by Kahlen Aymes
"Would Cade mind?" he asked hesitantly.
"'It's just a ride, Noah. He won't mind. Come on." I reached out and pushed the button for the third floor and when the door opened, looked both ways in the hallway. Noah quickly followed me to the stairwell to the basement. I stopped at the door between the stairs and the garage to peer through the window.
A man and woman were making their way to the elevators, and the limo was waiting off to one side.
"The limo is here, but we have to wait just a minute."
After the two disappeared in the elevator I pushed open the door and ran to the limo and Noah followed me inside.
"Hey, Peter.” I greeted the driver. “Noah needs a ride back to the hotel as well. You can let him out in front after you drop me in the garage, okay?" His appearance out front might actually help divert attention from my trip up to Cade's room.
"Yes, miss," Peter replied, as he pulled out of the garage. It was only a few blocks to Cade's hotel and I bolted out of the limo up the stairs to Cade's room.
I knocked softly and within seconds the door opened and I was enfolded in a pair of strong arms as I was lifted right off of the floor. My arms slid up around his neck and into his hair as his mouth took mine in a deep kiss. I gasped as his tongue parted my lips but I opened my mouth to move in unison with his.
"God, Brook, you taste so good. What took you so bloody long?"
"Shut up and kiss me," I moaned into his mouth as we continued our onslaught of each other. My hands continued to stroke through his hair as our kisses softened and he brought a hand up under the curtain of my hair to hold my head. His thumb stroked back and forth on the sensitive skin under my ear.
His arms around me felt so good, and his scent floated all around me. As he turned his face into my neck, took a deep breath, and then ghosted his lips across my cheekbone back toward my mouth. "I smell him on you," he murmured.
I froze and drew back.
"Seriously?"
His mouth placed a soft kiss on my mouth, sucking the top lip into his mouth and then moved to bite at the lower one.
"Yes. I have you memorized, Brook. I'm sorry, but I can smell him." His hand slid down the back of my head to grasp around my hair.
"Ugh, Cade. I don't want that." I pulled back and started to peel off my shirt and went into the bathroom. "I'm gonna take a shower."
"Babe, it isn't gross or anything like that, it's only that I can smell his cologne on your clothes. It's really nothing."
"Hell, yes it is. That is not what I want you to be thinking about when you're kissing me Cade. Just let me take a quick shower." I stripped off my jeans and underwear and stepped under the hot spray.
Cade was leaning against the counter of the vanity watching me, his eyes appreciative and intense.
"I need to tell you something anyway."
"Okay, as long as I can keep watching you," he said as the steam accumulated on the clear glass doors. I couldn't see his face, but I could hear the smile in his voice. "What is it, love?"
"No big deal, but we did say we'd tell each other everything from now on, so..."
"Brook. Just bloody say it."
"Well, I think Noah is developing a little crush on me. I chalk it up to raging hormones and spending time together."
Silence. He didn't say anything.
"Cade?" My stomach sank. "Did you leave?" I squeezed some shampoo out of the bottle and ran it through my hair.
"No, I'm here, honey," he answered quietly.
"What are you thinking?"
"Just that it was inevitable, I suppose. You’re a beautiful girl. What happened?"
"We were doing a scene and we'd read it several times, and he just said he could see how you'd fall for me during all of our work together on The Future of Our Past."
"Yeah, and?"
"And, I feel like he's my little brother and I told him so. Seriously, Cade, he was totally embarrassed and more worried about how it would mess up his relationship with you if I told you, than how I would take it." I rinsed the conditioner out of my hair. "I told him you'd be cool, but that I had to tell you. So... are you cool?"
"I understand how he'd be smitten with you. I was. He's a good kid."
Relief washed over me and I smiled. "I did tell him that from the moment we met, we were hooked, and it wasn't because of the work. The work just gave us an excuse to be together."
I started when the door swung open and Cade in all his naked glory stepped into the shower with me. As always, the sight caused stirrings deep within my body and my head fell back to look into his eyes. The color was a slightly darker, smoky blue and heavily laden with desire.
"Sorry if I startled you, my love."
Cade’s arms slid around me and mine automatically went around his slim waist and I kissed his chest, as the water poured over his hair and skin.
"It's okay; you can make it up to me…" I whispered against his skin and then my mouth closed around his left nipple. His fingers traced down my back and up again.
I took the soap and lathered up his skin, my hands going over his chest, back and tight abdominals. His eyes were heavy as he watched me and then his lips bent to my neck. He gasped as my lathered hands moved lower to grasp around his erection. It swelled and pulsed in my hand. He was so beautiful, rock hard, yet the skin was soft and velvety in my hands.
"Jesus, Brook. God that feels good." His hands closed around my wet hair to pull by head back so he could ravage my mouth with his. I sucked on his tongue like I was starving, and I was. I was always starving for him. No matter how much I kissed him and no matter how often his body was inside mine, it was never enough.
My hands moved up and down on his length and his moans echoed in the shower. It completely turned me on that I could bring him to this much pleasure.
"Fuck, baby. I can't… I want..." His hands came up my body under my arms until he held me around my ribs and he lifted me up against the side of the shower. My arms went around his shoulders and my legs wrapped around him. He filled me completely and he felt so huge as he stretched me around him.
"God, Cade. You feel so incredible." He pushed open the shower door as I wound around his body and walked into the bedroom and to the bed. The lights were low and his eyes intent on my face as he lowered us both to the bed.
His arms came down on both sides of my head as his pelvis began moving into mine, each thrust long and deep. His nose nuzzled into mine and his hot breath rushed over my cheek as he placed several open mouthed kisses along my cheekbone. It was so sweet and soft, so tender and my heart felt like it would burst.
"Oh, Brook. I could make love to you forever."
"That works for me," I whispered against his mouth before our tongues mated, thrusting into each other's mouths like his body was thrusting into mine. Our kisses deepened and slowed and the movements of our hips did the same as the sensations started to build, slowly, but I could tell the slow build would bring a strong and amazing release.
I didn't want him to stop kissing me. I didn't want him to stop moving within my body as I fought the orgasm I knew was inevitable. "Cade, I want this to last... I don't want to stop... oh God," I breathed against the skin of his neck, and then sucked his skin into my mouth as I felt my body begin to quiver and tremble around him. "Uhhhh, Cade, I can't..." My arms tightened around him and my hands tugged his hair to bring his mouth toward mine.
"Let it go, baby. Let it go. Brook..." He brought those beautiful, perfect lips back to mine as he sucked and teased my mouth into a matching response, our tongues sliding back and forth with each other’s. I was gasping against his mouth as I came and he tensed and groaned as he exploded inside me. "Oh, baby. I love you." He was panting, his breath coming in uneven gasps.
Maybe two minutes passed and then his mouth was moving down my neck as he slid out of me and moved down my body. His mouth closed over one of my nipples to suck and tease while his fingers moved down between my legs to part the flesh that was still throbbing from the ef
fects of his lovemaking.
"Cade... baby, you don't have to..." I gasped as his fingers softly nudged the sensitive bundle of nerves at the core of my very being. "Uhhh... ummm."
"Let me show you how much I love you. You said you didn't want it to stop and it's not going to; not until I've worshiped you until you can't take anymore. Not until you beg me to stop, not until I'm sure you know just how much I love you. Because I do... I do, Brook."
My head fell back and my body trembled beneath his hands and mouth. Once again he amazed me in the unselfishness of his love.
Amazing, incredible, beautiful, sexy, wonderful... he was all these things and so much more, and I was overwhelmed... again.
I LAY ON the bed in my hotel room staring at the ceiling for the past two hours since Cade left. This was it... he was on his way to L.A. to read with the actresses up for the female lead in his next film, Only Us. I fucking hated the title because it told the story of what the film would require of Cade.
"Hmmph," I let out my breath as I twirled my hair around my finger. I knew he'd have to kiss them and I kept hearing his voice in my head... “It's only my job.” I knew it was his job, but shit, it still made my stomach clench.
If that wasn't bad enough, the meeting with Pinnacle was scheduled for this morning and I'd be biting my fingernails to the bone until Cade called me later tonight to tell me how it went. I had the damn weekend off and was stuck up here alone. I'd thought about calling Nathan to ask him to fly up and keep me company, but Noah was here and Cade would be back Monday morning.
Two days.
Surely I could keep myself occupied for two days. I could re-read A Love Like This if nothing else. The weather was chilly, but nice. If those damn paparazzi would lay-off, I could go walking or shopping. Jennifer was still here because there was a cast party and some of the new actors would be on set next week. It didn't make sense for her to leave either. Maybe she and I could go out and do something.
My phone rang on the bedside table and I grabbed it. It was Lillian.
"Hey Lillian! Did you talk to Carter, Layla, and Olivier about Cade's birthday?"
"Hi honey. Yes, Carter and I would be delighted to come, but Layla is going to Switzerland with a friend and Oliver has to work. It's so nice of you to invite us, Brook."
"Oh, not at all. I know it would mean the world to Cade to have you here. He’s so difficult to buy gifts for. I have such a hard time figuring it out, and this will be perfect." I was smiling, even though Lillian couldn’t see me face.
"Brook, the Christmas gift, the diary, is so precious to him. He takes it with him everywhere in his guitar case. Did you know that?"
My voice got quiet. "Yes. I catch him reading it sometimes when he thinks I'm not watching."
"During those six weeks when he came back to London at the first of the year, he was so despondent, he'd barely talked to any of us. Layla mentioned he always held it in his hands when she went to visit him at his flat."
"Yes... he told me. About that, Lillian; I'm very sorry that happened. I'm not sure how much Cade's told you..."
"Not that much dear. Just that you weren't talking to him and that he didn't know why. He was very hurt, we barely saw him. He wouldn't come over or go out with his mates. Layla was the only one who saw him, more than once or twice, during those weeks." She paused for a couple of seconds. "Brook, it's none of our business and we trust Cade to work out his own life, but we’re glad you've gotten back together. He loves you very much. Sometimes, I think more than he should."
I felt my throat tighten and tears well in my eyes. I struggled to speak, so I cleared my throat.
"Uhhhhhggghh. Um, it was difficult for me as well, but I hope you know I love him more than anything in the world. I’d never intentionally hurt him. The stuff we deal with is crazy. It’s brutal, but we're doing a better job of communicating and keeping perspective now, so I don't think we’ll have a misunderstanding like that again. I don't want to have secrets from Cade or from you, Lillian. I went to his apartment to surprise him when I was supposed to be in New York for an audition, and another woman answered the door without any clothes on."
"Oh my God!" Lillian gasped.
I didn't want her to get the wrong impression so I rushed on.
"Yes, that's how I took it too, but the fact was, Cade wasn't even there. I was so hurt that I just closed down without talking to him. That was a mistake, and I should have listened to him. It's all been straightened out now."
"He didn't stray did he? I can't imagine he'd risk—" Her voice was questioning.
"No.” I shook my head. “And if I weren't such an idiot, I’d have realized. I was just too scared to know for sure; if that makes any sense? My heart was broken, and I was afraid knowing details would make the pain worse."
"You poor dear. I'm sorry, Brook. Surely, I’d have thought the same thing."
"Well, I appreciate your understanding and that you can forgive me for causing Cade that kind of pain. At the time, I just couldn't get beyond my own."
Lillian sighed on the other end of the phone. "Well, talking to him now, he’s very happy and the entire family loves you. We're delighted for you both."
"Lillian, honestly, I’d love him regardless if he slept with someone else. I’d already decided I couldn't be without him, either way."
"Well, don't say that, dear. We women shouldn't give men permission to cheat just because they know we won't leave them," she said sardonically. “Even my son.”
I laughed at her expression. "You're right, but I know he won't do that. I'm positive of it now."
"Darling, I'm very proud of you both. You're so mature for your years. Now, about the birthday; Caden doesn't know we're coming, does he?"
"No. I thought it would be fun if we walked into the restaurant and you were there. I've asked another of our friends to plan the party because we have to keep my involvement a secret from the public."
"Oh? Is it a friend of Cade's?"
"Yeah, Ethan Ranfeld. He's already back in L.A., but he agreed to make the arrangements. Most of the actors will be off set by then, but he's a great to help me, even though he won't be able to attend."
"Will the party be a large one?"
"No, only us, a couple of the actors, and a few of the crew members that Cade is good friends with. Probably our director, and Cade's production assistant will be there, too. Will you be able to stay for a few days? Maybe you can come to set and watch us work one day? Cade would like that."
"I'd love that dear. I'm sure my husband would as well, and I'll plan on it. I was going to make our plane reservations today."
The phone in the room started to ring. "My other phone is ringing, Lillian, so email me the details of your trip and I'll arrange for the boys to pick you up and get you a room in Cade's hotel. I'm really looking forward to seeing you!! I have to run. Tell the others I said hello. I love you!"
"Love you too, darling. Take care of yourself."
I scrambled to grab the other phone.
"Hello?"
"Hey good looking, wanna come out and play?"
"Uh...," I recognized the voice and was taken off guard again. I felt my face flush red hot.
"Brook? Are you there? It's a beautiful day! Let's go out," David said. I’d be damned if he wasn't too happy about it.
Okay, so they didn't just do this to me again!
"Where are you?" I was afraid of the answer.
"In the lobby," he paused at my gasp. "No big deal, this is more because I miss you than it is for Pinnacle. I came to make peace. Let's just hang as friends, if it makes you feel better. They've got Noah out canoodling with some other actress from a new movie he signed with. It's all publicity for the suits, but I really did want to see you."
"Uh, well...," I sank down on the bed. "You've got to let me know in advance, David! This causes a shit storm for me when you just show up unannounced. I thought we talked about this!"
"Look, I know Mr. Wonderful is MIA today, so I thou
ght it would be less uncomfortable and we could just have fun like we've done a million times, okay?"
I looked at my watch. It was 10:30 and Cade would be in his meeting with the studio executives.
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!
"David! How many people have seen you? Have you been photographed?"
"Who cares?” My heart dropped like a stone to my stomach at his words. “Let's just have some fun. We can go to lunch and walk around downtown, maybe go for a bike ride or something?"
My brain was racing. Maybe if I went along with him, it would be the last of David's obligations to the studio and I’d be free and clear. The timing was good because Cade was having it out with the producers at this very moment.
I was uncertain but due to circumstances I couldn't get in touch with Cade. It was impossible to call Jeanne or Joel because they were in the same damn meeting! Maybe Joel would read a text...
"It seems pretty convenient that you show up right when Cade leaves. You must have passed each other in the air. You're idea or the studio's?" My eyebrows rose and I sighed loudly.
David hesitated. "Um, I think they must have planned it that way, but does it really matter? What’s he doing down there anyway?"
I was confused because David seemed unconcerned and really laid back.
Was it only a few weeks ago that he was confronting Cade over dinner?
Exasperation tightened my chest and my lips thinned in annoyance. "Do you really give a rat's ass what he's doing down there?"
"Nope,” David answered in amusement. “Just making conversation. So meet me down here in twenty minutes. Does that give you enough time?"
"David… I don't know," I replied hesitantly.
How would Cade take it? Even if I didn’t hate it myself, I wasn’t looking forward to his reaction.
"Brook, come on. Do you want to be my fucking friend or not?"
"Ugh! Okay, but if you screw me on this, David, I'll never forgive you."
I HAD MY first series of read-throughs for my next film later in the afternoon and again the next morning, but this meeting with Pinnacle was the most important reason for this trip. Maybe, just maybe, this would be the end of the bloody bullshit.