by Delilah Hunt
“Why didn’t you come and ask for my help? I would have done anything to prevent you from working in a strip club and that godforsaken restaurant.”
She let out an outraged cry and wrenched herself out of his grasp. Shakara stared at him as if he had lost his mind. Damn. He’d revealed too much too soon.
“Are you out of your mind? You’ve made it clear since the first day we met that you had no interest in me.”
“That’s not true,” he denied.
“It’s the truth,” she said, her tone flat. “I wouldn’t have approached you even if we were friends. I don’t need anyone’s help. I’ve been on my own since I was fifteen. I’ve survived this long without begging for assistance. That’s not about to change anytime soon. You can keep your charity, Cade. I’m sure it would have come with a price.”
He ran a hand through his hair, not quite sure what to say or do. He was making a mess of this. Somehow he’d managed to offend and hurt her, when all he desired was gaining her trust.
“Shakara...” He reached for her then allowed his hands to fall.
She shook her head. “I have to go.”
He stood there, his muscles taut with longing as she turned the handle. He couldn’t stop her this time.
The door opened and she spun around to face him once more. “You promise to keep the painting a secret? I don’t want Julie to look at it until her birthday, okay?”
Cade nodded to her, his heart lightening that she would still speak to him. “I give you my word, baby girl.” He froze, realization dawning on him that he’d just revealed his secret endearment for her.
Shakara lifted a brow at him and the barest hint of a smile tugged at her full lips.
“See you around.”
Chapter Seven
Shakara palmed a bottle of pepper spray, her thumb poised, relaxing on the trigger. Earlier this morning her car had decided it wasn’t up to the task of taking her to work. She’d taken the city bus, walking the remaining distance to her apartment. The good thing was she didn’t have to work until ten-thirty tonight, her usual shift. She hated walking the streets in the late hours of night.
She continued along the sidewalk, the cracks in the concrete highlighted by a flickering street lamp on the verge of outage. The houses and apartment buildings lining the treeless block were clustered together, distinguishable by their unique pattern of chipped paint.
Although the neighborhood was a lifetime away from Cade’s affluent community sprawling with extravagant colonial mansions surrounded by well-manicured lawns, it was her home. A place she lived. The word home no longer carried a meaning. The house she had lived in with her mother was described as a home. Yeah right. More like a disaster.
For twelve years she had put up with the woman’s physical and verbal abuse, not to mention the scores of men coming in and out of their lives. If it hadn’t been for the state stepping in, she might have remained with her hateful mother, or even dead from one of her beatings. Not that things had improved by leaps and bound afterward. She had been in one foster home after the other, until she’d ran away.
Shakara kicked an empty soda can lying in her path. At least she was legal, never having to worry about anyone finding her and taking her back to the state-run homes. If it wasn’t so painful, Cade’s opinion of her doling out her favors, she’d consider it laughable.
If he knew the crap she’d endured all because of her refusal to relinquish control of her sexuality to the men in her life. Her lips curled into a sneer. Not men. Pathetic low lives preying on little children.
Regardless of the lust Cade felt toward her, Shakara knew he would never try and force himself on her. Cade desired her; it was evident on his face during their last encounter.
She didn’t understand it. He was older, sophisticated, and wealthy. She wondered if he saw her as exotic. A thrill he fancied a sample of, to see what the fuss was about. Her being a stripper—former stripper— made her an easier target to be used.
Her chest tightened and it was hard to breathe. She didn’t want to be discarded by Cade. If only she’d kept her distance instead of allowing her crush on him to smolder through the years.
In the beginning, she’d assume it would evaporate. Having a crush on your best friend’s older brother was a normal occurrence. One that eventually faded over time. Only thing was, hers persisted with no intention of leaving.
She’d witnessed his worst and it did nothing to tamper her feelings. Cade remained the only man she fantasized about, the two of them performing sexual acts she had no firsthand knowledge of.
She let out a breath and gave her head a shake. It made no sense. Just like her excuses for no longer visiting the house made no sense to Julie. Julie expected her to ignore Cade, the same as asking her to stop breathing.
Furthermore, she wasn’t ready to see him. Not yet. His magnanimous offer of assistance struck a blow to her ego. She thought she was doing well. She had a roof over her head—an actual apartment in place of a dilapidated shelter. She wasn’t starving and she wore decent clothing. Of course to him it wasn’t good enough.
Making her way to the front of the stone building that housed her apartment, Shakara sighed. Maybe she was being too hard on Cade. She was aware that he hadn’t meant to offend her. Not this time. The usual cynicism in his eyes had been replaced by warmth. She shivered remembering those beautiful green eyes peering at her.
She gave herself a mental kick. He’d probably written her off, she thought, digging her hand inside her pocket for the small cluster of keys. She stirred, snapping her head to the side at the sound of a car door slamming behind her.
Her mouth fell open. Cade was moving away from his black Mercedes-Benz sedan, striding toward her, looking stylishly out of place in his black pinstriped suit.
“What are you doing here?” Shakara asked, drawing her brows together. “Wait a minute. How did you get my address?”
“Nice to see you too.” His lips thinned into a smile.
“Cade...” she began, closing her mouth on a horrible thought. Oh my God. “Did something happen to Julie?”
“Julie’s fine, Shakara. That’s not why I’m here.”
“Why are you here?”
“I’m here because I became tired of waiting on you. You never planned on coming back to the house did you?” He glowered at her accusingly.
“I was going to stop by.” Shakara avoided his gaze. “I just needed some more time.”
“You mean time away from me.”
She shrugged and looked him right in the eye. “Yeah. I’m still trying to figure out why you’re so concerned with my activities. What it could possibly mean to you.”
“Would you believe me if I told you it meant everything to me. That you mean everything to me.”
She pulled out her keys. “No, I don’t buy it. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
His hands shot out thwarting her retreat. “Why don’t you believe me? I’ve already apologized for my treatment of you. Do you want me to bare my soul to you? I’ll do it, Shakara. I’ll give you the truth whether you’re prepared to hear it or not.”
“I already know all I need to,” she mumbled.
He let out a scornful laugh. “You think this is easy for me? Tracking you down like an obsessed stalker. It isn’t. I feel foolish. Take a look at us,” he said, lifting his hand in the air.
“I’m almost twice your age, we barely have anything in common, and I’m not even sure if you like me. Think back to four years ago. You were just a girl. I doubt you would have appreciated having a grown man panting after you. I did everything in my power to prevent becoming close to you. It was either that or let you know how aroused I was for you each day.”
Shakara widened her eyes. Was her mind playing tricks on her? Was this conversation taking place?
“I thought you hated me. I’ve never understood it. I knew I hadn’t done or said anything to upset you.”
She paused and looked at him again, searching his face.
“You wanted me all along?”
“Yes. To put it simply.”
She bit her lower lips, fighting the trace of unease settling in her stomach. “Strictly sex?”
He groaned softly and a glimpse of pain slashed across his features. “God no. I love you. I’ve loved you for so many years, baby girl, it’s eating me up inside. ”
Cade loved her. Her. Sweet Jesus. How was that possible? No one loved her. Cade barely knew her at all and he used the term love. She frowned, her suspicious nature working overtime. If her own mother didn’t love her then why should he?
Shakara turned to Cade. “You don’t have to say that. I’d like for us to start off on the right foot this time around. Please don’t lie to me.”
His eyes darkened and he stiffened. “I’m speaking from my heart. I love you plain and simple.”
The air cracked with deafening silence. Shakara shifted her feet and glanced at Cade, his beautiful green eyes challenging hers to deny him his emotions. A pang of guilt assailed her, declaring her a hypocrite for pretending her own regard for him was nonexistent.
Shakara inched closer to Cade and touched his sleeve in what she hoped was an intimate gesture.
“I’ve waited years to hear you say those words.”
Chapter Eight
Cade groaned, a deep guttural sound erupting from his chest. She wanted him and was willing to gift him with a second chance.
“I’m going to be so good to you, baby girl. I’ll make it up to you. Every single opportunity I missed to show you how much I care. I swear to it.” He looked at her and she smiled up at him, his other reason for seeking her out emerging inside his head.
“Are you busy tonight?”
“I just finished my shift. Why?”
“I wanted to convince you to come over. I plan on making dinner for us.”
“You’re going to cook?” she asked.
He chuckled at the way her eyes rounded out. “It’s refreshing to see how highly you think of me.”
She rolled her eyes and gave him a wry grin. “I never took you for the type to cook.”
“Shows how little you know about me. Are you willing to chance my food?”
“All right. But if it’s awful you’re going to hear about it. I warn you, Mr. Parker.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.”
She flashed him a dazzling smile and he fought hard not to pull her to him, keeping her there forever. He grinned, overwhelmed with relief that the gamble he took in confessing to her had paid off. By a landslide.
“Will you give me a minute? I just need to run upstairs and drop this off.” She pointed to her nylon duffel bag.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
She nodded and pushed her keys into the door, disappearing above the creaking staircase.
Cade waited outside the building taking note of the cracks in the walls, walls years overdue for a fresh coat of paint. Shakara deserved better. The bottle of pepper spray she’d stashed in her pocket upon his arrival hadn’t escaped his notice.
The woman he loved didn’t belong here. And snobbery had nothing to do with his opinion. Her place was with him where he could protect her.
A voice inside his head popped up urging him to not get ahead of himself. She’d only agreed to dine with him. No tender affirmation of love on her part. He wouldn’t push her. When the timing was right, if he treated her well, she would reciprocate his affection.
“I’m ready.”
Cade lifted his head to see her standing in front of him, her eyes lit with joy. Because of him? He hoped so.
“Let’s go,” he said, walking around the car to open the passenger side door for her. She sat inside with her slender hands resting on her thighs. Swallowing hard, he willed his erection to cooperate and remain hidden. He wished she’d chosen to wear a longer dress instead of one that threatened to give him a glimpse of heaven if she shifted in a certain direction.
He needed a kick in the groin. He was behaving like a horny teenager on his first date instead of a graying man in his prime. He got behind the steering wheel, gripping it hard to anchor his fingers away from the luscious girl seated opposite him. This was going to be one long drive home.
*****
“I feel like a pig,” Shakara groaned. “Why didn’t you warn me you knew your way around a kitchen?”
“You’re the one who assumed the worst,” he countered, after taking a sip of red wine.
“I did not. Anyway, is this some form of Parker ritual to reel women in? Do you cook for all the women you’re interested in?”
To her amazement, Cade’s face reddened. Shakara wanted to laugh, then go over to him, kissing every inch that sported the heated shade.
“If there was a Parker way of reeling women in, I would have used it on you years ago.”
Shakara blushed. “You might have been successful with it.”
He grinned boyishly at her. “And to answer your other question. No. I only cook for the woman I’m in love with.” He pinned her with an intense focus.
Shakara lowered her eyelids feeling strangely shy. He was being so open with her, sharing so much of himself. She wanted to do the same. It was only fair.
“Remember what you asked me that day when I brought over the painting?”
He raised his head, absently pushing away the wine goblet, his expression indiscernible.
“I remember,” he said in a low voice.
“I’m not stripping anymore. I stopped almost two months ago after I got the job at the restaurant.” Shakara gauged his reaction. For reasons unknown, she hoped it made a difference to him.
He nodded. Although she got the impression he wanted to say more, he didn’t.
“I hated it,” she confessed quietly. “At first, I had to force myself to get on the stage, but after awhile I just stopped caring. It was a job like anything else. I did what was required of me. No more, no less. You shouldn’t be so quick to criticize me, Cade. If you were in my position, I’m sure you would have done the same thing.”
Shakara raised her eyes, taken aback at the ferocity of his gaze on her, sending delicious tingles throughout her entire body.
“Come here,” he whispered.
Shakara pushed her chair to the side, meeting him beside the table. Standing on her tiptoes she tilted her face, her lips pressing into his. Cade pushed his tongue inside her mouth, deepening the kiss. His erection nudge at her center and her cunt moistened in response.
“See what you do to me?”
She leaned into him, rubbing her sex to his groin. “It’s the same with me.”
He nipped her lower earlobe and ground his hips into her, his cock stroking her through the clothing separating them. “How do I make you feel?”
“Hot. It’s like I’m burning up.” She moaned. “It feels empty down there.”
“Is it wet?” He trailed his lips along her neck.
“Ye-Yes.”
Cade palmed a hand over her breast, squeezing and plucking at the nipple. She raised her leg and draped it across his lean hip, desperate to get closer to him.
“Tell me to stop,” he prompted. “I didn’t invite you over for sex, but God help me if I won’t take what you offer. It’s been so long for me, baby girl.”
Her nipples tightened under his fingers and her clitoris pulsed at his words. Cade was aching for her and she wanted him with the same fevered passion.
“I don’t want you to stop,” she whispered, reaching down to stroke him through the jeans he’d changed into.
His hand fell from her breast to cup her bottom. His eyes darkened and his voice grew thick. “I’m giving you one last chance to change your mind, because once I start there’s no stopping. I’m going to come deep inside your luscious body.”
Her lids closed a fraction as it dawned on her what she was getting ready to do. Share the one thing she’d fought for and guarded with her heart. Her virginity. She wanted it. To make love with Cade, experie
nce the passion with him.
“I’m not going to change my mind. I’m on the pill in case you were wondering. I want to feel you inside me. Without a condom. Just you and me.”
He grunted a low primitive cry that made the hairs on her nape sizzle in anticipation. His eyes pierced into her and his fingers tilted her chin as he spoke to her.
“I don’t want you spreading your legs for anyone else. Are we clear?”
She bit back a snide remark. There was no need to tell him she wasn’t sleeping with anyone. He’d recognize it for himself.
“If you’re making rules for me then it applies to you too. You’re not allowed to sleep with another woman.”
Holding her by the waist, he lifted her off the floor, his lips relaxing into a smile. She gasped, wrapping her legs around him. The hem of her dress bunched around her hips, allowing Cade to caress her skin.
She moaned softly, lacing her fingers through his hair, her lips buried beneath his in a sensuous kiss. By the time she lifted her face he had her up the staircase, his bedroom looming ahead, near the end of the long hallway.
Chapter Nine
The door slammed behind them and Cade quickened his steps. His cock felt full, straining with years of excitement. Shakara’s lips brushed against his jaw enticing him to back her up against the wall, his hands delving under her dress, finding their target. Her panties.