by Erika Rose
At least he knew he wouldn’t succumb to marital life, his only priority was Rosi’s. He was the only one of his friends that didn’t come from old money and because he made his own fortune he was driven to make sure the stream didn’t stop. He never wanted to worry about money again.
He thought about Anna growing up in a trailer park and found a hollow hole form in his chest. How often did she have to worry about money? In comparison he had it easy. Knowing he wasn’t going to stop thinking about Anna he decided to excuse himself.
“Listen guys, I’m gonna head out. But we’ll make a plan and get together soon.”
“Sure, good luck with your assistant.”
“Anna.”
“I like that, such a solid honest name.” Skye said.
Cayden couldn’t help but smile back. “I like it too.”
Cayden pulled up outside the small Mexican Restaurant in town on his way home, he needed something spicy to burn off the need he was harboring for Anna.
As he stepped inside he noticed her sitting in the middle of the restaurant, with Larry F&B. He felt anger rush up, and afraid he was going to make a fool of himself he turned around and walked back to his car.
She didn’t need time to herself, she need time with Larry. Larry fucking F&B. His temper sizzled all the way home.
After slamming the car door and stalking into his house, he still hadn’t calmed. She wasn’t going to screw around on him.
The fact that he had never cared about any woman moving on didn’t seem to bother him at all, if it did he pushed it down where he would examine it later. Cayden moved to the living room and switched on the television. The romantic comedy that was on grated on him. A blonde was trying her best to get a guy to leave her in ten days. After a few minutes he switched it off and tossed the remote control on the couch.
“Fuck!” He said as he pulled out his phone contemplating to phone her. Why did it bother him so much? They hadn’t made promises; they weren’t even in a goddamn relationship. Cayden leaned back against the couch and closed his eyes. A vision of Anna’s beautiful body on a bed appeared before him, with Larry F&B’s pale body flapping against her.
His eyes flew open and he speed dialed Anna. It was a few rings before her sweet voice answered.
“Hello?”
“I need you to come to my house right now.” Cayden said harshly.
“I’m having dinner at the moment, can it wait until tomorrow?”
Cayden bit back the comment about seeing her with Larry F&B. “No, it can’t wait its urgent. I’ll send you the coordinates now, I expect you to be here in ten minutes. It’s about work.” He threw in the work part for good measure; he knew she would come now.
“Fine.” Anna replied and ended the call.
Cayden sent the coordinates and tossed the phone onto the other couch to join the remote control.
He paced the living room for the next ten minutes contemplating what he was going to say to her until there was finally a knock on the door.
Anna stood in the bright light shining from the porch in her black dress and high heels. Her dark brown hair appeared a glossy black and Cayden already itched to run his fingers through it. Her mouth was firmly settled into a pout and her eyes were narrowed giving him only a glimpse of their ice blue color.
“Come in.” He said gruffly before stepping aside to allow her to pass.
“What is so urgent that couldn’t wait until tomorrow morning?” Anna demanded as soon as she was inside.
“You making a fool of yourself with Larry F & fucking B!” Cayden all but shouted as he walked past her into the living room.
“What? That’s why you called me over here? Because you found out I was having dinner with Larry? You said it was about work?”
“I didn’t find out Anna, I was there. And it is work, you both work for me.”
“What…when?” Anna asked digesting the fact that he had seen her with Larry.
“Now, I felt like Mexican and instead I see you cavorting with Larry after hours. As of now there is a new policy against dating within the company.”
Anna laughed mirthlessly. “Bullshit.”
“I’m the boss; I can add any policy any time I like.”
She took two steps towards him and glared at him. “You and I both know this isn’t about Larry or the fact that we work together, this is about me cancelling on you two nights in a row.”
Cayden pulled a hand through his hair. “It isn’t about that, but now that you mention it why did you?”
“Really? You all but verbally assault me for having a conversation for Larry and now you summon me to your house for having dinner with him. How many times should I tell you Cayden, YOU DON’T OWN ME!”
Cayden knew she was right, but he had to justify himself somehow. “You could’ve at least broken things off with me if you were interested in Larry, which by the way you made abundantly clear you weren’t.”
“What should I break off Cayden; we weren’t officially seeing each other, we were only fucking unofficially.” Her eyes were cold with fury as her voice rose.
“Even if we're only fucking unofficially you could’ve at least told me you no longer wanted to fuck me unofficially.” Cayden said stepping even closer.
They were standing a few inches apart. Her scent bewitched him even as her eyes flashed daggers.
“This is me unofficially telling you to fuck off.” Anna spit back and turned on her heel.
CHAPTER 14
Anna felt him grab her arm and tugged to pull herself loose but instead she found herself in his arms and his mouth a few inches from hers.
That arrogant grin she loved tugged the corners of his mouth. “Fuck Larry F&B, you’re mine.” Cayden said before his mouth crushed against hers. He tasted like home. He tasted like all the things she was denied as a child, all the fairy tales she dreamed up and hoped would one day come true. How could something she wanted so badly turn out to be so skewed. By now, and after numerous glasses of wine and pulling his character apart with Callie, she knew he had commitment issues, then why didn’t she just back away?
This was why; Anna thought as Caleb grabbed her hair into a ponytail and pulled her even closer. She felt alive when she was in his arms, alive and wanted. And she’d never enjoyed anything more.
She wanted nothing more than to be his and since she didn’t want to ask him outright about their relationship, she offered herself to him instead.
Anna reached around his neck, playing with the hair at his nape. She dueled with his tongue, fuelling the fire that was burning for him. She let her one arm trail down his side and reached around for his butt, squeezing it.
Cayden let out something akin to a growl, but Anna relished it along with the feel of his hands on her body. His touch was different tonight. She had felt him touch her when he hungered for her, she had experienced his touch when he was sleepy and they made slow morning love.
Tonight his touch held the danger and passion of possession. Almost like he was staking his claim, making her his.
“We need a flat surface.” Cayden said against her mouth.
Anna laughed, “A bed could work.”
“Too far.” He said before slipping a hand under her knees and supporting her back with the other. He walked to the closest flat surface available, the dining table.
Anna had barely taken notice of his home when she arrived, she had been too mad to see anything but blinding hot rage. But she did notice it was large. It was a sprawling mansion from the outside; maybe later she’d look around. But for now the dining table worked.
Cayden sat her down on the edge, a dangerous hunger glinting in his dark eyes.
Anna supported her weight with her arms propped up behind her. The first time he had taken her on a table it had been so hot, but they had rushed. She couldn’t wait for Cayden to take his time.
And that he did.
Cayden kneeled between her legs, kissing a
trail of tantalizing kisses up her leg. As he reached her knees Anna felt the nerve endings fizzle and snap at his touch anticipating where his next kiss would be.
He slowly pushed up her dress until it was bunched at her waist and hooked his fingers into her underwear. He tugged them down; and Anna lifted her bum for a second to allow him to slip it off.
As soon as her panties were thrown aside Cayden moved between her legs, his arrogant smile in place as he feasted on the sight of her moist folds.
He inched his mouth closer and Anna anticipated his intimate kiss and closed her eyes.
“Open your eyes Anna.” Cayden said sternly.
Anna’s eyes flew open and found him positioned between her legs, blowing a cool stream of air over her heated core.
“This,” he playfully flicked his tongue over her, “is mine.” As he finished his sentence his mouth crushed against her mound.
Anna gasped at his ruthless assault, she threaded her fingers in his hair trying to force him to slow down, but Cayden grabbed her wrist and held it captive against her thigh.
She tried to think of something else, but her mind was filled with the sensations of Cayden’s tongue ruthlessly driving her mad.
She felt her thigh muscles start to tense in anticipation of release, her breath quickening. Anna felt her whole body start to coil like a spring, wound tighter and tighter as Cayden hummed against her clit. As the coil jumped free Anna bucked against him, her legs shooting straight from the delicious release.
“Cayden.” She gasped as he lifted his head from between her legs and grinned at her smugly.
He stood up and loosened his pants and allowed them to fall to the floor. His erection sprang free and Anna couldn’t help but gasp at the size. She didn’t remember him being that big, but she needed some revenge of her own.
She slid back on the table, bent over and took him into her mouth before he could pull away.
“Fuck Anna,” Cayden gasped even as his fingers massaged her scalp.
Anna relished the taste of him as she slid her tongue over his velvet sheathed cocked. She teased the tip of his cock with her tongue as her hands fondled his balls. She could feel when he was getting close when Cayden pushed her back and opened her legs wider. Grabbing her thighs he pulled her closer and thrusted into her.
He filled her deliciously, her whole body quivered as his cock slammed against the still sensitive bundle of nerves deep inside her.
Anna threw back her head riding the second wave of ecstasy about to come when Cayden’s voice drew her back to the present.
“This is mine, you’re mine!” He said roughly as hands dug into her thighs while he rocked his body against hers.
“I'm all yours,” was the last coherent word Anna could form before she shattered again. Cayden’s release came shortly after, arrogant grin in place he kept his eyes on hers as his orgasm ripped through him.
Yes, Anna thought as she watched him come apart, mine.
Anna curled into Cayden’s side. He was still warm from the shower they had just shared.
Cayden’s house spoke of wealth, but it spoke more of comfort. It wasn’t the bachelor pad she expected, it was much more. There were pictures of his deceased parents on the wall in the living room. Small trinkets that used to be his mother’s graced the display shelves in the dining room. There were expensive but beautiful drapes at the windows and the house wasn’t painted fashionable grays and beiges but rather the rooms ranged from sunny yellow to deep red.
Even if Cayden was shying away from a commitment with her, Anna could see that he was a family man. Or at least raised to be one.
She was surveying the school photo of him on his nightstand when Cayden spoke.
“Shit I forgot about protection.”
“It’s okay I’ve got it covered.” Anna said on a sigh. She’d been on contraceptives since she started dating, there was no way an unplanned baby was putting her back in the trailer park. A comfortable silence settled between them but it was Cayden who broke it.
“Tell me more about Anna-Sophia Jackson.” He said as he played with her hair.
“What? You’ve read my application, you know everything.” Anna laughed.
“No, I don’t.” Cayden said as he met her gaze. “I don’t know how a girl from a trailer park in Jersey ended up working for me. I don’t know how you became such an independent woman. I don’t know what you like for breakfast, and I don’t know the name of your perfume.”
Anna laughed. Pillow talk, she had never thought that Cayden would be one for pillow talk. The fact that he offered made her fall a little faster, into what she wasn’t sure, but it couldn’t be love could it?
“I was arrogant and hard-headed at school. My dad’s an alkie, still is and my mom passed away during high school. After my mom’s death I decided the only thing I could do was to get out. Get out of that lifestyle and make my mom proud. I don’t judge anyone that has to live in a trailer park, most of the time the people there are there because of one bad decision or a lifetime of them, but once you’re there no one seems to care. They are good people but poverty brings with it a lot of problems. I tried for the few years to get my dad sober, when I realized he wasn’t going to I moved on without him.”
“Moved on?”
“I put myself through college waiting tables and then I met Callie. She believed in me when no one else did. She’s the best friend I’ve ever had.”
“Wow, that’s quite a story.”
Anna shrugged. “Your turn. How did you turn a small family restaurant into a franchise and become a millionaire in the process?”
It was Cayden’s turn to sigh. “When I lost my parents, Rosi’s was the only thing I had left of them. I sold their house as it was starting to fall apart since they had always pushed any savings into Rosi’s and moved into a small apartment. Then one night I was eating pasta at Rosi’s going over the books and wondered why Rosi’s had never made more than their usual profit. My mom’s food was the best, so what was the problem? It hit me like lightning, I needed more Rosi’s, more butts in seats. So I did it.”
“You say it like it was easy.”
A mirthless laugh sounded through the room. “It wasn’t, but I’d do it again.”
“Me too.” Anna sighed as she snuggled against Cayden. This was what she wanted, Cayden opening up to her, sharing his life with her but would he ever be able to commit?
She held onto him a little tighter not knowing how long this phase of their non-relationship was going to last.
CHAPTER 15
Cayden sat in the boardroom going over the latest figures from the Tuesday night special with Elizabeth.
Elizabeth was droning on about how big a loss Rosi’s was taking giving the kids free meals, but Cayden had started blocking her out once he noticed the Tuesday figures had all but tripled. Even with the pizzas they were giving the kids they were making a good profit. And Rosi’s around the country were buzzing on Tuesday nights. Cayden had a feeling Elizabeth was just disappointed it wasn’t her plan that was paying off, but Anna’s.
He noticed Anna through the glass paned wall working at her desk. Ever since he had dragged her away from her date with Larry F&B, things between them had reached a stale mate. He hadn’t committed to anything before, and Anna knew that she belonged to him.
The idea both warmed and scared him. He wanted Anna more than anything, but the thought of committing to one woman scared the shit out of him. Cayden was used to doing things his own way, not worrying about who got left behind when he went away on business.
It was small inconsequential things, but wouldn’t they lead to larger sacrifices in future? Maybe, Cayden thought, the answer was to break up with her before things went too far.
But since they weren’t officially seeing each other he couldn’t exactly break up with her. Elizabeth was still going over figures and was satisfied with a terse nod or grunt from Cayden every now and then, too busy to not
ice Cayden wasn’t listening.
Maybe the answer was to assign her to another department, she would work great as a restaurant manager and the current one at Rosi’s South Hampton was due to go on maternity leave. As Cayden thought about options to create space between him and Elizabeth he noticed Larry F&B approach her desk.
Anna smiled at Larry F&B as he sat on the edge of her desk, his body language clearly communicating his interest.
Cayden couldn’t hear what they were saying but he felt his temper rise when Anna sat back in her chair and started chewing the cap of her pen through a smile.
Larry F&B said something and Anna laughed. That’s it, Cayden thought before he pushed back from his chair.
“Cayden? Is something wrong?” Elizabeth asked.
“Just a staff matter I need to attend to urgently.” Cayden answered tersely.
Elizabeth watched as his shoulders set and a scowl spread across his face. Following his gaze she noticed the Food and Beverage Manager speaking to Cayden’s assistant. A knowing grin spread across her face as she watched her boss walk to an unsuspecting Larry.
Cayden approached them feeling his control test the edges. “Larry,” he said through clenched teeth. “My office now.”
Larry F&B frowned at Anna before following Cayden into his office.
“Is there a problem?” he asked as soon as the door closed behind him.
“Yes there is. You’re blatantly flirting with my assistant in office hours.”
A line formed between Larry’s bushy brows. “Flirting? We were having a conversation Cayden.”
“Bullshit.” Cayden all but shouted and forced himself to count to five before he spoke again. “I’m a man Larry, I could see from a mile away you wanted into her pants.”
A smug grin crossed Larry’s face. “Well she’s hot, do you blame me?”
Cayden saw everything in his vision tinted a bright red. “Put it this way. If you so much as smile at my assistant again, your job is on the line.”