Ava
The rhythm of the ocean waves outside should have lulled me into sleep, but my mind was racing too fast. I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, every fiber of my being attuned to the fact that Caleb was a few steps away. The air between us had been charged all day, thick with an unspoken pull that I couldn't quite name but felt in every glance, every touch.
I sighed, turning onto my side. Despite the exhaustion from our long day of travel, sleep refused to come. Every time I closed my eyes, my thoughts drifted back to Caleb—his voice, his scent, the heat in his gaze when we were alone. Part of me longed to invite him to join me, to close the distance between us, but I hesitated. There was still so much I hadn't told him. So much he didn't know about me. And yet, here I was, lying in the dark, aching for something more.
A soft groan broke through the quiet. I sat up, straining to hear, and another sound came—a deeper, more distressed noise. It was Caleb. Instinctively, I slipped out of bed and made my way toward the living room. The sight of him tossing and turning on the couch, his face twisted in pain, sent a jolt of worry through me.
"Caleb," I called softly, kneeling beside him. "Caleb, wake up. You're having a nightmare."
He muttered something incoherent, his body jerking slightly. Without thinking, I reached out and touched his arm, squeezing gently. "Caleb, it's okay. I'm here."
His eyes snapped open, wild and unfocused. For a brief moment, it seemed like he didn't know where he was. But then, his gaze found mine, and I watched the fear fade, replaced by something softer.
"Ava?" His voice was rough, thick with sleep and emotion.
"Yeah, it's me." I smiled, trying to reassure him. "You were having a nightmare."
He let out a shaky breath, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't mean to wake you."
"You didn't," I lied, not wanting him to feel guilty. "Come on, you'll sleep better in a real bed."
He hesitated, his eyes searching mine. "Ava, I don't want to impose."
"Please," I urged gently. "You don't have to be alone."
After a beat, he nodded, and I helped him to his feet, leading him back toward the bed. The space between us felt electric, as though every step we took closer to each other only magnified the tension that had been simmering between us. We climbed into bed, lying side by side in the darkness.
The silence that followed was heavy, charged with everything left unsaid. My heart pounded in my chest, my skin tingling with the awareness of how close he was. I could feel his warmth, the subtle brush of his body against mine, and every part of me wanted more.
"Thank you," he murmured after a long pause, his voice barely above a whisper.
"For what?" I asked, my eyes tracing the shadows of his face in the moonlight.
"For being here," he said softly. "I didn't realize how much I needed someone until now."
My chest tightened at the vulnerability in his voice. "You're not alone anymore, Caleb," I whispered, my hand reaching out to rest on his arm.
His gaze flicked down to where my hand touched him, and in the next moment, he was moving closer, his hand lifting to cup my cheek. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver through me, and before I could second-guess myself, I leaned in, closing the distance.
The kiss started slow, tentative, as if we were testing the waters. But the instant our lips met, a spark ignited inside me, and I felt myself melting into him. Caleb kissed me back with more urgency, his lips moving against mine with a heat that made my pulse race. His hand slipped to the back of my neck, pulling me closer as the kiss deepened, and I responded, pressing my body against his.
His fingers trailed down my back, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. I felt his hand slide under the hem of my shirt, his touch gentle but insistent as he explored the bare skin of my waist. My breath hitched as I arched into him, craving more of his touch.
"Caleb," I murmured against his lips, my voice breathless.
He growled softly, the sound vibrating through his chest as he kissed me harder. His hand moved higher, grazing the side of my ribs, and I moaned softly, feeling a surge of heat pool low in my stomach. The kiss grew more heated, more frantic, and I could feel the tension building between us like a tidal wave about to crash.
His weight shifted slightly, and suddenly, I felt the unmistakable press of his arousal against my thigh. My body reacted instinctively, heat flooding through me at the sensation, but then, just as quickly, panic gripped me.
I froze.
Caleb noticed the change immediately. He pulled back, his eyes searching mine, concern etching across his features. "Ava?" His voice was gentle, a question hanging in the air between us.
I swallowed hard, my heart racing for a completely different reason now. "I… I'm sorry," I stammered, my face flushing with embarrassment. "I just… I've never gone this far before."
Understanding dawned in his eyes, and he exhaled slowly, his hand slipping from my waist to cup my cheek. "It's okay," he said softly. "We don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with."
I nodded, my throat tight with emotion. "I don't want to stop," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "I just… I don't know what I'm doing."
His lips curled into a small, reassuring smile. "Ava, there's no rush. We can take things as slow as you need." He pressed a tender kiss to my forehead, lingering there for a moment before pulling back slightly.
"You're worth waiting for," he added, his voice filled with sincerity.
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, a mixture of relief and gratitude flooding through me. I nodded, unable to find the words to express what I felt in that moment. Caleb didn't push, didn't demand more than I was ready for. Instead, he just held me, his arms wrapping around me protectively as we both lay back against the pillows.
I curled into him, resting my head on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. His hand stroked my back gently, soothing the last remnants of my anxiety as I melted into the warmth of his embrace. The heat between us hadn't disappeared, but it had shifted, replaced by something deeper, something that felt more like trust.
"Goodnight, Ava," he whispered, his voice soft and tender.
"Goodnight, Caleb," I murmured, a small smile tugging at my lips.
As I drifted off to sleep in his arms, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. But beneath it all, there was still that small knot of anxiety, the secret I was keeping from him. I knew it wouldn't stay hidden forever, but for tonight, I allowed myself to simply be here, wrapped in his warmth, hopeful for whatever tomorrow would bring.
---
The first thing I felt was warmth. Caleb's arms were still wrapped around me, his body a solid, comforting presence beside mine. For a moment, I kept my eyes closed, savoring the feeling of being held, of being safe. It was a rare, fleeting peace, and I wasn't ready to let it go just yet.
But as I shifted slightly, his grip tightened, pulling me closer, and I realized that he was awake too. I opened my eyes and found him already watching me, his gaze soft and warm in the early morning light.
"Good morning," he said, his voice low and husky from sleep.
"Good morning," I whispered back, my heart skipping a beat at the sight of him, the vulnerability in his eyes, the way he was looking at me like I was the only thing that mattered.
Neither of us moved for a moment. The room was quiet, the only sound the distant crash of the ocean outside. But the tension from last night hadn't disappeared. If anything, it had grown stronger, thicker, as if our guards had dropped while we slept, leaving nothing but raw, unfiltered emotion between us.
Caleb's hand slid up my back, slow and deliberate, his fingers tracing the curve of my spine. I shivered at the touch, my body instinctively pressing closer to his. His other hand came to rest on my hip, his thumb brushing the bare skin just beneath my shirt, sending a jolt of heat through me.
I could see the desire in his eyes, mirrored in my own. And then, without a word, he leaned in and kissed me.
It wasn't tentative like the night before. This kiss was deeper, more intense, fueled by the need we'd both been holding back. My hands slid up to tangle in his hair, pulling him closer as I kissed him back with just as much hunger.
His lips moved against mine, slow but insistent, his hands exploring my body with a careful, deliberate intensity that made me ache for more. I could feel every inch of him, the heat radiating from his skin, the strength in his grip as he pulled me even closer, until there was no space left between us.
He rolled me onto my back, his weight pressing down on me in the most delicious way, and I let out a soft moan as his hand slid under my shirt, fingers skimming over my bare skin. My pulse raced, heat pooling low in my stomach as his touch ignited something wild inside me.
"Caleb..." I whispered, my voice breathless, barely able to form the words as his lips trailed down my neck, each kiss sending sparks of pleasure through me.
His hand slid lower, tracing the curve of my waist, the sensation both overwhelming and intoxicating. I arched into him, my body responding instinctively, wanting more, needing more. But just as the heat between us reached a boiling point, something in the back of my mind tugged at me—a reminder, a hesitation I couldn't ignore.
But before I could react, a sudden loud knock echoed from the door, cutting through the haze of desire like a bucket of cold water.
We both froze, our breaths mingling in the quiet as we stared at each other in shock, the reality of the moment crashing down around us.
"Stay here," Caleb whispered, pulling back reluctantly, his lips brushing against my forehead before he pushed himself up, leaving me breathless and aching for more.