by Katy Kaylee
“Kade, I — ” My phone rang with my mother’s ringtone. “I’m sorry, that’s my mom. I need to get it.”
He nodded. “Yes, of course.”
“Mom?” I answered.
“Oh, Morgan.” She sounded so weak, and it was the voice she had when she’d been crying.
“Mom, what’s wrong?”
“I’m in pain and I can’t find my medication. Or the pain relievers.”
“I’m on my way. Just stay there.” I poked the button off as I stood. “I have to go, Kade. I’m sorry.” I couldn’t wait to explain, and simply made my way back to the subway station.
“What’s wrong?” He kept step with me.
“It’s my mom. She has lupus; it’s been getting progressively worse.” I wasn’t sure why I was laying this on him. Maybe it was to show him what real life challenges were like.
“Can I help?”
I shook my head. “I need to pick up some pain reliever and get home.”
He took my arm to stop me, as he lifted his other arm and let out a shrill whistle. “Take a cab, it will be faster.”
A yellow cab pulled up to the curb and he opened the door. When he climbed in next to me, I said, “You don’t need to come with me.”
He stared at me. “If you don’t want me there, Morgan, just tell me.”
“It’s not that,” I said, feeling like a heel. I sat back and closed my eyes. “It just so hard to see her in pain, and to not be able to afford the treatment to help her. That’s why this restaurant has to be a success. I’ve got medical bills that keep piling up, but I can’t give her the one thing that could really make her life easier.” I wasn’t going to cry, but it was work to keep the tears from falling.
“I can afford it. Hell, Beth and Ash can afford it,” he said. “Why haven’t you asked us? Jesus, how much is it? I’ll give it to you right now.”
I turned away knowing I should feel grateful, but instead I felt like a charity case.
“Look, I know you think I’m an insensitive entitled jerk, but for once, my money can be good.”
I turned back to him. “You’re not my piggy bank. I don’t want to be saved by you or anyone.”
“Not even if it means helping your mom?”
Guilt filled my gut. And then anger that he’d challenge me like that.
“I’ll tell you what, Morgan, if someone offered me the chance to fix my mom, I’d have jumped at it. Pride be damned.”
“You don’t understand.”
“No, I don’t.” He stared at me and I could see judgment in his eyes.
“She doesn’t want it.”
“Doesn’t want what?”
I sighed. “She doesn’t want Beth to bail her out. I’d have accepted the help, but she’s a proud woman.”
“She’s not the only one,” he quipped.
The cab was approaching a convenience store that sold pain relievers. “Can you let me out and wait?” I asked him.
“Meter will run.”
“I’ll pay you one hundred extra to wait,” Kade said.
“I’ll wait.”
I ran in to the store with Kade behind me. I bought the medicine, not even able to pay because Kade again tossed bills on the counter, not caring about getting his change. He ushered me into the cab, and we were on our way again.
As we neared my apartment, I had some apprehension that Kade was going to see where I lived. How I lived. We didn’t live in squalor, but our place was small. It was clean and tidy, but since we couldn’t afford a lot of nice or new things, it was tired looking. But as I exited the cab, I couldn’t worry about what he’d think about my home. My first concern was helping my mom.
27
Kade — Wednesday
Morgan’s attitude both stunned and hurt me. Why she wouldn’t use any means at her disposal to help her mother baffled me. Was pride really worth enduring pain? But I was also bothered that she didn’t feel she could trust me.
I followed her into her place. Her mother was on the couch, looking like a shell of a woman. She had to be in her late forties or early fifties, but she looked closer to eighty.
“Mom, I’m here.” Morgan rushed to the kitchen to get a glass of water and hurried back to her mother. “Here’s the pain reliever. I’m going to find your medication now, okay?”
Her mother nodded, her tired eyes looking up at me.
“This is Kade, Mom. Do you remember him? He’s Ash’s brother.”
“Can I make you tea?” she asked.
“No Mom, you need to rest.”
“Where are your manners, Morgan,” her mother said.
“I don’t need any tea, Mrs. Andrews. Thank you, though.”
“I’m sorry I look a mess — ”
“Mom, don’t worry about it. Let me find your medication and we’ll get you into bed.” She looked at her mother and then me, like she didn’t want to leave us alone together. Finally she decided she didn’t have a choice, she rushed down a tiny hallway.
“Are you helping her with her restaurant?” her mother asked.
“Yes. She’s going to be very successful.” I’d make sure of it.
“I slow her down.”
“She’s a loving daughter. She’s also strong.”
Her mother smiled. “And strong willed. I suppose she gets that from me. You wouldn’t know it by looking at me now, but I used to be pretty outspoken.”
“I see the fire in your eyes, Mrs. Andrews.”
“Okay Mom, here is your medication,” Morgan rushed into the room, handing her mom a pill. “Why don’t we get you in bed?”
“Can I help?” I asked.
“I’ve got it, thank you,” Morgan said helping her mother up.
“Andrews women can be difficult,” her mother said to me.
“Yes, I see that.”
“You just have to be persistent.”
“Mom!” Morgan rolled her eyes. I watched as Morgan led her mother to the hall.
I smiled, enjoying the exchange. Did her mother see in me that I had feelings for Morgan? Or had Morgan told her about us, whatever us was?
As I looked around her tiny apartment, I realized that she and her mother had been working hard all on their own. I suspected with her mother’s illness, Morgan was having to do double duty on the work front.
It was a wonder she didn’t harbor more resentment toward the Raven and McAdams families. Her mother had worked for Beth and Ben’s family forever. I’d remember seeing her and Morgan at the McAdams home in the Hamptons when I’d go with Ash to play or hang out with Ben. They saw firsthand, a life of luxury and yet weren’t really a part of it. What a blow it must have been to expect to be taken care of, but then tossed out when the McAdams company began to fail.
Where the fuck was Ben in all this? Why wasn’t he helping them? What a fucking loser.
“She’s out like a light,” Morgan said, re-entering the little living room. “I’m sorry I had to cut our lunch short.” She looked at her watch, I suspected to figure out how long before she needed to head back to the restaurant.
“I don’t mind. I like getting more of a glimpse into your life.”
She looked around her tiny apartment, and I was surprised when she didn’t make some sort of comment about my glimpse of it.
“Morgan?”
“Hmm?” She looked up at me.
I moved toward her, wanting to be near her. “Let me help your mom.”
Her head was shaking before I could finish the sentence. “I can’t accept it.”
“You can. You can’t keep living like this — ”
“My life is just fine.”
I gently pressed a finger to her lips, immediately removing it when fire lit her eyes.
“Please, let me finish. I’m not judging you. You’re doing an incredible job managing everything, but you’re going to run out of steam. It’s not wrong to accept help. The restaurant needs you to be focused. You can’t do that if you’re worried about your mother and money.” She d
idn’t balk, so I continued on. “You’re right. My life is easy. Let me use my money to help make yours easier too. And your mother’s. No one should suffer because of pride.”
I could see in her eyes that her conviction was wavering. “I’ll pay you back.”
I huffed out a breath. “That’s not necessary, but if it makes it easier for you to accept the help, then fine.”
She nodded.
I hooked the crook of my finger under her chin. “Imagine not having to worry about her bills. What will that be like, Morgan?” I wanted the feeling of relief and security to infuse her soul so she wouldn’t change her mind.
She smiled, and it was so lovely my heart did handsprings in my chest. Yep, I was in love with her. I wanted to offer her the world, but knowing her, she’d fuss and argue. Was that just part of her makeup, or was her resistance aimed toward me specifically?
Right now, I’d focus on making her life easier. I’d take care of her mother’s medical needs and make sure the restaurant had everything she needed to pursue her vision. Clearly, I’d influenced her in the wrong direction there. I was proud of her for standing up to me and John. I appreciated her taking me to the food cart to help me understand what she wanted. Now, I was going to let her have free rein on her vision.
I put my hands on her shoulders, which were still tense. “You need to relax. You should let me give you a massage.”
She rolled her eyes. “Billionaires don’t give massages. They pay for them.”
I quirked a brow. “I’ve never paid for a massage.”
She laughed. “I didn’t mean a hand job.”
“Good. The point is, I’m very good at massages. If you lead me to your bedroom and lay down, I’ll prove it.”
She looked at me with suspicion in her eyes. “I already know you’re good with your hands.”
“You have a dirty mind. I really am talking about a massage.”
“Fine, then.” She turned and led me up the hall, passing a small bathroom and a closed door. At the end of the hall was a small room with a double bed. I closed the door behind us.
“You do need to undress. And do you have any lotion?”
“On my dresser.”
I watched her through the dresser mirror as she undressed. She had the most amazing voluptuous body. My dick was already eager to be in her. Down boy, I mentally told it.
I picked up the lotion. Lavender Vanilla. I smiled, noting the brand. I was going to buy this company.
When I turned, she was prone on the bed, her long hair strewn out to the side. She still wore pretty pink panties.
“Don’t want your ass massaged?” I asked as I sat next to her.
“Is there such a thing?”
“Honey, I can massage you everywhere.”
I helped her out of her panties, marveling at the smooth creaminess of her skin. I squirted some lotion on my hands, inhaling the lovely scent of lavender and vanilla. The scent of Morgan. I rubbed my hands together to warm them and then pressed them on her shoulders, kneading and rubbing.
She let out a moan, not unlike the ones she had when I fucked her. “You do have great hands.”
“You have a fantastic body.” I rubbed her back lower, slipping my hands down her sides to her swells of her tits. She scoffed.
“You do, Morgan. Do you want to know how often I jack off thinking about your body?”
Her head turned, her eyes showing interest.
I nodded. “Daily. Sometimes more than once.”
Her cheeks flushed and her body seemed to warm right under my hands. I wanted to reach between her legs to see if my words had made her wet. But I’d promised a massage, so I reined my own desire and focused on making her feel relaxed, and yet, aching for more.
I didn’t talk after that, letting my hands say everything that needed to be said. That she was cared for, and safe. That she was valued and desired. My hands kneaded and massaged every inch of her from her neck, down her back, along her legs, to her feet with the pretty pink toenails.
“That’s magnificent,” she moaned as I worked my way back up her legs. Her voice sounded sleepy.
“Do you want to take a nap?” My hands kneaded the back of her thighs, occasionally sliding between them and feeling the heat of her pussy.
“Yes and no.”
I smiled. “Can’t decide?”
“I’m so relaxed, and yet, I’m turned on too.”
My dick, already straining the zipper on my slacks, jumped. “You know you don’t have to choose. You can have both. An orgasm and a nap.” This time when my fingers slid between her thighs, I lightly brushed the folds of her pussy.
She let out a soft moan. “You’re spoiling me, Kade.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“No, but I could get used to it.”
It bothered me that she didn’t want to get used to my spoiling her. “What if I wanted you to get used to it?”
She didn’t say anything for a long time, and I thought maybe she’d fallen asleep. “I thought you just wanted casual.”
“And now I want more.” I slid my fingers inside her and kissed a trail up her spine to her neck, loving how her body shuddered under my touch.
“Kade.” Her tone was needy and desperate.
I understood what she wanted, so I reached down with my other hand, undoing my pants and shoving them with my boxer briefs down. I lay over her, my dick hard as a rock as it slid between her thighs seeking her entrance. I ran my hands over her arms laying above her head.
“Just relax, Morgan. I’m going to take care of you.” I kissed her neck, gently sucking, as I adjusted my hips, found her hot wet pussy, and slid inside her.
She moaned and sighed all the same time. It was sexy and beautiful. My favorite sound in the world. Just like that, my laying over her prone body, relaxed from a massage, I started to move. I took my time, sliding in and out, as I licked and kissed her neck and shoulders.
She pulled her knees out to the side a bit, allowing me to slide in deeper. There was no hurry; even as I could feel my orgasm building, I kept it slow, steady.
I reached my hand under her body. My fingers found her clit, where I started to rub slow circles.
“Oh god,” she gasped, turning her face into the pillow. Her hips rocked faster now and I knew she was close to coming. My own orgasm was begging to break free, but I gritted my teeth and turned all my focus on her.
I stroked in once, twice, and her body went taut, her pussy squeezing my cock tight. I growled as I worked to hold on until I knew she was swimming in bliss. Only then did I surrender to my own need, plunging in and out another two times before emptying my essence inside her.
I had a small pang of sadness as it occurred to me that the baby growing inside her wasn’t from my seed. I pushed the thought away, committed to making this moment about her. Giving to her.
When I was finished, I rolled to my side, pulling her against me until I was spooned around her. The moment felt perfect. Like this was where I was supposed to be. If only she didn’t seem so resistant to have me.
28
Morgan — Wednesday
I was completely boneless. I’d never been so relaxed and sated in my life. Now, laying in Kade’s arms, I felt like Cinderella. He was my prince come to save me from hardship. I let myself feel that for a moment, but I knew I couldn’t believe in the fairy tale.
“I meant what I said.” He kissed the back of my neck. “I want more than casual with you.”
“I love that you want that, but things are so complicated. What about the baby?” Guilt at not only not telling him about it, but at letting him believe it was someone else’s threatened to consume me. How I didn’t combust in a fiery flame to hell, I didn’t know.
“What about it?” His hand gently rubbed my belly. “Whatever you need, I’ll provide. If you’d let me, I’ll raise it as my own.”
Oh god. The guilt was going to crush me. But along with that was a powerful emotion. If I wasn’t already in love w
ith him, I’d have fallen right then. It was time to tell the truth.
“Kade, I need to tell you — ” Out in the hall, I heard my mother stirring. I froze. Please don’t open the door and find me naked in bed with Kade, I repeated like a mantra in my brain.
He kissed my neck again. “We can finish this conversation later.” Slowly and quietly, we got up and dressed. I peeked out my door just in time to see my mom’s room door close again. She must have gone to the bathroom.
I turned my head back toward Kade, putting my index finger over my lips in the universal sign of be quiet, and then went into the hall. I led him to the front door.
When we arrived, he had a boyish grin on his face. “Sneaking out of a girl’s bedroom. I haven’t done that in a long time.”
I laughed. “Having to sneak a boy out of my room is a first for me.”
He wrapped his arm around my waist and tugged me close. “I like that I’m part of so many of your firsts.”
It was sweet and sexy, and reminded me how I didn’t deserve him.
“Think about what I said, Morgan. This is more than casual to me.”
I wanted to tell him yes. That it was more than casual to me, too. I wanted to tell him about the baby and have him be so happy he twirled me around in joy. I wanted him to take me away from the stress of not just my life, but my mother’s as well. But fairy tales didn’t come true for people like me, so I just nodded.
When he left, I went into the kitchen. I had a few minutes to whip up some food my mom could eat later before I had to head back to the restaurant to prepare for the dinner crowd.
I was mixing up a rice and veggie bowl for my mother when my phone rang. The caller ID said it was Beth.
“Hi, Beth,” I answered.
“Hey. I haven’t heard from you in a while. Are you okay?”
“Yes, just busy.” I finished putting the vegetables in the bowl, snapped on the lid, and set it in the refrigerator.
“What’s this big confrontation I heard about at the Rookery?” she said, referring to Raven Industries’ office building.
“No big confrontation. I just fired my general manager for being a conniving asshole and told Kade I was going to do what I wanted.”