Page 55 of Untouchable

That squared with what the guy had said as he left, but still. Caleb stood tensely, studying her face, wondering why he still wanted to clobber someone.

“I didn’t peg you for the jealous type,” Kelly said, turning away to get her purse and a blue dress out of the cubicle. “And I’ve got to say, all this alpha-male possessiveness is really not appealing. I’m allowed to talk to other men, you know.”

Of course she was allowed. He didn’t normally overreact this way. He had no idea what was wrong with him. Only he hated the idea of Kelly with another man.

Hehatedit.

“As long as talking is all you do,” he muttered, an edge to his tone that surprised him.

It evidently surprised her too. She stared at him for a minute, her hair slipping out of her long braid the way it always did. “If I’m supposed to curb my extracurricular activities, then the same better apply to you.”

Did she really think he was fucking other women? Did she really think he even wanted to?

He stepped forward, walking her backward and holding her in place by bracing a hand on the wall. “I don’t share.”

Her cheeks were flushed now, and she arched slightly, visibly turned on. But her voice was controlled as she replied, “Somehow that doesn’t surprise me. But I know you’re not talking about me as your possession.”

Of course she was his. Her gold hair, her creamy skin, her lush curves, her long legs, her supple mouth. Her knowing, intelligent eyes. All of it felt like his, and he still bristled at the idea of anyone else laying a hand on her.

“Okay,” Kelly said, reaching up to stroke his jaw. “If you’re going to go all caveman on me, then you’ll have to wait until we get home. I’m not getting fucked in the dressing room.”

“It doesn’t have to be now, but you’re definitely getting fucked.”

She was smiling as she pushed him out of the dressing room, and he stood beside her as she paid for her dress. She didn’t say anything, but she kept slanting little looks up at him as if trying to figure out what was going on with him.

When they left the mall, Pete drove her car home, and she got in the passenger seat of Caleb’s car.

She was studying him so closely now that it was making him self-conscious.

He said, “I know you’re hot for me, but we agreed we’d wait until we got home before you get fucked.”

She gave a little laugh, but he hadn’t distracted her from her questions. “What are you doing here anyway? Shouldn’t you be at work?”

“Yeah.” He’d turned on the car, but he hadn’t shifted into drive yet.

“I know you didn’t blow your whole schedule to go shopping with me, so what’s going on?”

There was no good reason to tell her, but he heard himself saying, “I had to… do a favor for a friend and then didn’t go back into work.”

“What favor?” Her voice was soft, as if she were afraid of spooking him.

He let out a long exhale and closed his eyes. “I had to take a friend’s mother to the hospital for a blood transfusion.”

She sucked in a sharp breath, clearly surprised. “Why you?”

Naturally, she would be surprised. He wasn’t the sort of man who’d go out of his way for someone else. “Because she knows me. She’s not doing well, and the only people she remembers are from way back. My friend didn’t have anyone else to ask.”

“Well… that was really nice of you.”

He opened his eyes and gave her a narrow-eyed look. “Niceisn’t the word I’d use to describe me.”

“I know. But still.” She looked strange, like she was rattled for some reason. Her eyes kept darting from his face to her hands in her lap. “I’m sure your friend appreciated it. Was it?—”

“Was it what?”

“Was it hard? You seem kind of… I don’t know…stretchedor something this afternoon.”

He closed his eyes again.