Falling For Caleb
Falling Series #7
Tracy Lorraine
Copyright © 2017 by Tracy Lorraine
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Edited by Pinpoint Editing
Formatted by Dandelion Cover Designs
Cover design by Dandelion Cover Designs
Deanna, for everything you do x
Contents
Foreword
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
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About the Author
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Foreword
Falling For Caleb is book number seven in the Falling Series. I would recommend reading the series from the beginning to fully understand all the characters and where they fit in, but at the least, you should definitely read Falling For Lucas whose book leads directly into Taylor and Caleb’s story.
Chapter One
Taylor
New Years Eve two years ago…
If you were to ask me what my perfect man would look like, I would tell you that the man I’m currently staring at across the room would be him. Tall, slim, obviously fit and wrapped in a slim fit grey suit. Perfectly styled caramel hair with a sharp jawline and full, kissable lips—lips I could kiss for hours. I lose myself in my imagination as I stare at his mouth.
I have no idea who this guy is, but my gaydar is telling me it’s game on. That, plus the fact I know he’s aware of my attention. He may be stood next to a stunning curvy blonde, but I can see from here he’s not interested in her. From what I can tell, he’s trying to look like he is, but his eyes keep flicking over to me every so often. Each time our eyes connect, I can’t help the butterflies that erupt in my stomach.
I want to spend the night with this man.
If I’m honest, I think I could spend the rest of my life looking at him; he’s perfect. And trust me, that isn’t something I say lightly. I’ve vowed to never have ‘forever’ with anyone.
After another glance at me, I watch him place his hand on the small of the woman’s back as he whispers something in her ear. She looks up at him and smiles. I see she’s almost as stunning as him when I catch a glimpse of her face. She’s pretty fuckable. Not in the way he is, though. She could warm my bed for a night and I wouldn’t think twice about her after she left. Him, though…fuck me, I want him.
I watch as he walks towards the toilet but, finding the door locked, changes direction and heads out of the room.
I stay where I am for a minute before following. Lilly is distracted talking to her sister, so I slip away unnoticed. Spending New Year’s Eve with my best friend and her family isn’t exactly what I had in mind for tonight, but when she told me her boyfriend had bailed on her, I couldn’t say no to her sad little face. I’m hoping this evening may just be looking up now.
When I get out to the hallway, I look at the two sets of stairs. Knowing there’s only a bedroom and en suite downstairs, I opt for heading to the top floor. After opening a couple of doors and finding only bedrooms, I find myself in front of the final door up here. Slowly, I push the handle down, but to my disappointment, the door doesn’t open. I know he’s inside.
I stand back against the wall and wait.
After watching this guy for the last couple of hours, my patience is wearing a little thin, but the memory of those lips reminds me I’d probably wait forever to get a taste of him.
After a minute, I hear the toilet flush and then the tap run. My excitement builds as I wait for him to appear. It’s like time slows down as I hear the lock being turned and then the door being pulled open.
I take a deep breath and wait.
“I knew it was you,” he says after a couple of seconds. “I was hoping you might follow me.”
The knowledge that he came up here on purpose seriously excites me. “Why’s that?”
“Because you’ve been eye fucking me for the last two hours and it’s driving me crazy,” he says, so seriously I have no idea if I’ve pissed him off or if he liked it. He slowly takes a step towards me before continuing with what he was saying. “I don’t think anyone has ever managed to turn me on quite so much from the other side of the room.”
I let out the breath I was holding as his words settle in my brain. It’s obvious he’s a little drunk, but I don’t think he’s had enough to not know what he’s doing right now.
“So what do you say, stranger?” he says as he steps right up in front of me.
“I say fuck yes,” I announce before bringing my hand up to the back of his head and pulling his lips to mine.
Although he’s obviously keen, it takes a second for him to react to me. It’s only a second though before his lips open for me and I feel his weight pressing me back into the wall.
I was right. Those lips can kiss.
* * *
Present
“Taylor, we’re here,” I hear somewhere in the distance.
I feel warmth across my check a second before his scent fills my nose. I’d know it’s him anywhere. It’s like his body talks to mine.
I feel a pull across my chest and it hurts like fuck. I suck in a breath as the pressure goes away. Memories of this afternoon slam into me and I go to open my eyes, only they won’t open—not more than a millimetre or two.
“Shit, sorry. Come on, we’re here.”
His face is still right in front of mine but his usual carefree look is long gone. Instead, he looks stressed and worried. Is it awful of me to feel ecstatic that he looks that way because of me? It’s nice to know he does care. He puts so much effort into trying to be unaffected by me but I know it’s all an act. It’s why I haven’t ever given up on him.
I feel his hands come under my armpits as he pulls me up from the seat. He manages to manhandle me out of the car and my jelly-like legs just about hold me up. Together, we stumble towards the front door. I’ve only seen pictures of this house but it’s even more impressive in real life. When I visited Lilly after she moved to Devon, she and Lucas were still living in his hotel. They only moved in here a few weeks ago. I’ve been desperate to see what she’s done with the place but I wasn’t expecting my first visit to be quite like this.
I feel my body giving up on me as I stand at the front door, clinging on the best I can to Caleb. I need to lie down. I need to sleep. Fuck, I need more painkillers.
When the door gets pulled back, I just about make out Lucas with Lilly hanging over his shoulder. One look at his guests, and he drops her to her feet.
“Shit, what happened?” he asks seconds before Lilly turns towards us.
“Shit, Taylor. What happened to him?” she asks Caleb as I feel Lucas grab on to my other side. He’s just in time, because I was about to hit the floor.
They both start to move me into the house but blackness starts to descend on me so I struggle to focus on what they’re saying.
“I know you,” I hear Lilly say to Caleb as I feel myself lowered on to what I hope is the sofa. “But I can’t place you.”
“I’m Caleb, Beth’s brother. Taylor lives with me.” Lilly doesn’t know anything about Caleb because I haven’t told her about him. It’s killed me to do so and I don’t really know why I’ve kept it from
her, but I have. Maybe it’s because I want him so badly but he won’t allow it. Maybe it’s because I’ve fallen for him and yet I’ve barely touched him. I’m sure I could come up with loads of reasons if I thought about it.
“Oh, it’s you,” Lilly says as if she’s just figured out some impossible puzzle. I know she’s known there’s been something going on with me but she’s never come out and asked, which I’m grateful for. “What happened?” she asks again but I don’t hear Caleb’s response. I drift off into the blackness where the pain disappears and I can put what happened to one side, knowing I’m with my real family. Lilly is my family; she has been for a few years now. Unlike my blood relations, I know I can rely on her and I know she’ll look after me. Caleb would have been great but he doesn’t understand—not yet, anyway. Lilly, on the other hand, knows everything.
Caleb
I’ve been away on an amazing shoot for the last two days and I’m buzzing to tell someone about it. Hoping Taylor will be home from work, I jog up the stairs to our flat with my overnight bag over my shoulder.
I don’t think anything of it when I find the door ajar. Taylor is pretty useless like that. Clearly, me moaning about him leaving it open last time fell on deaf ears.
“Taylor, the fucking door’s open again.” I may have moved to a nicer building but we’re still in the middle of London. Fuck knows who we’re sharing this building with, but he’s happy to leave the door swinging open for anyone to stroll in. If he’s left it open because he’s too busy fucking someone while I was away, I’m going to be seriously pissed off.
“Taylor,” I shout again when I get no response. This time, I do hear something, but it’s not so much a response as I groan. I head towards the kitchen where it sounds like it came from but before I find him, I find blood.
“Fuck, Taylor,” I say to myself as I pick up my pace. “Fuck,” I repeat when I find him curled up in the corner of the kitchen, covered in blood.
I crouch down next to him to inspect the damage but there’s too much blood to really see anything.
“I’m ringing an ambulance.”
“No, please. No.”
“Taylor you’re in a right state. You need to be looked at.”
“I’m…fine. Please,” he begs. “Lilly.”
“What?”
“Take me…to…Lilly…please.”
“Taylor, she lives in Devon. It’s hours away. You need to go to A&E, not fucking Devon.”
“No,” he says again with much more determination behind it. He manages to uncurl himself enough so he can sit up a little and look at me.
The state of his face makes me suck in a breath. I’ve known for a long time that my feelings for his guy are too strong, but I’ve managed to lock them down. Taylor’s a player and I’ve had my fill of those over the years. He may tell me he’s changed but a leopard never changes his spots.
I fight the urge to wrap myself around him and never let go. Instead, I stand up and pull my phone out of my pocket to call for an ambulance. Fuck knows what he might have broken. I shouldn’t be moving him.
“Caleb. Please,” he begs again, staring into my eyes, his dark ones to my blue. “Take me to Lilly. I need her.”
“For fuck’s sake, Taylor.”
“Please.”
“Fine. Let’s clean you up a bit first,” I say caving to the pathetic look he’s giving me. I can only say no to him so many times.
* * *
New Year’s Eve two years ago…
I clock him the minute he walks in. He arrived with a pretty little blonde, so at first, I think my luck is out. That is until he starts looking my way. He looks too good to be true: tall, dark, and fucking gorgeous. His dark—almost black—hair is shaved close to his head. His eyes are the same colour and his stare is intense. One look from him touches me deep; I’ve never experienced that before. His skin is tanned and covering the most incredibly muscular frame. My mouth waters for a taste.
I know he’s interested, so I come up with a way to hopefully get him alone. I’ve never made it a secret that I’m gay but I’ve never openly told anyone other than my sister, Beth, and my old school friend, Abbi. I’m pretty sure everyone knows, though—apart from my mother, who dreams of weddings, big hats, and babies. I’ve never had the heart to ruin them by telling her the truth. It doesn’t mean I won’t; I’ve just never found anyone important enough to introduce to them. I want that to change, though. I’m done bed hopping. I want to find someone I can share my life with. I want fun inside and outside of the bedroom. Someone I can trust to be faithful.
I watch as one of the partygoers takes themselves to the bathroom on this floor of Molly and Ryan’s house and I use that as an opportunity to leave the room in favour of the bathroom upstairs, after making a show of trying the locked door. I glance his way as I leave the room and, just as I hope, he’s watching my every move.
When I hear the door handle being wiggled, I suddenly feel a bolt of nerves hit me. I haven’t been with anyone since I decided to stop pissing about. I haven’t found anyone interested in anything more than a quick shag. I’m hoping this guy is going to be different. My gut says that he is.
I swallow down my nerves, unlock the door, and step out. Those nerves soon disappear when I look into his dark, hungry eyes. I stand still and let his eyes run over me. It allows me time to do the same to him. His crisp white shirt is pulled tight across his broad shoulders and shows off his sculpted chest and slim waist perfectly. His pants are tight and I desperately want to ask him to turn around so I can check out his ass.
I don’t know what comes over me in those few minutes. I think it’s the effect of his dark eyes, but after a few words, I step right up to him, our lips collide, and I run my tongue along his bottom lip. When I feel his sneak out to play with mine, I lose the strength in my legs and have to lean into him to keep myself up.
His fingers grip onto the short hair at the back of my head and he tilts it to the side slightly so we can deepen the kiss.
His lips are like a fucking drug. From the second mine touched, them I know I never want to give them up.
But just like my thoughts earlier, he soon proves to me that he is indeed too good to be true.
“You’re coming home with me tonight.”
His words are like a bucket of cold water. I take a big step back and look at him. He’s perfect in every way except, just like all the others, all he wants is a fuck.
“No, I’m not.”
His eyes crinkle at the sides as he thinks about what I just said.
“I’m sorry, then what’s all this about?”
“This isn’t just about a quick fuck. I’m looking for more. So unless you can offer the possibility of that, I’m not interested.” It’s so hard to stay strong because every part of me other than my brain is screaming at me to take him up on his offer. Especially my cock, which is currently trying to break free of my pants to get to him.
“You’re fucking kidding?” he asks with a laugh.
“No, I’m not.” Those words make his smile falter a little.
“So you lured me up here for nothing?”
“No, I was hoping you’d be different. I’m not going to go into this pretending I want something I don’t. I’m done with one-night stands. I want something more and I was hoping being honest about that wouldn’t scare you off. But clearly it has.”
“I don’t do more,” he admits. “I’m pretty sure if I were to ever change my mind though, it could be for you.”
His admission shocks and excites me but it’s not enough to forget what I’m looking for.
He suddenly steps forward. His hand slips inside my jacket and runs down my side. He squeezes it into my pocket and grabs my phone, not before gently stroking my cock with his finger, making me suck air into my lungs. His touch makes me dizzy and it’s almost enough to say, ‘Fuck it, let’s go’.
“What’re you doing?” I ask as he unlocks my cell and starts tapping at the screen. Seconds later, I h
ear his ring.
“Just in case you change your mind and a quick but amazing fuck is just what you need.”
I open my mouth to tell him that won’t be happening, but he’s already striding off down the hallway.
I look back down at my cell.
Taylor.
I stare at his name on my phone for a few seconds. It scares the shit out of me when it vibrates in my hand.
Taylor: Ring me anytime, stranger x
What the fuck just happened? I ask myself as I make my way back to the party.
* * *
Present…
“What happened?” Lilly asks again, pulling me from my thoughts.
“I’ve no idea. I found him like this in our kitchen. He’s refused to tell me; just kept saying he wanted you.”
“Why didn’t you take him to a hospital? That’d would probably more useful.”
“I fucking tried, but he made me promise not to. You know Taylor better than anyone, so I know you understand how hard it is to say no to him.”
“Yes, I know,” Lilly mutters in understanding.
“Shall we get him upstairs?” Lucas asks over Lilly’s shoulder.
The three of us look down at his passed out, broken body in silence.
“Are you sure nothing’s broken that needs medical attention?” Lilly asks.
“I don’t think so. Maybe a rib or two, but not much can be done about that anyway.”
“Let’s get him upstairs; we can assess the damage in the morning,” Lucas decides as he steps towards the sofa.
Falling For Caleb (Falling Book 7) Page 1
