Mine : You Can't Help Who You Fall In Love With... (The Winterburg Series Book 1)

by Linzvonc

  He was so calm it chilled me to my core.

  Luke’s hands tugged at Cal’s that were wrapped around his throat as he struggled to breathe.

  Luke’s eyes met mine, and I jolted forward, calling out to Cal.

  “Cal, let him go, let him go!” I begged, pulling at his arms.

  Cal threw him onto the floor, before leaning down to his level. “Get the fuck away from us.”

  Luke sat up, gasping for breath. He stared at me in horror, spluttering in disbelief. “You chose this? This fucking monster?!” He rose slowly, his hand still on his throat as he trudged away.

  “Oh, Luke,” Cal called out, “She’s not frigid. Not with me, anyway.” he added, as Luke’s face fell.

  “But you said, Gretch, you said...”

  Cal moved in front of me, his eyes dark as he scowled at me. “Get in the car. Now,” he barked, his voice laced with fury as he guided me to the passenger door.

  Tears streamed down my face as I realized Cal’s eye had swollen and blood trickled from his lip. He slammed my door shut, moving to the driver’s side in record speed. I gazed at his wounds, my hand at my mouth as he shook his head dismissively.

  “I’m okay,” he snapped, as I cupped his face. “So, you kissed him?” He curled his hand around the steering wheel as he turned to face me. “He kissed you, and you fucking kissed him back?” he uttered, as I reached for him, despite my terror.

  “I did it because I am used to it! It’s a shit reason, but it is the truth. I felt nothing, Cal, and I knew I was doing the right thing leaving him.”

  He started the ignition, and the car screeched away, causing me to fall into the side of the door. He glanced at me in concern as I held my hands up.

  “I’m okay,” I muttered.

  “Don’t kiss anyone else ever again. Those lips are mine,” he said, and despite the dark tone in his voice, I was alive with passion. I should be worried, scared, or wary, but all I felt was content.

  We drove to his house in silence.

  As we walk in, we find his mother, Alice, at the kitchen table with a glass of white wine.

  “Cal! What happened?”

  She glanced at me as I followed him in, exhausted from the day.

  I sent a text to my Mom, telling her I was studying with Cal and that I would be home later.

  It isn’t far from the truth.

  Cal reassured his Mom that he was alright and held his hand out to me.

  “Gretchen isn’t with Luke anymore.”

  Alice stared at him with disappointment, her green eyes mirroring his before they flickered over to me. “Is that what this is? You had a fight with your cousin over Gretchen?”

  I hung my head in shame as Cal ran his hands through his hair.

  “She’s with me now.”

  His mother looked over at me, and I tried not to meet her eyes.

  The last thing I wanted was for her to dislike me because I was some kind of harlot.

  “I see. Well, if you’re happy, I’m happy. But try not to cause any more trouble with your cousin,” Alice turned her emerald gaze to me. “I’m sure he is hurting, losing a beautiful girl such as yourself, Gretchen.”

  I blushed at the unexpected compliment as I smiled, “Thank you, Alice.”

  She nodded as she watched the two of us exchange a look, a wary expression on her face.

  “But we have a project to work on. So, we’ll do that now,” Cal groaned and pulled my hand towards the stairs.

  Once in his room, he pulled me over to the bed. I kissed him carefully, avoiding his split lip as best as I could.

  “I’m so sorry he hit you,” I whispered, my mouth close to his.

  He licked his lip, wincing slightly as he shrugged. “It’s okay, you’re worth it.”

  He studied me, running his hands through my curls, then down my body. He continued to kiss me as he eased me down onto his bed, his hair falling into my eyes.

  “I want you. All of you...” he whispered, as his lips brushed against my jawline.

  I allowed myself to relax into his arms, unable to fight my body’s desire anymore.

  “Cal, I haven’t... I haven’t done this before,” I stammered as my hands trembled with nerves.

  He paused, staring at me, disbelief in his eyes. “You’ve never slept with anyone?”

  I shook my head, biting my lip. His eyes moved to my mouth before he sat back and exhaled.

  “I won’t make you do anything you don’t want to do. I can always have a cold shower, you know,” he grinned at me, grimacing as his cut let out fresh blood. I leaned forward, my lips brushing against his tenderly.

  “I don’t want to wait. I want to be with you in every way possible...” I whispered, wrapping my legs around his waist. My heart thumped in my chest as he tugged me closer to him.

  “I’m not gonna lie, I’m finding it difficult being with you, and not being able to fuck you the way I want to.”

  I sucked in a breath as he slid my top over my shoulders, dotting light kisses along them as I closed my eyes with delight.

  “So, do it then,” I breathed, terrified of what was about to happen, but I was certain it was what I wanted.

  He was the most beautiful man inside and out, and not being with him in this way felt wrong.

  He gazed at me, his eyes meeting mine.

  “You’re perfect, Gretchen, honest to fucking God. I’ve never felt this way, ever. But there are some things you need to know about me...”

  I raised my fingers to his mouth, silencing him. “This first. Therapy after, yeah?”

  He laughed then, climbing onto the bed with me, kissing me so hard I could taste his blood in my mouth.

  Chapter Sixteen

  GRETCHEN

  My nerves evaporated as his mouth moved expertly with mine. His tongue danced deliciously in my mouth as I moaned against him, his fingers drifted under my top, dragging against my skin as he gazed at me. His head moved down so his lips could meet the skin that was now cold without his touch.

  I looked down, sucking in a breath.

  His mop of blonde hair rested on my stomach as he trailed kisses down to the tip of my jeans. He peeked up at me as he loosened the buttons, and I sank my teeth into my lower lip with anticipation.

  I was beyond nervous, but it was because his beauty made me that way. His manly presence left me in awe after years of dealing with mere boys. He may have been the same age, but he was worlds apart.

  His lips grazed the bare skin left behind from the waistband of my jeans he had slid down ever so slightly. My breathing hitched as he sat up on his knees, tugging my jeans off as he discarded them on the floor.

  His heated gaze swept up my thighs, settling on my underwear, which I feared was soaked from his touch. He whipped off his t-shirt, dropping it to the floor as my breathing hitched in my throat, my lungs gasping for air as I studied his perfect form. He sank to his knees, his mouth littering soft kisses on my inner thighs as I inhaled sharply.

  I’d done this before with Luke, and it wasn’t something I’d ever enjoyed. But as Cal continued, his fingers lacing with mine as he moved further up towards my core, sliding my underwear down my thighs, he looked at me with a confidence I found exhilarating.

  “Let me do this—I promise you’ll enjoy it.”

  I sank back into the bed, my fingers gripping the sheets as he buried his head between my thighs. His tongue slid between my silky folds, and I shuddered with delight. I gasped as he sucked on my clit, his finger moving around the entrance to my core as I clenched instinctively.

  “Relax, baby. I can stop anytime you want me to.”

  “No, don’t stop,” I mumbled, as his breath on my exposed core sent tingles and shivers through my body.

  As he slid his finger inside of me, he muttered under his breath. “I won’t last five minutes with you, you’re so fucking tight.”

  I arched my back as he moved his mouth against me, my body bucking against him as he reduced me to a wreck. Every ti
me I got close to my oblivion, he stopped, kissing me tenderly.

  “Cal, I’m ready,” I gasped, pulling him up to me, his throbbing hardness pressing against my wet centre as I shivered in delight.

  “Oh, I don’t know if you are, Raven,” he murmured against me, his lips attacking my neck as he grabbed something from the bedside table.

  As we kissed, I noted the taste of me on his tongue as he shifted me beneath him.

  His breathing was heavy as he lifted the condom packet for me to approve.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Cal, please,” I whimpered as he tore it open with his teeth, pulling out the condom as I watched him roll it onto his enormous dick.

  “I can stop anytime,” he murmured again, as I nodded. I was part terrified, part desperate to feel him inside of me. The head pressed against my entrance, and I bit my lip as I arched back. He continued to move slowly, gazing at me as I tried to ignore the agonising pain.

  Where was the pleasure everyone spoke of?

  “Baby, it will hurt. It will feel better soon, I swear. Do you want me to stop?” he whispered as he held himself up on his forearms, gazing at me intensely as I shook my head.

  “No. Just do it the way you think,” I said, as I wriggled beneath him.

  His mouth covered mine as he thrusted into me.

  My body tried to accommodate his size; my walls stretched around him as he bit his lip, as though it was causing him pain too.

  After more kissing, a deep pressure filled me, and I moaned out loud.

  “Okay, it’s in, all the way. I’ll go as slow as I can,” Cal mumbled in my ear, his arms wrapping around my body.

  As he moved inside of me, I gripped his back, as the pain subsided, replaced by an insanely pleasurable feeling.

  Combined with his delicious kisses and his voice in my ear, I saw what all the fuss was about.

  “Oh God, yes.” I moaned as he chuckled against me.

  “Shh, you’ve gotta be quiet.”

  He picked up pace, covering my mouth with his as I moaned against him.

  “I swear, I won’t last if you keep moaning like that,” he warned.

  I didn’t care, my fingernails dug into his back as he groaned, his eyes closed, and his lips parted.

  “You’re insane, Gretchen.”

  I lifted my legs around him as he buried himself inside of me, my hands clawing at him as he lost himself.

  His body was slick with sweat as his finger slid down to my core, massaging my sweet spot as I covered my mouth from crying out, as my body spasmed in a way I’d never experienced before.

  “Cal,” I moaned, and he seemed to halt for a minute, holding his breath as he gasped, grunting as he shuddered between my thighs.

  I laid still, watching him hazily as he chuckled in my ear.

  “Are you okay? I’ll take it out now, slowly.”

  I gazed at him as he moved from within me, leaving me feeling hollow.

  How had I ever felt complete before?

  He stood up, handing me some tissues as he smiled.

  “You’re all wet.”

  I cringed, pushing the tissue between my thighs as I felt the intense wetness. I panicked when I saw blood on the tissue, but he soothed me.

  “It’s normal to bleed when it’s your first time. Don’t panic,” he whispered, walking over to me as he helped slide my underwear back up, rubbing his hands on my thighs as he gazed at me. “Are you alright? How was it?”

  I sat up, pushing my hair out of my eyes as I stared at him. “Are you for real right now? That was...mind blowing. How many girls have you been with?’ I demanded as his eyes widened.

  “It’s irrelevant,” he said dismissively as I frowned.

  “Why is it?” I asked, as he held my gaze.

  “Because now none exist. It’s only you. I’ve got a feeling you’re gonna be my forever.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  GRETCHEN

  I felt like everyone could see there was something different about me.

  Did I look different? I felt different.

  I’m so glad I didn’t do it with anyone else.

  Cal was perfect, in every way.

  He took his time, continually asking me if I was okay throughout. I’d never felt yearning like it before; I almost got annoyed with how slow he was making us go. But then he took it to a different level entirely, and I felt as though those last moments were out of this world.

  If I thought I wanted him before, it was nothing compared to the way I felt for him now.

  I leaned on my side and smiled at him, unable to deal with how delicious he was.

  His perfectly sculpted body, all the way down to the V that sat above his boxers, which sent a jolt down to my core, reminding me of what we had done.

  “I don’t suppose we could do more of that....” I whispered coyly, as he lifted onto his arm, dropping his lips to mine.

  “Come here,” he growled, pulling me close to him. “I fucking adore you.”

  I pulled the duvet up to my chin, snuggling closer to him.

  “I never want to go home,” I murmured, burying my face into his neck, inhaling the delicious scent of his cologne.

  He sat up, looking down at me. His expression was unreadable, his eyes harbouring an internal battle that only he knew about.

  “Finish school first, then we will be together, properly.”

  I gazed up at him, speechless. “Are you serious?” I chuckled, unsure what he meant.

  Either way, I’m here for it.

  This man could ask me to jump off a cliff and I would.

  “You make me want to be a better person, Gretchen. You make me wish I could rewind my life and do things differently,” he rubbed his head and seemed to be lost in thought.

  “Rewind your life how?” I asked, my fingers trailing down his chest.

  I knew this was dangerous territory, that Cal had secrets. But I wanted to know everything about him.

  He sighed, capturing my fingers and lifting them to his lips. “I’ve done some unsavoury things, babe, with some pretty nasty people. I would never want you to get involved with any of that, ever.” His jaw clenched, and his eyes narrowed.

  I shuddered, not because of him, but because of what he must’ve done. I sat up, pulling the duvet around me for modesty, my dark curls spilling over my shoulder.

  “Do you want to tell me about it?” I murmured,

  “Not today. Today’s been strange as it is. But we just made it spectacular, didn’t we?”

  I blushed and held his gaze, allowing his hands to travel down my back before I answered.

  “Yeah, we did.”

  I reached over, grabbing my phone out of my bag to see I had received a text from my Mom asking me what time I was due home. I groaned and Cal looked at me with exasperation.

  “What now?”

  “No, it’s cool, just my mom wanting me home soon.”

  He laced his fingers through mine. “Until tomorrow then?” he whispered softly.

  I dressed quickly, still feeling weird about him seeing me naked.

  He watched me as I slid my jeans back on, whilst I leered at his tanned body, remembering my legs wrapped around it less than ten minutes earlier.

  He caught me staring and chuckled softly. “Do you want me to walk you home like this, or shall I get dressed?” He winked at me and I giggled in response.

  ‘You might cause quite a stir walking around like that.”

  He walked over to me, kissing me slowly.

  It felt different: more intense, more passionate.

  “I don’t want you to go,” he muttered into my hair. ``How long have we got left of school again?”

  I met his gaze, and I bit my lip.

  “Don’t keep biting those lips, Raven. It’s my job.”

  My heart thudded in my chest at his words. “You don’t have to walk me home, you know,” I pointed out half-heartedly.

  He didn’t respond, other than to roll his eyes at me.
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  We made our way downstairs and thankfully I find no one is in. I had an image of his mother glaring at me like she knew what we had done. To be fair, if anyone was in, undoubtedly, they would have heard it.

  Cal held my hand the entire walk home.

  “What are you doing to me, Raven?”

  I tugged him into my arms, his mouth crushed against mine as we leaned up against a wall. His arms circled my body, and I stood on tiptoes to run my hand through his golden locks.

  “Imagine being me, this is crazy,” I mumbled against him.

  “You’re killing me, Princess.”

  His thumb grazed my cheek as we kissed again, before we ambled towards my house.

  “Thanks for walking me home, Cal.”

  Our hands untwined, our fingers dragging along one another until we parted fully.

  He waited at the end of the drive until I blew him a kiss from the front door, closing it behind me.

  I leaned against the door and breathed in the delicious smell of beef casserole.

  “Mm, something smells good,” I declared, dropping my bag on the stairs before I walked into the kitchen.

  My Mom stood over the stove, stirring a large pot. She looked up at me with a wide smile, wiping her hands on a towel as she turned to me.

  “Hey, stranger! I feel like I barely see you these days. Where have you been?”

  I’m convinced she will take one look at me and just know what I’ve been doing, but she waited patiently for me to answer. She picked up a spoon and tested the food, before adding more salt.

  “I’ve been with Cal, studying, remember?’’

  Please believe me.

  Mom put down the spoon, looking over at me with interest. “So, this Cal...” She raised her eyebrows, wanting me to elaborate.

  I couldn’t stop smiling before I gushed like a love-struck canary.

  “He’s nice, Mom, he’s new in town. They don’t live far from us.”

  She nodded before speaking quietly. “I see. Does this Cal have anything to do with you falling out of love with Luke?”

  I flushed beneath her gaze and stared at the floor guiltily. “Um, maybe a little...” my voice trailed off as she wiped the kitchen sides down, frowning at me.