Late Night Perks | Caleb

The rain drummed softly against the attic window, streaking down the glass in lazy rivulets. The warm glow of the desk lamp cast golden light over the cluttered wooden space—scattered blueprints, old trinkets, a half-finished model ship from years ago. The air was thick with the scent of aged wood and a hint of Caleb’s cologne, something crisp and subtly familiar.

Soft R&B music hummed from the Bluetooth speaker placed on the windowsill, blending with the pouring storm brewing outside. Caleb, who was seated on the wooden floor with his back pressed against the couch, flipped through the latest issue of The Linkon Machina Digest. His eyes slowly browsed through each page, his expression relaxed. A loose lock of his dark hair hung over his forehead, his white tank top hugged is lean figure in all the right places, his black sweatpants hanging just enough to see his toned abs. He looked good—not that his childhood best friend, Cassie, was going to admit to him out loud (that guy has an ego the size of the sun, and she wasn’t going to hear the end of it).

Cassie was lying on the rug nearby, scrolling on her phone, trying to distract herself. But Caleb’s presence in the room was hard to ignore, as much as she wanted to. After all, this was the first time they had hung out in person after a year of talking online while he was away at the Aerospace Academy in Skyhaven studying to become a pilot.

“What’s with the staring pipsqueak?” his voice cut through the soft lull of rain and music, smooth and teasing.

“Huh?” Cassie responded, blinking dumbfounded.

“Could it be that I look different after a year at Skyhaven, or you just missed me that much?” He said, without looking up and flipped to the next page.

Cassie scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Jeez. God forbid a girl minds her business and reads on her phone.”

A playful smirk tugged the corner of his mouth, along with a low chuckle that vibrated through the attic. “I said, staring. I didn’t say anything about reading on your phone.”

“Staring? I wasn’t staring.”

He flipped another page, eyes scanning the article, his smirk widening. “Right. ‘Cause you were so engrossed in your mobile talking device that you barely notice that I could strip naked at any moment I want.”

Cassie threw a cushion at him. "Ya nasty.”

He caught the cushion before it could hit his face and burst out laughing. “Jesus, Cassie. I was joking. Relax.” He tossed the pillow back at her.

“Sure, you were,” Cassie muttered, rolling her eyes again.

“Be honest. You were awfully invested in how I look since the moment you picked me up from the airport.”

“Well, you look… different.”

He arched an eyebrow, closing the magazine and setting it aside. “Good different or bad different,” he inquired, folding his arms to his chest and tilting his head to the side, giving her his full attention.

“Well…” she started, shifting to her side and plopping her head against her fist, “It’s not too bad with just the right amount of good.”

A slow, satisfied smirk spread across Caleb’s face at her reluctant compliment. He stretched his arms above his head, pulling his shirt taut against his abs. “Just the right amount of good, huh? Well, I guess Skyhaven treated me all right then.”

He winked playfully, which made her roll her eyes again.

“How was it there?” Cassie asked.

He lowered his arms, leaning back with a contented sigh. “It was okay, though the classes were brutal the first couple of weeks,” he chuckled and shook his head. “But with time, I found my footing and really got into the engineering stuff. The people there were cool too, made a couple of friends here and there, but…” He paused, his eyes averted from hers with a thoughtful expression. "I dunno… it was kinda lonely sometimes.”

“How so?”

He hesitated, shrugging his shoulders. “It just felt that way. Being surrounded by all these people and faces, talking and laughing with them, but still feeling alone, you know?” He finally met her gaze. “Like there’s this void or something missing.”

He forced a laugh and shifted his gace to the window, where the rain continued its soothing patter. “Stupid, right?”

“Nah. I get what you mean,” Cassie said thoughtfully. “ Like you exist around these people, but you’re not truly part of them or taking up space.”

His eyes widened slightly, his guard lowering. “Yeah,” he muttered softly, nodding his head. “Like everyone’s talking and laughing, but you’re not really part of it. You just smile and laugh at the right times, but…” He trailed off, struck by how deeply she understood.

“There’s a disconnect.” She finished for him.

He nodded again, his expression thoughtful. “Exactly. A disconnect.” He leaned forward again, elbows on his knees, studying her with newfound appreciation and respect. “You get it, don’t you? Have you ever felt that way, too?”

“Yeah, sometimes,” Cassie shrugged. “I always think it’s because I got so used to being alone that I find it hard connecting with people.”

“But you’re connected to me,” Caleb pointed out.

“Yeah, but you’re different,” Cassie replied.

“Different how?” he asked, tilting his head, genuinely curious. He leaned back again, crossing his arms over his chest as if preparing for a meaningful conversation. “Because I get you? Or because we have this weird connection that doesn’t require constant talking?”

“Well, yeah that’s part of it. But it’s also because I’ve known you since we were kids. We practically grew up together,” Cassie said. “It was a lot easier connecting with people back when we were kids than it is now as adults.”

He uncrossed his arms, nodding thoughtfully. “You used to be really social as a kid. Everyone loved you,” he recalled softly. “So, what changed? Why’s it hard now?” His tone was careful, avoiding any hint of accusation.

Cassie flipped onto her back and stared at the ceiling. “Life. Growing up. I think as kids we didn’t have a lot to worry about. It was just vibes. Fun. Games. Now as adults, we have responsibilities and obligations,” she started. “We have to wake up super early and work like eight hours a day to be able to afford basic stuff. We have to deal with people with sticks so far up their ass and make it our problem. We get so caught up with all of this that sometimes it feels like a chore to want to make friends or stay in touch with friends and family because having personal time feels like a luxury.”

Caleb moved to lay down beside her, mirroring her position, their shoulders brushing. His hand reached out hesitantly, hovering near hers before gently intertwining their fingers. "That’s… really fucking depressing,” he admitted quietly. “But I get it.” His thumb stroked her knuckles in slow, soothing circles.

“Life’s depressing. Being an adult is like a premium subscription that we can’t cancel until we’re like at retirement age or something,” Cassie joked, trying to lighten the mood.

He chuckled softly, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “Yeah. And the customer service is pretty awful,” he added, playing along.

“Plus, we don’t get any refunds,” Cassie replied.

They both shared a laugh before settling into a comfortable silence, their fingers still intertwined. The sounds of the gentle patter of the rain and the music playing softly in the background filling the silence in the attic.

“Cassie?” Caleb’s voice was quiet, almost vulnerable.

“Yeah?”

“Do you ever… just wanna go back?” He turned his head slightly to look at her. “To when we were kids? No responsibilities, no worries, just running around having fun…” His thumb continued its rhythmic stroking against her skin.

She exhaled softly. “Sometimes.”

He nodded slowly, looking back at the ceiling. “Sometimes I just… I miss that. Miss being carefree and stupid,” he admitted with a small laugh. “Now everything feels so heavy, you know?” His grip on her hand tightened slightly, seeking comfort in her presence.

“Well… on the plus side, we don’t have to worry about any rules and curfews,” Cassie said, nudging his ribs playfully.

He laughed softly, nudging her back. “True,” he agreed, turning his head to smile at her. His eyes were warm and gentle, reflecting the soft light from the window. “We can stay up all night watching movies or play video games without Granny switching off the TV and telling us to go to bed.”

"We go and stay out all night and sleep for as long as we want to on the weekends.”

“Exactly,” he grinned wider, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on her palm. “No alarms going off at 7 AM anymore—well, except when you have to wake up early to make it in time for lectures and work.” He paused, then added teasingly, “You know what else is good about being adults?”

“What?”

“We can do all kinds of adulty stuff,” he said, rolling onto his side, propping his head up on one hand, his gaze lingering on her.

“Oh?” Cassie arched an eyebrow, intrigued. “Like what?”

“We can do this.”

Before she could respond, he closed the gap between them and pressed his lips against hers—a slow and gentle kiss, the kind they hadn’t known as kids but understood fully now. “We can kiss and make out without any consequences,” he murmured against her lips before kissing her again.

Cassie melted into the kiss, her fingers tangling in his hair as she kissed him back.

Caleb smiled against her lips before kissing her again. His free hand pulled her closer, deepening the kiss, encouraged by her responsiveness. He pulled away, resting his forehead against hers. “See?” he whimpered, his breath mingling with hers. “Being an adult has its perks.”

“Yeah… I definitely see that,” she murmured, her hands sliding up his chest.

Caleb grinned as he climbed on top of her, his arms caging her in as he settled between her legs. Tonight (Best You’ve Ever Had) by John Legend started humming through the speaker.

“Yeah?” he murmured. His hips shifted gently, pressing against her in a way that left no doubt about what being an adult could offer. “And there are even more perks…”

He began placing open-mouthed kisses along her jawline, each one sending shivers down her spine.

“Like what?” Cassie breathed, her fingers already tangling in his hair.

“Like this…” Caleb captured her lips in another deep kiss, his hips slowly grinding against her to demonstrate his point. Cassie moaned against his lips at the friction between her legs.

“And this…” He broke the kiss to trail his lips down her neck, sucking gently on the sensitive skin just below her ear. “And definitely this…”

Suddenly, he sat up, making Cassie whimper at the loss of his warmth. With quick movements, he pulled his tank top off over his head before reclaiming her lips, his hands already working at pulling her dolphin shorts off.

“Most important perk of all,” he murmured against her mouth. “No granny around to hear us get busy…”

Cassie knew exactly what he meant and where this was going.

“O-oh! We doing this now? Right here? On the floor?” Cassie’s eyes widened as a blush spread across her cheeks.

Caleb chuckled softly against her lips, already pulling her panties down her hips. “Mhm. Right here. Right now.” His breath became rushed and ragged as his hands gently but urgently helped her out of her t-shirt, leaving her completely bare underneath him.

As he trailed kisses down her neck, sliding his hand between her thighs, teasing her folds with his fingers. “I’ve been dreaming about doing this for so long.” He shifted slightly to position himself more comfortably between her legs.

“Why are you telling me this?” Cassie gasped as he kissed just below her navel.

“Because I want you to know just how long I’ve wanted you…” Caleb ran his tongue down her stomach before leaning down to kiss her most sensitive spot—her throbbing clit.

“Oh ffffuck!” Cassie gasped, her back arching off the floor.

Caleb smirked against her, his hands gripping her thighs firmly as he began licking and sucking slowly. “Shh… or the neighbours will hear…” he murmured before diving back in, determined to make her fall apart under his mouth. “Keep your legs open for me, Cassie…”

Cassie cried out, gripping the fluffy rug beneath them as waves of pleasure rippled through her. Caleb hummed happily against her, the vibration sending electric shocks through her body as he continued his relentless pace with his tongue. Soon his fingers joined his mouth, sliding inside her gently but firmly, expertly finding that spot that made her eyes roll back.

A loud moan made its way out of her mouth as she arched her back off the rug.

“Didn’t I say to keep it down, pipsqueak?” he teased.

Cassie sputtered as if he personally offended her, her face turning an even deeper red. “My cooter is sensitive and you’re out eating it like it’s an all-you-can-eat buffet. Fuck you mean keep it down?!”

Caleb froze between her legs, his mouth twitching. Then he laughed, his shoulders shaking. “Jesus, Cassie. Only you can make 'keep it down’ sound like a personal attack on your pussy.” He said, pressing his cheek against her thigh. “Damn girl, where’s your filter?”

“Bold of you to assume I had one to begin with,” Cassie shot back.

He laughed again, shaking his head in amusement. “Fair point.” He said, giving her a playful peck on her thigh. “But if you don’t want to embarrass yourself and let the whole neighbourhood know how good I am at sucking this sweet pussy of yours, you gotta keep it down a bit.”

“Fine. But if I get loud despite my efforts, I’m blaming you.”

“Deal.” Caleb grinned mischievously before diving back in, his hands gripping her thighs to hold them open as he redoubled his efforts. His tongue worked faster, his fingers curling inside her to hit that perfect spot over and over. “And if you can’t keep quiet…” He curled his fingers upwards relentlessly and swirled his tongue around her clit, sucking it gently before releasing it with a pop. “I’ll just have to work harder to make sure that you do.”

He looked up at her with a wicked grin, his fingers still working inside her. “And you know what they say about quiet girls, right?” His tongue flicked out again. “They’re the ones who scream the loudest in bed.”

“Shut… up…” Cassie managed between moans.

Caleb chuckled softly at her weak protest, feeling her tighten around his fingers. “Hmm, already struggling to stay quiet, aren’t you, pipsqueak?” He picked up the pace with his tongue, flattening it against her clit and moving in quick circles. “You’re doing so well…”

The room filled with Cassie’s moans as she gripped his hair, bucking her hips against his face. Caleb groaned against her, the vibration sending new waves of pleasure through her. He doubled down, sucking her clit into his mouth hard before releasing it with a pop. “That’s it, Cassie… ride my face…” he murmured encouragingly between licks.

Cassie plopped herself against her elbows, unconsciously spreading her legs wider in the process. Taking full advantage, Caleb pushed his face deeper between her legs, wrapping her legs around his neck, eating her out like a starving man. His fingers curved upwards perfectly, hitting that spot inside her that made her eyes roll back and her mouth open in a silent scream.

“Keep doing that and I’m not going to hold back,” Cassie panted, looking down at him with lidded eyes.

Caleb ignored her warning, instead doing exactly what she’d told him not to do. He curled his fingers and thrusted deeper inside her, hitting that spot over and over while sucking hard on her clit.

Cassie threw her head back and gripped his hair tightly; the sound of her needy cries echoed through the attic. Caleb hummed happily against her, his fingers going deeper and faster inside her.

“Don’t stop. Don’t sto—” Cassie yelped as Caleb gripped her thighs tightly, pulling her even closer until she was pressed firmly against his mouth.

Now he was devouring her aggressively, making her cries turn into incoherent moans mixed with screams as she rambled, begging and demanding him not to stop and to keep going.

“Fuck… I’m gonna come,” she panted.

Caleb grew even more enthusiastic at her warning, doubling down on his efforts. His fingers pumped faster while his tongue flicked rapidly against her clit. “Then fucking come, baby…” he growled against her wet heat. “Come all over my mouth…”

He pressed down hard with his tongue just as she reached her peak, feeling her walls clamp down around his fingers. Maintaining the pressure on her sensitive clit while slowly fucking her with his fingers, he drew out her orgasm until she was trembling and panting beneath him.

“Damn…” Caleb breathed against her wetness as she came down from her high, his own breathing ragged. He pressed gentle kisses to her inner thighs before moving up to capture her lips in a deep, languid kiss, letting her taste herself on his tongue.

The rain continued its steady rhythm against the attic window, the storm outside nothing compared to the one they’d just weathered together. In that moment, with Caleb’s weight pressing her into the floor and his lips still claiming hers and his fingers threading her hair, Cassie didn’t want this moment to end.

“You okay?” He murmurs against your lips before kissing you again.

“Uh huh.” She nodded.

He chuckled softly against your lips, kissing you again before pulling back slightly to look into your eyes. “That was fucking hot.” He admitted with a smirk. “Your screams were so loud I’m surprised the neighbours didn’t call the cops.”

Cassie smacked his chest. “Fuck you.”

He laughed loudly at your playful smack, his chest vibrating under your hand. “Fuck me? Or kiss me?” He challenged, taking her hand and bringing it to his mouth to press a kiss to her palm. “Because I’m not done with you yet…”

Cassie yelped when he pulled her closer, making her slide against the rug towards him.

He grinned wickedly. His hands gripped her hips firmly, grinding her down against his hardening erection. “Kiss me or fuck me, Cassie?” He asked again, leaning down to nip at her jawline. “Or maybe both?”

Cassie didn’t say a word.

He took her silence as an invitation, capturing her mouth in a searing kiss. His tongue pushed past her lips to tangle with hers as he continued to grind her against his hard-on. His hands slid down to grab her ass, squeezing both cheeks firmly as he broke the kiss to trail his lips down her neck. “Both it is.”

He pulled away and sat up. Pulling off his sweatpants and boxers slowly, his cock springing free from its constraints.

Caleb’s hungry gaze never left Cassie’s face as he stroked himself slowly, watching her reaction with dark amusement. “You want this?” he asked, his voice rough with desire.

Cassie’s eyes were wide at the sight of him—generously sized and thick as hell. A deep blush spread across her cheeks, but she refused to back down.

He watched her reaction carefully, taking in her wide-eyed expression and deep blush. “Cassie?” He called softly. “You okay?”

“Oh, for sure. Seeing my childhood best friend’s dick for the first time is totally normal. Mhmm.”

He burst out laughing, the tension easing from his shoulders. “You realise this thing could barely fit inside you, right?” he teased, giving himself another slow stroke.

“Yet that’s not stopping you, huh?” she shot back, her voice trembling only slightly.

“Nope. Not even a little bit.” His smirk was wicked as he shifted closer, his erection bobbing between them. “You want me to go slow?”

Cassie nodded, suddenly feeling the weight of what they were about to do. Caleb’s expression softened, and he leaned down to capture her lips in another searing kiss. His tongue pushed past her lips, tangling with hers as he ground his hips against her, letting her feel just how much he wanted her before he broke the kiss to trail his lips down her neck.

“Then I’ll go slow,” he murmured against her skin, the word sending a shiver down her spine.

He pulled away just long enough to shove down his sweatpants and boxers, kicking them aside. Cassie’s breath hitched at the full view of him—hard and eager. Caleb positioned himself between her legs, his tip brushing against her entrance before pushing forward slightly.

Cassie gasped as he stretched her, her nails digging into his shoulders. “W-wait!” she gasped out.

Caleb stilled immediately, his forehead creased with concern. “Too much?” he asked softly, his voice strained. When she didn’t answer right away, he added, “Do we need lube?”

She shook her head, biting her lip. “No. Condoms,” she said.

He reached over to the side table where he kept a stash of condoms for such occasions.

"You have condoms in the attic?” Cassie asked, her tone teasing but practical as she watched him tear the foil packaging with his teeth.

Caleb chuckled, a faint blush colouring his cheeks. “Yeah… I may have hoped this would happen someday,” he admitted, rolling the condom down his length. “Better?” he asked, positioning himself again.

Cassie smirked. “I don’t know if I should be impressed or suspicious.”

“Impressed. Definitely impressed,” he whispered against her lips. “I’ve been fantasising about this moment for a while.” He groaned as he pushed forward slowly, letting more of himself slip inside her this time.

Cassie cried out, her back arching. Caleb swallowed her gasp with another kiss, his own breath ragged. He realized just how tight she was—like she hadn’t done this in forever. “I got you, baby. Too much?” he asked.

She shook her head.

He pushed in another inch, his forehead wrinkling with the effort to go slow. She cried out again, her nails digging into his shoulders. Caleb hissed in a sharp breath, the sudden pain mixing with the pleasure of being inside her and he was only halfway in.

“Fuck… Cassie please…” he whispered hoarsely. “Just breathe…”

“What’s the matter? Virgin pussy too much for you?” Cassie deadpanned, her dry sarcasm cutting through the tension.

Caleb burst out laughing, his whole body shaking as he buried his face in her neck. “Shut up,” he muttered before capturing her mouth in a fierce kiss. “I didn’t think you’d be this tight.”

"Weak,” she taunted.

“Hey. I’m trying to be a gentleman here,” he chuckled.

“What? You want a Nobel Peace Prize for the bare minimum?” she retorted.

He laughed again, pressing his forehead against hers. “God, you’re so annoying when you’re being a smartass,” he said, though his voice was fond. “And cute when you’re being a brat.” He kissed her deeply before sinking the rest of the way inside her in one slow, deliberate thrust.

“Fuck… Cassie,” he groaned, his voice strained.

“Still here,” she managed, though her voice was tight. “And still breathing,” she added, the dry joke slipping out on instinct.

Caleb groaned loudly, his hands gripping her hips tighter as he fought the urge to move. “You’re really testing my patience right now.”

“I’m coping,” she breathed.

He let out a low chuckle, his hips finally giving in and rocking slightly. “Coping by being a smartass?” he asked, his voice rough.

“It’s working, ain’t it?” Cassie cried out as he hit a spot deep inside her, her fingers clawing at his shoulders. “Oh fuck… you’re so deep.”

Caleb swallowed hard at her cry, pulling back almost all the way before pushing forward again, targeting that same spot. “Right there?” he asked softly.

“Yeah,” she nodded vigorously, her breath coming in short gasps.

He smirked, increasing his pace just slightly, each thrust deliberate and deep. He leaned down to kiss her again, muffling her moans against his lips. “You like that, baby?” he whispered between kisses.

“Yes… just like that,” she gasped. “Don’t stop…”

Caleb’s hands roamed her body possessively—one gripping her hip, the other sliding up to squeeze her breast. “Fuck, Cassie… you feel so good,” he groaned, his rhythm becoming more urgent.

The attic was filled with the sounds of their ragged breathing, the creak of the floor beneath them, their skin slapping against each other, and the steady patter of rain against the window. The storm outside mirrored the intensity between them—wild, unrestrained, and utterly consuming.

As their bodies moved together, the years of friendship and the unspoken tension melted away. In that moment, there was only them—Caleb and Cassie—two souls who had always been connected, now bound together in the most intimate way possible.

Caleb panted against Cassie’s neck, his breath hot and uneven. His fingers pinched and rolled her nipple as he marked her skin with open-mouthed kisses, each one sending shivers down her spine.

Suddenly, he hooked her legs over his elbows, spreading her wider, hitting even deeper. "Shh… shh… take it,“ he murmured, his voice rough with desire.

Cassie cried out, arching her back, her breasts pushing up toward him. Caleb groaned at the sight, leaning down to suck one hardened nipple into his mouth, swirling his tongue around it as he pounded into her mercilessly. "So, fucking tight…" he mumbled against her chest before moving to the other nipple, his teeth grazing the sensitive peak.

Then, in one fluid motion, he flipped them over. Cassie gasped, now straddling him and her hands on his shoulders, her thighs trembling as she adjusted to the new angle. Caleb wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close as he thrust up from below. The shift made her gasp—he was hitting a spot that made her vision blur. "Fuck…” he growled, pounding into her hard. “You’re gonna be so fucking sore tomorrow.”

“Oh… will I…" Cassie panted, her voice laced with sarcasm despite the moan that followed.

Caleb smirked against her shoulder, knowing exactly how to unravel her. "Mhm… real fucking sore," he growled, snapping his hips upward hard enough to wrench another cry from her lips. "From taking all this dick.”

“Keep thrusting like that and you’ll end up putting me in a fucking wheelchair," Cassie shot back, her nails digging into his shoulders.

He laughed, the sound dark and delighted, his hips moving even faster. "That’s the idea," he panted, pulling out almost all the way before slamming back inside her. "Maybe I should fuck you so hard, you’ll be crippled for a week." His breath was ragged, his muscles taut with exertion.

“Fucking… asshole…” Cassie’s retort dissolved into a whimper as Caleb pulled her hair back, exposing her neck. "Takes one to know one, pipsqueak," he murmured before running his tongue along her pulse point and biting down gently. "But you love it." His fingers dug into her hips, his rhythm punishing, relentless.

"Just… shut up," Cassie groaned, her body arching into his.

Caleb chuckled but obeyed, his only response to fuck her harder, faster, deeper. He hit that spot inside her with unerring precision until her legs shook and her moans turned into incoherent pleas. "Come on, baby…" he urged, his voice a rough whisper.

"I’m… so… close…" Cassie whimpered, her fingers clutching at him desperately.

Caleb buried his face in her neck. His hand slid between them, his fingers rubbing her directly in time with his movements. "Then fucking come already," he growled impatiently.

The dual stimulation sent her spiralling. Cassie screamed his name as she came apart, her body clamping around him in rhythmic waves. Caleb roared his own release moments later, burying himself deep inside her as he shuddered through his climax.

Caleb stayed buried inside her, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist as he gently and slowly stroked his cock in her as he emptied his load. His breathing was ragged against her skin, his warmth enveloping her completely.

After a long moment, he slowly laid her back down on the rug, following her down. His softening cock twitched occasionally as he nuzzled into the crook of her neck, his large frame covering her smaller one protectively.

"Fuck…" he exhaled, his voice rough as he leaned back slightly and brushed his thumb against her bottom lip. "You okay?"

"I’m not dead, in case you’re wondering," Cassie replied dryly, though her voice was hoarse.

Caleb laughed softly, his body rumbling against hers. "Jesus, Cassie. You make a guy work for it, you know that?" He pulled back slightly to study her—her flushed cheeks, swollen lips, and wild hair.

Gently, he kissed her forehead, then her nose, then her lips—softly this time, a stark contrast to the earlier intensity. "Did I hurt you?" His thumb brushed her bottom lip again. "You can punch me if I did.”

“Don’t tempt me," Cassie muttered, though there was no real bite in her words.

He chuckled, his grip tightening around her waist. "Smartass." He shifted slightly, wincing as he felt a sting from where he’d been too rough earlier. Discarding the used condom carelessly, he collapsed back beside her, his hand splayed possessively over her stomach as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "Can we stay like this for a bit?”

“I doubt I’ll be able to move after you blew my back out," Cassie grumbled, though she nestled closer.

Caleb laughed deeply, his chest vibrating beneath her. "You know what they say… when a man really puts his back into it…" He paused dramatically. ”…you can barely walk afterwards—ow!“ He yelped as Cassie smacked his chest.

He caught her wrist before she could hit him again, pressing a quick kiss to her knuckles. "Easy there, pipsqueak. I was just joking." His fingers intertwined with hers, holding her hand captive against his chest.

Cassie huffed.

He smirked, finding her irritation oddly endearing. His thumb traced slow circles on her hand as they lay there, the silence between them comfortable, no awkwardness lingering after their intensity.

"Cassie?" Caleb’s voice was uncharacteristically soft.

"Yeah?”

“You… you’re not gonna suddenly regret this later, are you?" Vulnerability peeked through his usual confidence.

Cassie blinked, surprised. "No! Why would I?”

He exhaled, tension leaving his shoulders. "No reason… I just…“ He trailed off, unwilling to admit his fear of scaring her off again. "Never mind." He pressed another kiss to her forehead instead.

"Uh uh. We ain’t doing that. Speak," Cassie demanded.

Caleb sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It’s just… sometimes I can be a bit too much. I don’t want you to think I’m too intense." His eyes were sincere as they met hers.

Cassie snorted. "You? Intense.”

“You know what I mean,” he rolled his eyes, the tension leaving his shoulders as he was relieved that she was taking this conversation well. “Like… I can get serious. Too serious. And some girls—"

“Caleb, you’re the biggest dork I’ve known for years. Your intensity is the least of my worries.”

He laughed outright, shaking his head. "Only you would say that.“ Pulling her closer, he kissed her hair. "I guess I was just being paranoid. But you’re right about something.”

“About what?”

"About me being fucking dork. I mean, look at me. I just spent twenty minutes giving you the best orgasm of your life, and now I’m over here worrying about being too intense?”

Cassie rolled her eyes, but before she could retort, Caleb moved on top of her again, his hardness pressing against her. He leaned down, capturing her lips in a slow, tender kiss—no rush or aggression this time, just warmth. His hands framed her face gently as he pulled back slightly, whispering, "Round two?“ His thumb stroked her cheek.

"Do I have a choice?”

He smirked, grinding his hips down to let her feel exactly what he wanted. "Not really.“

Cassie chuckled, rolling her eyes and wrapping her arms around his neck as their lips met again.