Wild Forces: A Friends to Lovers Romance (O-Town Book 2)

by Karen Renee

  I walked into my apartment whistling.

  Brock shot me a dirty look from where he stood in front of the microwave.“What the hell has you so damn chipper?”

  I tucked my keys in my pocket and shook my head. “What the hell has you so damn grouchy?”

  “I’m hungry, but you don’t normally walk in here whistling. Did you get laid or something?”

  I shot him my middle finger while moving toward my bedroom. “Fuck off, Brock. I don’t have time for you tryin’ to bring me down. You know if Dad’s at Marnie’s this week?”

  “I don’t know,” he muttered to the microwave. “How about you call him, and find out yourself?”

  “Jesus, eat some food, man! Biting my head off isn’t going to cut it for you.”

  Before Brock could retort, I closed the door to my bedroom. Then, I pulled out my phone and called Dad.

  “Gabe! I was just thinking about you,” Dad answered.

  “Really? I can’t imagine why.”

  He chuckled. “My lovely wife just put on some Jon Faddis, and I remember how much you admired his style.”

  “Mmm,” I said.

  “But what made you call, son?”

  “That money, mom wants to split between us. There aren’t any strings attached, right?”

  Dad sighed. “No, Gabe. There aren’t. I thought I made that—”

  “You did, Dad. I just wanted to be sure. We have to meet with a lawyer or something before the money gets distributed?”

  He paused. “I don’t know. Have you spoken to your mother?”

  I shook my head. “How could I? I don’t have her number.”

  “Thought I texted that to you, but why don’t you sound angry with her anymore? Have you come to terms with all of this?”

  My head wobbled, not that Dad could see it. “To an extent, I guess.”

  “What brought that on?”

  “I don’t know. I was talking with Cassie, and—”

  “You certainly seem to talk to her a lot,” Dad muttered.

  I sighed. “Well, anyway, she said something and it got me thinking and let’s just say I have plans for that money.”

  Dad groaned. “It better not be an overpriced sports car.”

  I chuckled. “No, Dad. Though, I do need to start lookin’ at new wheels since I’ve spent more on that truck in the past year than I should.”

  “So, what are your plans?”

  “I’m going to invest it, but I don’t want to talk to you about it over the phone. For that matter, I don’t want to jinx it, either.”

  Again, Dad paused. “I can see that, son, but don’t rush into anything without a sound financial advisor.”

  “You’re right, and I hear you, Dad. I’ll be researching a decent advisor in the morning.”

  I could hear the smile in Dad’s voice. “Good. Now, as much as I’ve heard about this Cassandra woman, when will I get to meet her?”

  I smiled. “If I have anything to do with it, very soon, Dad.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, really, but I don’t want to jinx any of that either.”

  17

  Plunging

  Cassie

  THE NEXT DAY I WORKED until nearly nine o’clock at the club. I texted Gabe when I got home. He called me, and after hearing how tired I was he decided to let me have a night to myself in the name of going slow. My mind fixated on this slow business, but luckily I was so exhausted I conked out.

  Today, I wondered how this ‘slow’ business would work. The more I thought about it, the more I realized I didn’t want to go slow. When I got home, I texted him and I was so excited to see him, I had to correct AutoCorrect’s shenanigans three times.

  He had texted back he was on his way, complete with a running man emoji, which made me laugh. Minutes later, sporting a goofy grin, I opened the door. He stalked to me, shut the door behind him and hooked me behind my neck with his arm. His mouth crashed down on mine in a forceful kiss, our bodies flush together.

  Within seconds my world narrowed to him and the multitude of feelings coursing through me. Every stroke of his tongue sent curls of heat through my belly.

  It registered late, but he had moved us past the kitchen to the couch. His weight settled on me and my hands roved his sculpted back.

  As if my touch broke a spell, he pulled his mouth free.

  My eyes opened slowly, but my mouth did the opposite. “Why did you stop?”

  His expression moved from admiration to mirth before he burst out laughing.

  I moved a hand to nudge his shoulder. “Nothing’s funny here, Gabriel.”

  He sobered fast. “Believe me, I know.”

  His hips rocked into mine and his hardness could not be missed.

  He continued. “But I told you we would go slow. That should’ve waited until the end of the evening, but I just couldn’t stop myself.

  I gave him a shy smile. “What if I don’t want to go slow?”

  He blinked for a long moment. “Are you sure about that?”

  Keeping tight hold on his back with one hand, my other hand plunged into the hair on the side of his head to bring his lips to mine. I thought the kiss would pick up where we left off, but he tore his lips away from me.

  His eyes were heated. “Cassandra, the first time I kissed you, I was drunk. You kissed me as a ‘show’ yesterday, but when I kissed you back after the show, you said ‘we couldn’t.’ Honey, I kiss you and you fire up like this, it drives me on. So, you need to be sure you don’t care about going slow. ’Cause, I kiss you again, it’s gonna become more. I have to taste all of you, Cassie. And God knows, I get your clothes off you, I’m gonna have to get inside you.”

  I fought to keep my expression light but I knew I failed as Gabe’s face became concerned.

  “Am I another conquest to you?”

  He stiffened, and I kept talking. “I know what you said about changing your ways, but what happens after?”

  He blinked. When he opened his eyes, they were tender and warm. “I don’t know, Cassie. Cecilia says something all the time about not borrowing trouble. I think that’s what you’re doing. I can’t predict the future, but I want to give this a chance. Don’t you?”

  Like he had to ask.

  “Yes. Even if it scares the bejeebers out of me.”

  He smiled. “Well, that’ll be two of us who are scared. Now, how about you kiss me, Daughtry?”

  I kissed him, and he told no lies. Kissing him fired me up like nothing else. Keeping our mouths connected, his body lifted. He scooped me off the couch and only broke the kiss so he could see his way to my bedroom.

  In my room, he flicked the light on. I looked in his cobalt eyes. “What are you doing, Gabe?”

  He put me on my feet, and his hands roved from my hips up my sides grazing my breasts and back down to my hips again. “You think for one second I’m gonna get something I’ve always wanted and not watch all of it, you’re crazy, Cassandra.”

  “Something you’ve always wanted, huh? I find that hard to believe.”

  He grabbed the hem of my tee and yanked it up. “Believe it, Daughtry. You’ve got it goin’ on.”

  His lips lowered to my neck, and my hands delved into his hair while I inhaled his unique scent. I felt him unclasping my bra, and not to be left out, I pulled up his polo shirt, and he tore his head away from me so he could yank it off.

  My bra was undone, so I tossed it aside while I watched him undo his shorts. When my hands went to my yoga pants, he shook his head.

  “No way, Cassandra. I get the honors of doing that. Especially since you already took off your bra.”

  My eyebrow arched. “What about me? What do I get to do to you?”

  His shorts fell to the floor, and the size of his erection could not be missed even if he was still wearing his boxer briefs.

  I looked up to his eyes, and the most wicked grin I’d ever seen on him curled his lips. “Anything you want, Cassandra. And I do mean anything.”

 
; “In that case,” I said, and slipped my fingers into the waistband of his underwear so I could pull them down, being careful of his cock.

  “Goodness,” I breathed.

  He tilted my chin up and his eyes roved over my face. “No, honey. You’re the goodness.”

  Having him naked in front of me sent a thrill through me, and I planted my lips on his chest. I kissed his pectoral muscles, circled his nipple with my tongue, and before I could move further, Gabe’s arms locked around me and we landed on my bed.

  He lifted up, his eyes full of desire. His fingers dug into the waistband of my yoga pants and underwear before he yanked them off. We were close to the edge of the bed, so I scooted up the bed. When his body came back to mine, he kissed me like I’d never been kissed before. My legs wrapped around him as a needy desire built.

  He reached back to unwrap my legs. “Love that you’re worked up, sweetheart, but like I told you last night. You taste really fuckin’ good, and I’m dying to taste all of you.”

  I smiled. “Does that mean I get to taste you, too?”

  A glint hit his eyes. “Not tonight, darlin’. But it’s good to know you want that.”

  My retort and all other intelligent thoughts left my brain because he dragged his wicked tongue down my neck to my belly with a brief pit-stop at my breasts.

  “Gabe,” I moaned.

  “Cassandra,” he murmured, but I could hear the smile in his voice.

  He hadn’t even made it south of the border and I felt like I could climax already. His fingers skated along my core and I heard him chuckle.

  My head came up. “There’s nothing funny here, Gabe Sullivan.”

  His brows went up. “You’re right, but you really like me, and I really like that. Your body doesn’t lie.”

  I growled at him, but it turned into a moan when his fingers toyed with my clit. Then he lowered his mouth, forcing me to gasp.

  “Oh, fuck,” I cried.

  He pulled away from me. “I got a ‘fuck’ out of you for that. Excellent.”

  “Do not tease me, Gabe,” I said, narrowing my eyes at him.

  His lips tipped up. “Wouldn’t dream of it, darlin’.”

  Everything about Gabe did it for me, and his oral talents were no different. Except, he said he wouldn’t dream of teasing me, but he kind of did. He took me right to the edge of ecstasy and stopped. When he climbed off the bed, I nearly whimpered not only from my needy want but also from the sight of his tight ass. He turned around and I realized why he left since he held a condom between his fingers.

  “Want you to come with me inside you, Cassandra,” he explained.

  My body squirmed, and I slid my fingers down between my thighs as I watched him sheath himself.

  He pounced on the bed, and swatted my hands away. “Don’t even think about it, Daughtry.”

  “I’ve never been so... so, ready, Gabe.”

  “Good,” he whispered, while he slid inside me.

  Filling me so full. Full of love, full of hope, and full of him. God, how I loved him.

  My hands were on his side, moving toward his back, but he grabbed one and then the other. He coaxed me into bending my arms, and he held my hands down on the bed next to my head. His head lowered and he kissed me, long, wet, and sweet.

  When he broke the kiss, his eyes roved my face. “I love you, honey.”

  I smiled. “I love you, too.” I bucked my hips. “But are you gonna get things moving or what?”

  His chuckle sounded devilish. “Bet your sweet ass I am.”

  My breath caught when his hips rolled, and his cock brushed my G-spot.

  He held my hands firm, even though I wanted to cup his cheeks. I bridged my back and bucked my hips again which made him groan.

  His face crashed down, his lips taking me in a forceful kiss.

  My breathing picked up, and Gabe’s face pulled back. “Christ, honey. I’m gonna come soon.”

  “Good,” I breathed, as I swiveled my hips.

  He groaned. “Dammit, woman. Our first time should last longer than this.”

  “You do that hip-roll thing again, and I won’t last either, Gabe.”

  His eyes narrowed at me just a touch.

  I grinned. “Give it to me, G-Rock.”

  He rolled his hips again, and my head tilted back with the pleasure that wrung. Gabe captured my lips in a kiss while groaning. Even though he was sheathed, I felt him come inside me. I tangled my tongue with his because the intensity of feelings I had at that moment demanded to be communicated through kissing. I knew I cared for him before, but the unidentifiable feeling I had far and away transcended that. I couldn’t put my finger on it... until I suddenly figured it out.

  I never knew sheer bliss lived next door to true love.

  GABE TUCKED ME TO HIS side after he returned from the bathroom. It amazed me how well I fit there. My fingers rested on his smattering of chest hair, and I focused on his defined muscles.

  “Whatcha thinking about, Cassandra?”

  I looked into his blue eyes. “Plunging.”

  He did a long blink and jostled me when he chuckled. “Did I hear you right? ‘Plunging?’”

  I smiled. “Yeah. We’re definitely plunging into the deep end.”

  His arm around me tightened. “Not having regrets, are you?”

  “No. I was thinking about how I don’t plunge into anything else in my life. So this is a strange feeling for me. Good-strange, but still strange.”

  Gabe

  CASSIE HAD A HABIT of rambling when she became nervous. I felt her gearing up to do that.

  “Well, you’re right about all of that, but I owe you something.”

  Her brows furrowed and her green eyes scanned my face.

  “Monday, you said you were already in love with me. I realized, I love you, too.”

  “That’s not your other brain talking, right?”

  She had every right to think that of me, especially with my reputation. However, I had given it considerable thought since I saw her Monday night. When it came to things that mattered, I always turned to her. She always had something to contribute, and not just to me. She loved to help others, and I felt like a better man just being around her.

  I shook my head and gave her a squeeze. “No, nerd. I’m being serious. I said it earlier, but I want you to know it isn’t just sex. I never focused on my feelings for you, but I love you and how you look at the world. Not to mention, I love how you look wearing your glasses.”

  “I’ve never worn my glasses... oh,” she ended abruptly.

  I squeezed her again. “Put that out of your head, woman. I regret that morning and I don’t at the same time.”

  “You don’t?” she leaned up from my body.

  I grinned. “No. It woke my shit up. Didn’t know if I ruined us with my asshole behavior or not. Worst damn feeling I’ve ever had.”

  She nestled into my shoulder again. “I’m sorry I made you feel that way.”

  I kissed her forehead. “Don’t be. Just proves things work in mysterious ways.”

  “You’re right.”

  We were silent for a long time.

  “So, what now?” she asked.

  I tipped my chin down to catch her eyes. “What do you mean?”

  “Well,” she hesitated. “Do you need to go? Time to make your clean get-away?”

  My teeth clenched and I rolled so I was on top of her. “I forget how much you know about me, Cassie-Cass. But, hear this. I’ll never need to make a clean get-away from you. Got it?”

  Her lips tipped up. “Got it,” she whispered.

  “Good,” I whispered.

  Her lips pressed into a thin line and her eyes moved to the side. “So, you’re spending the night?”

  “You’re naked, I’m naked. To quote your rock gods, ‘Wild horses couldn’t drag’ my ass away.”

  She chuckled. “Just couldn’t quote it right, could you?”

  “Nope.”

  I WOKE UP SMELLING flowers.
Opening my eyes, I realized it was Cassie’s hair. Her deep breathing made me think of Darth Vader, but I liked listening to her sleep.

  Part of me wondered if I’d denied myself this by never spending the night with other women, but I knew better. Cassie and I being so close was the very reason waking up with her felt so damn good.

  I turned to my left to glance at the alarm clock, which showed it was eight-fifteen. I’d say I never woke this early, but really, I hardly ever went to sleep before midnight. I would gladly go to bed early if it included everything Cassie and I did last night.

  Thoughts of food ran through my mind, but my morning stiffy demanded attention. My fingers glided over Cassie’s hair. The silky softness surprised me.

  Her head shifted and she blinked up at me. “You’re up.”

  “Yeah. Hard for me to sleep more than eight hours.”

  “Mm,” she murmured, sliding her hand down my stomach.

  “Daughtry,” I warned.

  She smiled up at me. “I didn’t get to acquaint myself with your...”

  I filled in the blank left by her hesitation. “My dick?”

  She grinned mischievously. “I guess. Don’t you have a nickname for him?”

  I chuckled.

  “Big Willie Style?” she asked.

  I laughed. “No.”

  She kissed my chest and pushed the sheets down to my thighs. My cock bobbed reflexively.

  “Responsive,” she whispered.

  “You’re gonna get in trouble, Cassandra.”

  She smiled. “Excellent. Being a good girl’s boring as hell.”

  “Kiss Mr. G. good morning.”

  Against my abs she murmured, “Mr. G! You’re crazy.”

  “I’m going crazy is more like it, as slowly as you’re torturing me.”

  Her pink lips brushed my tip forcing me to inhale sharply. When her tongue peeked out and slid from the tip to the base and back again, I groaned.

  She circled the head with her tongue and smiled. “I’m not the only one who tastes really fuckin’ good.”

  I fought hauling her up my body and spanking her lush ass for that comment. Her warm mouth took me deep and she applied liberal suction making me hiss. If I let her continue, I would blow in her mouth and I wanted to come inside of her instead.