by Luna, David
They both crawled into bed, wearing their boxer briefs, but nothing else. Braden turned off the nightstand lamp, and Cade gathered Braden close. “I’m assuming you’d like to run, since we haven’t all weekend.”
“Yeah, would like to get three to five miles in tomorrow morning, after I get some stuff baked.”
Cade grabbed his watch from the nightstand that sat beside his handgun, and set his watch to 5 a.m. Braden tossed one of his legs across Cade’s hip, and Cade grabbed him behind the knee and dragged Braden on top of him so that their hips were aligned, and yanked the duvet up over Braden. Braden’s head popped up with his eyebrows raised, in a silent, WTF? Cade grinned and pecked Braden on the lips. “You feel good as a blanket. I want you on top of me tonight. Love you.”
Braden sighed in resignation, secretly pleased but unsure if he could even sleep like this. He tucked his head under Cade’s chin. He wiggled around a bit until he got comfortable, and strangely, found that he could get very comfortable. He was always cold and he knew Cade would feel like a furnace under him. He was just about to nod off when he mumbled sleepily, “I love you too. Don’t blame me if I drool all over you.”
Cade chuckled and Braden loved to feel the rumble of it under his cheek. Cade reached his palm up to cup the back of Braden’s head, ran his fingers through his hair and left them there. “Wouldn’t dream of it. Sleep now, baby. I’ve got you.”
As easy as that, Braden was out like a light and Cade didn’t take much longer to pass out himself, looking forward to waking up with Braden in his arms again.
The following morning Braden woke to the feeling of calloused fingers running softly up and down his naked back. He breathed in deeply and realized that he was still very much lying on top of Cade, who was already completely aroused, which caused Braden to squirm a bit to tease him. At the deep groan that came as a result, Braden lifted his head to look into Cade’s gorgeous blue eyes and was a bit spellbound by the intense look he saw there.
His own cock began to stir, and he couldn’t help but adjust his hips again, which caused Cade to grip his ass cheeks, massage them in his large hands, and grind Braden’s cock against his own. Braden moved both of his legs so that they were on either side of Cade’s hips and pushed up onto his hands, looking down on Cade, who reached up and threaded his fingers through Braden’s hair and brought him down for a kiss.
Trailing his lips down Cade’s neck, nipping along his collarbone and licking down to his right nipple ring, Braden took the ring in his mouth and sucked, as Cade had instructed yesterday, like he meant it. Cade moaned, and his hips pumped up against Braden’s. Braden continued to suck and tug on that ring and then moved over to the other one, giving it equal attention. He reached between their bodies and lightly stroked Cade’s cock through his boxers.
All of a sudden Cade jackknifed himself into a sitting position, and once again Braden sat against Cade’s erection, his own straining against his boxers. They looked into each other’s eyes, both breathing heavily, and Braden reached up to stroke the side of Cade’s gorgeous stubbled face. He traced the outline of Cade’s lips, his nose, his eyebrows, and stroked his short scruff as he moved in to claim his lips once more. Cade grabbed Braden by the hips and lifted him from his lap to sit beside him. Cade met Braden’s eyes and glanced down at Braden’s boxer briefs. “Take them off.”
Braden immediately removed them. Cade’s eyes, at half-mast and so filled with sexual promise, met his. “Now mine.” Braden got up on his knees and proceeded to take Cade’s boxers off. Cade, ever in control, captured Braden by the nape of his neck, bringing their lips together, and laying Braden down beneath him.
Cade rested on his elbows, fingers in Braden’s hair, rubbing soft circles on Braden’s temples with his thumbs, his body pressing Braden into the bed. Braden had never had his neck so thoroughly kissed, licked, bit and sucked. His arms and legs were covered in goose bumps, and he squirmed as shivers wracked his frame. Cade tilted his head so his lips were near Braden’s ear, and he whispered, “Did I feel good last night, deep inside of you?”
Braden’s breath hitched, and he moaned. “Yes, god yes.”
“Do you want me there again?”
Braden’s grip on Cade’s sides tightened. “Yes, right now. Please.”
Cade’s sucked in a breath, his hips pressing down on Braden’s. “Oh, baby, you don’t know how much I want that, but I don’t think you’re ready. I don’t want to make you too sore.”
“It’s OK. I don’t mind. It felt so good.”
“I know, I do, but I’m not gonna to chance it.” Cade met Braden’s eyes. “I’ll make you feel good though. Would you like that?”
Braden closed his eyes, pushed his head back into the pillow and nodded as Cade gently took his earlobe in his mouth and sucked. He let out a gasp, and gripped Cade’s sides again, not knowing if he was trying to push him away from sensory overload or pull him closer for more. Their hips aligned, and when Cade nudged his into Braden’s, Braden opened up his legs to make more room for Cade to nestle between them. Cade began a rhythmic pulsing of hips against hips. To Braden it felt like a dance, so intense, the cadence causing his breath to hitch, the feeling of Cade’s cock aligned with his, rubbing up and down against it almost enough to drive him over the edge. He heard little moans come out of his own mouth and clamped it down, embarrassed to be mewling and whimpering.
“Don’t stop.”
Braden opened his eyes, dazed. “What?”
Cade leaned over him, his gaze intense. “Do you know how fucking sexy those noises were? Fuck Braden, I want to hear them. I need to hear them. I want to know how my touch affects you. Please.”
Embarrassed, but wanting to please him, Braden stopped trying to control his reactions and just relaxed, letting himself go. After several more minutes of that sweet torture, Cade reached over for the slick and lubed up his palm. Looking directly at Braden, he reached down, clasped both of their cocks together, and began to massage the lube into both of them, squeezing them together from root to tip, up and down, using a tight grip as he moved his body slightly, in counterpoint to his massaging hand. After they were both thoroughly slicked up, he kept the grip on them both, keeping them together, but lay back down on Braden so that he could kiss him and talk to him.
“That’s it. Listen to you. So fucking hot, those little moans.”
Cade’s hips were undulating against Braden’s, faster now, his grip ever tighter. Braden was close. Everything about Cade was making it harder for him to keep himself under control. Even now, he opened his eyes and stared into Cade’s. Cade was always so intense, so laser focused on his needs that Braden felt overwhelmed with that much concentrated attention. He’d always found himself shying away from such close scrutiny, but there was no shying away from Cade, he wouldn’t allow it.
Cade’s eyes became heavy lidded. “You like it when I talk to you, don’t you?”
Braden moaned and nodded. He bit his lip and shuddered under Cade’s weight, reveling in the firm grip he had on his cock.
“Uh uh, don’t bite that pouty lip. Don’t hold anything back. You trying to keep yourself from coming?”
Braden’s breath hitched, and he moaned. “Yes.”
Cade shook his head. “Don’t. Let go if you’re ready. Look at me. That’s it. Feel me, squeezing you. Are you ready?”
Braden closed his eyes and whimpered. “Fuck, yes!”
Cade gripped Braden’s hair tighter at his nape, to keep him in place. “Keep your eyes on mine, and come for me, Braden.”
Braden met his eyes and as soon as he did, he let go. The intense pleasure on Braden’s face and in his eyes as he came, sent Cade over the edge, and they came together, staring into each other’s eyes, the orgasms lasting far longer than either of them expected. Both breathing heavy, and sated.
Cade leaned down and kissed Braden’s lips, his voice low. “God, you’re beautiful. That was so intense, baby.”
Braden loosed his grip on the comf
orter and brought both of his arms up to hold onto Cade tightly, barely able to catch his breath and loving his man with an intensity that he couldn’t put into words, so he didn’t try. They lay there, just like that, for a good ten minutes before Cade was able to pull away enough to look down at Braden. “Take a shower with me?”
Braden smirked. “OK, but no funny business.”
Cade laughed and rolled off of Braden. “I need to work on my technique if you thought that was funny.”
“The fuck you do.” Braden mumbled as he moved to get up. “Don’t change a damn thing.”
They showered, washing each other and getting themselves ready for the day, dressed in running gear. They ate a small breakfast and as discussed the night before, they each dug out their test results and shared them with each other. Not that either of them felt any doubt of the other’s healthy status, but they both felt the need to share their results, so that there was no question of their need for further protection. After they cleaned up the kitchen, they went over to the café where Braden began his prep and baking. It felt good to get back into his routine. He enjoyed having a weekend off, but baking was something he absolutely loved, and he felt energized from his days with Cade. He set about getting as much done before his run as possible.
Cade went to the office and got some work done, as well. He placed a call to Olivia to check in. Their office manager was a gem, and he knew damn well they were lucky to have her. She kept them running and organized, which was a feat in itself, as Custos Securities was becoming larger than Cade and Cooper had ever hoped it would be. He asked her for the real estate report he’d requested from her and several other things that were pending. She had a number of people below her that she managed in order to keep things running smoothly, and she caught Cade up on anything that needed tending to.
He checked his emails for any new cases needing his attention, but his out of office message was steering them to Micah, so he forwarded what he found, but avoided responding personally. He emailed Micah as well, asking him to call in if he needed anything and that he would continue to be working the case here with Cooper, Sawyer, and Jackson, until further notice.
He sent a message to his local crew and asked them to look into some of the reports he’d gotten from Olivia and get back to him with their findings. He searched his inbox and found the email from Landon he was hoping for, with his full time availability beginning in three months and a notification that until that time he would be available part time to support Brody. He would be an enormous help, even at part time. He’d proven that his 20 hours a week was more like an average man’s 40 hours a week, so he was well worth the wait and the healthy salary they would be offering him.
Having worked for a couple of hours, he stepped out to check on Braden, who was wrapping up his baking and ready to run. They were able to get four miles in and he could tell that Braden was not only happy from getting back into his kitchen, but also happy to be running again. He loved seeing that happiness on his face and would do anything to keep it there. This situation with Eric needed to come to a head. He needed to provide Braden with closure on that part of his life before they could move forward together.
After their run, they went back to Braden’s to shower and change for the day. Heading back over to the café, he got the feeling that they were being watched. He hurried Braden into the café, set the alarms and was just about to talk to Braden about it, when he got a text from Sawyer. Making sure Braden was back at work, he took a seat at one of the counter stools in the kitchen to stay near Braden, and checked his phone.
Sawyer: Stick to him like glue. Something’s off.
Cade: I’m feeling it too. Where are you?
Sawyer: Other side of town with J, but after my spidey senses hit, we got in the car and we’re on the way back. ETA 30 minutes.
Cade: Good. See you soon.
He texted Cooper to get him to come to the café, and went over to talk to Braden. “Hey, something’s going on. Felt watched on the way over here from your place and Sawyer’s feeling it too. I need you to promise me you won’t leave the kitchen without one of us going with you. Sawyer is coming back with Jackson. Should be here in 30 minutes, and I’m going to go call Cooper, as he hasn’t answered my text. We need to have Coop in front, keeping an eye out, and I want Sawyer and Jackson on perimeter search, once they get here.”
Braden saw the apprehension on Cade’s face and felt rather concerned himself. “I promise, Z. I’ll stay right here.”
Reassured that Braden would be safe with the security alarm set, Cade went to the office for a few minutes to call Cooper.
As soon as Cade left, Braden received a text. He removed his earbuds and pulled his phone out of his back pocket. The phone number was listed as unknown, and a sense of dread settled in the pit of Braden’s stomach. A picture of Maya, wearing the same clothes she had on when she came into the café that morning, popped up. A second picture came through, this one of Nana that looked very recent as well. His heart started a fast beat, and his stomach lurched.
Unknown: Maya, Nana, and your new boyfriend can’t be protected 24/7. Keep your mouth shut about this conversation.
Braden: What do you want, Eric? Why can’t you just leave me the fuck alone?
Unknown: Did you think your little video would save you from me forever? What do I want? I want you. You’re mine. And unless you want your precious Maya or little old Nana, or even your latest dick, to end up dead, you’ll fucking do what I say. Tell me we understand each other. You don’t want to piss me off, Braden...
Braden: What do you want from me?
Unknown: I want you, alone, outside of the café in the next 10 minutes. I’ve got my eye on the back door, so I’ll know if anyone else is with you, and I’m armed, so don’t fuck this up or one of them will have to go.
Braden: I’ve got someone in the back with me, I can’t just leave without them wondering what I’m doing.
Unknown: It’s either now, or I change my target from you to any one of them, at any time. Their death would be on you. What will it be?
Braden: OK. I’m coming. But I have to figure out how to leave without arousing suspicion. Give me more time.
Unknown: You have 10 minutes from now. Figure it out.
Tears flooded Braden’s eyes at what he had to do. His heart jackhammered in his chest, his hands shook and his body had broken out into a cold sweat. Cade was just down the hall; could he go now? He just wanted to see him one last time, but if he did, he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to get away again. He heard the door from the front of the café swing open, and he turned so that his back was to whoever was coming through. He made himself out to be busy and hoped whoever it was didn’t try to talk to him because they’d know something horrible was happening the second they saw him.
He glanced quickly over his shoulder and spotted Maya heading past him. She must have thought he had his buds in, because she kept going, thank god. He glanced back down to the countertop, and tried to look busy. He realized with a feeling of dread that he had to remove the ring with the tracer and after that conversation with Cade about what his watches could do, he’d be leaving that here as well, not to mention his phone. Taking both off, he tucked them off to the side, in between some of the bowls on the counter.
If Eric was threatening his family and friends, there was no stopping him and he couldn’t safeguard any of them unless Eric had no reason to go after anyone. If he went with Eric, everyone else would be safe. Knowing very well he might never see Nana, Maya, and Cade again, he at least wanted them to know he loved them. He wanted to leave some kind of message, some way to let them know he was sorry. Not giving himself time to question his idea, he started a text to Maya that he would send when he walked out the door: “I’m so sorry to you both, and I love you both so much! Tell Nana I love her too and tell Z that I’m sorry I lied. I couldn’t let him hurt you guys. This is the only way I could guarantee everyone’s safety.”
He felt sick
to his stomach and was just about ready to leave when Cade came back from the way Maya had just gone. Surreptitiously watching him out of the corner of his eye, he realized that Cade was focused on his phone. He stuffed his hands into the dough that was currently rising in front of him and saw Cade tuck his phone in his pocket. He was careful to keep his voice neutral so that Cade didn’t become suspicious. “Hey, I’m really worried about Maya. She just headed into the office. Did you talk to her?”
“No, I was trying to get Cooper on the phone, and she passed me as I was coming out of there. What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know. But, my hands are covered with dough. Can you please go check on her? I’ll wash my hands and head back there in a second, but she looked pretty upset.”
“Yeah, I’ll check in with her, but if she’s upset, she’ll want you, not me.”
“I know. Be there in a couple minutes.”
Cade went back to the office, and Braden knew he had seconds to get out of there successfully. He ripped off his apron and wiped his hands on it, grabbed his phone and ran to the back door. He turned off the alarm system to avoid bringing them out any faster and unlocked the door. He looked down at his phone, keyed in the code and sent the text. He set the phone on the counter by the door, opened it and left.
Once he was outside, he looked around frantically, not knowing what to do, until an old Honda Civic pulled up and the passenger door was flung open. There sat Eric, a crazed gleam in his eyes. He quickly made his way over to the car and slipped in, just as he heard his name being called. He looked through the driver’s side window as he pulled his door shut, and saw Cooper standing at the front door to their house, drawing his gun. He watched the look of horror slide over Cooper’s face as Eric slammed his foot on the gas and they sped off.
Cade lifted his phone from his pocket and saw that he’d missed Cooper’s text.
Cooper: Sorry, was in the shower. Getting dressed and coming over immediately.
