For the second time this month, I watched as Kaleb stalked away from me on stage and towards the dressing rooms. My mind was reeling in confusion, my heart thrumming in my chest anxiously as my eyes drifted over to find Meg's equally bewildered expression in the audience.

My lips parted in an attempt to say something; anything. No words were able to be formed, my eyes still wide and confused on Meg's.

Thankfully, Meg always had something to say.

"Go!" she ushered me on, gesturing for me to go in the direction that Kaleb had gone in.

I didn't need much convincing as my feet took on a mind of their own as they pounded against the stage and along the hallways of the theater as my eyes searched frantically for the familiar head of midnight colored hair.

My stare landed on him just as he went to round the corner into the dressing room.

"Kaleb!"

His entire body flinched at the sound of my voice, the muscles in his back constricting visibly underneath his tight, navy blue shirt.

"Not now, Leah," he called over his shoulder as he disappeared from my sight and continued around the corner to the dressing rooms.

My legs kept on though, bringing me around the corner hastily to catch up to him.

"Kaleb, what's wrong?" I tried again, running up the hall and ahead of Kaleb to place myself in front of him and stop him from walking any further.

"Nothing's wrong," he lied as he tried to side step his way past me. I countered his movement though, bringing my small frame right in front of his, our chests brushing briefly before Kaleb tore his body from mine and stumbled a few feet back, seemingly desperate to relieve the physical contact.

I pushed past the hurt at his denial and continued pressing him, feeling more and more anxious to know what was spurring his sudden reaction.

"Then why did you run off stage?"

A deep groan resonated through the hallway as Kaleb drew both of his hands up into his hair, running them through his locks as his wild eyes flitted across everything possible in the hallways asides from me.

I had never seen Kaleb look so uncontrolled.

"I don't wanna talk about this, Leah," Kaleb said, his voice low and almost sounding as a warning.

"Kaleb, please-"

"I said I don't want to talk about it!" Kaleb exploded, his anger bouncing off the walls around us and sending a knife of terror slicing through my body as it jolted and froze in its spot.

I didn't dare breath, didn't dare to make a movement as I kept my enlarged, fright filled eyes trained on Kaleb's body as he dropped his weight onto the wall next to him, resting his forehead against the brick wall as his chest heaved with each rage induced breath he took.

In that moment, Kaleb was terrifying.

I was petrified to my spot, waiting for him to say something or to tell me to leave. Finally, he moved his head ever so slightly and captured my gaze with his.

I held in the gasp that so desperately tried to slip past my lips as I took in the emotions flooding through Kaleb's radiant stare.

He didn't look angry like I thought he would; he looked scared.

Kaleb's eyebrows dipped together, his face creased and shining with genuine terror.

But why?

Then, regret swarmed through his stare as he took in my rigid stance and evidently fearful expression.

He let out a sharp sigh as he lifted his body's weight from the wall as turned towards me, taking a step in as he spoke.

"Fuck, Peaches, I'm sorry-"

He cut himself off as I unintentionally, habitually flinched away from him as he tried to come closer.

Sorrow morphed over Kaleb's handsome face, his lips dropping into a prominent frown as his eyes bored into mine remorsefully.

"I didn't mean to scare you..."

Our eyes stayed locked onto one another for what seemed like hours but soon enough Kaleb tore his stare from my own and began pacing back and forth through the hallway with frustration practically radiating from his body.

"That wasn't supposed to happen... none of this was supposed to happen," Kaleb all but growled out as he pressed the palms of his hands against his eyes, blocking me and the world out around him.

Curiosity got the better of me as I pushed past my dwindling fear to speak up.

"What do you mean?" I asked meekly.

"I thought about it, Leah," Kaleb said almost reluctantly so, finally dropping his hands from his eyes but not sparing me a glance. "You asked me to think about it and I thought about it."

A combination of hope and fear ignited within me instantly, my curiosity tripling as I listened to him continue rambling on.

"I thought about what you said and about how it wasn't fair to ask you to jump from Zach to me without expecting some sort of emotional commitment. Then I started thinking about any other guy trying to move in on you and I got super fucking pissed and that made me think about how protective of you I am and how I don't want anyone else touching you besides me and that made me how much you mean to me and how I would jump off of a goddamn building for you without even thinking about it. I fucking love when I can make you smile or laugh and I'm always thinking about you or worrying about you and I love that I'm the only one you let touch you or that you trust... it makes me feel so damn special. It's like we have our own little world between the two of us sometimes and I crave that. Then that scene just now where you were talking about love and how you couldn't feel it and I had a sudden urge to make you feel it then... then you told me to hit you and... the look in your eyes when you said it... that's when it hit me."

I was hanging on the edge of my seat, waiting on pins and needles for him to finish what he was saying.I needed him to confirm what my reckless heart had already begun to hope he was on the verge of saying. I needed to coax the words out of him and have him either solidify or tarnish my hearts desires.

"When what hit you?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

River blue eyes snapped to mine, filled to the brim with an overwhelming intensity that sent my heart into overdrive as he spoke the two words I was so anxious to hear.

"I do."

A rush of elated breath slipped past my lips as I let his words sink in, his eyes digging into mine with such a profound amount of raw love that it left me utterly speechless.

"I love you, Leah... and it terrifies me," he admitted, dropping his vulnerable stare from mine as he became consumed and lost within his hounding, negative thoughts once more.

"I didn't want this... I never thought I would open myself up to falling in love ever again but I didn't even have to open myself up to it because you just came into my life and swept me off my fucking feet without even trying. I didn't think about being in love with you because I didn't want to be in love with you but... you didn't even give me a say in the matter! You just were fucking... perfect with your innocent charm, your kindness, and that sexy as fuck feisty attitude you pull out for me and only me because you know how much I love it. I don't want to be in love but here I am and I'm scared shitless! What if I'm not the right guy for you? What if it doesn't work out or you don't even love me back. That's what fucked up about love, you never get a say in who you fall for and if they love you back. Unrequited love is bullshit and I don't wanna put myself through that only to-"

"I love you too."

Kaleb was silenced. For the first time since he began his insistent rant about being in love, his eyes flew to mine. Astonishment clouded through his stare, his brows raised and his mouth slightly ajar.

"What did you just say?"

"I love you," I replied through a wisp of breath, the side of my mouth quivering up into the smallest of smiles.

"Really?" Kaleb asked with a spark of elation behind his azure eyes as he carefully took a step towards me.

I nodded.

"But what about Zach?"

I shook my head, keeping my eyes pinned on his as he took yet another step closer to me.

"It's you... it's been you for a while I think," I whispered truthfully as Kaleb came closer, his body now only a couple feet from my own and quickly overwhelming my thoughts and words.

Kaleb took those last few steps into me, his broad chest now brushing against mine with every breath he took in. My breathing began to elevate into soft pants as I felt the gentle caress of his fingers trailing up the side of my neck, sending off sparks wherever his skin touched mine as we held each other's intense stares. Tenderly, Kaleb's fingers slipped up the back of my neck and dove into my hair as his face crept down lower to mine. My breath hitched just barely as the soft touch of Kaleb's lips brushed against mine as he spoke my name.

"Peaches..." he murmured, his breath washing across my face and intoxicating my mind as I completely and willingly submitted to him; Kaleb; the man I was whole heartedly in love with.

"Kiss me," I whispered softly.

Without needing further instruction, that's exactly what he did.

Kaleb's soft lips smoothed over my own lovingly; sweetly. I immediately complied with the kiss, moving my lips along with his as I drew my arms up around his neck, my fingers dipping into his hair as his lips continued to pull at mine in the sweetest, most intoxicating manner.

My mind was quickly fogging over any rational thought as all I knew in that moment was Kaleb and how powerfully my heart ceased in my chest with every caress of his lips over mine, knowing that it was a pure, uncontrollable, mutual love pushing forward our actions.

A hunger that only Kaleb could seem to stir within me pulsed through my body and shot straight to my core as I found my fingers taking on a mind of their own and gripping into Kaleb's hair with a bit more force, my lips pushing against his a bit more feverishly.

Kaleb took immediate notice to my change of pace, a deep groan vibrating through his throat as his arm tightened even more so around my waist, his lips picking up their actions as well until I felt a small, enticing nip on my bottom lip.

I gasped just barely but it was more than enough for Kaleb to take things to a whole new level as I felt the warmth of his tongue push past my lips as he deepened our kiss.

A moan that I wasn't aware I was holding in echoed through the halls as Kaleb's mouth dominated over mine, his tongue moving expertly with mine and stirring up a dire need within me.

Suddenly, Kaleb broke away, letting us both take in a much needed breath of air. Yet, he wasted no time in placing his skillful lips right back onto my skin as he kissed his way over my face before his head dipped underneath my chin, his soft hair grazing across my face as he planted kiss after dominating, open mouth kiss across my neck.

My head lulled to the side, my eyes shutting the world out around me as Kaleb's lips worked at my neck, his tongue slipping out and grazing my skin in perfect strokes that caused my mind to run wild with need.

"Kaleb," I panted out as I felt his hand that was around my waist slide underneath the back of my shirt, his hot skin meeting my own.

An almost animalistic growl resonated through Kaleb's chest as both of his hands disappeared from where they were and appeared on my thighs just seconds before gripping and lifting me off of the ground.

My mind was so overrun with desire that I didn't even think to protest the motion as my legs locked around Kaleb's waist, his lips detaching from the skin of my neck only to be sealed over moments later by my own desperate lips.

I had been far too engrossed with every sensual stroke of Kaleb's perfect lips against my own that I hadn't realized we had begun to move until I felt Kaleb shift my weight slightly and then the sound of a door opening hit my ears. Then, we were moving inside of a room, our lips still battling with each other's until I felt Kaleb set my weight on top of something.

Our lips broke apart for the just the most fleeting of seconds, my eyes taking in the familiar surroundings of the dressing room before both of Kaleb's arms encircled me once more, his lips diving down onto mine.

Before I knew it, I felt my arms lifting on their own accord as Kaleb ripped my shirt from my torso, discarding is elsewhere in the room. The frigid breeze hit my naked skin and a shiver wracked through my body for a split second before Kaleb tore off his own shirt and pressed his fully naked, exquisitely built chest against mine, squelching out any other sensation.

"Oh God," I moaned out as Kaleb's hand came up and clasped over my breast which was covered now by only my bra. His large hand enveloped my breast entirely as he kneaded it through my bra while his lips worked over my shoulder, placing chaste, hungry kisses wherever his lips could find bare skin.

A sharp breath pushed past my lips as Kaleb's fingers came together and pinched my aching nipple still from over my bra, sending an instantaneous shot of pleasure straight to my quickly dampening core.

My fingers dug into the skin of Kaleb's broad back as he simultaneously pinched my sensitive nipple once again while his teeth grazed out and bit down on the base of my shoulder, sending an electric pleasure throughout every section of my body.

At the feeling of my nails biting into his shoulders, Kaleb released a throaty moan of his own as he pushed his hips into the center of my legs, letting me feel his hard erection ready and waiting at my core.

Suddenly, everything went white.

A panic like no other stormed through my mind as I was sent spiraling back to that night, that room, with Zach.

"No!" I cried out, shoving my hands forcefully into his chest, pushing him back as far as I could, slamming my legs shut and scooted as far back on the counter top as I could.

My chest was heaving, my lungs filling with unfiltered, raw terror with every ragged breath I took in. Immediate tears stung my eyes as despair and dread flooded through my mind. Horrible flashes and memories of that night drove through my fragile mind as I held onto the tethers of my sanity, praying that the flashbacks would cease, that I could erase every touch of his hands on my body... that every nightmarish memory would fade away into nothingness.

A jolt of alarm ripped through my body as fingers brushed across my arm.

"Stop," I whimpered, my head snapping up to meet the cold, calculating eyes of the one who now haunted my every dream, whether sleeping or awake.

Instead, relief swarmed through my mind as I took in compassionate, loving light blue eyes that were steadied in front of me, warmth and concern exuding from his stare.

"It's me... it's just me," Kaleb soothed me, carefully letting his hand reach out and gently, almost as if he was afraid I would shatter upon contact, let his fingers graze back and forth across my cheek in a comforting rhythm.

His bright stare seeped into mine as I ever so slightly leaned into his touch and let his tender warmth cascade through my body and intertwine itself into my mind, pacifying and relaxing it all at once.

"That's it," he encouraged in a soft voice.

I slowly felt the panic and sheer fear escape from my body, my muscles relaxing and finally, my heartbeat came back down to an acceptable rate. Yet, just as my mind was dwindling down from being shoved violently into the most horrific memories I possessed, an overwhelming feeling of sorrow and shame washed through every crevice of my mind.

"I'm sorry," I stammered out, dropping my gaze from Kaleb's as I suddenly felt unbearably pathetic and unworthy of the flawless man in front of me.

"What do you have to be sorry over?"

"You deserve so much better..."

"What?" Kaleb's voice was laced with disbelief.

"You deserve better," I said pointedly. "You deserve someone who isn't messed up... someone who doesn't freak out when things get too heated," I muttered embarrassingly, dropping my head completely and wishing that the counter would open up and swallow me whole.

Two fingers appeared underneath my chin as they tilted my head back up and Kaleb's gaze captured mine with its intensity.

"I fell in love with you knowing exactly who you were and what you'd been through. I think I fell ever harder when I realized exactly what you had experienced and how you pushed through despite all of the odds. You persevere, you fight, and I love you for it. That and so many more reasons..."

Soon, Kaleb's other hand mirrored his other and cupped the side of my cheek, now both of his hands holding my head tenderly as he spoke, unraveling every worry and barrier I had inside of me with his sweet words and ardent look embedded deep within his loving eyes.

"There is absolutely no pressure to have sex... we'll wait until you're ready. Whether that's tomorrow, the next day, next week, next month... we'll wait. You're so worth the wait, Peaches." Kaleb's words swelled with so much love that I found my heart constricting and writhing within my chest almost painfully so and it was more than I could take.

Before he could continue on with his passionate speech, I came forward and melded my lips over his, ceasing anymore affectionate words from him before my heart could explode.

Kaleb was slightly caught off guard but quickly adjusted and smoothed his lips against mine, a new found passion pushing forward both of our actions. This kiss was needy and yet charged with so much devotion and sang of just how deeply Kaleb and I's few found love went for one another.

Far before I was ready, Kaleb pulled his lips from mine and spoke.

"I have an idea... and I think it might help."

"Help with what?"

"With how you think of sex," he revealed and a spike of apprehension drilled through me. "For so long it's been all about what he wanted, when he wanted, what felt good for him..." Kaleb's face came in closer, his luscious lips skimming tauntingly across my bottom lip.

"But what if we made it all about you?" he asked as he flicked his tongue out against my lips, sending a foreshadowed pleasure directly to my core.

"What do you mean?" I attempted to inquire in a steady voice but as Kaleb let his lips once again travel in an intoxicating manner across my jawline, every so often nipping at the skin he came in contact with, my voice became increasingly more and more rocky.

"I mean," he mumbled out against my cheek as he worked his way in sensual kisses until he reached the base of my ear, his lips grazing across my skin as he spoke, his voice dark and husky as it tickled my ear. "What if I focused on you and giving you exactly what you want, however many times you want?"

My head knocked back into the mirror behind me as Kaleb lightly bit down into the soft flesh of my neck, sending a quiet moan through the dressing room.

"And um, how... how would you do that?" My sentence was chopped as my sensual pants mixed their way into my words.

"Well," he hummed out against my neck, his lips moving on my skin as he spoke, his voice low and full of hunger. "I have always wondered what you tasted like."

Confusion wracked my brain as to what he meant.

Taste like?