“Private party for two,” Portia sang, before pouting in the mirror, slicking her lipstick on, then smacking her lips together.
“You know it.” Jessa pulled her own lipstick out of her purse, deliberately holding eye contact with me. “With my father negotiating this deal with his father, I just know we’re going to be spending much more time together. To grow a lot closer, if you know what I mean.”
Portia dug a small brush out of her clutch bag, running it through her silky hair. “You know him intimately already, babe. And he’s been back for seconds.”
“And thirds.”
“And why wouldn’t he? You’re perfectly suited. Everyone keeps saying how good you look together tonight.” She turned to me, her tone conversational. Throughout their whole exchange I’d been kind of frozen in place, desperate to be anywhere else, but at the same time wanting to hear what they had to say. I needed to leave. “Did you know I’ve been with Caiden, too? Most of our friends have. You’re nothing special.” Tucking her brush back into her bag, she fluffed out her hair as Jessa pouted at her reflection. “Him and Jessa are going places.”
I rolled my eyes. Yeah, I was so fucking jealous at the thought of Jessa with Cade that it made me feel sick, but I wouldn’t let them get to me. At least, I’d try. Actually putting that thought into action was way, way harder when I had them both filling my ears with their poisoned words. “You two are so deluded,” I managed to spit out, miraculously without my voice cracking, spinning on my heel, and racing out of the bathroom to the sound of their laughter.
“Winter.” Stopping at the voice, temporarily distracted, I turned to see Zayde leaning against the wall.
“Z? What are you doing here?”
“Waiting for my date.” His lip curled. “Can’t fucking wait to get out of here and ditch her.”
“Not a fan of Portia, huh? Me neither.” Understatement of the evening.
He pulled his phone from his pocket, his tone turning icy. “You could say that.” Eyes on his phone, he inclined his head to the left and added, “You might want to go that way.”
Okay then.
I was in no rush to get back to the ballroom, and I was more than happy to put as much space between me, Portia, and Jessa as possible, so I followed his vague instruction, continuing down the corridor. I passed a set of glass double doors that were thrown open, allowing a cool breeze to blow in, and paused, taking in the unexpected view. There was a garden through the doors, all manicured hedges with lights artfully placed throughout the space, and at the bottom stood a small bandstand draped in white fairy lights.
I took a step forwards to explore, when I was pulled back against a hard body, arms coming around my waist, holding me in place.
He rasped one word against my ear.
“Snowflake.”
FIFTEEN
“You know I’m gonna have to punish you for what you did.” I advanced on Granville, stalking him like a lion would with its prey, taking my time, toying with him, knowing he wasn’t going anywhere. I shouldn’t be doing anything to potentially fuck things up for the Alstone Holdings deal, but we were in private, and I knew he wouldn’t say anything. This had been coming ever since he tried to trick Winter, and from what I could see of his face, he was resigned to his fate.
He swallowed hard, his voice shaking. “I know. I didn’t have a choice, though.”
“Don’t give a shit.” I spat the words. “You fucked around with me and her, and you have to pay.”
“Just—just make it quick, okay? Don’t get blood on my suit. It’s a Boateng.” He gave me a pleading look from behind his mask, but I was too angry to pay it any attention. Discarding my suit jacket by the bathroom door, which I’d locked, I advanced on him, undoing my cufflinks and rolling up my sleeves.
Crack.
My well-placed punch to his jaw sent his head swinging round, and he was on the floor before I knew it. Fucking pussy. “Get up.”
He gasped, scrambling into a sitting position, his mask askew. “Please. Don’t do this. Winter wouldn’t like it.”
His words gave me fucking pause, piercing through my rage. What would she think? I stared down at him on the floor, torn between my need to exact revenge, and the knowledge that he was most likely right.
For fuck’s sake.
I kicked out at the wall next to his head, hard, sending a shower of plaster raining down on the floor and making him flinch, then stalked towards the door, swiping my jacket from the floor, and leaving him cowering behind me.
“Cade?” Winter’s voice was hesitant.
I blinked, coming back to the present and the girl I had in my arms.
Seeing her tonight? I’d been fucking speechless. It wasn’t even the dress—it was her. Everything had slammed into place, and all I wanted was to go to her, to let everyone know she was mine. It had been torture keeping my distance and having to entertain Jessa. After I’d confronted Granville, I’d talked Z into taking her and Portia back to our place for the after-party we’d planned, right before I saw Winter slipping out of the ballroom, and I owed him, big time. I’d made it clear to Cass that I’d be coming after Winter and he could leave. The ball would be over soon enough; as far as I was concerned, I’d done my duty, and now my only concern was my girl.
Keeping my arms around her, I walked us out of the doors and over to the side of the building. I spun her in my arms, then let go, reaching up to undo my mask. She did the same, her hands trembling, and I took her mask, placing it with mine on the stone ledge next to us.
“Shouldn’t you be with Jessa?” Her mouth turned downwards, and all I wanted to do was kiss her pouty lips and make her smile again, but I had things I needed to say.
I crowded her up against the wall, leaning in and running my nose up her jaw to her ear. I ignored her question and instead asked one of my own.
“Guess what?”
She shivered. “W-what?”
I trailed my hand up her bare arm, up to her throat, brushing my thumb over her pulse point.
“I realised I trust you.”
She inhaled sharply.
“I saw you with Granville, earlier.” I hissed out the words, unable to hide my distaste for him. “I can’t stand that slimy prick, but seeing you with him, the only thing I felt was fucking jealous that he got to speak to you, and I didn’t.”
I nipped at her earlobe, and she trembled again. “I trust you,” I repeated, hoping she could hear that I really fucking meant it.
“Took you long enough,” she murmured, the corners of her mouth turning up, and I could feel a smile tugging at my own lips. Bringing my other hand up, I cupped the back of her neck, my fingers tangling in her soft hair.
“I’ve got another question for you.” I drew my head back, just enough that I could see her eyes. “Do you still want to be just friends?”
“I don’t want to be your friend,” she whispered, holding my gaze. “I never wanted that.”
“One last question, and I already know the answer to this.”
“Someone’s confident.” She raised a brow at me, biting her lip to hide her smile.
“We’re no longer friends. You’re mine, okay?”
“Fuck, yes. That wasn’t really a question, by the way.”
“You’re mine, Snowflake,” I growled, reiterating my words, and then I couldn’t hold back any longer. I slammed my lips down on hers, and she opened her mouth for me, pulling me even closer, her tongue sliding against mine. It was like her kiss set off a chain reaction straight to my dick, and I ground myself into her. Fuck, I’d missed this. I’d missed her.
“Cade,” she whimpered. “Please tell me we can leave.”
“We’re leaving, right now.” Before I get fucking carried away and do something stupid like claiming you by fucking you right here so everyone can see you’re mine.
Not that it could be that simple. For a start, I’d been driven to the ball, along with Zayde, Portia, and Jessa, so we’d have to get a cab back to the hous
e, which would be full of people for the after-party.
We made our way back through the ballroom and out of the town hall as quickly as we could, avoiding everyone, but neither of us touching, aware there’d be eyes on us.
“West!” I called to my brother, who, with perfect timing, was holding the door open to a cab, while Lena climbed inside.
He turned around at my shout, a pleased grin forming on his face as he took us both in. “Wanna share our cab?”
* * *
Back at the house, the sounds of the party spilled out of the open door. West and Lena disappeared inside, and I turned to Winter. “Feel like getting out of here? I doubt we’ll have any privacy, even in the bedrooms.”
“Ye—”
I didn’t give her a chance to finish before my mouth was on hers again, hard and demanding. I couldn’t stop myself. I’d denied myself for too long; I needed her.
Our kiss was interrupted by a low drawl coming from my right.
“Finally got your shit sorted out, then.”
Pulling away from Winter, I looked at my best mate, who was smirking at me. “Yeah.”
“Good.” Zayde threw the stub of his joint on the ground. “Coming in?”
“I might change out of this dress,” Winter murmured. “It’s not the most comfortable thing to wear. And these heels are killing me.”
She slipped past me and headed off up the stairs, smiling at Zayde as she passed.
“Are you two official now, then?” Zayde looked at me curiously.
“Yeah. She’s mine, and I want everyone to know it. They so much as think about flirting with her—”
“Chill.” He shook his head at me. “No one will try to fuck with her. They know the consequences.” Moving back through the doorway into the house, he added, “She’s good for you.”
“I know. Too good for me.”
“That’s not true.” He frowned at me.
“Whatever. I’m going to change out of this suit. Thanks for, y’know.”
He nodded, before turning to walk down the hallway, throwing one last comment over his shoulder as he sauntered away from me. “It’s not true. And you’re welcome.”
* * *
For the first time since Winter had been taken, I relaxed. The low rumble of my R8’s engine, and my girl, back where she belonged, next to me, as I gripped the steering wheel, navigating the empty roads with ease—this was all I needed.
My eyes slid to Winter. She was watching me, a small smile on her lips.
“What?”
“Just looking at you.” She shrugged, acting like it was no big deal.
“You were eye fucking me, Snowflake.”
She huffed out a laugh, before her voice turned serious. “Cade. I need to talk to you about the ball.”
Not tonight. Tonight, we were going to forget all the shit we were dealing with. Tonight was about one thing only—me and her. That, and how many times I could make her moan my name.
I took one of my hands off the steering wheel and put it on her thigh. Her bare thigh. Stroking my thumb across her smooth skin, I returned my attention to the road. “Let’s think about that tomorrow, yeah? I approve of the outfit choice, by the way.” I inched my hand up her thigh, under her skirt, and she gave a soft gasp, wriggling in her seat.
“Stay still, otherwise I’ll stop,” I warned her.
She immediately stopped moving. “Cade…”
“Just relax.” My fingers brushed her inner thighs, and it was my turn to gasp. “Fucking hell. You’re soaked. Baby.”
That. Was. It.
Up ahead was a dirt road leading to a tiny car park—normally used by walkers as it marked the beginning of a trail to a viewpoint about half a mile away. There’d be no one there now, and I wasn’t waiting any longer. Pressing down on the accelerator, I felt the car respond, and we were there less than two minutes later. I spun the wheel, turning onto the dirt road, and brought the car to a screeching halt in the empty car park, sending clouds of dust up behind us.
One small problem.
As much as I loved my R8, the interior wasn’t exactly conducive to the things I wanted to do to my girl. Too fucking cramped, and she deserved more. Outside the car would do for now, until I could get her in my bed and fuck her until she couldn’t walk.
Not wasting any time, I shot out of the car, round to Winter’s door, and threw it open. “Come here.” My voice was hoarse, my dick begging to be inside her tight, wet pussy.
She slid out of the car, all coy and innocent, fluttering her lashes. She chose now to tease me? Fucking seriously?
I gripped her hips, using her body to slam the door shut, and crowded her up against the door.
“Do you know how long I’ve waited to be inside you again?” I growled the words into her ear, biting at her earlobe, my dick, hard as steel, pressed against her stomach.
“Hopefully the same amount of time I’ve waited,” she murmured breathlessly. “I’ve come to appreciate my vibrator.”
“No. No. No. That’s no substitute.” I ground myself into her, my hands sliding up, under her top, cupping her tits. “No bra?” My voice was so thick and hoarse I doubted she could even understand me.
“It kind of seemed redundant.” Her words ended on a moan as I dragged my thumbs across her hard nipples, then pinched them lightly. “Cade… I missed you so fucking much,” she whimpered, gripping my ass and pulling me more tightly against her, swivelling her hips against me, her skirt up around her waist.
This girl.
I was surrounded by her. All soft skin, tight, wet heat, breathy moans and sighs.
All. Mine.
“Snowflake. Fuck, baby.”
I slid my hand down between us, teasing her by keeping it over her underwear. She moaned again, her cries loud in the still night air, as I stroked across her slit, feeling her wetness under my fingers. I swallowed her moans as I kissed her, my cock fucking throbbing, painfully hard and straining against the sweatpants I’d thrown on back at the house, needing to be inside her.
Taking my hand from her nipple, I hooked it under her thigh, wrapping her leg around me and aligning myself so my dick was against her pussy.
Fuuuuck.
I bit into her neck, and she turned her head, biting mine in return, running her hands under my sweatpants and digging her nails into my ass. I groaned and pushed her underwear aside, sliding my finger into her pussy as my thumb stroked her clit.
“More,” she begged, her voice urgent.
“You want more, huh?” I scraped my teeth up the side of her throat, adding another finger, dragging them both in and out of her tight wetness as my thumb continued to stroke over her clit, her soft whimpers testing my restraint. I needed this to feel good for her, but I couldn’t hold on for much longer.
“Cade. I’m gonna c—” I felt her tightening around my fingers, her hands pulling me even closer, as she fell apart for me, her head thrown back, riding my hand like it was my dick.
“More.” Her voice was a breathy whisper as she came down from her high, my fingers still inside her. As I slid my fingers out, her mouth met mine, and she kissed me like she fucking needed me to breathe.
She manoeuvred her hand into my boxers, gripping my cock. “Remember what you said to me once, King Caiden?” Her breath came in short pants, her lips almost touching mine, swollen from our kisses.
Not waiting for a reply, she pulled down my sweatpants and boxers in one go, sinking to her knees, licking across my IV tattoo.
She stared up at me from beneath her lashes, her eyes heavy with lust.
“You said, if you were the king, I should get on my knees and worship you,” she husked out, then wrapped her lips around my cock.
I swear I saw fucking stars.
Flicking her tongue across the head, she caressed my balls, moving her head backwards and forwards, torturing me with her slow pace, gradually taking my dick inch by inch into her mouth until I was all the way to the back of her throat.
I
needed more.
I gripped the back of her head, tangling my fingers in her hair, and thrust into her mouth. She let out a choked moan, the vibrations of the noise travelling straight down my cock.
I thrust again, hitting the back of her throat, and she swallowed, her hands moving around to my ass, holding me in place rather than drawing back. Her tongue dragged along the underside of my cock, and she moaned again, digging her nails into me as she let me set the pace.
Fuck me.
I fucked her mouth, the sight of her on her knees, choking on my dick, tears in her eyes, sending me over the edge. “I’m gonna come,” I hissed out, and she just gripped me harder, taking me even deeper, and I came, my dick throbbing in her mouth, cum spilling down her throat, marking her as mine. She stared up at me through her tears, her throat working to swallow everything I had, until I was spent.
On her knees in the dirt, her hair blowing in the night breeze, she’d never looked more like a fucking queen.
She licked around my dick one last time, softly, then released it, rising to her feet, panting. I took her face in my hands, kissing her pouty lips, then kissed the tears that had spilled down her cheeks away, one by one, until they were all gone. Breathless, she collapsed against the side of the car, her pupils huge, turning her blue eyes almost black as she stared at me.
“You’re fucking amazing,” I told her, meaning every word, and her mouth curved into a smile. “But I’m not finished with you, yet.”
SIXTEEN
Caiden picked me up and carried me around to the front of the car, sitting me on the edge of the hood, my legs still wrapped around his waist. My jaw ached from sucking his cock. Not that I was complaining. Seeing him let go and fall apart for me was worth everything, not to mention it had made me horny beyond belief.
“Is this where we fuck?” I spoke the words against his lips, my arms wrapped around his strong back.
I felt him smile against my mouth. “Gimme a minute to recover, yeah?”
The Secrets We Hide: The Four - book 2 Page 9