15
All the way back, Caleb either kept his head down or intentionally avoided my gaze.
I found it amusing, hooked his chin, and turned his face to me.
Sure enough, his eyes were still red-rimmed.
Before he could say anything, I leaned in and kissed him.
It was soft and lingering, like a reassuring signal.
In that moment, all the previous dangers finally came to an end, and my heightened
emotions slowly settled.
We confirmed each other’s presence in that intensely intimate touch.
Our breaths mingled. I smiled, poking Caleb’s forehead.
“Silly boy? I told you, I won’t throw you away.
“Caleb, call me by my name from now on. You don’t have to be so careful around me.”
<
As for “Master,” we could save that for certain… specific situations.
Caleb nodded, then, as if it were something precious, he whispered my name close to my
ear.
“Anya.”
My ear tingled.
I uncomfortably rubbed my ear. I really needed to get used to Caleb calling me by my
name.
His voice resonated in my ear once more.
“Then, can I be a little greedy?”
“Hm?”
“I want to hear you say it, say… *that*.”
The usually honest guy suddenly became shy, his long lashes lowered, not daring to look
at me.
I blinked, realizing what he meant, and said solemnly,
“Caleb, I like you.”
The fierce beast who had been battling just hours ago in the arena now flushed from his collarbone all the way to his ear tips, unable to utter a single coherent word.
