CHAPTER TWELVE - TARA

After all the confusion with Caleb, I was in desperate need of a day off. I woke up on Wednesday morning, grateful that my head felt fine. I was still worried about whatever was causing my severe headaches, but for the first time in a while, I decided to let myself relax for the day. I climbed out of bed and took a long, hot shower. The water cascaded over my body, loosening my muscles and propelling me toward the rest of my day.

My dad called early that morning, wanting to meet up for an early lunch. He knew I had the day off and his schedule was light. It was the perfect opportunity for us to spend some time alone, which meant he wanted to lecture me without an audience. I wasn’t looking forward to it, but I knew it was inevitable. Now that I was back in town and spending time with Caleb, my father’s protective nature had been kicked into overdrive.

I walked inside the restaurant and hurried over to him. He rose from his chair and kissed my cheek, smiling as we both sat down.

“Are you feeling okay?” he asked. “No headaches today?”

“Not yet.” I shrugged. “We’ll see how the rest of the day goes.”

“Did you go see Dr. Anderson?” he asked.

I nodded. “Monday afternoon.”

“What did he say?”

“He did some tests,” I said. I didn’t want to talk about my headaches. I was already worried enough. “CT scan and bloodwork. Nothing huge.”

“Did he tell you anything?” Dad asked. “What he thought might be wrong or anything like that?”

“You know he wouldn’t do that,” I said with a sigh. “They won’t tell me anything until the results come back.”

Dad nodded. The waitress came over, and we ordered our food. We lapsed into an easy silence while we sipped our coffee. Dad was still worried about me, but he was kind enough to drop the subject. I couldn’t stand to dwell on what might be wrong with me. There were too many options to consider. If I thought about them all, I would drive myself insane.

We got our food and ate slowly. Dad told me about work and asked about my other patients. We circled the subject of Caleb, but neither of us mentioned his name. I could tell Dad was leading us in that direction. His expression slowly darkened and eventually, he couldn’t contain himself any longer.

“We should talk about your brother,” Dad said.

I rolled my eyes. “He’s not my brother.”

“I’m married to his mother,” Dad said.

“That means nothing,” I said with a soft laugh. “It means nothing, Dad. Caleb and I met when we were practically adults. You can’t expect us to act like brother and sister. That’s ridiculous.”

“How should I expect you to act?” he asked, quickly losing patience.

“However I want to,” I said. “I’m an adult. So is Caleb. Our lives aren’t any of your business anymore.”

“He’s trouble, Tara.” Dad’s voice stern. “I know he seems like he’s changed but he hasn’t. He’s still the same.”

“Dad,” I said sharply. “You can’t keep doing this. I hear you, okay? I get it. Please, drop it already.”

“I can’t,” he said, shaking his head. “Not when I’m this worried about you.”

“I can take care of myself.”

“Can you?”

His question echoed in my mind throughout the rest of the day. I forced him to change the subject while we finished our food. We said goodbye, and he went back to the hospital, leaving me more confused than ever.

That night, I went to Stephanie’s bar. I was eager for a little distraction. My father’s words still echoed through my mind and my thoughts of Caleb were stronger than ever. Seeing Stephanie would help me relax and feel like myself again.

“Oh, thank God!” Stephanie squealed when I arrived. She jumped on the bar and swung her legs over, dropping to her feet in front of me. “I thought for sure you would bail on me tonight.”

“Not a chance,” I said. We hugged, and she grinned at me.

“Drinks?” she asked.

“Are you off already?” I asked.

“Yup.” She grinned wider and ordered us each three shots of tequila.

“Shit,” I said after we downed all of them. “Are you trying to kill me?”

“I’m trying to loosen you up, baby!” Stephanie said. “You’re all tied up in knots.”

“I’ll drink to that,” I said.

Stephanie laughed, and we spent the rest of the night losing ourselves in alcohol and fun. I hadn’t spent an entire night with Stephanie in months. My job kept me busy, and these damn headaches prevented me from enjoying myself. With Caleb back in my life, everything felt more complicated. I needed a night out with Stephanie more than I realized.

We danced, letting the world melt away. Stephanie and I jumped around, drunk and happy. Everything felt simple. I was myself again, and when Stephanie finally put me in a cab, there was only one place I wanted to be.

It might have been a mistake, but I didn’t care. I was drunk and horny, and I couldn’t get Caleb off my mind. While I danced with Stephanie, I imagined how it would feel to do the same with Caleb. I pictured his strong arms around my waist and his cock pressed against my ass while I moved against him.

I had the cab driver take me to his place, and I stumbled toward the front door. When I knocked, Caleb answered with sleep in his eyes and wearing only a pair of sweatpants. I knew it was late, but I didn’t care. I needed to feel him.

“Come here,” I said, shoving myself through the door and throwing my arms around his neck. My lips crashed onto his, and he grabbed me around the waist to steady us.

“Tara,” he said breathlessly. “What are you doing here?”

“What does it look like?” I asked. “I’m here to finally stop fighting what I want.”

“And what do you want?” he asked, his voice rough with desire.

“I want you to fuck me until I can’t see straight,” I said and licked my tongue over his bottom lip. “And then, I want you to hold me until the sun comes up.”

Caleb growled and kissed me roughly, our bodies pressing together. I smashed my breasts into his chiseled bare chest while grinding my hips back and forth against him. He groaned in response as his cock enlarged and hardened.

I wanted my clothes off so I could feel his skin against mine. I pulled off my shirt and threw it aside. Within seconds Caleb unhooked my bra, letting it drop to the floor.

He gave a wicked smile at the sight of my breasts, the nipples hard. His hand moved down to the curve of my back to hold me up. He enveloped one nipple with his hot mouth and pinched the other with his free hand. Desire shot through me as longing flooded my jeans.

“That feels so good,” I moaned. “More, please, do it harder.”

He sucked harder and bit my nipple with his teeth. His hand moved from my breast down over the skin on my stomach and unbuttoned my jeans. I shivered, arching my back and nearly falling over.

“Let’s move this to the bedroom,” he said, laughing at my drunkenness.

But I wasn’t ready to pause and move to another room. I ran my hands down his washboard stomach and yanked his sweatpants and boxers down. His rock-hard cock sprang loose toward me as I bent down and slid him into my mouth.

“Oh fuck, Tara,” Caleb’s voice breathed out above me as he steadied himself against the back of the couch.

I swirled my tongue over his engorged tip. I swallowed the salty precum and took him in deep until his hardness hit the back of my throat. He gripped my hair as I moved up and down along his shaft. His cock jerked in my mouth each time my lips reached his tip. His moaning encouraged me to continue. I couldn’t get enough of his scent and his taste. And I liked being the one in control.

Suddenly his leg twitched as a soft cry escaped his lips. I had forgotten about his injured leg!

I stood up, licking my lips and then wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. As I stared into Caleb’s eyes, I unzipped my jeans and shimmied them off, while standing just out of reach. Then, I turned around so he could watch my ass as I wiggled out of my panties.

“You are so gorgeous and sexy,” he said as he started taking his sweatpants off from around his ankles.

“Last one to the bedroom is a rotten egg,” I teased and got on my hands and knees. I started crawling to the bedroom so I wouldn’t fall. Halfway there I turned to see Caleb, fully naked now, following me, laughing and watching my naked ass. Damn, he looked hot! My juices dripped down the inside of my leg in anticipation.

I was still on my hands and knees after crawling onto the bed when Caleb entered the room. Not hesitating for a second, he grabbed my hips from behind and thrust his huge cock into my soaking wet pussy. A primal cry of pleasure escaped my lips. He pulled out slowly almost all the way before jabbing back in hard.

His hand reached down and found my clit. I shuddered from the sensation as his finger pressed around in a circle. The intensity rose higher as his cock slipped in and out while his finger moved faster and faster. My toes curled and my pussy clenched.

“Oh, Caleb,” I called out as my orgasm sent waves of ecstasy through my entire body.

My arms gave way beneath me, and I collapsed onto the bed.

“Mmm, you liked that, didn’t you?” Caleb said.

He threw back the covers from the bed and rolled me onto my back on the cool sheets. My body was still vibrating as I closed my eyes.

“No going to sleep,” he said. “I’m not finished with you yet.”

The mattress moved as he got on the bed near my feet. His warm kisses started making their way up the inside of my legs. My clit began to tingle. His hand caressed my inner thigh, moving dangerously close to where I wanted him to be. I spread my legs to make room for him.

“Caleb, please,” I moaned and arched my hips. “Stop teasing me.”

He chuckled at my need. Then one of his fingers slipped inside me, and another started playing with my clit. My body writhed beneath him as the tingling grew stronger. His finger moved in and out as my juices flowed. Then, he put two fingers into my hot pussy, stroking me inside until a zing that traveled all the way to my fingertips told me he’d found my sweet spot.

“Right there,” I moaned. “That’s it.”

“You’re going to come for me again,” he said with determination.

Hearing his voice sent chills through me. His kisses got further up and reached the sensitive part of my inner thigh. I took a short breath in and tried to hold still. I screamed out his name when he buried his face in my pussy, licking my clit and making me tremble. My body exploded in the strongest orgasm of my life as wave after wave of release crashed over me.

“You’re so fucking hot when you come,” Caleb said.

I opened my eyes to look at him. The room was spinning from a combination of too much drinking and crazy beautiful orgasms. My body was more relaxed than ever before. I put my arms above my head and stretched.

Caleb moaned at the sight of my body stretching before him. He pushed me further up the bed and moved on top of me. His cock slid inside me, and I wrapped my legs around him so I wouldn’t put pressure on his injured leg. He pumped in and out to the sound of our bodies slapping together. I clawed at his back while he pounded me into the headboard.

“Put your legs on my shoulders,” he demanded.

I moved my legs to his shoulders while he continued to pump into me. The change in position allowed him to get deeper. I gasped when his cock found my sweet spot. I clenched my legs together, and he moaned as my pussy and thighs tightened around him. A mind-numbing deliciousness radiated from my clit all throughout my body. The sensation took over, and there was nothing else in the world. I was right on the edge.

“I’m going to come again,” I said too loudly because I couldn’t believe it.

“You can do it, baby,” Caleb said in a sexy, breathless voice while pumping faster. “Come for me again.”

His voice sent me soaring over the edge as my pussy squeezed his cock in a powerful orgasm. I wiggled underneath him to keep him positioned just right while my pussy continued to spasm, and the wonderful feeling lingered. He pushed deeper into me and let loose a guttural groan. His cock jerked inside me as I felt the heat of his own orgasm fill me. He shuddered and adjusted his hips.

My body was shaking with pleasure, and he was covered in sweat. He finally collapsed, facing me, wrapping me in his arms.

I grinned and buried my face in his chest. He held me close, kissing my head and running his fingertips down my trembling spine. I passed out, still drunk and entirely satisfied. This was exactly what I needed, to finally let myself be free.

The next morning arrived sooner than I liked. The sun seeped through the curtains, blinding me and making me groan with pain. My head ached but not like it usually did. This was the unpleasant ache of a vicious hangover. I didn’t mind. It had been worth it.

Caleb and I woke up together, still clinging to each other. He grinned and kissed me until we were both ready to move. I had to work that day, so I couldn’t linger. I said my goodbyes and quickly got dressed, hurrying home to take a shower and get ready.

It wasn’t until after my shower that I realized I had a missed call from Dr. Anderson’s office. Dread flooded my stomach as I saw the notification flashing across the screen. I could barely move my fingers to check the voice mail, and when I held the phone to my ear, I was shaking so badly I thought I might never stop.

“Hi, Miss Jones,” a woman’s voice rang out. “This is Leslie from Dr. Anderson’s office. I’m calling because Dr. Anderson received your test results this morning and he’s asked for you to come in today. Please call us back at your earliest convenience so we can get an appointment scheduled as soon as possible. Thank you!”

The voice mail ended, and I stared down at my phone, still shaking. Dr. Anderson received my test results and wanted me to come in. I knew what that meant. For good news, they told you over the phone with bright voices and happy attitudes. For bad news, they insisted on seeing you in person.