Caleb
“I learned from the best,” Rae said with such loathing, the devil himself would cringe. Instead of defending herself, she was quick to hand out punches and this game was starting to get really old.
I stopped in my tracks, turned and looked pointedly at her, “I left because it was my duty to go and defend my country, I didn’t just leave because I wanted to.”
I knew that was a blatant lie, I left because of my own selfish reasons, and as much as I tried to convince myself otherwise, I knew the truth.
“And I left because it was my duty to go do my hair,” she bit out sarcastically.
God but she was beautiful when she was angry. Her green eyes grew a shade darker as if a storm cloud had descended overhead, and that expression alone should be terrifying, but to me it was a challenge. If I could break through that storm and survive to tell the tale I can challenge any storm that ever crossed my path.
With determination, I crossed the distance between us and cupped her face, green lightning bolts cascaded in her eyes like a thunderstorm on Jupiter. I slid one hand around the back of her neck and crushed my lips against hers. Half expecting her to shove me away, I was relieved to feel her fingers dig into my biceps as she clung to me; she wasn’t fighting me this time. Her lips parted and I delved into the confines of her mouth, and her tongue met mine like a perfect dance partner. I dragged her body flush against mine and I felt her soft breasts press against my chest. My body was on fire and rigid in every sense of the word. The pent-up desire I have tried to ignore since she waltzed into my life again was reaching breaking point. I tilted her back and slid my one hand up to cup her left breast as I trailed my lips down the side of her neck to her shoulder.
“Caleb,” I heard her whisper my name.
“Rae,” I countered.
“Caleb,” damn I loved the sound of her hushed voice and the way my name rolled off her lips.
“Caleb,” she said a little louder this time and shoved lightly against me, but before I could lose all hope, she pointed at Braden.
“Damn, it’s taking some time getting used to a little person in the house,” I said and then grabbed her hand and led her to the nearest isolated spot in the house – the pantry.
By the time I had her cornered between the canned food and condiments she was already fumbling clumsily with the drawstring of my sweats, and I was not far behind. The simple cotton dress she wore was no deterrent for me and I quickly shoved her panties down her long legs and I lifted her up against one of the shelves.
“You know this is never going to work,” she said as she wrapped her legs around my waist.
“You’re right, this damn pantry is too small, but right now it will have to do,” I said huskily.
I knew she wasn’t referring to the confined space of the pantry, but I chose to ignore the obvious. I spun around and knocked the potatoes off the crate that stood in the corner of the pantry and sat down with her straddling my lap and she slowly lowered herself unto my rock-hard length. And as I buried myself deep into her I felt her body tighten around me. With one hand splayed across her back, I dipped my head down and tugged on her hardened nipple through her dress.
“You feel so good,” I whispered as I dragged my lips up to hers.
“Shh,” she said as she held unto my shoulders and slowly started to rock her hips back and forth. Her eyes fell closed and her lips parted while the rapid bursts of her breath fanned my face. She put a spell on me, of that much I was certain, but it was one I would welcome any day. With each deliberate stroke, she bit her lip in an attempt to stifle a moan. I tried my utmost not to vocalize just how I felt this very moment, which was near impossible.
Each time her hips rose I gasped for a breath and each time they fell taking my length deep into her velvet centre I groaned. She too started panting breathlessly and the erratic movements of her hips were bringing me closer and closer to my own release. I could hardly stand it anymore, I bucked my hips upwards, rougher and harder and she met me each time. And when she bent forward and buried her face in my neck she cried out and clung to me as her body shook in my embrace. That was all I needed, every muscle in my body drew taught and with one last thrust I buried myself deep inside her, filling her with my own essence, and in the confines of the pantry it was only the two of us, and nothing else mattered.
As our frantic heart beats slowed down I held her close against me, burying my face in the crook of her neck inhaling her scent.
“This is never going to work Caleb,” she said as she stood up to fix her dress.
A few days ago, that was exactly what I thought – this would never work – but now I wasn’t so sure if it was just stupidity talking. I stood and pulled her into my arms and cradled her neck pressing my lips against her hair. I couldn’t agree or disagree, this was already far more complex than I anticipated.
Raedene
I stood in the kitchen looking out the window and watched Caleb and Braden flying a kite and my heart skipped a beat, what if this was exactly what Braden needed? He’s been so caught up in this past life of his that he had missed out on being a real kid. Even though Damien tried to fill a dad’s shoes in most parts of Braden’s life, it was nothing like this. Braden was practically beside himself every time he got to spend time with Caleb.
Just as I turned to get back to making lunch, I spotted a suspicious character at the front gate pointing a camera at Caleb and Braden.
“Samson!” I called before storming out of the kitchen armed with a spatula.
If those reporters were back at it, I was going to give them a piece of my mind. They had no right to spy on us or take photos without our consent and I didn’t give a hoot as to whether or not it was part and parcel of Caleb’s claim to celebrity status. That was my son out there and I was not going to allow them to hurt him in any way.
“Samson!” I called again as I marched down the driveway towards the gate. Samson quickly fell into step beside me trying to keep up at his old age, but he too must have seen the person at the gate.
“Those vultures have no common decency; they always hover around here trying to find the next best gossip scoop for the tabloids,” he said as we hurried to the gate.
The stranger saw us approaching and he hurried to take a few more shots before he scurried away. By the time we reached the gate, all we saw was a car speeding off.
“What’s going on?” Caleb asked as he came to stand beside us, with Braden sitting on his hip.
“I saw a man taking photos of you,” I said through gritted teeth, I knew better not to start throwing accusations around in front of Braden, “I wanted to find out what he wanted.”
“I’ll handle it, they come around every now and again before a big game to get an inside scoop, so I’m sure it was harmless.”
“Harmless. Right,” I said and stalked off towards the house.
How could he be so indifferent about this? Just the other day a reporter came asking about his son, and now this? I simply refused to expose Braden to these vultures, and if Caleb could not consider our privacy then I would have no option but to take Braden back home.
“Rae, wait!” Caleb called after me but I refused to stop.
“Rae! Hold up, can we just talk?” he said again and this time I spun around.
“Talking is just not good enough Caleb, I can’t have these journalists poking around in my life, much less Braden’s. Things are complicated as it is,” I said folding my arms.
“I know, but unfortunately it comes with the territory, and it’s not something that will just go away. They have a scoop and they will do what they can to find out what’s going on, I can’t change what or who I am,” he said and leaned against the pillar on the wrap around veranda.
He was right, as much as I hated it; I was the one that walked into his life, not the other way around. Just because he was Braden’s father didn’t give me the right to make any demands. The fact remained, he was a sports star, and I was the unpopular nobody who had his child, his child. Talk about being the insignificant other, it was nothing short of pathetic, not to mention disastrous.
“I know, I just don’t like it, and if it wasn’t for that Joanne woman, they wouldn’t have had a story in the first place. She feels jilted that you stood her. You should have just gone out with her. I really don’t know why you bothered with me in the first place”
Caleb pushed away from the pillar and stood with his hands on his hips, “There’s no proof that it was Joanne who told them anything.”
“See? You even try to defend her, when the truth is staring you right in the face, unbelievable!” I spat out and then spun around and stormed into the house.
Before I knew it, Caleb had me by the arm, “I merely meant that we can’t go around accusing people by mere assumption, I’ll have a talk to her and find out what’s going on okay?”
I tugged my arm free, “Well I’m telling you she is behind all of this, and if you think for one moment I’m going to be target practice for a scorned ex, you’re wrong. Braden and I will be leaving first thing in the morning.”
“No you won’t,” he said blankly, “Our son needs a father, and if you’re too blind to see that, then you’re pretty selfish. You’ve spent every moment of that child’s life cooping him up and protecting him in this bubble of imperfection that he never had a chance to experience what it is to be a four-year-old boy!”
Blinded by rage I slapped him so hard my hand stung right into my wrist. How dare he blame me for Braden’s lack of childhood experiences?
“You’re a real jackass,” I said furiously before I hurried up the stairs to my room. I couldn’t allow him to see my tears.