“Just for a minute? Please? Just help me get to bed and that’s it. My head’s spinning. I think I drank too much.”
“Yeah? You think?” The porch was really dark, and I knew he was unsteady on his feet. Dammit, I was going to regret this. “Okay. I’m only helping you in, though. And no funny stuff.”
“You’re an angel.” He tried to open the door to the truck, but couldn’t find the handle. His hands were moving all over the door’s window. “Where the fuck’s the door opener thing?”
He was actually starting to entertain me. Drunk people can be quite comical. “Just sit tight. I’ll come around and open it for you, okay?”
“Yeah, but who the fuck buys a truck without a door thing?”
I laughed at him, but didn’t bother answering. He just about fell out of the cab when I opened the door from the outside. From the look of his half-closed eyes, I didn’t have long to get him in the house before he crashed.
We made it up the stairs without incident, but then, “Aww, damn.”
Crap. I knew it. He was going to hurl. “Don’t puke on me!” I pushed him away, but made sure he could hold onto the railing on the deck for balance. I jammed the key in his front door, thanking God Sam had given them to me so I didn’t have to go on another fishing expedition in his pocket.
“I’m not going to get sick, Karen. I’m not that drunk. I don’t think. I was just hoping for another round of pocket ball.”
“Nice. Get inside, will you?”
“What? I like your hand on my junk.”
I pushed him through the door and kicked it shut with my foot. As soon as the door closed, I found myself pushed up against it. I’d give him one point for determination. Of course his body felt heavenly pressed so hard against mine.
“How do you make me want you so bad? I can’t get you out of my head.” His kiss was fierce. Almost punishing, but I allowed it. I took way too much pleasure in it. And just like that, I gave up fighting, but I wasn’t happy about it. The thought no sooner left my mind when Cage ripped off my sweatshirt and cupped my breasts in his hands. “I love your tits.”
In no time at all, his shirt was on the floor next to mine. He still had me backed up against the door, trying his best to lock it behind me while keeping his lips on me. “Fuck.”
“I’ve got it.” The lock snapped closed, and he spun around to lead me to his bedroom. The spin must have been too much for him. He grabbed at the breakfast bar, and if faces really could go green, his did. It was a ghastly hue.
“Fuck.” And then he was gone. I heard him retching into the toilet while I stood there shaking with lust. I shouldn’t have been surprised, and maybe I should have even been thankful that the universe intervened on my behalf. If we had sex, it could ruin our friendship. And I didn’t want to be one of Cage’s puck bunnies out for a one-nighter, but let me tell you, it sucked being riddled with a conscience.
My purse was on the floor by the door where it had fallen in the heat of the moment. I thought Cage might appreciate a mint after his round with the porcelain god. As I walked over to pick it up, I noticed the moon’s reflection highlighting the pictures of Cage’s family on the mantle. He must be so lonely here. If he wasn’t at practice or a game, he didn’t seem to have anyone to hang out with.
Hearing a thump after the toilet flushed sent me running toward Cage. “Are you okay?”
“You’re still here.”
His other boot hit the wall with the same thump as he fell backward onto the bed, and that was all she wrote. Half on and half off the bed, I tried to drag him under the covers.
“Take my jeans off.” His hands were trying to work the button, but weren’t doing anything more than slipping off. “Fuck. I want them off.”
“Okay. Relax.” Crap. I took his jeans off as methodically as possible. Of course his legs were fantastic. So muscled and strong. He wasn’t hulking in build, but lean and remarkably well-defined. Yum.
He tucked his thumbs in the edge of his boxer briefs on both sides, and off they flew as he tossed them to the floor.
Hello! Even at half-mast he was quite impressive. And, holy cow, what was that? Cage had a tattoo down there. A four leaf clover with “Luck of the Irish” written in script on a ribbon bisecting it. My fingers brushed it involuntarily.
“Three times.”
I pulled my hand away like I was caught doing something naughty—which, yeah, I kind of was. “Huh?”
His hand covered mine and clumsily moved it back to his tattoo. “Have to touch it three times.”
My fingers trailed over the clover two more times, and with renewed effort I pulled my eyes away and swept him into the bed, pulling the sheet over him, regrettably covering up all that exquisite skin. It was possible I caressed him a bit more in the process, but hell, he wasn’t going to remember any of it anyway.
“Don’t go.” I barely heard the mumbled words. “Please stay with me. I don’t want to be alone. I’m always alone.”
“Aw, Cage.” Another mistake. I knew it, but I stayed anyway. He sounded so desperate to not be left by himself. “Okay. I’ll be on the couch.”
His arm snaked out and was much stronger than I would have thought in his current state. Ever since Freddy, fast movements like that made me nervous. And I wasn’t keen on being grabbed, but several calming breaths later, I reminded myself that he wasn’t Freddy. He was nothing like Freddy. “Let go, Cage. Please.”
He rolled over and patted the bed. “Sleep here. I promise I’m just going to go to sleep.”
“You’re naked.”
His lips quirked the slightest bit, but his eyes never opened. “You’re not. Not totally. It’s fine. I have to go to sleep now.”
And what did I do? I grabbed one of his t-shirts from a pile sitting on the dresser and climbed into bed with him. He was already snoring by the time I pulled the covers over us. About a half hour later, I couldn’t take it and took my jeans off. I couldn’t stand them twisting around my legs each time I moved. Like a good little girl, I left my panties and shirt on, though I preferred to sleep in the buff. The fact that he was naked wasn’t keeping me up at all, though. Nope, not at all.
***
Hours later, I woke to hot, wet lips on my breast, with Cage’s hair whispering against my skin. The t-shirt I had borrowed was bunched up under my chin, and my bra was pulled down to rest under my breasts. Regaining my senses in tiny increments, I felt his significant erection against my thigh. Just one more minute and I’d push him off.
“I knew you’d be like this. So soft.”
By the tone of his voice, I could tell that he either wasn’t completely awake or he was still drunk. Lying on my back, I went utterly still and fought with myself to push him off. But it felt so good. He felt good. It felt good simply not being afraid of his touch. Not at that moment I wasn’t, anyway.
His lips continued to move over my body, drawing out soft gasps from me. Any minute now I was going to push him away. My hand wandered all on its own down his naked back and up again. That was all the invitation he needed.
Cage rolled himself completely over me and nestled in between my legs. “Put your legs around me.”
I could feel his teeth on my neck. His love bites went all the way to my toes, making the most impact right in the core of my being. It had definitely been too long. He reached down and pulled my panties aside and then took himself in hand to guide him inside me. As soon as I felt the tip enter me, I bolted upright with an anguished groan.
“Wait!” Holy shit, I couldn’t do it. I thought I could. I mean, physically I wanted to—holy hell did I want to—but did he even really know it was me beneath him and not some random puck bunny in his bed? He’d been drinking, had gotten sick, no condom—it just didn’t feel right.
My body wanted to take the pleasure he offered, but my mind forbade it. I think what it came down to was that I wasn’t ready for the aftermath. What about what comes after the sex? I wasn’t a casual sex woman. Cage wasn’t a long
-term relationship guy. I’d lose him as my friend, and I didn’t want to.
Since I had sat up so quickly, Cage’s head was now on my thigh. “This works too.” His lips descended right smack dab in the middle of my thighs.
“Oh my God.” I pushed his head away. It took every ounce of will power I had. “Cage. You have to stop. This isn’t the time. I don’t want to do this.” Liar, liar. I am such a liar.
Cage bounded unsteadily off the bed. “Why? You were hot enough for it before. Am I not good enough for you?”
He was definitely still drunk. His words were significantly garbled. “Cage. Get back in bed and go to sleep. Okay? We’ll talk tomorrow.” I got up and helped him back under the covers.
“God, you taste good. I’m going to have you someday, you know.” Those last words were barely more than a whisper as he slid back into a drunken sleep.
Not thinking twice about it, I got dressed and got the hell out of there before I lost all sanity and climbed back into bed with him.
***
Cage
It would be so much easier if someone would have simply killed me rather than lying here feeling like my entire stomach was going to come up the next time I puked. Never. I was never going to drink like that again. And something was bothering me. I had that weird feeling, you know what I mean? Like I did something I shouldn’t have or someone was sick or, I don’t know. Something was just …off.
The bathroom mirror was filled with steam from my much needed shower. I was staring at my emerging reflection when thoughts of Karen sprang into my head, and then that disturbing feeling settled over me once more.
I remember her picking me up. I remember puking—not my best moment. And then something else. Shit! Did we have sex? I really don’t think she’d have sex with me. “Would she?” My favorite part of my anatomy was being uncooperative, and didn’t answer. There was one thing I had no doubt about, though. I owed Karen an apology. For something.
***
It was after seven o’clock that evening by the time I felt well enough to venture out. I walked back to Slow Sam’s and picked up my car. From there it pretty much drove itself to Karen’s. The house was aglow with a faint light coming from the living room, co-mingling with shadows that were dancing along the walls, suggesting she had the fireplace lit.
Once I was there, I had no idea what to do. I got out of the car and continued to look at her house. What was I going to say? I’m sorry for—for what? I repeat. I would never drink like that again.
“You just going to stand there looking in my windows?”
Karen appeared on the porch above me wrapped in the throw from the back of her couch. I liked that throw. We’d been under it together many times. I was glad the April nights were still on the cool side.
“No?” I needed to get a grip. To my delight, she laughed at me, motioning me into the house.
“Get in here.”
“Thanks.” I smelled something fresh when I walked in. It smelled like Karen. Fresh and clean, nothing fussy. More like clean laundry. “I feel like I need to apologize.”
Her face went up in flames. Interesting—and somewhat scary. Jesus, what did I do? “For?”
“Well, that’s the tricky part. I’m not sure.” My stomach clenched tight in fear of saying the wrong thing. Let’s face it. Karen was my biggest supporter. I didn’t want to disappoint her, and I feared I already had.
She froze at the realization that I had no clue what I’d done. I needed to know. If I hurt her in some way, I’d never forgive myself.
“God, Karen. I’m sorry. For what I’m not sure, but I can tell you for an absolute fact that I would never hurt you on purpose. Tell me I didn’t.” She stood there with a blank expression. I’d fucked up. I could feel it in my bones. And then a beautiful sound—albeit maybe a bit sarcastic. She laughed.
“Oh my God. You don’t remember anything!” I heard her mumbling to herself. “Of course he doesn’t.”
I looked down in shame, and what did she do? She pulled my chin up. It was surreal. I wasn’t the kind of guy who gave a thought to these things. I saw a girl I wanted to bang, I took her home, banged her, and that was that. Karen made me feel shame, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. She made me want to be better, but it kind of pissed me off.
“This was a mistake. Really. I’m sorry if I offended you last night, but that’s it. I am who I am. I’ll see you later.” I didn’t make it halfway to the door before she stopped me with a softly uttered, “Dalton.”
“Oh, we’re back to Dalton are we?”
“I’m not making fun of you, really. I’m just—okay maybe I am laughing at you a little bit. But not because I think you’re pathetic or anything of that nature. I know you’re not the type to get shit-faced every night. That’s what makes last night so comical. You should have seen yourself! You were all, ‘I’m man, do what I tell you, and get in my bed, woman.’ And then you were all, ‘Shit, I have to puke.’”
She had a way of making me laugh at myself. “That paints a pretty picture.”
“It really wasn’t. Anyway, you have nothing to apologize for. Everything is fine.”
It most certainly was not fine. With those words, she again went up in flames. Something happened. I had to know. “We um, we didn’t …have sex?”
“No! Cage, you’re my friend. My very good friend. I wouldn’t do anything to mess that up. Neither would you.”
She was so wrong. I would do anything to get beyond the friend zone, but now wasn’t the time. “Err, yeah. Of course not. So, do you want to grab some dinner? I’m actually getting hungry for some, um, saltines.”
Her belly laugh rewarded me again. “Oh, you poor thing. I’m sorry, but I sort of have plans.”
“Ah. Going to see that cute niece of yours?”
“No. Actually, I have a date. As a matter of fact, I need to go get dressed now. He’ll be here in about a half hour.”
My stomach turned over anew at the thought. She had a date? A damn date? I swallowed my ire and played it cool. Teeth clenched—okay, maybe not so cool—I asked who she was going out with.
She hastily muttered her answer. “Carl.”
“Carl!? As in, Carl Rush?”
“Um, yeah?”
No way. No fucking way was I letting Carl take her out. “You really don’t want to do that.”
“Why? He seems nice.”
“Rush is a major player. All he wants is to get in your pants. Do you really want to wake up next to him tomorrow morning?”
Well, that did it. With both hands on her hips, she lit into me. “Oh, so you automatically think that I’m going to fuck him?” Wow. She must really be ticked. Karen didn’t say ‘fuck’. “Or is it your pride? You’ve tried to get me naked, and since you’ve mostly failed you’re going to insult me? Is it your pride that’s hurting now, Dalton?”
I was beginning to suspect that her use of ‘Dalton’ was no longer friendly. And …wait—mostly? “No, that’s not what I meant. I just meant that he only wants to get you in bed.”
“Oh, okay. So, what you’re actually saying is that the only reason he would want to take me out is to have sex.”
“Yes! Wait …no. That’s not what I meant.” Well, how about that? I’d fucked up again. Imagine.
She shook her hair back, took a deep breath and looked me in the eyes, hands still on her hips. “Okay. What did you mean then?”
My temper got the best of me—you’re astonished, I know. “I don’t know, Karen. All I know is that Carl fucks anything he gets his hands on. He doesn’t respect any of those women either. He’ll brag about his conquest in the locker room, and you’ll be the butt of his jokes.” I wasn’t good enough for her, but the roving Casanova was? I’d be shocked if Rush didn’t have some kind of STD—he slept with everyone.
“So again, you’re back to assuming I’m like him and will fuck anything I get my hands on? Well, I didn’t fuck you, did I?”
Direct hit.
“Y
ou’ve tried and tried to get me to though, haven’t you? Even after I offered you my friendship. After I battled Jody to give you another chance. After I cleaned up your puke! I’m still nothing but a piece of ass to you that you haven’t managed to conquer. I really thought we were friends. Obviously I was mistaken. Get out, Cage.”
She pushed me continually until I was out the door. I didn’t even put up a fight. I didn’t deserve her friendship now. I never had.
Chapter 12
Karen
I felt bad about the whole Cage situation, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it too long. After I pushed him out the door, there were only minutes left for me to get ready for my date with Carl. I only agreed to go out with him to try and get Cage off my sexual radar. Put things back into perspective. In hindsight, I should have stayed home and did yoga or something.
Carl spent our entire date trying to convince me to let him give me a night I’d never forget, which made me feel bad all over again about my heated exchange with Cage. Holy smokes, was he right on the money! He may have been categorically wrong in his assumptions that I’d sleep with Carl, but I couldn’t help feeling that those comments came from his own insecurities and not any imagined promiscuity on my part.
Cage and I didn’t talk for an entire week after the incident. I wasn’t sure if he left me alone because he was mad that I went out with Carl or he felt bad for the way he talked to me. Thinking about that conversation, I realized I could have been more understanding. I knew Cage had a hot temper, and words seemed to fly right out of his mouth without his permission. That didn’t mean I’d just give him a free pass all the time, but I knew he’d been hungover and having a shitty day.
He was so distraught after losing that sixth game to the Sharks, and I wasn’t even there for him when they played the seventh game two days later. Thank goodness they’d won and advanced to the next round. The Scorpions were now in the second game of the second round against the Coyotes, and I was there at the arena watching with the gang. Even little Addie was in attendance. It was her first game.
Cage's Misconduct (NHL Scorpions #3) Page 10
