CHAPTER TEN - TARA
Two days later, I still couldn’t believe I’d had sex with Caleb. Every time I thought about him, my legs trembled and my panties filled with desire. It was the hottest, most erotic night of my entire life and already, I missed him like crazy. I longed to be near him, to kiss him again, to feel his hard cock move inside me. It was almost too much to handle. For two days, I daydreamed about him. I had been so adamant about denying myself the chance to be with him again, but in the end, I just couldn’t stay away. Good or bad, our intense connection was still there.
At work on Monday, I forced myself to focus. My other patients needed my attention. I wouldn’t see Caleb until six o’clock that evening. I spent all day trying not to fantasize about him taking me right there on my desk, but it was impossible. He’d completely overwhelmed my mind and my body. I was putty in his hands, and I hated myself for it.
Despite how fantastic our night together was, I left his apartment feeling confused and scared. I had work the next morning so I couldn’t stay the night. It was probably for the best because, by the time I reached my own bedroom, my head was pounding so badly I could barely see straight. These headaches were becoming more frequent and painful. I knew it was time to do something about them, so I made an appointment for Monday afternoon.
I spent all morning thinking about Caleb and worrying about my appointment. My first few sessions of the day were easy. I didn’t have to try hard, but when Olivia walked through the door with her mother by her side, I knew it was time to get serious. This little girl needed my full attention, and I would be damned if I didn’t give it to her.
“She’s doing so well,” I told her mom when the session was over. “I think our time together will be ending soon.”
“Already?” her mom asked.
“We’ll finish out this week and then see where we are,” I said. “I know you’re worried, but I’m telling you, her progress is incredible.”
“I feel like normal again,” Olivia said happily.
I laughed and said goodbye. It was almost time for my appointment upstairs. My stomach clenched with nerves as I left the PT building and headed toward the main hospital. I had made an appointment with the best neurosurgeon in the hospital. He didn’t usually take cases that weren’t referrals, but my dad pulled a few strings to get me in. He was worried and after my last headache, so was I.
When I made it to Dr. Anderson’s office, I checked in and sat down to wait. My legs were shaking until finally, Dr. Anderson called me back. He led to toward his office, and we sat down to talk.
“Tell me about your headaches,” he said with a kind smile.
“They started a couple months ago,” I said. “But lately, they’ve gotten worse and more frequent.”
“How often do they occur?” he asked.
“Once every few days,” I said. “Sometimes I can push through the pain, but most of the time, it knocks me on my ass.”
“Are they in your temples?” he asked.
“Kind of everywhere,” I said. “They usually start in my temples and then spread.”
“Have you vomited?”
His eyes met mine, and I could see concern swimming over his face. My heart raced in my chest. Was there something seriously wrong with me?
“Yes,” I said nervously. “Almost every time I get a headache, I throw up.”
Dr. Anderson nodded and jotted something down on his paper. When he looked back at me, he was smiling, but it did nothing to ease my fears.
“Let’s get you a CT scan today,” he said. “And some blood work. We’ll just run a variety of tests and see what comes back, okay?”
“Do you think it’s something serious?” I asked.
“No need to worry just yet,” he said.
I nodded and let him lead me toward the CT machine. He ran tests for well over an hour, and by the time I was finished, Caleb’s PT session was only minutes away.
I didn’t feel like myself as I stepped inside the PT building. My heart was still pounding, and my stomach was full of butterflies. Dr. Anderson assured me I shouldn’t worry yet, but I didn’t believe him. My father was right. These headaches couldn’t be normal. There was something wrong with me, and I was terrified to find out what it was.
Caleb walked through the door not five minutes after I did. I was still preoccupied, but when I saw him, my worries took a backseat to the heat wave that washed over my body. His eyes locked on mine as he walked toward me. I fought the urge to reach out to me, to pull him to me and kiss him until we couldn’t breathe.
“Hey,” he said, stopping in front of me. He glanced around the room. “Just us tonight?”
I nodded. “How are you doing on your crutches?”
“Better,” he said. “I’m just a little sore after recent activities.”
I blushed and looked away. We had a lot of work to do, and I couldn’t let myself get caught up in my own selfish desires. Besides, I was still worried what my tests might show.
“Let’s get started with some basic stretches,” I said.
“Sure,” Caleb said, frowning.
I helped him get to the low mat table, supporting his weight and sitting down beside him. He extended his leg like I taught him and slowly moved his foot up and down. I held onto his leg to help him get a better stretch, my fingers running over his sore muscles while I did so.
Leaning into him, I pushed his leg further to the side. He grunted in pain but kept going. Caleb was the best PT patient I’d ever had because no matter what, he pushed through. The pain was nothing to him, and I knew he would recover faster than anyone else in his position.
While I marveled at his strength, I felt heat rise inside my chest. I leaned into him even more, my chest brushing against his leg while I rotated it side to side. I looked up to make sure he was doing okay and saw that his eyes were focused on my breasts. They were spilling out of my top, and I felt my cheeks flush at the attention.
I sprung back and adjusted myself. Caleb moved closer to me and took my hand in his.
“Don’t,” he said in a low voice. “I like the view.”
“Caleb,” I said, but before I could continue, his lips were on mine.
He kissed me gently, letting his tongue slide across mine in an expertly sensual way. I moaned and tangled my fingers in his hair, holding him to me and breathing him in. Our kiss deepened, and soon, I felt heat pooling between my legs.
He grabbed my tit in one hand and squeezed, growling against my lips and letting his desire show.
I moaned and fought the urge to tears his clothes off. It took every ounce of strength I possessed to pull away from him. When I did, he sighed in protest and tried to pull me back to him.
“I can’t,” I said weakly. “I don’t know if this is a good idea.”
“Why the hell not?” he demanded. “You can’t tell me you don’t want this.”
“What about my dad?” I asked. “Remember what happened last time we crossed this line? He sent you to another state, Caleb.”
“We were kids,” he said. “What is he going to do now? We’re adults, Tara. He can’t control us. Not anymore.”
“He’s already suspicious,” I said softly.
“Of course he is.” Caleb groaned. “He’s always going to be suspicious, but who the fuck cares? I sure as hell don’t. I want this, Tara. I want you.”
“I don’t know.”
“Do you want me?” Caleb asked. He reached out and took my hands.
I blinked. Our eyes met, and I froze. Of course I wanted him. I’d always wanted him, but what did that matter? How could we risk going down this road again? After everything that happened before, we would be idiots to fall for each other again.
“It’s a simple question,” Caleb said. “Do you want me?”
“Yes.” My voice was low and hungry. Caleb moved closer to me, his lips searching for mine but I pulled away. I jumped to my feet and shook my head.
“Why are you fighting this?” Caleb asked.
“Because I don’t know if I can do this all over again,” I said.
Caleb slowly got to his feet, using his crutches for support. He moved closer to me, and my heart raced inside my chest. He was inches away and just when I was sure he would kiss me, the door opened with a bang.
I jumped and spun around. Cathy was walking toward us with a smile on her face.
“Hey, you guys about done?” she asked.
“Yes,” I said quickly. “He’s ready to go home.”