A/N: Okay, here's the other half! Enjoy and review please!!!
CHAPTER 15:
The Cowardly Lioness
Caleb parked his Mustang right behind Pogue's yellow Ducati, careful not to scratch either of their brand new vehicles (early graduation presents from their parents.). He stepped out, the chilly wind causing his black peacoat to flap, and pocketed his keys, running a hand through his fluffy hair.
He had just left his house, having had a long, boring talk with his mother about his father's estate. After much debate over who would be the primary beneficiary, they finally settled on Caleb, since he was younger, and signed the papers to his father's Will.
Afterwards he had visited his dad at the old Ipswich house, James' medicine in hand. Gorman nowhere to be found, he left it on a bedside table, careful not to disturb his slumbering father and headed towards town to meet up with Pogue and the gang.
Caleb crossed the street to the ice cream parlor, whistling an unknown tune to himself. He stopped short in front of the parlor window, catching a glimpse of the raven haired newly found object of his long forgotten affection inside, talking to that asshole, Aaron.
He saw him leering, touching her delicate face with his filthy hands. Caleb narrowed his eyes, a low growl forming in his throat. 'Damn it... This is just what I need right now...' He watched the scene play out with mild interest as she defiantly stood up to him.
Aaron grabbed her elbow and that was enough for Caleb to enter the parlor, annoyance skimming with Power below his skin. 'This won't end well...' He walked in slowly, hands in his pockets.
"Excuse me?!" He saw her push him, anger and surprise skidding across Aaron's face. Caleb stifled a laugh. "I'm not going with any of them and I'm certainly not going with you!"
Caleb idled up to the table his friends were occupying. They, along with a boy he had never seen before, were now standing, ready to haul Aaron out back if they needed. Caleb walked up to them, ushering them back with a dismissive wave.
"Hey, guys, let me handle this one." He said, passing his friends without so much as a backward glance. He saw Pogue nod and smirked, making his way towards Sheila where he stood directly behind her.
At the same moment, he saw Keira stand and make her way towards them, stopping three tiles short behind Aaron, her bushy hair the only thing visible to Caleb from his current view.
Caleb saw a lion move in a similar fashion once on the Discovery Channel.
Watching...
Prying...
Stalking and mutilating the enemy to protect the pack...
"I'll make it worth your while, gorgeous... Let me prove it to you..."
Caleb watched in slow motion as Aaron reached out to touch her again. He was going to spoil her smooth, flawless skin with his worthless fingers... He couldn't let that happen... Just the thought of another man caressing her skin, kissing her full lips, was more than he could stand... She slapped Aaron's hand away and something in Caleb snapped.
"I believe the lady said 'No', Aaron." Suddenly he felt disconnected from his brain as he walked flush behind her, wrapping a muscular arm around her tiny waist. She jumped, maybe at the contact, maybe at his unexpected presence, but she didn't turn to look at him. Instead, she seemed to relax a bit in his embrace.
"Besides, she's going with me..." 'What the hell are you doing, Danvers...?" He reached up and brushed a few wispy strands of hair from her cheek, tucking it lightly behind her ear.
Everywhere he touched, Sheila's skin burned, the succubus stirring slightly within her.
It wanted to know who this male was that caused her so much excitement...
Her warm woman scent reached his nostrils and his head swam with dangerously erotic possibilities. He fluttered his fingertips over her now exposed skin and, without much contemplation, he bent down, dropping a kiss to her cheek.
Caleb swallowed as he felt her breath quicken, the heat rushing to her skin. A moment later, as if the heat from her body was slowly being transferred to his, he felt his cock flood with urgency, the appendage throbbing painfully against the front of his pants. It happened so suddenly and unexpectedly that it caused Caleb to say a fiery curse word under his breath.
'Thank God she can't feel that...'
"Isn't that right?" His lips were now fleeting across her ear. "Just say yes... I'll explain later..." He whispered, moving his lips further down to her neck, sucking it gently as she nodded her agreement.
"That's right, Aaron... I...uh..." She sighed, Caleb's hand kneading her stomach softly. "I forgot..."
Her skin was like velvet, just like he imagined it would be, the scent of her shampoo (peaches again...) invading his nostrils. He nuzzled her neck as he breathed it deeply in, storing it in his memory, and threw a seething Aaron a smirk.
'I wonder what she tastes like...'
Whatever the reasons behind his bold actions were, Caleb was unconcerned with it, the tip of his tongue flicking out, making hot, wet contact with her flushed skin. His teeth grazed her skin over her pulse, nipping the sensitive area eagerly. Sheila gasped and he could feel her body shiver at the stimulation. Aaron watched, his eyes narrowed, fists curled, his body positively shaking with anger.
Caleb shrugged, licking his lips, tasting her salty sweetness there. "Sorry, man. Better luck next time..."
Sheila looked at him, scanning his profile for answers to his bold actions. He chuckled, his eyes drilling holes into Aaron, the hand hanging at his side clenched in a tight fist. She furrowed her eyebrows, a pleading look on her face as he looked down at her.
She opened her mouth in protest. She wanted to know why he just did that. Stood up to Aaron for no real reason, telling him (and her) a bold faced lie without hesitation.
And how, with a mere touch to her neck with his tongue, did he make her hot for him...?
Sheila was very confused...
Caleb just shook his head, giving her a playful wink. Sheila slowly nodded, her thoughts a blur of emotions.
Anxiety...
Rage...
Lust...
Anticipation...
Sheila gave Aaron a tiny smile, causing the boy to explode in anger.
"This is bullshit!" Aaron quickly closed the gap between himself and Caleb, squishing Sheila helplessly between the two enemies.
Keira shuffled nervously behind Aaron, reaching a comforting hand out to his shoulder. Aaron didn't seem to notice, his fiery eyes locked on Caleb's, his nose inches from the other boy's face.
"Is there a problem, Cay?" Pogue walked forward, the other Sons and Chase, following cautiously behind. They weren't going to step in unless they had to... They knew Caleb was more than capable of holding his own in a fight.
Sheila could barely breath, their angry words sucking all the oxygen out of the air. She poked Aaron's chest hard, hoping the boy would take the hint and move away, but Aaron didn't budge, instead he stepped closer still, causing Sheila to step back.
She stumbled on Caleb's shoes, the mug of melted ice cream she was holding threatening to spill over her front. She threw an arm behind her to catch herself. She felt his belt buckle, cool and sophisticated, against her palm, her hand sliding slightly below it as she straightened her stance. Her eyebrows crashed together when her hand ran smoothly over something rigid where his front pocket should be. She ran her palm the length of it again, not at all paying the slightest attention to what was happening around her.
'What in the world...?'
She gave it a delicate squeeze, careful not to break it if it was valuable. She heard Caleb make a barely audible noise behind her, his hand on her stomach wrinkling her sweater as he clenched it. Sheila's eyes widened in realization. 'Oh my God...!' A blush flooded her entire body, her hand jerking away from his erection.
She wanted desperately to run away and hide in her embarrassment, but knew it was impossible since she was currently sandwiched between two threateningly huge alpha males.
Caleb shook his head, his golden eyes never wavering from Aaron's defiant stare. "No problem, Pogue..." He flashed his eyes at Aaron and the other boy blinked, his face scrunching in confusion. "Right, Aaron?" Aaron suddenly backed up a few steps, almost tripping over Keira in his haste, and raised his hands in defeat, a scowl on his face.
Aaron pointed a finger at Caleb, almost clocking Sheila in the head as he did so. "You're one cocky son of a bitch, Danvers! You think that just because you win the school two state championships you got free reign and can stake your claim on anything!"
Caleb felt Sheila's muscles clench at the comment, guessing that being referred to as an object almost always pissed her off.
"You bastard..." He heard her mumble under her breath. He tightened his grip on her waist before she could make a move towards Aaron. Sheila squeaked in annoyed surprise.
Caleb held her fast when she began to squirm. "Stop!" He whispered. "Just let him walk away thinking he's the better man... We don't need another cafeteria incident..."
Sheila stopped moving with a huff, her eyes burning holes into Aaron, having half the notion to bite the finger off he was waving tauntingly in front of her.
"This isn't over, Danvers!" Aaron turned away with a growl, brushing roughly passed a bewildered Keira. "This isn't over by a long shot!" He shouted, exiting angrily, the parlor door banging shut after him.
Sheila let out the breath she was holding and disengaged herself from Caleb's iron grip. A nervous laugh bubbled out of her and she turned around to face her savior.
Caleb shook his head at her, a serious expression plaguing his handsome face. "How do you always end up in these situations?"
Sheila's mouth dropped and Caleb couldn't help but laugh. 'She looked SO damn cute...' "But he-" She gestured wildly at the door. "And I-" Her face fell. "Double scoop... I just wanted a root beer float!" She wiggled the chilly mug in front of his face.
Caleb wiped a hand over her babbling face, the movement startling Sheila into silence. "Relax..." He whispered. "It's over..."
"I-" She clapped her mouth shut, suddenly at a loss for words. "Thank you..." She sighed.
He threw her a dazzling smile, causing Sheila to almost lose her panties, and rubbed his knuckles over her cheek. "No problem." He let his hand drop and Sheila frowned in disappointment. He drummed his fingers thoughtfully together. "Now we must talk payment for my chivalrous act..."
Sheila folded her arms across her chest, thrusting her breasts (much to Caleb's liking) out with a snort. 'Payment?' She thought. 'Yeah right...' Sheila opened her mouth to reprimand him, but before she got a syllable out, she felt a hard tapping on her shoulder. She turned towards the person and was quickly doused with a cold substance.
She cried out in surprise and dropped the mug she was holding, not even stepping back as it shattered noisily to the floor. Sheila looked down, watching as the strawberry milkshake Keira had thrown on her dripped down her Argyle sweater. Out of the corner of her eye she could see that Caleb had caught the last dribble of it, his expression just as surprised as hers.
"What the hell is your problem?!" Sheila yelled, wiping her hands down her front, trying desperately to rid her clothes of the shake before it soaked completely through to her skin.
"That-" Keira dropped the empty milkshake cup at Sheila's feet. "-was for my nose."
Sheila blinked back the oncoming tears, disbelief and anger causing her to shake. She clenched her skirt in her fists, fighting for control over her Powers, as her eyes flashed maliciously.
Keira smirked and it took all of Sheila's remaining restraint to not slap the smile right off the girl's face.
"Payback's a bitch..." Keira said in a sing song voice.
"No-" Sheila stepped forward and Caleb reached for her a second too late. The Sons watched on in concern, Kate and Chase in amusement, as she walked right up to Keira, her button nose pressed dangerously close to Keira's broken one. She cocked her right arm back (much like she did that night in the cafeteria), strawberry milkshake dripping from her sleeve. "-you're the bitch, Keira."
She brought her fist swiftly forward, stopping it a mere inch from the other girl's face. A scream erupted from Keira as she flinched violently away. Sheila's insides squirmed with delight as she watched Keira cower a few steps back.
"And you know something else?"
Sheila ran a hand over the front of her sweater, making sure she got some decent sized strawberry chunks, along with milkshake, on her hand. She reached out and placed her whole palm flat against Keira's startled face, giving her head a little push as she did so, hearing the satisfying squelch of Keira's still broken nose. Keira cried out in pain. She leaned forward and spoke only loud enough for the trembling girl before her to hear.
"You're not even worth it..."
Sheila's voice shook and, as she turned away from the bushy haired girl (now complete with a pink palm print on her snobby face), she tried desperately to hide her tears with her hand as she walked passed Caleb and the rest of the group. She exited the parlor without so much as a backward glance.
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"Sheila, wait!"
Sheila didn't stop as the voice called helplessly after her. She's had a hell of a day and Caleb's pity was not something she wanted to add to her shit list...
She quickened her pace and heard his shoes pounding the pavement as he ran to catch up.
"Would you just wait a second!"
Sheila abruptly stopped walking and Caleb almost crashed into her. She didn't turn to look at him, wiping hopelessly at her face, not wanting him to see her so upset, but the tears just kept coming. He came around to face her and she stared at a crack in the sidewalk, her foot tapping the cement impatiently, not meeting his concerned gaze.
They stayed that way, silent (aside from her occasional sniffle) for a long while before he spoke up.
"If those aren't tears of happiness, please stop crying..."
Sheila snickered. "I can't help it... I'm just so..." She shook her head, frustrated. She took a deep, shaky breath. "Today is just not my day..."
"Is it because of Keira?"
She finally looked at him. "No." He gave her a skeptical look and she shrugged. "Okay... maybe a little... But it's not just that..."
"Then what?"
She shook her head again, this time a bit firmer. "I don't want to talk about it..."
"Is it because of what I did to you in the parlor? You know, saying that I was taking you to the dance..." He trailed off, raising a hand to rub lightly over his neck. The action reminded Sheila of his tongue on her skin. Warm... Exciting... "And all that..."
Sheila let out a nervous laugh, although he was right, and brushed roughly passed him. "And I certainly don't want to talk about that...!" She descended the sidewalk and stepped out into the street, her eyes downcast.
She didn't bother looking both ways and gasped, hearing the car horn a moment too late. She was frozen on the spot, not breathing, the car barreling towards her. She cried out, feeling a large hand grab the back of her sweater and yanking her (literally off of her feet) from the path of the moving vehicle.
The driver shouted some obscenities as he passed, the words lost on unheard ears as Sheila held her head in her hands, dizzy. Muscular arms were wrapped around her, tight so she didn't fall, and the spicy musk of Caleb's jacket send her head into further vertigo.
His breath was harsh against her ear and she gulped back a sob, struggling against his hold.
"Let me go, Caleb!" She drove her elbows into his sides and Caleb let out a grunt, his hold on her constricting.
"What is the matter with you?!" He spun her fiercely around, cupping her head in his hands. She didn't meet his gaze, feeling his anger and annoyance coming off of him in gales. "Are you trying to get yourself run over?!" He gave her head a light shake.
Sheila gritted her teeth. "It wouldn't be the first time." Her eyes flashed and she heard Caleb gasp as he was bombarded with images of her lying on the side of the road that day her father died.
He saw a blue bumper.
Saw her arm snap under the rear tire of the vehicle.
She cried out, then stood, clutching the broken limb to her body.
He abruptly let go of her, rougher than he meant to. 'Oh my God... That was her...?!' Caleb looked at his hands, wide eyed, as if they held all the answers to his ever forming questions. He shook his head and she let out a soft 'Oh' as she stumbled a bit before he caught her in his arms once more.
"Caleb, I really don't want to do this right now, okay?" Her voice was soft, but he could hear the faint hint of a threat behind her words. "Please, can I just go?"
He shook his head, holding her upper arms firmly. "Not until you tell me what's wrong." His eyes lost all intensity when he saw her face crumble into fresh sobs. He quietly pulled her close, not minding the fact that the milkshake would probably stain his shirt permanently, and rubbed her back in an effort to comfort her, her arms coming up to wrap tentatively around his waist. He didn't like seeing her cry like this and wished desperately that he could take all her anguish into himself.
'I want to be that thing that makes her happy...' Caleb closed his eyes. 'Whoa... Where did that come from...?...' He didn't have time to contemplate his new found feelings, however, hearing her voice escape the confines of his jacket.
"Everything..." The word was muffled against his chest.
He leaned down, cocking his head to one side. "What?"
"Everything." She pulled back a bit to look at him, her face red and puffy. Sheila was full on bawling now, teardrops as big as beach balls rolling down her face as she continued her rant. "My father, he was rich you know,-" She licked some tears from her lips. "-and today, I get my share of the estate and you know what he left me?" Caleb looked at her silently. "Nothing! Absolutely nothing. The son of a bitch... Then there's Chase." Caleb didn't even want to begin to contemplate as to who Chase was. "And Aaron..." She drew in a deep, shaky breath. "Keira." She spat out the last name, her nose wrinkling in mild disgust. She brought her gaze up to meet his, the tears in her eyes looking like ocean waves when set against the backdrop of her navy irises. "You..."
Caleb could do nothing but hug her, shushing her until her weeping weakened, afraid of what he might do or say in response to her last word.
"Everything's just so..." She wrapped her hands around an invisible object and shook it, like she was choking it. "...fucked up..." She whispered. "Why are people so mean to me, Caleb? I don't understand..." She turned doleful eyes to him. " I'm a good person, right?..."
He looked down at her, frowning. Her eyes were closed now and she looked ready to burst into tears again, her lower lip trembling slightly.
"People fear the things that they don't understand and most of the time, they lash out, usually with anger." She nodded and unconsciously burrowed herself further into his hard chest, her arms squeezing at his waist, the movement making Caleb smile. "And yes, you are a good person and I wish-" He paused. "I wish people could see how wonderful you really are..."
They stayed that way for a beat longer, no one saying anything, reveling in the silence her confessions made. Finally, she pulled away from him, sniffling, her face flushed with crying and slight embarrassment. Realizing her sweater was sticking to his shirt, she laughed, peeling one garment from the other slowly.
Caleb smiled at the tiny change in her mood. He knew she was still upset, but it was still nice to see her laugh. "See,-" He ran the pad of his thumb over her moist cheek. "-I knew there was a smile in there somewhere."
"Yeah..." Sheila rubbed her forehead and looked at him from under her lashes, her deep blue eyes assessing him gently. The look was smoldering and it literally took Caleb's breath away. "But only because it's you, Caleb..." She gave him a half smile and Caleb blushed, loving the way his name rolled off of her tongue. 'Oh the possibilities...' He thought.
She gestured between the two of them. "I'm sorry about your shirt."
He shook his head. "Don't be." A pause. "You going to be okay?"
She bit her bottom lip, nodding. "I think so..."
"Good. Come on." He took her hand in his and (after looking both ways) swiftly crossed the street towards his Mustang. He went around to the back of it and popped open his trunk. After a few minutes of rummaging, he pulled out a huge black, athletic bag and unzipping it, produced a clean button up shirt in his hands. He held it out to her.
"Here. Put this on."
She pointed at the shirt he was wearing. "What about you?"
Caleb shook his head, placing the shirt in her hand, before taking a seat leisurely on his bumper. "Don't worry about me." He shrugged. "I'll be alright..."
Sheila didn't know how to explain it, but when he said that she saw something crawl briefly over his eyes. 'Damn those eyes...' She sighed. They betrayed everything that he was thinking, showing every single emotion that he felt, whether good or bad, making himself vulnerable to the world.
Just like she making herself vulnerable to him right now... And it didn't help the fact that she was actually starting to like the guy...
'Yeah, but who can blame me?...'
Sheila looked down at the shirt in her hands, then up at him, where he was perched precariously on the edge of his bumper, hands in his jeans pockets, watching her with vital curiosity.
He made a shooing motion with his head. "Go on."
Her body sank slightly in defeat, not wanting to argue. "Fine." She mumbled, slinging his shirt over a taillight as she moved her fingers beneath the bottom of her sweater. She had it halfway lifted up before she paused, wiggling the garment a bit this way, a bit that, trying hopelessly to remove it without getting milkshake on her still clean face.
Sheila dropped her hands and the sweater with a low whimper. Caleb watched, a smile trying deftly to escape across his face.
He leaned forward a bit, grabbing the ends of her fingers. "Come here..." He didn't try to hide the laughter in his voice.
She shuffled over to him, a pout on her face. He didn't stand to meet her (because sitting he was eye level to her anyway), so she dragged her fatigued body almost flush to his, standing warily between his legs as he locked eyes with hers, his fingers reaching out and skimming her stomach beneath the edge of her sweater.
Without breaking eye contact, he slowly immersed his hands under the folds of her Argyle, her camisole beneath was warm and soft from her body. His hands slowly spanned the width of her stomach, his thumbs stayed below her belly button, the rest of his fingers working their way across her sides and to her back.
Sheila stood absolutely still, her breathing altogether stopped while at the same moment, her heart pounded furiously against her ribcage. His hands took the sweater prisoner as they moved easily upward, skittering gently over her skin.
She lifted her arms and as his fingers reached her shoulders, his thumbs were lingering pleasantly over her breasts, the pads of his thumbs unknowingly making contact with her erect nipples.
Even through the fabric of her bra and undershirt, she could feel the electric shock of his touch... That same shock her succubus loved to tease males with...
She bit her bottom lip, fighting the urge to place her hands over his and keep them there on her breasts. Caleb watched her reaction to his touch with rapt fascination. He'd never had a girl respond so naturally to his every touch, every word.
He finally, after many agonizing seconds filled with sexual tension, got the sweater up and over her head. He threw it unceremoniously into his trunk, where it landed somewhere near the back with a squelch. Sheila shivered.
"Are you cold?" He leaned across the trunk, reaching for his shirt.
"No..." And it was the truth. She wasn't cold. She, not the succubus, felt that spark. The same one she felt with that boy in the woods and it rocked her to her very core.
She wondered if Caleb felt it too... If he did, he showed no signs of it. She thought it better not to dwell on it at the moment. She didn't want to add to her confusion.
He ushered her forward silently as he slipped the button up around her, the material warm despite the cold. It was definitely too many sizes too big and Caleb playfully poked her in the stomach as he rolled up a sleeve.
"You should eat more."
"Wouldn't matter, I'm one of those chosen few that can eat whatever they want and not gain a pound."
Caleb rolled up the other sleeve. "Lucky you..."
Sheila shook her head. "Nah..." She turned slightly to the side and poked out her bottom. "I don't have an ass so I have the hardest time trying to find a pair of jeans that are below a size 5... Definitely major suckage there..." He smiled and she fully returned it.
"Who said you need an ass?" He buttoned up the shirt, tying the ends of it together in a loose knot. "You're still beautiful..."
Sheila blinked. No one, except her father, has ever called her beautiful and the blush that betrayed her thoughts told Caleb that exact thing. She could find no words to respond with...
"Do you want to go back inside?"
She looked across the street at the ice cream parlor. She could see Kate and everybody through the window, laughing as if nothing had happened.
She shook her head. "No. I think I've had enough dairy products for a while..."
They walked side by side to her car, their hands swinging precariously close to one another's, their knuckles brushing occasionally.
They stood beside her driver's side door, Sheila jingling her keys in her hand nervously. "Well... Thank you..."
She shrugged at her lame good-bye, tucking strands of hair behind her ear. Caleb reached up, following her hand with his, where it came to rest against the delicate column of her neck. His thumb rubbed sensuously over her bottom lip and Sheila opened her mouth slightly with a sigh.
Caleb licked his lips, contemplating, her dark blue eyes watching him and waiting.
'Okay, just relax, Sheila. If he kisses you, so what? It's just your first kiss and all, but that's no reason to freak out...!...'
Her thought made him falter in his movements as he purposely leaned towards her in small, deliberate increments. There was only the barest air of space between them, her breathing coming in small pants now. She instinctively wrapped her arms around his massive frame in a hug, closing the gap between their needy bodies.
Sheila swallowed, becoming lost in his golden gaze, his eyes defiant, yet soft. He leaned further in, his nose rubbing against her jaw line, his smile small, questioning.
Caleb wasn't sure why he wanted to do this so bad. Hormones? No, he knew it was something deeper than that. Girls (well people in general) like her didn't come into his life too often and he was determined to hold on to this good feeling for as long as possible. Plus, he couldn't help it... She truly was beautiful...
But he did know that if he completed this action, things would forever be changed. He would take her kiss virginity away and shatter the innocence that her body language always goes defiantly against.
"Are you going to be okay?" He asked, his tongue flicking out to catch her earlobe.
Her voice box had officially left her and all Sheila could do was nod with a sigh, her eyes fluttering closed. She ran her hands the length of his back, pulling him closer, sheltering herself in the warmth of his coat and body.
And then to both of their surprises, Caleb turned his head from her ear and softly touched his lips to hers, as if testing the feel and her reaction. After a moment or two, she still hadn't pushed him violently away and run screaming down the sidewalk, so he pressed further still until their mouths had joined evenly...
A/N: Longest chapter thus far and definitely took the longest to write! It was harder to write then the last one, but please forgive me by reviewing!!! Questions/comments... doesn't matter... I love 'em all! Thanks you guys!!!