by C. M. Owens
I head outside to take a break from all the loud music, dancing fools, and touchy customers. The sand finds my heels, and I strip them off to allow my toes to press into it. The ocean sprays the air, making everything seem fresher than it is. It always helps to deal with the madness. And with a view like this, it's easy to forget my problems for a few brief seconds.
Strong, familiar, warm arms wrap around my waist as a small kiss finds my neck, while someone nuzzles their face against me. My heart almost explodes as the contradicting emotions stir a storm within me.
"I've missed you," Kade says, making my first tear fall.
I try to pull away, but he has his arms locked around me, and his soft, perfect lips start making a trail from my ear to my jaw. "I'm sorry, Raya. I'm so fucking sorry. Please forgive me. Come back."
I cry harder. It was hard to read things like this on his cards that were attached to the flowers, but now, hearing it aloud... this is torture.
"Kade, you don't really want me back. You're confused because I saved your vineyard."
"No the hell I'm not. Raya, I've wanted you back since you walked out. I'm a jerk. I'm an idiot. I'm every form of stupid there is. I made the biggest mistake of my life. Please, please come back. Let me make it up to you."
I try to break free again, but his hold is too tight. It only loosens for a second, but that's simply to spin me around to face him. Oh damn. I wish he hadn't done that.
Those beautiful blue eyes that have haunted my fantasies, my dreams, and my life are now staring into mine. It almost hurts to have to see the man I love, especially when I know he's here for all the wrong reasons.
"Kade," I mumble, feeling my lip tremble as tears drip from my eyes. "You don't... you don't want to be with me. I'm a conman's daughter. Your business, your dreams, and your name can't be tainted by a girl-"
His lips find mine, halting my objection, and he grips me tighter, pulling me to him to further drive me crazy. It'd be so much easier if I hadn't fallen in love like the fool I am.
When his tongue sweeps in, it takes all my strength to force him back. My tears storm my cheeks harder as he stumbles and almost falls, and I grab the door to jerk it open before he can regain his balance.
"Just go home, Kade. Please leave me alone."
I run in, deciding to call it a night, and I head toward the front, desperate to escape the man who is probably already coming after me.
Dane is going to kick my ass for calling in, but I can't help it. Kade needs a few days to digest things. After last night, I'm scared of seeing him at work again. It'd be too easy to give in.
A loud knock at the door draws my attention, and I walk over to the window. The covered porch hinders me from seeing who might be knocking downstairs, but it doesn't block my vision from the Range Rover I know too well.
"Damn it," I whisper to myself, tensing up.
"Coming," Dad yells to the door.
I rush to intercept him, but I barely make it halfway down the stairs before the door opens.
"Yes?" Dad asks, completely unaware of who he's talking to. Thank God I can't see him.
All I can see is the open door and my oblivious father.
"I need to talk to Raya, please," Kade says, sounding exhausted.
"And you are?" Dad probes, but by now he probably has it figured out.
"Kade Colton."
I almost get sick. How did he find out where I live?
"I think you know by now she doesn't want to see you. You should go and forget this address."
Dad starts to shut the door, but it thumps and stops against something, most likely Kade's foot.
"I really have to see her, Mr. Drivel. It's-"
"Capperton," Dad interrupts, almost growling. "It's Ray Capperton. I don't use Drivel."
"Sorry," Kade says, almost sounding amused. "Mr. Capperton, I'd really like to have a chance to apologize. Raya is wrong about us. I-"
"You hurt her," Dad says simply, interrupting him again. "She trusted you and you hurt her, because you, like all the other morons she meets, judged her based on my actions. She's a good girl. She has a heart like you'd never understand. She's the most forgiving, understanding, and compassionate person I've ever known, and you hurt her. She doesn't want to talk to you."
Tears fill my eyes as I sit down and draw my knees to my chest like a scared little girl.
"I didn't judge her. Mr. Capperton, I fucked up. You don't understand. If you'd just let me-"
"What? Let you in? Let you stalk my daughter more? You're lucky I'm not calling the cops. Believe it or not, I've actually got a few friends in that department. You have your vineyard, your plans can move forward, and your life will be as fucking shiny as you like it. You're the one who doesn't understand.
"You didn't fuck up because of what you said once. It's what you've preached about. Your life is supposed to be perfect. You want that. And you've made Raya feel as though she's inferior. My daughter is a better person than you'll ever be. Ever. She doesn't deserve to feel as though she's a lesser person because of decisions I've made, because of the money she didn't have handed to her, or because of where she came from.
"She's strong, and you damn near broke her. Now, go. The fuck. Away."
Kade's feet move loudly across the porch and Dad slams the door. He takes several deep breaths as though he's holding himself back. Then he looks up to notice me for the first time, and tears are gathered in his eyes just as they are in mine.
He starts to speak, but there aren't any words. Instead, he nods once to me, and I nod back as a silent conversation passes between us. Then he walks away, leaving me to sob on the steps. Maybe now Kade will just leave me alone.
A loud thud in my room and a slight groan startles me, and I rush back up the stairs to find Kade climbing back up from the floor under the window. How the hell he did he get in here? That tree is almost five feet away, and it's the closest means of climbing.
"I knew you'd be on the top floor," he mumbles, rubbing his side as though it hurts.
"Kade, are you crazy?" I gasp, ignoring the pang of desire I feel when his eyes meet mine.
He shakes his head as he dusts his clothes back into place and he heads over to the door to shut it, letting his body brush against mine along the way.
"Crazy?" he asks, turning back around, looking as weary as I feel. "Raya, I passed crazy a long damn time ago. I've done everything I know to do. I'm not letting you go. I can't. Not unless you can tell me you don't give a damn about me at all. Can you do that? Because judging by those tears in your eyes, you still want to be with me, but you're just too fucking stubborn to listen to me."
His tone is attempting to be even, but his exhaustion makes it come across as frustrated. He takes a step toward me, and I take one step back, keeping the distance between us.
"Your father is right. You're so much better than me, too good for me. You're the most incredible person I could have ever found, and I'm the biggest jerk in the world."
He's being too loud. Dad has to be able to hear him. Maybe he'll come up and toss Kade out... through the downstairs doorway, of course. Not my window.
"He didn't phrase it like that," I softly interject, trying not to sound as breathless as I feel.
Kade smiles, and my heartbeat speeds up even more. He keeps himself between me and the door, cutting me off from any escape. The window is out of the question. I still don't know if he jumped from that tree, but I'll kick his ass if he did. Well, I'll try to kick his ass.
"He should have," Kade says, taking another step toward me and making me step back again.
"Please go, Kade," I almost whimper.
"Not this time, Raya. Even if you forced me out, I wouldn't give up. I'll jump from that fucking ridiculously scary tree everyday if you make me. Just try to leave the window up for me from now on. It's hard to hang on and force a window up."
His playful grin doesn't match his serious eyes. Another step forward for him, and another step back for me. This time, my
back hits the wall, ending my room for retreat, and Kade smirks before taking another step toward me, keeping that predatory gleam in his eyes.
"You don't feel like you're good enough, and that doesn't make a damn bit of sense to me. I couldn't give a fuck about your father or what he did. I wouldn't give a damn if you had done the same thing," he says, destroying any illusion of strength I thought I had left.
Be strong, Raya. Please be strong.
"My father is a con. Even if he's not out conning the world the way he used to, his past will haunt you just as it does me. No one in this society will ever back you if you have me and my reputation tethered to you. They'll whisper, gossip, and run your name through the ground. Just like they did mine back home. It'll catch up with me here. I'm sure Courtney is already spreading the word. You need to-"
"I need to be with you. That's all I need. My father's name holds more weight in this town than Courtney's or her family's. Even if it didn't, so what. I don't care what anyone thinks. I've spent my life worrying about the opinions everyone else has. I've spent too much time playing some stupid, elaborate game that I don't care about anymore. I was hooked. That's all.
"I was hooked on the game... just like your dad, Raya. I'm nothing more than a con. I don't have a single genuine friend outside my family. I realized that almost as soon as you left. I'm the one people should look down on. I'm the one who could tarnish your name. But I won't be this way anymore. Fuck it all. I want real friends - people who are there for me when I need them, just like my family. Just like you were."
More of my tears heat my cheeks as they trail free, but I'm paralyzed. I can't move to wipe them away, because he's shocked me into a frozen state. I should say something, probably, but I can't. What in the hell could I possibly say?
He takes another step, and then another, until at last he's close enough to touch me. And he does. He tilts my head up with one hand, and then cradles it, while his other hand moves to be at my waist.
"You were all I wanted to see when Granddad went into the hospital, and you came. Even after all I did, you came. After the way I treated you, you risked it all to help me. I lost more than my girlfriend when I pushed you away. I lost the only friend I had ever made on my own. I don't want to lose you, Raya. I can't. I'm not hooked on the game anymore. I'm simply hooked on you. I love you," he murmurs softly, leaning down and brushing his lips against mine.
His confession of love melts every bit of lingering strength I have, and my arms fly up around his neck to pull him down to me, deepening the soft kiss. His daring tongue sweeps in, and my fingers thread through his hair when I start losing what little control I have.
I hear the front door open and shut, a car crank and pull out of the driveway, and then I feel Kade's smile. We're all alone. Dad apparently knew what was about to happen.
Kade jerks open the button on my shorts, and I don't waste any time pushing them down, letting them take my panties with them. He rips me up, and my legs wrap around his waist as his glorious tongue ring makes me think back to all the delicious things he can do.
The only sounds in the room are our torrid moans and clothes dropping. At last, we're both naked, but still entangled as he presses my back against the wall. Without warning, he's suddenly buried inside me, and I gasp as the feel of his bare erection makes my eyes roll back in my head.
"Fuck," he hisses, tugging at my lower lip with his teeth, and then he starts moving when he needs more.
His unkempt, ravenous strokes start pushing me forth, making me reach for that peak he loves to push me over. I kiss him almost desperately, not caring how loud I get as he owns my body with his. He pulls back just enough each time to slam back into me, pushing me against the wall each time with a thump.
I claw at his shoulders when I feel the tightening in my stomach. My legs reflexively clench tighter to his waist, telling him I'm close, and he growls low in his throat as his motions quicken. A pathetic whimper comes out before my ungodly scream that doesn't even sound like me, and Kade surges in hard one last time as we both fall over that glorious edge.
He pulls me away from the wall as we attempt to kiss, but we have to give up on that endeavor when our need for oxygen wins out. Instead, he presses his forehead against mine as we both form a panting melody.
He crashes to the bed with me still in his arms, and he pulls me to him as he cradles my body against his. "I'm glad your dad left," he chuckles out before kissing my forehead.
I smile for so many reasons, not just what he said, and I snuggle as close to him as I can get.
"Me too."
"I meant it, Raya. I love you. I'm sorry I didn't say it the second you told me. I was... scared. That doesn't mean I didn't feel it. Christ, I felt it. I was... well, an idiot."
My grin only grows as I start kissing along the side of his neck.
"I love you," I murmur softly, pushing my leg over his waist.
"Then we have a lot of making up left to do," he says with a salacious grin before his lips claim mine. "But, first things first," he adds while drawing back.
He jumps up, pulls on his boxers, and before I can even register his actions, he's jogging down my stairs. I hear the door open and close, and I sit up, pulling the sheet over my bare body. What's he doing?
After a few seconds, I hear the car door shut and then the front door opens and shuts again before I hear the sound of his feet start rushing back toward me.
When my door opens, he's wearing a smile and carrying a crate. My crate. My wine crate.
"I left that on purpose," I murmur softly. "It should stay in your family."
He shakes his head as he opens the top, and I look over to see two bottles packed very safely inside.
"Raya, Granddad thought you were family. I'm sure he still does. This is yours. He'd kick my ass if I kept it."
I almost smile at that thought. It'd be nice if Thomas could wake up and kick his ass.
"This one is mine. And I've been saving it for a very special day."
My eyes widen when he pulls out two wine glasses from the same crate. I almost gasp when he pulls out a corkscrew. He can't... no.
"Kade, don't be ridiculous. I can't drink that wine, and you can't-"
Before I know what's going on, he's already pulled out the cork, making it too late.
"Have you lost your mind? What are you doing?" I gush.
"Putting away the corkscrew," he says while tossing the pigtail looking tool into the crate. Smartass. "Now I'm pouring our wine."
His eyes glisten with a teasing hue as he pours the first glass.
"Kade, this wine-"
"Was meant for something special. I happen to think telling a girl I love her for the first time in my life is pretty monumental. So, you'll drink my wine with me and you'll enjoy every sip."
Tears fill up in my eyes. Him doing this... it says more than the words. I know how special that bottle of wine is to him, and it almost leaves me a mushy puddle at his feet.
He hands me mine, and he clanks the side of my glass with his before kissing me softly. I almost lick my lips in anticipation as the first drop of the wine graces my mouth, and an involuntary moan comes out when I fall in love with a damn drink.
I'm not sure when my eyes closed, but when I open them, Kade is smiling, staring at me.
"Is it good?" he asks, leaning over to kiss my shoulder.
Good, I scoff inwardly. I almost roll my eyes. It's not good; it's divine. No mortal should ever have something so smooth, fresh, and completely delicious.
"I think I'm hooked."
Epilogue
Three months later…
"I'll only be a second," I groan, but I'm unable to stifle my girly grin when Kade pulls me back for another kiss.
"Can't you just quit over the phone?" he pleads, pulling me closer.
"No. Dane has been so good to me," I mutter against his lips.
He snorts as he pulls back. "He better not have been too good."
I roll my eyes whi
le letting my lips trail over his neck. "I think he's gay."
He bursts out laughing, and I tilt my head to the side to question that little outburst.
"Dane Sterling?" he chuckles out. "Gay? That's like saying Tag Masters is gay. Dane is just more discreet in his affairs. Believe me. I know. He used to be best friends with my cousin up until he most likely screwed her and then screwed her over."
I frown. "Well, he's never said anything out of the way to me, and I should be a big girl and quit face-to-face. Unless you'd rather find someone else to help you out."
"Uh-uh. You're not getting out of this. You are incredible at selling wine, and I don't want to be away from you. It'll be hard enough to deal with you at college. Now go quit."
I chuckle and kiss him once more before I head inside. Dane is talking to one of the new waitresses who is almost dissolving in front of his eyes.
"Dane?" I murmur sweetly, drawing his attention.
"Raya. It's your day off," he says, confused, dismissing the girl who almost expires.
"I sort of need to talk to you," I mutter uneasily. Maybe I should have been a coward and done this over the phone.
"You mean you came to tell me you quit," he says evenly, but a smile creeps up when my eyes widen. "I assumed Kade would haul you off. You sure that's really what you want?"
He props against the bar while he studies me, as if he expects me to beg for his help to escape. He really doesn't have a lot of relationship experience - not good relationship experience anyhow.
"Positive. I love him, and he's paying me double," I say with a wink, which prompts him to roll his eyes.
"Very well, be careful. I assume the two of you are on your way to his family thing."
I cringe. I really hope it gets off to a better start than my family cookout. I should have known better than to take my rich boyfriend around a bunch of heathen cons.
"Yes."
He laughs when he sees my dread, and then he turns to walk away. "Don't worry, Raya. Paul makes them behave."
I'm not really all that worried. I've met most of his family, so it's not like I won't know anyone.