Page 26 of Stalked

“What I do know is that your mother loved you?—at least from what I observed before the attack. When she began taking your powers away, she truly believed she was helping and doing what was best for you. Maybe she hoped that if she stripped you of your powers, your father would eventually come back, even just for you. Unfortunately, she couldn’t stop once she started.”

I huffed and shook my head, thinking about Lily now. “Lily and Joel have been lying to me my entire life.” I paused briefly. “Lily was planning to tell me something important last night, but I had my accident. This was probably it. Which means she knows about you and knew it was you who had been following me.”

Caleb narrowed his eyes and shook his head. “I haven’t been following you, Mercy, but someone has been. A few times when I tried to approach you, I heard them. I don’t know who it is or what they want, but I promise I will never let them get to you.”

“You swear it wasn’t you?”

He nodded. “I swear it.”

“Okay, but I’m sure Lily knows it was you who attacked me tonight.”

He sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose, and closed his eyes. “I didn’t attack you,” he snapped.

“Oh, give me a break, Caleb. There were better ways to handle all of this. You scared the hell out of me tonight.”

I suddenly became aware of how close he was and attempted to move away. He reached out and lightly gripped my wrist, then inched me back, pressing me against the wall until he had me pinned between his arms.

There was a still moment where we only looked at each other, feeling the power of our connection that linked us. I felt shame that I allowed a man I had just met to make me feel so vulnerable.

“Caleb ...”

“Over three centuries of not having you,” he said in a low, calming voice. “Like this.”

“What are you doing?” I asked frantically, wanting to turn away but feeling myself transfixed again as I had at the cove. “Caleb, what—”

“Do you really want me to stop?” he asked, and I carelessly shook my head no.

His lips crashed into mine while my body became painfully aroused by his hips grinding against me. The sudden wetness between my legs mortified me, as did the way my body begged to let him come closer. The familiarity of his touch and heated breath eased my fear—it felt as if we had known one another all our lives. I had no real memories of him, but him kissing me like this; felt familiar, like we never stopped.

But this was wrong. All of it.

You’re stronger than this, Mercy.

Caleb released our kiss, even though it should have been me to stop it.

He carefully rested his forehead against mine, and I let him.

“If you only knew how hard this was for me, that you have no memory of us,” he said, “to not remember this …uslike this.”

I shook my head, pressing my hand to his chest to push him back.

“But that’s it, Caleb. I don’t. As much as my body responds to you, we can’t let that happen again. Ever.”

There was darkness in his features as I shifted from his grip, moving to the side.

“I’m going to see my mother tomorrow, alone,” I said, not addressing the intimate moment we had just had any longer.

“What?”

“My mom.”

“Yeah, I heard you,” Caleb barked.

I scrunched up my face. “Caleb, she owes me answers. All of what you shared with me; I need to hear it from her.” His eyes flashed in anger, but I put my foot down. “I think it’s time you leave my room.”

“Mercy, it’s too dangerous without me.”

“I don’t care.” I was suddenly furious about him being in my presence. Mostly, I was angry at myself for letting him touch me like that. “Caleb, I need you to understand I’m not the girl I was in mypastlife. I need time to process everything you’ve told me.” I crossed my arms around my waist. “And, honestly, everything we justdid.” A tiny smirk reached his lips despite the frustration written over Caleb’s face.

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