by Linzvonc
“Cal?”
“Listen, be safe. Don’t be on your own with him, okay? Don’t trust anyone. I love you.”
With that, he hung up, and I stared at my phone in surprise. I got that he was jealous, but what did he expect me to do, not speak to anyone?
I sat up and hugged my knees. I had no idea where we were heading tonight, but I should get a shower and get ready.
It was five p.m. now.
New York City waits for no one.
Chapter Thirty-One
GRETCHEN
By seven, I was dressed and ready for wherever the night was going to take me.
Nancy still wasn’t back, so I imagined Josh was going to be disappointed.
I left my apartment, feeling slightly nervous as I made my way down to the second floor. I knocked on the door of the apartment and smiled as the door opened to reveal Josh.
He whistled and ran his hand through his hair. “Looking good, Curls.”
I rolled my eyes and told him my name was Gretchen, to which he shrugged. He looked behind me hopefully and I laughed.
“She hasn’t come home. Sorry…”
We heard the entrance door slam as our eyes met.
“Ooh…” I teased as we watched the staircase curiously.
Sure enough, it was Nancy, but she wasn’t alone. An older man followed her in a suit with his tie loosened, his dark brown hair tousled. Nancy stopped, and I smiled, introducing her to Josh and Nicholas.
I stepped back as Josh stepped forward, unfazed by the man at Nancy’s side.
Nancy eyed him appreciatively, taking in his muscular body and all-American good looks.
“I’m Josh. You must be Curly’s roommate.”
Nancy raised her eyebrow at me, then looked back at Josh. “Have you anything to drink in there?”
She walked past him into his apartment, to which he smiled wickedly, following her.
The man in the suit smiled, and I looked at him awkwardly.
“I’m Tate, Nancy’s brother.” His voice was deep and masculine, but friendly.
Unlike his sister, I noted.
I smiled. “I’m Gretchen, Nancy’s roommate.”
His eyes twinkled. “Lucky you,” he laughed sarcastically, and I relaxed as I laughed with him. “Shall we follow?’” he gestured into the room behind me.
“Yes, better than congregating in the hallway…” I noticed his eyes on mine a beat longer than they should’ve been, and Cal’s words echoed in my head.
Don’t trust anyone.
We head into the apartment to find Nancy and Josh doing shots of tequila. Josh beckoned us over and I looked at Tate and Nicholas, who looked as uncomfortable as I did.
“To NYC!” shouts Josh, raising his shot. He nodded to the table where many other shot glasses lay full to the brim.
Tate shrugged and leant over, picking one up for me and one for him.
Nicholas grimaced as Nancy pushed one into his hands.
We all knocked it back, and I coughed. Josh laughed, handing me another. I shook my head.
No way was I having another of those.
“You owe me little lady. One more!”
I met his eyes and sighed. I was a student, after all.
***
I woke to beaming sunlight in my face. I blinked, shielding my eyes.
Ugh.
My head hurt and my mouth felt like it was filled with cotton balls.
I glanced around the room, looking for my phone. It was strange waking up to my new bedroom, but I was happy to have made it home in one piece. We didn’t even make it out of the apartment last night, instead we ordered pizza and sat drinking. It was enjoyable, but that day I was meant to be looking for a job.
Nausea swept over me, and dizziness clouded my vision.
I need water.
I groaned as I swung my legs out of bed, opening my door to see Tate laying on the sofa in a pair of navy joggers, his top half bare. I averted my eyes and cleared my throat, so he knew I was there and could pull a top on or something.
He tilted his head and smiled. “Good morning. What a night, eh?”
I nodded and walked over to the tap, pouring water into a mug from the drying rack. I drank it gratefully before pouring another. I walked over to the sofa, tapping Tate’s legs so he could make room.
He sat up and stretched.
The door buzzer went off, and I looked at Tate who shrugged as though to say he didn’t know how to answer it either. We both laughed as I saw Nancy stomp out of her room and press the buzzer with gusto.
“Who is it?!” she hissed.
The reply was muffled as she rolled her eyes and allowed the stray inside the building. She only had her underwear on, and makeup was smeared all over her face as she trudged back to bed.
Tate snorted with laughter, and I shook my head as I covered my eyes.
“Coffee?” Tate asked, getting up to make his way to the kitchen. I checked my calls, and it seemed I had called Cal last night, twice. God, I hoped I hadn’t cried. I missed him so much.
I studied Tate and wondered what his story was. He was older than us for sure, in his thirties. He walked over, handing me a mug of steaming hot coffee. I moaned appreciatively and sipped it.
There was a knock on our door, and I realized that whoever Nancy had let in had finally managed the stairs. I didn’t envy them. Tate stood and walked to the door, peering through the spyhole.
“Looks like another of my sister’s admirers,” he said dryly, and I snickered as he opened the door. I curled my legs beneath me and watched as Tate greeted the guest.
I almost dropped my coffee when I saw Cal standing in front of me.
He was taking in the scene— Tate half dressed, me with wild, messy hair, dressed in my nightwear—as he looked back to Tate, then me. I stood, placing my coffee on the table.
“Cal?” I murmured in shock. He studied me for a minute, a frown on his face as his eyes met mine.
“Am I interrupting something?” Cal spoke so softly I almost didn’t hear him.
My eyes widened and flew to Tate, who looked as puzzled as I was.
At that moment, Nancy came out of her room, heading for the bathroom. She left her door open and there in her bed was a very content Josh.
“Sup Curls!” he called.
Cal turned back to me, looking at me with fury in his eyes.
“It’s not what it looks like,” I said, desperately looking at Tate for help. He leaned against the counter, arms folded as he watched Cal, refusing to help the situation.
“Tate, this is Cal, my boyfriend. Cal, this is Tate, my roommate’s brother,” I babbled as fast as I could.
Cal lifted a brow at me, his jaw clenched as he tugged me into his arms.
My god he was so beautiful.
My body screamed for him.
Our lips met, and I felt like I was home. He pulled away from me slightly as his green eyes burned into mine, as his finger stroked my face.
“God, I’ve fucking missed you.”
He picked me up and my legs wrapped around his waist as he kissed me deeply.
I kissed him back, my tongue exploring his mouth urgently as his hands cupped my ass.
“So, you’re who woke me up,” Nancy murmured. We broke apart and Cal turned to see who was talking.
“Looks like it. So, you’re Nancy.”
I frowned. I didn’t recall telling him her name.
She beamed at him. “That’s right. The one and only.”
A smile played at the corners of Cal’s mouth and I felt a twinge of annoyance.
Did he like her?
It was obvious she liked him.
Josh stood in the doorway of her room as he cleared his throat. “I’m Josh, good to meet you err…”
Cal nodded at him, “Cal. You too. I owe you for helping Gretchen with her case last night. I take it, that was you?”
Cal eyed him skeptically.
I snaked my arm around his waist and snuggled close
to his chest, hearing his familiar heartbeat.
“Yeah, it’s cool. Nancy thanked me actually,” he winked, and Cal laughed in understanding.
Nancy glared at Josh. “Ugh. My brother is standing right there. And you can leave now.”
She strode past him into her bedroom, closing the door behind her.
Josh stared at the door guiltily. “Wow. She was much friendlier last night,” he laughed awkwardly. “Guys, I’m beat. I’m gonna hit the hay. Nice to meet you, Cal.”
He nodded at Cal and Tate as he left. Cal turned back to me.
“Where were we?” he smiled as he leant down, kissing me softly.
I pulled away and glanced at Tate, who was still in the same position, sipping his coffee.
“Come to my room,” I murmured, wanting to be alone with him.
Cal grinned at Tate.
“The lady’s wish is my command, man, what can I say?”
We reached my room, pulling the door shut behind us.
I couldn’t believe he was here, in New York!
I couldn’t get enough of him. My tongue slammed against his as we fell into bed and he towered above me.
“Only you could make me come back to this fucked up city,” he kissed me in between words, driving me insane.
My body arched towards him, begging for him to just take me.
He trailed kisses down my stomach as he pushed my underwear down with his fingers.
“I didn’t like what I saw when I walked in, Gretchen,” his eyes found mine as my body shook with anticipation.
“What?” I gasped as he dotted kisses further down, as he slid my underwear off with his long fingers.
“You’re mine, and I don’t fucking like him.”
His tongue brushed my vulva, and I practically screamed there and then, the electric shot I felt inside when he did that was incredible.
“Who do you belong to, Gretchen?”
His tongue flicked again as he sucked and played with my clit. My hands tugged at his hair and I tried to find my voice. He slipped his tongue all the way from the top to the bottom of my sex, before slowly easing his finger inside of me. My body arched, and I lost my grip on reality. He pumped his finger in and out of me as I gasped. He sat up, loosening his belt as he gazed down at me. I shivered, watching as he rolled a condom onto his dick..
“Gretchen? Who. Do. You—” He entered me roughly, as I moaned loudly. He thrusted hard, pulling my hair back as he gazed into my eyes, pausing as I clawed at his back. “Belong to?”
“You,” I gasped as the thrusts grew deeper and faster, his mouth on my neck, his teeth nipping the skin there.
“Say it again. Say it,” he commanded.
I would have said anything in the world at that point; but I meant it.
“You! You, Cal, you!”
I was yelling now, but I didn’t care. I could feel my body building up to the point of explosion.
His mouth met mine, and I felt him release deeply inside of me, at the same time I gasped, my body shaking and shuddering underneath this amazing man. He panted, still inside of me. He kissed me slowly, and I wanted him so much it hurt.
“Don’t leave me. Please,” I begged him softly.
He raised his eyes to look at me, rolling away from me. I pulled my underwear onto my legs from the bottom of the bed as he slid his boxers on. He ran his fingers down my back as I lay beside him. He was my everything.
“You left me if I recall?” he teased.
I closed my eyes and wrapped my arms around him. Maybe if I held him tight enough, he wouldn’t go.
“Why are you here?” I whispered, looking up at him.
He kissed my swollen lips tenderly. “Other than the obvious? I fucking love you. I can’t be away from you. If you’re in New York, so am I.”
Our mouths met again.
“But... I live here. You have a house in Winterburg...how will it work? We said long distance—you said you couldn’t be in New York.”
He leaned back on his arm, looking at me happily.
“The thing is, Gretchen,” I shuddered when he said my name.
Will this man ever cease to influence me the way he does?
“I want to be with you. You want to be here, so I’m here. Last night you called me when I was at the airport. You were drunk, and I couldn’t bear the thought of dirty bastards taking advantage of your innocence,” he growled, looking towards the door meaning Tate.
I shook my head. “No, he’s not—“
Cal silenced me by pushing his finger down onto my lips. “If not him, it will be countless others. I am not fucking sharing you. You wanna be a student? Do it. But I want to protect you, and I can’t do that from Winterburg, baby.”
I stared at him, my heart in my throat. “What are you saying?”
He smiled lazily. “I’m saying, shall we do New York together? I can sell the house in Winterburg, I can move here.”
I panicked at the mention of his house in Winterburg, remembering the reason I could never go there again.
“Verno?” I asked him, my eyes meeting his, my heart pounding.
Cal kissed my fingers, something he had done regularly since the day we met.
My body tingled as I ran my hands through his hair.
“I think I’ve redeemed myself in his eyes. He took care of the body. He isn’t a friend, but he doesn’t want me dead anymore.”
Relief coursed through my body.
This meant Cal could stay in New York.
Excitement ran through my veins. I sat up like a kid on Christmas morning and Cal watched me with a bemused expression on his beautiful face.
“Seriously?!” I breathed, staring at him in adoration.
“Seriously,” he laughed. “On one condition.”
I met his eyes with mine, prepared to do anything to be with this perfect man forever.
“Anything,” I said confidently.
“You call me Leo from time to time.”
I fell onto him, kissing him all over his face.
“Deal.”
His mouth met mine, and I realized that whatever his name, he would always be my Cal. I would always be his and he would always be Mine.
PART TWO
Part Two: Chapter One
GRETCHEN
I scrunched my eyes up as I repeated the words in my head like a mantra, determined to make them stick.
“Procedural memories are memories of motor skills, actions, muscle memories; episodic memories are memories of life events.”
I groaned as I scribbled it on a sticky note, tacking it to my mirror. I stared at it as though it was a dangerous article, ready to leap up and attack me at any point. I caught sight of myself in the mirror and smiled, my face softening.
The sound of a familiar truck on the street distracted me, making me leap to my feet, and run down the stairs, my bare feet carrying me down soundlessly.
This is my favourite part of the day.
“Baby.”
The door slammed behind him with a bang, his electric green eyes drinking me in. My breath caught in my throat as it always did when I saw him, the effect he had on me was timeless. His dirty blond hair fell into his eyes, as he pushed it back with his long fingers, the leather of his jacket creaking as he moved, his other hand clutching a duffel that told me he was going to be staying over tonight.
“Cal,” I breathed with excitement.
He smiled, shaking his head in mock exasperation, moving towards me. My heart thumped in my chest when he reached me, one arm snaking around my waist, pulling me into him.
“Woman, when are you gonna get my name right?” he mumbled, kissing the top of my head as I buried myself into his neck, inhaling his scent as though it was the oxygen keeping me alive. His scent needed bottling and distributing around the world.
They would sell out within minutes.
“It’s not my fault you have a secret identity,” I teased as I lifted my lips to him, closing my eyes as I waited for his lips t
o crash down on mine.
I didn’t have to wait long.
Kissing Cal Fallon holds the excitement of Christmas; the thought of how amazing it would be smashed out of the park by the reality of what it was. He doesn’t kiss me like anyone else ever has before, teasing my tongue with his, not too fast, not too slow. He makes my body weak and always leaves me wanting more.
We kiss with our eyes closed, our bodies pressed together, with the promise of insane lovemaking never far behind. I ran my fingers through his hair before tugging on it slightly, groaning as he softly chewed on my bottom lip.
See what I mean?
“Do you even think we will make it into the house this time?” he growled, trailing kisses down my throat, making me wonder what I had done in a past life to deserve such a slice of paradise. I smiled as I kissed him once more, before turning to the house, my hand in his and walked back up the last few steps, aware I was grinning like a maniac.
I still roomed with Nancy. Cal insisted we moved somewhere safe—his words—and stubbornly refused to accept my answer that the little apartment we had at the time sufficed.
He took to proving us wrong by breaking and entering one time, waiting on my bed for me when I walked into the room, his green eyes flashing triumphantly. I had given in, and we rented a house in the beautiful residential area in the East Village. I should thank him because I was so in love with the place.
Cal had lived in New York City all his life until he had to leave, so I should have trusted his judgement.
My stomach grumbled, and I cringed as Cal’s eyebrows raised with amusement.
“Is someone hungry?”
“I haven’t had time to eat yet, I’ve been so busy trying to finish this assignment,” I confessed as his eyes narrowed.
“No time to eat? Baby. There’s always time to eat,” he kissed my forehead, reminding me of my Mom.
He guided me into the house, dropping his bag at the foot of the stairs as he shrugged off his jacket.
“Where’s Nancy?” he asked warily as he walked into the kitchen, pulling open the fridge and inspecting it with disdain.
I rolled my eyes as I slid onto the counter, watching him sift through the measly ingredients the fridge offered.
“She’s with Josh again.”
