Here With Me

by Alla Kar

  “I’m fine.” I tuck my knees under my chin.

  He groans, hooking his index finger over the curve of my elbow and pulling me close. “Okay. I’m going to ask you a few questions, and you’re going to answer them. How about that?”

  “I don’t have to answer them if I don’t want. Stop bossing me around,” I say and pray I don’t sound as childish as I feel.

  Cade sighs and gently wraps his hand around my calf. “Why do you take medicine, Jade?” His voice has lowered an octave. The tip of his tongue hovers over his bottom lip as he gives me a heavy stare over hooded eyes. If sex had a face, it’d be him.

  I’m so aware of how close he is that I taste his cool breath. “Why do you want to know?”

  My breath quickens as he runs his index finger down my jaw to the hollow of my neck. “I want to know everything about you.”

  I take in the pleading look on his handsome face and give in as soon as he drops his gaze to my mouth.

  “Antidepressants,” I say.

  The hand that’s hooked around my calf trails up and down my leg. “Does that jackass who was here have something to do with it?” His voice is gruff.

  “I dated him in high school.” I go to tell him that Justin was my one time, but it gets stuck in my throat. “And he was dating another girl at the same time. When she found out—she made my life a living hell.” I try to shrug away the pain, but by the pity etched on Cade’s face, I know I’m not hiding it well.

  The pad of his thumb rubs my knee, and I bite my lip to keep from melting into his touch. “It must have been bad.”

  “It feels like forever ago,” I say, but we both know I don’t think of it like that. I hurt more than I could ever imagine for something that happened a year ago. My one chance to outlive the humiliation was college and now she’s here.

  “Why don’t you drive?” he asks.

  I shake my head. Tears threaten my eyes and the humiliation eats its way up my throat. I’m sobbing before I know what to do. Cade pulls me against him, but it doesn’t feel like when Adam does it. It’s warmer. The safety I feel from my brother is nothing compared to what I feel with Cade.

  And it scares me.

  He leans down to my ear. “Come with me?”

  I watch him through tear-filled eyes as he stands and offers his hand. I take it without hesitation and let him guide me to the hallway. I wait as he disappears into his room, and watch the corner for Adam or Will. Then the warmth of Cade’s hand sears my lower back.

  He’s carrying blankets and pillows under one arm and pulls me behind him. For someone so large he walks so quietly. The stars are the first thing I notice as soon as we step out. I watch them as long as I can before we part to get into his truck.

  ***

  “Where are we going?” I ask after twenty minutes of silence.

  Cade rests against his headrest, and when he turns to look at me he has an easy smile on his face. “You nervous, Jade?”

  I eye the wooded area and the gravel road we’re driving on. “Yeah, this looks like a good place to get murdered.”

  Cade grins. “You wouldn’t have gotten in the truck if you thought I wanted to kill you. Let’s stop kidding ourselves.”

  I cross my arms over my peaked nipples and watch the fog dance in front of my face with each breath. “It’s kind of cold. Are we sleeping out here?”

  Cade laughs and pulls onto another gravel road off the larger one. The trees thin and when he stops the truck, we’re in a huge field. Cade hops out, leaving me by myself.

  After a few minutes, I get out and wrap my arms around me. Cade is spreading out the last blanket in a pallet. He turns to me, his smile smooth and easy. “Coming?”

  The grip of his hand is tight as he lifts me into the bed of his truck. He guides me to the blanket, and then pulls the top two blankets over us. “Still cold?” His voice is so light, and I almost laugh because no one is here to hear us. But it feels nice to listen to the silence.

  “Just a bit.”

  I feel the blanket ruffle and then his fingers find mine underneath the covers. Each calloused scrape of his hand against my soft one makes my thighs ache. “Better?”

  “Much.”

  “This is where I would go after I stole something when I was little,” he says.

  I turn and watch the side of his face as he stares upward. “My dad left when I was young because my mom was a drug addict. She wouldn’t pay the bills or feed me, so I stole to do it myself.” A wide grin stretches across his scruffy jaw. “I would come out here to sit and stare at the stars. I would hope someone was watching over me.”

  “Do you think there is?”

  Cade turns, his gaze heavy and focused. “I know there is a God, Jade. Without my mother ever telling me. Or my dad. I feel it in here.” He places our intertwined hands against my chest.

  The wind whips around us, and I snuggle close. He cups my face. “Maybe I shouldn’t bring this up, but I feel I need to. I didn’t turn you down today, Jaden,” he whispers. “You know that, right? I just want to…take it easy on you. For now.”

  For now? Me? My back arches, and I press myself against him. I can’t stand the feeling of not being closer.

  “But I am going to kiss you. All night if you want. Just let yourself feel safe and free tonight. Don’t worry about pills or jackasses, just me.”

  Cade’s lips hover an inch over mine. The way his eyes darken and his fingers tighten around me, I can feel he needs control. And I need his control more than he will ever know.

  Teeth and lips graze up and down my neck, while his leg works its way between my thighs. “You always smell so goddamn good, Jaden,” he whispers, sucking at the hollow beneath my ear.

  I clench my thighs around his and try not to explode as he pushes against me. And as bad as I want to shake him and force him to take me, I know he’s right. I’ve had sex once—and I don’t even want to know how many times he’s had it. I’m new.

  One hand rises up my thigh, and I feel his finger pull at my yoga pants. I almost freeze, but it feels too good. I don’t want him to stop. When he finds my mouth, I’m already panting as he pulls the material over my hips to the middle of my thighs. His touch is featherlike up to the string of my underwear. He groans while palming my ass. He pulls me closer and a little squeal leaves my throat.

  “You call these underwear,” he whispers against my ear. He takes my earlobe between his teeth and bites down gently, snapping my panties. I hold in my gasp as he moves the fabric to the side.

  The anticipation coursing through me heightens. The growl that leaves his throat when he traces his finger down the smooth mound of my core sends my thoughts straight to the gutter with no return.

  “No hair,” he says. “That’s the biggest fucking turn on, Jaden.” I latch onto his biceps and hold my trembling body against his. I can’t take it. I need some kind of touch.

  He pulls back, his green eyes hardly visible by the dim light of the moon and stars. I watch his eyes as he trails the tip of his middle finger down and spreads me wide with his hand. One finger traces small circles on the inside of my thigh, making me dizzy.

  When he presses his finger into me, I clench tight, my head falling back against the pillows. My eyes drift closed as he claims my mouth with his, dipping his tongue into me over and over while his finger moves to a similar rhythm.

  “Oh, God,” I whimper. I haven’t had pleasure caused by someone else in so long I can’t remember how it feels.

  Cade’s calloused palm pushes harder against me. I’m so wet I should be embarrassed, but I’m so turned on that my vision is heavy and blurry. “Feel it, baby,” he whispers. “Let yourself go for me.”

  And I do. I grind my hips against his hand, and he quickens the pace, whispering things as my climax grows higher and higher. He bites a rough path down my throat to my collarbone. The pressure of his thumb rubbing over my clit sends me over the edge. I free fall into the most embarrassing half-scream, half-moan and slump back ag
ainst the pillow.

  Cade leaves his finger inside of me while he kisses his way to my lips. The moon casts a beam on his face as he pulls his finger from me and sticks it in his mouth. He sucks it to the back of his throat and pulls it out slowly before licking his lips. “You taste so goddamn sweet.”

  The heat in my neck scorches my face, and I’m thankful for the darkness. Cade crawls underneath the covers and pulls me back against him. “Do you feel better?” he asks.

  “You have no idea,” I say. “It’s been…a while.”

  He snorts, and I feel his hardness against my ass. “I can fucking tell. You’re so goddamn tight.”

  I bite my lip to keep from moaning. The thought of me making him feel like that is the best feeling in the world.

  “I bet you’re blushing right now,” he adds.

  I giggle like the fourteen-year-old girl that I feel like. “And I’d bet you’d be right.”

  His laugh slides over my skin and before I know it, I’m drifting into the darkness of the night.

  ***

  The gentle jerking of my shoulder wakes me. When I sit up, I’m looking out over a field, the warm sun heating my skin. I blink once, twice, and then look over to see Cade sliding off the tailgate. “Your brother hasn’t stopped calling,” he says.

  What? I rub my head and then remember everything that happened last night. I instantly feel like I’m a hundred degrees, and I try to hide my blush with my hair.

  Cade laughs and tosses me my yoga pants. “As sweet as that blush is to look at, we’ve got to get you home. Adam’s been calling, cussing me out, and asking if I’ve seen you.” He grabs his shirt, and I watch as he covers the hard lines of his abs.

  Reality sets in, and I fumble around for my panties. “They’re ripped in my pocket,” he says, the side of his mouth rising. “And that’s where they’re staying. Even if they weren’t ripped I’d be keeping them.”

  I hurry into my pants and slide out of the truck while Cade stuffs the blankets under his toolbox. I trudge through the grassy field, but Cade whips me around and pushes me against the truck. His tongue invades my mouth and laps at me until I’m melting into him.

  When he pulls back, he’s smiling. “I would advise we leave the whole ‘coming on my hand’ thing out when we tell Adam where we’ve been.”

  “Only if you stop talking about it.”

  He grins, running his hand down to settle on my hip. “Embarrassed, Princess?” He nips my lip. “Don’t be. Because it was the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen…or heard.” I shove his chest, and he opens the door for me. “Now we need to decide what we are going to say.”

  I frown. “Oh, shit.”

  ***

  The vein in Adam’s head is popping out when we open the front door. To make it worse, Will stands beside him with his arms over his chest.

  Adam lets out a bitter laugh, and I instantly intertwine my fingers behind my back and wait for the yelling like I’m eight-years-old. “Where in the fuck have you two been all night?”

  Cade steps forward, his hand outstretched in a “we come in peace” kind of way. “Jade was upset last night, and I thought getting away from here would help. So we went out to this field I know—”

  “What?” Adam flings himself toward Cade, and I hurry between them.

  “No!” I yell, shoving my forearm against Adam’s chest. “We fell asleep. It was so quiet, and I just fell asleep. Cade didn’t want to wake me, so we slept, separately, there.”

  Adam’s staring over my head at Cade, and I wish I could see the look on his face. “Cade, don’t you fucking do this to me. Don’t you fucking do it. If there is anything going on…so help me I will beat the living fuck out of you.” I want to reach over and slap the hell out of him. It isn’t his business what I do. But I don’t.

  Cade’s body is stiff, and when I don’t hear him deny it, I start to get worried. But then I feel Cade place a hand on my shoulder and he nods. “She’s just as much a little sister to me as she is to you.”

  Lie. Lie. Lie. I nervously swallow, and Will’s dark gaze catches mine. His button-down is neatly pressed and tucked into his jeans. He taps the tip of his finger against his bottom lip as he stares at me from underneath his blond bangs.

  I look the other way and step back when I feel Adam take the pressure off my arm. He looks down and ruffles my hair. “You okay?”

  “Yeah. I’m just going to get ready for class.” I slip out of the crosshairs before anyone can ask any more questions.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Cade

  I screw my eyes closed and stroke my hand up and down my cock. The scalding shower water rushes down me, heating and soothing my body. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her. The softness of her skin or the delicious sweet taste of her mouth.

  Don’t even get me started about how tight her pussy was around my finger. I wanted to go hulk mode on her—rip her clothes, my clothes, everybody’s fucking clothes, but the panties were probably enough. I groan as I come and watch as it washes down the drain. Where it needs to stay. But by the rate I’m going, I won’t be able to keep myself out of her for too much longer.

  That innocent gaze, the smart mouth hidden beneath such a submissive demeanor. How could anyone not want her?

  I finish my shower and get ready to go pick Jaden up for work. I’ve been avoiding Adam since this morning. He’s never tried to fight me before, but I’d never messed around with his sister before either. I can’t believe he even bought my shit to be honest.

  I grab a drink from the fridge, and my hand is on the door when I hear Will scoot a kitchen stool across the tile. He’s sitting down, leaning his elbow against the bar. “Fun night, Cade?”

  My keys jingle as I dig them from my pocket. “I had a great night.”

  Will nods before sliding his hands over the countertop. “I’m sure you did. I can only imagine the fun you had with sweet Jaden Baker.”

  “Is there a point to this conversation?”

  He grinds his teeth together and stands. “Nothing serious. Just letting you know that I’m not stupid. And I know you better than you think I do.”

  I give him a salute. “Good to know. Now fuck off, douchebag.” I slam the front door before he has a chance to respond. Asshole.

  ***

  Jaden pulls the ponytail from her hair and lets the strands cascade across her shoulders. She stuffs her work shirt into her bag and zips it up. She eyes her car sitting in the opened garage with a smile on her face as she settles into my passenger seat. I started working on it today. It’s going to be a pain in my ass, but a deal’s a deal.

  “Ready to go?”

  She gives me a look and shakes her head. “Not really. Adam asked me to cook tonight, and I don’t want to cook them anything.”

  I start the truck and pull out onto the road. “Well, don’t. You don’t have to cook for them.” It feels good that she doesn’t want to cook for Will.

  Jade smiles and fiddles with the fringe on her jeans.

  “We could just go to the cafeteria and eat. I promise you won’t find Will there.”

  She furrows her brow. “Will? Who says I’m hiding from Will?”

  I groan. “No one. I was just hoping you were. He gave me the third degree today when I came to get you.”

  She crinkles her nose. “Yeah, he was giving me this weird stare this morning when we came in from school before work.”

  “Dude’s a fucking douchebag.”

  “I sensed that.”

  ***

  When we get to the cafeteria it’s already seven. We find a booth in the far back corner of the room.

  Once we’ve started eating, I glance across the table and watch her eat. “What’s with all of those pictures in your room?” I swallow a mouthful of mashed potatoes and point my spoon at her. “You want to travel or something?”

  She smiles and takes a sip of her drink. “Yeah. I’ve always wanted to since I was a little girl. That’s what my savings are for. I�
��m glad Dan’s letting me keep some of it.”

  “Why don’t you just ask your dad for the money? Adam says he’s always handing it out.”

  Jaden’s smile falls, and she picks at her food. “Dad will give us whatever we want, but I want to work for mine. Plus, Dad wouldn’t give me money to travel because he can’t keep an eye on me if I’m overseas somewhere.”

  Jaden looks up, and her face pales. With one hand holding my fork, I carefully turn around and see what she’s staring at. The same brunette who was in Dan’s that time is sitting on Jackass’s lap. She has her arm snaked around his neck and whispers into his ear while he stares our way.

  When he sees me looking he jerks his head the other way and pretends to be interested in what the brunette bitch is saying. I turn back to Jaden, staring down at her plate.

  “Hey, I’ll be right back. You want anything?”

  She shakes her head but keeps her eyes glued to her food. I slide my chair back and trudge across the cafeteria to the ice cream bar. I wait in line behind a couple who are both trying to decide what the other one wants.

  I groan and crane my neck to look at Jaden. She’s still sitting with her head down and pretending to eat.

  “What do you think?”

  “What?” I turn toward the guy in front of me who’s holding a bowl in one hand and a cone in the other.

  The girl next to him gives me a smile and points toward the cone. “The cone is better, right?”

  I scratch my neck. Who cares? “Uh…I’m not the one eating it. Just pick one.” The guy shrugs me off and turns back to his girlfriend. Christ, can a man get some ice cream around here?

  I crane my neck to get another look at Jaden and this time I see the girl standing behind her with a cup hovering over her head. The guys at the table in front of her are laughing, but she won’t look up to see. Shit. I bolt forward, shoving people out of my way to get to her in time. “Don’t you fucking dare, bitch,” I say, trying my best to keep my composure.