by Kahlen Aymes
“Shhhh…” I said as my fingers on my free hand raked through his hair, bringing his mouth to mine. I moved my hips, bringing my core over his erection, still held in my hand, as I started rubbing the head back and forth on my most sensitive places. “Mmmmm…” I whispered. “You feel so good.”
His hands ran down my back and under my butt, where he squeezed a little. “I love your little ass.” He smiled against my lips.
“Well, I love your big, ummmmm… mmmm… You’re big, uh…” I let my words drop off with a grin.
“Oh, sweetheart, you’re so damn beautiful,” he said against my neck as he left a hot, wet trail of kisses down its length. “And very, very sexy.”
His hand touched between my legs, parting the hot flesh and started rubbing in small circles. “Can you feel how much I want you, Cade?” I asked him as I ripped my lips from his but he captured the bottom lip and held on with his teeth. He was so hot. Every fantasy I’d had about him, every time I’d seen him on screen, he was more.
“You’re so wet. Oh, God.”
I was gasping. “Only for you,” I whispered.
He lifted me and slid inside, filling me easily. “You’re so hot. You feel so bloody amazing.” His head fell onto my shoulder as he started to move within me. My hips rose and fell to meet his, slowly, completely. We were made for each other. My legs curled under me, on the outside of his hips, and his hands held me as he guided my movements, forwards and back as our bodies vibrated and rocked together.
“Oh, Cade, God, it feels so good.” Each thrust was long and strong, and this position gave good pressure to all of the right spots, the friction between us delicious. I wanted to make it last as long as I possibly could.
My arms wrapped around his shoulders while I sucked on his lips until our tongues came to meet each other’s, and our mouths and bodies merged in beautiful unison. It was gentle and explosive at the same time, and unlike anything I could ever have imagined. I continued to move my pelvis against his, and he moaned deep in his throat. He let me play a little, but it got to be too much for him. He groaned, covering my mouth with his, his tongue and lips wild as they warred with mine. Then he was moaning my name over and over against my mouth as his arms wrapped around my body and pulled me closer. It was so hot to have him saying my name like he’d never get enough of me.
“Oh, God, Brook… Brook… Brook,” he whispered with each thrust. “Oh, Jesus.” His thumbs rubbing the peaks of my breasts as his hands held me around my ribs. My head fell back as I felt my body begin to tighten; ready for the inevitable fall into the glorious sensations he was creating in my body and my heart.
“Shhhh… Remember… Shhh…” I was panting, too, “Uhhh, Cade… you’re making me…”
I was losing it as I felt the surge of pleasure begin to overtake me. He flipped me onto my back, our bodies never relinquishing each other, as he thrust into me harder, deeper. I felt him tense, but he didn’t make a sound beyond increased breathing. “Ahhhh…” he moaned softly as he exploded within me, and our bodies jerked simultaneously.
Our bodies were covered in a fine film of perspiration as we collapsed together onto our sides, my legs still wrapped around his waist. He stroked my hair back. “Oh, babe,” was all he said.
“Yeah, exactly,” I said as I touched his beautiful face.
“Brooklyn.” He began…
“Uh huh?” My hand still lightly skimming his jaw with feather touches, I looked into his eyes.
“I just,” he stopped again, his brow furrowing.
“What is it?” I was getting a little concerned.
“I don’t think I can do it,” he said finally.
“Do what?” I kissed his shoulder and neck below his ear.
“Pretend I don’t love you, and not touch you when you’re near. I just think it’s impossible. I bloody can’t!”
My arms went around him, and my hands went into his hair at the back of his head as I pulled his lips to mine. I gave him a long, deep kiss, and then a couple of smaller, lingering ones, our tongues sliding in and around each other’s. His fingers rubbed little circles on my lower back.
“Oh, Cade. It will be hard for me, too, but we have no choice right now. You know how much I love you. I don’t know how I ever lived without you.” Emotion filled my voice. He smiled, and brushed my hair back off of my face, tracing his thumb over my cheekbone. He kissed me softly again, his lips so sweet against mine.
“Me, too. You’re my baby.”
We just held each other for a while, not talking and then I thought of something. “Hey, since we have to keep it a secret, let’s make it a game.” He looked at me questioningly.
“Yeah, we’ll come up with some sort of signal or series of regular words that mean something different, but just to us; like our own language. That way, we can tell each other we love each other, want each other, we’re jealous, or whatever, and no one else will know what we’re saying. It could be fun.” I grinned at him. “Right?”
“Sure. Except I won’t enjoy the jealousy part.” He smiled, and his dimples appeared as his brow rose in that ridiculously sexy way it did when he was amused. “But we’ll have to use them in complete sentences or else everyone will think we’re sods.” His soft chuckle was so contagious, I couldn’t help myself, and I burst out laughing.
“Shhhh! My mother will come in here, so we’d better get some clothes on, in case.” He laughed again. “Shhhh!” I laughed in return. We fell over together in a naked, giggling heap on the bed.
We ended up snuggling in and sleeping for several more hours. I never wanted to leave this room or the safe serenity of his arms.
Chapter 12
Friends & Frenemies
That afternoon, Jeanne came over and drove her big SUV into my garage, where we loaded Cade in for his getaway behind closed doors. We’d spent a lazy day by the pool, ordered a pizza, and just talked and talked about everything. The little touches and kisses kept me at ease, as I tried not to think that he’d be going back to England tomorrow evening and I wouldn’t see him for a month.
Ethan’s party was typical of him; Lots and lots of alcohol, video games, a karaoke machine and lots of laughing. Ethan and Dawson ribbed all the girls into doing karaoke, so we all three got up there and belted our version of “Girlfriend,” by Avril Lavigne. We all took turns with parts and it actually sounded really good. We were dancing around being silly, flirting and laughing at the men. Then Cade walked in, smiling brightly as he took in the scene. He laughed as he glanced around, openly enjoying watching us.
Everyone was surprised to see him, and I tried to act just as surprised, waving at him in the middle of the song. Wendy stopped singing and ran over to where Cade was standing to throw her arms around him with a flamboyant squeal. Ugh, I thought. I could tell what tonight was going to be like.
The guys swarmed around him, which was ironic in a way. Cade wasn’t someone who acted suave or conscious of how popular he was with women, which was amazing in itself considering how gorgeous he was. Still, the guys all worshiped him like he was a God in that department. He thought it was funny, but now that I’d made love with him several times, I smiled secretly to myself. He was very adept in that department. He smirked at me, clearly wondering what I was thinking. My eyes flashed at him, as I tried to stifle a smile.
The guys clapped and cheered for Jennifer and me as we finished up. Cade was staring, his gaze intense. I rubbed the back of my neck, and lowered my lids to hide a glance in his direction. Dawson leaned in to say something to him, and Cade grinned. Wendy was still near him, grabbing his arm and trying to get his undivided attention. She was so fucking obvious, which was what I knew she was hoping for, and I was irritated. I was jealous, not because I thought he would fall prey to her blatant display, but because I couldn’t be near him or touch him as she was doing. Pretending to be indifferent when I was so in love with him would be impossible.
“Hey. Glad you could join us tonight, Cade,” I said to him a f
ew minutes later. “Did you want a drink?” I was going to the bar. Wendy was sticking to him like glue, not that I was surprised. “I’ll have a vodka martini, Brook!” Wendy called after me. Cade nodded to my question.
Great, I thought as I flashed her a dirty look. I’m a fucking barmaid for his groupie, now?
I was already feeling particularly snarky toward Wendy in anticipation of her blatant worship of Cade. Awww, hell! If I was honest I wanted to scratch her freaking eyes out. I reached the bar at the opposite end of the room. I hoped she didn’t notice that Cade didn’t tell me what to get him, since he knew I’d know what he’d want.
When I got there earlier in the evening, she drilled me about seeing Cade on the Red carpet. She wanted to know everything in minute detail. What did he say? What was he doing? What were his plans? Ugh! She creeped me out. I’d seen a little of this side of her in Vancouver, but then, I didn’t have the right to be pissed. I guess I still didn’t have that right, since she didn’t know Cade and I were together.
Wendy was in what she thought was a deep, meaningful conversation with him, her hand on his arm as she prattled on. He tried to lean toward her to hear her, but his eyes rose to mine as I simply handed him his beer, set down her drink in front of her, then faded into the background to observe. No one in the room was oblivious to how Wendy was fawning over Cade. Jennifer, who’d guessed the truth about Cade and me at the wrap party, came to join me.
“You look great tonight, Jen. Thanks for being silly with me on that song. It was fun,” I told her, and smiled as I sipped my wine. She looked happy as if she was really having a good time. Ethan always joked around with her, and Dawson paid her a lot of attention. Why wouldn’t they? She was a terrific person, and very pretty.
“Have you had a chance to talk to Cade? Wendy seems to be monopolizing him a lot.” She looked at me through wary eyes. I think she was looking for some reaction.
“Yeah, I noticed. I’ll find some time to catch up with him later. He seems to be enjoying himself a bit too much, though, doesn’t he?” I said as jealousy tightened my stomach into a knot. I fucking hated feeling that way.
“Brook, he hasn’t seen any of us for more than a month, and everyone is clamoring to talk to him.”
“Yeah, I know. Like I said, I’m fine. Dawson sure is all over you, tonight,” I teased her, nudging her with my elbow, as I noticed Jack staring at her from his position on the couch next to Noah.
“He’s always so sweet.” Her eyes lit up when she talked about him.
“He’s a great guy. Very talented, and very easy on the eyes, too.” I leaned in so she could hear my low voice. “You could definitely do worse.” I winked at her, and she giggled.
Wendy came over to join us, and shoved a glass of vodka in my hand. “You need a drink, Brook. You seem really uptight since Cade got here. He doesn’t bite. Promise,” Wendy touted.
I raised my eyebrows and wondered how I’d acted any differently. Didn’t she see the glass in my other hand? I was socializing with Jen, and not threatening Wendy’s position as center of attention at all. After her next comment, I decide she was being decidedly bitchy. “Maybe you need to get laid,” she said, giggling. She’d had a little too much to drink, and obviously had sex and CADE on the brain.
“Hmmmph…” I grunted, letting out my breath. I smiled at the complete irony of that statement considering the last twenty-four hours with Cade. “Yeah. Yeah, that must be it, Wendy,” I said as I took a long pull from the glass, my left hand setting down the vodka, and going to the sleeve of my shirt to touch Cade’s bracelet under the cuff. I rolled my eyes at her, and glanced toward him. His eyes were hot, intently watching what was transpiring between Wendy and me. A small smile danced on his lips as he noticed my hand wrapped around my left wrist.
“Cade is just so gorgeous, isn’t he? I just wish I could get a piece of that.” She sighed as she stared at him from across the room. I blinked.
He was talking to Ethan and started laughing at something, completely oblivious to her stares. I wondered if this burning in the pit of my stomach was reminiscent of what Cade suffered when I was with David. It completely sucked. I wanted to know what had gone on during their earlier conversation.
“Have you tried to make it happen?” I asked cautiously, trying to keep my face as innocent as possible.
“Well, he has to know how absolutely hot I find him, but I haven’t come out and said ‘Cade, will you fuck me?’” My eyes widened in shock at her words. She was getting obnoxious, even for her. I felt my face infuse with heat, and my stomach turn over.
I cleared my throat as my forehead wrinkled into a frown. “Just a guess, but I doubt he’d find that approach irresistible.” My voice was strained with my discomfort.
“Well, I’m certainly going to make that my next project.” She took a drink and leered at him over the edge of her glass. I wanted to smack that smirk right off of her face.
“Yeah, well, good luck with that.” I knew my face was taut and annoyed, but damn it, I couldn’t help it. She ignored my comment, and rambled on about some party she’d gone to the night before and who was there. I couldn’t remember a word she said when she was finished. Sometime during her tirade, Jennifer had exited to the other side of the room. Couldn’t say I blamed her.
Jesus, was Wendy always this boring or was I just being oversensitive tonight? I had to get away from her, and then got a gift from the Gods when she moved to leave.
“Hey Brook, I’m going outside for a smoke. See you in a minute.” I watched her wander toward the balcony door; which, of course, was right next to where Cade was talking to Dawson, and Ethan. I turned away, not wanting to see her flirting with him. Even though I knew he’d brush her off, I didn’t need to watch. I wished I was anywhere else but at this party, trying to act like Cade was only my friend.
I was lost in thought a few minutes later when I smelled his delicious scent behind me. My heart raced. “Hey you…” I heard his low murmur behind me. “Does this Pinnacle rubbish mean we can’t even talk to each other at parties?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I just wanted to give you some space to catch up with everyone.” I turned toward him, and smiled.
“I’m missing you in my arms. You’re the only one I want to catch up with, love.”
“I know. Me, too.” I knew my eyes had sadness behind them, as I searched the room to see if anyone was watching us. “This is going to be harder than I thought.” His eyes were so mesmerizing; I didn’t know if I’d be able to look away.
“When you were singing with the girls, Dawson told me that I needed to stop drooling.” He laughed.
I was unable to quell the big smile his words brought to my face. “Hmmm. I think I’m in love with Dawson.” I couldn’t help but giggle as I raised my eyebrows. Cade grinned back at me, and took a big swig from his beer.
“Better not be, then I’ll have to kill him.” He was joking, but his eyes were serious as he looked at my face. “I love you, Brook.” Cade’s voice was quiet, but his tone, serious.
I met his gaze and nodded, my body screaming to be nearer to him, my hands aching to touch him. “You better, or I’d have to kill you.” I smiled and he grinned back at me.
He crossed his arms across his chest as he leaned against the back of the couch. “Why don’t you do another song?”
He grimaced as if in pain and nodded toward the other end of the room where Ethan was doing a sad rendition of “New York, New York.” “Ethan’s butchering the hell out of that, I think my ears are bleeding!” Cade laughed.
“Besides, you should practice. Doesn’t that new film require singing? I could at least look at you.” He sighed and gave me a half smile but his eyes were hungry.
He always knew how to melt me, but tonight I had to reign in my reaction.
“Sure. What should I sing?” I laughed, my hands aching to reach out and touch him. “Something just for me,” he said softly as he touched my hand and looked in my eyes.
> “If I do that, they’ll know…” I was drowning in his blue gaze.
“Shit, Brook, most of them know anyway, and frankly, I really couldn’t care less. This,” he dropped his gaze for a moment before bringing it back to my face, “hurts a little bit, doesn’t it?” He let his breath out in a little snort. My heart thumped as his thumb caressed the back of my hand.
“Quite a bit, actually.” I nodded as I looked down and licked my lips.
Wendy came up and interrupted our moment, and Cade dropped his hold on my hand before she could see. “What are you guys up to?” she asked as she openly glanced between his face and mine.
“Brook is going to sing another song.” He smiled as he took another drink of his beer. He knew he was cornering me. “Get her up there, Wendy.”
“Yeah, Brook, you should. You’ve got a great voice.” She gave me a little shove toward the karaoke machine on the other side of the room. Oh no, that wasn’t obvious! Not at all.
“Hmmm, what to sing,” I said as I moved toward Ethan who was ending his song. “Hey, give me the mic, big boy!” I raised my eyebrows at him a couple of times. He smiled, and I laughed.
Ethan hugged me as he passed the microphone over. I looked at the discs that were out and I decided to do a cover version of “Soulmate.” I smiled to myself as I thought about the implications, secretly hoping Wendy might get the message. Cade did, after all, ask me to sing just for him.
“Okay… well this song is dedicated,” Cade’s face snapped up to look at me, “to Ryan, from Julia.” I smirked. Everyone shouted and laughed. “Yeah, I think it fits, especially if I get into character.” I was openly teasing him, a big smile on my face. His mouth twitched and slid up on one side in a crooked half smile. Next to him, Wendy openly glared at me and her brow furrowed as she looked at him for his reaction. Obviously, she didn’t like what she saw. Keep dreaming, bitch, he’s mine, I thought.
The song started and I noticed her sitting on the arm of the sofa trying to keep Cade’s attention. He put his hand up to stop her, and said something over his shoulder. He probably told her he wanted to listen to me sing because he was interested in hearing the lyrics. She looked upset, took her phone from her back pocket and started texting someone.