“As long as I can be involved. As long as I can help,” she said.
I slid toward the edge of the couch and rested my elbows on the top of my thighs, allowing my hands to massage my temples and hopefully dull the throbbing pain that was echoing in my head. “Fine,” I whispered. “You can help.”
Exhaling, I dug my fingers deeper into my temples. I could feel Cara’s eyes burning through me as I wished the pain away.
“It looks like you had a rough night. I know you probably don’t want anything to do with me. Ever since I showed up in your life, there has been nothing but trouble. It was me who suggested you take charge of the company. It’s because of me that you are now wrapped up in this mess with my ex-boyfriend and Graham, and it’s me he’s using to get his company back. If I walked away, you could have your life back.”
“Those were my choices, Cara. Mine...and I’d make them again just to have the same night I had with you. I only wish you would have made another choice. I wish you would have picked me over LJ.”
“I did!” Cara snapped back. “I did pick you! I told LJ I didn’t want him. I’m here, telling you that I’m here, trying to help protect you. I don’t want anyone else. I went to see him for closure, because you are who I want.”
Her words sank in. Even though just a few minutes earlier I’d wanted to be mad, I couldn’t. It wouldn’t help and it didn’t make sense. What did make sense was to protect the woman who’d captured my heart, and put that selfish, egotistical stepbrother of mine in his place once and for all.
“I’m sorry, for all of this,” I whispered. I leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. “Maybe we can try to put this behind us.”
“Yes,” she said, then added with a grim smile, “after you shower. Then we can talk.”
* * * * *
I have an idea how to get to him - talk soon.
I watched as Cara hit send on her phone, giving Graham hope that he had actually had a chance of succeeding with his extortion plan.
“Are you sure this is going to work?” Cara asked.
“No, but it’s worth a shot.”
Graham had quickly texted back. Good. Keep me informed, or else.
“So now what?” Cara asked as she placed her phone on the table. “He isn’t going to give up. He’s going to keep after you, and me, until he gets what he wants.”
I knew Graham was going to be relentless. When he wanted something, he actually worked hard. It was unfortunate that he was putting effort into revenge instead of having put effort into the company from the very start.
“That’s what I’m planning on,” I said. “No one is officially aware of any of the changes yet. I hadn’t made my official announcement. My head just wasn’t in it yesterday because of…” My voice trailed off as I remembered learning about Cara and LJ. “Let’s just say, I had a lot on my mind yesterday, but today I’m going to let the employees know exactly what’s happening.”
“And then?”
“And then it isn’t going to make a difference what Graham wants, because no one will ever want to work with him or for him. In fact, my plan was to spin off portions of the company. If Graham wants back the company he started, he can have it. It will be just as worthless as when he started it. No employees and no one to grow it. Graham has spent years kissing people’s asses and then bossing them around.”
I wasn’t sure exactly how I was going to pull it all off, but I knew one thing for sure—Graham wasn’t going to hurt Cara or threaten her any more.
Chapter 21
Cara
I hated that I was home alone again. I was scared to go near the windows, for fear that Graham would be watching outside. I hadn’t heard from Caden since I had left his house, with him dressed, ready, and determined. He had set the meeting for five p.m., at the end of the work day. He wasn’t worried about the employees being mad about staying late, as he had ordered in dinner and wine to keep them happy while he brought them the news that he hoped would make them even more joyous. Caden believed that Graham leaving would be a relief to most of the employees, as Graham’s erratic and childish behavior had driven most of them crazy.
I paced back and forth for the better part of an hour, making small efforts at cleaning as I paced. I wondered if Caden was ever going to call me again. I worried that Graham would get the tables turned on Caden somehow and Caden would lose his job. The extra insane part of me even worried that Graham would physically hurt or even kill Caden. I had watched too many crime television shows. I had to get a grip.
I thought about texting one of the yoga instructors who was also a good friend of mine, to see if she wanted to meet me out, but then didn’t, for fear that I would then miss being here for Caden when he was done. If he needed me, I needed to be here. I needed to be there for him anyway, and I needed him to hold me and tell me that we were going to be okay. That I hadn’t messed up too badly to recover what could be between us.
I contemplated stalking their offices to see what was happening and make sure Caden was really still at work, but I was too afraid of being found out.
Perusing my bookshelves, I found a book of flash fiction. My attention span wasn’t even coherent enough to make it through a paragraph and remember what I had read. I had looked at my cell phone for the twentieth time in the past twenty minutes. I was driving myself crazy.
I decided a jog around the neighborhood would be good for me. And then I decided it should be a walk so I could more comfortably keep my eyes on my phone. How in the world did I become so dependent upon a man calling? Tying my Saucony sneakers on, I walked out of the house and tried to think of anything except what I couldn’t get off of my mind.
Twenty minutes later, and about fifty yards from getting back home, my phone buzzed with a text message. It was Caden.
All is going well. I’m sorry it’s taking so long, but I promise I will come to you as soon as I am done here.
I let out a relieved breath. He was okay. He was coming back to me again. Our plan had worked. I walked inside, suddenly aware of how humid it was outside, and how much I had sweated. I needed a shower. I also needed a big gesture for Caden, the man who had been through so much all because he had come to my rescue after I’d stupidly agreed to have a drink with Graham under my balcony at the beach.
I took a warm shower, keeping the conditioner in my hair for an extra couple of minutes to make sure it was soft, and rinsing off after with cold water to give it that small bit of extra shine. I shaved my legs carefully, making sure I didn’t miss a spot or nick myself. I wanted everything to be perfect for Caden.
Out of the shower, I put on my favorite lotion that had just a hint of fragrance. I put on a touch of blush, a light amount of mineral powder to even out my face, a dab of mascara on my top lashes, and a light gloss on my lips. I put on a soft dress that fit me just right.
“Caden Zahn, I am going to rock your world,” I said to the mirror.
Going through my nightstand drawers, I found five small candles. I placed them strategically around the room, humming my own romantic tune. I walked downstairs and dimmed the lights in the kitchen, pulling out some broccoli and cucumbers to wash off and cut up. I put some ranch dressing in the center and arranged the vegetables around it and then placed them in the refrigerator. A sauvignon blanc went into the freezer to try to give it a chill before Caden arrived. I found a lighter for the candles and placed it beside me on the counter for later. Then I poured myself the remaining sauvignon blanc from the refrigerator and sat at the bar stool at the counter, staring at my phone.
Luckily, I didn’t have to stare for long. About five minutes later, my phone buzzed.
I’ve been on the phone, but I am five minutes away.
My heart skipped a beat. Caden was almost here. My whole body awoke in anticipation of his arrival. I pulled out the wine opener and opened the not quite chilled bottle of wine, pouring a glass for Caden and topping off mine. I pulled the vegetables back out of the fridge, placing them on the table and
then deciding I should stay at the counter. With bar stools, we could sit side by side and be that much closer to touching. I dimmed the kitchen lights a little more, and then walked toward the bathroom to check on my makeup and dress once more. I adjusted my necklace and smoothed my hair back down, then walked to the front door.
The evening had darkened, and I turned on the porch light and watched through the living room window for the headlights of his car to appear. When they did, my heart jumped in my throat and my hands started sweating. When would I ever feel normal again around him?
He only had to half knock on the door, as I was already opening it to welcome him.
“Caden,” my voice became a whisper, “how did it go? Please tell me it went okay. Please tell me he’s no longer in our lives.”
“I can assure you that he will no longer be in our lives,” he replied, not smugly, but with relief.
I couldn’t even wait for the recap of the meeting. I took his jaw in my hands and brought our lips together. The softness and love that was in the meeting of our mouths was beyond description. It held a wanting that I had never felt before. A need that I didn’t know could exist between two people who had only known each other a short time.
Caden wrapped his arms around me and I could feel the flex of his biceps. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to keep kissing or wanted to go straight upstairs. I pressed my body against his more, which pushed him against the front door. He responded by pressing back in to me, his kiss getting more intense and needy. His tongue danced against mine.
His lips left my mouth and wandered down to my chin, my jaw line, my throat, and the side of my neck. I arched against him more, needing to feel him as closely as possible. In one smooth motion, he swooped me up and stared down at my wanton eyes, which would not leave him. He began to walk upstairs and my whole body felt light as a feather. I was his. Completely, totally his. I wanted to be his more than I had wanted anything in my life.
Practically floating into my bedroom, he laid me down on the bed I had made so carefully earlier for us, with the hope that this moment would happen tonight. He stared into my eyes, and no words were needed. He began to unbutton his shirt, taking it off to reveal his chiseled chest and arms. I melted into the comforter. I didn’t know what to do, and I didn’t even have the ability to move until he climbed back onto the bed.
I reached toward him as he straddled my body and leaned over me. I touched his smooth chest and my pelvis rocked up toward him involuntarily. Both of us were panting from desire, and neither of us wanted to speak.
He slid a hand from my knee up my thigh and under the skirt of my dress. Fireworks were exploding inside of me and all around. It was as if we were in an alternate universe. Nothing and no one existed outside of what we were feeling. His palm was soft and warm as it made its way up to the outside of my hip, a couple of fingers making their way gingerly under the edge of the lace panties I had chosen.
Caden brought his other hand behind my left knee, lifting it up and placing the sole of my foot down, then did the same to my right leg. Reaching both of his hands to the top of the lace, he deftly pulled my panties off and placed my legs back in place, knees bent toward the ceiling, and placed himself down at the middle of my body, his arms sliding under my knees, and lifted my dress up above my navel. His kisses landed around my stomach first, and he made his way down to each thigh. He took his time exploring my entire body, spending what had to have been five minutes on each inch of my skin. The suspense was wicked and electric. I wanted him inside of me so badly.
His slow kissing finally landed in the spot that was aching for it. The slow moving of his tongue met my wetness and I exploded against his mouth. Unwavering, he slowly made his way back up my torso with his kisses, drawing his chest up to mine, and his hardness pushing right against where my body was still continuing to pulse.
I grabbed his ass and drew him into me. The feeling of him inside of me was a continuation of everything that I had waited for in life. Everything I never knew I needed or was missing, but now had. He went deeper and deeper, and we lost ourselves in everything we felt and wanted. First slow, then hard and fast, then slow again. The world was only what was touching inside as he kissed, caressed, stroked the fire that only he could quench.
It was hours before I woke, finding that at some point in our love making, we had given so much of ourselves physically and emotionally, we had completely fallen asleep. I could feel his hand still cupping my ass, my head resting on his chest. We were facing each other, and the smoothness of his skin and the warmth of his touch stirred my insides again.
I softly reached down and began to stroke him, feeling him slowly awaken and grow. Kissing down his chest as he rolled onto his back with my direction, he let out a sleepy moan. I kissed down along the inside of his left thigh, and then back to the middle. He reached his arms down and pulled me back up.
“Oh no, you don’t. As much as I want that, tonight is only about you,” Caden whispered in my ear, rolling me over and pinning my hands above my head. He held my wrists with his hand, tracing his other down my right arm and then around my breast. Making his way to my nipple, he gave a little squeeze that sent more electricity through me. His traced the hand that had been holding my wrists down to my left breast. He brought his mouth to my nipple, his right hand still gently squeezing and twisting the other.
I had to fight hard to not come right away, as I did not want this to end. Ever. I went to reach for him again, and he quickly brought my arms back over my head, patting them as if to tell them to stay, and then traced that hand down to my clit. Every possible sensation I could feel was going through my body in all of the most sensitive places at the same time.
Chapter 22
Caden
I braced myself, both of my arms straddling her body as I kissed my way down. Nibbling gently on her one nipple I paused, clenching hard as Cara moaned a bit. I smiled, her nipple still in my mouth.
“Just wait,” I promised, releasing her hard nipple and continuing my path of kissing down her body.
My lips grazed her belly button, gently flicking her stomach with my tongue and continuing downward, deliberately skipping over her most sensitive spots and opting to tease her more. I breathed on the inside of her thigh as I kissed upward, moving toward the perfect ‘V’ formed by her legs. I hovered my mouth over her perfectly trimmed pussy as she waited in anticipation of my next move.
Slowly I flicked my tongue across her folds, then in one smooth motion ran my tongue across her, pushing harder as I reached her clit. Cara moaned. I continued following her lead as she pushed her hips into my mouth.
“Caden, please,” she begged as she guided my head.
A few moments later, her body shuddered as she let out a breathy moan and climaxed.
* * * * *
“So, how did you do it?” Cara asked as she covered herself up with the sheet from the bed and rolled to face me.
“Well, I started with my tongue…”
“No, silly.” Cara laughed as she smacked me on the arm. “Graham. How did you get Graham to leave us alone? How did you get him to stop all of this?”
I rolled over and stared at the ceiling as I thought about my conversation with Graham earlier in the day. I hated confrontation, but my life seemed to have been filled with it over the last several days. Fights, ex-boyfriends, hateful and greedy stepbrothers, all of it was connected, but it was always what was making me happier than I had been in a very long time.
Graham wanted the company. He wanted me to give him what he believed was his and even though I took it from behind his back for what he had done, I felt bad for him in a weird sort of way. Graham wasn’t always a bad person, he just did enough to get by and then would rather use his energy to find the easiest way out of things, even if that took more work. It didn’t make sense to me. I knew Graham would fight me and continue to stalk both Cara and myself unless I gave him what he wanted. That’s almost exactly what I had done.
�
��I gave it back to him,” I said as I let out an exhale.
“You what?” Cara yelled as she sat up, the sheet falling to reveal her perfect breasts. “You gave that son of a bitch exactly what he wanted. Why would you do that?” Cara gathered up the sheets and pulled them back up to cover her exposed chest.
“He wanted the company. That’s what I gave him. He didn’t know that I had already arranged for the lead developers to join me. I even contacted the main initial investors and let them know what I was doing. Even though the company is public, it’s nothing without me, it’s nothing without the team that built the biggest product they are selling, and quite honestly, Graham doesn’t have the know-how to make this worthwhile.”
“But, now he owns the majority of the company. Everything you did…”
“Everything I did just showed me it wasn’t the company that was important. It was everything else. And he hasn’t won anything from me. He lost, don’t you see? I still own forty-nine percent of the company and when I sell those shares, I’ll have more than enough money to do whatever I want, including starting my own company.” I rolled back over to face Cara, running my hand over her naked arm. “Cara, I haven’t known you long, but there’s something about you. Somehow, I know you’re the one I was meant to meet and I’m willing to take a chance and start over…if I can start over with you, if we can forget all of the drama the last few days.”
“I’d like that, even though there were some amazing times I don’t want to forget,” she said as she smiled. “But I know what you mean. Just the same, please tell me you didn’t do this for me.”
I bit my lip as I looked at her. She was more beautiful at that very moment than she had been at any other time. “I didn’t. I did it for us, for what we could have and what we could become, together.”
Cara leaned in, closing the small gap between us, and kissed me. Her soft lips clung to me as she took a slow, deep inhale.
Torn_An Alpha Billionaire Romance Page 12
