Chapter 5

Caleb

I didn't sleep all night. My week was Fucked. I didn't see her shadow the entire week , I had Max keep an eye on her and he said she was home. I called her twice to apologise and she basically told me to Fuck off. I didn't go to the cafe either because I didn't know how to feel after she said that to me . This was the only way. I started doubting What I had done. Maybe I should come clean with her. I knew trouble would follow me and she'd get hurt. I was frustrated and confused , so imagine the surprise I got when Max called to say she punched her ex and rode off on a bike. The workers knew a storm was coming. So they decided to quit early.

I saw the bike in the distance and decided to gauge her anger. I didn't expect her to say that. When she fell into the water,I didn't look at her. Her clothes were sticking to her and it was making me uneasy. By a stroke of luck,she came with me back to my place.

“ Follow me",I said, leading her to the room next to mine.

“ You can grab a shower,I have a t-shirt and sweatpants, is that okay?” I asked looking everywhere else except at her.

“ Sure , Thank you ” ,

I found some new shirts and sweatpants still in Their plastic and took Them back to her.

“ Here you go Ms Garcia. Seeing as it's already late and the rain isn't stopping, I think you should stay the night. When you're finished I'll be down in the kitchen ”. I said quietly.

“ Okay,and thank you. Call me Aria. Ms Garcia was my mother ” ,She said walking into the room.

Once in my room, I let out a groan. How was I supposed to handle seeing her in my space?. I had just left the shower when I noticed the phone blinking. That was the second phone I used to call her. I put it on silent and got dressed. I grabbed the phone and headed down to my office. Once there I made sure To lock the door.

She sent a message.

‘ We need to talk’. Hmmm

I called her .

“ I'm sorry Aria. I know what I did was wrong in every single way. “.

“ Then why did you do it?” ,she asked me. I knew what she meant.

“ When I saw you, I was mesmerised by you . I know who I am and there's always someone waiting to see Who and what are the dearest and closest things to me and destroy them. I want you but I can't be seen with you or you'll get hurt Aria and I don't want that to happen ”. I said

“ Then why didn't you say so ? ,Did you have to break into my home and touch me like that?”. She asked,she was getting angry again.

“ Yes because that's the only way I could make you understand that you're not getting rid of me. I'm sorry I did that to you but I care about you and this is the way it has to be for now” . I said.

“ Okay ” , did she just say okay

“ Where are you? I know you're not at home “. I said

“ I went for a ride . I'm staying at someone's place for the night ” ,she said

“ Who ?”.,

“ Caleb Cross ” , She Said

“ I'll see you tonight baby girl ” I said, ending the call.

Fuck . I was over the moon.

I left the phone hidden in the Drawer on silent and went out to the kitchen. It was raining . soup felt like it would be good for this weather . I had my back turned when I heard her.

“ What are you Making?” She asked.

When I turned around I dropped the pot. Fuck , Fuck, Fuck. I turned away, didn't she see the way she looked before coming down here ?. If she were to Walk around here now, She's going to get the shock of her life. Did my Dick really have to have a mind of its own right this minute?.

“ Soup, is that okay with you?” , I asked

“ Sure . Why'd you say that earlier at the creek ” , she asked me.

Aria

I guess he was skittish about having a woman in his space. He dropped the pot and turned around. I sat looking at his back.

“ Oh that. I was Just messing with you. I Wanted to see if you would get angry at me ” ,he said, Still not looking at me.

“ Okay”.

He kept his back to me the entire time I sat there.

“ Do you mind If I look around?” I asked him.

“ No, go ahead, ” he answered quickly. I walked out and into the living room. I saw a glass door and opened it ,there was an indoor pool. He had a huge library and a game room. I was stuck in the library reading when I heard him.

“ Umm soups ready ” ,he said sheepishly. Throughout dinner he was quiet.

“ You're uncomfortable with me here” I said

“ No I'm not. It's not about that. I have a lot on my mind” he said, not looking up.

“ Say's the man that's afraid to look at me” , After saying that,he looked up at me immediately.

“ Ms Garcia, I want you to take a look in the mirror and then you'll understand why. I'm a man through and through, I'm not looking at you to avoid temptation ” ,he said , his eyes never leaving mine.

I stood up and walked to the bathroom I found on the first floor. I stood there looking at myself in the mirror but saw nothing but myself. I walked back out and found him standing by the sink.

“ I have no idea what you're seeing ” ,I said. He didn't turn around.

“ If you have no idea of how beautiful you are and how fuckable you look, then you need to start paying more attention ” ,he said as he continued washing the dishes.

I choked on the water. What the hell. Where was that coming from? Okay.

“ Umm , I'm going to head back to the room. Good night Mr Cross ”. I said, making my way out of the kitchen.

“ Caleb, just Caleb. Sorry for scaring you but it's the truth ” , he said.

“ Good night Caleb” ,

“ Good night Aria” ,

Once in the room, I laid in bed trying to sort this out. I needed some info from him before I let him touch me. Could I do this ? ,Be with someone that's hiding his identity?. What if he's someone I know? . God this was frustrating.

Caleb

Fuck, I didn't think she would ask. I knew she picked up on it . I gave her time to settle , when midnight came around and she hadn't shown herself, I figured it was time. I switched off all the lights. I checked and the lights were off in her room. I wasn't taking any chances,I went to the garage and flipped the breaker off. I went back upstairs and changed my clothes, I walked over to her room and I opened the door and walked in. She jumped up the minute I was by the bed.

I grabbed her covering her mouth.

“ Quiet baby girl, You don't want Cross to know I'm here do you?” I said, kissing her neck. Fuck. I've wanted to kiss her since this afternoon at the creek.

“ Are you insane?” , she asked me.

“ Should I leave?” I asked her ,but she didn't answer.

“ I have to be absolutely insane for this ” ,she said, pulling away from me.

“ We need to have a conversation “ ,she said. I could see her silhouette in the other corner.

“ Okay ” ,I said leaning against the wall.

“ Who are you?”.,

“ I can't Tell you that princess ” ,

“ What's your name?”.,

“ Lucian ” , I said knowing fully well only four people knew my middle name and she'll never meet any of them for now.

“ Okay. Are you from Payson”. She asked.

“ Yes and no”. I said , I'm going to let her figure it out.

“ Are you Caleb Cross?”.She said hesitantly. Shit.

“ Is that who you'd prefer it to be ? Him?.” I asked her.

“ Of course not. How Old are you?”.She was inquisitive and she's trying to put the pieces together.

“ I'm, thirty one years old baby girl ”.

“ Married?” ,

“ No Aria. I'm single, never married. My last relationship was two years ago. Last one night stand was one year ago. You already know I'm Tall. What else do you want to know baby?” I asked her . I couldn't help but smile .

“ What's the colour of your eyes?”.,

” Green “ , I said. It wasn't a complete lie. My eyes were a mix of blue and green.

“ Okay",She said. I could see her moving. I wasn't worried about her seeing me. I knew she left her phone in the library charging it.

“ Well , I need you to do one thing for me," she said, making her way to me.

“ Okay” I said

“ You have to promise me. you won't do anything that I don't want you to do” She said quietly. I knew where she was going with it.

“ I promise you baby girl . I'm always going to take Care of you. I told you I won't hurt you and I won't let anyone either trust me Aria” ,I said, pulling her into me.

“ Okay ” ,She said minutes before crushing her lips to mine.