Unspoken Bundle - Box Set Books 1-6

by Danes, Ellie

  “When did you do all this?”

  Cain didn’t answer. His blue eyes reflected the dancing candlelight as he slowly unbuttoned my ivory silk blouse. I felt the tiredness in my body subside, replaced by the heat and passion building between us. I quickly unzipped my skirt, allowing it to fall to the floor, then turned my attention to Cain’s soft white shirt. I tugged at the tails, pulling them up and revealing his chiseled abs and the soft hair that trailed down into his perfectly fitted pants.

  I felt a nervousness that I hadn’t felt since the first time we had been together at his house. I fumbled for Cain’s buttons as he grabbed my hands, holding them together as he kissed me, first gently and then harder; his full lips insistent against mine. He quickly undressed as I stood in amazement, looking at his toned and tanned body. Nothing was left to my imagination and I realized I was still wearing my bra and panties. Cain smiled as I slowly undressed and then pulled him under the droplets of the rain shower, closing the door behind us.

  I reached around him, pulling him close and feeling his hardness between us. I rested my head against his chest as we were both drenched by the hot water. It felt good in so many ways. The comfort and strength of his body, the water washing away the day, washing away what I had left behind; I relished the security of just being in his arms. I looked up and was captured in his hypnotic stare.

  I wrapped my legs around Cain’s waist as he lifted me effortlessly, allowing my legs to straddle his body. I hadn’t realized how much I had been longing for him and his touch; for this passion. It seemed like it had been forever since I felt him inside of me and I wanted it more than ever.

  Steam slowly covered the four glass walls and enhanced the muted glow of the light from beyond. Cain lifted me gently as I pulsed my body against him as he slid inside of me, hitting all of the rights spots and driving both of us crazy. He moaned quietly in my ear as I squeezed him tighter with my legs, my arms around his neck. I sank my teeth into his shoulder, hard enough to hear him moan slightly louder, and then thrust on him harder. An animal instinct had taken over as we rocked back and forth. I slid my hands down Cain’s strong back as I continued to writhe in pleasure, joining his moaning until I couldn’t take it any longer. I let go with gush of emotion and felt the tension in my body totally release. Cain continued with a guttural moan and then gently let me slide down, off his firm body.

  All I could do was smile at him as I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him on the lips with a gentle peck.

  We took the time to wash and then wrapped ourselves in the soft robes that hung just outside of the shower. The softness tickled my skin and brought a gentle comfort that relaxed me perfectly after our passionate water adventure.

  “Would you like to go out or stay in for dinner? There are some amazing restaurants close by, or we could go out to the Gaslight District and see what’s going on there.”

  I slid into the large California king sized bed and pulled the down comforter up to my chin. As much as I want to see the city, I could use just a little downtime. “How about dinner in tonight, and tomorrow we can be more adventurous?”

  “That sounds absolutely perfect to me.” Cain grabbed the room service menu and slid into bed beside me. “Maybe one of everything, a bottle of wine and two of those chocolate lava cakes?” He laughed. I knew he was joking, but it sounded like the perfect way to end a long day.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  The sun had already come up, but on the east coast. I tossed and turned as I looked at the neon blue numbers on the digital clock next to the bed. It was only 4 a.m. and I was ready to go. Normally I would have been up and ready for a run, or possibly on my way to the gym, but not this morning. The calm and relaxed feeling I had felt the previous night had subsided and was replaced by a little anxiety. I hated to admit it, but I had become accustomed to working too much and as much as I complained about it, I continued to do it.

  I gave up hoping to fall back asleep and slipped out of bed and into the soft white robe lying on the chair beside the bed. Cain was still asleep, his bold outline clearly visible among the stark white sheets and comforter. I hated to leave him, but I needed to clear my mind and have a little me time before we started our day. I quietly padded into the large living area, flanked by a kitchen that put my apartment galley to shame. Through some miracle I managed to find the coffee in the oversized pantry and made a pot. The aroma filled the room and immediately began to clear my head.

  My laptop was one of the last things I had packed—on instinct. I hadn’t anticipated actually doing any work, but I was now glad I had tossed it into my bag at the last minute. As the coffee pot filled I pecked away at the keys and connected to the Wi-Fi. I was amazed at far I had come in such a short period of time with technology. I clicked through my emails to satisfy my curiosity about just how much I might have missed while traveling yesterday and was pleasantly surprised at the lack of chaos I found.

  An email from Aimee wished me well on the trip and good luck in the meeting; a quick email from Reese confirmed that we would be visiting Louise and Dean Harritan on Monday when we returned; and finally an email from Brice looked for an outcome from our meeting with Jacob. I quickly typed a reply and told him I would follow it up when I was back in town. I scrolled through the rest of the emails until I reached an email I had sent to myself a while ago; a picture of my mother and I. I sat and stared at it for a moment, thinking about her, and felt myself being overcome by emotion. I closed the email as I felt the burning hatred of my father coming back.

  I turned my attention to the bubbling of the coffee pot and quickly grabbed the carafe and poured myself a cup, not waiting for the brewing to finish. As amazing as this place was, the one thing it lacked was my favorite creamer. The starchy powdered creamer would have to do for now. I took a sip and stared at the laptop. I hesitated before my next move and then quickly typed in my search and stared at the results. It was almost 8 a.m. on the east coast. I picked up my phone and dialed the number.

  “Richmond Family Practice, this is JoAnne.” A woman with a slight southern drawl answered the phone.

  “Yes, JoAnne, my name is Jennifer Dunning, I was wondering who I needed to speak with in order to get a copy of some medical records.”

  “Are these for you, ma’am?”

  “No, my mother, Samantha Dunning. She was a patient there.”

  “I’m sorry, ma’am, we can’t release medical records unless we have a release form from her. Are you on her release form?”

  “I doubt it. My mother passed away about thirteen years ago. I was just trying to get a copy of her latest records and the records from her last visit to the emergency room before she passed away.”

  “Oh, I’m so sorry, sweetie. Are you the next of kin?”

  I considered lying but realized I would likely have to provide some sort of proof. “No, that would be my father.”

  “Again, ma’am, I’m sorry, but we just can’t release that information unless it is to your father, or unless we are ordered to by the courts. Is there anything else I can help with?”

  “No. No, thank you.” I hung up the phone and wanted to scream, but I knew it wouldn’t do any good. It was probably for the best, right now. I closed the laptop and stood in the kitchen, looking out of the wall of windows to the ocean below. Faint lights could be seen out on the water, likely early morning fishing boats. I was lost in the moment, just watching and wondering what someone else’s life might be like.

  The light from the master suite came on and Cain’s silhouette appeared in the doorway. “Don’t tell me you’re doing work right now? You should still be in bed with me.” Cain yawned and made his way over to the counter. “Promise me, no more work this weekend.”

  I nodded. “I’ll at least keep it to a minimum. I promise.”

  “Perfect. I’ll do the same. How about we take that coffee back to bed, order some room service for a light breakfast, and then travel up the coast for the day? I have a few things planned for us.”<
br />
  “Now that sounds perfect.” I poured cup of coffee for Cain and followed him back to the bedroom where we enjoyed the morning together and watched the sun rise from the comfort of our California king bed.

  * * * * *

  Cain hired a car and driver to take us on our excursion for the day. I loved the idea of us being able to focus our attention on each other rather than a map. The driver took the scenic route up the coast and we arrived in La Jolla mid morning. It was an amazing town, filled with gorgeous homes and condos that overlooked the beaches. Quaint little shops were scattered throughout the area where we walked hand in hand and stopped at each store. Cain could be so easygoing and tolerant; I loved how he was so willing to shop with me even though it was the last thing on Earth he would want to be doing.

  “How about we take a look in here for minute?” Cain held open the door to CJ Charles, a jewelry store. I smiled and happily walked into the store, taking in the glittering sights.

  The store was packed with locals and tourists, looking through glass cases and displays, gawking at expensive jewels and watches. I loved looking, but it was rare that I ever bought anything for myself; except my one real gift to myself, a pair of diamond earrings.

  “Jen, try this on.” Cain motioned to the sales consultant and pointed to a diamond bracelet sitting in the case. “Do you like this?”

  “It’s gorgeous.” I smiled as I looked at the delicate diamond bracelet. It was 18k white gold with diamonds set in a floral pattern. There must have been twenty-five different links, each with its own diamond.

  The consultant handed the bracelet to Cain and he carefully clasped it on my wrist. “Let me see. Hold it up so it catches the light.”

  I twisted my hand back and forth as I ran my fingers through my hair, flashing the bracelet in an awkward way. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and smiled. I like the way the bracelet looked on me. I quickly thought about the price and took it off, handing it back to the woman behind the counter. “Maybe someday.” I smiled at Cain and then moved on, looking at other items. I had caught a glimpse of the price tag and realized the bracelet cost more than my last car. “Shall we get out of here and get something to eat?”

  “Sure, just give me a minute. I’d like for them to take a quick look at my watch, why don’t you keep browsing.” Cain handed his watch to the woman as I moved through the store. I few minutes later, Cain caught up with me and we headed back to the strip, walking hand and hand. “The woman said there is a great little restaurant down the street, Cody’s. What do you say we head there, get a little brunch, and then make our way north a bit? I have a little surprise for you.”

  I squeezed Cain’s hand and pulled in close to him. “Sounds great.”

  The morning flew by and before I knew it we were on our way toward Cain’s next planned stop. We sat in the back of the limo, the tinted windows shielding us from the warm California sun and providing us some privacy from the outside world and the driver. I felt closer to Cain than ever before as we sat in the quiet of the car, just taking in the sights together. I loved this life with him, and I was getting to see a side of him that I hadn’t seen before. Cain had always been gentle, caring and romantic, but now he seemed content and at ease.

  We pulled into the driveway, past the iron gates and toward the main building of a winery. Acres and acres of grapes stretched out from the driveway and encircled the large main building. The property was absolutely pristine, almost as if it had come straight from a fairy tale. I leaned over and kissed Cain gently on the mouth. “Today just keeps getting better.” I smiled.

  The main room of the winery was a room large enough to hold over two hundred people. Several private tasting bars lined the sides, and huge overstuffed couches were grouped in the center, providing more comfortable areas to relax and enjoy a bottle of wine. We were greeted by an older gentleman wearing an expensive suit; he exuded class and wealth and had a very warm, welcoming smile. “Good afternoon, I’m Raymond Bernardo.”

  “Mr. Bernardo, I’m Cain Parker, we spoke on the phone.”

  “Ah yes, Mr. Parker. We have everything set up for you, please follow me. I apologize. Today has been a bit hectic. We have a large event planned today so my staff has been preparing for that. I have you set up in our Barrel Room, and we will be ready whenever you are. Please, feel free to make yourself at home here and just let me know whatever you may need.”

  Mr. Bernardo escorted us to a quaint dark room, lined with old redwood wine vats. The smell of the redwood and wine was delightful and heightened my senses. A small table covered in white linens, with a single red rose in a vase, sat in the center of the room. I looked around and took it all in; it was rustic and very romantic, the perfect setting for an intimate afternoon. The sommelier brought in a well-organized cart with eight bottles of wine and accompanying glasses. Cain and I sampled each during our afternoon tasting, and I could feel the wine beginning to take effect. It allowed me to lose myself even deeper into the moment. Finally, we were left alone with a bottle and a small cheese plate.

  Cain reached across the table, held my hand, and stared into my eyes. “Jennifer, this has been an absolutely perfect day. You deserve the best and that is exactly what I would like to give you.” Cain reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box, revealing the bracelet I had tried on earlier.

  My heart sank as he removed the bracelet and placed it on my wrist. “Cain, I can’t…you didn’t…”

  “You can, and I did, Jen. I am so happy to have you in my life.” Cain smiled and helped me away from the table. “Let’s see how that looks in the sunlight.”

  I hesitated, pulling him to a stop. “Thank you, Cain, for all of this.” I put my arms around his neck and pulled his face toward mine, gently pressing a long, soft kiss to his lips. It was filled with passion, thankfulness and every emotion I had in me. I allowed him to guide me out to the gardens to survey the beautiful scenery.

  “There’s one more thing I wanted to show you. Mr. Bernardo said it should be around here.” Cain looked at his watch as he led me past the garden toward the pavilion. The pavilion was decorated with thousands of flowers, and guests gathered in their seats as we stood and watched a bride make her way down the aisle toward her waiting groom. Cain stood behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. “Isn’t it beautiful?”

  “It is.” I watched as the handsome father slowly walked down the aisle with his daughter on his arm. I couldn’t help but imagine myself doing the same thing someday and a felt a sadness overcome me as I thought about my father our relationship. I brushed the thought away and imagined myself walking down the aisle toward Cain instead.

  Cain kissed my neck as he watched with me, and then whispered in my ear. “Jennifer, some day, that will be us.” I looked back to Cain to meet his lips once again, his eyes meeting mine and my heart stopped for moment as he whispered to me. “Jennifer, I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  It was the first time we had ever said those words to each other.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Again I woke at 4 a.m., but this time with a smile on my face and my head on Cain’s sculpted chest. Yesterday had been absolutely perfect and a positive emotional experience I would never forget. Years ago I had truly believed I would never allow myself to fall in love again. I prevented myself from really getting to know any man or getting close to anyone. My life had been filled with hurt, loss and self-inflicted deprivation, but I hadn’t really realized that until yesterday.

  Wisps of salt air floated into the room from the partially open glass door in the master suite. The sound of the early morning waves crashing on the beach provided an ambiance that allowed me to meditate and prepare for the trip home and the week ahead. I wished we could stay here for longer, that somehow everything back home would be magically transformed into paradise, but I realized it wouldn’t happen without some work from me.

  I thought about my laptop in the other room, but only for a momen
t. I kept my eyes closed and lost myself until the sun finally lit the room a few hours later. I opened my eyes to find myself alone in the bed and Cain wheeling the room service cart into the master bedroom. He was wearing only a pair of causal lounging pants.

  “Good morning, gorgeous!” Cain’s bold white smile lit the room the rest of the way.

  “Now this is something I could get used to…” I smiled back at him. I knew what I wanted for breakfast and it wasn’t anything under the silver domed plates on the cart. My body was still weak from last night’s love-making session, but I still wanted more. I pawed at Cain, wanting him to join me in bed, and he indulged me, leaving the breakfast to go cold while we heated up the room.

  * * * * *

  “Naked and still in bed at 10 a.m.” Cain chuckled. “I’d love to do this more often.”

  I nodded in agreement and smiled. “We could only wish. Back to reality tomorrow.” I immediately felt tightness in my chest and shoulders as I thought about work again. “Tomorrow’s going to be a tough day, I know it.”

  “Already thinking about work? We should enjoy the next few hours before we have to leave for the airport.” Cain wrapped his arm around me as I drew circles on his bare chest with my fingertip.

  “I wish I could. It just consumes me. It makes me think about my own life. Here we can escape. When I’m home it’s in my face.” I fell silent for a moment and listened the crashing waves and beach-goers laughing below. “Cain? I’m scared I’m going to be like my parents. Rather, my dad. That we’re both going to work so hard that we’re consumed by it.”