Caleb Caldwell

[valentinamernes]

she wouldn’t say she preferred seeing caleb and dallas kiss over being the one getting all the attention, but she knew dallas was there for a reason. valentina watched the scene, taking in every second of it—the way caleb kissed him. something inside her twisted with a hint of jealousy, the way he pulled dallas closer, the way his thumb brushed against his jaw. caleb was right; she had front-row seats to a really steamy scene. for a second, valentina felt like she ran out of air as she kept watching. it was hot—there was no denying that. “that was hot,” she admitted. there was no point in pretending otherwise, not when it had clearly affected her. she didn’t know if the cab driver was paying attention or just very good at ignoring them, but either way, it wasn’t like they were going to stop. as they pulled apart and dallas’s hand moved up along her side to her chest, her eyebrows raised, amused, her gaze dropping briefly to his lips as his hands wandered. but any attention dallas managed to steal was quickly taken back by caleb as his hand moved down her waist and up her thigh. “i don’t fucking care right now,” she whispered, pulling dallas closer so she could kiss him—slow, deliberate, and heated, like she had something to prove. her hand loosely cupped his as it rested against her. “this was a good idea,” she murmured against caleb’s lips. when they pulled away, she leaned closer to his ear, her voice breathless. “i’m so wet after that fucking kiss, assholes,” she muttered. “are we far? i need to get out of here.”

[caleb--caldwell]

Caleb let out a low, breathy laugh as Valentina pulled Dallas back in, his eyes dark with satisfaction rather than surprise. He wasn’t shy about the effect they were having on one another, if anything, he leaned into it, like he’d been waiting to see exactly how far she’d let it this all go. He let his hand stay at her thigh for a second longer before sliding it a little higher, deliberately unhurried, like he had all the time in the world. At her whisper against his ear, Caleb exhaled sharply through his nose, a quiet laugh more than anything else. “Patient’s not really your thing, huh?” he said under his breath, voice low and teasing. He tilted his head toward the driver for half a second, then back to her, completely unfazed. “Relax,” he added, still calm, still smug. “We’re almost there.” Then, with a glance at Dallas, his grin turned sharper. “But yeah,” Caleb added casually, like he was talking about the weather, “I’d say that was a pretty good idea too.” Caleb didn’t rush anything. If anything, he leaned into the fact that they were close, close enough that there was no point pretending they were behaving. That space was exactly where he liked things to sit for a moment longer than necessary. “Two streets away,” Caleb said after a glance out the window, voice low and calm. He looked back at her, that familiar, slightly infuriating half-smile tugging at his mouth. “You going to survive that?" He shifted just enough to lean in closer, not kissing her yet, just close enough that it felt intentional, like a decision he was letting hang in the air. “Or are you going to fall apart before all three of us even get out of the car?” The corner of his mouth twitched up. “You're wet already? Good,” he said simply, voice dropping. He leaned back just enough to look between her and Dallas with an amused glance, like this was all still very much under his control and he was enjoying every second of it. “Honestly,” he said casually, almost like an afterthought, “I’m sat here wondering if you'll even be able to walk tomorrow, or me." He glanced between her and Dallas with a faint grin, clearly unbothered by the implications, just enjoying the chaos he’d stirred without ever raising his voice. Then his attention settled back on her, softer but still teasing. “Good thing we’ve got nowhere important to be.”

[kyleemercer]

“dicknotized,” she nodded toward caleb, a smirk playing on her lips. “that’s the word.” she took the shot and immediately winced, letting out a little whoo once she swallowed it. “god, that was strong,” she laughed, shaking her head. then she pointed at her friend with the glass still in hand. “what i was saying is, if he keeps calling you, it’s because he’s dicknotized. there’s no other explanation.” she nodded like she’d just solved a major mystery. “maybe we should find you someone who doesn’t get weirdly obsessed with you after one taste,” she mused, before pausing and narrowing her eyes playfully. “but then again… you kind of love messy, so maybe you’re part of the problem.” she grinned, leaning back in her seat. “teach me how, though,” she laughed. then, after a beat, she raised a finger and corrected herself, “actually, no. don’t. i already make enough bad decisions on my own.” @caleb--caldwell

[caleb--caldwell]

Caleb leaned back in his chair like he owned the booth, one arm stretched across the backrest while he watched her reaction to the shot with a grin that only widened at the dramatic whoo. He let out a low laugh, dragging his tongue slowly across his bottom lip before shaking his head at her. “You just swallowed all that shot in one go?” he said, voice smooth with teasing. “Damn, girl. No wonder all the boys love you.” He sat back like he was pleased with himself for that one, eyes glittering with amusement while he watched her reaction carefully. “And here I was thinking I was the bad influence at this table.” At the mention of dicknotized, he pressed a hand against his chest in mock offense before breaking into another amused laugh. “That might be the craziest thing I’ve ever heard,” he said, though the smug look on his face suggested he absolutely loved it. “Can’t even deny it either. Some people get one little taste of my attention and can't get enough of me." His eyes flicked toward her friend .“You say that like I’m out here ruining lives. Maybe I’m just memorable, great at both giving and receiving blowjobs and bottoming." Caleb leaned forward slightly then, resting his forearms on the table, attention fully on her now. “Messy people are fun. You can only date so many normal people before you start needing a little chaos to stay entertained.” The second she told him not to teach her, he smirked harder, slow and dangerous. “Too late. Pretty sure sitting here with me already counts as another bad decision.” He lifted his drink toward her in a lazy little cheers. “But it’s got potential to be a really good one.”

[valentinamernes]

there was never anything easy about their relationship; the only things that seemed to come naturally were the fights and the way they somehow always ended up tangled together afterward. as they waited for the cab, valentina wrapped her arms around herself, trying to keep the cold from slipping through her jacket. “you’re so subtle,” she said dryly, shaking her head. when he slipped right between them, she let out a quiet scoff. “you’re always in the middle of something. honestly, i’m pretty sure you love being stuck between people,” she added, glancing at dallas. “you’ll see—he always manages to wedge himself right there.” the quick kiss was cute, but of course caleb had to kiss dallas too. they had invited him into their little chaos, after all, though that didn’t mean valentina was thrilled about sharing caleb’s attention. “always,” she nodded when he spoke, before adding with a small smirk, “and if i snap tonight it’s not because of you, babe.” she looked directly at caleb. “all the pettiness is reserved for him.” tugging caleb’s arm, she guided him toward the cab first. “not even trying to be subtle,” she added with a grin. once they were all inside, she settled back with a quiet sigh, purse resting on her lap as the car started moving. she kept her gaze forward, even while caleb’s arm stretched over her head toward dallas. when caleb leaned in to kiss the curve of her neck, she rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the smile that followed. “you really know how to make cab rides interesting,” she murmured. when dallas joined in on the other side, she let out a soft laugh. “thanks, amor.” her hands rested briefly on caleb’s thighs before she sighed again, sliding them up to their chests and gently pushing them back from her neck. then her fingers moved to the back of both their necks, drawing their attention. looking between them, she smirked. “seriously… just kiss already. i can feel the tension.” she nudged them closer together until they were face to face right in front of her.

[caleb--caldwell]

Inside the cab, he stretched his arm behind Valentina without even thinking about it, his fingers brushing Dallas’s shoulder as naturally as breathing. When he leaned down to kiss the curve of Valentina’s neck and she rolled her eyes at him, Caleb chuckled softly against her skin. “Interesting’s better than boring,” he murmured near her ear. Her laugh when Dallas joined in made Caleb grin wider, though the moment didn’t last long before her hands pushed lightly against their chests. He leaned back just enough to look at her, eyebrows lifting in mild surprise as her fingers curled around the backs of their necks. Then she nudged them closer. Caleb blinked once when she told them to just kiss already. For a second he looked straight at Dallas, the space between them suddenly a lot smaller. Valentina’s hands were still on their necks, holding them there like she’d decided the moment wasn’t optional. Caleb let out a quiet breath through his nose, half amused, half caught. “Bossy girl” he muttered, glancing briefly back at her with a crooked smirk. Then his eyes returned to Dallas, expression softening into something more playful than hesitant. “You heard her,” Caleb said quietly. “Apparently the tension’s ruining the cab ride.” His hand slid up briefly to Valentina’s wrist where it rested against his neck, thumb brushing over it. “Well,” he said, voice lighter now, “wouldn’t want to disappoint the director.” He tilted his head slightly, eyes flicking down to Dallas’s mouth for just a second before returning to his eyes. His thumb was still brushing idly over Valentina’s wrist where it rested against his neck, like he hadn’t forgotten she was the one orchestrating the moment. He leaned a little closer to Dallas, just enough for the space between them to shrink into something charged but still playful. “Should’ve known you’d turn the cab into front row seats.” Caleb’s gaze slid back to Dallas again, slower this time, deliberately lingering. There was a hint of showing off in the way he moved, like he was fully aware Valentina was watching every second. Then he closed the last inch of space, brushing a quick, confident kiss against Dallas’s lips, brief at first, almost like he was proving a point. Then, he went back in again. One hand lifted to the side of Dallas’s jaw, thumb brushing along it before his fingers curled lightly behind his neck. The movement was confident, deliberate, very aware of the pair of eyes right in front of them. When their lips met again, Caleb didn’t pull away after a second. The kiss lingered, slower, deeper than the first one, tongue met tongue. He tilted his head slightly, drawing Dallas in rather than just brushing against him. When he pulled back, his eyes immediately flicked toward Valentina again, smug amusement written all over his face. His hand slid down from Dallas’s neck, but he didn’t fully pull away. Instead, he tilted his head slightly—just a subtle shift, a small motion meant only for Dallas. The message was clear enough: her turn. From where Caleb sat, he could see Dallas’s hands slide up along Valentina’s sides before settling higher against her torso. His palms moved over the front of her jacket, drifting upward until they rested against her boobs. Caleb let out a quiet breath through his nose, amused. But Caleb clearly had no intention of behaving himself either. While Dallas’s attention stayed higher, Caleb’s hand moved the opposite direction. His fingers slid down from her waist, trailing slowly along her hip before settling along her upper thigh. The cab shifted slightly as it turned down another street, the passing lights briefly illuminating the three of them tangled together in the back seat. Caleb’s thumb brushed lazily against her thigh, the touch slow and deliberate, sneaking it's way upwards. His hand slid a little higher along, while he leaned in and pressed another slow kiss just below her ear. “Hope the driver’s not paying too much attention,” Caleb muttered lightly, the amusement clear in his voice.

[valentinamernes]

she was bold enough to grab the new guy’s hand and pull him along without waiting for caleb’s reaction—though, in a way, she was always waiting for it. “it works the way i want, caleb. get over it,” she smiled, pretending not to be affected by that infuriatingly calm look he always wore—the one that made her want to slap and kiss him at the same time. at his comment about her dragging dallas around like a dog, she scoffed. “shut up, caleb,” she rolled her eyes. when he pointed out they hadn’t exactly planned their escape, she hated that he was right and folded her free arm around herself as they stepped outside. “thanks, amore,” she muttered, exaggerating the word as his arm brushed against her just enough to make her nerves spark. “sure,” she nodded when he suggested getting to know the guy, even though that wasn’t the point—they weren’t going to see dallas again after tonight anyway. when caleb slipped himself between them, valentina groaned. “you always have to be in the middle,” she mused. “it looks better, sure.” her eyes fluttered closed for a second when his lips brushed her temple, only for her to sigh dramatically when he leaned over and kissed dallas on the cheek too. “whatever, caleb,” she muttered under her breath. when he told dallas he was impressed after seeing her “behave like that,” she scoffed again. “he didn’t see me like anything. i’m nice to him,” she defended. as the cab pulled up, she smiled tightly. “you go in first. you’re not pressing me against the window,” she said, tugging caleb in front of her so he wouldn’t end up in the middle seat. then she glanced at dallas with a shrug. “space-wise. nothing to do with you. we’ve been in this situation before.”

[caleb--caldwell]

Caleb let her pull the new guy along. He didn’t resist. Didn’t rush. Just followed at an easy pace, hands in his pockets, that maddeningly calm expression fixed in place. When she told him to shut up for the dog comment, he huffed a quiet laugh through his nose. “If the leash fits,” he murmured, just loud enough for her to hear. Outside, when she muttered thanks, amore with that exaggerated sweetness, Caleb’s mouth twitched. “Don’t thank me like that,” he replied smoothly. “You know how I like to be thanked when we get home." He nodded toward Dallas without even looking at him. When she agreed to “get to know” the guy, Caleb glanced at her briefly. He knew. Of course he did. This wasn’t about Dallas. It never really was. So he slipped neatly between them without asking. When she groaned about him always being in the middle, he looked down at her, brows lifting. “Always?” he repeated. “That sounds intentional.” He didn’t miss the way her eyes fluttered when he kissed her temple, and he absolutely did not miss the dramatic sigh when he leaned over and pressed a quick, harmless kiss to Dallas’s cheek too. Caleb pulled back, expression innocent. “What?” he asked mildly. “I’m inclusive.” At her defense about being nice, he tilted his head. “I didn’t say you weren’t,” he replied. “I said I was impressed.” There was something knowing in the way he looked at her then. When the cab pulled up and she ordered him to go in first, physically tugging him forward so he wouldn’t end up in the middle seat, Caleb glanced down at her hand on him. Then at her. “You’re not subtle,” he noted calmly. He slid into the cab first anyway, adjusting so she wouldn’t be stuck awkwardly, but leaving just enough space to make it obvious he could’ve sat wherever he wanted. When she told Dallas it was a space thing, Caleb leaned back against the seat. “Oh, we have?” he asked casually. His arm stretched along the back of the seat behind her, relaxed. “Funny,” he added, eyes flicking to her briefly. “I don’t remember you minding the window last time.” His tone stayed light. But the look he gave her wasn’t. The second Dallas pulled the door shut, the soft thud sealing the three of them inside, Caleb’s eyes flicked up briefly, automatic, assessing. Driver facing forward. Meter running. No attention on them. Good. He settled back like he had all the time in the world. Except he didn’t sit neutrally. His knee angled deliberately, pressing against Valentina’s. Not hard. Not accidental either. Just enough to remind her exactly where he was. Comfortable. Claiming space. At the same time, his hand lifted lazily, fingers brushing the back of Dallas’s neck like it was absentminded. Like he wasn’t thinking about it at all. But the touch lingered a second too long to be casual. His thumb traced once, slow. He leaned closer to Valentina first, tilting his head just enough to press a soft, teasing kiss along the curve of her neck. His lips lingered a moment, brushing against her skin, and he let out a low, playful murmur that was just for her. “Bet you didn’t think this cab ride could get this interesting,” he whispered, voice husky, just beneath her ear so the driver wouldn’t hear. His knee pressed a fraction more against hers, subtle pressure that made the heat between them undeniable. Then, without breaking the rhythm, his hand slid to the back of Dallas’s neck, guiding him forward gently, coaxing him into the same position. His fingers tangled lightly in Dallas’s hair, tilting his head so he could plant the same teasing kiss on the other side of Valentina's neck. "You're welcome."

[valentinamernes]

she kissed dallas without thinking, driven by a raw need for caleb to see that she could give her attention to someone who wasn’t him, but the moment he commented her focus cracked, and she pulled back to look at caleb, dark eyes scanning his face. “i’m good at making friends,” she mused, still feeling dallas’s hands on her waist, and when caleb encouraged him to keep going—because that’s what she liked—her eyes locked onto his, heat flaring between them. “i’m not trying to punish you,” she said softly, her gaze flicking to dallas for a second before returning to caleb, “so what’s your point?” she asked in barely a whisper, but before he could answer he moved behind dallas, clearly enjoying the show, loving that she was playing right into it. she watched as caleb kissed dallas’s neck, his eyes never leaving hers, and she swallowed hard when he reached out, thumb lifting her chin, the air suddenly feeling scarce in her lungs. she pulled free of his touch and stepped back, glancing around before nodding once. “yeah,” she muttered, slinging her bag over her shoulder. “i hate you,” she declared, then turned to dallas. “let’s just go—he gets annoying when he doesn’t get what he wants,” she rolled her eyes, holding out her hand and tugging dallas toward the door, shooting caleb one last look over her shoulder, challenge burning in her eyes; he wasn’t the only one who thrived in messy situations.

[caleb--caldwell]

A slow smile curved his mouth, too calm for someone who was supposed to be losing. “Hate me?” he drawled, finally pushing off the wall. “Careful. You only use that tone when you’re lying to yourself.” He took a few unhurried steps closer, not chasing, never chasing, but close enough that she’d feel him there. His gaze flicked briefly to their joined hands, then back to her face, dark eyes warm and sharp. Caleb let out a short laugh and shook his head, already reaching for his phone as if the decision had been made ages ago. “Oh, no,” he said easily, stepping right back into their space. “You don’t get to storm out dramatically without me. That’s not how this works.” He thumbed the screen, ordering the taxi like it was the most natural thing in the world, then glanced up at her with that infuriatingly calm look. “Besides,” he added, tone light, “if you’re gonna keep dragging Dallas around like a dog on a leash, someone’s gotta make sure you actually get where you’re going. You two forgot to order anything before going out into the cold." He moved first toward the door, holding it open and gesturing them through, eyes never leaving her. Outside, the night air hit and he fell into step beside them, too close, shoulder nearly brushing hers. The taxi notification buzzed and Caleb held the phone up between them, deliberately close, his arm brushing hers as he leaned in. “Two minutes,” he murmured, voice lower now. “Plenty of time for us all to get to know each other some more." Caleb didn’t even hesitate. The moment they paused on the sidewalk, he slipped right in between them like he belonged there, long arms looping around both Valentina and Dallas and pulling them in close. Easy. Familiar. Infuriatingly affectionate. “There we go,” he murmured, squeezing them together until their shoulders bumped. “This looks way better already.” He dipped his head first to Valentina, lips brushing her temple in a soft, deliberate kiss that lingered just long enough to make it feel personal. “You’re wound up,” he said quietly, teasing warmth threaded through his voice. “Cute on you. Dangerous, but cute.” Then he turned his head and kissed Dallas’s temple too, just as smooth, just as intentional, like he was making a point of being equal-opportunity trouble. “And you,” he added lightly, giving Dallas a little squeeze, “you’re handling all this like a champ. Most people panic when she gets like this.” Caleb leaned back just enough to look at both of them, arms still snug around their shoulders, grin lazy and confident. “See? We’re good. This works."

[valentinamernes]

as valentina saw how caleb was backed against the wall, another guy’s hand resting on his waist, she felt her blood boil in her veins. she scoffed at his words. “you came here with me,” she reminded him, her tone sharp, “you’re a fucking asshole.” she wished he had seen her flirting with the cute bartender earlier, just to spark the same jealousy he was stirring in her now. her eyes burned as she looked at him, the urge to slap him almost overwhelming. territorial, she thought bitterly, mentally scoffing—he was the one who always made her say she was his girl every time they slept together. she stared at caleb, and if looks could kill, he’d be six feet underground. then she noticed him say something, but not to her; her gaze shifted to the other guy, who was now openly checking her out. she did the same, catching how caleb’s eyes lingered on her, and she turned back to him, shaking her head. she knew she was going to hate herself for what came next—it had happened before, and she knew how it ended. she felt caleb’s hand cup her cheek, her eyes flicking between him and the other guy. when he introduced them, valentina took a deep breath. “nice to meet you, dallas,” she said softly, a smile on her lips, fully aware of what caleb was doing and hating how good he was at it. “all this tension,” she rolled her eyes, “you managed to flirt with the biggest asshole in the bar,” she mused, looking at dallas before turning back to caleb. “you’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” she asked, then smirked and leaned closer to caleb. “this is the little show you wanted tonight?” she whispered. “then i’ll make you regret it.” with that warning, she turned to dallas, beckoning him closer with her finger, wrapping her arms around his neck as she kissed him, pressing herself against the stranger, not even looking at caleb as she did.

[caleb--caldwell]

Caleb only laughed when she moved—actually laughed, slow and wicked, like the whole thing was unfolding exactly the way he’d hoped. He didn’t pull her back, didn’t interrupt. He watched. Enjoyed. His shoulders stayed loose, posture open, watching them both kiss. “Damn,” he muttered, eyes tracking Valentina as she pressed into Dallas, his tone openly appreciative instead of threatened. “Look at that.” He dragged a hand over his jaw, smirk deepening. “I let you at him for two seconds and you’re already making friends.” He tipped his head toward Dallas, voice easy, inviting instead of territorial. “Told you she was trouble,” he said, teasing, like this was all a shared joke. “Don’t be shy, dude. She likes it when someone keeps up.” Then his gaze slid back to Valentina—slow, deliberate, heated. Not angry. Amused. Provoked. Turned on by the challenge. “You trying to punish me?” he asked, low and cocky. “’Cause all you’re doing is proving my point.” He stepped closer now, close enough that his presence pressed in on both of them, a grin curling at the corner of his mouth. He pressed against the back of Dallas to sandwich him in. His eyes flicked between them, playful, daring. “Relax,” he said, voice smooth, confident, full of himself. “I like this show, it’s hot when everyone’s honest about wanting each other.” Caleb didn’t rush it. He let the moment stretch, thick and charged, his grin slow as his eyes stayed locked on Valentina. One hand came up, casual, claiming, fingers hooking at Dallas’s waist as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Caleb leaned in and pressed his mouth to the side of Dallas’s neck, unhurried, teasing—just enough to be unmistakable. He lingered there for a beat, breath warm against skin. But his eyes never left Valentina. He tilted his head, eyes still pinned to hers, cocky and infuriatingly sure of himself. “Careful, Val. You know I like it when things get messy.” Without breaking eye contact with Valentina, he reached out, thumb lifting to her throat. Possessive. He traced the line up there with lazy confidence, feeling her pulse under his skin. His smirk deepened. "Taxi back to ours?"

[valentinamernes]

going out together didn’t happen just once in a blue moon, especially considering how they were always all over each other, but this time they were really together for the night—or at least that’s what she thought. sure, she’d flirted a little with the guy behind the bar, but she couldn’t help it—tall, blonde, charming? she was only human. she grabbed their drinks and was heading back to the hallway where they’d been talking when she saw some guy clearly flirting with caleb. she rolled her eyes and walked over, her heels tapping sharply against the floor. "hi, hmm, he’s taken," she smirked, "go find someone else." @caleb--caldwell

[caleb--caldwell]

Caleb was already backed against the wall, the Dallas (the guy’s) hand resting a little too comfortably at his waist—and Caleb clearly wasn’t in any rush to move it. If anything, he leaned into it, shoulders relaxed, chin tilted with open satisfaction. He looked perfectly at home there, pinned and pleased, like he knew exactly how ridiculous the whole scene looked and loved it. “Taken?” he echoed lightly, amused, eyes flicking back to her heels and then up to her face. “Is that what we're calling this now?" He turned his attention to the guy with an easy, almost lazy confidence. “Hate to disappoint,” Caleb said, clapping his hand against the other's side, “but looks like you’re a little late to the party, sorry." Then—because he loved stirring things—he angled back toward Valentina voice low and teasing. “Didn’t know you were the territorial type,” he added, smirk deepening. “Kind of cute, though.” Caleb nodded once toward the bisexual male, who still hadn’t moved away fully, then shifted his gaze back to Valentina with a knowing smile. “Is she your type too?” he asked, tone smooth and provocative, like he was daring him to answer. He watched the other check her out and nod once. His eyes lingered on her a second longer than necessary, smug and challenging, clearly enjoying how tangled the moment had become—and the fact that he was right in the middle of it. Caleb lifted his hand, then—because subtlety had never been his thing—reached out and cupped both faces at once, one palm to Valentina’s cheek, the other to Dallas’s. He did it casually, like he was proving a point rather than asking permission, posture still loose against the wall. “Valentina, Dallas,” he said smoothly, eyes flicking between them. “Dallas, Valentina.” He tilted his head, voice light and coaxing, like he was hosting rather than instigating. “Would be a shame if all this tension went to waste.”

[valentinamernes]

they found themselves in that situation time and time again, and even if she tried to play it as if she didn't care... she loved him. that big word was still present in her mind when he looked at her; she hadn't managed to get over him, and it was obvious. his hands were on her, touching her like he owned every inch of her skin, touching her with precision as he always did. "you can't stop flirting with me," she mused, looking up at him. "and i get why," she smirked. those little moments when she felt she had taken control disappeared faster than they came; he rolled them over, hovering above her, and that was enough to know who was in charge in that moment. "you wish i was yours," she rolled her eyes, drunk on the feeling of his velvet voice dripping from his lips. valentina was breathless, and she couldn’t wait until he was done; everything she said came out of her lips with a purpose—she wanted a reaction, she wanted his reaction, she needed caleb’s reaction. "you need to wish harder," she pointed out as a reminder that she wasn’t his, even if deep down she knew she was. valentina’s lips parted open, her eyes locked on his as he kept the fire, the intensity; at that point her mind went blank, she could only focus on him and his warmth. "that’s the plan," she said, her legs wrapping around his back, pulling him closer if it was even possible, her arms wrapping around his neck. "finish in me, amor," she whispered sultrily against his ear.

[caleb--caldwell]

Caleb knew this dance all too well—the way they always found their way back to each other, no matter how much sense it didn’t make. Every time he swore it would be the last, but the second Valentina looked at him like that, everything else fell away. His hands moved over her skin like memory—familiar, sure, unhurried. “Maybe I don’t want to,” he said, voice rough but controlled. The shift was effortless, instinctive. She teased again and he leaned closer, his breath brushing her lips. “I don’t have to wish, I get this whenever I want,” he murmured, eyes locked on hers. Every word she threw at him was a challenge, and he met it with quiet certainty, letting his actions speak louder than his tone ever could. Her taunts—“You need to wish harder”—only made him want her more, made him want to remind her how little space there was between wanting and having. When her voice softened into that sultry whisper —Caleb’s pulse stuttered. For a second, the teasing, the tension, the push and pull between them—all of it burned down to something raw and unguarded. He didn’t answer right away; he just looked at her, steady and breathless, thumb tracing the edge of her jaw. When he finally spoke, it was low, honest, and edged with the kind of emotion he never let anyone else see. “Careful what you ask for, Valentina,” he said. “You know I don’t do halfway.” For a heartbeat, Caleb only stared at her — his breath rough, his expression unreadable. Then something in him gave way. He leaned in and kissed her again, deeper this time, the kind of kiss that erased the space between them entirely. Then, he came, thrusting through it, knowing she'd reach her peak shortly afterwards. His fingers reached down to help. "Tell me you're my girl."

[julietcaldwell]

at his words, the blonde raised her eyebrows. “young adult novels can be really explicit, so you don’t even need to be rated e or whatever,” she laughed. “but that cliché line? definitely puts you in the ya section,” she smirked, loving every second of teasing her brother. “she’s it for you?” she asked, taking a deep breath before grinning. “that’s deep shit, bro,” she laughed again. “she’s it, but you keep fucking others? that’s messed up—but that’s how i know we’re related,” she said, nudging him playfully. “you should take one for the team and flirt with one of my teachers so i get better grades. that’s how i’ll know you’re a good brother,” she added, wiggling her eyebrows at him. “glitter after exploding? i was thinking chaos and destruction,” she snorted. “but yeah, glitter’s a solid finale for this heartless bitch,” she laughed. “you know, when people get bored and want to ‘try new things,’ they usually experiment in the dorm so they don’t have to dump their partner. guess that didn’t work out for you—says a lot about you,” she teased, smirking. “thanks for leaving me the girls, though. i’ll gladly hand you all the guys who think flashing me would magically make me straight,” she nodded. “oh, if you’re waiting for me to say you’re a nice brother, caleb, you’ll be waiting forever,” she grinned, that playful glint in her eyes. “that’s the building,” she said, pointing at her dorm. “i think this is the first time you’ve ever walked me to my dorm at night.”

[caleb--caldwell]

Caleb chuckled, shaking his head at Juliet’s rapid-fire teasing, though there was an easy warmth behind his laughter. “Yeah, yeah, all of my clichés would probably put me squarely in the YA section,” he said, smirking back at her. "I think overall I'd be in the explicit section though. I have some edges that might push me over the line." He raised his hands in mock surrender when she nudged him. “Okay, okay, I get it — I’m a terrible brother sometimes. But come on, you know I only flirt to keep things interesting. And I draw the line at teachers,” he added with a grin, earning a playful eyeroll from Juliet. "Teacher's don't interest me enough. I'm a sucker for a past story." He nudged her back lightly when she joked about the dorm experiments. “Yeah, yeah, I’ve got my issues. But you know me — I try to keep the drama contained. Can’t say the same for some people,” he teased, his grin playful but affectionate. "At least my girl drama is literally just one girl drama." When she thanked him for leaving her the girls, he just shook his head, laughing. “You’re welcome… though I’m not sure how much credit I deserve for that,” he said, glancing toward the dorm building. “And hey,” he added as she pointed it out, “guess I’m leveling up in the ‘good big brother’ department. Don’t get used to it too much.” He smirked at her, hands in his pockets, the teasing vibe between them light and easy, the familiar comfort of sibling banter settling in naturally. "Now I gotta walk back this late in the dark, on my own, so thanks for that, loser,” he said, his tone dripping with mock annoyance but clearly teasing. Caleb smirked, glancing at his sister. “Keep safe and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do."

[julietcaldwell]

if there was anyone juliet trusted to get her without long explanations, it was caleb, her brother was the one person who could match her stride for stride. “exactly,” she smirked, eyes glittering with mischief as she gestured at herself. “they don’t get we’re a few steps ahead of them, like they could ever tame all this.” she rolled her eyes dramatically at his comment. “an opposites attract thing? caleb, what are you, a young adult novel? please.” her grin widened as she leaned into the tease. “you can literally have anyone, so let valentina go already.” when he called her efficient for sleeping with whoever she wanted, she didn’t even argue—she just smiled, because he wasn’t wrong. the moment he agreed to walk her back, juliet’s grin grew softer. “thanks, big brother,” she said, patting his arm with exaggerated affection. her teasing returned quick though. “why gross? i’ve seen hot teachers—probably a couple would flirt with you if you let them.” she tilted her head thoughtfully, then smirked. “but i can’t flirt with me, it’s against my nature, i’d probably combust instantly if i tried.” her gaze flicked toward a guy walking past, lips curling in amusement. “sleeping with everything that moves is part of the caldwell charm, i’ll give you that,” she teased, before shooting caleb a mischievous look. “but seriously, all the girls in the world and you settle for a man? i thought you had better taste, brother.” she laughed, sticking her tongue out at him.

[caleb--caldwell]

Caleb barked out a laugh, the sound sharp and unbothered, like her jabs only fed his energy instead of cutting it. “A young adult novel? Please. If I’m a book, I’m at least rated R for language and poor life choices or E for explicit.” He nudged her shoulder with his own, grin pulling wide. “And I can't Valentina’s it to me. I know everyone I date or hook up with after wards is going to be compared against her." Her teacher comment made him groan, but his grin stayed crooked and alive. “Gross, not my type. I don't like the busy ones. And if a teacher flirts with me, that’s their problem, not mine. I’ve got enough chaos and people to play with during my own time." Juliet’s combusting line had him snorting. “Yeah, you’d explode. You’d get one wink in and then self-destruct, leaving behind only glitter and attitude. Which honestly would be a very on-brand way for you to go.” When she teased about him settling for a man, Caleb doubled over in a laugh. “Settle? Juliet, please. That’s called variety, baby. You gotta switch up the menu or life gets boring. Besides—girls, guys, whoever—it’s not my fault everyone wants a chance to experience the Caldwell charm." Caleb smirked, tossing the line out like it cost him nothing. He knew they were both flirts. It was just in their genes. “I’ll leave the girls—apart from Valentina—to you. You’re welcome.” He gave Juliet a mock-serious nod, like he’d just bestowed a great honor. Then, with a grin tugging at his mouth, he added, “Don’t say I never did anything nice for you, sis.”

[valentinamernes]

they both knew how it was going to end. the way they always danced around each other had only one possible finish, and it was on one of their beds. his hands on her, the way he looked at her, the silence, the anger, the lust—everything was honestly overwhelming. she loved how his voice dripped when he spoke, the way he touched her, how he let the silence linger. it was amazing in a way that made her certain she couldn't be replaced. she pressed against him, wanting to feel him all over her skin. when he confessed, in a way that sounded almost banal—how he didn’t let anyone take the position she held—there was something in it that to valentina felt romantic, as if he were confessing true love. it was something she owned; she knew she had power over him the same way he had power over her, and that felt like a declaration. “stop flirting with me,” she tried to push that feeling of love away, moving against him as he pulled her closer. when he rolled them over, a gasp left valentina’s lips; now he was on top of her again, hovering as she looked up, lips parted. as he picked up the rhythm her mouth opened, her eyes never leaving his—now she was at his mercy, and she didn’t mind. “could it feel better? don’t be a pussy; you know i won’t break, caldwell,” she challenged, even as she was completely breathless. at his possessive whispers she couldn’t look away. “you wish i was yours,” she said, shaking her head—but even as the words left her lips, she knew she was; of course she was. she could try to fight it, but at the end of the day she was there with caleb, giving him everything he wanted. she wasn’t over him—she couldn’t be—but that didn’t mean she was going to tell him, not after they’d broken up. “but i do think you’re mine; look at you, so cute trying to claim me,” she smirked. “if you want to make me yours, try harder.”

[caleb--caldwell]

Caleb smiled like he’d been waiting for this exact punctuation in the sentence of the night. He let her press into him, let his hands chart the familiar map of skin and heat, then paused—just long enough for the silence to thicken—because he knew exactly what that small, loaded quiet did to her. He lowered his voice until it scraped velvet. He answered her push with a half-laugh, the kind that promised trouble. “Stop flirting with you? If I could, do you think I would?” He tipped his head, gaze slow and sure, every movement calibrated to make her forget the world. When she tried to shove the feeling away, he only tightened his hold and let the motion do the talking. Rolling them over was effortless; he hovered—contained, dominant, all the confidence in the room concentrated in the set of his shoulders. He watched her, that knowing smile in place, and whispered something soft and dangerous that made the air between them thinner. “You feel like home and war at once. It’s messy, but it’s mine to keep causing.” Her challenge—don’t be a pussy—drew a low chuckle from him. He leaned close enough that she could feel the warmth of his breath. “Wish?” he scoffed, mock-offended. “I stopped wishing a long time ago.” He kissed the corner of her mouth, slow and deliberate. “I claim. I prefer better verbs. Try harder?” He traced a lazy line down her arm with one fingertip. “Watch me.” Then, impossibly smooth, he grinned and added, because he couldn’t help it, “And when you finally give in—don’t look surprised. You always do.” He kept up the pressure—gentle, insistent—until the world narrowed to hearth-fire heat and the sound of their breaths. He spoke just enough to stitch safety through the frenzy. "God, I could never get enough of you."

[julietcaldwell]

juliet laughed at her brother’s words, not because she disagreed but because she knew he wasn’t wrong—she knew how to act, not in the sense that she was pretending to be someone else, but she understood the game and what to say to get exactly what she wanted, “of course, they think they can change you with that, stupid of them, the devil can’t change,” she smirked, her laughter sharp, “and they love pretending they’re straight until they end up in bed with the mean lesbian, that part always kills me,” she added with a shake of her head; when caleb joked about using that war veteran lie as a way to flirt she couldn’t help but grin, especially because even when he joked about chasing after other people, he always circled back to valentina—it was written all over him that he wasn’t done with her yet; “that’s straight,” she teased, “i’m pretty sure lesbians do rearrange guts though,” and when he scoffed about anatomy, she snorted, “please, no dick required for that, but fine, no straps, no rearranging, i’ll admit it,” she grinned, amused at how they were already sketching out what hell would look like for them, “so you want a harem waiting on you in hell, that’s so on brand for you,” she chuckled, raising her brows when he tried to paint himself as generous, “offering water? wow, such a good host, no wonder they line up for more,” her laughter spilled loud, genuine; but when he called himself the normal one between them, she pressed a hand to her chest, feigning a wound, “excuse me? i’m not messy, screwing half the girls on campus doesn’t make me messy, it makes me thorough,” she quipped before rolling her eyes, “you know what, don’t answer, you’re an asshole,” her smirk still lingering despite her words; she leaned back in her seat, playful again, “of course it’s catnip, charm only works if you know how to use it,” she shrugged like it was obvious, before finishing her drink and standing, “i should head back to my dorm, wanna walk me like a good brother? maybe you’ll get lucky and run into a teacher or two to flirt with.”

[caleb--caldwell]

Caleb leaned back, grinning at Juliet’s sharp laughter. He caught every twist of her words, every teasing jab, and let himself smirk. “Stupid of them. The devil can’t be tamed, Juliet." When she added that line about straight people pretending until they end up in bed with the mean lesbian, Caleb chuckled, loud and a little proud. “Exactly! They all act like they’ve got it figured out, but we know better. Always underestimating the chaos.” He nudged her shoulder playfully, leaning into the shared mischief. “Yeah, yeah, I’ll flirt with whoever I want, but you know I always come back to Valentina,” he admitted with a cocky half-shrug, loving the way she rolled her eyes at him. "I can't help it. I think it must be an opposites attract thing." When Juliet feigned offense at him calling himself normal, Caleb threw his head back and laughed. “Excuse me? Thorough, yes. Messy? Nah. That’s efficiency in action. I know what and who I want." As she finished her drink and stood, teasing about walking back like a good brother, Caleb grinned wolfishly. “Fine, I’ll walk you back there." Caleb looped an arm around Juliet’s shoulder as he stood, smirking at her playful challenge. “Teacher? Ugh, gross,” he said, rolling his eyes with mock disgust. “Assistants, however… more my speed. Did you know flirting with those dudes can help push up your coursework?” He grinned, nudging her lightly. “Consider it a public service, Jules. I educate while I charm. Multitasking at its finest.” As they started walking, a familiar face caught Caleb’s eye—a past assistant from one of his classes strolling by. Caleb smirked, elbowing Juliet lightly as he turned his head to watch him walk away. “See?” he said, voice full of mock pride. “He misses me. I checked over my shoulder, and he was looking right back at me. It's the Caldwell charm, I guess, we're irresistible."

[valentinamernes]

this situation was going to happen whether they had planned it or not. it was how they worked. she was mad, and that seemed to be a turn-on—not for most people, but it was for valentina and for caleb. she hated and loved the way he got under her skin, but the way his eyes stayed locked on her, his hands all over her body, the way he seemed to run out of words for a couple of seconds—that was her favorite part. it told her that even if he knew what he was doing, she still held power over him. not in a physical sense, but she knew she could get whatever she wanted from him if she said it the right way, if she worded it carefully enough. “then for sure you want me to make you work for it,” she whispered back. she knew that was part of the fun between them, she was certain of it. she loved how his voice shifted from teasing to a hoarse murmur—it lit her up every time. for a moment, as she sank down on him, they both stayed silent, lips parted, breathless, as if it were the first time—even though they knew it couldn’t be. she could get drunk on that sensation, high off the way he moved, the way he knew how to touch, hold, and match her—her, and only her. her hands pressed against his chest, steadying herself as she moved over him. at his confession, valentina’s breathless smile widened. she didn’t stop, her rhythm just slowed a little, as if she wanted to savor what he’d said. “so, you haven’t found anyone that rides you like i do,” she breathed, leaning closer. as his fingers threaded through her hair, her head tilted back, letting the weight of his words sink in. “i don’t let any other girl do this with you,” she assured him. when he kept talking about not letting anyone else on top of him, she smirked—until that smirk disappeared at his mention of others. “don’t talk to me about how others fuck you while you’re fucking me, asshole,” she muttered, looking down at him. his words cut straight into her, and her brows furrowed. “you’re too full of yourself,” she whispered, eyes shutting tight as a moan slipped free at the soft brush of his lips against her jaw. “i hate you,” she swore, though it killed her how right he was. “fuck, caleb,” she cried. “you can fuck whoever you want, but admit no one makes you feel like this,” she begged. “no guy or girl can make you go from zero to one hundred like i do,” she told him, certain it was true. if she was completely honest, she wasn’t good at multitasking—teasing him while chasing her own release wasn’t working. “i need you so bad.”

[caleb--caldwell]

Caleb felt it instantly—the way she leaned into him, eyes sharp and alive, a mixture of anger and desire that always seemed to drive him wild. He kept his gaze locked on her, fingers tracing over her curves, letting her feel that even when he knew exactly what he was doing, she still held sway over him. For a couple of seconds, words failed him entirely, and he let the silence linger, letting her realise just how much control she had—power that went far beyond the physical. Caleb’s lips curled into a slow, teasing smirk, voice dropping to a hoarse murmur. “Maybe I do,” he said, letting the heat in his tone match the way his hands moved over her body, reveling in the way she pressed against him, guiding him as much as he guided her. As she sank down, their lips parted, breathless, and Caleb felt the electric tension spike. He let himself get lost in it, letting her hands steady him, letting her rhythm dictate his, because right now, it was all about her, all about the way she made him feel. He captured her gaze, fingers threading through her hair, a low chuckle escaping him at her audacity. “No one,” he rasped back, lips brushing along her jaw, voice rough with both pride and desire. "I don't let anyone." When she scowled at his mention of others, he paused, letting the edge in his own expression match hers, before smirking. Caleb’s grin widened at the honesty in her tone, the way she hated him and wanted him all at once. “I know,” he murmured against her skin, letting his voice roughen with arousal. He groaned low, tugging her closer, letting her feel that the truth in her words matched his own thoughts perfectly. When she finally admitted, breathlessly, that she needed him. Caleb’s grin became something sharper, fiercer, dangerous in the best way. With a smirk, he shifted, rolling them so she was beneath him, letting himself take the lead, picking up the rhythm where she’d been running herself ragged. He matched the intensity she’d set, only now he controlled the pace. He caught her murmurs, the teasing, the confessions of power and desire, and let each one fuel him. “So how's it feel melting into the mattress, pillow princess?” he murmured, voice low and rough. “You’re mine,” he whispered, letting the words roll off his tongue like a promise and a challenge, lips brushing hers, smirk dark and playful. “Every gasp, every moan… all of it belongs to me now.”

[caleb--caldwell]

Caleb leaned back against the mattress like he owned the damn room. That was the thing about him: the way he carried himself, like gravity bent a little different around him. Shirt off, jaw sharp with that scruff, and those storm-dark eyes that always burned hotter when she was near. Valentina. She was fire. She was venom. She was the girl who could slap him and kiss him in the same breath—and he'd love her for both. That love/hate chaos? It was addictive. Dangerous. Their kind of thing. Caleb didn’t flinch. Didn’t even blink. His smirk curled slow across his lips, full of swagger and heat, like her words were fuel. He leaned in, so close their mouths nearly brushed, breath meeting breath. His voice dropped, all smoke and heat: “Nah, baby… I don’t wish it.” His lips barely grazed hers. “I know you are.” Then he kissed her. Not gentle—never gentle,. His mouth claimed hers like it was a game he was always going to win. When her hands slid to his throat and she applied that pressure—God—he fucking grinned against her lips. His hips ground into hers, slow and deliberate, dragging a growl up from his chest. Her dark laugh in return only made him harder, made the space between them feel electric. His eyes burned through her as he tilted his head, lips brushing her jaw. “For you?” A low chuckle. “Yeah, maybe I am, and yeah, fuck me. That's exactly what I'm asking you to do." She kissed him again, savage this time, like she wanted to punish him for every second he ever made her feel something. He matched it, let her take control, and fuck, he liked it when she fought for it. But then—she pulled back. Tease. Caleb stared at her lips, breath uneven now, lips parted. And then— That smirk. Hot. Cocky. Fucking feral. His voice came low, gravel-thick with lust, but steady as ever. “You think I haven’t been waiting for that?” His tongue traced the corner of his mouth, like he could already taste what was coming. His hand slipped down, possessive on her waist, fingers digging in with purpose. “Baby, if you're gonna ride me into the dirt, you better hold on tight—because I don’t break easy.” He leaned in, lips brushing her jaw, heat pulsing between them. “But fuck, I'd love to watch you try.” There was no fear in him. No begging. Just challenge and want, wrapped in a man who knew exactly how much damage he could take—and how much he could give back. His hand slid higher up her thigh, slow and deliberate, thumb dragging along her skin like a warning—or a promise. He leaned in closer, lips brushing the shell of her ear now, breath hot. "All aboard,” he drawled, the words like velvet soaked in gasoline. “Get on.” His hands slid down her hips, grip firm, inviting and daring all at once. “Trip for one to have you seeing stars and moaning my name… starts in like ten seconds.” He tilted his head, lips brushing hers without giving her the satisfaction of a kiss, his voice dipping even lower, filthier. “You’ll be lucky if you remember how to walk after.”

[valentinamernes]

that scene wasn’t new for them—they found themselves in that situation more often than most exes probably did. hating each other only made them more attracted to one another. sure, they’d had fun when they were dating, but now… everything had intensified. the way they fought for control, the way they couldn’t kiss slowly or tenderly, always amused valentina. it was all fire, roughness, and possessiveness—which, in her opinion, made it even better. when he said he didn’t have to wish for her to be his, because she already was, it left valentina breathless, his words hitting her lips just before he kissed them. hearing him growl, moan, and spill filthy words only made her more excited—if that was even possible. when he asked her to choke him, something she sometimes did without him needing to ask, it spun her mind seeing just how dark and deep his need ran. as he pulled back, she kept her hands around his throat, the sight of him like that doing wonders to her. “i love when you beg for me,” she whispered before kissing him again. she didn’t need him to enjoy it too much—at least, not until she was ready to let herself enjoy it, too. she was evil that way. when she pulled back, she looked at caleb with fire in her eyes and lips swollen from all their roughness. “if you begged for it, i wouldn’t make you work for it before i caved,” she pointed out, even though she knew she’d probably give in the second he looked at her like that. his hands gripped her with such possessiveness it felt like they burned her skin, and she loved it. “you’re going to break easy when i’m the one riding you,” she mused, her head tilting back as his lips brushed her jaw. “it’s not my fault the people you bring here aren’t me, don’t you think?” she added, voice soft but charged. “i’ll try, and i’ll have you crumbling under me in no time,” she promised, unable to keep her own body from reacting to the way he looked at her. she straddled his lap, grinning. “you’re too sure of yourself, but i’m the one on top, so i decide how that works,” she smiled. “you’ll be lucky if you find someone after me who makes you cum like i will,” she added with a smirk. she started grinding her hips against his, teasing—barely getting started. keeping the motion steady, she slipped off her top, now only in her underwear. obviously lace. obviously his favourite colour. "you're going to regret it" she smiled, she got up on her knees, pushed aside her underwear, "i bet you will like it like this even better thinking i'm too desperate to have you to take off my panties" she smiled, she leaned so she could whisper at the shell of his ear. "but i want to go out after this and this is going to be the only way i can walk around without your cum dripping out of me" she teased, deliverate,maybe a lie to get him worked out, maybe a promise. and without further warning she used her free hand to alight him before she sank, letting out a loud moan.

[caleb--caldwell]

Caleb wasn’t surprised by how this ended — not anymore. That heat, that chaos. Always loud, always rough, always too much and never enough. With Valentina, it was never soft — and he didn’t want soft. He wanted her. The moment her hands wrapped around his throat, his world narrowed to just that sensation — her control, her pace, her heat. Her voice, low and wicked, landed in his ears. It undid him. But he wasn’t about to let her know how deep she’d already gotten under his skin — again. Still, when she pulled back and looked at him with swollen lips and eyes full of fire, he didn’t move. He didn’t even try to fight the way she kept climbing on top of every part of him — body, mind, pride. He growled low, fingers bruising against her waist as she straddled him. "Then maybe I won’t beg," Caleb murmured, voice hoarse, dark. The moment she took off her top, his throat went dry. Lace. His favorite color. Of course. Caleb’s jaw flexed, breath short, watching her move above him — watching her tease him with what he already knew he couldn’t say no to. His hands locked hard on her hips just as she sank onto him, and he let out a deep, guttural moan that wasn’t just from the pleasure — it was from the truth of it. She owned him. No matter how rough he played, no matter what he said. Caleb’s head tilted back, mouth slightly open, chest heaving. “Fuck, Valentina…” he groaned, hands gripping her like he was trying to anchor himself to reality — or maybe to her. And even as he thrust up into her, matching her rhythm, he knew: he’d let her do it again. Every time. Every goddamn time. His chest rose against hers, breath hot, uneven, his head dropping back for just a second as he groaned — low and wrecked. Then his eyes snapped back to hers, dark, hungry, and full of heat. He licked his lips slowly, almost smirking but too far gone to fully play it cool. Voice low and rough, he rasped, "I don't let anybody else ride me." He let that hang in the air, let her feel the weight of it — of how exclusive this was, how much he wanted this, needed this. "Yeah, I’ve fucked around," he admitted, his tone hot and shameless, "guys mostly. Hookups, whatever. But this? You? I don’t give this to anyone else." His hand slid up her back, fingers threading into her hair as he pulled her down, lips brushing her ear with heat that could burn. "Unless it’s a threesome and you pick the girl." His mouth ghosted over hers, breath shaking. "But no one else gets to do this. No one else gets on top of me. Top me, however, different story." He thrust up into her again, deep and slow, jaw clenched, groaning through it like it physically pained him to hold back. His eyes flashed with wicked amusement as he pulled back just enough to look at her—dark, intense, and teasing. “Shame you can’t say the same, huh?” he murmured, voice low and playful but laced with that raw heat. He leaned in, brushing his lips against her jaw, a slow, deliberate tease before sinking back into her, his movements deep and possessive. His hand slid possessively along her side as he leaned in closer, lips brushing her ear with heat. “I know every time you ‘experience’ someone else, you picture me there instead.” He pulled back just enough to meet her gaze, a wicked smirk playing on his lips. “Because no one else can touch you like I do. No one else makes you feel like this.”

[caleb--caldwell]

Caleb leaned back, grinning as Juliet’s words bounced between teasing and downright savage. Talking to his sister was like a fast-paced sparring match, no holds barred, and he loved every second of it. No need for filters, no polite pretenses—just raw, playful honesty. “Bald and crying?” he chuckled, shaking his head. “Yeah, maybe. But hey, I’d look like a tough war veteran, not some creepy doll trapped in a glass box.” He shot her a mock glare, eyebrows raised. “And if I need sunscreen? Valentina will help me eventually after moaning that she hates my guts for the thousandth time before telling me to rearrange hers." His smirk deepened at her devilish grin. Caleb was never one to back down from a challenge. “But I get your point—spreading evil freely does sound way more fun than haunting some dusty shelf.” He added with a laugh, “And yeah, I’ll be sure to drag some hot company with me to hell. Ugly evil sounds like a lonely retirement plan. Hot people in hell sounds like a hoot." When Juliet brought up Valentina, Caleb raised an amused brow. “Nice ass and boobs? Girl, back off my ex. Stop ogling her goodies." Her refusal to share his girl made him laugh out loud.“Ew, you’re right, ew,” he said, playing along with the shudder. Caleb’s smirk turned downright cocky as Juliet brought up sharing. “Do I share with Valentina? Occasionally,” he said, feigning deep thought. “Threesomes, sure. But the real highlight?” He raised a brow, voice dropping like he was sharing a secret. “When she brings home some hot bisexual guy who casually checks me out as he walks by after finishing in her room doing his walk of shame the next morning.” He shrugged, grinning. “I’m a good roommate— I offer him my room next, show him around, good hospitality, y'know?" He leaned in, voice playful and proud. “And in return? A jealous ex and great sex."

[julietcaldwell]

it was so easy for juliet to be herself around her brother—she didn’t have to switch masks or filter her sharp tongue, didn’t have to sugarcoat her words or act like she cared more or less than she did. she was still sharp, teasing, mean as hell, but with caleb, there was always that flicker of softness, that rare dusting of care and affection only he got to see. “like a tough war veteran? oh, caleb, you wish,” she scoffed, a smirk tugging at her lips. “but you could probably use that story to flirt, get someone asking about your tragic past, maybe spin it into a redemption arc,” she added with a lazy wave of her hand. at the mention of valentina rubbing sunscreen on him and the two of them inevitably having sex, juliet groaned, eyes slamming shut. “so straight of you, honestly. ‘rearranged guts’—you really need to retake a biology class,” she said, visibly shivering with exaggerated disgust. “i’m sure you’ll get anyone you want down there, but just so we’re clear, if i’m going to hell too, i call dibs on some people. queen of mean deserves hot girls just as much as you do,” she declared, placing a hand dramatically over her chest. caleb’s reaction to her complimenting valentina’s body was golden—she lived for moments like that. “i don’t ogle her goodies, i have eyes, and she’s objectively hot,” she shrugged, lifting her hands in mock innocence. “i’m not creeping, i’m just observant.” but nothing beat the moment caleb admitted he enjoyed chatting with some guy after he’d just hooked up with valentina. her jaw dropped. “a good roommate?” she cackled. “hospitality—you kill me.” she shook her head, sipping her drink with an amused smile. “if i wasn’t your sister, i’d probably ask you to stop doing that… but whatever, go off. what a lovely, chaotic house you’ve got over there. and here i thought i was the messy one.”

[caleb--caldwell]

Caleb didn’t flinch under Juliet’s razor-edged teasing—he never did. Around Juliet, he didn’t need to posture or pull back. She saw straight through him anyway. And though she never let up, never let him get too comfortable, there was always something warm threaded through the sharpness. That was their language. “I do wish. Would’ve made a solid tragic hero—tormented, emotionally unavailable, dangerous with a soft spot,” he said, deadpan. “That shit gets you laid fast.” At her suggestion to spin it into a redemption arc, Caleb raised a brow and sipped his drink. “Tragic past, mysterious smile, some emotional damage—people eat that up,” he replied. “Might as well start using it." When Juliet groaned at the mention of Valentina rubbing sunscreen on him and what might come after, Caleb laughed, loud and unbothered. “So straight of me? Please. Rearranged guts is universal, Juliet,” he shot back, grinning. “That’s anatomy, baby.” But her dramatic disgust only made him laugh harder.“You act like I’ve corrupted you, but you’ve always been like this,” he said with a smirk. “You’re just mad I say it out loud.” When she declared dibs on hot girls in hell, he put a hand over his own heart in mock reverence. “I’d expect nothing less. Queen of mean deserves her harem,” he said, voice reverent, teasing. “But only if I get a corner of bisexuals that I can switch between." Her defense of ogling Valentina had him shaking his head, one brow lifted. “Yeah, observant, sure. ” he said dryly, but the way his lips twitched betrayed the laughter just beneath. “Don’t act like you don’t have a running mental rating system.” But it was her reaction to his offhand comment about hooking up with the guy Valentina had just hooked up with that really got him. Caleb just shrugged, totally unfazed. “Hospitality,” he repeated smoothly. “I even asked if he wanted water after. I’m a generous man.” He leaned back, smug as hell. “Look, you judge, but I’m building a community over there." When Juliet shook her head and called him chaotic, Caleb lifted his drink in salute. “And yet, you love me anyway,” he said with a wink. “Face it, J—I’m the normal one between us.” Caleb didn’t miss a beat. He leaned forward, elbow resting on his knee, a lazy smirk tugging at his mouth as he looked straight at Juliet. “Uh, you are the messy one, Juliet,” he said, tone flat but playful. “I’m just honest. There’s a difference.” He let that hang for a second, watching her over the rim of his glass before continuing with a pointed raise of his brow. “And don’t even try to play innocent—I bet you would've screwed half the girls on campus if they let you.” He grinned wider, knowing full well she was about to fire something sharp right back at him. “Don’t look at me like that. You’re hot, mean, and emotionally unavailable. That’s catnip, and you know it.”

[valentinamernes]

that was how they always worked—she'd go mad, he'd show up with that charming smirk and smug attitude, and just like that, he had her in the palm of his hand. she hated to admit it, but that’s how easy it was for him. she tried to stay mad, at least long enough to prove he couldn’t always get what he wanted, not after getting her worked up and then flashing those damn eyes—but it was impossible. even after seeing him with someone else that same night, she couldn’t help it. her hookups were mostly just to make him jealous, but they never felt the same. it wasn’t just about the sex with caleb—it was the fiery looks, the way he talked, the way he knew what he wanted, and how she knew exactly what he liked. it was heat, chemistry, and she’d only ever felt that with him. every time she melted in his arms, she knew that wouldn’t change. she loved how his touch always softened eventually, and with that, her hard anger did too, letting her stop pretending she was furious, at least for a few minutes. the way he leaned in to talk, so close she could feel his words brush her lips, left her in a haze—she wanted to get drunk on him. “you wish i was yours,” she spat, playful, challenging. and when he kissed her, she melted instantly, pulling him closer as the kiss escalated, his hands guiding hers to his throat, a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. “you’re insane,” she rolled her eyes, applying just a bit of pressure to his neck, teasing, dark. her lips parted but no words came as he ground against her again. “fuck you,” she muttered, then leaned in to kiss him again—no mercy, just fire—until she stopped, pulling back when she wanted to. “i want to ruin you, but it’ll be on my terms,” she said, eyes locked on his. “i want to see you crumble while i ride the fuck out of you.”

[caleb--caldwell]

Caleb leaned back against the mattress like he owned the damn room. That was the thing about him: the way he carried himself, like gravity bent a little different around him. Shirt off, jaw sharp with that scruff, and those storm-dark eyes that always burned hotter when she was near. Valentina. She was fire. She was venom. She was the girl who could slap him and kiss him in the same breath—and he'd love her for both. That love/hate chaos? It was addictive. Dangerous. Their kind of thing. Caleb didn’t flinch. Didn’t even blink. His smirk curled slow across his lips, full of swagger and heat, like her words were fuel. He leaned in, so close their mouths nearly brushed, breath meeting breath. His voice dropped, all smoke and heat: “Nah, baby… I don’t wish it.” His lips barely grazed hers. “I know you are.” Then he kissed her. Not gentle—never gentle,. His mouth claimed hers like it was a game he was always going to win. When her hands slid to his throat and she applied that pressure—God—he fucking grinned against her lips. His hips ground into hers, slow and deliberate, dragging a growl up from his chest. Her dark laugh in return only made him harder, made the space between them feel electric. His eyes burned through her as he tilted his head, lips brushing her jaw. “For you?” A low chuckle. “Yeah, maybe I am, and yeah, fuck me. That's exactly what I'm asking you to do." She kissed him again, savage this time, like she wanted to punish him for every second he ever made her feel something. He matched it, let her take control, and fuck, he liked it when she fought for it. But then—she pulled back. Tease. Caleb stared at her lips, breath uneven now, lips parted. And then— That smirk. Hot. Cocky. Fucking feral. His voice came low, gravel-thick with lust, but steady as ever. “You think I haven’t been waiting for that?” His tongue traced the corner of his mouth, like he could already taste what was coming. His hand slipped down, possessive on her waist, fingers digging in with purpose. “Baby, if you're gonna ride me into the dirt, you better hold on tight—because I don’t break easy.” He leaned in, lips brushing her jaw, heat pulsing between them. “But fuck, I'd love to watch you try.” There was no fear in him. No begging. Just challenge and want, wrapped in a man who knew exactly how much damage he could take—and how much he could give back. His hand slid higher up her thigh, slow and deliberate, thumb dragging along her skin like a warning—or a promise. He leaned in closer, lips brushing the shell of her ear now, breath hot. "All aboard,” he drawled, the words like velvet soaked in gasoline. “Get on.” His hands slid down her hips, grip firm, inviting and daring all at once. “Trip for one to have you seeing stars and moaning my name… starts in like ten seconds.” He tilted his head, lips brushing hers without giving her the satisfaction of a kiss, his voice dipping even lower, filthier. “You’ll be lucky if you remember how to walk after.”

[julietcaldwell]

talking to her brother was the easiest thing in the world. she never had to filter herself—words just tumbled out, no second thoughts, no overthinking. it was refreshing, especially in a world where everyone seemed to have opinions on everything. with him, she could just be. “you’d be bald and crying,” she corrected with a smirk. “but are you ready to put sunscreen on your hairless head? or will you ask valentina—or your latest flirt—to do it for you? that’s the real question, mr. rich-man.” her voice dripped with teasing as she grinned devilishly. when he dared to say she wasn’t as iconic as the annabelle doll, her eyebrows shot up. “oh, caleb, please. she wishes she was as iconic as me. at least i’m not trapped in a glass case—I still get to spread evil freely.” she gave him a wicked little wink. “just make sure to drag hot people into hell with you,” she added, lips curled in amusement. “ugly evil gets boring real quick—not all bad people are worth the view.” of course, she couldn’t resist exaggerating when it came to valentina—just to get a rise out of him. “you asked if i think she’s hot. and yeah, she is. she’s got a really nice ass,” she said shamelessly, then added with a laugh, “and boobs… definitely boobs.” she nodded as a playful grin appeared on her lips. “your funeral and your honeymoon on the same day? love that for you. just don’t marry her—funerals are expensive and i am not paying to bury your tall ass,” she quipped. when he pointed at her, she raised her brows. “ew, i’m not sharing your girl with you. ew. i don’t want you touching her and then… ew.” a dramatic shiver ran down her spine. “so you do share people?” she teased, laughing. “that’s… healthy. just make sure you use protection or that house is gonna turn into a walking petri dish.”

[caleb--caldwell]

Caleb leaned back, grinning as Juliet’s words bounced between teasing and downright savage. Talking to his sister was like a fast-paced sparring match, no holds barred, and he loved every second of it. No need for filters, no polite pretenses—just raw, playful honesty. “Bald and crying?” he chuckled, shaking his head. “Yeah, maybe. But hey, I’d look like a tough war veteran, not some creepy doll trapped in a glass box.” He shot her a mock glare, eyebrows raised. “And if I need sunscreen? Valentina will help me eventually after moaning that she hates my guts for the thousandth time before telling me to rearrange hers." His smirk deepened at her devilish grin. Caleb was never one to back down from a challenge. “But I get your point—spreading evil freely does sound way more fun than haunting some dusty shelf.” He added with a laugh, “And yeah, I’ll be sure to drag some hot company with me to hell. Ugly evil sounds like a lonely retirement plan. Hot people in hell sounds like a hoot." When Juliet brought up Valentina, Caleb raised an amused brow. “Nice ass and boobs? Girl, back off my ex. Stop ogling her goodies." Her refusal to share his girl made him laugh out loud.“Ew, you’re right, ew,” he said, playing along with the shudder. Caleb’s smirk turned downright cocky as Juliet brought up sharing. “Do I share with Valentina? Occasionally,” he said, feigning deep thought. “Threesomes, sure. But the real highlight?” He raised a brow, voice dropping like he was sharing a secret. “When she brings home some hot bisexual guy who casually checks me out as he walks by after finishing in her room doing his walk of shame the next morning.” He shrugged, grinning. “I’m a good roommate— I offer him my room next, show him around, good hospitality, y'know?" He leaned in, voice playful and proud. “And in return? A jealous ex and great sex."