Chapter Eight
“Didn’t I tell you business would take off eventually? Madam Natasha came through.” Tasha’s grin was full of smug self-righteousness.
Sommer laughed. “We’re not on that again, are we? You really need to let that go.”
“I would if you wouldn’t doubt in their power, but that aside, I know you’ve worked very hard and deserve this success, so here’s to you.” Tasha held up her glass of merlot before taking a healthy gulp.
Sommer missed hanging out with her girlfriend like this. Between her business, Caleb and her parents, she hadn’t had a lot of time to spend with Tasha. She missed these moments and was glad Tasha had dropped by with a bottle of wine to celebrate the recent boom in business Sommer was suddenly experiencing.
It almost seemed too good to be true at first. Suspicious of how she’d suddenly come into so many clients, she’d questioned her father and mother. Their vehemence in their denial finally made her relent in her inquisition of them. Then she’d gone to Uncle Seth, who also claimed not to know what was going on. Sommer knew it couldn’t be Caleb because he was the one who truly understood what her independence meant to her. Besides, most of the businesses that’d contacted her she’d never heard of and had no obvious connection to Masters and Son.
Maybe there was something to that psychic mumbo jumbo. Madame Cleo said she’d be a success, it never said it would happen right away.
“Okay, maybe there is some divine force working here, but I will still reserve judgment.”
“Coming from you, I’ll take it. I’m so happy for you, Sommer. You really deserve this after all the hard work you’ve put into Afternoon Delights.”
“Thanks, girl.” She held up her wineglass in a toast. “Here’s to me.” She giggled.
“To you.” Tasha echoed and downed the remaining contents of her glass. “Whoo! I think I need to stop now if I want to drive home tonight.”
“You can crash here if you’d like. I have the spare bedroom.”
“Isn’t Caleb coming over later?”
“I don’t think so. He’s been out of town on business and I’m not expecting him back until tomorrow.” Caleb wasn’t a subject she wanted to dwell on, considering how complicated things had become with him. “So what’s the deal with you and Roger? You haven’t mentioned him yet. Dare I ask if things have come to an end?”
Tasha quirked a dark arched brow. “Changing the subject?”
Sommer shook her head. “You asked the question. I answered it.”
Her friend gave her a long questioning look before sighing. “Yes, Roger and I are through.”
“What happened this time? I thought this one was Mister Right.”
Tasha snorted. “More like Mister Right Now. Just when things were starting to heat up, I opened my big mouth.”
“What do you mean? Weren’t things getting pretty serious between the two of you?”
“They were, but he turned out to be just like the others.”
“You told him about…?”
Tasha lowered her lids, but not before Sommer spied the pain within the depths of her eyes. “Yes, I told him. At first, he told me it didn’t matter and his feelings for me wouldn’t change because of it.”
“But they did?” Sommer prodded gently.
“In the beginning, he actually did seem to be okay with everything, but as the days went by, he began to ask questions but he was never satisfied with the answers. Then he started making excuses to break our dates. I pretty much knew where things were headed after that. When I finally confronted him, he pretended as if everything was okay, but when I suggested we take a break from each other…I-I s-saw the relief on his face.” Tasha burst into tears.
“Oh, honey.” Sommer put her glass down and wrapped her arms around her friend, her heartbreaking for her. She was well aware of Tasha’s past and could only commend her friend for the way she’d turned her life around. Sommer wished people weren’t so small-minded.
Tasha pulled away, wiping the tears away. “Don’t worry about me, I’m just being silly.”
“No, you’re not. And if Roger couldn’t find value in the person you’ve become, it’s his loss, not yours. On the bright side, aren’t you glad you found out now before things got any deeper between the two of you? It probably would have hurt a lot more had things gone any further.”
Tasha sniffed. “You’re probably right. But this has taught me a valuable lesson.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m not the kind of girl guys want to bring home to their mothers and marry. I’m the good-time girl, the one they want to screw and forget about. They may take me out for a while, but when it’s time to settle, I get kicked to the curb.”
“That isn’t true. You simply haven’t found the right guy yet.”
Tasha waved her hand dismissively. “You don’t have to offer me any comforting platitudes. I’ve given this a lot of thought over the past week and have decided to remain single. There may be some lonely nights ahead, but if I need someone to scratch my itch, albeit briefly, I’m sure there are plenty of guys who are willing to have sex with no commitment.”
“Don’t say that. You’re much better than that.”
“So are you, but that hasn’t stopped you from treating Caleb like some kind of stud.”
“I do not!” Sommer protested hotly.
Tasha folded her arms. “Aren’t you the one who said you and he are having a no-strings-attached affair?”
“Yes, but that hardly constitutes me treating him like a stud, as you so quaintly put it. He’s the love-them-and-leave-them type. I’m simply playing by his rules.”
“Why? You love him. I know you’ve never said anything, but it’s quite obvious to me by the way you look at him. I saw the way the two of you were at the party, and if I may be frank, I think the feeling is reciprocated.”
“I think you’re nuts. Caleb may love me, but he’s not in love with me.”
“How do you know unless you ask?”
“I don’t plan on asking because I already know the answer. Look, I don’t want to talk about Caleb.”
“See. There you go, avoiding the subject. Why is it so hard for you to believe that he could have feelings for you too.”
“Because he can’t! He and I are too different and when he does find a permanent mate, it’s going to have to be someone like him.”
“Someone white?”
“If it were simply a black and white issue, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. Caleb doesn’t think like that and neither do I.”
“So what do you mean by different?”
Sommer sighed. “If I told you, you wouldn’t believe me, and even if I wanted to, I couldn’t tell you.”
“Why not?”
Tasha was her best friend and Sommer told her everything, but she couldn’t tell her about the Wulfen. It was against pack laws. It was up to the individual to reveal themselves, and even then, it had to be under special circumstances. This wasn’t her secret to share. “I’m sorry, Tasha, but I can’t say, but please trust me on this.”
“But why?”
“I would appreciate it if you didn’t press the issue. You know if I could tell you, I would.”
“Okay, but I’m not really sure what these secret differences can be.” Tasha shrugged and then pasted a smile on her face. “That aside, I’m very proud of what you’ve accomplished in such a short period of time.”
It was on the tip of Sommer’s tongue to say thank you when the doorbell rang. She frowned and looked at her watch. It was quarter to nine and she wasn’t expecting company. “I wonder who that is?” She slid off the couch and went to answer the door. To her surprise, Caleb stood on the other side with a bottle of champagne and a big bouquet of roses. “What are you doing here?” she demanded, not intending the words to come out quite so sharp.
The easy grin he’d been sporting fell from his sensual lips. “Is this not a good time?”
“It’s…that’s not it. I wasn’t expecting you. Come in.” She stood back, opening the door just enough to let him through. “I have company at the moment. Tasha came by. I thought you were still out of town.”
“My business transaction wrapped up sooner than I thought. I had to see you. I take it you’re not happy to see me?”
Her heart skipped a beat as she stared into his ice blue eyes. How was she ever going to end things, when the very thought caused her pain. She loved this man so much, but for his own good, she would have to break things off. And with a realization that broke her heart, it would have to be tonight. “It’s not that, Caleb. I’m just surprised, is all. Here, let me take these flowers and put them in some water.” Sommer took the bouquet and was about to turn away from him when he grabbed her and hauled her against his chest.
His mouth swooped down on hers, hungry and seeking. The flowers were crushed between their bodies as his tongue swept past her slightly parted lips. He molded his stiffness against the junction of her thighs.
As with every time she was in his arms, Sommer melted, her body heating up at his mere touch. Her pussy tingled with the need to be filled by his cock and her nipples poked against the material of her blouse, straining to break free of their restraints. If the dampness on her thighs was any indication of how this night was going to end, she knew she was in trouble.
“Ahem,” Tasha cleared her throat loudly, interrupting the moment.
Sommer broke out of Caleb’s slackened hold, her cheeks warm with embarrassment at being caught in such a compromising position. “Uh, we were just…”
Tasha shot her a knowing grin. “It’s okay. I have eyes. There’s no need to explain. Look, I need to get going anyway. I’ll leave you, two crazy kids, alone. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Sommer wanted to strangle her. “You can’t leave now, you practically just got here.”
“It’s okay. I only wanted to stop by and congratulate you on your success. Anyway, there are a few errands I need to run before I get to bed tonight.”
“Will you be okay to drive? We were drinking.”
“I’ll be fine. I only had one glass.” She turned her hazel gaze toward Caleb. “Hey, Caleb.”
“Tasha,” Caleb said coolly with a nod. “I trust you’re doing well.” Sommer always got the impression that Caleb didn’t particularly care for Tasha, although he never said why.
“If I was doing any better, I’d be twins. Did you have a nice business trip?”
“It went well. Thank you for asking. Please don’t run off on my account.”
Tasha shook her head with a regretful smile. “I’m not. I was on my way out shortly anyway. You came in the nick of time. I need to gather my things and I’ll be out of your way.”
The corners of Caleb's lips tilted slightly in a semblance of a smile. “It was nice seeing you again.”
Sommer wondered if he really meant it. She and Caleb waited for Tasha to collect her belongings and leave before speaking again. Once the door shut behind her friend, Sommer took a deep breath, her nerves starting to get the better of her.
He gave her a wolfish grin. “Alone at last.”
“You don’t like her much, do you?” Sommer blurted the first thing on her mind.”
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about. She’s your friend. I wasn’t aware I was being anything less than cordial to her.”
“I don’t know what it is, but you seem to disapprove of her for some reason. I’ve always had that feeling, but I really felt it just now.”
Caleb walked further into the apartment and placed the champagne on the counter. He opened her cabinet and pulled out two glasses. “I think you’re imaging things.”
“No, I don’t think I am, and the more dismissive you are about it, the more it makes me suspicious.”
“Are you deliberately trying to pick a fight?”
“I was only asking a question, which you seem to be evading.”
“If you must know, maybe it’s because I’m a little jealous.”
Sommer paused. “Jealous? Of Tasha? What for?”
“The truth is, I’m jealous of anyone I see you smile at, talk with or open up to. I know you’re telling her things about your life you used to share with me. I’m tired of being shut out every time I ask what’s going on in your life. What happened to the girl who used to tell me everything? I miss us being able to talk about anything.”
Her heart twisted in her chest to hear his impassioned plea for things to be the way they once were, but dare she tell him what she really felt? Caleb truly sounded as if he cared about her as more than just a casual affair, but surely she was reading more into his words than were actually meant?
The time had come. She’d have to end things now. As much as it would break her heart to do so, Sommer realized it would hurt far more if she prolonged this emotional torture.
With a sigh, she walked further into the living room and gestured to her couch. “Caleb, please have a sit.”
He frowned but did as he was told. “From the tone of your voice, I’m not sure if I’ll like what you have to say.”
Sommer shrugged. “I don’t know if you will or not, but I think it needs to be said and I believe it’s an eventuality between the two of us.”
“I see.” He leaned back, spanning the top of the sofa with his long arms. “By all mean, share.”
The words stuck in her throat. This would be harder than she thought. Sommer had practiced this scene in her mind over and over again, but she didn’t count on being mesmerized by the bright blue eyes, a rugged face and lips that curled in the corners, promising nothing but pure sin. His very nearness was doing things to the inner workings of her body that they didn’t teach you in health class during Sex Ed. Her pussy was moist from her carnal imaginings, dampening her thighs and making her squirm.
Though his passive expression gave nothing away, she could tell by the way Caleb tilted his nose in the air that he smelled her essence. It was one of the drawbacks to having a Wulfen lover. They would always be able to sense one’s arousal.
She pressed her thighs tightly together in hopes of staving off the heat burning within her core. Turning her back to him, she blurted out the words that had been hovering on her tongue for the past few minutes. “Caleb, I think we should stop seeing each other.”
Silence greeted her rushed statement. Sommer peeked over her shoulder to gauge Caleb’s reaction.
He sat as still as a statue, not moving a muscle, except the one twitching in his jaw. When he still didn’t speak, she turned to face him. “Aren’t you going to say something?”
“What do you expect me to say?” he asked tight-lipped.
There was absolutely no way she could reveal her true feelings without completely humiliating herself. To reveal how much more she felt for him than he did for her would make things more awkward than they already were. She knew he’d still be in her life simply for the mere fact their parents were friends, but perhaps if he didn’t know the truth, they might find their way to having some semblance of the friendship they once had. “I don’t know, maybe that you agree. This thing has run its course, hasn’t it?” She moistened her suddenly dry lips. “I mean, this thing we have has lasted longer than your usual relationships, hasn’t it?”
Caleb remained silent.
“I mean, surely you’ve grown tired of me, and…frankly, this is getting a little boring for me as well. Don’t get me wrong, I love—loved what we did together, but now that business is beginning to pick up for me and Uncle Seth is throwing more pack responsibilities your way, we’re both going to be too caught up to in our own lives to make time for each other anymore. I-I hope we can still be friends. Maybe things will be a little uneasy between us at first, but--”
“Shut up, Sommer.” He moved so quickly, she didn’t see him coming.
Before she could so much as gasp his name, he’d crossed the room and hauled her against his rock hard chest, his ice blue eyes flashing fire. “Care to repeat that, Sommer?”
She couldn’t let him intimidate her. Unable to meet his gaze, Sommer looked at her feet. “I’m sorry, Caleb, but I think it’s for the best. You have your life to get on with and I have mine. We can’t do this anymore. Besides, my—my parents are getting suspicious about the two of us, and I can’t keep putting off their questions.”
His eyes narrowed. “So, you’re breaking this off because you’re worried about what your folks would say, or is it really because you’re bored with this as you so delicately put it?”
Sommer tried to pull away from him, but his fingers tightened on her shoulders, digging into her flesh. His nostrils flared and she could tell he was pissed. She honestly didn’t think he’d take it this way. As a matter of fact, she was sure he’d be relieved that she was ending things to save him the trouble.
“I’m not sure why you’re so upset, Caleb. You’re the one who’s into casual affairs. I’m simply playing by your rules. As for my parents, I think it would be kind of awkward explaining to them about us when there really is no us.”
“I see. You’ve got this all figured out, don’t you? Now that you’ve had your say, do I get mine?”
“I-I’m not sure what’s left to say.”
“I’m not sure if there are any words to describe what’s going through my mind right now, but if you’re feeling bored about our sex life, then I guess there’s something I should do to rectify that.”
She stiffened, recognizing that determined gleam in his eyes. It was the same looked he’d given Sommer at her shop when he’d first made her aware of his lust for her. Shaking her head vigorously, she renewed the struggle in his arms. “No, Caleb.”
“Yes, Sommer. Have you any idea what it does to a man to be told he’s boring in bed? Well, if you want to end things between us, let me at least give you a little something more to remember me by.” He scooped her up in his arms as if she weighed nothing more than a feather. Despite her kicking and wiggling, Caleb held her steady.
Sommer knew from the angry determined look in his eyes that she’d said the wrong thing. It had been her intent to be casual about the entire matter, not to inflict pain. She was sure the only person who would be hurt by the end of this would be her and that she would only have herself to blame.