Chapter 44
Caleb's POV
Her hands were pressed flat against my shirt. I could feel the heat of her palms through the fabric. My fingers were still on her waist. Firm. Grounding.
She tilted her head back to look at me. And God, she was close. Close enough that I could see the faint freckles across her nose. The way her lashes cast shadows on her cheeks in the dim light.
Her scent hit me full force. And now—beneath it—something sharper. Sweeter. Arousal.
My wolf roared.
I felt my canines start to descend. Felt the tension coil tight in my muscles. She didn't move. Just looked at me with those wide, hazy eyes.
"Caleb..." Her voice was soft. Uncertain.
I should let go. Step back. Put distance between us. Instead, I tightened my grip. Just slightly. Her breath hitched.
And then—because apparently I'd lost all sense of self-preservation—I leaned down. Not close enough to kiss her. Not yet. Just... close enough that my nose brushed the edge of her jaw.
She smelled like wine and want.
"You need to sit down," I said, my voice rougher than I intended.
She didn't sit. She swayed forward instead—just a fraction—and her nose bumped against my throat. I went completely still. She inhaled. Slow. Deliberate.
Fuck.
---
"Elena." My voice came out too low. Too rough.
She made a small sound. Not quite a hum. Not quite a sigh. Then she shifted—tried to pull back, maybe—but her weight was off-balance, and suddenly she was tipping forward.
I caught her. Again. But this time, instead of steadying her, I turned us both. Laid her down on the couch. Gently.
Her eyes went wide. Startled. I braced my hands on either side of her head, keeping my weight off her, keeping space between us. But there wasn't much space. Not anymore.
Her pulse was visible at the base of her throat. Fast. Fluttering. I could hear her heartbeat. And mine. They were starting to sync.
Thud-thud. Thud-thud. Thud-thud.
She stared up at me, lips parted, breath coming quick and shallow. I should move. Get up. Put her in the guest room and lock myself in the bathroom until this fucking urge passed.
But I didn't. I stayed exactly where I was. Hovering over her. Watching her watch me.
Her hands came up. Slowly. Hesitantly. And then—she wrapped her arms around my neck.
---
Every muscle in my body locked.
She wasn't pulling me down. Wasn't trying to kiss me. She was just... holding on. Like she thought she might fall. Like she needed the anchor.
I closed my eyes. Tried to breathe. But all I could smell was her.
"Caleb." Her voice was barely a whisper.
I opened my eyes. She was looking at me like—like she trusted me.
I lowered my head. Just an inch. My nose brushed the side of her throat. She shivered. I felt the tremor run through her entire body.
And my wolf—my wolf was screaming.
My canines were fully extended now. Half an inch long. Sharp enough to pierce skin. I could feel them pressing against the inside of my lip. All I had to do was open my mouth. Lower my head another inch. Sink my teeth into the soft skin just above her collarbone.
And she would be mine. Forever.
I was shaking. Actually shaking. Trying to hold myself back. Trying to keep control.
My hand slid to her waist, fingers splaying wide over her ribs. She was so small under my palm. Fragile.
"Elena." My voice was barely human. Guttural. "Are you... are you drunk?"
She blinked up at me, pupils dilated, breath coming in soft pants. For a moment, she didn't answer. Just stared at me with those hazy violet eyes.
Then—clarity. Sudden. Sharp.
Her eyes widened. And I saw the exact moment she realized. Realized what position we were in. Realized how close I was. Realized that my teeth were out and my hand was on her waist and she was pinned beneath me on the couch.
Her face flushed scarlet. "Oh my God—"
She shoved at my chest. Hard. I pulled back immediately. Sat up. Gave her space.
She scrambled off the couch, almost tripping over her own feet in her haste to put distance between us.
"I—I should go." Her voice was high. Panicked.
"Elena—"
"I should go."
She grabbed her coat off the back of the chair. Fumbled with the zipper. Didn't even get it closed.
"Let me drive you—"
"No!" She spun to face me, eyes wide. "You—just—don't follow me!"
I froze. She stared at me for a moment. Breathing hard. Then she turned and bolted for the door.
"Elena, wait—"
But she was already gone. The door slammed shut behind her.
And I was left standing in the middle of my living room, canines still extended, hands still shaking, her scent wrapped around me like a fucking noose.
---
I stood there for a long moment. Then I let out a breath that sounded more like a growl.
I dragged a hand through my hair. Forced my canines to retract. Then I walked back to the couch and sat down.
Her scent was still everywhere. On the cushions. In the air. I closed my eyes. Pressed the heels of my palms against my eyelids.
I'd almost done it. Without her consent. While she was drunk and vulnerable and looking at me like I was someone worth trusting.
"Fuck," I whispered.
I dropped my hands. Stared down at them. I could still feel the shape of her waist under my palm. The warmth of her skin. The way she'd fit perfectly in my hands, like she was made for me.
I lifted my hand. Stared at it. Then—slowly—I curled my fingers inward. As if I could still feel her there.
---
Elena's POV
I stumbled out of the manor into the freezing wind. The cold air hit me like a slap. Sharp. Clarifying.
I kept walking. My hands were shaking as I pulled out my phone and called for a cab. The operator's voice was distant. Professional. I gave the address on autopilot. Then I stood there on the sidewalk, hugging myself, waiting.
My face was burning.
Oh my God.
What had I just done? I'd—we'd—
I pressed my hands to my cheeks. They were scalding hot. The images kept replaying in my head. Caleb's hands on my waist. His face so close to mine. The way he'd looked at me—like he wanted to devour me.
And I—I'd just let him. Worse. I'd wanted him to.
When he'd lowered his head toward my throat, when I'd felt his breath hot against my skin—I hadn't been scared.
"Oh God," I whispered.
A cab pulled up to the curb. I climbed in. Gave the driver my address. Then I pressed myself into the corner of the backseat and tried to stop shaking.