Seriously, I may have started drooling, and it wasn’t over the cupcake.
And if just the sight of him wasn’t enough to make me spontaneously combust, he was holding a squirming, fluffy puppy in his arms.
How am I supposed to keep my mad in tact when faced with that?
“Hey,” I said. Yes, that was my first word … brilliant.
“Hey,” he replied, his voice even deeper, rumblier, sexier, than I’d remembered.
Sheesh, you’d think he’d been gone for years, rather than days, the way my body was behaving. I was like a cat in heat, fighting the urge to rub myself all over him.
I gripped my seat with both hands, trying to keep myself from doing just that.
“Where have you been?” I asked, figuring we could start with that, then get into the rest of it.
“I needed to ride. Clear my head. Then I got a line on this litter, and road out to pick her up for Elena and Elin. I had to wait a couple of days until they were ready, had their shots, then came back.” Cade rubbed the puppy’s neck absently while he talked, and, I kid you not, I was so riled up I could feel him petting me instead. “Meant to be back this morning, wanted to help move, but when I got into town I heard what happened and stopped at the club. Sledge told me he hired you.”
I nodded, but didn’t want to change the conversation yet. We still had a lot to cover.
“You didn’t call,” he said, and all of my hot and bothered feelings left in one fell swoop.
I surged to my feet and said, “Are you kidding me?”
My hands went to my hips, which were cocked to the side.
“I didn’t call you?” I seethed. “You’ve got to be shittin’ me.”
Cade just watched me, his face annoyingly blank.
“You humiliated me, sent me away like a disobedient child, then disappeared for a week. Of course I didn’t call you. I’m not the wrong one here … I was waiting for you to man up and apologize.”
That last bit made his teeth clench, but I was too pissed to worry about going to far.
“Why didn’t you call me?”
Cade sighed and asked, “Can you take her?”
He held the puppy toward me and there was no way I could say no.
“What is she?” I asked as I pulled her in for a snuggle, laughing softly when she licked the underside of my chin.
“Yellow lab,” Cade replied. “She probably needs to go out.”
I walked to the back door, feeling Cade at my back. We went outside and I looked around. Once I was satisfied there was nothing that could hurt her, or that she could tear up, and that the fence I had was intact and would keep her safely inside, I walked down the steps and set her down. Then I sat on the second step and crossed my arms over my chest.
Cade sat beside me.
“I told you I’d fuck up,” he began, and I leaned back and to the side so I could watch him while he talked.
Shit, he looks hot, I thought, then turned slightly and went back to looking at the dog. I needed to stay strong.
“I don’t know how to do relationships. You know I’ve been with the club for over twenty years. The brothers have my back, and I have theirs; I’ve never known any other way. I was taken by surprise when that shit went down at the barbecue. It was goin’ great, and I was blindsided when Sledge told me what went down. I was fuckin’ pissed that you didn’t tell me, then I was pissed that you and Sledge had conflict. I was torn, so I had to get more info. That’s why I sent you away. I needed time alone with Sledge, and once I found out what went down, I took your back.”
“Then why’d you leave?” I asked softly.
“I’ve never gone against the brothers before. Never had a woman. Didn’t really know how to handle either, so I needed to ride and think it all through.”
“And what did you come up with?” I asked, shifting my eyes back to him.
“I’m in love with you,” Cade stated firmly, and my heart literally leapt out of my chest and in to his hands. “You’re mine, and I’m yours, and no matter what happens, you, Elin, and Elena come first.”
I stopped breathing, then I pinched myself on the leg. Hard.
I’m not dreaming. This shit is real.
“You hurt me,” I managed as I fought back another damn bout of tears.
“I know, and I’m so fucking sorry. But, darlin’, I swear, that shit won’t happen again.”
His arm darted out and pulled me in so I was flush against him, and I tilted my head back so I could meet his gaze.
“Promise me that you won’t keep shit like that from me again,” Cade demanded. “I know you’ve got your job, and your girls, and I know you do some crazy shit. You know I like it … But I also need to know that you’ll let me know when something like that goes down. Something dangerous. I want to have your back, and I need you to have mine.”
I nodded, my eyes stuck on the full swell of his lips as he spoke.
“I promise,” I assured him, then brought my hand to his chest and revealed, “I love you too, Cade.”
His lips crashed down on mine and he showed me how much he’d missed me.
It felt amazing, and just as I was about to crawl in his lap, the puppy let out two sharp yaps and started trying to climb up the steps.
“C’mon, you little cockblocker,” Cade said as he reached down to pick her up, and I laughed, feeling lighter and happier than I had in weeks.
We’d barely made it in the door before I scooped the puppy out of Cade’s hands, deposited her on the floor, and backed him up against the door.
Before Cade knew what hit him, I was wrapped around him like a boa constrictor.
Lips, hands, legs … Whatever I could touch him with, feel him with, I was. He smelled amazing, like wind, freedom, and sex. I wanted to dive down inside of him and discover every hidden treasure.
His hands came to my ass, kneading as he lifted, and I wrapped my legs around him. Cade sat me on the kitchen counter, then whipped my shirt over my head, his face delving into my cleavage as he found my ready nipples with his mouth. He teased me through the lace, which triggered a thought in my brain.
“Wait,” I said softly, then louder, “Wait.”
“What is it?” Cade asked, pulling back to search my face. And that look, that look right there, all soft, half-lidded, and sexy as fuck, almost had me saying forget it, and pulling him back to my tits.
“I’ve gotta get something real quick.”
I pushed him lightly, urging him to move back, then jumped off the counter and made a mad dash for my front door. I ran out, leaving the door wide open, then opened the back of my van and fumbled around until I found the bag I was looking for.
I ran back into the house and slammed the door, then darted passed Cade, who was standing in the hallway watching me with an amused grin. I took out the scrap of lace and tossed the bag at him, then rushed into my bedroom.
Once I’d peeled off my clothes and put on the black lace lingerie, I bent over to fluff out my hair, then tossed it back.
“Whoa,” I uttered, when the effect looked more wild banshee, than seductive siren.
I used my hands to smooth my hair down a bit, then pinched my cheeks and bit my lips to make them red and a little swollen.
I faltered for one second, when I realized just how exposed I would be to Cade. This thing was lace and crotchless. All the lights were on, and I hadn’t had anything to drink since our celebratory glass of wine. Luckily, I had enough pent-up lust running through me that I only had that one second of uncertainty before I assured myself Cade was going to love the way I looked, and hurried back out to him.
I slowed down before reaching the end of the hall, then rounded the corner and did my best to look seductive. I’m sure the heaving of my breasts from the rushing around didn’t hurt my attempt.
I placed a hand on the wall and leaned slightly, the other on my hip as I crossed my legs at the ankle and waited for Cade to look up from his perusal of the bag I’d thrown at him.
/> His gaze started at my crossed ankles, then moved slowly up, the movement so precise and hot, that I swore I could feel his hands trailing up my skin. Cade’s eyes darkened as he took in the lace, and yes, he paused at my breasts for a good minute, before they landed on my face.
In one swift movement he had the clit sensitizer in his hand, the bag was on the ground, and he was upon me.
“Jesus Christ,” Cade murmured when he reached to cup me and found no barrier between his fingers and my pussy. I felt him fumbling for a moment, then his wet hand hit my clit and began rubbing. I started moaning and thrusting uncontrollably as my clit almost instantly began to heat, turning my already raging libido into an inferno.
“Cade,” I groaned as his fingers filled me, and he bit my nipple through the lace.
I was writhing and whimpering as I tried to find the release that was screaming within me, all the while trying to get his pants off.
I needed him inside me so badly that I felt like a feral animal. Clutching and scratching as I tried to get him where I wanted him.
“Easy,” Cade murmured in my ear, then he ran his tongue along my neck and plunged inside.
“Ahhh,” I cried, absolutely loving the feel of him moving inside me.
I placed my hands against his strong shoulders, needing to brace myself as he thrust in and out of me.
“I love you,” Cade whispered in my ear, and I came apart.
Cade grunted as I pulsed around him, and after two more deep thrusts, followed me over the edge.
We clung to each other as we came down, trying to catch our breath.
My clit was still tingling, as if it were ready for another go, and I said, “We need to buy a vat of that cream.”
Cade’s deep chuckle in my ear only fueled my clit’s desire.
“You’re so fuckin’ hot, babe.”
I grinned, utterly satisfied and pleased that Cade had liked my surprise. I also had to admit, I was happy he’d gone for the clit sensitizer and not the anal beads.
I rubbed against him, my clit seriously had a mind of it’s own, and moaned when I felt the build begin again.
“You need more?” Cade asked, his lips against my neck.
“Yeah,” I managed. “That stuff’s potent.”
“I’ve got you,” Cade said, then carried me down the hall, through my bedroom, and into the master bath.
Once there he washed me, fingered me, then went down on me like a champ. I’d come three times and there was no end in sight, so Cade took me to bed, slid inside of me, and made love to me in the moonlight as we christened my new house.
Best make-up sex, ever.
I woke up with a long, hard body beneath me, and Cade’s large hand rubbing my back in sweet, relaxing strokes.
“Mmmmm,” I murmured as I stretched languidly, then rolled slightly so I could look up at Cade. “Morning.”
“Tell me what you’ve got on Sledge’s case.”
Whelp, guess make-up sex is over…
I tried to get my mind to switch gears from gazing up at Cade’s handsome face to work, but it took a minute.
“Ah,” I began rubbing my hand over my eyes, “the victim, Samantha, was found strangled in the motel pool. Looks like she’d been dead for about five hours when she was found. Probably killed in the middle of the night, around two AM.” I sat up and grabbed a hair tie off of the nightstand, then pulled my hair back as I continued.
“She has an ex, a brother, best friend, and job. I’ve talked to the ex and her brother so far. Plan to hit Clarice’s and Coffee Bean tomorrow.”
“Anything from the brother or ex?”
I shook my head. “Not much, just a phone number that I’ll look into tomorrow. I don’t have anything yet that proves it wasn’t Sledge, if that’s what you’re hoping.”
“I know my VP, and he didn’t do it,” Cade said, his voice strong and sure. “He’s not perfect, and he hasn’t always walked the straight and narrow, but he wouldn’t kill some chick for not giving it up.”
Holding up my palm, I said, “I know, he told me all about the groupies that hang out at the compound and are happy to give up the goods for free.”
“Hey,” Cade said, grabbing my hand and using it to pull me down to him. Then he whispered, “Don’t do that,” before kissing me senseless.
“Sorry,” I muttered against his lips when he was done.
I leaned down to kiss him one more time, before pulling back and racking my brain to see if there was anything I was forgetting.
“Yeah, so, if Sledge didn’t tell you, he scared the shit out of me when he popped up in the back of my car. That’s one of my worst nightmares, you know … Anyway, after the incident at the club, and him showing up in my car, I decided to get my workout on, so I went to the gym. Just so happens, Bran works out there daily, and he offered to give me self-defense lessons. We already started, and I’m going to see him again next week.”
“Braswell?” Cade asked, coming up into a sitting position himself. “He’s giving you free self-defense lessons?”
I took in his scowling face and said, “Yeah, so?”
“He just wants in your pants.”
“No he doesn’t.”
“Yeah, Lila, he does.”
“Does not.”
Cade pushed his hand through his hair, obviously frustrated, and I was happy to note, a little jealous.
“Hey,” I said, trying not to smile with satisfaction, but not succeeding. “You know you have nothing to worry about with Bran. We’re just friends.”
“I don’t like it,” Cade admitted.
“I love you,” I reminded him, giddy to be able to say it out loud. “You can trust me.”
Cade’s eyes caught mine for a few beats, then he nodded before rolling over me and saying, “Gonna hit the head, then I’m coming back to fuck you.”
I must be a total freak, because his declaration caused my stomach to dip and my lips to turn up.
Such a romantic.
“Amy May, Carmen, and Bea will be here any minute to help me finish unpacking. We want to have it all done before the kids get home at five.”
“Guess I’ve got a deadline to work against,” Cade said with a toothy grin, causing me to chuckle even as I squirmed in the sheets. Then he startled me by yelling, “Son of a bitch!”
“What?” I asked, shooting up in bed and clutching the covers, my eyes darting around the room.
“Cockblocker needs to go out,” Cade growled. “I just stepped in her shit … and her piss.”
I slapped my hand against my forehead. I’d totally forgotten about the puppy.
“I’ll get her,” I said, pushing up off the bed and trying not to laugh.
I found the puppy in the kitchen, probably trying to find some food. I was officially the worst pet owner ever … I hadn’t put out food or water, hadn’t let her out, and totally forgot she’d even existed.
“I’m sorry, CB,” I cooed as I picked her up and took her outside. Once she was safely on the ground, I ran back in and grabbed some Tupperware bowls, filling one with water, and the other with tuna.
I know, I know, she’s a dog, not a cat, but hopefully tuna would do in a pinch.
“I need to run to the pet store,” I called out as I placed the dishes on the kitchen floor, then went back out to grab CB and bring her back inside.
As I put her in front of the dishes, Cade walked in and said, “I have some kibble in the truck. I’ll go get it.”
I snorted. There was something about the word kibble coming out of Cade’s mouth that struck me as funny.
“Don’t feed her that shit,” he ordered, and I reached down just as CB was about to stick her snout in the tuna.
“Sorry, CB. We’ll get you some food in a minute. Have the water.”
“Oh my God, is that your puppy?”
I looked up to see Carmen with her hands covering her mouth as she looked lovingly down at CB.
“Can I hold her?”
“Sure,??
? I replied, just as Cade came in through the back, a bag of puppy food under his arm.
He looked from the puppy, to Carmen, then back to me and said, “Looks like she’s living up to her name.”
“Elin,” Elena screeched when she walked into the front door and locked eyes on CB.
“Jeez, Lena, I told you to wait for me. I want to see the house too,” Elin complained as he rushed in behind her, his backpack slung over his shoulder. Eric was one step behind him.
Elin followed Elena’s pointed finger then squealed.
“Is it ours?” he asked, falling immediately to his knees, much to CB’s delight.
She danced around him, yapping happily as he laughed along with her.
Elena was still standing there speechless with her hand thrown out. Hearing the puppy’s excited chatter broke her out of the spell, and she dropped her tote bag to the floor as she sunk to her knees next to her brother.
“Is it a boy or a girl?” Elena asked, just as Cade walked into the foyer.
“She’s a girl, and yes, she’s yours,” he replied with a smile, and I’m not kidding, the expression on his face as he looked at my kids caused my ovaries to quiver.
“What’s her name?” Elin asked, giggling as the happy puppy covered him in kisses.
Before Cade could answer, I said, “CB.”
“CB?” Elena asked, looking up, her brow furrowed. “Like, quarterback?”
“That would be QB, sweetie,” Eric answered, grinning at me over the twins’ heads.
“Like CB radio?” Elin asked.
“Oh, like, Carrie Bradshaw?” Elena shouted.
That made me pause.
“How do you know who Carrie Bradshaw is?” I asked, visions of Mr. Big, Samantha, and tons of sex flitting through my mind.
“From The Carrie Diaries, duh,” Elena replied with an eye roll. “‘Member, I watched like the whole thing on Netflix in one weekend.”
I breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that my daughter’s innocence was intact, at least for the time being.
“Oh, yeah, right.”
“So, which is it?” Elin asked.
“You can interpret it however you like,” I responded. I certainly wasn’t going to tell the kids their new prized pet was a cockblocker.