Beyond Broken(40)

His hands clenched at his sides but he didn't move a single inch.

And why did it irritate the hell out of him that she didn't expect anything from him? Because he was completely fucked in the head, that's why. She'd said everything that he'd thought he wanted her to understand. So why did he feel defeated instead of relieved?

It was like a slap across the face. And, he realized with dawning dismay that, once again, Maddie had gotten a leg up on him. It was a power play. She knew what he'd say so she threw the words back in his face before he could even open his mouth.

There was one thing that Caleb wouldn't allow and that was feeling powerless when it came to women. He knew of one way to immediately remedy it, a crazy idea, but one that his mind latched onto before he could think of another alternative.

Before Maddie could say another word, Caleb took a few steps towards her, ignoring the way her eyes widened in confusion, grabbed her behind the neck, and kissed her.

A surprised, muffled sound came from Maddie right before Caleb's tongue swept inside, stroking her, almost groaning at how good she felt. She stood stiff with shock against him, but after Caleb nibbled on her bottom lip, she softened. Caleb would've grinned, if he wasn't too busy exploring every inch of her mouth, savoring it.

She didn't clutch at him, like he half expected her to, and a small part of him was glad. As though she remembered the night before, when he'd placed her hands against the cold wall of the building, Maddie kept her hands firmly clasped at her sides. A thought entered his mind and shook him. What would it be like to feel her hands in his hair, running down his chest, raking down his back? Caleb almost shuddered at the image, his cock pulsing in his jeans. 

When Caleb pulled away, their breaths were labored. Maddie's cheeks were flushed, her lips red, whisker burn on her face since Caleb hadn't shaved in a couple days. The look of her did things to him, made him want things he couldn't have.

He had to remind himself why he'd kissed her in the first place, but the excuse felt so hollow in his chest now, especially since all he wanted was to drag her against his body again and stay in the office all night.

Distance, his mind screamed. Too close, too close.

His voice was gravelly and rough when he spoke. "You do like to be kissed, don't you, princess?"

Maddie blinked, trying to make sense of his words. A masculine smugness filled him. The knowledge that he'd kissed her senseless made him feel high.

"Damn, I could kiss you all day long," he whispered, staring down at her lips. When she leaned in towards him, he pulled his head back an inch, his eyes snapping up to hers. "But let's not forget who's in charge here."

With that, he stepped away. She had a smudge of grease on the delicate flesh of her neck, where he'd grabbed her. The sight of it equally disturbed and enthralled him. It was primitive, the thought that he'd marked her in some way. But it was also something that didn't belong on her skin. It was too dark, too filthy. It belonged in Caleb's world, not hers.

He saw the moment when she realized she'd been played. An understanding made her blush, but what fascinated him even more was the stubbornness that rose right along with it.

"You're playing games," she accused him, her lips still reddened from his kiss.

"Yes," he said. "And I play them very well."

"Oh, I don't doubt that," she said, placing her hands on her hips. It made him want to kiss all the feistiness out of her. "But you underestimate me, like always."

"Oh, I don't doubt that," he said, repeating her words with a smirk. She made a frustrated sound in the back of her throat, almost like a growl. "Claws coming out, princess?"

"Maybe."

"Good," he said, turning from her and opening the door. He still had to finish up Brian's work. "On occasion, I may even let you get a scratch in."

A sudden, strange calmness settled over her face, making it impossible to read her yet again. Caleb frowned.

"No need," she said, almost nonchalantly, turning towards her workstation and booting up the laptop. "I think I already did."

Her words sunk in. And on his way out, Caleb slammed the door with more force than necessary.

But when he resumed his work in the garage, he couldn't help the smile that tugged at the corners of his kiss-stung lips.

Maddie - 1

Caleb - 0

Let the games begin, he thought.





SIXTEEN





All Caleb did was grunt when she greeted him late Saturday afternoon. Maddie hadn't been quite sure what to expect but his mood didn't surprise her. The man had more mood swings than a woman going through menopause.

Then in the corner of the office, nearest his desk, she saw a wadded up jacket and an old grey blanket. Maddie frowned. Had he slept here again? She didn't know why the sight of his makeshift bed bothered her so much.