Page 22 of Never Let Go (Forbidden #1)

Chapter Twenty-Two

CALEB

I haven’t been able to stop thinking about Lauren since I fucked her in my office. But I’m angry at her, so fucking angry. If I’d never laid eyes on her then none of this would’ve happened. We would never have been thrown in to a situation that’s completely fucked up.

Another person I’m angry at is Brad. Fucking Brad . He gets to be seen with Lauren, gets to touch her, have her number and I have… nothing. I have an email address and even then, that’s monitored. Thus fucking with me more as I’m angry for wanting her, but angry for not being able to have her.

My head is one big screwed up fucking mess.

I rub my forehead and rest my head on the couch.

I broke out the big guns tonight and poured myself a whiskey, which I’ve been nursing for the last hour.

I’m tempted to get drunk but I don’t want to deal with the hangover tomorrow.

At the ripe old age of thirty-six, they don’t go as easily as they used to, and I’ll be on my ass for days after .

Without thinking it through, I get up, put my shoes on and grab my car keys. Unlocking my car, I get in and start her up, reversing out onto the main road. I don’t know what my destination is, all I know is that I need to be somewhere, anywhere that isn’t staring at the four walls of my house.

I end up at Strokes—predictable? Probably. I’m sitting here, engine idling wondering if I should go in, or just head home. Something stops me from going home though, so instead, like the dickhead that I am, I turn the engine off and make my way inside.

It’s busy for a Wednesday night but I manage to get to the bar with no problems. I ask the waitress for a bottle of water before turning around, and leaning against the bar, searching.

I’m sipping my water when I catch sight of long, blonde hair weaving through the crowds.

Bingo.

I follow after her, catching glimpses when the crowds part so I know where she’s going. When I open the door, Lauren whirls around.

“Caleb,” she gasps, eyes wide. “Wh-what are you doing here?”

She looks breathtaking in her work outfit—a green, lacy, barely there lingerie set, showing off her curvy body to perfection. My mouth waters at the sight, my cock growing hard beneath my jeans.

“Honestly? I don’t know. I was just driving and ended up here.” I shrug my shoulders and put my hands in my pockets, rocking back and forth on my feet.

Her face softens. “Caleb,” she sighs .

“I know, I just… couldn’t stop thinking about you after you left my office.”

“We can’t do this, Caleb. It’s not right,” she says, almost sounding like she’s forcing the lie out.

“You don’t think I know that, Lauren? You don’t think I feel disgusted for lusting over my student?

A woman nearly half my age?” I exclaim, frustration at the situation simmering beneath the surface.

“You think this is easy for me?” I hit my chest, my emotions getting the better of me. “Well newsflash, it’s not.”

“What do you want me to do here, Caleb? You want me to tell you that I don’t feel the same way? That this isn’t just as hard for me as it is for you? Well newsflash, it is,” she cries.

I can’t bear to see the dejected look on her face, the pure sadness that’s radiating from her, and in that moment, it’s clear as day—I’m falling for her.

“You should go,” she whispers, eyes cast down.

I feel like she just punched me in the gut. I want to do anything that’ll make this better. I want to do anything to make her happy. I take a couple of steps toward her, but she holds out her hand, stopping me.

“Lauren, I—” I start but she cuts me off.

She wraps her arms around herself, still not looking at me. “Please… just go.”

I sigh, running a hand through my hair, before replying, “Okay, sweetheart.”

Walking back to my car, I inwardly curse myself for going there. Nothing good came of it, other than to make us both feel like shit. One things for certain though, Lauren Taylor has me trapped, and I’m not sure I want out.