She tried to ignore that they were in the ladies’ room—alone. “I’ve been better.”
“It’ll be okay.”
She pulled out a paper towel from the wall dispenser and patted her face. Luckily her mascara wasn’t running down her cheeks.
She set her purse on the counter and pulled out her powder and lip gloss. “I’m sorry.”
“For what? You were being honest.”
She glanced at his reflection in the mirror. “Yeah. I guess I was.”
“And protective.”
“Yeah.” His voice was like a balm.
She took a deep, shuddering breath and put away her makeup. She met his gaze in the mirror and held it, counting heartbeats. Hers sped up. From his reflection, the pulse in his neck jumped.
“Make love to me, Preston. Right here. Right now.”
He grabbed her about the waist with one hand and spun her around.
She fell into his embrace. His warmth encompassed her. His scent surrounded her and it felt as if everything would be okay, if only for a few moments. His lips captured hers for a searing kiss.
His tongue swept over the crease between her lips before thrusting into her mouth to claim her.
Chills of need ran through her body. She’d hungered for this, for him since the last time they’d kissed. Whenever she was around him, she became the Cadence she hadn’t known existed.
She grabbed onto his belt and adjusted her body flush against him. Her breasts brushed over his chest, her nipples taut. She sighed into his mouth. She wanted him and this time hopefully there would be no interruptions.
He pushed her against the wall, lifting her arms over her head and holding her captive. She liked feeling helpless in his arms, as though he would literally take control of her body, make her feel the things she craved. His lips tore from hers and trailed hot, wet kisses down her neck to the opening of her blouse.
His hair tickled her flesh and smelled woodsy and clean. She thrust her chest upward. Her nipples were hard and ready for him, begged for him to touch them, lick them. He nuzzled his head into her breasts and, with his teeth, was able to undo the buttons enough to expose her. She watched, her mouth salivating, her body taut like a bowstring about to snap. She licked her lips, held her breath.
He was so fucking hot.
She gasped at the feel of his mouth as it sucked on a nipple through her lacy bra. The raw feeling of the lace rubbing against her and the hot wetness of his mouth fueled such an erotic stirring in her pussy, she let out a cry.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered as he came up to explore her mouth again with his.
He tore away from her mouth and he stared into her eyes. There was more fueled in his dark gaze than just lust, desire. Emotion filled the depths of his eyes. He didn’t just want her, he wanted her.
What she saw in his gaze scared her a little. It was so deep, so full of something…an emotion she didn’t care to explore.
He stroked his hands over her waist to her hips and broke the spell by closing his eyes and leaning in to kiss her again. But this time when his lips touched hers, it was more than two people’s raging lust butting heads, it was deeper, more meaningful. He kissed her slowly, feeling a lot like a claiming and surprisingly, Cadence liked it.
She kissed him back with all she had. Forget who they were, where they were, what their lives held—she would revel in this moment. Who knew what tomorrow would bring?
He lifted her up at the hips, hiked her skirt up and plopped her down on the counter. She hissed a breath. The cold marble counter on her buttocks and thighs made her shiver.
Before she could gain her equilibrium, he began kissing her neck again, his hands exploring her breasts and moving lower, his fingertips trailing down her back to grip her ass, and when he lifted her slightly she began tugging on her pantyhose until they bunched below her hips. She was a temptress. She was wanton and didn’t care.
His hands explored her where panties should’ve been and he pressed his hard cock against her bare flesh. The friction was erotic, tempting beyond reason. She scooted closer, wanting to feel more of his rigid length.
She stroked and caressed his erection through his trousers. His panting quickened. But this wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted to feel his flesh in her hands, wrap her fingers around his cock, cup and massage his sac.
She easily unbuttoned his pants and as she pulled down the zipper, his cock sprang free, the head glistening with pre-cum. She looked down, gripped him in her fingers as she’d wanted to do. He was long, thick, one large vein coursing over his length from the root to the head.
His cock’s skin was velvety smooth in her palm, pink and engorged. She ran her thumb over the darkened head, gathering the moisture there and shivering at the soft texture against the roughened pad of her thumb. His head fell back as she stroked him, and he let out a low growl. At first she gently, teasingly caressed him. His breaths hissed in and out of his parted lips and his hot gaze connected with hers. She grasped him tightly and stroked upward.
“Oh God… Do you know what you’re doing to me?” he said through gritted teeth, his voice gravelly.
Cadence sucked on her lower lip and stroked him faster. “I’m stroking your cock.”
He chuckled between moans. “Yeah, baby, you are. And it feels so fucking good.”
Cadence had never talked dirty to a guy before and suddenly she wanted to. She wanted to be different, bold with Preston. He seemed to enjoy her touch more than any other man she’d ever been with and it only spurred her on more.
“Do you want me to suck your cock?” She ran her tongue over her own lips then over his, still jerking his cock with her hand.
“Oh…God… Yes but not…now… Now I want to taste you.” He stayed her movements, again holding her hostage, kissing her hotly on the lips and then making his slow, tantalizing way down her neck, over her collarbone, her breasts and lower still. His teeth caught her pantyhose and he pulled them down to her knees. She shuddered in anticipation, her pussy drenched with desire.
His tongue made lazy circles on her thighs, up to the crease between her thighs and her sex. Then his mouth hovered over her pussy. His breaths were hot as they caressed over her wet, tingling flesh. A shiver of sheer pleasure traveled up her spine. Her thighs shook with the need to clamp them against his head. She bit down on her lower lip to keep from making a sound. Her hands gripped the counter. He spread her thighs wider, his gaze hungrily devouring her wet pussy.
“Gorgeous. Red, succulent, sweet. I am going to enjoy this.” He buried his face between her thighs.
She could barely catch her breath and then his tongue was on her, licking and stroking her clit, moving up and down, flicking it with his tongue. He sucked on the bud and then moved lower, his tongue thrusting into the wet slit of her pussy, moving in and out. Her breathing was ragged as he moved her from desire to incomprehension.
How could a man make her be so reckless? She undulated her hips against his mouth, little moans escaping here and there. His tongue lashed out at her, his teeth scraped gently over the hood of her clit. Then he sucked her clit into his mouth, gently, teasing, then a little harder. She couldn’t breathe. Her heart felt as though it would explode from pounding so hard. She was going to pass out from pleasure.
“Mmm…” Preston moaned against her pussy.
Just that little bit of vibration sent her over the edge. Waves of pleasure built to a crescendo and an explosion pulsed through her over and over again. She let go of the counter, shoving her hands through his hair, tugging his face closer as if she could absorb him into herself. Her legs shook violently as she clutched him to her.
Before she could recover, he spread her legs even wider and yanked her pantyhose all the way off, tossing them aside. He lifted her up by her hips and stroked his shaft over her still quivering pussy.
“Do you have something?” she asked.
“Yeah.” He pulled a silver packet out of his pocket, tore it with his tee
th and rolled the condom over his erection. “God, I want you.”
“Do it.”
Preston smiled at her like a man ready to claim his prize, a man who was confident the woman he was making love to wanted him just as much as he wanted her.
“What do you want me to do?” he asked, his voice sensual, hot.
“I want this.” Cadence gripped his cock and pressed the head into her quivering pussy.
“I want that too.” He sucked in a deep breath, grabbed her hips and thrust swiftly.
He dipped his head to trail a hot kiss over her neck. He didn’t move, let his cock rest inside her. Her pussy clenched tight, holding him there.
“Cadence,” he breathed into her ear as he drove his cock deep inside her. His pace was slow, teasing. “I want to see you come again. God, you’re so fucking hot. So tight.”
“Harder,” she gasped.
He was so thick, so long. He filled her, stretched her. She never imagined it would feel this way. His cock head stroked over her G-spot every time he drove inside her. Delicious pressure built again as he moved faster and faster. Their moans echoed on the tile walls. The slap of her ass against the counter, and the wet sucking sound of his cock as it pushed in and out of her pussy filled her senses. He slipped his hand between their two bodies, his other hand gripping her ass, kneading the plumpness of it. His fingers played with her clit as his cock thrust deeper and deeper within her.
Her whole body shook, she could barely hold her legs wrapped around his hips. Inside her, pleasure rippled in waves and she strove for, reached for an orgasm that teased her relentlessly.
Preston was so good at lovemaking… Already he knew her body so well. He tried thrusting one way then another, swiveling his hips, thrusting harder when her breath hitched, slowing down just when she thought she might come. He seemed to care about her pleasure, to want her to enjoy it just as much if not more than he did. No man had ever put that much thought into it.
And God, she’d never made love with a man in a bathroom. Preston shook her to her very core.
“Come, baby, come for me,” he murmured against her lips as he thrust his tongue into her mouth.
An orgasm ripped through her without warning, taking over her mind, her body. She’d been enjoying the frissons of delicious pleasure and then her nerves were firing, her pussy violently clenching and unclenching, her womb contracting, her legs shaking and pleasure so intense careening through her she shrieked from it.
“Yes, like that,” Preston groaned. If possible, he thrust deeper and deeper, pistoning against her pussy until he too shuddered and growled out her name.
They stayed in that position for a long while, neither moving, both panting hard. She savored the release of all her emotions, good and bad.
She looked up and saw their reflection in the mirror on the opposite wall. She couldn’t help but think she was seeing a frame of a porno movie. She laughed lightly in her throat. Preston watched her and smiled broadly.
She couldn’t help but think it was the smile of a man fully satisfied with his performance. She would give him all As.
“You’re hot.” He pulled out of her. She felt lost, alone, but she recovered in a nanosecond. She dismissed her feelings as unproductive, even unimportant.
“I can’t believe we fucked in a restroom.” She wondered with even more amazement that no one had interrupted them.
“Next time it’ll be somewhere more classy,” he said.
She kissed him lightly on the lips. “Next time?”
“Sure.”
She tapped her finger on her lips. “You’re going to have to wash your face. That’s not a good shade of lipstick for you.”
“I don’t know, I think I might just leave it there.” He chuckled as he nuzzled her hair. She moved away from him and handed him a paper towel.
He wiped off the streaks of lip gloss, a grin on his face.
“Your mother is going to wonder where you are,” she said seriously then frowned.
Her words spoiled everything. Why couldn’t she just enjoy the moment? Sure, she had important business to take care of. Why couldn’t it be put off until another day? Preston had just changed her world and she wanted to run away?
“We’d better get back,” Preston said, zipping up his pants.
She pulled on her pantyhose and buttoned her skirt. “I’m holding you to your promise of a repeat performance.”
His smile made her heart beat faster. “Count on it.”
She kissed him deeply to seal the deal.
“Welcome back.” Maryanne Night was standing in the hallway with her arms across her chest, her gaze boring into them. “I hope you’re all right.”
“I am and thank you for being so patient with me. I really needed a break,” Cadence said with a tight smile.
Maryanne accepted the apology with a perfunctory nod. She turned a hostile gaze on her son. “What took you so long?”
“Cadence needed comforting.”
“Yes, well…”
Cadence pursed her lips before she burst out laughing.
“Let’s go inside,” he said. He turned away from her like nothing had happened.
Cadence led the way into the inner office where her grandfather had held court.
“I’m sorry about my outburst,” Cadence said.
“Your reaction was understandable. You’ve no need to apologize to me.”
She looked at Preston. In a snap, he’d transformed into a completely different person. The heart-stopping smile that had curved the corners of his lips disappeared, replaced by a no-nonsense I don’t take any crap, I give it expression.
Cadence stared at him in amazement, even though she understood the necessity of putting on a game face. She’d done the same thing most of her life, for different reasons.
She resumed her seat and folded her hands on top of the desk. She would listen politely. Then she’d ask Maryanne to find a way for Victoria to pay for spreading malicious lies about Cadence’s birthright.
“We were talking about Edward Burke.” Maryanne hovered over her as if she might break.
“My father.”
Maryanne’s face tightened. “I’m afraid the rumor is true.”
“I don’t believe you. I have his blue eyes.”
“So does your biological father.”
Cadence gulped. There wasn’t enough air in the room.
“This isn’t how you were supposed to find out,” Maryanne continued. She sat down. “I know your mother wanted to be the one to tell you but you were so young. When she found out about Edward and Victoria, she waited until it was too late to set the record straight.”
“She must’ve been very unhappy,” Cadence answered.
“The marriage was a sham from the start.”
“So what you’re telling me is she cheated on my father years before he took a mistress.”
Maryanne’s perfect composure wavered. Creases formed around her mouth as she pressed her lips into a thin line. She stared at Cadence with such intensity Cadence shivered. “I’m afraid so.”
“Why didn’t she leave him?”
“She had her reasons.”
“What reason could she have had to live her life as a lie?”
“You should know your mother never wanted to hurt anybody,” Maryanne said finally. “Especially her family.”
It was too much to take in.
“Tell me who my father is.” Cadence barely choked out the words and grasped the edge of the chair to keep from pitching forward.
“Your real father is Bryce McClain.”
She didn’t recognize the name. “Is he alive?”
“Mr. McClain is very much with us.”
If she thought her heart had been racing before… “I want to see him.”
“He’s not an American. He’s a Scotsman. He lives near Edinburgh.”
Cadence was speechless. She had a father.
“I know this is a major shock to you,” Maryanne said.
“Major shock?” She could feel her anger rising. “Major shock is finding out the mayor and Victoria had an affair. This, this is just insane. I can’t take it anymore.”
She’d like to scream or run out of the building. Underneath her hurt and confusion, Cadence found a reservoir of pity for her mother, who’d done what she no doubt thought was best.
“I wish my mother would’ve told me,” Cadence said.
“It seemed prudent at the time to keep you unaware,” Maryanne answered.
“I’m sorry,” Cadence said sputtering. “I’m sorry my parents couldn’t have been honest with me and with each other.”
“Do you want a break?” Preston asked.
She shot him a warning look to back off. What had he known? Why hadn’t he told her about this yesterday? She’d deal with him later.
“No, let’s continue.” Cadence flopped back in the chair. She might as well get this over with, out into the open. She couldn’t move on until she’d heard the whole story.
Maryanne straightened and resumed her mask of careful confidence.
She’s very good at her job, Cadence mused. This couldn’t have been easy. “Tell me more about my father.”
“I don’t know him.”
“How did my mother meet him?”
“Your mother often went with your grandfather to Scotland, where she met Bryce. At the time that she met him, she had already been engaged to Edward, a marriage her parents approved of. Bryce was a very charming man and courted her relentlessly. She fell in love with him.”
Here, Auntie Anne paused. She scrutinized Cadence as if testing her resolve.
Cadence met her gaze, trying to let the information sink in. Nothing would shock her ever again.
“They married at a small chapel.” Maryanne stopped again.
“Please don’t tell me you’re saying she wasn’t married to the mayor?”
“I’m afraid so. She married Bryce before she married Edward.”
One, two, three…
“No one knew of the marriage, except for her and Bryce,” Maryanne continued. “If your grandfather had any suspicions about Bryce, he never said a word. And your mother, fearful of her father’s reaction to a secret marriage, never told him.”
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