When They Beg I Rise (Lemira) novel Chapter 905

Stella took a step back, and Caleb immediately took a step forward.

She kept retreating until her back hit a heavy punching bag. Trapped, she looked up in pure panic at the massive man cornering her. She could smell the heavy, musky scent of his sweat.

He was wearing a tight athletic tank top that clung to his striking physique, the sweat making his muscles gleam under the gym lights.

Stella shrank back like a frightened quail, her eyes unintentionally following a drop of sweat as it rolled down his chest and disappeared past his waistband.

His soaked shirt left absolutely nothing to the imagination, clearly outlining the hard ridges of his abs.

Suddenly, Caleb threw a heavy punch at the bag behind her. The sheer force of the rebound launched Stella forward, sending her directly into Caleb's chest.

She smacked her forehead against his rock-hard muscles, tearing up from the impact.

"Want to try it out?"

His deep, raspy voice rumbled right next to her ear. She looked up tentatively. "Try what?"

She met those sharp, predatory eyes that seemed capable of seeing right through her soul.

Sensing immense danger, Stella ducked her head and tried to bolt, but he effortlessly caged her in.

Her back was pressed against the punching bag, and no matter how hard she pushed, she couldn't move him an inch.

This was the same man who had just made the heavy bag fly with a casual punch.

Caleb leaned down, his face inches from hers. "You seem nervous."

"I-I... You're too close. Of course I'm nervous."

"What are you so nervous about? Do you think I'm going to eat you?"

He lowered himself to eye level. "When you gossip with your friends, you really hold nothing back, do you?"

No man on earth could tolerate being told he didn't last long.

Especially not when the girl he liked was the one saying it.

Stella's face flushed violently. Now she was absolutely certain he had heard every single word.

She lowered her eyes, her eyelashes trembling. "I-I wasn't wrong. That time, you really were pretty fast."

The second she said it, a shiver shot down her spine, making her scalp tingle. She felt exactly like prey locked in the jaws of a beast.

He dipped his head and captured her lips. The kiss wasn't gentle in the slightest.

Stella clamped her mouth shut, pushing frantically against his chest to get him away.

Caleb kissed her for a moment before pulling back slightly, his voice a low, commanding coax. "Open your mouth."

Stella kept her jaw locked tight, looking exactly like a martyr resisting a brutal interrogation.

She threw her head back, staring blindly at the ceiling, her lungs burning for oxygen.

Clinging to her last shred of sanity, she pushed against his shoulders. "Don't. They'll notice. It's been too long."

Orion finally stopped, leaning his head back against the bench, a few damp strands of hair falling over his forehead.

He pulled her fiercely into his arms. "Are you going to spout nonsense again?"

Lemira shook her head frantically.

She poked his chest. "You're covered in sweat. You smell."

Orion let out a dark chuckle. "I'm going to take a shower. Care to join?"

"Not a chance!"

Lemira rejected him instantly.

She pushed him away and stood up on shaky legs. "They're definitely going to know what we were doing in here for so long."

"Don't worry. Stella is probably thinking the exact same thing right now."

Lemira almost didn't process what he meant. She stared at him in shock. "Are you sure?"