by Ava Riley
“I’m sorry,” he said, shaking his head, “what did you say?”
“I said, aren’t you going to eat? Where were you just now?”
“Sorry, I was just thinking.” That smile of his rose up again causing her own smile to make an appearance. “And, yes, I’m going to eat.”
“Care to share those thoughts with me? I’d love to know what brought that smile to your face.”
“Baby, you bring this smile to my face.”
“You know,” Tessa said quick to pull the attention from her, “Joe’s Crab Shack is my all time favorite restaurant.”
“Nobody does seafood the way Joe does. Remember when Rowan worked for him?”
“You bet I remember. He’d always bring me home something after his shift. I was so mad when he quit.”
“Well, he was offered a job at the hospital, not like he put himself through medical school to work for Joe.” Cade laughed. He felt so carefree sitting in her presence enjoying their conversation and the sound of her voice.
Their time during their meal flew by. Just as quickly as they sat down to eat, they were done. They sat in the quiet, listening to the sounds the night provided. The sound of the ocean waves lapping the shoreline, the people on the boardwalk talking and walking, yet with the all the sounds surrounding them, the world blurred and left just the two of them there on the sand. Surprised at how comfortable she was sitting across from Cade, she couldn’t stop the smile that formed on her lips. She realized in that moment how much Cade and her fit together. The security she felt earlier holding his hand and how comfortable she felt now with him was proof that they were right for each other. Cade reached across the table, grabbed her hand and brought it to his mouth placing gentle kisses in her palm. He pulled her up from her chair pulling her into his embrace.
“Let’s take a walk along the shore, if you are up to it.”
“Sure, but what about the table?”
“Don’t worry about it, I’ve got people,” he said, as he winked at her.
“Oh, I should have known that you would have people,” she said, with a gentle tug to the front of his shirt.
Chapter 11
Tessa couldn’t help herself and she laughed at his silliness. She couldn’t remember the last time she laughed so much or enjoyed someone’s company the way she did with Cade. He was such a bright light in her life that grew brighter with each moment that passed with him. She enjoyed every minute of it. He pulled her up into his arms so that they were eye to eye. The hunger in his eyes to her he had to feel her close to him. Slowly, he lowered her until her feet hit the sand once more. They walked just a short distance when Cade suddenly stopped. He leaned his head down to Tessa’s and sealed his mouth to hers. She responded to his kiss just as quickly. She felt heat coursing through her body, that liquid heat that was becoming an occurrence more often with Cade around. She had never experienced such a strong reaction to someone so quickly and from something as simple as a kiss. It felt as though she were on fire from the inside out. Tessa’s hands, of their own accord, began to gently caress the muscles of his chest then they drifted up to circle his neck.
Cade wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to the heat of his body. He needed her and he wanted her right there on the beach, right at that moment. He didn’t care if anyone would see or hear them. He was burning up with an ache he never felt for anyone before. Tessa tended to be a free spirit, but he was certain that freedom to totally give herself up to him right there out in the open would not show itself. Reluctant, he pulled away from her slightly. He placed butterfly kisses on her eyes, her cheek, and then drifted to her ear.
“I want you, Tess. I want all of you and I want you to have all of me. I want you to want me the way I want, the way I need you.”
“I do want you Cade," she whispered against his skin.
Cade brought his mouth back to hers, while one hand found the weight of her breast and the other tangled in her hair. He gently caressed the soft mound that fit perfectly in his hand as his mouth ravaged hers. He couldn’t get enough of her taste. As he kissed her with more passion than he thought himself capable of, he whispered in her mouth, “I want to make love to you, Tess. Right here, right now.”
Tessa pulled away quickly, embarrassed just at the thought of them making love out in the open night air with God and the whole world aware of it. She was trying to fight off all the erotic images of them together there on the beach, finding it only made things worse. Cade pulled her back into the shelter of his body, his eyes locked on hers. How could she deny him when a hunger meant only for her burned so bright in his eyes? She felt the heat in his stare; felt the heat in his body. She leaned up and kissed him gently.
“Take me home Cade. I want to make love to you, but not here. Not where there is a chance we can be disturbed. I want you all to myself, no interruptions.”
Before Tessa could get the last words out, Cade scooped her up into his arms, walking as fast as humanly possible without running with her. He had every intention of breaking every road law there was to get her back home and in bed with him; if they even made it to the bedroom. As he made his way back to the car with her, Tessa laughed in his arms. He glared down at her, trying to give his most stern look. She reached up and caressed his lips with the tip of her forefinger. Her touch caused him to forget that he was trying to reprimand her for her lack of appreciation for the situation . She pulled his head down to hers kissing his lips, tracing the seam with her tongue.
“If you don’t stop doing that, I’m taking you back down to the beach to make love to you. I cannot be responsible for my actions when you do that to me,” he said with a smile in his voice, but the heat was still radiating from his eyes and off his body.
“Put me down and I’ll behave. At least until we get home.”
As Cade put her down, Tessa squeezed his buttocks and quickly took off running up toward the car.
“Oh, you will be paying heavily for that when I get you home.”
“Promises, promises,” she yelled over her shoulder just as she made it to the car. Cade grabbed her and kissed her quickly before encouraging her into the car urgently.
She had never seen Cade break any law in the whole time she had known him. He was a strictly by the book guy, which was another difference between them. She had broken a few laws in her time, but none that anyone knew about since she hadn’t gotten caught. Cade on the other hand was proud of the fact that he’d not once even gone over the speed limit. Anytime she had ridden with him, she felt like she was riding with an old man. He followed all the rules of the road, never once going over the speed limit no matter what. It was as if he were the student driver and her the teacher. What she would have given many times to have a gas pedal on her side of the vehicle to make him hurry along. She now, however, saw a side of Cade she didn’t know existed. And she liked it. He was driving like a cop who had just found out the donut shop was closing for the night and it took everything within her to stifle her laughter. She turned up the radio to hide her snickering.
“You think by doing that, I’m not going to know you are sitting over there laughing at my discomfort?”
“Aww, poor baby. Are you uncomfortable?” she said, without an ounce of remorse.
She reached over and pressed her palm to the bulge in his pants. Cade quickly grabbed her hand and when she thought he had every intention of pushing her hand away he pressed it harder against himself, giving her a wicked sexy grin. Tessa’s breath caught and although she knew this was not a safe activity in a moving car, she couldn’t bring herself to stop her hand from moving along with his to stroke the hardness there beneath his pants. Heat poured to her very core, while fire swept through her body. She had meant to tease him, but it backfired on her. She now burned with the same desperate need. If he didn’t get her home soon and get her on her backside, she feared she would burn up with the heat coursing through her body.
“Cade, I suggest you get this car moving faster
than it is right now.” She let out a ragged breath. She felt him grow even harder underneath the fabric of his khakis and that ragged breath she just let out got sucked back in.
“Oh,” Cade chuckled. “Now, I need to get moving?”
Tessa didn’t even wait for Cade to come to her side of the car to let her out before she swung open the door. Even though Cade had no respect for the speed limit, the fifteen minute ride back to her place seemed to take forever. They both quickly made their way to the front door. She could feel Cade’s eyes on every part of her body. She suddenly felt shaky. It was a combination of the heat rising in her and her sudden apprehension of what was to come. The physical intimacy they were about to share would change everything between them. She hadn’t thought of that until the moment she pulled out her key and began to put it in the lock. Was she ready for that change? Was it something either of them was ready for? If Cade weren’t Rowan’s best friend, would she care what sex with him would do to their relationship? As thoughts and questions raced through her mind, her hand reaching for the keyhole began to shake. Cade reached his arm around her, taking possession of the key and unlocking the door. Tessa slowly, slower than Cade had wished for she was sure, walked into her home; fear sweeping through her. Her mind, body, and heart raged a war with each other. She wanted Cade, God did she ever want the hardness of his body buried deep within her. She wanted to feel sweat dripping from their bodies from crazy monkey sex. At what cost though? She heard Cade shut and lock the door, and then felt the brush of his lips against the nape of her neck as he wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her back against that hardness she so desperately wanted. She hadn’t thought it possible, but she felt his erection grow harder as he pressed against her ass. She had no coherent thought from that moment on. She felt her body relax against his and she gave into the sensations swamping her entire being. Her worries of what would take place between them after they spent themselves on each other would have to wait for a later time, much later if she were lucky. Heat coursed through her as Cade’s hands explored her body meticulously. He moved his hands lovingly from her hips to caress her stomach before slowly, sensuously moving to cup her breasts as he pressed gentle kisses against her shoulder making his way to her neck. Tessa had to remind herself several times to breathe. How was she going to survive their love making when Cade was making it impossible for her to breathe now? Tessa wrapped an arm around Cade’s head, bringing her mouth to his, exploring his with her tongue. She felt Cade all around her, but more than anything she wanted to feel him inside her.
“Cade,” she whispered into his mouth. “I want you.”
It was all she needed to say. All the invitation he needed. He turned her in his arms, pressed a quick kiss to her mouth as he placed his hand in hers.
Chapter 12
Glancing over his shoulder, Cade slowly led Tessa down the hall to her bedroom, following the path of rose petals he laid out for her earlier in the day. His chest puffed up so much he was lucky his shirt buttons hadn’t come undone, knowing that she had been pleased with his gift to her and that she had left that path for them. She knew full well they would return back here which made his heart tighten in his chest. He pulled her into the bedroom as he pressed his lips to hers. He didn’t want to rush this, wanted to enjoy every moment with her. He explored her mouth with his tongue, savoring her taste. He thought back to that night at the club when he’d kissed the brunette. Even then, before he’d even had a taste of Tessa, he knew the brunette was wrong and Tessa was everything that was right. Tessa tasted like a fresh spring breeze. Her scent trumped that of the rose petals that lay at their feet. It was a mixture of sweet watermelon and pomegranate, two of Cade’s favorite scents and tastes. Maybe he conjured it up in his mind, but it was there on his tongue while his kisses grew deeper, more passionate. As he slowly unzipped her dress, he felt her shiver. His fingertips gently swept up her back to the straps of her dress. He moved his kisses from her mouth to her shoulders while he slid the straps down and let the black silk fall to the floor. His breath caught in his throat as he took in the sight of her standing there in only a sheer lace bra and matching thong. Cade felt himself harden painfully under the confines of his slacks and desperately wanted them to fall to the floor as her dress had. He pulled her to him again, against his hardness, and devoured her mouth, one hand bunched in her beautiful long tresses. His need for her was too strong to take things slowly, yet he forced himself to.
She cautiously began unbuttoning his shirt, as he kissed her with every ounce of energy he had. Tessa needed to feel his heat, to feel his skin against hers. She had never ached so much for something in her life as she did in this moment. She yanked his shirt from his pants, not taking care of the buttons any longer and tossed it to the ground. Her hunger for him consumed her as nothing had before this moment in her life. She stood in awe at the site of his naked chest. She licked her lips, desperate to trace the muscles that made a rippling effect across his body. The lump in her throat and the dryness that lay in her mouth like the desert sands were a reminder of her need of him. Slowly, her fingertips traced over the expanse of muscles. They called to her like night calls to the moon. Her fingers swept from his abdomen, then to his waist. At some point, Cade had successfully undressed her completely without her awareness and she stood before him in all her glory. She leaned in to him. She needed to feel him against her. She needed to feel him inside her. She wanted to explore those muscles and what lay beneath the slacks he still had on. She needed her mouth to be on every inch of his body, to taste him. Swirling her tongue around one of his nipples and then the next, she undid his belt.
Cade’s head lolled back as he let out a groan that had been lodged in his throat. One hand gently caressed the nape of her neck while the other slid absently up and down her arm. His mind went to her plump, round breasts and he knew once he allowed himself a touch, he would be lost. He wanted to make this last for Tessa no matter the cost to him. His sanity was at stake here. Everything within him screamed to throw her on the bed and take her every way possible.
Kissing across the vast expanse of his muscles, Tessa made her way to his stomach as she unfastened his pants. She lingered at the wisp of hair that trailed from his navel down below the waist of his pants. She accepted that trail as an invitation. Licking her lips, she slowly and methodically knelt in front of him, keeping her eyes locked on his face and wrapped her hand around his hardness, releasing him from his slacks. He quickly kicked aside his pants and stared down at her.
Cade found it hard to focus with her stroking the length of him, her thumb reaching to caress the tip of his shaft. She used the bead of pre-cum that seeped from the tip to smooth it over the head. Keeping her gaze locked with his, she licked her thumb enjoying the small taste of his essence, the taste exploding on her tongue. His breath caught as he felt her tongue swirl around the tip of his cock, then her wet, hot mouth was taking all of him in. Her mouth was tightly wrapped around him while her tongue continued to circle the very tip of his erection. It felt so damn good he thought he would explode right then and there. It was so erotic standing there watching himself slide in and out of her mouth. She kept her eyes on his face, watching his expressions while alternating from sucking to simply tracing the length of the underside of his erection with her tongue. Her hands gripped his hips for leverage. She wanted him to feel the same ache she felt, the same need she felt for him.
Cade threw his head back as she flicked the tip of his erection, bringing him close to the edge with that sweet mouth of hers. With one hand gently gripping the back of Tessa’s head, his hips moved of their own accord, slowly back and forth. Her hands drifted from his hips around to his tight ass and she pulled him deeper into her mouth. Heat shot from his toes to his erection as she took the entire length of him into her mouth. He’d never felt so on fire. It was pure ecstasy.
Much to her dismay, he pulled her up to him and wrapped his arms around her waist taking possession of her mouth with his.<
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He tasted himself on her lips, on her tongue. Tessa let out a groan of protest.
“I wasn’t done yet.” Her voice didn’t sound like her own, it was husky and sexy.
He backed her to the bed and gently guided her down. Cade reluctantly broke the kiss and hovered over her, not able to take his eyes off her. She was so beautiful, so perfect. He leaned in and kissed her mouth, tasted himself one more time on her lips. It was like nothing he had ever experienced.
“Mmmmm, for right now you are. I have plans for you,” he said with a wicked, sexy smile, his eyes lit up with hunger. “You got to have your taste, now it’s my turn.”
This was playing out better than she had ever dreamed. As Cade hovered over her body, her fingers traced the toned muscles of his stomach. With each pass, his entire body hardened. She hadn’t thought it possible for him to get any harder, but the evidence was there pressed against her thigh and it made her desire for him go through the roof. With his eyes still locked on hers, he pressed his mouth to her lips again. He slowly, thoroughly made his way from her mouth down to her neck. She leaned her head back and arched her back. He quickly took advantage of her offering to him. His tongue slid down the valley between her breasts, leaving a trail of heat Tessa was sure would burn for days. She let out a gasp as his mouth encompassed one breast while his fingers gently massaged the other, rolling her hardened nipple between his finger and thumb. His mouth was wet and hot over her sensitive skin, as he sucked one breast then the next, alternating between them until she thought she would go out of her mind with need. Her body cried out for his possession, as a burning tingle seared her insides. As Cade suckled her, scrapping her nipple with his teeth, pulling with his mouth, she felt the burn in her belly. Liquid heat pooled between her legs and she ached to have him buried deep inside her. She couldn’t stop her body from moving and when she arched her hips, she felt him harden even more. He was torturing her, denying her what she needed most, yet giving her everything she wanted and she loved every second of it.
