CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“Even I don’t wake up looking like Cindy Crawford.”
-Cindy Crawford
GIANNA
Was I stupid enough to agree to be Caleb’s girlfriend? I was kind of freaked out about the future. Dating a guy like him was like serving your heart up on a platter for him to devour.
One hand still on the wheel, he reached with his free one to hold my own. Brushing aside worries of an unknown future, I asked, “Where are we going?” It was pretty late and it’d be more than a little awkward going back to Jared’s house.
“We’re going to my mom’s.”
Not a better idea. “Won’t she mind?”
“No, she’s cool about most things as long as I’m not getting into trouble.” He drove into the same parking garage from the last time we were here. Taking the keys out of the ignition, he said, “Wait there!” I sat in the car as ordered, watching in the side mirror as he came around to open my door for me. He smiled proudly as I stepped out of the car. “See, aren’t I a good boyfriend already?”
In a condescending manner, I patted his cheek. “You still have a long way to go, master player.”
He scowled at me and took my duffel from me after I grabbed it from the backseat. Throwing it over one shoulder and taking my hand, he locked the car door. “Come on. My mom is going to freak, me bringing a girl home. It’s unheard of.” His sneaky grin hinted at anticipation.
We walked the distance to the apartment building and waited for the elevator. Entering the place, all the lights were off with the glow of the city coming in through the blinds.
Halfway to Caleb’s room, a bedroom door opened and a woman stepped out. “Caleb, sweetie, is that you?”
Sweetie?
“Yes, mom, it’s me and Gianna.”
His mom flipped a switch, turning on the hall light. She was a pretty older woman, in her late thirties with dark hair like Caleb. “Oh hi, that’s right, Gianna, the stepsister. It’s nice to meet you.” Her eyes glanced down at where Caleb was still holding my hand before coming back to rest on my blushing face.
“You too,” I responded awkwardly. It felt weird and scandalous to be spending the night at a boyfriend’s house. Would she tell Scott?
“Wow, Caleb didn’t tell me how beautiful you are,” she complimented. My face grew warmer and I wanted to elbow him for forcing me into this embarrassing situation.
“Thank you,” I mumbled, not having anything better to say.
“She’s also very tired, so we’ll just be going to bed now,” Caleb cut in, making me want to murder him! It sounded so bad when he said it aloud.
“Okay then, goodnight, sweetie. Goodnight, Gianna.” As she closed her door I knew I should tell her goodnight, but I couldn’t get it out. She must’ve thought I was the biggest slut.
“Oh my god, Caleb!” I whispered harshly. “Did you have to say it like that? I can’t believe your mom is okay with this. My mom would totally freak if you stayed the night in my room!”
Inside his room, he shut the door and locked it. “Who says I’m staying in here with you? Maybe I intend to sleep on the couch to protect my virtue.”
“Oh please, I’m the virgin here. You’re practically a gigolo. You lost your innocence a long time ago.” I wonder how long ago that was.
He faked hurt. “You make me feel so dirty and used.”
“You said it, not me.” Mentally worn out from everything that’d happened I laid down on the bed thinking about the last time I was on here. Did Caleb really have a tattoo somewhere under those pants or had he been messing with me?
“I’m not the one in the hooker dress,” he teased.
“It was for a good cause.” What the heck did his mom think when she saw my racy dress? Probably that I was a slut! Mortified, I kicked off my heels and grabbed my bag. “I’m going to change in the bathroom. I think you and your mom have seen enough of this dress tonight.”
“I really didn’t mean it about the dress. Come back . . . please,” he trailed off dramatically as I quietly padded down the hallway to the privacy of the bathroom.
I changed into very unsexy sweats and a tank top. For modesty’s sake, I covered up more skin with my hoodie. When I returned to Caleb’s room, he was already down to boxer briefs. Holy crap, a girl could get knocked up just looking at him. Switching off the lamp to give my hormones a rest, I got under the blanket, sensing him doing the same. He wrapped his arms around me and my head naturally rested on his chest.
“Is this where you try to get into my sweatpants?” I asked him, feeling nervous about sharing a bed with a guy.
He laughed softly. “There would be no trying involved. If I wanted in them, they’d already be on the floor.”
“Oh, so now you don’t want to have sex with me?”
He grabbed my hand and I was startled as he placed it on his crotch. “Believe me, I do. Just not with my mom in the other room.”
I yanked my hand away. “You are such a pervert!”
“Thank you,” he said. “Now, I’m going to sleep. I know I’m irresistible, but please try not to molest me again, Gianna.”
Determined to block out the memory of the feel of him in my hand, I shifted position to lie on my side, facing away from him and his massive ego. “Whatever.”
He pulled me into his arms again, spooning me from behind and laughing into my hair. “I’m sorry, princess.”
“No you’re not. Goodnight, Caleb,” I said grumpily.
Not denying it, he whispered sweetly, “Goodnight, beautiful girlfriend.”
That was the problem with players. They always had the charm to go with the good looks.
CALEB
Gianna’s breathing slowed down as she fell asleep. It was so insane that I now had a girlfriend. Doomed from the start, she had me at get off me, asshole! Well, that and her hot body. If I had to have a girlfriend, only someone as awesome as Gianna would do. She wasn’t only beautiful, but also cool and fun to be around. Even if she was mad at me half the time. Not that I didn’t sometimes deserve it. Not that I’d ever admit to deserving it.
I’d never cuddled with a girl before without sex being involved and usually not even then. I liked holding Gianna in my arms. I liked knowing she was mine. Josh, Seth and Jared were suckers! I’d never felt protective of a female before, besides my mom, and this was the first female I’d been possessive of. This thing between us could go somewhere serious but I could also manage to keep it to having fun. We were too young to worry about forever.
The player in me was screaming for his freedom, but I couldn’t stand to let her belong to anyone else. The only way to prevent that was for her to belong to me. The idea of not messing around with other girls was surprisingly acceptable. It helped to have the most beautiful girl in the world as my new playtime partner.
How would my dad and Julie take this? Probably not very well. My mom noticed us holding hands, but she didn’t say anything about it. She was cool like that, but Gianna wasn’t her daughter.
I was nervous about having sex with her. She wouldn’t be my first virgin but I stayed away from virgins for a reason. Girls put a lot of importance on their first time and I didn’t want the pressure of not fucking it up. I ached to have sex with her now, but I had to wait until she was ready. It also needed to be special for her.
Kissing her head through a silky cloud of hair, I let go of my worries and joined her in sleep.
Beware of Bad Boy Page 23
