“Well,” I say finally, breaking the comfortable silence, “that was definitely worthy of a hayloft romp.”
He laughs, the sound rumbling through his chest beneath my ear. “Agreed. Though I think we shocked the horses.”
I lift my head to look at him, unable to stop smiling. “The horses will recover. I, on the other hand, might never be the same.”
His expression turns serious as he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
“Definitely good,” I assure him, leaning in to kiss him softly. “Very, very good.”
He pulls me closer, arranging the blankets over us to ward off the chill. Outside, the night is quiet except for the occasional soft nicker from the horses below and the distant hoot of an owl. Despite the security teams patrolling the property, despite the danger lurking in the woods, despite the uncertainty of what tomorrow might bring with the waterfall expedition, I feel safe here in Caleb’s arms.
“What are you thinking about?” he asks, his fingers still tracing patterns on my skin.
“How strange life is,” I reply honestly. “A few weeks ago, I was thinking about moving back to Toronto. Now I’m involved in a century-old conspiracy, being watched by corporate goons, and making love in a hayloft with a man I barely know but somehow trust completely.”
“When you put it that way, it does sound a bit surreal,” he agrees. “Any regrets?”
I prop myself up on one elbow to look at him properly. “Not a single one. You?”
“Only that we didn’t do this sooner,” he says with a grin that makes my heart flip.
I lay my head back on his chest, listening to the beat of his heart again as the night deepens, inside our magical haven of light and warmth, I find something I thought I’d lost forever—trust, desire, and the courage to let someone in.
He moves his hand and traces lazy patterns on my bare shoulder while the other holds mine against his stomach. The lanterns have dimmed, but the fairy lights still twinkle above us like earthbound stars.
“Are you cold?” he asks softly, pulling a blanket higher around us.
“No,” I murmur, pressing a kiss to his skin. “Perfect.”
He shifts slightly to look down at me, his expression serious in the gentle light. “I need to tell you something.”
I prop myself up on one elbow, suddenly nervous. “What is it?”
“I’m falling for you,” he says quietly. “Faster than I thought possible. And it terrifies me.”
The honesty in his voice steals my breath. “Why does it scare you?”
He’s quiet for a moment, gathering his thoughts. “Because I’ve lost people before. In my line of work, attachments were dangerous—for them and for me.”
I understand this fear all too well. “And now?”
“Now I’m realizing that not letting yourself care might be the bigger danger.” His fingers trace the curve of my cheek. “You make me want to take that risk.”
The vulnerability in his admission touches something deep inside me. “I’m falling for you, too,” I whisper. “And it terrifies me for different reasons.”
“Mark,” he says, not a question.
I nod. “I trusted him as a boss. The consequences were... devastating.”
“I’m not him,” Caleb’s voice is firm, his eyes earnest as he continues, “…and I’d never hurt you the way he did. But that’s not what I want to tell you.”
Chapter 25
Caleb
“What is it?” Lana asks, her eyes searching mine in the dim light, a hint of concern in her voice.
I take a deep breath, knowing what I’m about to say might change everything between us. “Before I came here, I was in a dark place. The things I saw, the things I did in service... they haunted me. I couldn’t sleep. Couldn’t function normally.”
