Part 17 (1/2)
”You're staying her and moving on!”
”But you love me,” I said calmly, reaching out to play with a strand of her hair. ”Soft. Take out the ponytail.”
She jerked away, scooting off the bed. ”I can't do this with you, Caleb.”
”Do what?”
”You know,” she said stubbornly.
”You'll have to explain it to me. So far you've confused the s.h.i.+t out of me with your lying and games. You look beautiful, by the way.”
”Shut up!” She made for the door, probably to find a room with a better lock.
”Are you my girl, Gianna?”
Her feet stopped walking away, her head turned to the side so I could see her profile. ”Not anymore.”
”Don't listen to your head, listen to your heart. Are you my girl?”
She faced me, her expression tortured. ”I can't be your girlfriend, Caleb.”
”Sure you can. Come here and be my girlfriend.”
Her head shook in panic, blue eyes pleading. ”I can't be with you.”
”You're with me right now.”
”No, Caleb, I can't be with you.”
After a moment, understanding hit me. ”You're talking about s.e.x.”
”Yeah,” she choked out.
I'd had enough. I went to get my girl. Leading her to the bed with no resistance, I sat her on the end of it next to me, the least threatening spot. Tentatively, I brought my palms up to hold the prettiest face I'd ever seen. ”I'll take you any way I can get you, princess.”
Amus.e.m.e.nt entered her eyes and I guessed why.
”You didn't tell me your dad called you that.” Waving a hand at the ridiculously majestic room, I continued, ”You'll have to tell him you're no longer his princess. You belong to me now.”
”He'll kick your a.s.s.”
”He can try.” I rubbed a thumb over pink lips. ”You shouldn't have lied to me.”
Salty tears welled, changing the blue into an ocean of pain. She covered my hand with one of hers. ”I can't be what you need, Caleb.”
Her lips hesitantly meeting mine was a personal miracle. ”s.e.x or blue b.a.l.l.s, you're still my girl.”
”Caleb!” Her cheeks blushed, making her skin go redder combined the previous crying. ”Do you have to be such a pervert?”
”That probably won't ever change.”
She rubbed her cheek against my palm, seeking a deeper touch. ”Caleb, I'm scared of it. I think I'd freak out.”
It made sense. I'd read about it in a couple of psychology texts and discussed it with Dr. Adler during our sessions. She'd reiterated what the books had, that women could become averse to being intimate after a s.e.xual a.s.sault.
”Are you still attracted to me?” I asked her.
Her eyes widened before she made a face. ”It'd be hard not to be. You're hot, Caleb.”
I laughed, bringing her head against my chest. ”Good to hear. I've been celibate for eight and a half months, Gianna. I can wait a while longer.”
”How much longer?” she asked, tilting her head back to look up at me. ”Wait! You've been celibate? I thought you had s.e.x with that chick at the party.”
Thank f.u.c.k I hadn't.
”No, I couldn't go through with it. My d.i.c.k was feeling it, but my heart,” and stomach, ”protested.” I wouldn't mention the fact that puking my guts out had been what stopped my drunk a.s.s.
And I wouldn't tell her about Norah yet. Things had gone a bit farther with Norah and I'd just got my girl back.
She slapped my chest. ”Dammit, Caleb! You're not supposed to tell me your stupid d.i.c.k was into some other girl!”
”First off, don't ever call it stupid, you'll hurt its feelings. And second, I was wasted and h.o.r.n.y after eight months imprisoned. Let's not forget I couldn't go through with it because my heart belongs to you, little liar.”
Her eyes dropped to my chin. ”Are you mad at me?”
”h.e.l.l yeah, but I'm also happy to have you back. I can be mad later.” I jostled her in my arms. ”Now tell me you're my girl.”
She giggled through saying, ”I'm your girl.”
”Tell me you love me,” I ordered.
Her laughter stopped and her fingers stroked my face. ”I love you, Caleb.”
”Good, now erase Gage from the contacts on your phone.” I pulled her cell from my pocket, handing it over.
”Gage is my friend,” she said sternly. ”Besides, I think you'll like him once you really get to know him.”
”I won't be able to resist kicking his a.s.s again next time I see him.”
”You're not allowed to kick my friends' a.s.ses, Caleb.”
”Well, not in front of you,” I teased. ”And to answer your earlier question, I'll wait as long as it takes.”
”What if it's eight more months?” she asked in all seriousness.
I managed not to wince. ”Eight years if that's what it takes.”
She grinned. ”It won't be that long.”