by C. M. Albert
It would be nothing less than brutal.
“Yeah,” Zade croaked out. “You? Oh, wait. You must be providing the flowers or something?”
“Yeah. I didn’t know either of them personally, but the family asked me to decorate the church with all blue arrangements. Apparently, it was Andrew’s favorite color.”
“Damn,” Zade said, shoving his free hand in his pocket.
“Yeah. Nothing sucks more than a kid’s funeral,” Connor said gruffly. “Other than a kid and his grandmother’s funeral on the same day.”
Connor turned away from Zade and cleared his throat as he busied himself with paperwork. “Guess I’ll see ya tonight at Dez and Mitch’s place.”
Zade smiled softly on his way out. Connor may be big and a little rough around the edges sometimes, but he had a heart of gold beneath all that. He couldn’t figure out why his friend was so hesitant to reach out to his ex. If anything, Jerry and Andrew’s death was a reminder of how precious life was, and how you should appreciate what you had while you could, because it could all be gone in an instant.
As he headed back home to wait for Rosalie, he couldn’t help but think about her leaving. She was like a mirage. Constantly just a little out of his reach. And right when he got close enough, she was going to vanish. He wanted to make every last moment with her count and was happy that she agreed to go to Dez and Mitch’s party with him.
She’d sent a cryptic text earlier letting him know she was coming over a little early to bring a surprise. He had no idea what she had in mind. There was absolutely nothing he needed, other than Rosalie.
When she knocked at five, he threw open the door and went in for a hug—only to be blocked by a cardboard box. He cocked his head at Rosalie, and the impish grin that spread across her face made him suspect the surprise might not be quite what he expected. “Can I take that for you?” he asked, reaching for the box.
“Support the bottom!” she cried, just in time as the off-center box started titling. He heard a little mewl and knew instantly who was inside.
“Rosalie,” he warned, “please tell me the kitten isn’t in here.”
He carried the box into the living room area of his loft and set it on the floor as Rosalie shut the front door and dropped a large shopping bag he recognized onto the floor beside her.
Rosalie kneeled and opened the top flaps just as Kismet tried to hop out of the box. Her paws didn’t quite catch the top of the rim, and her little round bottom fell back down and she rolled over. Not deterred, the kitten tried again, this time getting its tiny paws over the edge of the box, its stubby hind legs flailing frantically against the cardboard wall and not getting any traction. Rosalie chuckled, putting her hand beneath the kitten’s butt and helping it over so it could explore the new space.
“So,” Rosalie said coyly, drawing out the O, “I talked to Kinsley at the shelter. No one has reported a missing kitten, and she’s not aware of anyone’s cat giving birth recently. She suggested I keep it until I either hear something or fall in love.”
Zade’s eyes widened as they met Rosalie’s intense gaze. He knew she was talking about the kitten, but hearing the word love come from her lips nearly decimated him.
She blushed, then shuffled supplies around in the box to keep her hands busy. “With the kitten, I meant.”
“I think it’s already too late,” Zade said huskily. “Looks like you’re already in love.”
She cleared her throat. “It’s pretty hard not to be,” she whispered.
“Rosalie,” Zade said, using his fingers to lift her chin so their eyes met again, “are we still talking about Kismet?”
She didn’t say anything, just nodded.
“So, why is the kitten here then?” he asked, trying to change the subject before he said or did anything stupid.
“I don’t have the heart to bring Kismet to the shelter. She’s so sweet. But you know I’m moving for my new job. I’m actually flying out this coming Friday and I can’t bring her with me. It wouldn’t be fair while I’m getting settled in. I’ll be in a hotel for a few months until I can find a permanent place. It would be too much while I’m trying to get my bearings in a new city, working my tail off, and trying to find a place to live. Cats get really stressed out with that much change.”
“Why don’t you leave her with Brecken then? He’s gotta love animals, right? Doesn’t he volunteer at the shelter?”
She nodded her head. “Yeah, but he volunteers there because he feels like he can’t have a dog of his own. Not with his long hours at the café. Plus, he’s been really distracted for some reason lately. I can’t put my finger on it, but something’s going on with Brecken that has me worried. And with me leaving, and him needing to find a replacement waitress, I don’t want to pile even more stress on him.”
“Okay. But why me?” Zade asked. “I’m sure Celeste would love to have Kismet out at the wellness center to play with her cats.”
Though she knew they would love a playmate like Kismet, Rosalie shook her head, adamant. “We found Kismet together,” she said. “She needs to stay with her daddy.”
“Daddy?” Zade asked, laughing. “Are we having joint custody then?”
“Nope. Giving full sole custody to you. If you’ll have her.” Rosalie’s eyes drooped to mimic puppy-dog eyes as she put her palms together to beg.
“How can I say no to that face?” he said, laughing. Rosalie squealed and flew into his lap, wrapping her legs around his waist.
“I knew you’d say yes!”
“Oh, did you now?”
She grew quiet as she looked into his eyes, so close they could almost give each other butterfly kisses with their eyelashes. Her breathing slowed, and his eyes traveled to her throat as she swallowed. Zade wrapped his arms around her back and drew her in for a soft, slow kiss. He brushed his lips over hers once slowly and groaned when she cupped his face and parted his mouth with her tongue, demanding more. He drew her closer, their bodies fusing as their mouths explored one another with a hunger neither could deny any longer.
Sure, they’d kissed before. But this was different. They were finally alone. And with the threat of her departure looming over them, it was as if a damn had broken open, and they were frantic to make the most of their last days together.
Zade’s hands found Rosalie’s long, silky hair and pushed it over her shoulder to open her throat for him. He lined her smooth, tan skin with kisses, delighting in the small flutter as her heart beat faster. He heard her mewl and kissed more passionately, sucking in a little of her skin by her shoulder as her hands cupped the back of his head to play with his hair.
The mewl grew louder, and that’s when Zade realized this one wasn’t coming from Rosalie. They both looked down as Kismet pushed between them and curled up in the V their bodies created. She purred in complete contentment, and Zade couldn’t help but chuckle, even though the kitten’s timing couldn’t have been worse.
Zade groaned, glancing up to find Rosalie’s eyes trained on his. God they were gorgeous. They were so dark and stormy with heat, and he was torn between wanting to rip her clothes off and wanting to stay in this tender moment with their new kitten kneading Rosalie as she purred.
“So, what do we do to get her to be independent for a few minutes?” Zade asked.
“Oh, for just a few minutes? That doesn’t bode too well for you,” she joked.
Zade grinned and stood, Rosalie reaching out to clutch the little kitten to her chest. She squealed. “What are you doing?!”
“Taking my two girls up to my room,” he said huskily.
“Please tell me you really have that elevator then,” she said as he held onto her back and started up the stairs. “Good God, this is sexy.”
Zade walked them into his bedroom and set Rosalie and Kismet down gently onto his bed. He lifted the kitten’s warm, plump form from her lap. He couldn’t help but snuggle the little fuzz ball against his cheek.
“See?” Rosalie whispered loudly from th
e bed. “She’s easy to love, isn’t she?”
Zade set the kitten onto one of his sweatshirts that was balled up on the sofa in his room and turned back toward Rosalie. He put his hands on the bed on both sides of her and started easing her back; their eyes locked. “Very easy to love,” he whispered.
She reached up and pulled his face down, inviting him in for a kiss. It was so hot to have her be the one pursuing, asking for more. She nipped up at his lips, teasing and licking them as he put more of his weight on her.
“Rosalie,” he said, “I want to make sure this is what you want.”
She pulled back, her hair fanning out around her, a dark contrast against his white bedspread. “I’m sure this is a colossally bad idea with me leaving next week.”
Crap. She was pulling away again.
He didn’t care about the sex—that could wait. But he didn’t want to feel those walls go up again between them. They’d just started coming down, and he was enjoying their time together more and more. Not a night went by now that he didn’t text her some cheesy line, and he could almost always hear Rosalie’s rich laughter coming from the other side of the phone before she texted back. They usually ended up texting or video chatting for at least thirty minutes most days, unless he was in surgery. And with each and every phone call, each and every text, she opened up a little bit more. He stood no chance of not tumbling even deeper in love with the woman in front of him now—the one with the huge heart, deep soul, and deliciously sexy giggle.
“I do want this night together with you, Zade. I can’t promise you anything more, though, so it’s not really fair to ask.” She brushed his hair over his forehead, and the touch was so gentle, so loving.
For someone so perceptive, she can’t even recognize her own feelings, Zade thought. “I’ll give you whatever time you need, Rosalie. I’m not asking for more—yet. But I will. When you’re ready.”
“What if I’m never ready?”
“You will be,” Zade said confidently, leaning down and taking her mouth in his. His tongue pressed forward, and she met him there. Their kiss felt like a perfectly choreographed dance that they both seemed to already know like the back of their hands, despite it being so new.
Their kisses quickened, Rosalie’s hands exploring Zade’s body and trying to tug off clothes even as he tried to slow things down. Her breathing was quick and hungry, just like her mouth. Zade always imagined their first time together going more slowly, making love, even. But Rosalie needed to be in control in this moment; he could feel it. She rolled him over onto his back and climbed onto his chest, looking down at him. She was as exotic and as beautiful as the first time they’d met. She was wearing yellow again, and it practically glowed against her beautiful, tan skin like a warm sunrise. Her eyes never left his as she raised her shirt over her head and removed it.
Zade drew in a sharp breath when he saw Rosalie’s generous breasts standing firm, her dark brown nipples hard and pointing high. He reached up, reverently, and cupped them, began massaging them. Her skin was so freaking soft. He needed to taste her.
“Rosalie,” he growled, “I know you want to be the one in charge right now, but you are going to have to let me taste you. I need every inch of you. I won’t settle for anything less.”
He flipped her back over before she could protest, lifting her long, white eyelet skirt until it was hiked up to her waist. He heard her gasp when he pressed her legs farther open with his shoulders, nestling between them as he spread out across the bed on his stomach. He couldn’t see her expression when he first kissed her there, but he knew he was doing something right when her hands found his hair, her nails dragging over his scalp as he explored her folds slowly, gently with his mouth. He wanted to take his time—he didn’t know if he’d get this chance again before she left Arden’s Glen, and that thought terrified him.
He worshipped her with his tongue until her hips arched, her body went rigid, and she cried out his name. When her body relaxed, and her legs stopped trembling around him, Zade slid up her torso, yanking his pants off as he did. He reached over to the end table and grabbed what he needed, his mouth finding Rosalie’s as he pressed against her, her body folding around his in response. Zade bent his head, sucking in one of her pert nipples, tugging as it tightened even further in his mouth. Her body arched, her nails digging into his hips in need. He rolled the condom on, his mouth never leaving her skin.
“Zade,” she cried out, “I need you.”
He gently licked the other nipple, blowing on it and teasing Rosalie. He placed the tip of his cock at her entrance and her legs immediately circled his waist.
“Can you repeat that for the record?” he teased.
“I need you!” she panted. “I need to feel you inside of me.”
Zade buried his face into her hair and pressed forward hard and swift into her soft, warm center. He gasped at his tight welcome, how her insides clenched around his cock as it slid all the way in with a tightness he’d never felt before. He groaned, both turned on and a little worried. When he was buried all the way inside of Rosalie, he took a ragged breath. He almost couldn’t believe he finally had her here in his arms, under his naked body. He wanted to curl around her and protect her, and fuck her senseless at the same time.
“You told me you weren’t a virgin, Rosalie,” he said quietly, lifting his torso to meet her lust-filled gaze. “Have you had many partners?”
She shook her head no and he groaned, dropping his head. “You should’ve told me.”
“Why?” she breathed out. “It doesn’t change anything. It doesn’t change how much I want you inside of me.”
He dropped his head, kissing her deeply, then moved his kisses to her neck, her ears. “I would have gone slower, eased in more gently,” he whispered.
“I didn’t need you to, Zade. I want to feel you inside me. I need to. Please don’t hold back because you think I’m too inexperienced. I’m not,” she said, looking away. “It’s just been a really long time, that’s all.”
“Good,” he said, pulling his hips back and pausing. “I can’t bear to think of anyone else but me inside of you, Rosalie,” Zade said, driving back inside her as deeply as he could. Rosalie moaned in response, raising her hips to meet his and take him all the way in.
He fit fucking perfectly, and he wondered if she realized it too.
They moved in unison, Zade capturing her mouth and deepening the intimacy. God, what he wouldn’t do to have her like this every day. To have her open her heart as fully as she was finally opening her body to him. And her body gave him everything he desired and more, driving them both over the brink as they climaxed together, the intensity of their bodies coming together surprising them both.
They laid together for a while, their bodies entwined as if neither was ready to relinquish the intimacy and connection they now shared. Zade was spent but happy, and he wanted nothing more than to skip the party and make love to her over and over again—all night long.
He hinted as much to Rosalie, but she was firm. “While this was amazing—and it was—we have to go to the party tonight. Trust me.”
Zade was skeptical and pretty sure nothing could be as important as him exploring Rosalie’s body more slowly, and many more times.
Just then, Kismet tried to jump up onto the bed, her nails getting stuck in the comforter. He laughed as Rosalie leaned over the side of the bed, untangling the kitten’s nails and pulling her up to lie on her naked collarbone, close to her ear. Rosalie’s breasts stood at attention, her nipples still hard from the loving he’d given them. He traced one with his fingertip and watched as the skin pebbled. He instantly hardened.
“We still have a little time,” he said, his hand trailing over her taut stomach and brushing the curly hair covering her mons. Her body shook in response.
“Not that much time, mister,” she said. But when his fingers deftly circled her clit, her legs parted, inviting his curious fingers inside. He teased them in and out of her slowly, lan
guishing in the warm wetness that surrounded his fingers. He laughed when Rosalie set Kismet on the pillow next to her and said, “Stay!”
Then she closed her eyes and arched against his hand as he increased his pace and curled his fingers just so. He was so fucking hard as he watched Rosalie’s body writhe on his bed, completely uninhibited and lost in her pleasure. It was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen, and watching her come undone would be his downfall.
He slid a third finger inside, the heel of his palm pressing hard against her clit as he drove her higher and higher toward her apex, nearly coming himself when her legs straightened and her thighs clutched his hand. His cock pulsed as he watched her perfect breasts lift when she arched her sweet body in the air, her fingers clutching the duvet as she came hard against his hand.
“Oh, my God,” she panted, as she slowly came back down from her high. Zade kissed her stomach, tasting droplets of perspiration and wanting so much more.
He glanced over at the bedside clock and cringed. He didn’t even want to tell her how close it was to seven. But he would do anything for Rosalie, and this was important to her. Tonight, she needed the levity and fun she would share with her friends. Later, after the party, he would help her relax again and push the boundaries of her passion even further, making her forget everything that weighed so heavily on her heart.
Tomorrow would be soon enough to face reality. Zade knew the Celebration of Life service would be hard on Rosalie, since she’d had such a close connection to Andrew. He was afraid the grief would send her walls back up, and he couldn’t really blame her if they did. So tonight, he would do everything in his power to remind her how amazing it feels when her heart is truly open and she’s able to surrender herself—body and soul—to the feelings of love that were growing between them.
If tomorrow was a test of her will, he vowed to be the safe haven her heart could return home to.