Page 60 of Bittersweet Revenge

Caleb chuckled at the hope in my voice. “I said good news, not great news.”

“Ah.” I shrugged. “I’ll take what I can get.”

He nodded toward my shopping bags. “You did some shopping.”

“I didn’t use the card.”

“Okay?” He seemed to be taken aback by the statement. “Why not?”

“Archie wanted to buy everything. Even something he didn't realize was a present for you so, you know…” I gave him a little mischievous smile. “That will be something to tease him about.”

“A present? For me?” he asked again, still staring at the bags. Did he even get any presents? This man was breaking me.

I nodded. “Come to my room. I’ll give it to you.”

His eyes darkened a little and I blushed under the implication of my own words. Shaking my head, I started up the stairs with a silent Caleb trailing behind me.

As soon as we walked in, I started rummaging through my bags for the small box.I found it and wrapped my hand around it, suddenly second-guessing my impulse to buy him them; it was ridiculous.

“Don’t give yourself a brain aneurysm, Esmeralda, just give me the box.” The cool detachment of his voice didn't match the heat of excitement in his eyes as he stared at the box.

“I– umm… yeah.” I fidgeted. “Here.” I gave him the box.

He looked down at it and opened it carefully like it was precious.

“So, yeah, it’s not much and I didn’t pay with your card, but I know you love cufflinks. I’ve seen them in your bedroom. I mean, I know they are not the same quality and all, but–”

“Can you just stop rambling for a minute?” he asked calmly.

“I–” I took a deep breath. “Yeah.”

He chuckled. “The rambling when you’re nervous is quite endearing, but it makes it difficult to say anything.”

Had he said ‘endearing’? I cocked my head to the side. Things had gotten better between us since the incident, but we were still a way off niceties, especially when it was only the two of us.

“Do you like them?”

He shook his head. “No.”

I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed, even if I should have expected that much. Wings were tacky and they didn't have the same significance for him that they had for me.

“It’s okay. I can–”

“I love them”

“You what?”

He gave me a small smile. “I love them, really.” He took another couple of steps forward.

“You do?” I asked, arching my eyebrows with surprise.

His smile widened. “Uh huh.” He leaned down, slowly, and brushed his lips against mine, making me shiver.

I took a sharp breath. Without thinking, I stood on my tiptoes and pressed my lips a bit more firmly against his.

He wrapped his arm around my waist and gave me a few slow open-mouth kisses.

It was like time had stopped. His lips remained on mine. He pulled me closer to him. The flutter in my chest intensified. My heart pounded in my chest and my knees got weaker. Everything disappeared except the heat of his skin on mine, the smell of his cologne as it addictively invaded my senses.

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