Time For Love Box Set

by Karen Deen

  “I’ll get it,” Kane snaps before I even have a chance to answer.

  Well hello there, big bad wolf.

  Welcome to the party.

  “Thanks, boys, champagne will be lovely.” Trying not to react to Kane at all, I walk over and sit next to Natalie, and catch her checking out Jordan’s ass as he walks away. Mind you, he does have a hot body. Pro football players need to be in shape. I have a feeling, though, that Nat likes that shape a little more than the rest of us. Could explain the tipsy glow she has going on and the already confident outspoken comments. I’ll be getting that gossip next gym session, that’s for sure.

  “So, super chef Xavier, what’s for dinner? I’m starving.” I’m a little hungry but it’s more that I know I need to eat if I’m going to be drinking. Before I start doing and saying stupid things.

  “Well, I’m surprised you haven’t picked it from the smell but it’s just roast beef and vegetables. Dinner was last-minute when I found out Jordan was arriving so went to the easy staple menu.”

  He’s right, it does smell amazing in here now that he mentions it. I was a little distracted when I first walked in.

  Kane walks towards me with my champagne and his beer in his hands. Instead of heading back to the seat he was sitting in, he sits on the arm of the sofa. Right next to me so we’re almost touching,

  “For you.” He hands me the glass and deliberately brushes my fingers as I take it from him. The tingles are still there and just as strong. His voice has dropped down that little bit lower in tone. Almost to the level of the voice I love. The one I can never ignore because it dominates my thoughts.

  “Thank you,” I whisper, because just the smell of him being this close is making me feel off-kilter already.

  The general conversation continues as Xavier gets up to check on the dinner. We all offer to help but he refuses and leaves us to it. We get onto talking about Jordan’s wife Sasha. She isn’t here with him again this time. I would love to meet her. Being a Victoria’s Secret model sounds amazing. Alesha has shown me pictures and she’s stunning. Though when Jordan is talking about her, there seems to be something not quite right. There’s no sparkle in his eyes or the sound of love in his voice. I might be wrong, but I have a feeling all is not well in paradise.

  “Shame she’s not here. Is she going to be able to make the wedding?” I ask trying to concentrate on something other than Kane. He’s so close now, leaning on the back of the sofa with his arm lying behind where my head is resting. He looks innocent enough, but no one can see his hidden fingers that are stroking across my bare neck and shoulders. I thought I was the one who’s supposed to be cock-teasing him; instead, I’m trying not to rub my legs together for relief.

  “She’s not sure. It’ll depend on her upcoming contracts. She’ll try, of course.” Again, he doesn’t sound convincing.

  “Well, Alesha and I asked you all here for dinner tonight for a special reason.” Xavier walks back in and drags Alesha out of her seat to wrap her in front of him in his arms.

  I can’t help myself it just rushes out. “Oh my god, are you pregnant?” They both start laughing at me as I nearly jump out of my seat.

  “Calm down, Lilly, no, not yet. Plenty of time for that, although, we are perfecting the process through practice.” Everyone groans as Lesh slaps his arm.

  “No, all jokes aside, we wanted to have you all together to let you all know that you’re our wonderful bridal party. We’ve asked you all individually but here we’re all together. Lilly and Kane will be our Maid of Honor and Best Man and partner up, and Nat, you and Jordan will partner up. You are the four most important people in our lives. We’re so grateful to have you help us celebrate what will be an amazing day. We both want to thank you and can’t wait for the fun that will be had. Of course, that is if Mother of the Bride-zilla, Sophia, doesn’t kill us all before then. Lord help us. Anyway, cheers to good friends and family. Always there when you need them. We love you.” Xavier raises his beer and we all stand clinking glasses and bottles. Hugging and us girls are crying. He might be quite the joker, but Xavier is one of the sweetest guys I know. So happy for Alesha. He is just what she needs.

  “Right, enough of this sappy stuff, let’s eat.” He heads into the kitchen to serve up the meal and we all move to the table to get seated. Kane never leaves my side and pulls my chair out so he can make sure he sits with me, moving the chair closer than what ‘friendship’ allows. I’m not complaining, but he’s making things look a little suspicious to the others. Although Alesha and Xavier are always so wrapped up in each other, I’m not sure they ever notice the little things around them anymore. Nat is on the other side of the table, quickly getting tipsy, and has just refilled her own glass again ready to push herself over the edge. Jordan keeps watching her, and there is something underlying there. I have no idea what, and to be honest, I have enough shit happening on this side of the table which I need to concentrate on.

  My attention is shifted quickly when I feel Kane’s hand on my thigh. My body reacts instantly to his touch. While I’m trying to keep my reaction under control, he leans close to me and in a low whisper says, “Miss me, Red?” Ugh, that voice!

  I can’t even respond.

  I slowly swallow the lump in my throat. His hand starts sliding slowly up my leg. “Bet you’re wet for me. Dressing up for me all in red. Trying to give me a hint.” With the noise in the kitchen startling me, I try to pull away a little, but his hand and voice have me frozen where I am.

  “You should’ve called, I would have taken care of you. Like only I can. I can tell you need to be fucked.”

  Gasping at his words, Alesha and Xavier choose that exact moment to come into the room with the food. Lesh is looking at me trying to work out what’s going on. My face must be giving away my shock. She mouths, ‘You okay?’ to me as she follows behind Xavier. I just nod my head and let her know all is good, and I try to wiggle my chair to the side, a little farther away from Kane. There is no way he’s having any of that.

  I need to find a space to catch a breath. Maybe it’s my hormones being in the crazy phase of the month, but I just feel so overwhelmed with being so close to him. Here I thought I was coming here tonight to punish him for not calling. Now he’s shown his hand pretty quickly on how much he wanted to see me and was waiting for my call. This feeling is so much more intense than what I planned on feeling around Kane when we aren’t in bed fucking.

  What have I done?

  “I’ll just get some water.” I jump up heading into the kitchen only to hear the mumble of Kane saying something behind me.

  Pulling the bottle from the fridge, I turn to find a wall of Kane in front of me. He steps me backwards into the laundry room that’s off to the side of the kitchen. Backing me against the wall, his mouth is on mine. I want to say stop because we need to talk. My body doesn’t care. It’s already responding to him. It always will.

  He owns me!

  Chapter Sixteen

  Kane

  “Yeah, man I’ll be right down. Could use a few beers and laughs. Been a long week.” Dinner with friends will suit just fine. Food will be great, and taking my mind off work for a while sounds perfect. Bonus is, Lilly will be there. I’ve been trying to avoid her this week, sorting out how I’m going to handle the impending situation. The thing that worries me is that she hasn’t called me since I ran out on her Sunday morning. I know that’s what we agreed but I thought she would’ve called by now. That’s what girls do, isn’t it? They’re supposed to be the needy ones. Although I try to tell myself I want to keep a little distance, at night I want nothing more than to be buried inside her. She’s like a drug to my soul. I’ve had a taste and now the craving is intense. Not sure what the hell is going on with me, but I need to cap this. Sex is one thing but craving her is not part of the plan. There was supposed to be no attachment.

  As I sit and chat with everyone while waiting for Lilly to arrive, I feel apprehensive. Slamming down the first beer to settle me a
nd chase away this stupidity, I’m already almost through my second when the knock on the door finally comes.

  There she is, my hot fucking vixen.

  Dressed in red, that’s like waving the flag at the bull.

  She knows what she does to me and plays this game all too well.

  I was determined to come to dinner and just play it cool.

  Not a fucking chance.

  Standing there slapping her ass in front of my face. I’ll show her whose ass that is to spank.

  As I provoke her in front of the others, I can see the signs of how turned on she’s getting. She’s bordering between flushed from sexual tension and wanting to scream at me to back off in front of everyone. Her body is in turmoil. Just how I love it. Testing her is the kind of control I love. She’s such a strong, stubborn woman yet has this part of her that craves to be sexually dominated.

  My perfect equal.

  Hearing her gasp and clench her legs together at my comment snaps my restraint. Following her, I need to remind her what she needs. More accurately, who she needs.

  Pushing her into the laundry room, there’s no time to talk. I slam my lips on hers and all her fight disappears. I love that first moan that always comes when I claim her. It’s like her cry of relief to let go. The tension in my body is pouring into the kiss. I don’t want to stop but I know I can’t keep her in here too long. I’m being an asshole to her, I just don’t know how to pull back my need to have her.

  “Kane, we need to stop.” She pushes back from me breathlessly. I know she’s right, except I call the shots.

  “I’ll tell you when we’re finished.” I lean in to kiss her again, just a little gentler this time. I make it a quick one. Pulling her close and burying my face in the crook of her neck, breathing her in. The beautiful unique scent that is Lilly. I can’t describe what it is, I just know it calms me and arouses me at the same time. It’s become my favorite scent.

  “Kane,” she whispers.

  “Need you,” is all I can get out. She disarms me just by being near her.

  “I can’t.” Those two words stop me dead. Releasing her, I step back a bit. “Don’t panic, it’s not bad. I’ll explain later.” Before I have time to quiz her, Xavier yells out wondering where we are, complaining his dinner is getting cold. Lilly is straightening herself up and then gives me that sassy smirk. It’s like my stress level instantly drops. I don’t know what the hell is going on but there is no way after a kiss like that we’re over.

  Back at the table, I can’t help but touch her leg and the occasional brushing of our shoulders as we lean to reach different things on the table. At one stage I even manage to brush across the side of her breast as I reach for a beer from Jordan across the table. The little hint of air she sucks in feeds my already-hard cock. I want to keep her heightened arousal just below the point where it shows to others, but it’s still there for the plans I have later.

  Alesha speaks up over the table, “Now that we’ve fed you and plied enough alcohol, this Saturday you’re all requested for lunch out at Zach and Emily’s farm with the family. Before you say anything, it’s a request of the bridezilla mom, and if you say you can’t come, you’re on your own telling her.” Alesha tries to be polite about the lunch Mom is obviously already planning.

  “In other words, there is no request, it’s an instruction of ‘be there or there’ll be trouble’. Beware the wrath of Meme.” Lilly is laughing taking a large gulp of her drink. Coping with Lilly here in a small environment is hard enough but trying to pretend in front of her whole family. Fuck this is going to be crazy.

  “Who’s Meme?” Poor Jordan looks so confused.

  “The calm grandmother my mom turns into when she’s not the crazy Sophia she is with all her grown-up kids,” Lil tells him, then we all start laughing except Jordan who still looks a little lost. “Don’t worry, it’ll make more sense on the weekend. Just make sure you bring your appetite and don’t be late.”

  Alesha looks a little stressed. “I’m sorry in advance for my mom and the amount of wedding talk that’ll happen. She has become a little obsessed with giving me the perfect day. If it gets too much, just tell us on the day, and I’ll try to get her to back off.” Xavier takes her around the shoulders, pulling her closer and kissing her on the top of her head.

  “Baby, no one cares about your crazy mom. We just want you happy and not stressed. I know this whole thing is going to be a struggle with your OCD tendencies anyway, but your mom is not helping that. So, I have a plan. Whenever it gets too much, we need a code word.” He’s trying to make sure she’s calm, and by the expression on his face he’d move mountains to make her happy.

  “Do you mean a safe word like in that book? What was it? ‘Red’?” Nat giggles at the mention of something a little risqué.

  Lily spits out her champagne, and I pat her on the back and chuckle far more than anyone else. Everyone is looking at Lilly choking, thinking Natalie just shocked her with what she said. They have no idea how close to home it hit.

  “Too much information, Nat, that you, my little sister, is reading that shit. No wonder you don’t have a boyfriend, you scare them off,” Xavier can’t help himself.

  “No, it’s because they don’t think I’m pretty and they can tell I’m in love with someone else.” She takes another drink of her wine. We all just stop and stare at her.

  “What the fuck, are they blind? You’re stunning! They don’t deserve you,” Jordan blurts out. Our shocked heads then turn to look at him. That one statement holds more passion and fire than any time I’ve seen him talk about his wife.

  Natalie’s had too much wine already, obviously, because she doesn’t even register what he’s said. It’s almost as if she’s mumbling to herself, not realizing she’s talking out loud. “I might love him, but he doesn’t love me. He’s not for me, off-limits. Was too slow. Should’ve told him but he never knew I was there.”

  “Okay, little sister, you have had enough for tonight. I’m cutting you off and it’s time to get you home.” Xavier stands to get his keys when Jordan jumps up.

  “I’ll take her home. I need to get some rest anyway. Her apartment is on the way to my hotel.” As he starts to help her up, she looks up at him like he hangs the moon.

  “Do you love your wife, Jordan?” Nat murmurs. Then when he doesn’t answer she keeps going. “Does she love you? Because she should. Waste if she doesn’t.” Wobbling on her feet, the boys get her into her coat and heading towards the door. “I think I’m a little drunk. I don’t drink. Who made me drunk? It was you, wasn’t it, Jordan. You wanted me drunk so you can tell me I’m ugly too. Shit, I think I’m going to pass out.” She leans into Jordan with all her weight.

  “She do this often?” Jordan looks at Xav with a pissed expression.

  “Nah, man, she must’ve skipped lunch or something. Totally not her. Hasn’t changed since we were teenagers. She’s a lightweight. That’s why she was always our driver for all the parties we dragged her to. Are you sure you don’t want me to take her home or help you?”

  “I got her. You enjoy the rest of your night. I’ll get her home safe and she can sleep it off. Tomorrow’s going to suck for her, though.” He easily picks her up and starts towards the door, saying his goodbyes over his shoulder.

  “Well, that was interesting. I’ve never seen Nat that drunk before. She was quiet and seemed okay then suddenly was way past it. Hope she’s okay.” Lesh looks worried.

  “If we were out at a club, I would have been suspicious, but knowing where the drinks came from, it looks like she was just drowning her sorrows or underestimated how much she was drinking.” I look towards Xavier.

  “I’ve seen her drunk like that a couple of times but not often. Worst one was when we were heading out to a party and Jordan called me to tell me he was engaged. He wanted me to know before it hit the media. By the time we reached the party, which was full of school friends, it was all over the media and everyone was talking about it. She got sick
of listening to the whole party turning into a Jordan celebration when he wasn’t even there. To her, he was just Jordan, her brother’s buddy. She got so drunk that night she vomited for two days. Never really talked about that night much. Said she didn’t remember anything but I’m not so certain.”

  “What was she like at his wedding?” I ask. Something tells me there’s way more to this than her brother is seeing.

  “She never made it there. She said she was sick and couldn’t come. Jordan was really worried about her and said he was glad she stayed home and rested. He didn’t want her to get worse just for him. So, she hasn’t actually ever met Sasha because she never travels home with Jordan either. Always off on some assignment or whatever. Not that I mind because it means I get to spend most of the short time he’s here, with him. Anyway, let’s have another drink and eat some dessert.” He turns to head to the kitchen.

  “I think I might call it a night too,” Lilly says, getting to her feet. “Been a long week. Sounds like the weekend is going to be full with Mom so might need my beauty sleep. Thanks for dinner you two. Kane, nice to see you again. I’ll just order my Uber ride and head downstairs.” Picking up her bag and coat, I’m right behind her making my presence known by slipping her coat on for her.

  “I’ll walk down and wait with you. I’m heading out anyway. Sorry to miss dessert but I’m sure Xavier will eat his fair share.” I give him that man chin lift that holds a secret meaning.

  “I’m fine if you want to stay and eat dessert. I won’t have to wait long.” She smiles sweetly at me, knowing full well what I have in mind.

  “No. I’ll keep you company, then I can head upstairs and have dessert at home if I feel like it. Now let’s get you moving so we don’t miss your ride.” I gently push her to the door like I’m on a mission of sorts. I quickly hug both Alesha and Xavier, thanking them for dinner, and suddenly I’m in the hallway with Lilly on our own.

  “Let’s go,” is all I say as I walk us towards the lift.