Melting the Snow | 18+
DarlaCassic · 15 chapters · 23,630 words
|| W E L C O M E ✶ C A S T ||
Hi!
Welcome to this cute, heartwarming, and steamy Christmas romance. You can expect some hot chemistry and some heartache between our two leads.
This is a short, so it’s a quick read, but if you love their story, you will have the opportunity to get a physical version of Octavia, Caleb, and Vixen. More on this will be explained at the end of the book, so make sure to check out the last chapter!
I’d like to thank pretentiousQ , pizzaland- , and tonee2toni for helping me with this project. Thank you, my little elves, your rock ♥
From the moment she started working at the Freshmart, Octavia has been in love with Caleb Dale. For seven years, she’s kept her feelings carefully under wraps because he once made it clear nothing would ever happen; she’s too young and he’s her boss.
But on Christmas eve, just as she’s ready to let go of him and move on with her life, the weather gets in the way. Being snowed in with him at work changes everything. As the night evolves, it becomes evident to Octavia that Caleb might like her more than he lets out.
When the truth breaks, they make a deal: for as long as the blizzard casts them away from the rest of the world, they agree to give in to their deepest desires.
Will they want more in the morning, when the snow starts melting?
⋆✶ O C T A V I A ✶⋆
⋆✶ C A L E B ✶⋆
⋆✶ V I X E N ✶⋆
|| O N E ✶ The Blizzard ||
“ What are you still doing here? Go home.“
Startled, Octavia looked up to find Caleb leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed, something indulging in his blue eyes. Like every time she saw him, Octavia’s brain malfunctioned for a few seconds, too busy gorging on the sight he offered.
All this time and she still marveled at how perfect he was.
She didn’t care what all her friends said; he wasn’t too old to be ridiculously attractive. He was the perfect love child of Brad Pitt and Chris Hemsworth, and it didn’t matter if he was twelve years her senior. There was something inherently handsome about him, an undeniable appeal, a compelling charm. He looked like one of those old movie stars in Westerns – a little rough but still dashing.
Even with his thick knitted sweater, she could make out his muscular arms and torso. Still, it made her feel sorry she wouldn’t be here by the time summer came again. She’d miss seeing him in his casual T-shirts, just tight enough to hug his hard-earned muscles.
“Octavia?” he called her when she didn’t answer. Oh, no… she was staring.
“Yes, sorry. There were mistakes in two of the registers, so it took longer than usual.”
“It’s Christmas Eve. Cut yourself some slack for once. You’re no longer an employee as of…” he trailed off, glimpsing at his watch, “twenty minutes ago. Go home.”
He waited for her to nod before leaving. His loyal German Shepherd, Vixen, followed him like a shadow. With a grunt, Octavia let her forehead fall on the desk.
She was a coward. A pathetic and helpless coward.
In all truth, she had finished with the registers over half an hour ago and had since been trying to find the courage to give Caleb his parting slash Christmas gift.
After seven years of working at the Freshmart store, she was finally leaving. What had begun as a small part-time job in high school had grown into more, providing her with a much-needed salary to pay for her online college expenses. But she’d had her degree for over a year now, so it was time she started her actual career as an illustrator.
She would have left long ago had she not been in love with the owners’ son.
With a sigh, she stood from her comfortable chair and moved to put the registers in the safe, as she’d done countless times before.
Once out of the office, she made her way to the public area of the store. The surrounding silence was odd. This past week, they’d had swarms of customers flooding the place in preparation for the festivities, and for the past month, Christmas songs had been constantly playing in the store. The quietness felt surreal now, especially given the freezing tempest outside.
Everyone was long gone, busy preparing their Christmas dinners, spending quality time with their families. At the thought of what her night would be like, Octavia grimaced. There was nothing of quality to be expected from her father’s new wife and her obnoxious daughters.
As she walked through the deserted aisles of the supermarket, her heart grew heavier. She would miss this place. Working here had provided her with a second family, one who’d supported her throughout the toughest years of her life. Losing a mother at seventeen should never happen to someone.
In the corner of her eye, she caught something that shouldn’t be there and turned to find a discarded crate. It was half empty, and she understood one of her colleagues had stopped everything to leave for the evening. Alright, restocking shelves wasn’t the most enjoyable thing to do, but seriously?
No one was working tomorrow, which meant it would stay like this for two days. With a resigned sigh, Octavia went to finish the half-done job. As she placed the cereal boxes in their spots, she had to admit this was one thing she wouldn’t miss.
“Seriously, do I need to kick you out?” came a devilish voice to her left.
Startled for the second time tonight, she dropped the box she was holding, turning to the intruder and his furry companion by his side. “Caleb, stop scaring me on purpose!”
“I’m not doing it on purpose; you’re always jumpy. Now, go home. We’ve had your going-away party at lunch. You can’t have cold feet.”
“I don’t have cold feet. I’m just doing one last tour of the place because I’ll miss working here.”
With a dubious expression, Caleb came toward her. His closeness caused a burst of warmth to travel through her body, as always. He bent down to pick up the box she’d dropped, and after a quick inspection to see if it was damaged, he put it on the shelf.
With him so close, she caught his scent, something manly and strong that never failed to make her knees weak. She could see with precision his signature stubble, the wrinkles in the corner of his eyes from smiling too much, the thickness of his dirty blond hair…
Oh Lord, she had many fantasies that started with Caleb helping her restock the shelves. They usually ended with him pinning her against said-shelves and savagely making love to her. That was exactly where her mind took her, daydreaming about Caleb ramming inside of her with passion, their low grunts resonating in the empty aisle.
“You’re going to forget about us the instant you start your new job,” he explained, taking her out of her fantasy. Darn it. She was staring again. Luckily for her, his eyes were still focused on the boxes in front of him. “You’re always doodling in your notebook, so you’ll love doing it for a living. You’ll be better off, but I can assure you this place will miss you, kiddo.”
Octavia’s jaw clenched before she could prevent it. Maybe she didn’t see him as old, but he most certainly saw her as young. It didn’t matter if she was twenty-three now. In his mind, she’d always be the same as when she started working here – a skinny, awkward sixteen years old girl with braces and acne.
“Now, go home, Vee. The blizzard is getting serious,” he insisted, turning to the front windows where they could see the wind raging outside, blowing millions of snowflakes in the dark night, only visible in the yellowish glow of the street lamps.
She hated driving in the snow, so she really should go before it got any worse. Turning to Caleb, she forced a smile on her face, ignoring the pain in her chest. “Well, goodbye, then. It was a pleasure working for you, Cal.”
“The pleasure was all mine,” he replied, shaking the hand she was offering. His palms were always so warm.
Sadness threatened to overtake her, but she quenched it and bent to pet Vixen. “Bye, bestest girl. Be good with your dad.”
The dog looked at her with her head tilted to the side, as if she knew something important was happening. Octavia still remembered when Caleb had first brought her in four years ago, the cutest little puppy with a floppy ear. He didn’t come to work with her often, but still, the dog and Octavia were fond of each other. She was Vixen’s appointed godmother, after all.
After one last glance into Caleb’s blue eyes, Octavia left the duo behind, heading for the locker room to get her things and leave. When she opened her locker, the sight of the gift, wrapped in bright red Christmas-themed paper, flooded her with shame.
All the way to the end, she hadn’t found the courage to be forward with Caleb. This gift she’d spent hours working on was another proof they would never belong together. She was too much of a coward for it.
Ignoring the silent tears that rolled down her cheeks, she changed from the store’s blue shirt into her warm yellow turtleneck. With layers upon layers of clothes, she prepared herself to face the blizzard outside.
The rest of her things were stuffed into a large tote bag, and Octavia did one last sweep check, making sure she wasn’t leaving anything behind. She’d never be in here again. Those were her last moments as an employee. She was turning a seven-year-long page, hoping the rest of her story would be more successful.
On her way to the back exit, she tried to catch one last glimpse of Caleb. He seemed as unwilling to leave as she was, which made her wonder what were his plans for tonight. His parents were off to Jamaica for a tropical Christmas, and she wasn’t sure if he had been seeing someone since his divorce. Probably not, given how he lingered in here rather than going home.
Caleb was nowhere to be found, and her shoulders slumped when she opened the door to exit the building. The freezing wind instantly rushed under her coat, chilling her to the bone. Oh, how she hated winter.
Careful not to slip, she ran to her car and rushed inside, throwing her bag on the passenger seat. It was still incredibly cold, but at least there was no wind in here.
Because of her trembling hands, it took her three tries to get the key in the ignition, and when she turned it, nothing happened. It didn’t start. Not the first time, not the second, not even the fifth. Something was wrong. Her car wouldn’t start. Darn it.
It was too cold in here to even think, so she rushed back into the building instead, ignoring the defying wind. Once inside, she shook her coat to get rid of the snow, mumbling an endless chain of light curses at the snowstorm.
She needed to find Caleb. Maybe he’d have a solution. She found him in his office, doing some work on his computer, Vixen peacefully lying on her giant pillow in a corner.
“What do I need to do to get you to leave?” he asked with humor.
“My car won’t start. I don’t know what’s happening. It just won’t.”
His brows knitted with concern before he quickly typed something on his computer. “It’s nearing zero outside. Is your car gasoline or diesel?”
“Um, diesel.”
“Then it’s probably frozen. My car might not start either. Give me a moment; I’ll see if I can get you home.”
Getting up from his chair, he swiftly grabbed his keys and his coat. “Stay,” he ordered on his way to the door.
“Are you talking to Vixen or me?”
His chuckle was like the sweetest music to Octavia’s ears. “Both. I’ll be right back.”
With a sigh, she sat on the small couch, glancing at the German Shepherd. Vix stared back at her with sad puppy eyes.
“Don’t look at me like that, girl. I need to get away from your dad so I can move on,” she explained. “I’m going to miss you, but I need to let go of him.”
As if she understood, Vixen stood from her pillow and came to Octavia to rest her long nuzzle on her lap. Unable to resist the silent plea, she gently caressed the soft fur of her head. “I promise I’ll come now and then. We’ll see each other again.”
Surrounded by silence, Octavia petted her four-legged friend, giving her the long goodbyes she deserved. Vixen heard Caleb come back first, her head whipping toward the door. After a few seconds, Octavia heard his footsteps approaching fast.
“Okay, we have a problem,” he let out as he entered the room. “My car won’t start either. The entire town is going on lockdown because of the weather, and the bus service stopped an hour ago. Can someone come to get you?”
“No. I mean… my dad could, but I don’t want him coming all the way here if things are getting this bad. He’s an awful driver on good roads, so I can’t make him drive now.”
“Don’t you have a boyfriend or something?”
“Not for the last seven months. And you? Don’t you have anyone?”
Octavia’s question was innocent, a simple follow up to his, but she was dying to know the answer. Did he have someone? He’d been divorced for over a year now. It seemed impossible he was single.
“No,” he replied.
Well, this meant no one would come to free them, but it also meant he was single. Slight shame washed over her when she noticed his answer made her happy rather than distraught.
“Is there anything we can do?” she asked, unsure what would happen.
“Your car isn’t far from the delivery doors. Maybe we can push it inside so it’ll warm-up. It’s still cold there, so it might take a few hours, but it’ll start again once the fuel unfreezes.”
“You mean we need to go out in this snowstorm, push my car inside, and then wait for hours until we can leave?”
“Yeah, I can’t think of anything else unless you’re okay with your dad coming.”
“I’m not giving myself some traumatic Christmas memories by having my dad kill himself on his way to get me. We can try your plan.”
Pushing her car for ten meters in the blizzard seemed like an awful chore, but the prospect of spending hours waiting alone with Caleb was even scarier.
What were they supposed to do until her car could start again?
She had ideas, plenty of them, but life had proven she didn’t have the guts to put them in motion.
|| T W O ✶ The Proposal ||
Octavia’s limbs shook so hard , she wondered if she’d ever feel warm again. Caleb was taking care of getting the roller doors down, stopping the wind and snow flakes from getting in.
They had successfully pushed her car inside after shoveling a clear path in the snow. Even the heavy physical effort hadn’t been enough to warm her up. Her body wasn’t built for this weather. She needed to move to a tropical island or something. Montana wasn’t it.
Caleb came back to her, his cheeks pink from the cold, making him look younger than he was. “Come on, let’s get you warmed up,” he declared, putting his hand on her lower back to guide her toward the door.
Despite the layers of clothes and his glove, the spot where he touched her instantly reacted, her skin heating on its own. If she had the courage, she’d ask him to roam his hands all over her body, to chase away the cold.
They passed a door, getting back into the heated section, but it still wasn’t enough for Octavia to stop shaking. Noticing, Caleb apparently decided to take drastic measures.
She almost recoiled when he pulled her into his embrace, into his firm, broad chest. With his powerful arms around her, he energetically rubbed her back, effectively dismissing any sensation of cold in her body. Oh, Lord… What was happening? Did she actually die from the cold and go to heaven?
In a matter of seconds, she was feeling hot; absurdly hot. He was the most efficient radiator, and he smelled oh so good. A shiver ran through her, but it had nothing to do with the cold this time and everything to do with the man pressed against her. When Caleb tightened his hold on her, probably mistaking the reason for her trembling, she nearly let out a moan, too affected by what he was doing to her.
“I’m good,” she blurted out, ending it before embarrassing herself.
Almost immediately, he let go of her, and she regretted having brought it to an abrupt end. Maybe if she went out and rolled in the snow, he’d do it again?
Shyly, she looked up at him, her body still highly aware of what had just happened. She found him staring down at her. Their gazes remained locked for a moment, and Octavia let herself be hypnotized by his ocean eyes. Why did he have to be so handsome?
She was so absorbed by the moment that she barely noticed the confusion in his eyes. But it was there. He was muddled.
Caleb was a very professional person, always maintaining a proper distance between him and his parents’ employees, so it was probably why he was questioning his actions. Although, as he’d pointed out earlier, she wasn’t an employee anymore.
“Alright, I’m not sure how long we have until your car is good to go, but there’s no reason we don’t have a nice evening like everyone else.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“Well, we have a small kitchen and an entire supermarket at our disposal. How about me wake ourselves a nice, improvised Christmas dinner?”
“I’m a terrible cook,” Octavia confessed with a wince.
“You’re in luck then, because I’m a splendid cook.” Of course he was…
“Do you think you can pull it off with a barely working hotplate, a pot that’s known better days, and a microwave?”
“Is it a challenge?”
“Maybe?”
Caleb’s lips pulled up in a dashing smile, revealing his impeccably white teeth. “Alright, you insolent child. Challenge accepted.”
Octavia’s jaw clenched again at being called a child, but she dismissed it. If he was going to cook a lovely meal for them, she could let it slide.
On their way to the store section, Caleb whistled for Vixen, who was quick to join them. Authoritative and pragmatic, he gave Octavia a list of things he needed, which she typed on her phone as best as she could, before heading off to her task and Vixen to assist her.
“Is he really a good cook?” she asked the dog, grabbing a bag of carrots and throwing it in her small cart. “I mean, it makes sense, given how he’s perfect and all. But maybe it was just a brag, you know? Men do that a lot.”
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, interrupting her interrogation of the German Shepherd. A quick look at the caller ID informed her it was her father. Oh, right, she needed to warn him.
“Hi, Dad,” she greeted him.
“Hey, Vee. Louisa wanted to know when you’ll get here, so she can have everything ready on time.”
“I’m so sorry, I’m stuck at the Freshmart. The blizzard caught me by surprise, and my car won’t start.”
“Jesus! Do you want me to come and pick you up?”
“No!” Realizing she’d been a little too eager, she tried to explain herself. “I mean, I’m okay, I’m not alone and we’re planning a fun evening here to compensate.”
“Who’s with you?”
“Caleb… and Vicky,” she lied. Her father knew she had a crush on her boss, and she refused to let him imagine things when none of it would happen.
“Oh, I see. Are you sure you’d rather stay with them? Lou has been in the kitchen all day, preparing for tonight.”
“Yes, I know. I’m so sorry. But I really can’t make it. And I can’t let you take the car. I’m going to be fine, I promise. And I’ll come by tomorrow to feast on the leftovers.”
“Alright, then. Lou and the girls will be sorry you won’t make it.” Octavia doubted that… “We’ll see you tomorrow. Call me if you need anything.”
“I will. Merry Christmas, dad.”
“Merry Christmas, Vee.”
After hanging up, she met Vixen’s judgmental eyes. “What? It’s just a white lie. Tiny lies are okay now and then.”
Back to her shopping, she picked all the articles on Caleb’s list, which took her barely five minutes. She knew those aisles like the back of her hand. As agreed, she went to the small break room in the back. It wasn’t a very nice room, but Octavia and a few colleagues had decorated it for the holidays. Blue and silver tinsels were hanging on the walls, and a small Christmas tree was standing in a precarious balance in a corner, its multicolored lights blinking at a regular interval. When she arrived, Caleb was already making something simmer in the old, beat-up pot.
“You guys really need to invest in better equipment for this kitchen,” Octavia pointed out, taking everything out of her cart to set it on the counter.
“Yeah, I know. We’ve been meaning to change everything here. I kind of regret we didn’t.”
“Anything I can do to help?”
He gave her simple tasks, like peeling the carrots, dicing the potatoes, or rinsing the lettuce. When everything was ready, he announced it needed to cook for half an hour. It smelled delicious, and she was confident Caleb was a splendid cook indeed. It hadn’t just been a brag.
“Alright, how about we give ourselves some time to get ready and then meet back here in half an hour?”
“Sounds good,” Octavia agreed, craving a shower.
“Also, since we’re stuck here, how do you feel about exchanging gifts? Anything from the store, so we have something to unwrap, in true Christmas fashion.”
The fact that she had an actual gift she had for him in her car made Octavia blush. Now would be a splendid opportunity to give it to him, even though it wasn’t from the store.
“Okay, yeah. Good idea,” she accepted, leaving herself time to decide what she’d do with her gift.
As agreed, they separated, and Octavia went to the women’s locker room to use the small shower there. Looking down at her casual clothes, she regretted she hadn’t thought about her outfit more seriously this morning. Her jeans, turtleneck, and sweater weren’t very fitting for the occasion. If only she had a change of clothes or something.
Suddenly, an idea came to her mind. Tanya – a friend and colleague of over three years – always had a change of clothes in her locker, in case of a sudden hot date.
With her phone in hand, Octavia sent a quick text to her, asking if she could borrow her emergency outfit. Both were the same height, but Tanya was slender while Octavia’s hourglass figure was thicker. Surely, she would make it work.
Not waiting for an answer, Octavia tied her chestnut hair into a messy bun, refusing to wet them. Her long and wavy strands took forever to dry in the winter, and she didn’t have a blow dryer on hand.
After a quick and efficient shower, she checked her phone, wrapped in a large, white towel. Tanya had answered a very enthusiastic “ Yes, of course! Get it, girl!! And on Christmas Eve?? I hope that dick is gift-wrapped and has a bow on it. “
With a giggle, Octavia opened her friend’s locker and took out a hanger holding a red dress. Oh, my… She couldn’t wear this. It was short and tight, and while the cleavage might look great on Tanya, it wouldn’t work well on Octavia’s generous breasts.
The garment was beautiful, but she hesitated. She wanted to feel sexy for one evening. Caleb called her “kiddo” and “child”, but she was a fully grown adult. She was desirable, and the urge to show him just that was swelling in her mind. There wouldn’t be many more chances to prove to Caleb she was an actual woman, with nice curves and an appealing physique.
What did she have to lose, anyway? She wouldn’t work for him anymore. After tonight, they’d barely see each other again, so she wouldn’t die of embarrassment every day for showing herself like this.
For once, she would be courageous. Tonight, she’d show Caleb she wasn’t a child.
|| T H R E E ✶ The Dinner ||
When Octavia returned to the break room , it smelled even better than when she’d left it. She didn’t know what her stepmother had prepared, but she was certain Caleb’s improvised dish would be much better.
Since she had nothing to lose, she’d gone to her car, into the freezing warehouse, to fetch the gift she’d prepared for Caleb. If she had the nerve to show up in this dress, she most definitely could find the courage she needed to give him the gift.
The dress was tight, hugging her like a second skin, and the hem kept rising up, defying the laws of gravity. Instead of pantyhose, Tanya – who was definitely out to get some – only had semi-transparent stockings held by tight garters. That was definitely something Octavia wasn’t used to. Surprisingly, the cleavage was the only thing not posing an issue. The built-in bra was perfectly engineered.
While the dress was an acceptable fit, the shoes weren’t, so Octavia was wearing her white sneakers. It clearly wasn’t as elegant as the rest of her, but it allowed her to keep a bit of herself. She’d also taken a moment to adjust her makeup, even though it wasn’t as good as what she could have hoped for.
Caleb wasn’t there when she arrived, and she used this opportunity to settle the present under their pitiful Christmas tree. Vixen was in the corner, lying on the faded green couch.
“Come, girl,” Octavia called her, wanting her company while she went to get something in the shop. As they wandered there together, she picked the item she wanted and put it in a paper bag, to be unfolded later.
This time, when she came back to the break room, Caleb was there, stirring the content of the pot. He’d dressed up too, wearing the change of clothes he kept in his office. The navy blue button-up shirt suited him to perfection, its sleeves rolled up on his muscular forearms. His dark jeans were just as fitting, and Octavia couldn’t prevent her eyes from checking out his round and firm behind. That , she would miss a lot.
The small radio was on, and Christmas music was floating in the air. The setting was highly improbable, but the Christmas spirit was here.
Taking the wooden spoon out, Caleb wiped some sauce on his thumb and then brought it to his mouth. The sound of the door closing warned him they were back, making him twist around. Octavia tensed, anxiously anticipating his reaction.
With the tip of his thumb still between his lips, he froze. She stayed unmoving as his eyes roamed over her from head to toe, and then back up. It was impossible not to notice the way his irises darkened, and it had a powerful effect on Octavia’s pride. Yes, she was a woman. It was a shame it took a skimpy dress for Caleb to notice.
Shaking himself from his trance, he turned back to his pot. As she went to put her package by the tree, Octavia spotted a small gift, wrapped in light blue paper. Her heartbeat quickened, knowing this was the present Caleb had chosen for her.
“It’s almost ready. I’ve opened a bottle of wine, but I don’t know if you’ll have some.”
“Yeah, sure. I love wine.”
“I keep forgetting you’re old enough.”
“Yes, I’m legal,” she reminded him, the double meaning not lost on her.
With a deft hand, she poured some ruby liquid in the two glasses he’d taken out, ready to get the evening started. She went to him and handed him his.
“To our impromptu Christmas,” she offered as a toast. He tapped his glass with hers, and they took a sip.
Curious to see what the fruit of their labors tasted like, she ran her index over the spoon resting on the side of the pot and brought it to her mouth. The explosion of flavors ripped a moan from her. “Hmm, it’s so good, Cal. What is it?” she asked, looking up to meet his eyes.
Oh, wow, they were even darker than before, only a thin ring of deep blue circling his black pupils. Her face heated, probably turning her cheeks red, as she realized she’d accidentally been seductive.
“It’s a French dish called coq au vin , but with chicken instead of rooster, so it cooks faster. I had to be creative.”
“You really are a good cook.”
“Did you think I was lying?”
“Maybe it was a brag.”
“Octavia, I don’t brag. I deliver.”
There was something in his words, a promise, a threat, and it made Octavia weak in the knees. Of course, he delivered. He was Caleb Dale, and she wanted to see him deliver. Badly.
She would never want another man as badly as she wanted him, would she?
She kept her eyes on his, not shying away from his intense gaze. Tonight, she was a better version of herself. This dress, this attitude, this confidence… She’d spent over seven years growing the nerve to do all this, and now she’d let it all out.
Bending forward, she slowly pressed her breasts onto his chest, their eyes still locked, and she reveled in the way he tensed. Holy macaroni, he wanted her, didn’t he?
With a hand behind him, she grabbed the salt and the pepper on the counter, then moved back to go put them on the table, acting perfectly innocent. His eyes were on her the whole time as she set the table, sipping on her wine now and then. By the time they started eating, she was halfway through her second glass.
As expected, it was delicious. Knowing Caleb was a superb cook was terrible for her. She needed to move on, needed to forget about him… but at the same time, she craved to learn more. Did he have other hidden talents?
As they ate, they reminisced about her time working at the store, which caused some laughter and had Octavia cringing a couple of times. It made her both happy and melancholic to talk about it all. She had spent amazing moments here, with people who would remain friends for years to come. She could only hope she’d enjoy her new job as much as she’d enjoyed her years at the Freshmart.
The carols on the radio, the wine, Caleb… everything was making her feel warm and fuzzy. This was without a doubt her favorite Christmas Eve since her mother’s passing. There was something comfortable about being with Caleb. Even though she wished they’d be more, they were good friends.
They finished their plates, and he took out the chocolate yule log he’d gotten from the desserts aisle.
“Should we do the presents before the dessert?” he offered, causing her heartbeat to quicken. She should have picked something from the store and not stick with her stupid gift.
Apparently not requiring an answer from her, he fetched the three packages from under the tree.
“This one’s for Vixen,” she explained, pointing at the poorly wrapped item she’d fetched.
“Ah, I didn’t think of her. You’re making me feel like a terrible person.”
“Yeah, you’re an awful dog dad. I’m a great dog godmother, though.”
“To be fair, she has seven presents waiting for her under the tree at home.”
Knowing he’d thought about Vix made Octavia’s heart swell. Men who spoiled their pets were something else.
Vixen came as soon as he called her. Very interested, she sniffed the package while Caleb opened it, taking his time to build the suspense. When he revealed a chew bone, Octavia practically saw the joy in the dog’s eyes. Vix took it and then trotted back to her mat, ready to get her chewing started.
“My turn,” Caleb let out enthusiastically, grabbing the flat red package. As he unwrapped it, Octavia tried to justify herself, hoping it would help her case.
“It’s more of a joke gift. The idea came to me, and I thought it would be a fun parting present.”
Caleb was done opening it, and he stared at the framed illustration, his eyes gliding over it. She’d drawn him in his store manager uniform – which he barely ever wore – looking at the horizon, posing with a hand in his waistcoat, Napoleon style. Vixen proudly stood by his side, and the store was in the background. It really was a joke gift, but the hours it had taken her to create it made it much more than that.
“Say something,” she begged.
“It’s… wow. You’re really talented, Vee. I don’t understand why you’re still working here when you should have left long ago.”
She dismissively shrugged her shoulders, refusing to admit the reason she stayed for so long. Curiosity was eating her up, so she took the last present. Once it unveiled itself to her eyes, confusion spread in her mind.
This wasn’t from the store.
It was a tin pencil case with her name engraved in gold letters on it. When she opened it, she found four technical pens with her name engraved on them, too.
“It’s not from the store,” she told him, perplexed.
“No, it’s not. I wanted to get you something special, but we already gave everyone their Christmas gifts, and my parents gave you a going-away present. It seemed inappropriate to give it to you. This seemed like a good opportunity, though.”
Gifting something like this to someone wasn’t inappropriate. It was the way he felt about her that made it so. This present was more than a work thing. It was from Caleb to Octavia, not something impersonal. In fact, he’d made it incredibly personal.
“Why is it inappropriate?” she asked, wanting him to confirm her doubts.
His eyes darkened at her brazenness. She wasn’t this forthcoming usually, but the wine was freeing her tongue. “You know why I stayed here, instead of leaving for a job I actually want, right?”
He didn’t answer, visibly conflicted. He must have known. It was too obvious.
Encouraged by the alcohol and invigorated by his gift, she stood from her chair and boldly went to him. Before he could react, she grabbed his face between both hands and pulled him toward her, bending to press her lips on his.
Finally, after all these years, she would kiss Caleb Dale.
|| F O U R ✶ The Kiss ||
The instant their mouths touched , Octavia knew nothing else would ever feel this right. This was where she belonged. Against him, with her lips plastered on his. Her entire body was incandescent, sparks flying through her. The very, very long wait was finally over.
She wasn’t sure if it was because of shock or compliance, but Caleb didn’t move, utterly immobile under her. He remained there, with his unmoving lips under hers, and she wanted more than this. She wanted him to react. Needed him to.
Adjusting their angle, she tilted her head to the side to kiss him more thoroughly. Maybe she imagined it because she wanted it so much, but she could have sworn he’d moved to, pressing harder against her.
Her skin was warm and tingled with trepidation, but she needed more. She wanted to kiss him with the burning passion she held for the man. Hungry for him, she opened her mouth slightly, grazing the sealed line of his lips with her tongue. Dear God, the wine was making her audacious.
Caleb didn’t move, but she clearly heard a low, animalistic growl roll in his chest. He wanted her; she was sure of it. Bold, she did it again, licking his lush lips boldly, and this time she got a reaction.
His large, powerful hands found their way to her waist, gripping her tightly over the dress. For an instant, sadness overwhelmed her as she thought he would push her away. She’d lost this battle.
But instead of pushing her, he brought her closer, finally unlocking his jaw to give her the access she demanded. In a split second, his tongue eagerly darted out to invade the safe space of her own mouth.
Holy cow, this was the most erotic thing she’d ever experienced. Caleb’s tongue caressing hers felt even more sexual than when she’d had actual sex. This man, this godly creature, had the power to amplify everything. She wanted him as she’d never wanted anyone else.
Encouraged by his reaction, she came closer, pressing herself against him, opening her mouth wider, brazenly grazing her tongue against his. Her fingers tangled in his thick hair like she’d been dying to do all these years. He tasted like the dinner they’d just had, the wine they’d shared, and something that was entirely him. He tasted like Caleb, and it was her new favorite flavor.
One of his hands left her hips to slowly glide down and palm her behind, his fingers digging into her flesh. Jesus Christ, Caleb touching her like this was a fantasy come true. An intense shiver wrecked her body, starting from where his hand was daringly touching her, to end between her legs, where an unquenchable need was growing. The mere power of it made her moan in his mouth, craving for more.
This very tangible proof of her desire for him seemed to shake him out of the moment they were having. Abruptly, he ripped himself away from her, pushing her by the hips.
“Octavia… We can’t do this.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re an employee.”
“Not anymore.”
Trying to swallow away his uneasiness, he gave himself a moment to think of a better excuse. “You’re too young.”
“I’m twenty-three.”
“And I’m thirty-six. Octavia, we can’t do this.”
Offended that he’d still resist her, even now that she knew he wanted her, she took a step back, doing her best to hide how much she was hurting. “Caleb, I’m not this confused teenager who was mourning her mom and told you she was in love with you anymore. Maybe you’re only noticing tonight, but I’ve been a woman for years now. I have had boyfriends, I have had sex, I have experienced life. I know what I want, and I know what I’m doing. So if you don’t want me, just say it. Stop looking for some stupid excuse to push me away.”
He didn’t answer. She waited for him to do so, but he said nothing. Instead, he stared at her, looking impossibly attractive with his messy hair, his tempting lips, and his darkened blue eyes. The seconds stretched, the silence around them growing oppressing. Soon, Octavia had had enough.
Seven years and not a single thing had changed. She was done waiting. The best thing to do now was to go get her things and check her car. Maybe it would be warm enough to start, and she’d go home to cry her sadness away, alone in her room.
She’d just reached the door when he finally spoke. “I noticed before tonight.”
With her hand still on the handle, she turned around to face him. He wasn’t in his chair anymore, awkwardly standing a few meters away from her.
“I noticed you were a woman when you came back from that semester of internship two years ago. When I saw you then, I realized you weren’t a kid anymore. But you were still the sweet Octavia, who’s always happy to help, doesn’t swear, and blushes too easily. It felt wrong to see you like this.”
Two years ago, when she’d been back, she had been very different. Food had proved to be an efficient way to handle her stress, and it was when her curves had truly kicked in. But when she’d been back, she’d found Caleb married, which had broken her heart.
“I can swear,” she protested. “And I don’t blush that much.”
“You’re blushing right now, so point made. Vee, I’m sorry. You’re a very attractive woman, and I’m honored you want me this way. But I’m too old for you.”
“I’m not trying to build a life here, Cal. I just want one night. This last night. I’ve wanted it since I was too young to understand what it was I wanted exactly. Your age doesn’t matte, and if I’m being perfectly honest, it never has.”
He considered her words, and she could practically hear his brain work. Whatever he’d say, it was clear he wanted her. The kiss they’d shared, and the visible erection he’d gotten from it, didn’t lie. Caleb wanted her, the sweet Octavia , and his conscience was fighting against the mere idea of it. In his mind, she would forever be that twig with too much hair that had left a CV seven years ago.
She witnessed the moment his desired won over his mind. His hungry eyes locked onto hers, and something dark and starving veiled his face.
“One night,” he agreed.
Like in perfect sync, they both went to each other. Octavia hooked her arms around his neck while he grabbed onto her hips to plaster her against him. Their lips met again, and this time, it was primal, animalistic, and unrestrained.
There would be no more negotiations. This was happening because they both wanted it.
|| F I V E ✶ The Table ||
It was clear how much he’d been holding back during their first kiss because he wasn’t holding anything now. He was devouring her like a starving man, his tongue domineering, his hands everywhere.
When he firmly grabbed her behind to press her intimacy against the hard shape at his crotch, her legs nearly gave up and a moan passed from her lips to his. The intensity was insane.
Between her thighs, her need for him was growing unbearable. She’d known lust and desire before, but never had it been like this. When he pulled her dress up, just enough so his hands could caress the smooth skin of her bottom, her core palpitated. There was no doubt about it. Her panties were drenched, which never happened.
“Caleb,” she moaned, wanting more. So much more.
“I know. I’ll take care of you, baby,” he groaned, lifting her with ease. The endearment had her melting.
As her legs wrapped themselves around his waist, she fisted his hair to bring him back for a kiss. Seven years. Seven long and insufferable years.
Navigating the best he could despite her lack of effort to let him concentrate, he settled her on a table. She whimpered when the cold plastic met her scorching skin, but he was quick to warm her up, his mouth dropping to her neck to kiss her there.
Every time his tongue grazed the tender skin of her throat, she grew wetter, intense shivers spreading within her.
He was standing between her parted knees, and she didn’t hesitate to press herself against his hardness, needing him to do something about the impossible tension between her thighs. “Cal, I want you so much.”
He didn’t stop his slow exploration of her throat, but one of his fingers reached for the strap of her dress at her shoulder, pulling it down. Excitement and worry invaded her as he unveiled a breast. It was nerve-wracking to have Caleb Dale seeing her like this.
When his warm mouth dropped to her pink and taut tip, she forgot all about her modesty. He licked, sucked, and nibbled on her sensitive bud, making her moan and writhe.
It was impossible to tell if he was absurdly good at this or if she was enjoying it so much because it was him . But nevertheless, nothing had ever felt as amazing as Caleb’s mouth playing with her nipple.
Despite her hazy state, she noticed Vixen, sitting a few meters from them, her brown eyes looking at them with unmasked curiosity. Oh, no. Octavia couldn’t do any of this if the dog would to stare at them the whole time.
“Caleb,” she said, the name turning into a whimper when he nipped at her pebbled tip.
“Hmm?”
“Vix is watching. Get her out.”
With a reluctant groan, Caleb turned around to assess the issue while Octavia covered her exposed breast. “Go to the office,” he ordered, his voice firm.
It was a command Vixen knew well – Octavia had seen the dog instantly obey it many times in the past. But somehow, it didn’t stick this time, so Caleb had to repeat himself.
“Go, now. To the office, Vixen.”
This one worked, and after a slight hesitation, Vixen complied and left the room to head to her pillow in Caleb’s office.
“So, where were we?” he asked as he turned back to Octavia, looking all smug and sexy. A playful smirk pulled her lips up as she unveiled her breast to his sight again, revealing the perky tip.
There was something carnivorous in the grin he gave her right before resuming his earlier ministrations. This man was as hungry as she was.
Never stopping his sweet torture, he uncovered the other side, and when he gave it the same treatment, Octavia nearly went mad with lust. It seemed they’d had years of foreplay already. She wanted him to get to the point.
With trembling hands, she reached for his belt, adamant to speed things up. She had to have him inside of her now or die trying. He allowed her, and when his jeans were wide open, she sent a bold hand in his underwear, wrapping her fingers around the rock-hard flesh that demanded her.
Of course, he was huge. She doubted the man had a single fault, and if he did, it certainly wasn’t this. Letting go of her nipple, he straightened up to press his forehead against hers while she massaged his erection.
“Yes, just like that, Vee,” he moaned.
Incredibly proud, Octavia released him to undo the buttons of his shirt. Caleb assisted her. In a matter of seconds, she was pushing the garment off his shoulders, admiring the stunning view of his powerful upper body.
She could count on one hand the occasions she’d seen him like this; accidentally walking into his office when he was changing, a soccer match where he’d played skin, and two times where he’d been working in the warehouse during heatwaves.
But nothing could ever prepare her for the sight. His muscular pecs and defined abs were everything, and she couldn’t believe he considered himself too old for her. He was perfection made man.
When he bent to kiss her savagely, she wriggled as the light patch of hair on his torso teased her overly sensitive nipples. Dear Lord, she was on the verge of orgasming already, and he’d barely touched her.
As if he’d heard her silent plea, his hands traveled down her sides, and he hooked his thumbs under the elastic band of her panties. Her body lifted off the table as she allowed him to take them off, ignoring the rush of shyness that crossed her mind.
She had one night with him. She would make the best of it.
With brutish force, he pulled her closer to the edge of the table. The red dress was bunched at her hips and she still had her shoes and tights on, but she wasn’t waiting for another second to have him.
He kneeled, which she wasn’t expecting, and before she could object, he shoved his face between the thighs, his depraved tongue parting her molten folds. When he focused his attention on her sensitive bud, an electric jolt shook Octavia, making her crouch forward, her hands instinctively tangling in his hair to hold him in place.
“Yes! Right there,” she urged, thrilled to get the stimulation she’d been craving.
She couldn’t believe what was happening. Caleb Dale was eating her out, in the middle of the break room at work, on Christmas Eve. What were the odds of this ever happening?
Merciless, he didn’t give her any rest, his tongue assaulting her sensitive clit with clinical precision. The man knew exactly what he was doing, and there was nothing she could do but revel in his heavenly treatment. When his tongue finally gave her pulsing clitoris some rest, the relief was only temporary, as the wet muscle traveled lower. He pushed it inside of her, sampling her pleasure from its source, and the wicked invasion had her moaning his name. Caleb gave her long licks, penetrating her, then coming up to circle her most sensitive spot, before starting over.
An insidious orgasm struck Octavia, leaving her quivering helplessly, crying her pleasure into the room. He showed her no mercy, his expert mouth drawing her orgasm for as long as he could, resisting when she desperately tried to push him away. All his focus was on her clit now, and the jolts and shivers that shook her were growing hard to bear.
Eventually, he let go of her, and the pure pride in his eyes made her insides spasm one last time. The room was strangely silent except for Jingle Bells playing on the radio.
As they stared at each other, something passed between them, something intense. He really wanted this as much as she did.
In a smooth motion, Caleb stood up and pulled away from her. He proceeded to lower his jeans, exposing his impressive length to her sight. Oh, wow… This would be out of this world. Grabbing his wallet from his back pocket, he quickly fished out a condom from it before throwing it on the chair next to her.
She watched, mesmerized, as he rolled it down his girth with expert moves. Part of her wished she could have him without protection, but she’d discontinued her pill months ago. She wasn’t taking any risks.
When he fisted his swollen shaft to run it over her dampened folds, Octavia trembled at the marvelous sensation. Tonight, she might pass out from too much pleasure.
“Do you want me inside of you, baby?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.
“Yes… Please.”
“You want me to fuck you hard?”
The word had her recoil, her eyes widening. The shock quickly passed, though, and she whispered her answer. “Yes.”
“Say it then.”
Agreeing to it and saying it were two very different things, and something in her rebelled at the thought of uttering those words. “Caleb,” she begged.
“I thought you said you could swear?”
That was when she understood he was teasing her. He loved teasing her – it was like a hobby to him – but this time it was different. This time, it was entirely sexual, and she was living for it.
“I don’t want to.”
“Say the words, and I’ll give you what you want.”
“Please. I can’t say it.”
His hand trembled with need when he aligned himself with her entrance. He barely entered her, pushing less than an inch in before retreating. “Tell me what you want, Octavia.”
“I want you to… fuck me hard.”
“Hmm, you naughty woman. You want my cock in your pussy?”
“Caleb, stop this!” she scolded him, her insides clenching around emptiness.
As much as she wanted to find his behavior unacceptable, she thoroughly loved it. His filthiness was striking a chord in her, and while she rather enjoyed those words in his mouth, she wasn’t okay to utter them. After seven years of him treating her like she was a child, he was finally treating her like a woman. One he desired.
“We’re about to have sex in the break room, Octavia. I think we’re past this.”
“Fine. I want your cock in my— Aahh! Yes!” she cried out when he finally gave her what she wanted and rammed into her.
He felt so good, stretching her like no one had before, his entire length shoved into her. God, nothing would ever feel like this. She was made for Caleb. The match was perfect.
“Shit, baby,” he grunted. “You’re so fucking warm and tight.”
Her legs wrapped themselves around him as she lifted her knees up to his sides, bringing him closer with her heels digging in his lower back. He attempted a few gentle thrusts, which felt amazing. With his hands at her hips, he was gripping her firmly while his shaft pulled in and out of her. Their eyes were locked by an unbreakable force, and Octavia knew this was more than lust. There was something between them, whether he admitted it or not.
But she didn’t want to get false expectations. She’d been hoping for something for seven years now, and after tonight, she would stop. He was giving her what she’d so desperately wanted, and then she would move on.
Or at least, she’d try.
He was going too slow for her tastes. It was tender, almost romantic, and she wasn’t sure her heart could take it.
“Weren’t you supposed to fuck me hard, Caleb?” she asked, hoping she could beat him at his own game.
“Fucking hell.”
Her salacious words lit up a fire behind his icy irises, and to her great joy, he respected his word, giving it to her hard and fast.
Soon, their moans and grunts filled the air of the break room, covering the corny Christmas songs on the radio near them. The intensity of his shoves was maddeningly good, making the table rattle under her. She cried out her pleasure holding nothing back, her limbs clutched around him with all her might.
How was this infinitely better than any of her previous sexual encounters? Was it because of how well he filled her? Was it because he knew exactly how to position himself so the base of him would slam against her clit with each shove? Was it because she’d been in love with the man for seven years?
Eventually, she tilted into ecstasy again, shivering in his arms, whimpering his name endlessly.
Caleb… She was having sex with Caleb Dale. He had given her two orgasms.
In the midst of her climax, she felt him tense against her, and the guttural roar he let out in her ear was like the most primal of compliments. His hips pushed against hers with powerful shoves as he emptied himself, prolonging her own pleasure.
When the thrusts slowed and then stopped, Octavia felt more spent than she’d ever been in her life.
So, this was what sex was supposed to be like? Her experiences with her exes had been laughably mild compared to what had just happened.
He had fulfilled her desires in a way she’d never imagined was possible. None of her previous orgasms had ever been so incredible – the one she’d received as well as the ones she’d given herself.
How was she supposed to get over tonight? How would she ever get over him and move on, knowing how amazing they were together?
She wouldn’t. It was impossible. She’d never get over him.
|| S I X ✶ The Santa Hat ||
An overwhelming melancholia took over Octavia’s mood , ruining the last remnant of bliss coursing through her. In an instant, she was back to her sad and hopeless reality.
What had been heavenly now felt wrong, and having his skin plastered on her, his shaft still in her, only worsened her heartache. Her hands on his torso gently pushed him away as she tried to set some distance between them, needing to do whatever she could to preserve her heart. Cuddling after sex wasn’t an option. It was too intimate, too tender.
Oblivious to her change of mood, he pulled out with a contented sigh. It felt empty without him inside her, but she’d have to get used to it. After tonight, it would be over. To him, this was just a sex thing, a physical agreement, a naughty deal…
“Fuck, Vee. I knew it’d be good, but this was… something else entirely.”
Mindlessly, she nodded, her heart heavy with sorrow. It was different because they had something. She knew it, and she wished he could see it too.
Still not grasping what had just happened, she let herself down from the table before putting her red dress back into place. She was feeling somehow dirty, as if she’d debased herself. She was in love with Cal, but she’d taken whatever he was offering instead, which wasn’t enough.
The angelic voices singing some praises to Jesus on the radio didn’t help her feel better – far from it. Especially when she had to grab her discarded panties from the floor.
Sex meant a lot to her, which was why she didn’t normally do one-night stands. She had always been a hopeless romantic. Despite the failures, she’d truly attempted to build something with her exes. Nothing had ever worked out, though, because there was only one man she wanted.
A moment alone to gather her thoughts seemed great, so she passed by Caleb, who was done discarding the condom, to head to the locker room. Still not noticing her somber mood, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms. One of his hands tangled in her hair, and he brought her in for a long, intense, and bone-melting kiss.
When he pulled away, there was something almost euphoric in his expression. He was still high from what they’d shared, and she wished she was in the same state of mind. She wanted to enjoy the night to the fullest.
“I need to go to the bathroom real quick,” she told him, needing to get away. A surge of emotions was about to take over, and she needed to be alone when it did. He released her, and she made her escape, swallowing back her tears.
Once alone, Octavia took deep, soothing breaths, trying to calm down her racing mind. None of the realizations she was having were new. Despite her wild hopes and dreams, she’d known for a long time that Caleb didn’t belong with her. If he did, something would have happened by now.
But no. He didn’t like her this way. As it turned out, he was attracted to her. He wanted to have sex with her, and it was a somehow gratifying thing to know. But he’d agreed to this because it was a single night of steamy sex, not the complete package she so desperately wanted.
She’d told him herself. She wasn’t trying to build a life with him, even though it was partially a lie. Of course, if he wanted that too, she’d jump on the occasion in a split second. But this wasn’t the deal. The deal was one night of sex and then back to their respective lives.
The best thing she could do was to take this and make the best of it. She would fill her mind with memories of him she would then cherish for the rest of her life.
They only had a few hours, and she wouldn’t ruin it by being overly sentimental.
When she came back to the room, all freshened up, Caleb was sitting on the couch, wearing a Santa hat. Vixen was peacefully sleeping on her mat, with her chewing bone by her side. Seeing an opportunity she couldn’t miss, Octavia went to Caleb, his eyes following her with intensity, and sat on his lap.
“Hi, Santa,” she greeted him innocently. Amused by her take on the situation, he rested one hand high on her thigh and another one on her behind.
“Hello, little Vee. Do I need to ask you if you’ve been naughty or nice, even though I know exactly how naughty you’ve been?”
“Oh, I’ve been the naughtiest, Santa.”
“So, tell me, my naughty Octavia, what do you want for Christmas?” he asked, his lips tracing a fiery path on her exposed throat. She’d just had the best sex of her life, but this was enough to make her flustered and confused again.
“I want… I have been wanting to realize a fantasy. One I’ve had for years now.”
“Really? And what happens in this fantasy of yours?”
“Well, it involves you, without this hat, and—”
“The hat’s part of the package, baby. I’m afraid it’s non-negotiable.”
“Alright, then. You, that ridiculous hat, me, and a shelving unit in the store.”
“What part are the shelves playing in this scenario?”
“The part where you pin me against them and take me passionately,” she admitted, smiling when he grumbled something inaudible. He was the one who wanted her to talk dirty; he couldn’t blame her for it.
“I can help you with your fantasy, but only because I’m such a selfless man.”
He swallowed her giggle with a languorous kiss and easily maneuvered her so she was straddling him. With baffling ease, he rose from the couch, holding her against him. He then carried her to the door, which made Octavia giggle with amusement.
When Vixen came from her mat, ready to follow them, he stopped her. “No, stay here. Your innocent eyes aren’t ready for this.”
Octavia was still laughing when they left the room.
Instead of going toward the store as she’d expected, Caleb carried her to his office, where he sat her down on his desk. “What’s happening?” she asked as he typed something on his keyboard.
“Turning the CCTV off.”
“Oh, smart.”
While he did it, she watched him from her venture point, perched on his desk. He looked absurd in his Santa hat, but his profile was still a gorgeous sight, so Octavia didn’t hold back on detailing him.
She had so many steamy fantasies about him in this room. She’d imagined having him all over the place. From each wall to the desk, his chair, and the couch.
Once he was done with his task, he grabbed her hand and tangled his fingers with hers, encouraging her to follow him.
Hand in hand, they walked to the store section, ready to work on her Christmas wish.
“Okay, what do you think about the shelves in aisle twenty-seven?” he asked, one of his eyebrows arrogantly cocked up. A smile stretched her lips when she realized what he had in mind. This was where they stocked sex products like contraception and lubes.
“The naughtiest part of the store. I like your style, Dale.”
“Yeah, I’m also out of condoms, so it’s a two birds with one stone kind of thing.”
“Then lead the way, boss.”
Outside the large front windows, the blizzard was still raging, the snowy chaos contrasting with the quietness inside the store. People loved a white Christmas, but this was a little excessive.
They reached aisle twenty-seven, and Caleb grabbed a box of condoms with a quickness that showed he was used to getting them here. Octavia watched as he opened the box, feeling her cheeks warm up. Okay, maybe he was right; she did blush too easily. He took the bunch of silvery packages out, shoved them all but one in his pocket, and squeezed the box into a small ball to put it in his other pocket.
“So, tell me. How do things start in this fantasy of yours?”
It would be embarrassing to admit she had at least a dozen scenarios leading to him taking her against a shelving unit, so she decided there was no need to talk to get on with it.
With her arms hooked around his neck, she pulled him down and pressed her mouth on his with passion. His smile was impossible not to notice, but it quickly faded under the intensity of her amorous enterprise.
|| S E V E N ✶ The Shelves ||
Caleb grazed her curves with hunger while their tongues were busy mingling. He was an amazing kisser, and she wished they could have more time together. She wanted to get acquainted with that side of him so well she’d be able to anticipate and predict what he’d do next, how his tongue would move against her, how he’d groan her name when she moaned his…
When his hands fondled the soft flesh of her behind, she let out a whimper, adoring the feeling of his fingers on her.
Soon, she was plastered against the shelves behind her, Caleb firmly holding her in place, her legs wrapped around his hips like a belt. His lips were ripped from hers, and he quickly worked on opening his jeans, impatiently pulling them down to free his hard length.
With their eyes locked, he tore the condom’s package open using his teeth, and his intensity had her shivering. How could someone be so dashing, even with a stupid Santa hat on?
In a matter of seconds, the protection was in place, and Caleb reached between her legs to push her underwear to the side. Oh, God. She’d never had sex like this before, entirely dressed, with only her panties moved out of the way. If it hadn’t been proof enough of how much he needed her, the way he suddenly impaled her on his shaft was very revealing.
His mouth hungrily swallowed her surprised yelp with a kiss, and he didn’t waste his time initiating a maddening momentum, possessing her with vigor.
While her fantasy was scorching in her mind, it was turning out to be completely impractical in real life. There was nothing comfortable about being pressed against a shelving unit. Thankfully, the pleasure Caleb brought was more than enough to compensate.
Each time he rammed into her, he hit something deep inside her, adding to the pleasure of being so impossibly stretched. And every time their crotches met, the base of him would slam on her engorged clit, making the whole experience so incredible it was almost too much.
Because he wanted it all, he pushed the cleavage of her dress down. When the seams cracked from his brutish force, she was too far gone to even care. She’d buy Tanya a new dress if needed.
He never stopped his implacable rhythm, and Octavia could feel her orgasm build up at a fast rate. When he bent to take a nipple in his mouth, the synthetic fur of his Santa hat tickled her. Without giving it a second thought, she grabbed the ridiculous accessory and threw it a few feet down the aisle.
“Hey!” Caleb protested, releasing her taut tip to give her a disapproving glance.
He stopped the rolling of his hips, and when he turned to look at the discarded hat, she worried he might actually stop to pick it up. “Don’t you dare, Caleb Dale,” she threatened.
With a scoff, he returned his attention to her. “You’ve lost all respect for me now that I’m not your superior anymore, Octavia Williams.”
“I’d respect you far more if you could focus on my orgasm rather than your hat.”
“Alright then, one big O coming in for my naughty O,” he humored.
She knew he hadn’t thought it this way, but Caleb calling her his O made her heart double in size. Yes, she was his. More than he would ever know.
Before she could dwell on it, he resumed the intense pace of his hips, reminding her why they were here. The shelves painfully dug into her shoulders, back, and behind, but the amazing sensations spreading from her core overpowered it ten times over.
The repetitive intrusion of his shaft eventually brought her release, and Octavia shivered in his arms, her short nails digging into his shoulders while she muffled her soft cries in his shirt. She could sense herself clench around him, could smell the sweaty scent of their skins, feel with acute precision the way his length penetrated her intimacy over and over again.
Caleb’s mere presence heightened everything, and she could barely endure it without passing out. He knew exactly what to do to keep her on the delicate edge right before pleasure became too much to bear. Expertly, he brought her the most intense, the most scandalously good climax of her life, and she reveled in it.
When her orgasm faded with slow, languorous waves, she realized he hadn’t been coming with her. After he’d adjusted his hold on her, he started a new momentum, slower than before, as if he knew her satiated flesh couldn’t bear much more than that.
“Caleb,” she begged, uncertain she could go through all of this again so soon after.
“Trust me, Vee, you can take it.”
Because she had blind faith in him, she allowed him to go on, pressing her sweaty forehead against his shoulder. She could still barely believe it was all real. Caleb was having sex with her in the middle of the supermarket, as she’d fantasized about countless times.
The rhythm of his hips gradually increased, and to her surprise, she could take it; just like he’d promised. His stamina was out of this world, and once more, she wondered how he could consider himself too old for her. He was clearly in his prime.
When he freed of his hands to send it between them, she guessed he was getting there. With a deft thumb, he circled and teased the crease just above where they were joined, sending maddening sparks flying into her body.
“Aah, yes!” she cried out, a new orgasm on its way to wreck her.
“That’s it, baby. Come for me. Make me feel you throb all around me.”
His words worked like magic on her, and her climax came at her in a matter of seconds.
Crying out his name, she came apart, her legs and arms clenched around him. She vaguely registered he was coming too, his low grunts turning into a savage roar, his powerful body pressing her harder on the shelves.
They remained tangled like this for a while, their bodies occasionally jolting from one last shiver of pleasure, their breathing heavy, their heartbeats hectic…
Amorous, Octavia dropped a series of small pecks on his face, savoring the saltiness of his skin, thanking him for the wonderful pleasure he’d put her through. When she reached his mouth, he returned her kiss, his lips lazy and sensual against hers.
As he pulled away, she looked around to assess the damage. There were boxes of condoms scattered at their feet, and the sight of the Santa hat lying on the floor made her smile.
“Thank you for helping me with my fantasy, Cal,” she told him, kissing the underside of his jaw. His hands released her thighs as he pulled out and helped her down carefully.
“You’re welcome. Full disclosure, I may have imagined having sex with you right here in the past.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Watching you restock the condoms all flushed and embarrassed made me want to give you a reason to be pink and flustered.” He came closer to her, and his hand found its way to the side of her face. His thumb caressed her cheekbone with a tenderness that made her heart race. “And will you look at that, I succeeded.”
Although his gentle gesture was confusing her, she stared at him with an incredulous expression on her face. “You animal,” she accused him.
“Oh, please. You’re the one who asked me to take you in the store. Don’t act all innocent now.”
Well, he wasn’t wrong, so she didn’t bother coming up with an answer. They cleaned up the mess they’d caused, putting the items back on their shelves.
Once they were done, Caleb turned to her, something devilish in his smug face. “Any other fantasy you want me to help with?”
“Well, I’ve had one about the shower in the women’s locker room, and I’m very much in need of a good scrub. So… Care to help me with that one too?”
“Of course, but I’m scrubbing your back, nothing more.”
Her smile was almost impossible to hide as she left him there, shaking her head. She had many wishes on her naughty Christmas list, so they better get a move on.
With the steaminess of the night she had in mind, they might melt the snow outside.
|| E I G H T ✶ The Shower ||
Octavia didn’t even bother making sure he was with her , hearing his footsteps following closely.
It was uncertain how much more of him she could take, but she was still hell-bent on making the most of the night. It didn’t matter if she could barely walk in the morning or if she was sore for an entire week afterward. She would take anything Caleb could give her. All of it.
Once she’d entered the women’s locker room, she took her shoes off, ready to have a much-needed shower. She was sticky everywhere and she couldn’t wait to feel clean again. Perfectly aware that he was right behind her, she lifted her dress to access the garter of her left stocking before bending to roll it down her leg.
When Caleb groaned behind her, she bit on her lower lip to mask her victorious smile. By the time she got to the second stocking, she could hear him undress, the low ruffling of fabric strangely loud in the tiled room.
Still not turning around to look at him, she unzipped the side of her red dress and pulled it down her body, along with her panties. As she bent this time, she was highly aware of the stunning view she offered him. From his venture point, he could not only see her naked behind but also the tempting folds of her intimacy, still dripping from the orgasms he’d just given her.
Her teasing worked beyond her expectations, and he let out a low curse which, funnily enough, described what he wanted to do to her.
It seemed her inner seductress was out to play, as she looked over her shoulder to offer him an inviting gaze. He wasn’t entirely naked yet, with only his open jeans and trunks to take care of, but per usual, seeing his impressive torso made her weak with want.
Words weren’t necessary, so she walked to the small shower to turn the hot water on. She gave it a few seconds, then sent a hand to test the temperature. Once she’d adjusted it to her liking, she stepped into the stall, sighing with content when the warm water flowed over her aching limbs.
She hadn’t heard him come in, so when Caleb’s hand snaked its way around her waist, she jumped slightly. His heat radiated on her back when he joined her under the jet and pushed her hair to the side to drop a fiery kiss on her shoulder. Her head bent to the side on its own, to give him more access to his playful mouth, and Caleb welcomed her initiative by trailing his soft lips over the smooth skin.
None of them spoke, but the affection passing between them was worth a thousand words. His hands trailed over her body, igniting small fires that took a few seconds to die, only to be set up again when he’d graze this part of her again.
Eager to return his amorousness, she took the bottle of soap and turned around to face him. As she looked up to meet his eyes, she was struck yet again by how handsome he was. Caleb, her Caleb , was the most attractive man she would ever see, past, present, and future tense. She loved that he was older than her. She adored how mature and serious it made him, compared to the other men she’d dated. Caleb was the real deal. Everyone else was insignificant.
After pouring some soap into her palm, she rubbed her hands together and ran them over his broad chest, marveling at the hardness of his muscles. As if they had all the time in the world, she cleaned him, washing away all the sweat they had conjured together. With a twirl of her finger, she ordered him to turn around and spread more soap on the hard planes of his back. Everything about him was so perfect, it was ridiculous.
Audacious, she boldly groped his perky bottom with soapy hands, which made him jerk with a chuckle. Kneeling, she ran her fingers over his legs, enjoying how the hair there tickled the inside of her palms.
When she was out of skin to clean, she cleared her throat. “Turn around, Caleb.”
He obeyed, and she found herself inches from his hardening shaft, on her knees before him. Timidly, she met his blue irises, and the anticipation in them was clear as day. He wanted her to take him in her mouth. And may God forgive her, she wanted to do exactly that.
Since she wasn’t shy Octavia for tonight, she followed her impulse.
Her fingers circled the tempting flesh, and she pumped it gently. She’d given blowjobs before, but because it was Caleb, it felt as though she was experimenting all over again and she felt clumsy. With their gazes still locked, she bent forward, darting her tongue out to lick the underside of his swollen head. Given the way his jaw tensed, she was confident she could do just about anything and he’d thoroughly enjoy it.
Impatiently, she parted her lips and welcomed his shaft in her mouth. This simple action sent a shiver running down her body, all the way to the apex of her thighs. Encouraged by the low grunt he let out, she took more of him in, running her tongue on the veiny underside of his impressive length. The hot water was steaming up the surrounding air, isolating them in a bubble of lust and heat.
With a firm hand, she pumped the base of him while her head bobbed back and forth, taking as much as she could in her mouth, only stopping when it reached the back of her throat. She wanted to take him whole, to choke on it and show him how greedy he was making her. But there was no way she’d take the risk of heaving the meal he’d cooked all over his feet.
No, it was better for everyone to play it safe.
His right hand found its way on the back of her head, and with the other one, he leaned onto the tiled wall as if he needed the support, overwhelmed by what she was doing to him.
Every time he grunted or moaned, she quickened her pace, tightened her grip, hollowed her cheeks harder, and pushed herself to take him a little further. What was happening was surreal. Tonight would be engraved into her mind forever, never to be forgotten.
She could tell he was slowly losing it, his hand pressing her harder on him, his hips rocking in rhythm with her. The unstoppable sounds he was making echoed into the stall, making the moment impossibly carnal.
Just when she thought he was about to come, he pulled her away, his rock-hard shaft out of reach. Her mouth opened to protest, but he powerfully handled her until she was standing up.
“Caleb—” she started, wondering why he wouldn’t let her finish.
His hold on her jaw was firm as he reduced her to silence by plastering his mouth on hers. His tongue was dominant, imperious, and hungry. He kissed her with a mix of despair and need. Docilely, she allowed him to take what he wanted, definitely enjoying this side of him despite her disoriented state.
When he straightened up, she could see the desire veiling his handsome face.
“Since I can only have you for one night, sweet Octavia, I’ll be coming inside of you every time, with your tight wetness quivering around me.”
Once more, his dirty tongue was too much for her unaccustomed mind, and something palpitated low in her pit.
Although he was very professional, it happened that Caleb cursed now and then. It was rare, but she’d heard him do so on a few occasions. However, she would have never imagined him to be so vocal in the throes of lust. It would take a little more time for her to fully process the information.
After he’d let go of her entirely, he grabbed the bottle of soap, and just as she’d done for him, he began washing her.
To her surprise, his hands behaved, not lingering when he passed over her breasts, or even when he ran his soapy palm over her drenched intimacy. She turned around when he asked her to, and stared at the white tiles, wondering where he found so much restraint. First, he’d stopped her blowjob seconds from coming, and now he wasn’t using the opportunity to get her all hot and panting.
She had just reached the possibility that maybe he didn’t want her as badly as she thought when something changed in the way his hands stroked her. Still behind her, his palms slithered their way to her front, and he cupped her breasts, fervently fondling them. Her breath caught in her throat, and when he pinched both her nipples, it then came out in the form of a surprised moan. Twisting and pulling, he played with her pebbled tips, his mouth finding its way back to her shoulder.
His heat behind her was almost as warm as the water still running over them, and each time his hard length poked her lower back, she shivered and bucked. His right hand left its post, and she closed her eyes when she sensed it lower down her stomach. With expert fingers, he teased and played with her, taunting her with pleasure, but not enough of it.
“Cal, please,” she pleaded, thinking she might lose her mind if he didn’t take care of her aching clit.
“Do you want me to make you come like this, baby? With my fingers?”
“Aah… Yes!”
“You have to say it, Octavia.”
“Please, Caleb, make me come with your fingers.”
She was impressed to see how easily the words flowed out of her. It had been excruciating the first time, but now, she complied with little protest. She was learning there was nothing to be ashamed of around him, and her worries had no room between them.
At the first roll of his fingertip on her swollen bundle of nerves, Octavia’s back arched, pressing herself harder onto him, his length squeezed between them. Showing her just how well he knew the female anatomy, Caleb played her like a maestro. His second hand was added to the sweet torture, and he pushed two fingers in her while never halting the tormentingly slow roll of his digits over her clitoris.
He took his time building up her pleasure, and she shamelessly ground on him, rolling her hips to take his fingers deeper and press her behind harder on him. He followed her rhythm, his girth resting right between her butt cheeks, and they mimicked the sexual act, even though he wasn’t in her that way.
When he decided she’d endured enough, his rhythm sped up. Within a minute, she was coming apart in his arms, moaning his name. Her hands were holding his forearms for support, her nails clawing at his firm muscles. She stood there on weak legs, under the warm shower and against the warmer man behind her.
He kissed her temple, tender again when he’d been rough moments ago, and Octavia didn’t even try to fight the tears that flowed on her cheeks, hidden from him.
In this moment, she loved him harder than she’d ever loved him before. She’d thought tonight would purge her from the thought of him, from wanting him, from wondering what it would be like… But it was making everything worse, making her desire for him stronger than it had ever been.
She now had proof that he was perfect in every possible way.
But he couldn’t be hers.
|| N I N E ✶ The Dessert ||
When Octavia came out for the shower on wobbly legs , Caleb handed her a towel she quickly wrapped around herself. Tonight was conflicting in so many ways. She didn’t know how to handle the emotional whiplash.
Not holding back, she watched as he dried his incredible body, jealous of an inanimate object for the first time in her life. She wanted to be rubbed against every part of him like this.
As he slipped on his underwear and jeans, she was reminded she should get dressed, too. Her nose wrinkled with dislike when she fetched the red garment rolled into a pile on the floor. She really didn’t want to put it back on. It was all sweaty and dirty, and thanks to Caleb’s devotion, Octavia was now squeaky clean.
She was considering her jeans and turtleneck when Caleb proposed a much more tempting alternative. “I have gym clothes in my office, if you want.”
Oh, yes. That sounded comfy, practical, and she just loved the opportunity of wearing something of his. She accepted his offer with a nod, and when he was done buttoning his shirt and tucking it into his pants, he gave her a quick peck before leaving the room.
After taking her phone from her almost empty locker, she sat on a bench to check her notifications. Her dad had sent her a few pics of their dinner, and while she was sure Louisa had done her best, she didn’t envy the vegan meal at all. What Caleb had cooked had been, without a doubt, ten times better than her stepmother’s weird tofu casserole.
As if on cue, her lover for the night came back and handed her a pair of black sweatpants and a dark blue T-shirt with a large Nike logo on it.
“There you go. I’ll be in the break room, where Vixen probably feels abandoned,” he said with humor.
He left her alone again, and she shoved her face in the fresh clothes, inhaling deeply. The smell of his detergent was so familiar, it brought her a sense of coziness.
Not bothering with underwear, she slipped the outfit on, rolling the hems of the pants up to adjust the length. Once her shoes were back on, she headed out, loving the sensation of Caleb’s clothes over her naked skin. There was something erotic about it, and she couldn’t wait for him to notice she wasn’t wearing anything under what he’d generously lent her.
When she entered the break room, she found Caleb sitting on the green couch, reading something on his phone. Vixen lied right there with him, her head on his lap as he distractedly petted her.
Christmas songs were still playing on the radio, and the twinkling lights of the poor excuse of a tree were doing their best to spread a festive ambiance. The chocolate yule log was still on the table, and like a Christmas miracle, it looked highly edible despite them completely forgetting about it.
After grabbing two spoons from a drawer, Octavia fetched the dessert and went to the couch with it. It felt like the most natural thing in the world to snuggle against Caleb, which would have seemed impossible a couple of hours ago. When he welcomed her with yearning in the crook of his arm, with his strong arm wrapped around her shoulders, the sense of belonging became even greater.
Gladly, he took the spoon she offered, and they both dug into the dessert, needing some sugary fuel to make up for all this physical activity.
Vixen showed an interest in what they were eating, and Octavia shook her spoon at her. “It’s chocolate, it’s not good for you, girl.”
It didn’t discourage the dog, still trying to get a sniff of their cake. “Listen to your godmother, will you?” Caleb intervened.
She understood she wouldn’t get a piece and settled her chin back on her master’s thigh, defeated.
“How are your parents enjoying Jamaica?” Octavia asked after swallowing a mouthful of chocolate deliciousness.
“They’re thrilled. Mom’s delighted she’s missing the blizzard. They keep sending me pics of them at the beach, with white sand, blue sea, and coconut trees. Also, cocktails. So many cocktails. I think they might come back with an alcohol problem.”
Octavia giggled, taking another spoonful of creamy cake into her mouth.
Mike and Helen Dale were two of the sweetest people she knew. They owned the biggest store in town, but didn’t let it go to their heads. They were kind and generous, and they treated their employees like family. Octavia was going to miss Helen’s motherly hugs and Mike’s awkward sense of humor.
“Maybe I should do this next year,” she declared. “I hate the cold too much. A tropical Christmas sounds like a dream.”
Caleb chuckled, shaking his head. “Yeah, I noticed Montana might not be a good fit for you. Where would you go next Christmas if you could choose any destination?”
“Aruba.”
How quickly she answered amused him, and when he asked her why, she hesitated about what to say.
“Mom was a Beach Boys fanatic. We used to listen to their songs all the time. Kokomo was her favorite, and any time it started, we’d sing along and dance around for a moment. To this day, I still get this intense feeling of joy and happiness whenever I hear the song. Aruba’s the first word of the chorus, so it’s symbolic.”
“It makes a lot of sense. I’m sorry I didn’t get to know your mom better. She seemed like an incredible woman.”
“She really was. When my dad left, she made this vow to herself and me that we’d still live our best lives. She used to say we didn’t need him to be happy. We had so much fun over the years. She was amazing. Now, there’s a little of her everywhere in my life, when Kokomo comes on the radio, when I see a snowman, or when I take out her recipe book.”
“Those Christmas cookies you brought this morning were from her book?” Caleb wondered.
“Yeah, I do them every year. It’s the one thing I can bake without setting the kitchen on fire.”
There was a moment of silence, and she didn’t know what to say. Talking about her mom always made Octavia sad, but it was still an important part of who she was.
“Losing her must have been hard,” Caleb eventually said.
“Getting over the accident was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I’ll forever be grateful for the people who worked here back then. I was feeling alone and helpless, but they gave me the support I needed.”
“I was impressed by how strong you were. I can’t imagine how I’d handle one of my folks passing.”
“I’m tougher than I look.”
“I know. You helped me push a car inside tonight.”
“I was mostly steering the wheel, you did most of the pushing.”
“You still helped. Couldn’t have done it without you,” he insisted with a charming smile.
Touched by his words, she rested her head on his shoulder. “No one told me when I bought it that diesel froze so easily.”
“Yeah… I don’t really have an excuse, because I knew. I should have taken my truck instead, but I didn’t realize it would be this cold.”
“I don’t think anyone realized. It was supposed to be mild, but it’s like the apocalypse out there.”
There was another moment of silence as they both stared at the small window and the snowstorm still blowing outside. None of the weather people had predicted it would be this bad.
“I’m not mad about the way things turned out,” Caleb revealed. “This is so much better than spending the evening alone at home with Vix.”
Octavia’s heart hammered in her chest like a drum. It didn’t even mean anything, because yeah, his Christmas plans originally sucked. But still, knowing he was enjoying the night was meaningful.
“I’m glad I got stuck with you too.” He didn’t answer and pressed a kiss on her head instead.
“I should go turn the CCTV in the store back on before I forget,” he said, leaning forward.
Removing her temple from his shoulder, Octavia let him stand up, then looked at him leaving the room. It was a little over midnight now, but she wasn’t tired.
Her mind was in a constant state of excitement, energized by the magic of her night with Caleb. Even if she was tired, she wouldn’t waste some of the precious moments they had together by sleeping.
No, they only had so many hours left before parting, and she fully intended on using every single one of them.
This was her very own Christmas miracle, and she refused to miss any of it.
|| T E N ✶ The Desk ||
“ So, what does a girl have to do to get a promotion in this joint?“ Octavia asked when she entered Caleb’s office, leaning on the door frame in a way she hoped was seductive.
With a cocked eyebrow, he looked up from his computer, and she felt stupid for a moment. She was literally wearing the least sexy clothes possible, her wet hair was a mess, and her makeup was long gone. She wasn’t equipped to seduce a man like Caleb.
Still, he generously played the part. “I think you mean who does a girl have to do to get a promotion in this fine establishment.”
She swallowed back a snort, trying to stay in character. “All I know is I’m willing to do anything it takes, Mr. Bossman. A girl wants to live a fast life, but minimum wage ain’t doing the trick.”
“Come sit on my lap. I’m sure we can find an agreement that will suit both parties,” Caleb said, tapping on his thigh while rolling his chair back.
Excitedly, Octavia made her way into the room and behind his desk. Like a good little employee desperate for a raise, she obeyed the man and sat on his lap, plastering herself against him.
Had she still been employed at the store, she would have felt uncomfortable about the situation. But since they both knew it wasn’t the case, the role-playing was much easier to accept. Also, Caleb wasn’t like this. He was a decent man with good values, so this was in no way a reflection of their reality. It was just a sexy and naughty fantasy.
His hand settled high on her inner thigh, and he held her close to him. “So tell me, sweet Octavia, why do you think you deserve a raise?”
“I have been giving it my everything lately. Body and soul.”
“Hmm, I see. But do we think it’s enough to justify a raise?”
“I mean… I guess I could give more of my body.”
His hand left her thigh to lazily move up under her shirt and toy with the elastic waistband of her sweatpants.
“I like where this is going. Keep talking, woman.”
“I’d offer to suck you off, but since you won’t let me, we’ll have to settle on my second favorite fantasy I have in this room.”
He tensed under her, and she bit back a smile. His digits finally stopped playing with her and slipped under the fabric of her pants. A low grunt escaped him when he noticed she wasn’t wearing anything under the garment he’d lent her.
“Fuck, baby,” he groaned. “I’ll get a hard-on every time I wear those pants now.”
Delighted, she held tighter on his neck as he slipped his fingers along her wet slit. A fingertip, glistening with her arousal, rolled on her clit. She writhed on his lap, amazed by how good something this simple felt.
“So, what’s your second favorite fantasy in this room?” he asked, his low whisper like warm licorice. He pushed two fingers inside her willing flesh and she whimpered, spreading her legs to take more.
“I want you to bend me over your desk and take me like there’s no tomorrow.”
At the thought of tomorrow, her heart clutched painfully. She wanted the night to last for all of eternity. With everything she had, she wanted for the sun to never rise again, stretching this night to infinity.
Caleb’s hands moved out of her pants, and her cheeks burned with conflicted arousal when he brought his two fingers to his mouth and ran his pink tongue on them.
An appreciative hum rolled in his chest, and his eyes darkened, turning deep blue. “You taste so fucking good, Vee.”
Her face was certainly poppy red by now, but he didn’t tease her about it, lifting her shirt to remove it instead. She helped him, and once her breasts were exposed to the cold air of the room, their tips hardened. After an appreciative glance at them and a quick pinch for each, he pushed her away from his lap.
She followed the will of his imperious hands guiding her, and turned to face away from him. With an impatient sweep of his arm, Caleb cleared a section of the desk, sending papers and items on the floor. When he pushed between her shoulder blades, she obeyed and bent over the wooden surface, her excitement running wild.
Eager hands pulled her pants down, revealing her lower half, and she fought the urge to press her thighs together. Once it fell to her ankles, she struggled a moment to remove her shoes and the sweatpants, before pushing them aside. With a commanding tap of his foot, he made her part her right leg, then the left one. Bent over and spread for him, she waited, mad with anticipation.
Caleb let out another one of his appreciative mumbles, and she heard him unbuckle his belt, the metallic sound more erotic than it should have been. The unmistakable rip of a condom package being opened followed, and Octavia wished she could see him roll it on himself. It was the sort of thing she never thought she’d see him do.
When his round tip met her heated flesh, she almost purred like a cat. She loved him so much.
Bending over her, he kissed the side of her throat and then nibbled at her earlobe. “Is this what you want, Octavia?”
His voice was low, manly, and her intimacy clenched at the hoarseness of it. Helplessly needy for him, she nodded.
He didn’t comply right away, but ran his swollen head up and down her wet slit, pushing harder every time he reached her clit. Even when she was drenched and ready for his intrusion, he continued the sweet torture, refusing her what she craved.
“Caleb, please…” she begged. “I want you to… I want you to fuck me.”
The word might be easier to say than it had been earlier, but it still unleashed a plethora of conflicted shivers through her. Appreciative of her efforts, Caleb didn’t ask for more, and slowly pushed himself into her swollen flesh.
“I swear, baby, no other woman has ever felt this good,” he praised, starting a slow momentum.
Up on her elbows, Octavia arched her back further, giving him better access. He straightened up behind her, and his powerful hand gripped her hips.
He mounted her – there were no other words to describe it. His hands held her in place as he gave her everything she’d asked for, his hips harshly slapping her bottom with each deep thrust. His savagery made more things tip over on the floor, the whole desk shaking from his intensity.
She felt like the lewdest woman, bent like this, his hands holding her firmly. The most delectable sensations spread from her core into her entire frame, making her moan and cry. Caleb was so big, he felt so good, she couldn’t hold anything back.
He possessed her like this for endless minutes, sometimes bending over to whisper something naughty in her ear, which always made her whimper in a strange mix of protest and enjoyment.
When he impulsively gave her a dry slap on her behind, she cried out, surprised by the sensation it unleashed. The sharp yet short-lived pain mixed very well with the pleasure. She almost begged him to do it again but held back, worried by what he might think of her if she did.
The fleshy sound of their skins clashing rhythmically was raw and carnal. It would haunt her fantasies until the end of time. Adding to the loud slaps of their flesh, they could hear the wetness of their union. She could even feel it, her pleasure dripping down the inside of her thighs. She was drenched, her senses heightened by Caleb’s skilled attentions.
When she eventually came apart, he gave her no mercy, his grip on her hips almost bruising.
After he’d given her endless seconds of bliss, he slowed down to a full stop, and her quivers ceased. Bending forward again, he laid his muscular body against her back. She felt the wet touch of his tongue licking her shoulder, and then he came closer to her ear.
“I seem to be doing all the work, Octavia. How about you show me what you’ve got?”
“Nothing. I’ve got nothing left,” she moaned, completely spent. “You took everything.”
Dubious, he chuckled and moved away, his hardness leaving her desperately empty. He maneuvered her effortlessly, her limbs so weak she felt like a rag doll. After he’d sat on his desk chair, he pulled her so she was straddling him. Oh, she most definitely didn’t have the strength to be on top right now.
“Caleb, I don’t think I can.”
“Come on, Vee. We did your fantasy. Now it’s time for mine, yeah?”
“You thought about this?” she wondered, surprised.
“More times than I can count.”
He was great at making her bend to his will, his lips leisurely tailing along her collarbone, his tongue sometimes darting out to sample her skin. Well, if he’d imagined having her like this in his office, she had to help him realize his fantasy. Just like he’d done with her through the night.
On the tip of her feet, she pushed herself higher on his lap to adjust their position. After grabbing him, she closed her eyes to enjoy the sensations as she slowly impaled herself on his shaft. She opened them back once he’d entirely disappeared in her greedy flesh, wanting the connection. Her gaze fell on his hooded eyes, drowning in their blueness. He was still dressed, his jeans low on his thighs, his dark shirt covering his upper body, and she wanted to see him. She had to feel his skin against hers.
As if she had all the time in the world, she slowly undid the buttons of his navy blue shirt, unveiling more golden skin that laid underneath, inch by inch. She dropped butterfly-like kisses on his jaw and throat as she progressed, and when she reached the last button, she pushed his shirt away as he helped her remove it.
With her arms around his neck, she leaned into him to ease herself up and down his length. His hands clasped her hips, and he helped her, his powerful arms flexed from the effort of carrying part of her weight. Flushed together as they were, the hair on his torso was teasing her pebbled nipples, adding pleasant shivers to her rapturous state.
As it turned out, she did find the strength she needed to ride Caleb, especially with his assistance. Her rhythm increased, and soon enough, she was bouncing on his lap with fervor. As she tried angling her hips in different ways, she realizes she could press her overly sensitive clit on the base of him every time she took him to the hilt.
Being on top during sex had never been something she’d enjoyed. She felt clumsy and disgraceful. With her ample breasts all over the place and her face red from the effort, she always thought she looked like an overheated mess – one who didn’t know what she was doing.
But when she met Caleb’s eyes, all her concerns faded into nothingness. There was something so appreciative and proud in his gaze… It was clear he loved what she was doing, the way she looked, and her enthusiasm.
“You’re doing so good, baby,” he praised, his voice hoarse and his eyes gentle.
She suspected he was on the verge of coming, and when he sent a hand between them, to feverishly roll his thumb over her palpitating clit, she had her proof. Full of pride and confidence, she found the strength she needed to intensify her pace.
She kept fucking him and he kept rolling his fingers, adamant to get her there first. It became a thrilling race, an unspoken challenge, and Octavia was determined to win.
Her fingers tightened into his hair harshly, and she tilted his head back so she could kiss him, never halting her fierce momentum. Her tongue dominated his, boldly leading their kiss, and she knew it was only possible because he allowed it. There was no way she could ever have the upper hand on Caleb physically.
To her great joy, he came first, his forehead pressed on her sternum as his arms wrapped around her, holding her tightly. He jolted and shivered under her, with his hips bucking up and his moans of bliss resonating in the room.
He was still in the midst of it when she joined him, quivering on his lap, her head tilted back, crying out his name to the ceiling.
They remained in each other’s embrace for a while, his softening shaft still in her. The sweaty skin of his forehead rested on her equally sweaty chest, and neither of them seemed to want to move, their panting breaths gradually slowing down to a more regular pace.
With a kiss on her shoulder, he gently lifted her, dislodging his shaft from within her.
“Full disclosure again. This one was my favorite of all the fantasies I have of you. And reality was far, far better than anything I ever imagined.”
A lazy smile crept on Octavia’s lips. And there she’d been thinking he only saw her as a kid all this time.
She tried to stand up, but her legs nearly gave up under her. Quick to react, Caleb grabbed her hips and helped her regain her balance. Okay, she’d finally found her limits. As much as she wanted to keep enjoying Caleb’s aptitudes, she was done for the night.
After she’d pulled her pants back to her hips and slipped her shoes on, he handed her the T-shirt that was hers for the night, and she passed it over her head.
Ready to go back to the break room, she walked to the door but changed her mind halfway there. She had to lie down for a moment, the past few hours finally catching up with her. The couch in Caleb’s office was famously comfortable, so she didn’t resist its tempting call.
Ignoring the amused way he looked at her, she let herself plop down on the cushions before kicking her shoes off. Oh Lord, it felt amazing. She needed this badly.
With her eyes on him, she watched as Caleb cleaned up the mess they’d made, putting everything back in its proper place on his desk. Once he was done, he fetched something from his closet. When he came to her with a fluffy cover and a pillow, she thanked him with a grateful smile.
She tucked the pillow under her head when he handed it to her, noticing it smelled like him. Instead of wrapping her in the blanket as she’d expected, he got rid of his shoes and made his way on the couch, squeezing his tall frame between her and the backrest. Although it was comfortable, the couch was too narrow for them both, so they were closely pressed together under the blanket Caleb had thrown over them. He had an arm circling her, holding her so she wouldn’t roll away and fall on the floor.
Turned to her side, facing away from him, she mindlessly stared at his office.
“Do you sleep here a lot?” she wondered.
“More often than I should. Now and then, I open myself a bottle of bourbon to finish whatever work I have left, and sometimes I drink a little too much. Rather than driving home, I just stay here and sleep the booze off.”
She knew he worked hard, practically running this place on his own. His parents were slowly fading into the background, preparing for their retirement. It wasn’t a surprise to hear this. But it left her wondering… What about his dating life? Why didn’t he have a reason to get home?
Because of everything they’d shared tonight, Octavia allowed herself to ask him. “Why don’t you have someone to go home to?”
Silence followed her question, and she wondered if he would answer.
“I don’t know. I haven’t been invested in anything since Mel.”
Hearing him mention his ex-wife while he was holding her so intimately was unpleasant. But Melanie would forever be a part of his life. A big one, since he’d asked her to marry him. Although, marriages that lasted eleven months were rarely meaningful…
“I’ve seen a few women since the divorce, but none I’d want to build something with. Also, I’ve been too busy with the store to consider it. And you, why don’t you have an adoring boyfriend?” he asked, returning her question.
Before she could think about it, the truth came out of her mouth, her heart speaking before her brain could.
“Because I’m in love with you, Caleb.”
|| E L E V E N ✶ The Couch ||
Five years ago , a couple of weeks after turning eighteen, Octavia had finally gathered her courage to profess her love to Caleb.
She could still remember her nervousness when she’d knocked on his door after her shift, wearing her favorite dress and prettiest shoes. Stumbling on her words, she’d told him about her feelings for him, insisting he didn’t have to answer. She just wanted him to know.
He’d answered, though, and his response had broken her fragile, enamored heart. She was a sweet girl and he was fond of her, but he didn’t see her like that, and he never would. He’d told her he wasn’t the right man for her, and she should focus on boys her age rather than him.
Although his words had been as gentle and considerate as possible, each of them had felt like a stab through her chest. Finally, being eighteen meant she was an adult, so she could love him and he could love her. She’d thought since the numbers were right, she had a chance with him.
But the only number that mattered to Caleb was the twelve years and five months separating them. Being a legal adult was meaningless. She would forever be too young for him.
Back then, she’d still been mourning the loss of her mother. Seven months before her declaration, the being she loved the most in this world had been robbed from her in an unlucky car accident. Octavia had been looking for traces of affection wherever she could get them, since her mom wasn’t there anymore and her estranged father didn’t know how to love his daughter.
So she’d cracked under the pressure of her overwhelming need for love. She’d cracked, and she’d asked Caleb for his love. But just like everyone else around her, he didn’t know how to love her.
After he’d rejected her, she’d been devastated, certain no one would ever love her again. Until she met Quentin a few months later. Quentin was only a year older than her. He was nice, caring, sweet, and all he wanted was to love her. So she’d let him, needing his affection. Anyone’s affection, really.
They’d dated for about ten months before Octavia had ended things. He loved her the way she needed, but she couldn’t return it. All of her boyfriends had followed the same pattern, and each time, she’d convinced herself she could learn to love them back.
But the truth was, she couldn’t give her heart to any of them because it already belonged to Caleb Dale.
In his tight embrace, on the small couch in his office, Octavia felt like she was eighteen again. Once more, she was desperate to hear him say he loved her, too. But this time, she knew better.
Caleb was a kind man with a big heart, and while a small part of it might have her in it, he couldn’t love her like that.
And it was okay. He didn’t have to. As much as she wanted Caleb to love her, she couldn’t put the blame on him if he didn’t. Love didn’t work that way, and it wasn’t anyone’s fault if she’d been in love with him for seven years and he couldn’t return it.
Or at least, it was what she tried to tell herself, but while her brain understood the logic, her heart refused to see sense.
When Caleb didn’t respond to her spontaneous declaration, frozen behind her, she couldn’t help the silent tears that rolled onto the pillow under her temple.
Five years and nothing had changed.
“Octavia, I’m sorry. I—”
“It’s okay,” she cut him, not wanting to hear the truth she already knew. “You don’t have to say anything. It’s why I’m leaving. I need to move on, but I can’t do it if I see you five days a week. I have to give myself the chance to fall out of love with you.”
More silence followed, and she kept her eyes on the small window behind Caleb’s desk, watching the snow relentlessly falling outside.
Despite the tremendous awkwardness he was probably feeling, Caleb didn’t let go of her. He didn’t get out of the couch, didn’t loosen his hold on her waist. And she was thankful for it. She needed this, needed his affection, even if she couldn’t have his love. As she’d decided when all this had begun, she would take everything he was ready to give her.
“Cal?” she asked with a small voice.
“Hmm?”
The question was as hard to ask as it was unfair. But Octavia asked it nevertheless, hoping he would agree. “Can you— Would you make love to me?”
Maybe for a fleeting moment, he could pretend he loved her and show it in a way that was somehow easy, given the night they’d shared.
She waited for him to agree or reject her, but nothing came. When something eventually happened, she’d thought he would abstain from answering altogether.
His mouth met her throat, laying a tender kiss there, and she let out a reassured sigh.
Wriggling around the best she could, she turned to face him, sending her fingers in his thick, dirty blond hair to pull him in for a kiss. With trembling hands, she struggled to discard his clothes, and he did the same for her until she was naked and shivering against him. His jeans were hard to get rid of, given the confined space, but they managed. Their naked skins were intimately plastered together, the blanket and their clothes scattered next to them on the floor.
Caleb kissed her in a way he hadn’t done tonight yet, with longing and adoration, and it was effortless to imagine it wasn’t a lie. He loved her. Clearly, she should have reminded herself he was only following her wish. It wasn’t true. Caleb wasn’t in love with her like this. But she clung onto the illusion, deciding her heart would break in the morning, regardless. At least she’d have a few moments of bliss in his arms, believing her love for him was returned.
With his hand between her thighs, he expertly prepared her for him, teasing her with dexterity, making her pant and wriggle in his embrace. Once he judged her ready, he rolled over her and she parted her legs to welcome him.
When his eyes met hers, she could read the desire in them, but also the apology veiling his blue irises. It was all he could give her. This sweet moment where he’d pretend. A gentle lie that would wreck her in every possible way.
Her hands framed his face, and she forced him down for a kiss, still resolute to keep the illusions going. With a confident hand, he guided himself to her needy entrance and gently nudged in, filling her to the hilt. Ever-so-gently, he pulled out before thrusting back in, taking his time, allowing them both to savor it.
Something was different this time. Different from all the times they’d had tonight. They’d been fucking before, on the table, against the shelves, in the shower, just before on his desk and chair… But now, oh now, he was making love to her, just as she’d asked.
There was passion and tenderness in the way his hips rolled, and he kissed her with care and want. The illusion was too good, too perfect… How was she supposed to believe that he didn’t, in fact, love her?
He pushed himself up slightly, until their bodies no longer flushed together. Her eyes traveled down his torso, to marvel at the way his abs flexed with each of his poignant nudges. She looked further down to where all those incredible sensations started, wanting to see the source of their lovemaking.
As her eyes fell on his impressive girth, moving in and out of her, glossy with her wetness, she realized his tenderness wasn’t the only reason why this time felt so different from the rest.
Too absorbed by the moment, they’d forgotten about protection.
It made Octavia shiver with delight to know they were as close as humanly possible. She’d at least know what it felt like to have Caleb in her like this, linked to her so intimately.
For an instant, she considered letting him continue, loving the thought of him filling her with his pleasure, leaving her with some of him that would linger for a few days after tonight. But as much as she might want it, she couldn’t play with the risk of pregnancy. She loved him with all her heart, but she would never trap him with a child he didn’t want and a woman he didn’t love.
“Condom,” she breathed out.
“Fuck!”
His confusion made it clear he hadn’t realized either, and he pulled out instantly. After fishing his jeans from the floor, he took a package from its pocket. In a hurry, he opened it and rolled it on, his hands unusually clumsy between them. Once the thin latex was protecting him, he entered her again.
“Sorry, Vee. I completely forgot.”
“It’s okay, I forgot too,” she reassured him, laying a tender kiss along his jaw.
He resumed his tender lovemaking, and Octavia hugged him tightly. Her hips rolled with his, the momentum slow but powerful. The intensity was also there when they looked at each other, when they kissed, when he caressed her skin…
He was making love to her as she’d asked, and she would cherish the memory of it for years to come.
The fainted lovingness slowly evolved into more, and soon enough, they were sweaty, panting, and moaning. With a hand on the armrest over her head, Caleb was anchoring himself to gift her with deep, long, and intense shoves, his fervor maddening.
Her orgasm was so close she could taste it, so she cried out his name, begging for more. Her legs were twitching against his sides, her femininity spasming around him, her fingers clawing at the taut skin of his back, lost in the magnitude of their embrace. He didn’t seem to mind her wildness, his devotion absolute.
His pace grew faster, and when she looked up to meet his blue eyes, the adoration she read in them pushed her over the edge.
“I love you,” she whimpered, wrecked by intense waves of pure, unaltered pleasure crawling through her.
As she came apart, she repeated the three words over and over again, while he sought his own release. When he pressed his lips on hers, she wasn’t sure if it was to silence her or because it was an imperious need, but she was too far gone to care. With her hands, she grabbed his firm behind, pulling him harder onto her, wanting all of him.
He came undone, his hips jerking forward, pounding into her with energy. His grunts of pleasure landed in her mouth, and she swallowed them with pride, knowing she was the reason for his bliss.
Their bodies kept quivering long after they’d orgasmed, Caleb’s frame weighing more and more on hers. They were both spent, finally reaching their limits.
“Caleb, it’s becoming hard to breathe,” she complained when his weight became too much.
Mumbling an apology, he pushed on his arm to free her from his weight. With a mechanical gesture, he rid himself of the protection and threw it on the floor, not even bothering to tie it.
Too tired to consider getting up from the couch, they both returned to their earlier positions, spooning in the narrow space. As the pleasure wore off, the air became too cold for Octavia, so she grabbed the discarded blanket from the floor and covered them with it. Caleb assisted her, his sluggish gesture betraying how sleepy he was.
None of them talked, and she wasn’t sure what she would say, anyway. Even though the blizzard was still blowing into the darkness outside, their night was over.
Sorrowful, she kept staring at the snow outside, her silent tears wetting the pillow beside her. Was the heartache ahead of her really worth the night they’d shared? Wouldn’t she had been better not knowing just how compatible they were?
Eventually, she fell asleep, lulled by Caleb’s regular breathing behind her.
|| T W E L V E ✶ The Morning ||
Octavia opened an eye , completely disoriented. Her body was in an odd position, and she was feeling way too hot. As she glimpsed at the room before her, wild images of the night suddenly came back to her mind. When she remembered where she was, a mix of joy and pain filled her heart. Also, the strong and warm body plastered on her back, spooning her on the small couch, explained why she was on fire.
She’d spent the night with Caleb. He’d pleasured her beyond any expectations, bringing her so many orgasms she’d stopped counting.
Her Caleb.
The night had been incredible, more than her wildest fantasies. After all these years, she’d finally gotten a taste of the man she so fervently loved.
But now, the fateful morning had arrived. Out the window facing her, she could see the blue sky of the day, without a single cloud in sight. Their night was over. The storm was gone, and they would both go back to their lives, only crossing each other’s path now and then.
She wasn’t sure this night they’d shared was worth the ache it would cause, but it was too late to back up now. The deed was done – multiple times.
Behind her, Caleb woke up, stirring out of his sleep. His muscular arm circling her waist mechanically brought her closer to him. She swallowed the heavy lump in her throat when his lips met her naked shoulder for a tender kiss.
He couldn’t do this anymore.
“’Morning,” he mumbled, his voice throaty and low.
“Hi.”
He didn’t seem in a hurry to leave, his mouth granting yet another kiss to the curve of her shoulder and another. She couldn’t let him do this. More than ever, she knew it was time for her to move on, to forget about him so she could fall in love with a man who would love her back.
“Caleb, we should— we should go.”
“You’re in a hurry?”
“No, but… I want to be home. I have things I need to do today.”
He tensed behind her and she waited for his answer, unsure why this was an issue. It was the deal – he knew it as much as she did. They’d given in to their desires, but their time was over.
Her car would most definitely start now, and if the temperature was higher outside, his might too. It was time for them to part ways, and the sooner the better.
Without a word, he released her, and Octavia rose from the couch, wrapping herself in the blanket.
She was sore everywhere. Her limbs were weak, her tendons aching from being stretched, and her intimacy was tender. She would feel him there for a while, she was certain of it. The memories of the night were not only imprinted in her mind, they were also engraved into her flesh.
Because it would hurt too much, she forced herself not to look back at him, at his naked body, which had brought her so much joy and pleasure throughout the night.
She managed to stay strong all the way to the women’s locker room, but as soon as she was alone in there, she broke down into tiny pieces, just like her shattering heart. With an arm holding the blanket against her, she pressed her hand over her mouth, trying to muffle her choking cries.
What had she done? How could she have thought this was a good idea? How could she possibly live her life without Caleb in it now?
For the span of a night, she’d had a glimpse at how amazing they’d be together. When he’d made love to her, she’d experienced how incredible it felt to be loved by him.
She’d already suspected that no men could measure up to him, but now she had the undeniable proof of it. There was no one else like Caleb, and she was doomed to live her whole life knowing what she was missing.
The shower didn’t help her feel better, but at least it allowed her to ignore the tears that kept flowing down her cheeks. Eventually, she would heal. Like a deep scar, it could take weeks, months, maybe years, but she would heal.
When she came back, wearing her jeans and turtleneck, she found him cleaning up the break room. They’d left everything as they were, too busy satisfying their desires to care. He’d thought of putting the leftover of the meal he’d cooked into the fridge, so at least this hadn’t spoiled. She helped him, avoiding his gaze, and not a single word was exchanged during the five minutes it took them to put the room back in order.
The easiness of the night was gone. Because of what had happened, she wasn’t even sure if they could keep considering each other as friends. They weren’t exes either. Their relationship wandered around in an odd limbo, their situation too unique to have a predetermined term to name it. They were ex-friends, ex-colleagues, ex-lovers… Every sort of exes but the one that truly mattered. They had never actually been together.
Once everything was back in order, they were both ready to leave, and Vixen was apparently excited to go, too. This awkward sleepover must have been confusing for her.
He was the first one to break the silence that had installed itself between them. “It’s still pretty cold outside, so I’m not sure my car will start. Just give me five minutes.”
She nodded, but he didn’t wait for her answer before leaving the room. Her eyes fell on the gift he’d given her, and she stared at the tin case with her name engraved on it, wondering what she should do with it. Part of her wanted to cherish it like a precious memory, the proof that Caleb did have a place for her in his heart after all, but another part wondered if she should get rid of it. This present was the reason why everything had happened – the small detail that had given her the courage she needed.
Conflicted, she put it into her bag. She would decide what to do with it later. As she looked around the room, she allowed her mind to think back on what had happened here one last time. From cooking together to their cozy dinner, then their first time on the table, and then the dessert they’d shared on the faded couch. So many things had occurred in the past few hours… It would take her weeks to get over it.
Alone with Vixen, she gave the dog a sheepish smile. The German Shepherd was her furry confidant, the one who knew all her secrets. Before the night had really begun, Octavia had sworn she’d come back often and see her. But now, she wasn’t so sure she’d have the courage to be back here and risk seeing Caleb. She knew for certain her heart would break all over again every single time.
She would probably make sure he wasn’t working when she’d need to shop, which, alas, meant no Vixen either.
“I’m sorry, bestest girl,” she told her furry godchild. “I’ll miss you terribly. I’ll miss him so much too.”
When Caleb came back, she was sitting cross-legged on the floor, Vixen gladly taking her petting, oblivious that those were goodbyes. Octavia’s eyes met his, wondering if his car had started. He answered her unspoken question with a shake of his head.
Of course, she had to suffer this until the last possible moment, taking him all the way to his place.
It took them over an hour to shovel a path from the warehouse to the main road. The street had been plowed earlier this morning, but they hadn’t gotten to the parking lot yet, per usual. Octavia welcomed the distraction, as they both kept busy and ignored one another, While Vixen was running around in the fresh snow.
The ride to Caleb’s place wasn’t a long one, but the silence in the confined space made it feel like hours. The atmosphere was tense and uncomfortable, as cold as the snow-covered exterior. Would it be like this between them forever? This was so much harder than she’d thought, and she always knew it would be tough.
She pulled up in front of his lane and stopped the engine. Vixen’s head was between them, her perpetual smile somehow unfitting given the situation. She always rode like this, staring straight upfront, her long nuzzle poking between the front seats from behind.
Building up the courage to look at Caleb, Olivia met his blue eyes, reading the uneasiness in them. So many unsaid things passed in their silent exchange, and it was hard to bear. Once more, she reminded herself that she couldn’t blame him. Love worked in mysterious ways, and she had no control over his feelings. He had done so much already. He was an amazing guy who’d generously given her everything she’d asked for. But this, she couldn’t ask of him, and even if she did, he couldn’t give it to her.
“Well, hm… thank you for the ride, Vee,” he told her, just as tense as she was.
“No problem, it was the least I could do.”
“I guess I’ll see you around, then?”
“Yeah, probably.” But no, he probably wouldn’t. Not if she had a say in it.
He hesitated toward what he should do and decided on an awkward hand wave. He held the door’s handle for a little too long, as if he was reluctant. Eventually, he opened it, and after exiting her small car, he opened the door for Vixen. She jumped right out, eager to be home, and Caleb took a few steps toward his house.
He stopped in his tracks, and Octavia’s heart skipped a beat, thinking he was changing his mind. Maybe he wanted to tell her something? When he spun around, she was almost certain he would, especially given how conflicted he looked. Instead of coming back, he gave her another impersonal hand wave, saluting her before heading toward his house for good, Vixen by his side.
Just like that, Octavia was utterly alone again. She’d messed up. So, so badly.
Resting her forehead on the steering wheel, she fought a surge of tears. Her battle was a lost cause, a couple of salty drops landing on her jeans.
She was a coward. A pathetic and helpless coward.
She should have tried harder. She should have asked for more. Maybe he would have given it to her. Maybe he would have agreed to try, at least. Maybe he could learn to love her, like she’d tried to do with her boyfriends. They worked so well together, maybe they could come up with something that suited them both.
But it was too late. He was off to resume his life and she had to go back to hers.
A knock on the passenger’s window startled her, and she turned to find Caleb crouching to see her. Thinking he’d forgotten something, she pushed the button to open the window, wiping her tears away.
“Do you want to spend Christmas with us?” he asked with unmasked eagerness.
Warmth spread through her. Hope, so much hope, filled her heart. A smile she couldn’t hold back pulled her lips up.
He wanted more. Just like her.
A broad smile split her face in half as she nodded. He grinned in return, which made her unable to hold back an elated laugh.
“Yes, I’d love to spend Christmas with you, Caleb.”
|| T H I R T E E N ✶ The Epilogue ||
The house was impeccably clean , not a thing out of place. Christmas decorations were scattered all around the living room, where a fire was cracking in the fireplace. On the mantel, more decorations were displayed among framed pictures.
Vixen was lying in her cushioned basket, next to the beautifully ornamented tree. Everything was looking perfect, very Christmas-y, and the carols softly coming from the speakers added to the magic.
But it wasn’t enough. Octavia had to make sure everything was perfect. It was the 25th, and she loved Christmas too much to let it be anything less than flawless.
Going to the dining table, she adjusted the wine glasses, making sure the distribution was even. When she noticed a water spot on one of the knives, she gave it a quick rub with her thumb.
Vixen gave her a judging look with her head tilted to the side, as if she knew Octavia was being ridiculous.
“No, you don’t get to judge me. All you do all day is sleep, beg for treats, and get petted. So, shush.”
Understanding she wouldn’t win the case, Vixen laid her head back on the edge of her basket.
With a quick pace, Octavia headed to the kitchen. She had to check if things were going well. She found Caleb in there, wearing a ridiculous Santa hat and an assorted apron. Everything smelled delicious, and the kitchen seemed to be running like a well-oiled machine.
“Baby, do you think it needs more salt?” Caleb asked her as she passed near him.
She stopped her nervous walking and took the spoon he was extending in her mouth. The sauce was so amazing it ignited a small firework on her tongue, delicious savors titillating her taste buds.
“No, it’s perfect. Oh, my God, you’re so good at this.”
“It’s like you keep forgetting I’m an amazing cook,” he protested teasingly.
“No, I’m not. You keep getting better is what’s happening.”
“Nice save, darling.”
Taking one quick look around, she tried to assess the amount of work he had left.
“Do you think everything will be ready on time?” she anxiously asked.
“Octavia, calm down. It’ll be fine.”
“I’m calm. I just want things to be perfect, not fine .”
“I don’t get why you’re so nervous. My parents love you, and your dad tolerates me. We’re good.”
“My dad likes you,” she tried, unable to hold a slight grimace.
“He doesn’t. He thinks I’m too old for you. But your lie is appreciated.”
Because she was still clearly worried about the situation, Caleb grabbed her hips and hitched her up on a clean area of the counter.
“Alright, you need to stop right now because you’re making me nervous when I was perfectly okay in the first place.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t help it. It’s our first Christmas together, and—”
“Second. It’s our second Christmas.”
“Last year doesn’t count. We weren’t a couple last year.”
“What were we then?”
“I don’t know, some weird in-between state. But it’s not the point. My dad and his wife are coming, your parents too, and I just want everything to run smoothly.”
“And it will. Now calm down or I’ll drag you upstairs and soothe your nerves the one way I know always works.”
“Oh, no no no, Caleb Dale. It’s your fault in the first place if I woke up so late and had to run around all morning.”
“What can I say, the night before Christmas gets me in the mood,” he declared, bending to kiss the side of her throat.
One year with this man and she still shivered all over when he kissed her like this. When his hands daringly ran up her thighs, under her green dress, Octavia felt her need for him slowly grow. It was unfair how he could so easily manipulate her into being docile and pliant.
Looking over his shoulder, she checked the clock, wondering how long they had before their guests arrived. Ugh, not long at all. And knowing her stepmother, they’d probably arrive in advance.
“Cal, we don’t have time for this,” she protested, her voice weak. “Get out of the mood and go back to cooking.”
“Hmm, I like it when you boss me around.”
Not any closer to stopping his sweet seduction, his tongue left a fiery trail up her throat, making her whimper and wriggle closer to him. Fuck their guests. They should spend all day cuddling and making love in front of the fire, as they’d done last year.
Ready to get this going, she grabbed his Santa hat and threw it on the floor, still not into that kink.
“We seriously need to work on your hatred for hats,” Caleb humored, hooking his fingers around the waistband of her thick woolen tights, ready to get them off.
The doorbell rang, ruining the plans she was already making in her head. Vixen barked twice from the other room, excited to discover whoever was behind the front door.
Caleb let go of her with a groan, his hands leaving from under her dress. He helped Octavia down from the counter, and she gave him an apologetic smile.
“Alright, let’s do this, then throw everyone out as soon as possible so we can get back to this,” she suggested.
“And then, in twenty-four hours, we’ll be sipping cocktails out of coconuts in Aruba.”
“Hmm, yes. I can’t wait to spend ten days with nothing but a bikini and you,” Octavia approved.
“And I can’t wait to take that bikini off three times a day.”
“Three?! Caleb, I’ll come back in a wheelchair.”
“But it’ll be so worth it.”
She laughed at his teasing, knowing her face was growing redder. She could never get used to him being naughty. His charming smirk melted her heart, and he bent to give her a long and thorough kiss.
The doorbell rang again, making them groan in unison.
“Have I told you how much I love you today?” he asked when he pulled away from her.
“A couple of times, but you can never say it too much.”
She smiled before he even said it, knowing how incredible it made her feel every single time. With his irresistible blue eyes locked into hers, he told her the words she’d heard so many times before.
“I love you, Octavia Dale.”
—The Merry End—
|| I M P O R T A N T ||
Hey, everyone!
Thank you for reading this quick and naughty Christmas novella!
I wrote it last year, published it on Amazon, and decided to bring it in its entirety to Wattpad this year (2021). If you’d like to have something of me on you shelf, you can actually buy a paperback version of it from Amazon! An eBook version is also available.
It would mean the world to me if you guys purchased it, as a show of your appreciation and support for my work. And if you know people who don’t use Wattpad but would love the story, it makes for a great Christmas gift!
Andrea Walker sure enjoyed it when Kate offered it to her 😏
Since the book has been published, it has a GoodReads page! Consider taking a moment to review it there if you enjoyed the story ❤
You can find the link on the LinkTree on my bio or on my wall.
