. Can we continue talking in the morning?”

I reached out and brushed a strand of his hair off his forehead. “We can do whatever you want.” I felt a little foolish. Being this giddy over a kiss at my age, well… Yet at the same time, I wanted nothing more than to smile into Caleb’s lovely eyes, keep him close to me. I wanted this deep joy for myself…for him.

He touched the tips of his fingers once more to my lips and sighed. He rolled to one side, curling against me. “Look out the window. Despite the smoke, I see some stars.”

I obeyed, looking out the window. The sky was a dark purple like a bruise, but Caleb was right about a few stars’ light coming through. I wasn’t used to focusing on the light. I stared at the stars, wondering what tomorrow might bring. Things could change in a flash.

Caleb shifted to take my hand, his body still pressed to mine. He fell quiet. I wondered what he was thinking about, but I hadn’t the nerve to ask him.

My hand felt warm laced with Caleb’s. How easily we fit without meaning to. I’d tried to resist him, worried it might be a mistake. Time would tell. But for now, there was Caleb’s hand in mine, the stars’ hopeful light, and the quiet promise of the dark. I snuggled closer to Caleb, closing my eyes.

Caleb slept deeply, but I woke a few times. I hadn’t shared a space with somebody since Dan. I wrapped my arms around Caleb, pressing tighter against him. I hadn’t wanted to hold anybody this way in so long, but I wanted to hold Caleb.

Cuddling him like this was like stealing heaven. He fit so perfectly against me. I breathed in his scent, pressed a soft kiss to the back of his neck. I nuzzled that tender spot where his neck met his earlobe.

Caleb’s plump ass nestled into me, and it would be so easy to wake him. My body throbbed for that sweet release I’d find deep inside Caleb’s snug little hole. I could imagine how hot and tight he’d be for me. But no…this had to be taken slowly, carefully.

Wanting to hold him, allowing myself to do that much, was already so big a step. I put my head close to the top of Caleb’s. Breathed in the scent of his hair, his skin. Breathed in the possibility of being with him. Tanner was a total fool, and I was a lucky bastard.

Outside was total quiet. You’d never know a fire was raging in the distance. Soon, we’d be out there in the blaze, risking our lives, trying to make a difference once again.

And when we returned from all of this? What then? I’ve been telling myself for years not to get involved with anybody. Not to mention, there was what happened with Dan… Could I start again with someone new? Did I deserve to?

I shut my eyes, not wanting to think about it.

Maybe I needed to let go a little. The same way Caleb needed to let go of Tanner. My Dan hadn’t been an asshole, far from it, but his ghost was too close. How to do this, I wasn’t sure.All I knew was that I wanted this chance. I didn’t want to lose anymore.

CHAPTER

TEN

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