by Lauren Wood
The crotch was already wet. “Erin,” he whispered as he pulled the lace down and traced a finger just outside her mound. She squirmed under his light touch. “You’re so wet,” he said in a strangled voice.
“That’s what you do to me,” she admitted. “As soon as you look at me, I’m ready for you. Please. I’m begging you. Don’t make me wait anymore.”
He easily spread her lips wide and leaned in to lick lightly at her clit. Her legs were already shaking, and he knew she was on the edge. When she was younger, it had been so easy to make her come multiple times. Suddenly, he wanted nothing more than to see if her body still responded the same way.
Without warning, he shoved two fingers in and attacked her sensitive nub. In clockwise circles, he moved his tongue over and over her again while he curled his fingers inside of her. Soon, her thighs were clenched around his head as her back arched and she shuddered in a wordless orgasm.
He couldn’t wait anymore. The heaviness between his legs ached, and he slid up her body and entered her in one powerful thrust.
Erin wasn’t ready. She’d barely come down from her last orgasm when he entered her, and she threw her head back and nearly screamed. She’d forgotten how big he was, how much he stretched and filled her. “Fuck, Cade,” she gasped as she tried to adjust.
“Just hold still,” he said through gritted. “I’m sorry baby, I forgot how tight you were.”
She couldn’t help it. Although he was trying to hold as still as possible, she needed to move. She needed him to move. “Erin, please stop squirming. You have no idea what you’re doing to me,” he begged.
“More,” she whispered. “Give me more, Cade. Please.”
Whether it was hearing his name on her lips or hearing her beg, he finally withdrew and pushed back in. As he rubbed over that sweet spot inside her, she moaned and arched her hips to match him. It was as if no time at all had passed between them. This was nothing more than a dance that so naturally came to them, and her body moved effortlessly with his.
She lifted her legs higher and gasped when he slid even deeper. The tension built inside her again, and soon, she couldn’t control herself anymore. His lips were on hers, and when the orgasm rocked her body, he swallowed her guttural moan.
He didn’t stop. He continued to move, but she needed more. She pushed at the bed, and he listened to her silent demand and flipped them over. They both gasped at the sensation of her sliding over him, taking him even deeper, but they didn’t stop. She rocked her hips back and forth, up and down, and couldn’t believe when her body reacted once again.
Higher and higher she climbed. His hands streaked all over her body, touching her nipples, running up and down her sides, caressing her skin. His eyes locked onto hers, and she could see the demand in his eyes. He was close, but he was waiting for her.
Her movement quickened, and he grunted as he slid one hand down and pressed a thumb to her clitoris. The sensations were too much. “Cade,” she screamed as yet another orgasm took control of her body. Only this time, he rode the wave of ecstasy with her. As she clenched her muscles around him, he grabbed her waist and thrust his hips upwards, anchoring her to him, as he spilled himself inside her.
It took her breath away, and she collapsed on him, able to do nothing but be at his mercy as his arms surrounded her and held her.
After a few minutes, she was aware of his fingers working in lazy circles over her body. She propped her chin on his chest and stared at him. “Are you okay?’ he asked.
“Are you worried that I’m about to fall into a pleasure induced coma or that I’m having regrets?”
“Both,” he said, his voice serious. Then a smile broke out on his face as he cupped her chin. “But more concerned about the regrets part.”
“I’m an adult, Cade. I’m at the point in my life where I don’t sleep with men I think I might regret later.”
He frowned. “Maybe we can avoid talking with you sleeping with other men. I’ve discovered that I don’t much like that.”
“No regrets,” she said as she leaned up and kissed him. “What about you?”
“The only think I have ever regretted was leaving you. But you’re here now, and that is all that matters to me. Will you stay the night?”
She nodded. “I have to get up early in the morning, but I can stay.” She unwrapped her legs and lifted herself off him. “I should probably go clean up.”
Cade’s arm snaked out and anchored around her. “Don’t. Not unless it makes you uncomfortable. I like to know that I made you all sweaty and messy.”
“Kinky,” she muttered with a raise eyebrow. Settling in next to him, she rested her head against his chest. Melting into his warmth, she could hear his heart beating. “Good night, Cade.”
“Good night, my love.”
Chapter 4
Cade locked his car and listened as the horn echoed off the parking deck walls. This early in the morning, the deck was virtually empty. He’d been so happy to wake up with Erin in his arms, that he wanted to call out for the day and taste her until she was writhing in his arms again.
But she had to leave, and he couldn’t stand looking at the empty space in his bed. So he went on his run to get rid of some of that built up energy, and now he was going to take a shower at the office and change. But as he got closer to the elevator doors, a shadow passed over him, and he realized that he wasn’t as alone as he thought.
“Good morning, Marquis.”
Cade turned as the Irish accent seeped into his skin. “O’Toole,” he said sharply.
“You didn’t answer any of my phone calls yesterday. I gather you’re having issues with my phone, so I thought I’d take some of the stress off you and meet you in person. I trust you’ve thought over my proposal last weekend?”
He remained calm and collected as he reached out and touched the elevator button. “I didn’t have to think about it, O’Toole. I’ve already given you my answer.”
The Irish mobster reached out and gripped his arm tightly. “I don’t think you’ll like the consequences. Are you sure you won’t reconsider?”
“You invested quite a bit of money into my company six years ago, but I would not be here if it were not for Simon and Grant. They did more than give me money. They backed me one hundred percent of the way, and I will not betray them to you.”
The man dark eyes held a touch of sympathy. “I liked you, Marquis. I really did. The people that I work for aren’t just going to take no for an answer. O’Shea isn’t going to let you walk away. You will give them what they want, whether you do it willingly or not. You would make both of our lives much easier if you simply did what we asked of you.”
Cade yanked his arm away and stepped into the elevator. He held his hand out to keep the door from closing. “Tell me, O’Toole. You have all the money you could ever need. Why do you work for them?”
O’Toole stiffened. “Once you’re in, you never get out. Besides, I want for nothing.”
“Except for true friends. A family that loves you. Peace of mind. Integrity.” Cade stepped back and let the doors close. “I won’t turn into you.”
He had to warn Erin. As much as it would kill him to tell her the truth, it would be even worse if she were caught unawares. It would ruin her career if she ran the story without knowing all the facts. And who knows what O’Toole would do to get what he wanted.
He leaned back and hit his head gently against the elevator wall. He’d tell her tonight at dinner.
* * *
Erin’s hands shook when she saw the headline on the magazine. “Cade,” she whispered as she pressed herself against him. It had been three weeks since he’d told her the news. For three weeks, she’d spent every spare moment she had with him. He did things to her body that no one else had, but there was fear lurking behind every moment.
“The Irish mob? Cade, are you insane?” she’d gasped.
“I didn’t know,” he’d said as he shook his head. “What can I do?”
As far as Erin was concern, there was only one thing he could do. He could come clean. And she’d done just that for him.
New York’s youngest and hottest billionaire defies the Irish mob: Cade Marquis saves hundreds of thousands of jobs by saying no.
He put an arm protectively around her and steered her away from the magazine stand. The air was chilly, but it was nothing compared to the fear that iced over her bones. “What do you think is going to happen now?” she whispered.
Cade kissed the top of her head. “Don’t go anywhere alone,” he said softly. “And keep the gun I gave you in your purse at all times. More than likely, this will be too public for them to retaliate. They’ll simply deny it and move on. Timothy O’Shea usually keeps a cool head about him. But O’Toole is a loose cannon.”
Erin nodded her head. They’d talked at length about this, but she didn’t know what she would do if something actually happened. She’d just finally gotten Cade back. She couldn’t lose him now.
A month ago, O’Toole had revealed what he really wanted from Cade. It wasn’t his money. Cade now had inside information on Simon and Grant, and O’Toole’s boss, O’Shea, wanted to bring Simon and Grant down.
But it was more than just Cade’s loyalties to the company. Thousands of workers would have lost their jobs, and Cade wouldn’t have that on his conscience. But Erin wasn’t content with Cade just saying no. She wanted to protect him and reveal the dangers of the Irish mob. It wasn’t just violence. Businesses were at stake. People’s jobs were at stake.
He walked her to her apartment and pulled her close. “Tomorrow, we’ll tell our parents,” he said as he leaned down to kiss her.
She melted into his embrace. “Tell them what?” she teased. “That you give me three orgasms every night? That I strip naked for you and give you lap dances at the dinner table?”
Cade groaned. “Keep talking like that, and this block will see just how many orgasms I can give you,” he hissed.
What would he tell their parents? She was more curious about that than she was about their reaction. He didn’t talk much about their future.
“Stay inside today,” he said with another searing kiss.
“Keep doing that, and the tabloids will tell my mom before you do,” she said as she pulled away. He gave her one last longing look before he turned and walked away.
He made it two steps before the bullet rang out. “Erin,” he screamed as he turned, but the bullets weren’t for her. Fear forced her into action. As he fell to his knees, blood seeping through his shirt, she pulled the gun from her purse.
She couldn’t lose him. Not now. She didn’t even hesitate as he aimed the gun at the large man on the corner. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. She fired until she realized the gun was no longer spilling bullets. She fired until it was just a clicking noise. She fired until someone finally wrenched the gun out of her hand.
The man was on the ground, not moving, but she didn’t give a damn about him.
“Cade,” she screamed. The world stilled as she spun raced towards him. He reached up to touch her cheek, but the blood was coming out too quickly. “Hang on,” she muttered as she stripped off her jacket and pressed it to the wound on his side.
“I love you,” he whispered.
“Shut-up,” she snapped. “You say the worse things.”
He managed to laugh, and she smiled. “You can tell me how you feel when you’re not bleeding out on the side-walk. And when that happens, I’ll tell you exactly how I feel about you.” Tears were flooding down her cheeks, and she leaned down and pressed her lips to hers. “If you die, Cade Marquis, I will tell your father that you took my virginity when I was nineteen.”
But his eyes were closing, and she began to rock back and forth. He would live. He had to live.
Please.
* * *
The response was overwhelming. She’d wanted to keep it a small affair. Cade wanted it that way, but more than just family and friends wanted to come out. Business associates from all over the country demanded to be there, and before she knew it, the whole thing was just out of control. Every seat in the church was taken.
She couldn’t believe that it would end like this. She’d been in love with him ever since she met him, and it took a bullet for her to realize it. For her to realize how much time they had wasted thinking they knew what the other was thinking.
Cade had only wanted what was best for her, and Erin thought he was ashamed of her. Instead of embracing the unexpected love, years of silence and heartbreak had separated them.
Too late now, she thought as she walked slowly down the aisle. She couldn’t go back and change the past.
But as she saw his eyes light up with love and awe, she knew that their future was going to be filled with love.
O’Toole was dead. O’Shea put as much distance between him and the investor as possible, and they hadn’t heard more than an apology from him in the past year. Apparently he realized that the printed word was more powerful than money and blackmail.
Cade had pulled through with surgery. Rather than finding out over dinner, her mom and his dad had learned the entire truth of their affair at the hospital. They’d surprised her with a roll of their eyes.
“It’s about time,” her mom had snapped. “I thought I was going to have to lock you two in the room together to get you to admit your feelings.”
Three weeks later, he’d slipped a ring on her finger. She’d glared and grumbled. Of course they loved each other, but that didn’t mean they could make it work. He was neat. She was messy. She wanted a smaller house and dogs. He wanted a bigger house and another car. She wanted two kids. He wanted five.
But he refused to take the ring back, and she realized that she was never going to take it off. Cade Marquis was hers. And even if they bickered and fought for the rest of their lives, he belonged to her and her alone. Just as she belonged to him.
Her dress trailed behind her as she finished the walk. Her stepfather leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I thought it would be weird to give you away to my son,” he admitted with a smile. “But there is no one else I’d rather see you with.”
She blushed and reached out to take Cade’s hand. Breaking tradition, he leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips. “I love you, Erin.”
“I love you, always and forever, Cade,” she said honestly.
Twenty minutes later, she was Erin Silva Marquis. And she was the happiest woman in the world.
THE END
HIGHLAND RESCUE
The rain fell softly on my face. It helped me forget about all of the black cloth that had recently passed by. The tree above me released the raindrops that had been contained in its leaves. It was as though the tree was crying with me.
Merely days had passed since my father was killed by the beast. Brother was in such a hurry to bury him into the ground after his death so that he could become king. The ceremony would be held later today to introduce the new king of Darden. I had no intentions of being there. I would remain by my father’s side until my body became one with the ground above him. I couldn’t remember ever feeling so alone.
Mother had died the day I entered the world. Brother always told me it was my fault that she was gone. I killed her. He never let me forget that. Father was my only ally in life. Now he was gone and I was alone.
Many people have told me that I am much like my mother. At my age my mother had dark hair that flowed straight down her back touching her waist. Just as mine does now. I have her emerald eyes and small button nose. Unfortunately for me I was given my father’s ears that always seemed to stick out to the side. He always told me that my strange ears made me a good listener. I wish I could have known my mother. There is so much I wish to have learned from her. Things such as how it felt to kiss a boy for the first time. Or how she knew who to give her love to. There are so many things that only my mother could tell me. Father always did his very best however it is certainly not the same. I love him dearly for tryin
g. He was able to provide me everything I could possibly need.
Three days ago I went with Father into the village to see the townspeople. We brought bread and cheese to pass out to those in need. Father was always giving back everything he had to his people. He was a beloved king and things would never be the same without him. The people praised him and he made sure to call everyone by their first name. I already knew that Brother would be nothing like that. He had darkness inside of him, a burning greed. He enjoyed making others feel small while he stomped around like a giant.
When we knocked on the door of Mr. Toil Germaine’s small shack he greeted us nervously. Just like he would do every time, father shook Mr. Germaine’s hand and offered him some bread. Mr. Germaine asked us inside for a cup of warm milk, father accepted. After entering his home, a wild beast pounced at us from across the room. It looked like a monster with razor teeth and black bristly fur. First he attacked Father and I screamed. Mr. Germaine kept chanting, “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! My king, please forgive me! What was a starving man to do?”
Father fell to the ground and the animal escaped. The next thing I remember was waking up in my bed back at the castle. I awoke in a panic. Then I realized it must have all been a bad dream.
“Mira!” I heard our nurse Hazel stirring beside me. “Oh, my sweet girl. What trouble you have seen!” She placed a cold cloth upon my brow.
“Thank you Hazel. You may leave.” Brother called out from across the room.
I watched as Hazel started toward the door. She bowed her head as she walked past Brother. “My king.” She replied. It hadn’t been a dream. Tears began flowing down my cheeks.
Brother pulled up a chair to my bedside. “Hello Sister.” He stated with a bite in his voice. “I see you have done it again.”