Just a Little Flirt

by Renita Pizzitola

  “What are you thinking about?” he asked.

  “I’m thinking about…things.”

  “Things?” He shifted toward me. “And what did you decide about these things?”

  “That maybe it’s time to just stop thinking.” Admitting that lifted a weight from me. Like I could finally just let things happen with Cade as they were meant to.

  Someone called out that it was time to eat and I slowed the swing I’d been pushing.

  Cade looked to where the other adults had gathered on the porch, then plucked each little girl from her swing and set her gently on the ground. “Time to eat. Go find Mommy and Daddy.” He stood back up, opened his mouth like he was about to say something, glanced at the crowd then snapped it shut. He stared at me, his gaze slowly roaming over my face then back to my eyes. I’d give anything to know what he’d seen right then, but without another word he led me back to the porch, barely making eye contact as he did so.

  Had he misinterpreted what I meant?

  Cade started talking to his sister about Mia and Ava as everyone gathered to eat. It was small talk, about preschool and the family’s plans to take a summer trip as the table was laid out. Somehow I got assigned juice box duty and placed one next to each plate. Cade’s gaze kept flicking to me but never remained long.

  The remainder of the party ran on this weird autopilot for me. Everyone ate pizza; some random girl asked if I was Cade’s girlfriend. I shook my head no, while praying I hadn’t blushed since he’d been in earshot and, considering he could barely look at me now, there was a good chance I’d completely misread things between us.

  The entire party he never stepped more than a few feet away, yet he barely spoke to me. By the time the cupcakes had been passed out and presents unwrapped, I was ready to go. His family was nice, his nieces sweet and adorable, but he’d been physically near but emotionally turned off. Plus, he’d been right about the other adults. The hot topics had been potty-training and baby number two. Which, to me, translated into: We are celebrating my kid taking a crap and we have methodical sex. Why would either of these things ever be small talk? So weird.

  As soon as the twins opened Cade’s presents—which his sister thanked me for, claiming she could clearly tell I’d chosen them followed by Michael getting a good laugh out of the “My uncle rocks” shirts—Cade grabbed my hand. I stared at our interlocked fingers. It was the first contact we’d had since our conversation.

  He told his family we had to go, kissed his nieces ʼbye and thanked his sister for everything.

  She then thanked me for coming, and said a casual, “See you next time.”

  I followed suit, not really sure I’d ever see her again, but it still seemed like the nice thing to say.

  Once in the Jeep, Cade said, “That wasn’t too bad.”

  It wasn’t? I mean the party was fine, his family nice, but what the hell was his deal? “Your nieces are really cute.”

  “They’re growing fast. I need to visit more.”

  I stole a glance in his direction and though his words were casual conversation, his body still seemed rigid. He wanted away from me. That had to be it.

  He drove us out of the neighborhood and onto the highway.

  He talked but seemed distracted. We stopped at the light leading to our neighboring apartment complexes and I had to say something. Ask him what the hell was wrong. Why he had just closed down to me. It made no sense.

  His gaze cut to me and I opened my mouth to demand an explanation, but his hand slid over mine, resting in my lap. His long fingers brushed the inside of my thigh, sending heat zinging through me.

  My mouth snapped shut.

  The light changed. He drove past my complex entrance and made the next right into his. He parked directly in front of his first-floor apartment. “Finally,” he murmured.

  We stepped out of his Jeep and he met me on the sidewalk. Had he forgotten I hadn’t driven over? Maybe he just needed to let Scout out then he’d take me home.

  “I, uh—” I glanced in the direction of my complex, which wasn’t far at all. “I can—”

  His arm slid around my waist and he pulled me to him, his mouth slamming into mine. Hungry. Desperate. Demanding.

  And my body mirrored in response. My hands pushed into his hair, allowing me to pull his mouth harder to mine as his tongue slid over my lips. I gasped for breath when he captured my bottom lip. Then we were moving; he stepped forward and my back pressed into his door as he jammed the key in and twisted.

  Keys clanged onto the tiled entrance and his door swung shut behind us. He kicked it with the back of his foot and fumbled with the lock. His hands came back to me, sliding my shirt over my head.

  “You feel so good,” he murmured, skimming his lips down my jaw and onto my neck. One of his hands slid down my back and cupped my ass, while the other worked its way up my chest and into my bra. “For the last hour, I’ve tried so damn hard not to think about you, about this, but it’s impossible.” His hand tugged at my bra and the warmth of his lips glided over the curve of my breast.

  “So you weren’t mad at me?” My words came out somewhere between a whisper and pant.

  His head lifted. “Mad?”

  My body already hated my mouth. Because of my poorly timed question, he’d removed his lips and my skin objected.

  “Of course I’m not mad. Why would you think that?”

  “You were kind of ignoring me.”

  “I was right beside you the whole time.” He brushed his lips over mine.

  “Yeah, but you didn’t look at me and hardly said a word.”

  He cupped my cheek and met my gaze. “Why do you always assume the worst?” He shook his head. “Truth is, I couldn’t look at you without wanting this. Every minute next to you was excruciating.” He kissed me, his tongue flicking against mine. “The way I feel about you isn’t something I turn off and on. I’ve just been holding back, but I finally saw it today.”

  His hand slipped around from my ass and lowered into the front of my shorts. His fingers glided over my belly and brushed the top of my panties.

  My hips arched forward. “Saw what?”

  “You let go.”

  Had it really been that obvious?

  He slid his hand under my panties and over my body. “And now I can too.” He pressed his finger inside me and my head fell back as my body tilted forward.

  His mouth made its way down my neck and over my chest. He tugged my bra down and sucked my nipple into his mouth. My body weakened, but he held me tight. Bracing me against him with his hand on my back while the other worked me into a state of pure bliss.

  Heat flared along the inside of my thighs, my stomach pulled tight and my breath came in tiny gasps. It had been too long since any guy had touched me like this. Actually, maybe he was the first guy to really touch me like this. His hands and mouth worshipped my skin. Like a delicacy. And I was completely undone.

  Somewhere inside my scattered brain, the knowledge of losing my bet with Mason tumbled around, lost among the sensory overload. But, hell, right now I’d buy Mason the whole freaking bar if it meant this moment never ended. I’d hand over the contents of my bank account, packaged neatly with my pride. His victory paled in comparison to losing myself in Cade.

  My hand slid down Cade’s chest, making my way to his pants. I fumbled with his zipper and slipped my hand inside, running my fingers down his length.

  He groaned and adjusted his hand in my panties. His thumb brushed at the tender bundle of nerves as two fingers pushed deep into me.

  “Oh God,” I said, as he stepped forward, pressing my ass into the back of the couch, freeing up the hand which had supported me.

  He wrapped one of my legs around him, then moved his hand to my chest. His mouth moved to my other nipple as his fingers slid over the damp kisses he’d left behind. And I was done for.

  My hips rocked forward, grinding my body against his hand. Everything blurred together. His mouth, our intermingling breaths,
heat pooling between my thighs. My toes curled, warmth rushed my body and my moans grew louder, but I didn’t care. And Cade, well he just fed off it.

  He mumbled, “You’re so fucking wet.”

  And I had my answer. That sweet mouth could talk dirty. It blasted me over the edge and I clung to his shirt as he murmured my name. And I would never forget the way he said it right at the moment my body splintered into a million fragments held together only by the way his voice enveloped me.

  My body shivered one last time as he pulled his hand from my panties and tugged at the button of my shorts.

  “I need you,” he gasped as his mouth collided back into mine. “Inside you. Now.”

  The high of orgasm hadn’t even worn off as his words pulled me right back to the height of desire. Just the thought of him inside me triggered a building moan. Imagining my body fitting him, conforming, stretching and molding with his, turned me on. But… sex didn’t do it for me. And I couldn’t ruin the fantasy of Cade with subpar sex, but I needed him to feel what I’d just felt. It was my turn to take him over the edge.

  I unwrapped my leg from him and rotated us so he was pressed up against the couch, then yanked his shirt off. My hands glided over his smooth chest and I ran my tongue along his neck, slowly making my way up to his lips.

  With my mouth finally against his, I worked the button of his shorts open and let them fall to his feet. I slipped my fingers into his boxers.

  He groaned and pushed into my hand. “I have condoms in my ro—”

  I dropped to my knees, tugged his boxers down and ran my tongue over his rock-hard erection.

  “Oh, shit,” he mumbled as his legs gave out and he leaned against the couch for support.

  I glanced up. “Roommate’s out of town, right?”

  His eyes were glazed and every muscle of his chest and abs was accentuated from the tension in his body. He nodded and I grinned as I slid my fingers over him. He stared down at me with a mixture of disbelief and fascination.

  Considering I’d only done this a few times with my ex—and refused to do it with the guys I’d hooked up with, thanks to being privy to one too many guy conversations where they basically trashed a girl for doing something they should be eternally grateful for—my experience was a bit lacking. But the heat in Cade’s eyes turned my worry into a desire to live up to that look. I slipped my mouth over him, and eased forward then slowly pulled back.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Cade grip the back of the couch. So far so good.

  With one hand braced on his thigh and the other wrapped around him, I flicked my tongue over the sensitive spot on the underside, then circled around the head, before pushing my way forward again.

  He moaned and his thigh tightened beneath my palm. “Fuck,” he murmured.

  I picked up the pace, sliding my mouth over him and working my tongue up and down his shaft.

  He pushed forward, forcing himself deeper. He froze and pulled back. “Sorry.”

  But I didn’t want him apologizing for getting lost in the moment. I wanted him to give himself over to me just as he’d said he did. With stubborn determination, I took him deeper and when the tip hit the back of my throat, he moaned, which was so hot I couldn’t help getting caught up in it as well. I made a little moan myself and slowly pulled back.

  His knuckles whitened on the couch, gripping it so tight, the muscles of his forearms bulged.

  Sliding forward, I made another moaning sound and his hips arched into me.

  “Fallon.” He said my name like a warning, but I preferred it laced with longing.

  So I sped up my rhythm, loving the feel of him in my mouth, the taste of his arousal.

  “I can’t—Fuck.” He groaned. “I’m too close.” He tried to pull back but I pushed forward.

  I circled my fingers around him and pushed them down as my mouth pulled back. His breathing grew more rapid; my pace increased. And he finally gave himself over.

  One hand released from the couch and tangled into my hair. He pumped his hips forward as I slid over him, then he stilled. I worked my tongue along him as he found his release. Slowly I pulled back, flicking my tongue over him one last time.

  He blinked then stared down at me, a hint of disbelief glossing his dark eyes. His chest rose and fell as he tried to catch his breath. “No words. Literally, I…” He shook his head.

  I pulled his boxers up then stood as he wrapped his arms around me. With his grip tight around my waist, he pulled us both over the back of the couch and flopped down.

  “You broke me,” he mumbled.

  I laughed and nestled into his arm. I ran my fingers along his chest while he brushed his hand over my hair.

  After a few minutes, he sighed. “Scout needs to go out.” He kissed the top of my head. “I’ll be right back. Lay here, don’t move. Seriously.” He slid out from under me and his gaze raked over me. “Unless your shorts are uncomfortable. You can take those off. But everything else stays the same.”

  I grinned and shook my head. “What if your roommate comes home early or something?”

  “He won’t”—he glanced around—“but just in case.” He yanked the blanket off the back of the couch. I laughed as he tucked me in tight. “There. Now you’re for my eyes only and you can’t move.”

  “Funny.”

  He cocked a smile and walked around the couch. He picked up his clothes and headed to his room. He reappeared a moment later, fully dressed with Scout on his leash. “We’ll be right back.”

  I yanked my arms free from the blanket cocoon and sat up. The TV remote lay on the coffee table, so I grabbed it. With a push of the button, the TV sprang to life. I mindlessly flipped through the channels.

  What just happened would change everything. If we saw each other at work, would it be obvious? Would he be offended if I wanted to keep it secret?

  Fuck. Was this all one big mistake?

  No. I refused to believe that. The last year of my life had been nothing but one well-timed mistake after another. I hadn’t planned this, but, for once, I’d gotten it right.

  Chapter 11

  Cade hadn’t exaggerated. He was right back. Five minutes had passed when the door opened and Scout came trotting over to me.

  “You moved.” Cade tossed the leash on the table and filled the dog bowl with fresh water. “I told you she wouldn’t listen. Didn’t I, Scout?”

  He wagged his tail in response.

  Cade hopped over the back of the couch, which faced the kitchen, and pulled me to him. “Whatcha watching?”

  “Nothing yet. Just looking for something.” I settled my head against his chest, still tucked into my blanket.

  “Are you hungry? I can order a pizza.”

  “I’m good.”

  “Stay the night.”

  I looked up. “The night?”

  “I don’t want you to leave.” He brushed all my hair back, cupped my cheeks and kissed my nose. “Stay the night with me.”

  His phone rang from where he’d tossed it on the table.

  “Do you need to get that?” I asked.

  He shook his head. “I’m more interested in what you’re about to say.”

  I looked away. “I don’t know.” If I stayed the night, it might lead to sex. And this was too perfect. Checking out in the middle of some hot Cade action would ruin what we had going on.

  Cade pulled my hand down. I’d been gnawing at my thumbnail, a bad habit.

  A small smile ghosted over his lips. It was sort of calming. “No pressure. I’ll take you home whenever you want. It can be now, in an hour. At two in the morning. I don’t care. Stay with me as long as you want.”

  I nodded. “Okay.”

  “Can I ask you something?”

  I looked back up at him.

  “Why does staying make you nervous?”

  “It doesn’t.”

  He pulled my hand down again. I had to break that freaking habit.

  “If things are moving too fast, we can s
low it down. I’m not trying to rush you. I genuinely like spending time with you. You’re fun. You make me laugh. I like you.” He laced his fingers through mine and raised our hands. “And I promise I’m not asking you to move in or anything.” He grinned. “I just want you to hang out with me. When you leave, I’ll be alone. Bored. I want someone to stay up late with me, watching crappy movies. You’ll be like my roommate’s replacement, but, you know, easier on the eyes. We never even have to leave the couch.”

  I smiled. “Okay.”

  He kissed the back of my hand. “Thank you.”

  “One question, can I at least put my shirt back on?” I leaned back and pulled the blanket down. “You’re dressed and I’m all—”

  “Perfect.”

  “Half-naked.”

  With a chuckle, he scooted off the couch and picked my shirt up from the floor. “Fine. You can get dressed.”

  He sat back down as I pulled my shirt over my head. We finally found a movie and I rested against his chest, but eventually ended up with my head in his lap as he stroked my hair.

  The movie was funny but at one point, he missed his cue to laugh. I glanced up and found him staring down at me. He leaned over and gently kissed me. When he raised his head, I slipped my hand into his hair and pulled his mouth back.

  “You really are beautiful, Fallon.”

  My chest tightened. No guy had ever described me as beautiful. Hot. Sexy. Hell, I even used to get “cute” quite a bit back in high school.

  Cade’s thumb brushed down my cheek as his lips grazed mine. He sighed and lifted his head. “I have to stop.”

  I sat up and straddled his lap. “No, you don’t.”

  His eyebrows pushed together. “Are you testing me?” His tone was teasing though he tried to keep his expression serious. “Because I assure you, I will fail miserably.”

  “It’s not a test. I just don’t want you to stop. You’re a really good kisser.” I ran my finger over his lips.

  He chuckled. “Um, thanks?”

  “Has no one ever told you that?”

  “Honestly, no. I mean, I’d hope I’m not a bad one, but I don’t think anyone has ever told me that.”