Cade
One quick drive across the street and we were in her driveway. I was ready for her. I’d been ready for another night since I walked out of her place after leaving that stupid note.
“Stay here.” I ran a hand up her thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze at the top. “I’ll come around and open your door. I haven’t forgotten about your slippery porch.”
“Such a gentleman.”
“For now. Once we cross through the front door all bets are off.” I wanted to get inside her again. It was literally the only thing I could think about since she said yes.
That was bullshit. I always thought of her, even before she said yes to me tonight. Even when I had been with someone else, Charlotte’s face was all I could ever see.
My heart was turning somersaults in my chest and the feeling that I would die if I couldn’t be with her pounded itself into my head.
Our night together had been pure magic. I’d been riding the high until I realized leaving her naked in bed at the crack of dawn was an asshole rookie mistake and rightly began the process of beating myself up over it. This was my chance to make it up to her. She had to know I’d grown up over the years. That I had changed, and was a better man now.
Quickly, I dashed around to her door. Instead of helping her down and holding her elbow to guide her to the porch, I picked her up and carried her. It was faster, debatably safer, and it definitely felt good to hold her close. Her squeal of surprise didn’t hurt either.
“Cade, don’t ever stop.”
“Stop what?”
“Being sweet. Remembering everything. Taking care of me. Damn it, I’ve said too much, like usual . . .” Clearly embarrassed by her words, she tucked her head against my chest to hide her face.
“Hey, look at me. I won’t stop, okay? I can’t. And I love that you feel this way about me. That morning had me rattled. I know I hurt you by leaving and I didn’t mean to. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay,” she breathed.
I let her slide down my body once we reached her front door. “If you change your mind and just want to talk, it’s fine. It would be totally understandable.”
“See? Taking care of me. It’s kind of irresistible. And I haven’t changed my mind.” She dug through her purse for her keys then let us inside. “Damn, it’s cold in here. I’m sorry, I thought I turned up the heat before I left. I’m pretty sure I’m losing my mind.”
“The deadline for your book stressing you out?”
“Among other things.” She tossed her purse to the counter and hung her coat on the hook by the door. “Ugh, my neck is killing me.”
“I can help with that.” I followed suit and hung my coat next to hers. “Turn around.”
“Ooh, yes please. Your massages are the best.” She spun around and dropped her head forward.
I ran my palms over her shoulders, sliding them up to her neck. “You’re not so bad yourself. I remember yours too.”
“Why, thank you, kind sir. Turnabout is fair play. But, like, in a nice way. I’ll do you next.”
I chuckled. “Writing with my mom didn’t help?”
“It did. I’m just too far behind. I might have to ask for an extension. I’ve always been on time, Cade. I hate this.”
“It’ll be okay, Charli. Just try to relax. One extension out of what? Ten books? That’s pretty great as far as I’m concerned.”
“Thank you, and you’re probably right. Plus, getting worked up over it makes it harder to write. Ohhhh, that feels so good. Let’s go up to my room. I need to lie down to fully appreciate this.” She pulled away and gestured toward the staircase with a grin.
I held out my arms. “You want a ride up?”
“Heck yes.” She hopped up and wrapped her arms and legs around me, relaxing against my chest as I gripped her luscious ass in my hands and carried her up the stairs. “The door on the right.”
I opened it and set her down, pulling her close to kiss her with my hands at her hips. “I don’t want a massage.”
“I just want you to keep your promise.” She took my hand and placed it between her legs.
“Trust me, I would die before I broke that promise.” I stroked her once, then grabbed the hem of her dress to pull it over her head. “Get those boots off and lie down.” She did as I asked while I stripped, threw her covers back and got into her bed.
She joined me. We were face to face on our sides. “Tell me a secret,” she murmured. Sometimes we ended our days just like this—whispering our secrets to each other in the dark.
Her hands started in my hair, then cupped my face, before running over my chest, down my abs, to end up wrapped around my cock.
I was in heaven. I couldn’t form words, let alone think of a secret to tell her. I was lost in her eyes, lost in the way her hands felt on my body. “I don’t think I ever had a crush,” I blurted without thinking.
Her eyes softened on mine. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. Not a real one, anyway. Fuck, do that again. Harder this time.”
She laughed softly and tightened her palms around my cock as she stroked me. “Tell me more, Cade.”
“Damn, Charlotte, you’re about to undo me and this feels so good I don’t even care,” I groaned. “It was only ever you, and it was way more than a crush. Even before that Sadie Hawkins dance back in eighth grade. Only you.”
Her face lit up and she stroked me harder. “I love that so much.”
“I bet you do.” I let a hand drift between her bare thighs to slide a finger into her wet heat.
“God, yes, Cade. Show me how much you want me.” She shifted her knee up to rest on my hip and I smiled before reaching up to unfasten the silky scrap of a bra she wore and toss it aside.
“Get those panties off. Charli baby, why aren’t you naked yet?” I chuckled as I nipped her neck below the ear and stroked her gently, circling her clit then dipping back inside.
“You take them off.” Her teasing smile was adorable, but I didn’t want to be sweet. It was all I could do not to shove her to her back and devour her.
I moved up to my knees, grabbing the flimsy strings at her waist to tug them down. With a wiggle she lifted her ass so I could slip them down her hips and off. Hands at her knees, I spread her legs apart and rolled to my stomach between them, darting my tongue out to lick and nibble my way up one slim thigh, then down the other, deliberately skipping over the part I was desperate to finally get another taste of.
“Hey, I thought you missed this,” she protested with a grin, shifting her hips side to side. She was up on her elbows, watching me.