CHAPTER TWELVE
ELLEN CASSIDY
I walk down the streets feeling conflicted. I’m not sure why I am feeling so unsettled, but I am. Adam is charming in a very disarming sort of way. All sincere smiles and polite gestures, but the undercurrent that runs between us is fierce and I don’t know how to stop or silence it.
Flirting with him. That was a bad idea, no matter how I try to swing it. He is purposefully trying to find an error, to catch us in a lie and I am giving him more ammunition. I bite my lip. I hope I was subtle. I thought that I was, but you never know. He seems to be quite the perceptive man.
What’s worse is I can’t deny that I want to see him again – I sincerely do. I love the way he looks at me, the way the tension sparks between us, the way he stares into my eyes like they are the most important thing he has ever seen.
I’m so lost in thought that I almost don’t see Cade at first. I find him standing at the bottom of my apartment block. He looks agitated and I suspect that he would be waiting outside my very door if he wasn’t too polite for that. His arms are folded and there is thunder in his eyes.
And suddenly I feel sick to my stomach. I’ve gone behind his back on something – even though it’s something I felt was right. If he caught me out, he’ll be furious and he’d have every right to be.
I steel myself and stand at my full height, preparing for an argument. Anger bubbles just below the surface – I have the right to see whoever I want and besides, I did it in his best interest, not in an attempt to hurt him. I make my way to his side.
“Cade? Is something wrong?”
He smiles and turns to me and I can see the danger dancing beneath the surface of his eyes. He keeps his distance from me. “Can we speak in private?” He smiles, a low, soft smile and I shiver.
“Sure… is something the matter?”
“No, no…” He shakes his head as he wanders to the elevator. I join him and we step into it. It’s full of people. “I just wanted to pay my beloved a visit.”
I check that my phone is in my pocket, taking comfort in the fact that if something happens, my neighbors and security will hear. I frown at my own thoughts. I don’t doubt the anger between us, but no way would he ever hurt me – I’m letting my thoughts run away with me.
We head down the passageway in silence. When we reach my apartment, I unlock it and we step inside. The moment I have shut the door, I expect him to start yelling at me. Instead, he turns almost casually, “I was walking down the main strip today during my break.” He begins, and I can feel my blood run cold and hot at the very same time.
“Oh?” I answer. I can see he expects me to confess, to grovel, but I will be doing none of that. I did nothing wrong.
“Yes.” The dangerous tone is back in his voice and he smiles, “And what do I see but you and Mr. Adam Jones getting cozy over coffee.” His smile drops, “Care to explain that, Ellen?”
I narrow my eyes, anger blooming between us, “Yes. A business meeting to discuss our wedding happened.” I shoot back, “Talking about the dates – the dates and details that you and I agreed on.”
I narrow my eyes further, “Something wrong with that?”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” His anger hasn’t softened and I can see the tension in his shoulders.
“Because you’re not my keeper!” It bursts out of me, “We’re not even in a real goddamn relationship!” The hurt that I have been holding back comes flooding out of me in a sickening rush.
“Because I’m playing the part you want me to play, but that doesn’t mean you own me. This isn’t even real.” My breathing is short and sharp.
Cade’s eyes darken, “I’m not the only one benefiting from this.” He hisses, “You’re getting just as much out of this as I am, so don’t go acting like you don’t.”
I ball my hands into fists, “I went to a business meeting to help you, you selfish bastard.” I stare him down and the tension rises between us like a fog. “I did it to keep up the ruse. You know, most couples are independent in some way.” I glare at him, “Not that you’d know the first thing about being in a real relationship.”
“Oh, and you do?” He sneers, “Somehow I doubt that. You think you’re being subtle, but you couldn’t be more obvious.”
It’s hurtful and my chest aches. “Then you can go ahead and leave. Forget you and your money!” I need the money, I need to do this, but it’s hard to think straight when he’s pushing every single one of my buttons.
“Well, forget you and your help.” He shoots back with equal animosity.
Before I know what’s happened, his lips are on mine and he’s kissing me. My back hits the wall and I scrabble for purchase, twisting my hands in his jacket, unwilling to let go.
Our tongues collide and I feel like I am on fire, the searing feeling burning through me. Anger and desire twist together to form something out of this world, something that feels all-consuming and vast. It feels like it is drowning me and I don’t know how to breathe.
All I can feel is his tongue, his lips. The smell of his cologne clouds my senses and I dimly register that he smells good. Really, really good.
His body feels hard against mine, even through the soft silks and cotton of his shirt and jacket. I can feel my breathing catching in my chest, threatening to overwhelm me. I feel dizzy and hold onto him tighter.
Furiously I grab at his hair and am satisfied when he gasps and pulls away. Then his hands are on the hem of my dress and I’m shivering, a gasp slipping out of me. My hands move from his hair to his tie and I fumble to pull it off, the silk moving easily within my hands. I tear at his buttons and hear him groan as his free hand moves to my zipper.
Without preamble, he’s unzipping my dress and I find myself shimmying out of it. I let it tumble to the floor in a heap and I am struck by the fact that he is seeing me in nothing more than my lacy underwear.
I undo the last of his buttons and push his clothing off his shoulders. He shrugs it off obligingly and he’s left wearing his dress pants and little else. My eyes widen at the sight of his cock.
He’s toned, gorgeously so. His abs are tight against his stomach and he’s nothing like I imagined. I always knew he looked good beneath those suits, but I had never imagined how good.
Before I can make a move, he’s grabbing me and carrying me to the couch. I gasp as he pushes me down. There’s something predatory in his eyes and when his lips find my neck, I melt.
He sucks my skin, his hands circling around my back and finding the clasp of my bra. He unclips it before I get the chance to protest and he pulls it off in one quick motion. I look up at him in nothing but my panties.
My breasts are exposed to the cool air and I feel my nipples harden, tighten with desire. He notices it too and he says, “So you do want me.”
Then his lips are on mine again, his hands roaming over my body. I’m writing beneath him, his skilled hands tweaking my nipples, palming my breasts, and claiming my body. He feels so good and I think that the world is spinning. I grab him, clutching onto him tightly, my fingernails digging into his skin.
He lifts me off the couch cushions, pulling my panties down my thighs. I part my legs and let him pull them off me. There’s a deep heat that burns in my center and I moan. My heels push against the couch as I groan and squirm.
When Cade fumbles with his belt, I know that he’s not going to wait, not going to hold back and I feel a thrill tingle down my spine, sending a searing dampness to my opening. This is incredible.
I can feel his breath on my skin, his low groans. My own skin feels slick with sweat and I am shifting beneath him, moaning and grinding my hips. I moan deeply as I shiver. My body responds, I part my thighs. Cade doesn’t hesitate, his fingers exploring the heat of my opening, pushing slowly within me and making me gasp with desire. I bite my lip to hold back the cry.
I shiver, arching, hands reaching for his pants, forcefully undoing them, fumbling as I undo the button.
I gasped, bucking my hips as his fingers push deeper within me. My breathing is shaky as the burning pleasures rise inside me.
“Cade… more.” I moan despite myself. I feel like my whole world is spinning and I want more, want to get lost in the pleasure that is Cade, in the way he touches me so perfectly.
He shifts and I hold him tightly, wrapping my arms around him, holding on for dear life. He is warm against me and his eyes are as electric as they have always been. My head is spinning and I bite my lip.
Cade groans and I feel his cock pressing against me. He’s impressive, hot and big. Oh so, so big. I’ve never felt anything like this and I groan deeply, shifting against him. A gasp leaves me as he slowly, slowly pushes his cock inside of me. I feel as if I am about to pass out, the heat that started at my opening has spreading to every inch of my body.
He is gasping and the sound thrills me, sends shivers down my spine. One arm is braced against the couch and I feel his tense muscles as he begins to rock slowly within me, entering me further. It’s all consuming and I find myself gasping for breath. My hands clutch his skin and I gasp. Sweat trickles down my skin and I squeeze my eyes shut.
The only thing left is the feel of him. The anger has faded away to a burning kind of lust, to a shiver that just won’t quit, to a low groan in my chest and the fact that all I can feel is him. I hold onto him tightly as he thrusts into me. I gasp. So strong and confident and better than I could have ever imagined.
I writhe beneath him, squirming and bucking and arching my hips in time to the rhythm that shivers down my spine and into my soul. It’s everything I could have ever hoped for and more. He moves faster and harder. He pushes within me deeper and suddenly, I feel terribly light headed. The pressure is building, the heat threatening to overwhelm me completely. Pleasure blinds me and I groan. The feel of his cock, the friction against my opening, the strong thrusts.
I’ve never felt this amazing and it’s all I can do to hold on as my climax rips through me, strong and fast and deep. I’m holding on for dear life, moaning as I gasp. Wave after wave crashes down on me, blinding me to anything else. Cade shudders with release soon after, holding me tightly as he shudders and grunts. It feels incredible, and I can’t think straight. It’s perfect, all consuming, dizzying. I love every moment of it.
I never want this to end. The glow that fills me is warm and comforting and settling in a way that I hadn’t understood before now. Sure, I’ve found pleasure, but never like this. So I just hold onto Cade and he holds onto me in return.
And when I catch his eye, something passes between us, and I know that everything is going to be all right. Warmth floods me, and I fall asleep right there, on the couch, in Cade’s arms.
It’s no fairytale, but it’s perfect.