by Delilah Hunt
Before he had a chance to open his mouth, the man laughed, a loud, raucous noise booming with approval.
“Didn’t think you had it in you, man. Congratulations.” Radcliffe slapped him on the shoulder. “Did you go back to collect on the generous tip you left?”
Cade shoved away from his former college roommate. “Of course not. And it’s not what you’re thinking.”
“Oh really?” Radcliffe stared incredulously. “You weren’t in here bouncing the girl on your—”
“She’s not a girl,” Cade snapped.
“She looks pretty young to me.”
Cade sighed and moved toward his desk, massaging the area above his right eyebrow. “Shakara’s twenty-one, well over the legal age. I’d appreciate it if you refrain from making assumptions.”
“There’s no need for me to make guesses about the girl. If anyone’s in the dark, it’s you.”
Cade’s jaw tightened. “What are you suggesting?”
“Your little waitress,” Radcliffe began, shifting his gaze toward the spot by the door where Shakara had stood moments earlier.
“I didn’t recognize her that night in the restaurant, but I kept thinking she looked familiar. It wasn’t until a couple of days later it hit me. I remembered her from a club I used to go to when I wanted to get away from Ash—before the divorce.”
A sliver of fear crept its way into his chest. He didn’t want Radcliffe or anyone to know about her stripping. “Hurry up and get to the point, Andrew.”
“I’m telling you that I saw her working in a strip club. Hottest dancer on the stage that night. Even wanted to buy a lap dance, but—”
“Shut up,” Cade barked. The man had no idea when to stop.
“Hey, I’m just telling you the truth.” Radcliffe lifted his shoulder in a shrug. “Why the hell should you care? You’re only getting your dick wet.”
“You couldn’t be more wrong. This isn’t a fling and it had nothing to do with being curious. I want her.”
“She’s a slut. What part don’t you understand? You picked her up half naked inside a wing joint.”
Cade lost it. Snarling, he yanked Radcliffe by the collar and forced himself to refrain from cramming his fist down the man’s throat. “If you value our friendship, you won’t repeat that term. You don’t know the first thing about her so keep your goddamn mouth shut.”
“Whoa. Relax, Parker.” Beads of sweat glistened on Radcliffe’s face.
He dropped his hands to his side and rubbed the back of his neck. He shouldn’t have lost his temper. But neither could he allow his friend, or anyone else for that matter, to refer to Shakara as a slut. Not after what she’d been through. How she’d been forced to survive on her own.
“She’s the furthest thing from what you’re imagining.” He shook his head and paused in his speech. Neither he nor Shakara owed explanations to anyone.
“Cade.” Radcliffe cut in. “It’s me you’re talking to. We fucking grew up together. Of all the women in Providence, you’re telling me you’d rather be with her? A black stripper who looks like jailbait.”
“And what’s so wrong with that? Why does her being black have to factor into this?”
Radcliffe snorted. “Save the p.c. bullshit for someone else. We both know it makes a difference. Everyone’s going to think you’re experiencing some kind of mid-life shit.”
Cade walked over to the window, staring at the flow of traffic on the bustling streets below. Radcliffe didn’t understand the half of it. Of course he was aware of the miniature firestorm of gossip his relationship with Shakara would ignite. He’d had four goddamn years to contemplate it.
“I’m not letting her go for the appeasement of society. My feelings for Shakara didn’t develop overnight. I’ve known her for years and wanted her forever.”
Radcliffe blew out a low whistle. “You’re in knee deep. What if she’s using you? Have you thought about that? Must be nice for a poor young girl to have an older rich sugar daddy. I’m sure she didn’t object to being your mistress. Did she demand a downtown apartment?”
Cade snorted. “She’s the only woman I’ve been with who has absolutely no interest in my money. None whatsoever.” He wasn’t going to touch the age issue Radcliffe kept reverting to. It was his weakness, a fear he held on to that one day Shakara would decide he was too old for her. Staid and boring.
“I’ll give her credit. She’s not a gold-digger. And maybe she is the fairy princess you make her out to be, but tell me this—are you going to invite her to the Gala next Saturday night?”
“Who else would I bring?” Cade asked, his eyes widening in disbelief. Radcliffe was taking this to the extremes, expecting him to keep Shakara hidden.
“I find it interesting, that’s all. Your willingness to risk your reputation, your family’s reputation. You can’t honestly think I’m the only one who visited that club. What happens when one of the guests recognizes your Shakara. What then? Are you going to spend the entire night defending her honor?”
The apprehension he’d felt earlier snaked its way into the pit of his stomach. He hadn’t given a thought to the situation his friend presented. Surely Radcliffe had to be exaggerating. So what if his name got tossed around a bit. He would still have Shakara and that was paramount.
His reputation could handle the minor assault. Parker Architectural Design wasn’t built on social reputation, it was founded on quality. As long as the standard to which his clients were accustomed remained steadfast, his company would continue to thrive. It was the “friends” who were caught up in societal standing that he chanced losing.
“Listen,” Radcliffe piped in. “What about Donna? You usually take her to all the events. Why not take her as your date. It’s not like the girl would have to find out.”
Cade walked over to his chair and for the briefest moment he considered his friend’s words. The exclusive party his company hosted annually featured members of Rhode Island’s most influential families. A few of them were considered to be among his more substantial clientele.
“I can’t do that,” he said quietly, sinking into his chair. He couldn’t. There was no way he’d be able to look her in the eye afterward.
“Parker...” Radcliffe warned.
“I want to marry her.” He stared straight ahead, unseeing. “No party or customer is worth jeopardizing what I’m attempting to build with her.” He glanced toward Radcliffe who stared at him in disbelief. “You can’t even begin to imagine how much she means to me.”
Radcliffe shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. “I hope to God you know what you’re doing.”
Chapter Fourteen
“You want me to go with you?” Shakara asked, warmth enveloping her. He didn’t want to keep their relationship behind closed doors.
He pulled her down to lay beside him. Her head rested on his chest. “You appear shocked. Or would you prefer I attended by myself?”
She lifted her head and smiled at him. “Of course not. I just wasn’t sure if you wanted people to know about us.”
He arched his brow at her. “You thought I was going to keep our relationship a secret?”
“It crossed my mind a couple of times, but I planned on mentioning it to you.”
“You thought I was ashamed of you?” He turned, facing her with a grim line around his mouth.
“No. Not ashamed.”
Cade stroked the side of her face. His voice lowered to a smooth pitch. “Then what did you assume? You must realize how much I love you.”
“I do, Cade. But I thought maybe you were afraid to introduce me to your friends. What if they ask what I do for a living? I’ll have to answer that I’m a waitress. Won’t you be embarrassed?”
“There’s no shame in waitressing. I don’t want to hear you mention it again. You have nothing to apologize for and you don’t owe anyone an explanation.”
She nodded and remained silent, touched by his staunch reassurance.
“What about you?”<
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Puzzled, Shakara raised her eyes to his. He gazed at her with an unexpected degree of vulnerability to him.
“Won’t you be embarrassed when you wake up one day and realize you’re in bed with a wrinkled old man? ”
She gawked at him in disbelief. What on earth was he talking about? The few strands of gray he had on his head were hardly noticeable and he looked so fit and handsome.
Shakara narrowed her eyes at him. “You’re joking right?”
He let go of her and rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling. “I’m serious. Years from now when I’m fifty, you’ll only be entering into your thirties. That’s still very young, Shakara. I’ve been thinking about this for awhile and I’m not going to lie to you. It scares the hell out of me, the idea of you wanting someone younger.” Cade spun on his side, his features harsh. “Will you leave me if I can no longer satisfy you? If I can’t get it up as fast as I used to?”
“Stop it,” she whispered. He was putting too much thought into this ridiculous hypothetical situation. Speaking as if he was halfway to the grave.
Cade pinned her with a glare, then closed his eye and sighed. “Answer the question.”
Shakara widened her eyes. My God, it was truly eating him up. “I’m not with you because of what we do in the bedroom. I love being around you, being with you. I would never leave you because of selfish reasons. Please don’t think I would do that to you, to us. It’s impossible. You mean too much to me.”
“No?” Cade lifted a cynical brow. “Then tell me, Ms. James, what will you do when it happens?”
Shakara gazed at him, not knowing what else to say. Her words did nothing to placate him. She had to show him what she meant. Wordlessly, she left his side, her eyes locked onto his outstretched legs. Kneeling between them, Shakara kissed the hard muscles on his thigh.
“You want to know what I’ll do.” She lifted a sultry gaze to his.
“Yes,” he rasped. He lifted his head a notch to observe her between his legs.
Shakara ran her hands along his inner thigh. Dark blonde hair covered the lightly tanned skin. She skimmed her fingers higher, brushing over the heavy sacs below his shaft.
“This.” She lowered her mouth blowing lightly on his flesh. “This is what you have to look forward to.” Her tongue darted out, licking the engorged head, laving along the rim.
His loud intake of breath heightened her pleasure. Shakara held the meaty shaft between her hands and lapped at the moisture that spilled coursing rivulets down his length. “I’ll do this for hours if that’s what it takes.”
“Love you so damn much, my sweet baby girl,” he choked.
She closed her mouth over his cock. He tasted delicious and salty. She raised her head, lusting for more.
“Cade,” she moaned. Her eyelids fluttered shut and she bit her lips, hunger gnawing at her as another fresh drop of pre-cum pooled at the tip.
“Lick it up,” he rasped. His eyes filled with tenderness. “I’ll give you more.”
She nodded and swept her tongue across him, then slid her mouth over him, the slick head tapping at the back of her throat.
“You were made for this, baby girl. Your full lips stretched around my cock, so loving and ready to accept my cum.”
Her cunt tightened at his words and she suckled hungrily, pulling on the dilated opening, milking him of the slippery fluid. His hips rose inches off the bed, pumping into her mouth.
“I’m coming.”
His cock shook inside her mouth and Shakara blinked, caught off guard by thick spurt of seed shooting down her throat.
“Swallow.”
Shakara jerked her head, swallowing ravenously the creamy liquid swirling above her tongue.
Chapter Fifteen
Cade felt the faint stirrings of apprehension. Damn Radcliffe, he thought, slamming the car door harder than intended. His friend’s prediction kept ringing in his ears, regardless of his efforts to ignore it. Would he spend the entire night looking at each man, wondering if they too had enjoyed the luscious weight of Shakara on their laps? How many of them had paid for a dance with her, issued money to her in return for a glimpse of her naked body?
He gritted his teeth and forced himself not to dwell on the image. On the other hand, Radcliffe could be mistaken. Perhaps no one in his social circle had ever set foot in the exotic club, apart from his friend. For a few precious moments, Cade assured himself of that.
Then again, he mused, if Radcliffe’s presumption did have a trace of truth in it, how many of those men would admit to having visited the club and witnessed her. None. He’d be willing to bet money on that. Not if they valued their marriages and relationships.
Marriage. His features relaxed. He was being sincere when he’d mentioned to Radcliffe he wanted to marry Shakara. He still wanted it, above all else. The meddling doubts he had regarding tomorrow night would have to take a back seat. The idea of another woman on his arms left a sour taste in his mouth and he knew he’d made the right—the only choice.
Cade entered the luxury condominium, satisfaction soaring through his veins. Shakara loved him and no matter how often she told him those words, he would never get used to or tired of hearing them. His sweet, beautiful girl had somehow managed to forgive him for his cold treatment of her.
Cade pushed the button and stepped into the elevator, all the previous worries forgotten. His life was changed and there was no turning back. Shakara was his. Their relationship was tangible. He could touch her, taste her, and marvel in the feel of her delicate hands on his skin. The special place he’d reserved in his heart for her—whether or not she chose to accept and return his affection—was replete with contentment and love.
Shaking his head, Cade curved his lips into a smile. Had someone told him that one day he’d be tickled into submission, literally, by a slight girl, or that he’d sit at her feet painting her toenails a ridiculous shade of blue, he would have been insulted.
Oh yes, insulted at curling up with Shakara on the sofa watching movies or observing her as she painted in silence across from his desk on those nights when he had to work an extra hour or two. Shakara was the only person he tolerated inside his home office. Had it been anyone else seeking to share his space of solitude, whether it be Julie or a previous girlfriend, his answer would have been a resounding no.
Not to say he’d ever issued an invitation of living with him to any of the women he dated. After the car crash that took the life of his parents, the responsibility of raising his ten-year-old sister had fallen to him. He had taken it seriously and had made sure to keep his personal life away from Julie. The women he dated were among Providence’s elite, those he considered a good role model for his little sister.
There were quite a few who fit the bill, but none of them stirred him. None of them made him feel in the months they dated the emotions Shakara incited in him within seconds of meeting her. She was the only woman he wanted to share his bedroom and his life with. Tomorrow night would not make any difference to him. She was his. Nothing was worth risking his future with her, especially not the opinions of hypocritical socialites.
His mind at ease, Cade exited the elevator on the fifth floor, stopping in front of his sister’s door. He knocked twice and a bright-faced Julie greeted him.
“Guess what?” She brimmed with excitement.
“What?” He sighed. “I don’t have time for guessing games, hon.” God, he hoped she wasn’t going to say she met a guy and was planning on getting married. She was way too young for that. He gritted his teeth. The same age as Shakara.
“You’re no fun, you know that?” Julie walked over to the coffee machine and poured two cups.
“Here.” She shoved one into his hands. “So, aren’t you wondering why I’m so excited?”
“Not really. You get worked up about so many things I lost count after the acting lessons.”
She rolled her eyes. “My poor friend. How she must be suffering having to put up with you.” Julie sighed
, revealing a flair for dramatics.
“Out with it. I have to get back to the office soon. Which, coincidentally, is something I’ve been meaning to discuss with you—”
“Aha,” Julie cried, snapping her fingers. “That’s what I wanted to tell you. I’m getting a job.”
Sputtering, Cade swallowed his coffee, pushing away the mug before it splashed onto his shirt. “This is a shock to say the least. When did you come to this decision?”
“I don’t know.” She sat down and played with the edges of her cup. “I guess it finally hit me. I mean, I have my own place, well thanks to you that is. But that’s it. You have Shakara and... she’s always working. I don’t really have anything else. I spend my days shopping and hanging out. It’s starting to feel kind of silly, like I have no purpose. I can’t even make a withdrawal from the trust fund mom and dad left until I’m twenty-five. It’s not fair of me to expect you to support me for four more years. You’ve already done so much.” She looked around the condo.
His gaze followed hers, noting the spot on the wall opposite the couch where her birthday painting from Shakara hung.
She looked at him and said, “this place is awesome, Cade. I’m starting to feel guilty. I’ve been taking advantage of your generosity.”
He smiled at her with fatherly affection. “Remove such thoughts from your mind. I’ve enjoyed taking care of you and I always will. However, I won’t challenge you on this issue. You’re correct. It will be good for you. Self-reliance.” He pulled out a chair, sitting next to her. “You forgot to mention the job.”