Creative License (12 page)

Caleb walked back into the bedroom. Lily lay on her side, curled around his pillow and sleeping. He tiptoed closer. Her make-up was smudged around her eyes. Had she been crying? Every resolution he’d made to protect his feelings, to construct a wall between them dissipated, even seemed silly now that he was looking down at her. He had her for only a little while, he’d be a fool if he didn’t love her with everything in him for whatever time they had together.

Caleb crawled into the bed with her until his face lay a few inches from hers. Her breath warmed his cheek. Gently, he stroked her arm and pulled her close, nestling her against his body. She mumbled in her sleep but scooted into him.

Once again he marveled at how well their bodies fit together. He brushed a strand of hair out of her face and gently kissed her temple. The corner of her mouth turned before she buried her head in his chest.

“I was just dreaming about you,” she said, her voice still husky with sleep.

“Want to share?” he mumbled against her hair.

“No, but I’ll show you.”

The blood rushed south and Caleb was instantly hard as a rock. “I want to take you out to dinner,” Caleb said.

“Is it that late?”

“No, but it will be by the time you get ready.”

She reached for his hand and placed it between her legs. “Wanna bet?”

Caleb chuckled and stroked the moist panties with his fingers. “It was a good dream.”

Lily moved his shirt to the side and nuzzled on his neck in answer. Caleb continued to stroke the cloth of her panties. A surge of satisfaction filled him when they dampened further. He hooked the edge of the lace with a finger and drew them down over Lily’s hips.

Lily worked at the buttons of his shirt until she’d exposed his skin. Her hands explored his chest, working around his back, pressing him closer to her soft body.

The need for her was like a fire in his blood, one that had been banked but took only a breath to rekindle.

She traced his erection through his jeans. “I believe this is for me,” she stated and unbuttoned his jeans.

He helped her take them off, their movements becoming more frantic, almost desperate. He kissed her, his tongue dancing with hers, the taste of her filling his senses.

Taking his length in her hand, she gently squeezed. “I want you inside of me. Now,” she whispered against his mouth.

Caleb rolled over on his back, holding Lily’s hips so she straddled him. She reached for a condom on the nightstand and deftly stretched it over his thick erection. Caleb watched her with hungry eyes. With no urging from him, she impaled herself on his rigid shaft. Caleb groaned as her warm folds surrounded him. He pulled her shirt over her head and freed her breasts from the constraint of the bra as her hips moved against him. She was beautiful with her head thrown back and her skin gleaming in the pale light. He reached and gently pinched her darkened nipples, and her rhythm faltered. She was close to her crest. She leaned back and he pressed his thumb against her swollen clit, circling the slick nub. Lily groaned, reaching behind her to cup his balls, stroking the tender flesh. His muscles contracted as he fought his own release, wanting to bring her over the edge first.

When her smooth walls gripped his erection, milking it, he let go, to hover for a moment in the pulsating light before it contracted and then burst, shattering into a million shards of brilliance.

Lily collapsed over his chest, her breathing labored in his ear and her pussy still contracting. She kissed the side of his neck. “Isn’t that just like a man," she whispered. “Making me do all the work.”

“Is it any wonder? Have you seen yourself in action? You’re magnificent.”

Lily buried her face in the hollow of his neck. Her warm breath tickled his skin. She sighed and then gently nipped the skin over his collarbone. “Did you say something about dinner? I’m starving.”

Lily twined her fingers with Caleb’s as they walked down the street, still surprised at how much she enjoyed the simple pleasure of her skin touching his. When she’d woken up to find Caleb cuddled next to her, she’d decided to enjoy every moment of her time with him. To live every feeling to it’s fullest so that when she went back to her real life, she’d have memories to warm her lonely nights.

Dinner had been a lengthy affair and they’d shared a bottle of excellent wine and much laughter. She leaned into him, her arm brushed his and he glanced down at her.

“What are you smiling about?” Caleb asked.

“You,” she said and gazed into his green eyes. “You are a wonderful man, Caleb.”

“Are you saying that because you used me mercilessly earlier?”

“And I fully plan on using you again,” she teased.

He squeezed her hand, pausing in front of a bar. “Let’s go in here.”

“What is it?”

He shrugged. “Just a bar. I thought we could grab a nightcap.”

Lily narrowed her eyes. He was up to something and she determined what that was as soon as she stepped inside. “A Karaoke bar? Really, Caleb?”

“Ah, it’s not going to hurt anything. We’ll have a drink and listen for a while.”

She threw her best dirty look at him but followed him inside. Through a tiny reception area, Lily could see an illuminated stage surrounded by small tables nestled in the gloom. Music blared from speakers set around the room.

As the made their way to an empty table, a woman walked up to the stage and took the microphone. Caleb seated Lily and whispered in her ear that he’d be right back. The butterfly touch of his lips on her sensitive lobe sent chills throughout her body. She watched as Caleb walked to the bar to order them both drinks and noticed other women watching him too. A surge of jealousy burned in her chest.

He came back a short time later with a White Russian and a scotch. “You remembered,” she said.

“Are you surprised?” She shook her head and sipped the drink. She’d discovered the White Russian in Vegas and had termed it the best thing she’d ever tasted. She hadn’t had one since then. They sat in companionable silence. After the woman finished, a man took the stage and then soundly murdered Van Halen’s “Jump”. Caleb leaned closer to Lily to be heard over the crowd. “You could do better.”

“Not that song.” She disagreed, but the urge to jump on stage grew. After a woman did a passable interpretation of Pink’s “Don’t Leave Me,” she became restless. She loved the feel of a microphone in her hand. The stage lights, the crowd.

“Go ahead. You know you want to. Who do you know here besides me? What’s it going to hurt?” Caleb muttered into her ear.

When the announcer stepped into the lights and asked who was next, Lily drained her White Russian and stood.

“That’s my girl.” Caleb smiled.

Lily walked to the front of the tables, her body shaking despite her liquid bravado.

“I see we have a taker.” The announcer handed Lily the microphone.

Caleb watched Lily walk up to the platform. She seemed so collected and serene, as though she belonged there. She whispered something in the announcer’s ear and then closed her eyes when the first strains of Evanescence's “Bring Me to Life” played. When she opened her eyes, a transformation had taken over her face. He recognized a performer when he saw one.

His skin pebbled when the first verse flowed effortlessly from Lily’s throat. She worked the audience, but her gaze kept finding him. Pride, awe and respect mingled in his breast. He’d known she could sing, but he’d never heard her perform. Her voice growled out the low notes and rose smoothly to hit the higher range.

When the music faded, the bar erupted in applause, several people rose to their feet, clapping. Caleb made his way to her and shot a dirty glance at the man approaching Lily from behind, wrapping his arm possessively around her. He bent to touch his lips to her ear. “Glee club, my ass. You rock.”

She giggled, a sheen of sweat glistening on her skin. Her brown eyes sparkled as she attempted to smooth her hair away from her face.

“You’re also sexy as hell. Let’s get you home before I take you against the nearest wall.”

“That sounds like a plan.” They wove around the tables toward the door.

The cool air rippled over her skin. She’d forgotten the thrill of the stage. Maybe Mrs. Patterson had been right. Maybe she needed a hobby, an outlet, a place to let go. On that stage, she’d felt more alive than she’d had in a long time, except when she was with Caleb.

She’d always lived her life so carefully, afraid to make a mistake. But was it really living or merely existing? Emotion clogged her throat. How had Caleb known she needed this? “Thank you.” She wrapped her arm around Caleb’s waist and he stiffened. She looked at his face and then followed his gaze.

A willowy blonde stood on the sidewalk a short distance in front of them. As Lily’s gaze darted between the woman and Caleb, the blonde turned in their direction. The woman’s tanned skin gleamed under the lamplight, her hair perfectly coiffed and falling in soft waves around her face to the small of her back. She wore a sundress and sandals and Lily was suddenly aware that she was covered in sweat.

“Arianna,” Caleb said as the woman approached.

Lily did a double take. This was the ex-fiancée? This Greek goddess? She swallowed, feeling suddenly frumpy and untidy. Caleb pulled away from her to accept Arianna’s hug and a kiss on either cheek. She thought the woman held Caleb a little longer than was appropriate.

Arianna’s ice blue gaze brushed Lily and then fixed back on Caleb as though Lily was beneath her attention. “So how have you been, Caleb?” Her voice was a low seductive purr.

The first strains of anger tainted her thoughts. This woman had no right. She took a step back. Did she?

“Fine. Thank you.”

Lily couldn’t gather any information from Caleb’s tone. Was he happy to see his ex-fiancée? Sorry?

Arianna’s perfect full red lips turned up at the corners and she reached a hand and placed it on Caleb’s forearm. “Good. I’m glad.” She didn’t remove the hand as her gaze fell on Lily. “And who is this?”

Lily suddenly wanted to punch the smug look off Arianna’s face.

Caleb shuffled. “This is…um. This is—”

“Lily.” Lily put an end to Caleb’s stuttering and offered her hand even as something, some hope, deep inside her died. In the face of his ex-fiancée, Caleb couldn’t even remember her name.

Arianna took her hand in a limp handshake. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She turned back to Caleb. “I really must run, love. But please, call me, okay?” She glanced at Lily again then turned her smile back to Caleb. “I’ve missed you.”

Caleb nodded and accepted the kiss and then looked down at Lily, for all the world appearing unconcerned that her heart had just broken in to a million little pieces.

Chapter Ten

Lily walked next to Caleb, but felt a thousand miles away. He hadn’t even remembered her name. When faced with the Greek goddess Arianna, Caleb hadn’t even remembered her name. She walked into the apartment with numb limbs, headed back into the bedroom and froze, staring at the bed. Had it been only that afternoon that they’d made love in that bed? It seemed like a lifetime ago. Slowly, she took the ring off her finger and set it on the dresser next to the wooden box, watching the light gleam on the thin gold band. Caleb entered the room and wrapped his arms around her. Lily accepted the comfort as well as the pain his embrace brought. By tomorrow, this would all be a dream. “Where’s my suitcase?” she asked.

Behind her, Caleb stiffened. “Do you have to pack tonight?”

“I’d rather not do it in the morning.”

“You’re tired.”

She turned around and laid her head against Caleb’s chest, listening to his heartbeat, breathing in the rich masculine smell of him. “It has to be done. I might as well get it over with.”

He kissed the top of her head, retrieved her suitcase from the closet and laid it on the bed. Lily let it fall open on the comforter and then moved to the closet for her dresses. She shouldn’t have brought so many clothes, but she had wanted to be prepared for everything. Too bad nothing had prepared her for falling in love. She bit back tears. She refused to cry.
Caleb hadn’t even remembered her name.
She glanced up to see sorrow cross his eyes. What was real? She didn’t know anymore.

He cleared his throat. “I’m going to get some water.”

Lily watched him go through the haze of tears.

Caleb walked into the kitchen and paced the small area. Sorrow lanced his breast. She was leaving. He’d known she would, he’d tried to prepare himself but the reality of it… He wanted to smash something. Rip something, anything, to shreds as though in destroying it, he’d somehow lessen his pain. Taking a deep breath, he stopped and put his hands on the counter. He could hear her in the bedroom, opening drawers, moving across the floor. He couldn’t watch.

Seeing Arianna tonight had further cemented in his mind how perfect Lily was for him. Arianna was all surface, empty. Lily had depths he’d only just begun to discover and he wanted to, he could spend the rest of his life discovering Lily. He pictured himself walking into that room, begging her to stay, but he couldn’t do that to her. He’d already asked her once. She had a life, a life that didn’t include him. She wanted stability, a big house in the suburbs, respectability—things he couldn’t give her.

He shook his head. But in his mind, she was his more than in name. When he’d attempted to introduce Lily to Arianna, he’d almost called her his wife and had stopped himself just in time. He didn’t know how Lily would have reacted. He could ask her again, beg, do whatever it took to convince her to give them a chance. The latch on the suitcase clicked closed and he knew he was a coward.

Lily emerged from the room, dragging the bag and placing it by the front door, and then walked to the kitchen entryway. “I’m done.” Her smile was a bit wobbly.

“What time do we leave in the morning?” Caleb’s voice sounded strange to his ears, as though he was listening to someone else speak.

“I don’t want you to take me to the airport. I’m going to call a cab.”

Caleb opened his mouth, but Lily shook her head. “I don’t want to say goodbye to you there. I’d rather say all our goodbyes here.”