I giggled at that.
“She’s a paranoid girl, too. She’s been that way since she was younger. She always thinks someone is coming after her, probably because of what she went through with Buck as a kid.” Cane shrugged. “Once she gets some rest, her anxiety will settle, and she’ll be okay.”
I nodded, but looked over my shoulder. Lora was standing in front of the door, watching everyone. Cane tugged on my hand, tearing my gaze away, and when we made it back to the reception area, everyone cheered for us.
“How about we let the happy couple share one more solo dance!” the singer said into the microphone, and Cane displayed a full smile.
“Shall we?” He winked at me.
I took his hand, letting him reel me toward him. “Let’s.”
The singer started singing “1+1” by Beyoncé. It was a slow song, but the lyrics defined us in every way. Cane nuzzled his nose in the crook of my neck, and I tossed my head back, laughing. Then I pressed my cheek to his chest, rocking with him, forgetting there were hundreds of eyes on us.
For a split second, I only heard his heartbeat. Felt his skin on mine. His lips in my hair as he kissed me. We were alone on the dance floor, beneath gold lights and stars, and nothing else mattered.
When I opened my eyes, I saw Mom, Miss Cane, Lora, and Dad, who was holding Chance in his arms. They were smiling. Chance was still awake, but barely, his lids drooping.
My eyes shifted over to my girls Morgan, Gina, and Frankie. They were all sipping champagne and laughing their asses off. I spotted Clay not too far off from where Frankie was standing. One of our guests, a younger guy with nice hair and an even nicer smile, came up to Frankie and said something, and Clay’s grip tightened around his bottle of beer as Frankie beamed up at the guy. The way he looked at her said it all. I know she said she wanted me to pretend I didn’t know a thing, but I’d seen that look before.
Primal. Fierce. Possessive.
Cane had given me that look many, many times before, but there was also adoration. Confusion. He didn’t understand his want for her. And that’s the funny thing, when it comes to complicated loves like these: they are always hard to understand at first, but if you work through them, weather every storm and conquer your battles, you end up understanding the want. The need. You understand that it is worth fighting for.
It starts off as lust, but morphs into so much more.
I picked my head up to look at Cane as the song came to an end. His eyes shimmered from the lights above, his smile content.
Wow…this man. This man was going to be my forever and always. He was going to be my husband, my king, my everything.
Once upon a time, I was a young, hopeless girl with a crush and a desire. A girl who thought there was no chance in hell a man like him would fall for a young, naive girl like me.
Now, I was a woman, with a love worth fighting for and a family I would never take for granted. Now I had him, and we were going to be together for the rest of our lives.
Being Mrs. Cane is something I thought would never happen, yet there I was, right in Quinton Cane’s arms, standing as his wife. His soulmate
This moment was created by passion, heartbreak, love, and struggles. All of it led up to this perfect day, creating a blissful, unconditional happily ever after for us.
I was his, and he was mine.
So, yes, this was my always.
This was my forever.
THE END
Bonus Chapter Intro
I hope you enjoyed Cane and Kandy’s rollercoaster of a love story! I had so much fun bringing them to life and I miss them sooo much!
So much so that I wrote a bonus chapter for them. Hope you enjoy it!
Cane’s Bonus Chapter
Cane
I boarded a jet to Paris three hours ago. I’ve tried working, answering business emails, and even running through the new pitch for a new brand of wine from Tempt.
Nothing is working for me and nothing can distract me. I miss my wife and my son more than ever before. It is a crazy feeling to feel like you can’t breathe without someone you love.
A part of me travels alone, feeling empty, strange. I’m good with business and smiles and handshakes because I’ve had years to practice doing this with other businessmen and women, but as I shake those hands and smile, they don’t know I’m thinking about being at only one place: home.
My wife. My beautiful Kandy Cane.
My son. My second chance at life. Or should I say third? I’ve been through some crazy shit and before, I felt it didn’t matter what I did. If I died, I died. If I lived, I lived. It was what it was. But now? That’s all changed. Chance is the reason I live. Kandy is the reason I breathe. Those two make me whole and sane and good, and I love it.
A notification sounds on my laptop as I sip some of my whiskey. My eyes slide over and I see it’s an email from Kandy.
I smile. My heart beats just a little bit faster. I immediately place the glass of whiskey in the cup holder.
From: Kandy Cane
Subject: Missing you
Rolled over in bed this morning and wanted to touch you.
Miss you so much, Mr. Cane. Come back to me?
Kandy
There’s a heart emoji with her email and attached to it is a selfie image of her and Chance at the table. Chance is beaming. A game of Operation is below him, the tweezers pinched between his chubby little fingers. He loves that game, and he’s always really intrigued when one of the kids on his mini-soccer league breaks a limb. I sometimes think maybe he’ll want to be a surgeon or just a doctor in general.
My handsome son. The older he gets, the more I see myself in him. He can be cool and collected like Kandy, but when he’s impatient and demanding, he’s just like me. He needs whatever he’s craving immediately.
His mop of curly hair is hanging in his face, and I think to myself that it’s time for me to take him for trim. That’s my job. A fatherly role, other than taking him to places with jumping castles and to the park to swing.
I take him to get haircuts and when we’re done, we go get something sweet afterward. Usually a fudge brownie with vanilla ice cream and sprinkles at a nearby ice cream shop.
All I see are his cheeks and teeth in the image Kandy sent. He’s doing that silly smile, where he’s all gums and white teeth and his face is stretched too damn wide because Kandy most likely told him to “Say cheese for Daddy!”
I chuckle at the image, studying it a moment longer before saving it to my files. This is our thing now. Kandy and I email back and forth when we are apart. We don’t text or call much (unless there is an emergency or a need for an update) but we email.
I can’t even remember how it started. I remember Kandy telling me one night after I’d gotten home from a trip that she loved my emails. I’d been flirting with her. Since then, I’ve always emailed her to check in, follow up, flirt. Yes, I still flirt with my wife. I love emailing that woman.
There’s something alluring about sending emails to a spouse. Text messages and phone calls are so direct and simple, but an email is carefully curated and it takes time. You sit there staring at your screen—staring at a blinking cursor—trying to find the perfect words to say. Then when you do send the carefully curated words, you’re waiting for the other person to respond with bated breath. Emails are memorable, and they’re in your inbox until you feel the need to delete them.
Emails feel forbidden…and is it a shame to say that we probably like that? After all, that’s how this whole thing started with me and Kandy—because of a forbidden attraction.
I respond.
From: Quinton Cane
Was just thinking about you.
I miss you too. It’s lonely on this fucking jet, but I’ll be back by Valentine’s.
How is Chance? Still got that stomach ache?
From: Kandy Cane
No. No stomach aches anymore. Matter of fact, he asked for ice cream for breakfast….
I chuckle. Respond.
From:
Quinton Cane
I hope you told him no…gave him something more nutritious, little one.
From: Kandy Cane
You know I caved, but to be fair, I only gave him one tiny scoop of mint chocolate and in exchange he promised to eat all of his bacon and eggs. You know he doesn’t care for eggs but he ate it all, so this was a win.
From: Quinton Cane
Mama loves to spoil.
Kandy doesn’t respond for several minutes.
She does this kind of thing. I like to imagine Chance has done something crazy or has gotten into something he wasn’t supposed to, and she has to put the phone down or walk away from her laptop to tend to him. She’s a good mom, though I tease her about being a hawk. She loves him to death.
From: Kandy Cane
Can’t wait for you to get back home so I can spoil you, Mister. ;)
I adjust in my seat. A smirk plays on my lips.
This. This is what I love about our emails.
From: Quinton Cane
Spoil me? And how will you do that?
From: Kandy Cane
Oh, you know how. Same way I did last night. Don’t tell me you forgot already.
She knows I haven’t forgotten that. My cock twitches just thinking about last night. She rode the hell out of my cock, and I hadn’t been expecting it. I’d just finished packing and she sauntered into our bedroom after putting Chance to bed. The door clicked shut and I was still staring down at my phone, reading an email.
“He went down easy?” I asked.
She didn’t answer.
I peered up but she was already climbing on the bed and then on top of my lap. She took my phone out of my hand, placed it on the nightstand, and immediately pressed her lips to mine.
I remember it all. The way she pawed at my sweatpants after the kiss broke, both of us struggling to get them down in our heated moment. Freeing my hard cock, and then sliding her pussy down the length of it, moaning as she took me all in.
“You’re so big, Cane. God, I love it. I love you.”
My cock is spasming now.
I love that about Kandy. She’s spontaneous. Hungry. A lot of people say the sex life in a marriage changes after a child, but I disagree—at least, for us. Our sex life is still hot as hell, though most times we have to work around Chance’s schedule.
From: Quinton Cane
Just wait until I get home. You’ll love Valentine’s Day after what I do to you.
- Q
And now I really can’t wait for these three days to be over. When the plane finally lands, I hop into the black SUV waiting for me and am taken to my hotel.
The day after, I meet one of my biggest investors for lunch, but I can’t stop thinking about Kandy.
Fortunately, the three days—though it feels like three weeks—go by, and I make it my mission to leave that damn hotel and get back to the jet as soon as possible.
I want to email Kandy, but I have to make this wait worth it. I’d sent her text messages a couple times yesterday and the day before, and even when I landed the first day to let her know I’d made it safe and that things were going well.
But now I’m back on the jet. I’m no longer in business mode. I’m ready to be back in husband mode.
The flight feels like forever, but eventually I can see the twinkling lights of Downtown Charlotte. I’m home.
By the time I get off the jet, it’s dark out, but it’s a Saturday night and Valentine’s Day, so the city of is bustling as I drive past it. Couples are out on dates, or singles are on the hunt for a hookup, so they don’t spend their Valentine’s alone. I don’t care about any of that though. There is only one thing on my mind—one person running circles in my head, and I’m going to get to her.
* * *
I stop by a Hallmark shop just before it closes. I find the perfect Valentine’s Day card and pick a heart-shaped balloon out. I know Kandy won’t care for it—she never cares for Valentine’s Day gift, but she appreciates the thought. I’m willing to go above and beyond for her. That’s why I stop. I want her to know I was thinking about her, and it isn’t like me to show up anywhere empty-handed. There’s no need for me to buy her chocolate. I have plenty of that in my car from a previous shipment. After paying, I head out the store and back to my car.
It takes me approximately eight minutes to get home. I know because I’m constantly taking glances at the clock on my dashboard. I pull into the driveway and park, killing the engine and climbing out the car. I don’t even bother grabbing my things, only the card and balloon. Everything else can wait.
I walk into the house and it’s quiet. The lights are off in the kitchen, but the light in the hallway and den are on, and both are dim, golden lights. It’s after eight, so I know Chance was put to bed about thirty minutes ago.
I hear something rustle as I close the door and Kandy pops up around the corner of the den. She grins when she spots the balloon. “Well, well, well. Happy Valentine’s Day, Mr. Cane.”
I smile. I have no words, really. Even as she stands in lounge pants and a tank top, she’s sexy as fuck. No bra, dark hair piled up on her head in a bun, and not a drop of makeup. I love her like this. Relaxed for me. Natural and real.
I release the balloon and slap the card down on the table. She can read it afterward, and I’ll get the chocolate from the car too, when I’m done.
I waste no time as I march down the hall to meet her. She’s surprised at first by how quickly I’m walking to her, but she immediately brushes that surprise aside when I crush her lips with mine and pick her up to carry her in my arms.
She moans into my mouth, lacing her legs around me, allowing her heels to dig into my lower back as I shuffle into the den. I place her down on her back on the leather sofa, still claiming those perfect lips.
“You’re greedy tonight,” Kandy breathes on my mouth, smiling.
“Missed the hell out of you,” I groan, and I yank her lounge pants down and, fuck me, she isn’t wearing any panties. She was waiting for this too, I see.
“How long has Chance been asleep?” I ask.
“Hour and a half now. He won’t wake up. He had a long day.”
“Good.” I fumble with my belt and she helps me with the button and the zipper. No time to undress completely. I want her now. When my pants are pushed down enough, I thrust my cock inside her and let out a deep, guttural groan.
“Fuck, Kandy.” It’s always these words. Only these words. There is nothing else to say when I’m inside her. I’ve been waiting for this moment.
She wraps her arms around the back of my neck, pulls down to bring my face to hers, and we kiss again. My cock strokes into her with ease. I push her leg up by the knee to thrust deeper and she gasps, her eyes stretching. I love that gasp. The way her eyes get wider. I’m always catching her off guard.
“I missed you,” she moans, kissing my throat. Those throat kisses will be the end of me.
Her pussy sounds so wet and is so damn slick around my cock and that’s how I know she’s telling the truth. She did miss me. She’s wanted this since I left, same as I did.
And knowing that is enough to make me cum deep inside her.
“Ah, shit, Kandy!” I lower my head, and sink my teeth into her bottom lip. Bringing a hand up to cradle the back of her head, I thrust one more time, and cum hard in my wife’s pussy.
She feels my cock throbbing and she moans. I look down at her, and her eyes are glazed over, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. I kiss those lips. Her chin. Her forehead. I stroke wisps of her hair back with my thumb. Run the pad of that same thumb over the apple of her left cheek.
I pull back and sit up, tucking my sated cock back into my pants. “Come on,” I murmur, grabbing her hand and sitting her up. “I’m not finished with you yet.”
And her smile? That adoring, insatiable twinkle in her eyes?
That’s what makes the waiting worth it.
The love between Kandy and me? It is stronger than any love I have eve
r felt. We’ll never be able to get enough of each other, never stop caring about one another.
We are bonded, in love, and trust me, the love we share isn’t going anywhere.
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What Else Can You Read?
I have plenty of books that I could share with you, but to make your life easier, I’m going to give you a few books of mine that are reader favorites and books that I loved writing. You can binge read all of these today!
If you love bad boys, with filthy mouths, who ride motorcycles, I highly suggest you check out my biker romance, Bad For Me!
If you’re looking for a sexy, angsty forbidden romance about a married woman who helplessly falls in love with her sexy-as-hell landscape architect, The Man I Can’t Have is the perfect story to get you going! And just a heads up, there is a twist to this story, so don’t think this is just a romance where a woman cheats on her husband. It goes way deeper than that.
Another juicy one of mine is Dear Mr. Black, where a girl falls for her best friend’s dad! Both are reader favorites and favorites of mine.
I also have a book called My Fiancé’s Brother…which kind of explains itself! Haha! Super angsty, sexy, and it’ll pull on your heartstrings.
The Cane Series: Complete 4-Book Box Set Page 87