Page 54 of Always Red (Chasing Red 2)

“Okay. I’ll meet you in the kitchen—be right back.”

“Okay.”

I opened the fridge, looking for something to nibble on. Had he eaten yet? Maybe I could prepare something for him.

Suddenly, I heard “Storm” by Lifehouse playing through the speakers. Caleb only played Lifehouse when he was in a sentimental mood. I smiled and hummed to myself.

Not even a minute had passed when I heard him enter the kitchen. I was bent over, looking in the fridge, searching for the eggs and ham so I could make him an omelet.

“I guess you haven’t gotten groceries yet,” I commented absently, frowning at the contents—or lack thereof—in the fridge.

“Caleb?” I asked when there was no response.

“Yeah?” The huskiness in his tone made me straighten and turn to look at him.

My breath caught. Caleb was leaning against the kitchen island, facing me, his hands resting on the counter, watching me with hooded eyes. That lingering, intense, and measuring look caused my pulse to quicken.

He raised an eyebrow.

“Um…” I had to search my brain for my thoughts. Oh right. Dinner. “Did you have dinner yet?”

His pink tongue darted out to lick his bottom lip. “Yeah.” He paused, then said, “But I feel like eating.”

I held on to the fridge door for support. My knees suddenly felt weak. “I-I’ll make you something to eat. What would you like?”

He shook his head no, but his eyes told me everything he wanted. And then…

“I would really like,” he said, his voice low, “to eat you.”

My eyes widened, breaths coming in pants as my heart thudded against my chest. He made a mesmerizing picture, standing there watching my every move.

“Did you wear those for me?” he asked.

What?

His eyes swept from my face down to my legs, lingering there before moving back up to meet my gaze. “Sexy.”

Oh. The shorts.

“Come here, Red.”

Mesmerized, I walked to him, letting the fridge door slap shut behind me. I stopped a few feet away, close but not too close.

He angled his head as he watched me. Then he grinned.

There was something powerfully irresistible about him when he was in this mood. Playful, teasing…in charge.

As if he wouldn’t take no for an answer.

As if he would just take what he wanted, whenever he wanted. It was magnetic.

I felt the charge in the air, felt something momentous was about to happen. My steps faltered, and I averted my gaze. I knew if I took another step toward him now, it would change everything.

A million thoughts crossed my mind. Doubts, insecurities, hesitations, paralyzing me for a moment.

“Red.”

I looked up. The look of love and tenderness in his green eyes was all the answer I needed. This was Caleb. The boy who had taught me how to trust.

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