Page 34 of Never Let Go (Forbidden #1)

Chapter Thirty-Four

LAUREN

“ W ake up, sweetheart,” I hear as kisses are trailed down my spine, the deep timbre of his voice causing goosebumps to appear on my skin.

“Hmm.”

I’m still half asleep as a hand brushes a lock of hair from my face. I pry my eyes open to see a beautiful pair of blue ones looking at me. I smile sleepily and lean into Caleb’s hand.

“Merry Christmas, Lauren,” he says with a smile and kisses me gently.

I pull back and cover my mouth. “Caleb, no. Ew. I have morning breath.”

Caleb laughs and moves my hand, bending down for another kiss. “Yeah, you’re right.” He wrinkles his nose and winks. “You do stink. I think you need a shower. ”

“Shower? It’s my breath that smells, Caleb, not my body.” After a second, I sniff myself just to make sure. Yup, definitely smell like sex and Caleb, not a bad combination at all.

He swats my ass as he gets up out of bed, calling over his shoulder that coffee is ready.

Great, another morning person.

But he did say coffee was ready, so after throwing one of Caleb’s T-shirts on, brushing my teeth because ew, and throwing my hair up into a messy bun, I head downstairs to find my morning fuel.

Padding into the kitchen, the tiles cold under my feet, I see Caleb standing in front of the kitchen window, coffee in hand, watching—I don’t even know what, as it’s just a backyard.

I’m not gonna lie, my mouth waters at the sight of him. No shirt and gray sweats will do that to a girl. His tattoos on full display and the muscles shifting in his back as he inhales and exhales. All I can think about is running my hands over them, so that’s what I do… coffee can wait.

Coffee can wait? Who am I?

I walk up behind Caleb, running my hands over his back and down his arms before bringing them round to his stomach. Is this normally a guy move? Yeah, but we’re in the 21 st century here, a girl can do what she wants. He softens his stance as if he’s melting at my touch.

Glad to know I have the same effect on you, as well.

Caleb leans down and I raise up onto my toes to give him a kiss. I reach round, sneakily grabbing his coffee cup and taking it from him, sipping the heavenly goodness before he’s even realized what I’ve done.

“Menace,” he cries in faux outrage. “That was mine.”

I smirk. “‘Was’ being the operative word here, Professor,” adding in a wink for good measure.

He grins as he goes to grab another cup, calling over his shoulder, “Tease.”

“Merry Christmas,” I mumble around my coffee cup, remembering he’d said it and I never replied.

Caleb smiles at me. He knows how I feel about the holidays, it was one of those ‘get to know you’ conversations that we had last night.

I’m not one for Christmas, it’s not a holiday I’ve ever really enjoyed or celebrated.

Kinda hard to do when you grew up the way I did.

I’ve always tried to make an effort for Sydney’s parents, but it’s still just another day—might as well nickname me the Grinch.

“I got you something,” he says sheepishly as a blush covers his cheeks.

I furrow my brow in confusion as I place my cup on the counter. “Huh? When? I didn’t get you anything. Were we supposed to get each other something?”

Shit. World’s Worst Girlfriend award goes to…

“No, baby girl, we weren’t. I just wanted to get you something.” He shrugs. “It’s not much and you’ll probably hate it.” Caleb dips his head as if embarrassed, so I hastily walk over to him, placing my hands on his face to make him look at me.

“I know, no matter what it is, I’m gonna love it. Thank you.” I can feel the blush creeping up my own face from how intently Caleb’s gazing at me. I brush his cheeks with my thumbs before removing my hands and putting them in front of me. “Gimme.”

Caleb laughs and gestures with his head toward the living room. “Go grab a seat and I’ll get us a refill.” He kisses me before smacking my ass and sending me on my way. I giggle at his playfulness, which only warms my heart.

Making my way into the living room, I marvel at how beautiful it looks. We decorated the tree last night, and it stands in all its silver and black glory in the far corner. It was my first time decorating a tree and the fact that it was with Caleb was just icing on the cake.

Caleb walks in behind me and I sit on the sofa, pulling my feet up under me as he passes me my coffee before moving toward the tree.

“Caleb, I still feel really bad I haven’t got you anything,” I complain.

He looks up at me from his crouched position, smirking. “I have everything I need, sweetheart.” Caleb doesn’t say anymore as he starts rummaging around.

“Erm, handsome…” I trail off as Caleb whips his head around to face me, his eyes wide. “What?” I ask.

“Say that again,” he demands, his blue eyes sparkling.

I’m totally lost right now. “Erm?” I question.

“No, the other word.”

“Handsome?” Just as I say this, a huge shit-eating grin develops on his face. “Oooh, I take it we’re a fan of the nickname,” I laugh, warmth spreading through me as I gaze at his happy expression.

“You know when I call you baby girl?” I clench my thighs and his gaze darkens, the desire plain to see. “Yeah, that’s what you do to me, too.”

I nod in understanding. Looks like I’m now giving him a pet name. “Okay, going back to what I was saying… What’s with all the presents? You don’t have any family… Do you? Oh god! We haven’t had the family talk yet,” I exclaim, nearly dropping my coffee.

“Woah, woah, woah. Lauren calm down,” he laughs as he comes and sits down next to me, taking my cup, luckily, I’d just finished, or he’d have a fight on his hands. He picks me up and sits me on his lap, pulling me close. “I don’t talk to my family,” he whispers into my hair.

My heart breaks just that little bit more for him, knowing exactly how that feels .

“I grew up in a trailer park, no rich mom or dad. The guys were all I had.”

Giving him a small smile, I reply, “You grew up the same as me.”

“I did, yeah.” Caleb blows out a breath before continuing, “Mine probably wasn’t as bad as yours.

My parents did the best they could, they got saddled with a kid at sixteen.

One they didn’t want.” He shrugs. “I just got ignored for the most part, spending time anywhere else but at home. As soon as I was old enough, I got out of there. Noah, Theo and James followed shortly after, and I never looked back.” Caleb wipes a stray tear from my eye.

When did I get so emotional? “Hey, there’ll be no sad faces on Christmas,” he jokes.

“Did you just quote the Grinch?” I laugh.

“Of course I did, best Christmas movie ever made.”

“I agree.” Turning around to straddle him, my hands placed on his shoulder, I say, “Question. ”

“Shoot,” he replies, chuckling, settling himself back like he’s getting comfortable.

“Now go careful with this one. Your answer will be the deciding factor as to how our relationship progresses.”

He tilts his head to the side, eyebrow raised and a smile quirking at his lips. “No pressure here, sweetheart.”

I roll my eyes at him. “Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?” I hold my breath waiting for his reply, his face a mask of contemplation. I’m slowly going out of my mind waiting for him to answer when he finally comes to a decision.

“One hundred percent… a Christmas movie.” I squeal as I throw my hands around his neck, peppering his face with kisses.

“Oh, thank fuck. Why must you be so perfect?”

Caleb gives a hearty laugh. “Sweetheart, I am far from perfect but I’m glad you think so.

But to finish answering your other question…

those presents are for the guys. We didn’t have much growing up, so we always make a big deal out of birthdays and Christmases.

I’m not talking about the most expensive gadgets, though, I’m talking about presents that make you smile.

Silly little token presents that mean something to us.

Like James, he spends so much time in the new coffee shop on campus, I brought him a gift card to feed his habit.

Noah, I brought an ‘I smile’ T-shirt, because honestly, he’s a grumpy asshole. ” He chuckles.

“I love that. I do something similar with Sydney, but it’s usually stuff we love and want.” I move to sit next to Caleb, bringing my legs up under me and placing my hand under my chin. “You seem close with your friends,” I remark.

Caleb moves so he’s mirroring my position.

“Yeah we are. I’ve known those guys my whole life.

There isn’t a part of anything I’ve done that they haven’t been involved with—good or bad.

” He chuckles before adding, “Some of the stories I could tell you…” He trails off and I can’t help but love the fact he’s opening up to me, that I get to see another side to him.

I mean, don’t get me wrong… Professor Caleb and the Caleb that fucks me seven ways from Sunday are completely perfect, but this…

vulnerable side to him, endears him to me.

Butterflies take flight in my stomach as I gaze at him, my heart pounding as I try and hide the emotions that are beginning to unfurl in my chest

Sensing the sudden tension that’s gripped us, Caleb reaches behind him and pulls out a small box and hands it to me.

“What is it?” I ask, staring at it.

Laughing, he says, “Open it and find out.”

I slowly open the lid, feeling like Pandora when she opened the box. I move tissue paper to the side to find nestled inside is a silver pendant with a tiny swallow bird attached .

“Caleb,” I gasp, picking it up and holding it to the light.

“I told you that it means hope, rebirth and renewal.” He tilts my chin to look at him, emotion pooling in his blue eyes. “I feel like you're my hope.”

The blood rushes to my ears as tears begin to fill my eyes. I feel like I’m having an out of body experience because no one has ever said these kinds of words to me before. I open and close my mouth to say something… anything, but nothing comes. What can I say back to that?

“Here, let me put it on.”

I turn around and lift my hair as he places the necklace around my neck and does the clasp up.

Once he’s done, he leans down to kiss my neck, goosebumps breaking out across my skin.

Caleb puts his arms around me, and I rest my back against his chest, breathing in the scent of him and trying to calm my riot of emotions.

I can’t be falling for him… can I?