Work Text:
You have something semi-important to attend to today. It's not a dress rehearsal or an incredibly important meeting, but it's something you would be better off attending and don't want to miss.
Caleb doesn't care. You're not entirely sure why, but he doesn't want you leaving his side at all today. He tries to be casual about it, but you can feel the desperation in how much more tightly he holds you than usual. He's not bothering to hold back, or maybe he just doesn't care to. He's not going to concern himself with putting up a veneer of gentle composure today, not if it keeps him from getting what he wants.
Missing this event will likely be a big inconvenience and give you a decent chunk of work to make up. You try to explain this to Caleb, but he's Not having it. You tell him it'll be quick, no more than an hour; he's welcome to drive you there and wait in the parking lot, and you'll even go with him wherever he wants afterwards!
Nope. Nothing. You spent the entire weekend stuck to his side like glue, but leaving your personal bubble for more than a few minutes is too much for him today.
You even made an attempt to get serious, calling out his friendly, joking facade for what it is. This was the wrong choice, as he just dropped it altogether. He grips your shoulder hard, just shy of painful.
"You're not goin'." His gaze is heavy, sharp, frigid. You feel cold.
"But Caleb, you can't-"
"This is not up for argument. You're. Staying. Here." You go silent, staring up at him with wide eyes. Your stomach sinks. He leans down closer, taking your chin in his hand and holding it in place. "Do you understand me?"
You swallow and hesitantly nod, and Caleb lets out a sigh of relief, letting your face go and pulling you into him. The sudden switch-up leaves you dizzy and a little shaken, and you wrap your arms around his waist in return, hiding your face in his chest.
"Come on, pips, let's head back to bed, yeah? S'too early to be up anyway." You don't fight him as he lifts you up, wrapping your legs around his waist compliantly and nodding. He hums, satisfied, softly kissing your neck.
Because it's not like you stand a chance against Caleb. While you'd like to think you have him wrapped around your finger, it's absolutely the other way around. He's got such a grasp on your emotional state that it just takes a few sentences from him to have you backing down and apologizing.
And if he can't talk you into submission? You're no match for him physically. Even if he wasn't so much taller and broader than you, he has his Evol to keep you where he wants you.
But as you lie in bed, safely tucked in his embrace, you decide that maybe it's not so bad to skip work every once in a while. Caleb curls his large body around you, your chest pressed to his, and your legs tangled together. Like if he doesn't keep you tightly wrapped up in him, you'll somehow sneak away.
Your heartbeat syncs with his, and your earlier chills are replaced by his comforting warmth. He smells like apple sauce and gentle laundry detergent. His pajamas are soft against your skin, his lips lovingly place kisses on your forehead and cheeks as he watches your eyelids droop.
"You know I love you, yeah?" he whispers, slowly smoothing a warm, heavy hand up and down your spine. "More than anything in the world."
You nod sleepily, snuggling a little closer. "Luv'yu too, Cay," you mumble softly, barely comprehensible yet genuine all the same. His hold on you relaxes slightly as he watches you surrender in your fight against sleep.
The last thing you hear before nodding off is Caleb's quiet voice in your ear. "Mine,"