Little White Lie

by Madison Night

  “No, you idiot, it’s the other way around. I’m technically cheating on Brett, not Caleb,” she grumbled as she unlocked her front door and stepped inside the darkened house.

  Syd bent to greet Puff, who was balancing on her two back feet, paws up in the air, desperate for attention. She walked to the kitchen and opened the French doors leading to the back yard and the dog bounced her way outside. Syd grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and sipped it slowly, trying to piece together her conversation with Caleb.

  She rubbed her face, trying to fend off the weariness that was taking over, and opened the door to let Puff back in. “Bedtime, little girl.”

  She climbed the stairs, each step feeling like a hurdle. She began unzipping the dress even before she entered her room and slipped out of it, leaving it where it lay on the floor, too worn out to bother hanging it back up in the closet. She threw on an old, oversized T-shirt and climbed into bed, pulling the fluffy down comforter up around her. She switched on the bedside lamp, setting the room awash in a soft amber glow. There was no way she was going to get any sleep until she spoke with Caleb again.

  She leaned back, one hand behind her head, the other she used to gently stoke Puff’s fur.

  She felt empty when CJ wasn’t with her. She was teetering on the edge of falling deeply in love with him. She was terrified that if she spent any more time with him—talking to him, looking into his deep blue eyes, laughing at his jokes, running her fingers through his thick blond hair, enjoying his touch—that she would tip right over that edge and would never be able to let him go.

  She had no right to love him—not when she was engaged to marry another man in less than a year—but she didn’t think she could stop it. Her heart was acting independently of her mind.

  She’d been lying in bed with the same thoughts running circles in her mind for hours when her cell rang. Syd glanced at the clock as she reached for her phone. It was twenty minutes past three.

  “Right on time,” she answered, smiling.

  “A bit early, actually.”

  She snickered. “You want me to hang up so you can call back in ten minutes?”

  “Absolutely not. I missed hearing your voice as it is. Don’t make me wait another minute.”

  She smiled again. He always made her smile, despite the turmoil she was going through.

  “Were you sleeping, darlin’?” Caleb asked.

  “No, I couldn’t sleep. I was just lying here, waiting for you.”

  “Well, I’m all yours now.”

  “Hmm,” she murmured. “I like the sound of that. So what was the big emergency?”

  “Just something I needed to attend to.”

  “Oh.”

  He laughed. “You know, Pat’s been getting pretty pissed off at me lately.”

  “Really? Why?”

  “I can’t concentrate for shit when we were working on ideas for the album. I’ve been a train-wreck.”

  Syd frowned. “Something on your mind?”

  “Yeah. You.”

  “Oh. And, um, what exactly have you been thinking about?” she asked, her face burning.

  “How much I’ve missed hearing your laugh and how much I miss talking to you. Among other things.”

  “Other things, eh? What other things?”

  “I’m not sure you could handle me going into the details of that, darlin’,” he answered, his voice husky.

  She grinned and leaned back against the pillow, deciding to call him on his challenge. “Try me.”

  “Well, settle yourself baby,” he said slowly, “because you’re about to see yourself through my eyes.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Syd propped her pillow up against the headboard. Puff, huffed and jumped off the bed to find somewhere else to rest. A wistful smile touched Syd’s lips and she closed her eyes.

  “Ready when you are.”

  “Remember,” he began. “You asked for this.”

  Syd bit her lip.

  What the hell did I get myself into, now?

  He drew in a long breath. “Well, darlin’…where should I start? Maybe I’ll start by telling you how soft your lips are. How when I kiss you, our mouths just seem to fit together, like two pieces of an immensely pleasurable puzzle. Mmm, and your voice,” he said. “How your voice gets all husky after I kiss you. It’s almost a whisper, but there’s enough edge there to tell me you want more, so much more. That you enjoy what I do to you, and how you feel it from top to bottom.” He cleared his throat. “Shall I go on?”

  “Um, there’s more?”

  She could practically hear him grin on the other end of the line. “Oh yeah, darlin’. I could go on for days about how much I love to kiss you, alone.”

  “Oh.”

  “You don’t want me to stop, do you? I thought you said you were up for this.”

  “I am…I think.”

  He laughed softly.

  She inhaled deeply and let the air out in an audible huff. “Okay, mister, you’ve got so much to say…go on,” she taunted.

  “Do you recall that first night together?”

  Her breath caught in her throat. “Not exactly something I’d ever be able to forget, Mr. Jones,” she answered, almost embarrassed at the admission.

  “I remember how fucking turned on I got when you couldn’t even bother to take your skirt off. You just lifted it over your hips and pushed me inside you. I remember touching you and thinking how incredibly supple you were. Your body’s so smooth, baby, and when we made love, when my body glided over yours, it was like I was moving over satin.”

  Her heart began pounding as she, too, recalled that night of fiery passion on the couch…and on the stairs…and in her bedroom, in vivid detail. She shifted on the mattress and moaned softly.

  “And your hair,” he continued. “It always smells faintly of plums? I can never get that scent out of my mind.”

  “It’s my shampoo,” Syd said absently.

  “I love how your hair whispers like silk around your shoulders and down your back,” he went on. “I love combing my fingers through it and grabbing hold, using it to pull your head back so I can taste the skin of your neck, or using that grip to hold you tight when I’m fucking you extra hard. You remember how you like it when I do that, don’t you, darlin’?”

  Syd heard heavy panting and, embarrassed, quickly realized the labored breathing was her own.

  Everything Caleb said made her visualize the action. It was as if he was inside her, touching her and tasting her with the sound of his voice, and her body hummed with desire.

  “Still with me, baby?”

  “Yeah, still here.”

  “I haven’t been with you in too long, darlin’.”

  “Too long,” she repeated, closing her eyes.

  “You need me, don’t you? You need to let go,” he whispered, his voice caressing her.

  Syd rocked on the bed and closed her legs tightly together. “God, I need you,” she murmured.

  “Are you in your bedroom?” he asked, his voice smoky and delicious.

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Go stand in front of the mirror.”

  Her eyes flicked open. “What?”

  “Do it, baby. Please.”

  “Oh. Uh, okay.” Syd threw the comforter off and climbed out of bed. She moved against the footboard to stand in front of the dresser mirror, as instructed. Even in the dim amber glow coming from the bedside lamp, she could easily see that her face was flushed, and no wonder—this was pure sexual torture. He was right, she did need him, and bad.

  “Tell me what you’re wearing,” he said softly.

  Syd snickered. “Nothing but a ratty, old, oversized T-shirt with a cartoon duck on it. Holding what looks like a margarita.” She heard him stifle a laugh. “And there’s some sort of beach umbrella behind him. At least I think it’s a him.”

  Caleb burst out laughing, a rich sound that was full of life and that made Syd miss him even more. “Yeah, darlin’. You corner th
e market on sexy in that get up.”

  She shrugged, giggling. “I thought so, too.”

  “Good. Now take it off.”

  Syd blinked in double-time. “What?”

  He chuckled. “Take it off. I want you to see what I see.”

  She cleared her throat. “Uh, Caleb, I’m not really comfortable doing that.”

  “Why not? You’ve seen yourself naked before, haven’t you?”

  “Well, yeah, but this is different.”

  “How is it different? Don’t tell me you’ve never stood in front of the mirror examining yourself, touching your body here and there…”

  “It’s weird, Caleb.”

  “Because you’re on the phone with me?”

  “Yes, CJ. You’ve already got me all hot and horny talking to me like this. I don’t need to be taking my clothes off about now, not without you here to finish the job,” she retorted, her voice a near whine.

  “You’re a big girl, Syd. You can take care of yourself.”

  “I can what?”

  “You heard me, darlin’.”

  Her eyes widened at the innuendo. Take care of herself? Was he serious?

  Sure, she’d pleasured herself before—it wasn’t as if the idea was foreign. But with someone on the phone with her? Someone as incredibly sexy and desirable as Caleb Jones guiding her through it, when all she really wanted was him to be the one touching her and making her come?

  It was something she’d never do. It was insane. It was embarrassing. It was…

  It was incredibly erotic.

  “Hang on,” she said, putting the phone on the bed and whipping the shirt over her head, tossing it somewhere behind her. Uncharacteristically self-conscious, Syd didn’t dare glance in the mirror as she brought her cell back to her ear.

  “You’re not looking at yourself, are you?” Caleb asked gently.

  “No.”

  “Look at yourself, Sydney. See what I do. See how beautiful you are, baby. I want you to understand how beautiful you are to me.”

  She flicked her eyes up to her reflection.

  “Look at how your skin almost glows? And your eyes, Syd. Jesus. Those got to me the very first time you glanced at me. Now go down… Look at your neck, how long and elegant it is. And the hollow of your throat, God, so kissable. You love it when I scrape my teeth on your collarbone.”

  She moved her hand to her throat, running her fingers lightly along its length to her collarbone. She dragged her nails lightly along the sensitive surface and goosebumps spread across her body.

  “Your breasts, Syd. Those two beautiful, flawless mounds. They fit perfectly into my palms, just a handful. I love how their tips get so hard and turn a bright pink when you’re aroused. Mmm, and how your body arches when I take one peak between my teeth, or I roll the tip between my fingers. Go on, baby, do you feel that? Do you see how turned on you get?”

  “Caleb,” she murmured, trailing her hand lower and cupping one heavy breast, lightly pinching the tip between her thumb and forefinger, making her tingle. God, he was affecting her more than she was willing to admit.

  “Your slender waist, and your hips… How my hands fit right on them when I pull you against me. The way your body feels when it’s pressed up against mine, Syd, it’s somehow right. Then there’s that soft stomach that I love running my tongue along.” He paused, slightly breathless himself. “Syd, are you following along, touching yourself the way I wish I could right now?”

  “Yes,” she breathed, moving between her breasts to her abdomen. She swallowed hard. There was no controlling the need raging through her. She wanted him. She needed him.

  She was, for lack of a better way to put it, horny as fuck.

  “Don’t stop, Syd,” he whispered. “Please don’t.”

  “I… I won’t,” she managed.

  “Move your hand to that little triangle of black hair where your legs meet.”

  Her gaze trailed down her body in the mirror as he spoke and her hand soon followed the same path. She shifted uncomfortably against the footboard, her desire spinning nearly out of control. She closed her eyes, focusing only on the lilt of his voice as he spoke to her.

  “How tender you are in there, Syd—one flick is all it takes to make you go weak. Fuck, how wet you get for me, baby, I love it. Go on, feel.”

  She moved her fingers between the folds of skin and stroked gently, imagining it was Caleb’s fingers instead of her own.

  “Oh, and how you taste, darlin’. A tantalizing mix of musk and sex—and the way it lingers on my tongue. I’ll always be thirsty for you.”

  “Jesus, CJ…” she stammered, barely able to stay upright any longer.

  “Come on, darlin’, taste. Know what it is that drives me crazy and makes me so damn hard,” he said, his voice hoarse with desire.

  She brought her hand to her mouth, hesitant. She darted out her tongue, tasting the wetness on her fingers, and she sighed.

  “Move your fingers back down, inside, where it’s warm and wet and tight,” he growled.

  She did as instructed.

  “Now, in and out, Syd—slowly at first, then faster.” He waited a moment before continuing. “Shit, can you feel it, Syd? Do you see how your whole body trembles? There’s nothing at all like that sensation, when I fuck you and you finally find that release, when you clench around me. It’s perfection. Vibration after vibration of ecstasy. There’s nothing better than giving you that pleasure. Nothing better than hearing you shout my name.”

  She moaned in response.

  “Christ, I want to fuck you so bad, baby.”

  That did it. She tipped her head back, focusing only on his silken words and her fingers pumping inside her. She closed her eyes tight, back arched slightly against the footboard as she continued working herself toward release, so close, so close, the world around her only a fuzzy reality. She moved her thumb to the swollen nub nestled between her slick folds and she began circling her clit at the same time, applying gentle pressure.

  “God!” She threw her cell down and grabbed the edge of the bed for support as she finally let go in a shattering release of tension. Winded, she shuddered with the aftershock and sank to the floor, reaching for the phone.

  “Syd?”

  “Oh…oh God,” she stammered. Syd opened her eyes again and tried to focus on the room around her. She brought her hand back to her side, almost embarrassed at how slick her fingers had become.

  He chuckled. “All better, darlin’?”

  “Mmm, better if you were here to clean up the mess you made,” she breathed.

  “Oh, I’d love to, believe me.”

  “I can’t believe I did that.” She stood on shaky knees and rounded the bed, collapsing onto it.

  “I wish I was there right now. I’d be on my knees, licking you dry,” he whispered.

  She groaned. “Oh, Caleb, please, no more. I can’t take it. But what about you, Mr. Jones? What can I do for you?” she asked, grinning up at the ceiling.

  He laughed softly. “Oh, I can think of lots of things you can do for me, but my main goal tonight was taking care of you.”

  Syd giggled. “Oh, you took care of me all right.”

  “Good. Now get some sleep, darlin’, and I’ll call you tomorrow night, okay?”

  “Mmm-hmm. Sounds fantastic. Goodnight, Caleb.”

  “Sweet dreams, baby.”

  She clicked the cell phone closed and reached out to place it on her nightstand. Utterly exhausted, she flopped back against the pillow and closed her eyes. She was astounded by what had happened—not only the fact that she’d brought herself to orgasm, but by how powerful it was. She’d never experienced anything like that in her entire life. The things Caleb said to her, how he thought of her… God, it was all she could do to control her heart from bursting—and her loins from melting all over again. She let out a soft laugh and moved to turn off the small lamp, more ready than ever to succumb to sleep.

  The doorbell rang.

&nbs
p; Syd popped upright into a sitting position, startled. “What the…”

  The doorbell sounded again and Puff immediately started barking, the furry alarm system engaged.

  Syd twisted to check the clock—it was nearly four in the morning. Who would be at her door at this hellish hour? She flicked on the light and stared out the open door to the hallway, waiting to see if the bell would ring again or if it was just her half-conscious imagination.

  It sounded again, more urgently this time.

  Worried now, she sprang to her feet and hustled into the bathroom. She grabbed a robe from behind the bathroom door and swung it on. The last time she’d seen her father he wasn’t looking all that well. What if the stress of their situation was too great a burden and something had happened to him? What if the whole time she was on the phone with Caleb, Theo had been trying to reach her and she was too engrossed in her own selfish sexual needs to even have heard the beep for ‘call waiting’? She knotted the belt and ran downstairs in the pitch black of deep night.

  Reaching the foyer, she nearly tripped over Puff, who was bouncing in place at the front door, waking the whole neighborhood with her yips and yaps. Syd furtively peeked out the small window to check who was there.

  “Oh my God,” she whispered, her jaw dropping and her heart thundering in her ears.

  She quickly unlocked the door and opened it wide, inviting the cool night air in to swirl around her bare legs. Rooted to the floor with shock, her mouth formed a delicate ‘O’ before she managed to get a single word out.

  “Caleb.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Caleb crossed the threshold, forcing Syd to back up a couple of steps. He closed the door behind him and turned to face Syd again, immediately dropping to his knees in front of her.

  He could barely see her in the darkened foyer, but he didn’t need to see her. He only needed to taste her.

  He drew Syd closer to him and untied her robe, pulling the plush white panels away from her body. He slid his hands up her thighs and hooked them around her bottom, bringing her toward him and thrusting his tongue up and inside her. She gasped in shock and bucked forward, bracing herself with her palms flat against the front door.