I watched him walk slowly toward me, his hooded eyes intense on my face. He stopped a few inches away. I could smell the faint scent of his cologne, feel the warmth emanating from his body.
“I told you I wouldn’t be able to pull away next time,” he whispered.
In one swift move, he had me pinned against the wall. His green eyes bored into mine, then flicked down to my mouth, lingering there.
“I should leave you alone, but I can’t.” My eyes closed as his fingers traced a line on my cheek, down to the hollow of my throat where my pulse was beating wildly.
“I’m greedy.” His head dipped to my neck, and I gasped as his soft lips lightly brushed the sensitive area below my ear. “And I want more.”
“Caleb.” His name came out in a breathy whisper. I felt intoxicated. Mesmerized.
“Just a taste.” He inhaled deeply. My head fell back to grant him more access. “You smell so good.”
I fisted my hands by my sides to prevent myself from touching him.
His hands stroked down my body, gentle and teasing, until they gripped my hips. “Kiss me,” he coaxed, sucking my bottom lip, then licking and biting lightly.
My knees felt weak. His arm snaked around my waist, pulling me against his body as his other hand slipped up and secured the back of my neck. His lips became hard and demanding, challenging me to kiss him back.
My lips parted as he clutched a fistful of my hair, hungrily taking my mouth. His kiss turned insatiable, almost desperate.
I knew he was capable of this. I was prepared for it. What I wasn’t prepared for was my reaction. I believed that I could resist him, that I was strong enough not to give in. I was wrong—so wrong. Because this, I realized as his mouth seduced me, was surrender.
I felt his hunger, and I realized that same hunger was mirrored inside me and had been building for a while now. Almost as desperate as he was, I kissed him back.
The world became hazy. I only felt. And then I heard a moan. The sound had come from me.
“No!” I protested against his lips. My palms flattened against his chest to push him away, but he held on, stroking my arms gently, persuasively.
He exhaled slowly, and I heard him swallow as he rested his forehead against mine. I could feel his breath, smell the masculine scent of him.
“Red—”
“Don’t.”
I ran to my room and closed the door behind me. I had to get out of here soon. There was no way I could stay in his apartment. Caleb disarmed me, made me weak.
My hands shook as I touched my lips. I had never been kissed like that in my whole life.
Was it supposed to feel like I’d been branded?
I had never believed what they said about Caleb Lockhart on campus. They said he could kiss a dead fish to life.
Now, I believed.
* * *
Determined not to see Caleb the next morning, I woke up early to cook his breakfast, posted a note on the fridge, and rushed to leave for school.
I didn’t want to face him after what had happened last night. It shouldn’t happen again. Wouldn’t happen again. If I gave in, I’d just be some girl in his book, another notch in his bedpost. I didn’t want him to think of me that way.
Wait—why did I suddenly care what he thought about me?
I didn’t. Really.
The weather matched my mood with its ominous dark clouds as I walked the hallways to my second class. It looked like it was going to rain, and it had been unusually chilly this morning when I left the apartment. I couldn’t wait for this day to end. I glanced at my watch and noted that I still had a few minutes before my next class started.
“Red!”