Chapter 6: Forbidden Dreams

That night, sleep wouldn’t come easy. I dreamed of Caleb—his hands holding a steak knife, the way he cut his food with quiet confidence. His hands were beautiful: clean, long-fingered, blue veins tracing over pale skin. Strong and delicate all at once.

In my dream, it was those hands that had almost… My cheeks burned, even asleep. I could feel the heat of his skin, the press of his fingers at my waist.

"Natalie, are you hot?" Dream-Caleb’s voice was low, teasing. He handed me a napkin, his eyes shining with something unreadable.

"Ah… a little," I stammered. "I sweat easily when I eat." Even in my dreams, I was making excuses.

He studied me, then stood and came to my side. The chair scraped across the floor.

"Is it the food making you hot, or is it because you’re looking at me?" he asked, voice velvet-soft, so close I could feel his breath.

My mind blanked. I tried to answer, but nothing came out—just the thud of my heart in my ears.

He reached out, tilting my chin up. "Natalie, compared to Derek, don’t you think I’m more attractive?" His gaze was deep, dangerous.

Everything inside me went still.

The next second, he kissed me. The world disappeared. And then, with dream logic, the scene shifted—Caleb and I were alone in his bedroom, the door closed, the night stretching endlessly before us. I woke up with my heart racing, the taste of guilt and something sweeter lingering on my lips.

I woke with his name on my lips—and no idea how to face the morning.