“Oh God,” I whimpered, closing my eyes as I grabbed my throbbing skull.

  I couldn’t contemplate where I was, my blinding headache wouldn’t allow it. Though fear crept its way into my chest, with panic quickly following. I didn’t remember anything beyond talking to that guy.

  What was his name again? Ryan?

  Sweat pooled at my temples while my body shook. I was freezing, feeling like I was going to be sick.

  Where was I?

  Seconds later, I heard a familiar voice ask, “So tell me, darlin’. Do you make it a habit of accepting drinks from strangers?”

  My eyes shot open, following Caleb’s voice. Although the room was dim, all the blinds were closed. I could see he was sitting in a chair beside the bed, Ine leg draped over his knee while his elbow laid on the armrest. His fingers were over his mouth, rubbing his lips in a back and forth motion.

  “I can’t tell you how relieved I am to see you right now.”

  “Really?” he countered. “Seeing as I’m fucking furious with you.”

  “I … I … I don’t know what to say.”

  “How about you start with answering my question?”

  “Caleb.” I anxiously shook my head. “I don’t feel so goo—” My body moved in autopilot. One second I was sitting there, the next I was jolting forward over the edge of the mattress, projectile vomiting all over the floor.

  Kill me now! How embarrassing!

  I blinked, and Caleb was at my side, placing a garbage can in front of me. His close proximity triggered my nerves, only making me throw up harder. All I wanted was for him to leave the room. I couldn’t believe this was happening. I felt my hair being pulled away from my face, and I realized he was holding it back for me.

  “It’s alright, Evie. You need to get it all out.”

  “I’m so sorry,” I stressed, resting my forehead on the rim of the can, wanting to feel the cool metal against my clammy flesh. “I’ve never felt like this before.”

  Finally, I fell back into the bed. Exhausted was an understatement. I was weak and helpless—this was not my finest moment by any means. As soon as I felt the cold washcloth over my face, I loudly moaned in satisfaction. Caleb let me lay there, wallowing in misery for what felt like forever.

  Once I didn’t feel like I was dying, I breathed out, “Thank you so much.”

  “Can you sit up? You need to take this medication.”

  “What medication?”

  He didn’t wait for me to move. Instead, he sat me up against the pillows that were resting on the headboard. I watched as he opened what looked like a bottle of pills. Grabbing the glass of water from the nightstand next, he gestured for me to open my mouth. I did, silently praying it would make me feel normal again.

  “Lift your arms.”

  What happened next was unexpected. He pulled off my dress, but quickly replaced it with what I assumed was his hoodie. It was soft and smelled amazing. His cologne lingered on the fabric.

  “Thank you.”

  We locked eyes.

  “You look good in my clothes.”

  I swallowed hard under his predatory regard. Wanting to shift the sudden strain, I asked, “What medication did you give me?”

  “I called in a favor.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means I drove you back to my place. My friend who’s a doctor hurried over here to check on you while you were blacked out in my bed.”

  My eyes widened. “What happened?”

  “You were roofied.”

  “I was what?!”

  “You heard me.”

  “I… I… I don’t understand.”

  “What part do you not understand, sweetheart? Where you accepted a drink from a stranger, or where he drugged you to rape you?”

  My eyes rimmed with tears. “Did he…”

  “No, but he did end up in the ER.”

  My gaze shifted to his hands, seeing that his knuckles were bruised and swollen.

  “What did you do?”

  “Don’t worry about it.”

  I thought about it for a moment before I questioned, “How did you know what happened to me?”

  “I told one of the pledges to keep an eye on you. When you walked to the bathroom pale as ghost, he came and got me. I found you outside with that motherfucker carrying you to his car.

  “Oh my God. He … he just… He spilled…” Faint images played through my head. “A drink! He spilled a drink on me, and then he bought me one to apologize… I didn’t want it, but he was insistent.”

  “That should have been a bright red fucking flag, Evie.”

  “I didn’t think—”

  “That’s exactly my point! You didn’t fucking think at all!”

  “Stop yelling at me. I took a drink from you too!”

  “That’s different.”

  “How is that dif—”

  “Because I don’t drug girls to take advantage of them!”

  I couldn’t help it. I burst into tears. There was no controlling it. I broke down and started crying. This was all too much. I didn’t even want to go to that stupid party.

  Covering my face with my hands, I hid myself from Caleb. I was mortified, scared, ashamed. There was a plethora of emotions taking over my body. If Caleb hadn’t saved me, I don’t know what would have happened. For all I knew, I could have ended up dead in a ditch somewhere. The thought alone made my skin crawl.

  I cried a sea of tears until Caleb’s strong, comforting arms wrapped around me.

  “Shhh … it’s alright, darlin’. You’re safe.”

  Gently, he laid me on his chest. His words were soothing while he rubbed my back. It didn’t take long for him to calm my uncertainty. The overwhelmingness was gradually subsiding.

  “Thank you, Caleb.” I started to get upset again. “I can’t imagine what could have happened if you—”

  “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  “I’m normally not that careless, I swear. I told him I was waiting on someone. I never intended on leaving with him. I’m so sorry. Are your hands okay?”

  “Don’t worry about me. I’m fine.”

  Feeling emotionally and physically drained, I closed my eyes. For the second time, everything went black, and sleep swiftly came.

  Except this time, I passed out in Caleb’s arms.

  Feeling sale.

  Caleb

  What was this girl doing to me?

  I didn’t do this—this wasn’t who I was. I didn’t bring women back to my place. They didn’t sleep in my arms. They didn’t lay in my bed. I didn’t worry about them. I wasn’t this man.

  I was fucking furious with her shitty decisions. The worst part was I didn’t want her to leave. I wanted her here.

  With me.

  In my home.

  My sanctuary.

  My personal space.

  I loved the feeling of her in my arms and her tears on my chest. The way she simply melted into my embrace like it was the most natural thing in the world. I barely knew her, yet it felt as if we’d known each other all our lives.

  She was young.

  Still a kid.

  I knew better than to get involved with her, but I couldn’t stop my attraction to her. From the moment I laid my eyes on Evie’s beautiful face, there was this magnetic force I couldn’t resist.

  Her smile.

  Her scent.

  Her ridiculous fucking giggle.

  It was all an allure to me.

  I’d never felt anything like it before. I kept women at a distance. My career was all that mattered. I didn’t have time for the emotional bullshit, nor did I want any part of it.

  For years I thought I wasn’t made that way. I was a coldhearted bastard who left before they woke up, just so I could avoid the expectations that always presented itself the next morning.

  The only reason I didn’t bring women back to my condo was I didn’t want them to know where I lived. Their place. A hotel room. It was easier that way. I made no promises. It was on them if they created an illusion of who I was for the night.

  There were no dates. No wining and dining. I didn’t fuck the same woman twice. Repeats led to emotions which led to expectations which led to bullshit and a relationship. I’d never had a girlfriend. I didn’t care for one. My career consumed my life. I traveled all over the world. From one client to the next.

  I was happy.

  Fulfilled.

  There was no loneliness.

  But last night was completely out of character for me. When I saw him carrying her to his car, I lost all sense of reason. Confronting him was easy. Beating him the fuck up was even easier. If it wasn’t for my friend Aaron tearing me away from his unconscious body, who knows if I would have stopped myself from killing him.

  I would have been doing the world a favor. One less abuser walking among us in broad daylight. Every time I thought about what could have happened to Evie, I felt that rage taking over every last part of me all over again.

  How this girl got into my head was beyond me. There was an instant spark and connection between us that couldn’t be ignored or denied. She was perfect, filling this void I didn’t know I had until she was lying in my arms.

  My reactions to her were unfamiliar, uncharted emotions were taking over, and I wasn’t sure I wanted it to stop. I sure as hell didn’t fight too hard to control it. Which only added to the plaguing thoughts ripping through me.

  It was the most intense feeling I had ever felt. As if I was standing at the edge of a cliff, looking down, ready to jump. Not giving a shit if there would be land or water beneath me.

  I was ready to take the plunge.

  For her.

  I couldn’t control, label, or even understand it.

  Which was a terrifying thing for a man like me. The walls were caving in on me, and my emotions were suffocating as she slept in my arms.

  I gave into it.

  I gave into her.

  Closing my eyes, I relaxed in her embrace.

  For once in my life, I was along for the ride.

  Ready to see where we’d end up on the other side.

  Chapter 6

  Evie

  Caleb’s eyes fluttered open. I was still in his arms, staring up at him with my chin on his chest.

  “Mmm,” he groaned, stirring awake while our gazes connected. “Are you watching me sleep?”

  Even his raspy morning voice was sexy.

  Smiling, I shrugged. “Maybe.”

  “Are you plotting on how you intend to kill me?”

  “I decided to let you live.”

  “That’s nice of you.”

  “I do what I can.”

  He chuckled. “How are you feeling?”

  “Much better. Whatever medication you gave me did the trick.”

  “My friend called it in for you. My assistant brought it over shortly after.” Sweeping a piece of hair out of my face, he asked, “What time is it?”

  I loved the adoring expression on his face. No one had ever looked at me the way he was. Despite not wanting to break our connection, I grabbed his wrist and read his watch.

  “It’s almost noon.”

  “I don’t remember the last time I slept in this late.”

  Bringing my attention back to him, I questioned, “Are you an early riser?”

  “Mmm hmm.”

  “How early?”

  “Usually by five A.M.”

  “Five in the morning? That’s crazy! Who wakes up at five A.M.?”

  “I get a workout in before I head to my office.”

  “Are you trying to tell me you’re a workaholic?”

  He smiled, rubbing my back. “That’s what happens when you own your own agency.”

  “That’s pretty admirable. You’re still so young.”

  “I thought I was ancient?”

  “You may still have a few good years left.”

  “Do I get to spend them with you?”

  “If you play your cards right.”

  “Well, what do you know, I’m actually holding four of a kind.”

  “I’ll see your four of a kind and raise you a royal flush.”

  He smiled, big and wide. “My girl knows how to play poker.”

  Again with my girl.

  I didn’t call him out on it. Instead, I changed the subject. “Do you know your body temperature runs hot?”

  He arched an eyebrow. “What?”

  “You’re very warm. Almost like a heated blanket.”

  “Good to know.”

  “No other girl has told you that before?”

  “You’re the first girl I’ve ever woken up with.”

  I jerked back. “Oh, come on. You expect me to believe that?”

  “I told you. I’m a lot of things, but I’m not a liar.”

  “So you’re telling me you’ve never had a woman spend the night?”

  “Why is that so hard to believe?”

  “Because you’re an almost twenty-six-year-old successful entrepreneur who is easy on the eyes.”

  “I said I’ve never woken up with a woman, not that I’ve never fucked one.”

  “Oh…” I nodded. “I get it. You’re that guy.”

  “Care to elaborate?”

  “You know, the one who never settles down. Sleeps around. My guess is that you have deep rooted issues.”

  “And what issues would those be, Dr. Monroe?”

  “Smart ass.” I grinned. “It’s actually a textbook case. Who was she?”

  He arched an eyebrow again, looking at me confused.

  “Who was the woman who broke your heart?”

  He laughed, big and throaty. “Never had my heart broken, darlin’.”

  “Really?”

  He shook his head. “I’ve never been in a relationship.”

  “What?!” I sat up, staring deep into his eyes. “You’ve never had a girlfriend?”

  “That shocks you?”

  “Of course! That’s insane.”

  “How about you?”

  “I don’t really swing that way, but I have kissed a girl.”

  Now that got his attention. He crossed his arms behind his head which only accentuated his muscular, defined arms. Doing all sort of things to my core.

  Grinning like a fool, he demanded, “Tell me more.”

  “You’re such a guy.” I blushed. “Does this mean you’re not mad at me anymore?”

  “I’m livid.”

  “What if I told you her lips were soft and she tasted like Juicy Fruit bubble gum.”

  “I’m listening.”

  I rolled my eyes, smirking. “It was a high school party. We were playing truth or dare in the woods.”

  “I’m enjoying this mental picture. Did she make you wet?”

  “Caleb! I was fifteen. I didn’t know what wet was.”

  “And who was the boy who showed you what wet was, Evie?”

  “Considering I’ve only had one boyfriend. His name was Kyle, and I don’t think he knew what wet was either.”

  He laughed, enjoying my response. “That’s what happens when you fuck with a boy, darlin’.”

  “Oh yeah? Are you up for the challenge, old man?”

  “Trust me, Evie. If I had my hands on you, you’d know what wet was.”

  My thighs clenched.

  “Does that mean you’ve only been with one boy?”

  I nodded. “We were together on and off all through high school, but it just wasn’t meant to be.”

  “Did he make you come?”

  “Caleb!”

  “That’s a no.”

  “Oh my God, you’re horrible.”

  “Did you love him?”

  I wanted to make him sweat a little, so I stated, “This is some deep conversation before breakfast, and I’m starving.”

  “How about you let me feed you?”

  “That would be great, but I need to take a shower first.”

  “My bathroom is behind you, and there’s fresh towels under the sink.”

  “Ummm.” I looked down at myself. “I don’t have any clothes—”

  “My assistant took care of that for you. They’re on the couch over there.”

  I turned around, following his stare. There on the couch were several pieces of clothing. From a dress, to jeans, to a couple t-shirts. There was even undergarments, while sandals and sneakers were on the floor below them.

  “Looks like your assistant bought me a whole new wardrobe.”

  “I didn’t know what you’d like.”

  “I can pay you bac—”

  “Evie.”

  His sharp tone shifted my gaze back to him.

  “When someone buys you gifts, you simply thank them.”

  “Thank you, Caleb. That was very thoughtful of you.”

  I never expected him to add, “Do you need my help in the shower?”

  Backing away, I slowly stood up off the bed. “I think I can handle it on my own.”

  “If you change your mind, you know where I’ll be. Or you can help me with my shower. You know”—he showed me his hands—“I’m injured and all.”

  “Do you need me to wash your back?”

  “Is that before or after you wash my cock?”

  My mouth dropped open, and he stood, striding toward me. Each step sexier than the last. It was the first time I noticed what he was wearing— sweatpants. My eyes shifted to the bulge swinging between his legs.

  Holy shit!

  He instantly noticed where my stare went. “Like what you see, darlin’?”

  I swallowed hard, trying to play it off like I wasn’t impressed by what he was packing.

  Once he was standing in front of me, he whispered in my ear, “Go take a shower before I eat you for breakfast instead.”

  With that, he left his room, and I stayed there frozen.

  Excited for the day ahead.

  Caleb

  She didn’t take long time to shower and get ready which I appreciated. There wasn’t much she needed to do to make herself more breathtaking than she already was. When she walked out into the kitchen, she was wearing a light pink summer dress that was tight on her breasts and loose toward her luscious ass. The white sneakers made her look fucking adorable.

  She held onto the sides of her dress, giving me a little twirl, then throwing my question back at me, “Like what you see?”