Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
A nnie
I have a break in between classes so I head to Cup of Java. Cade and I stopped having our daily meetups here, but I’m pretty sure most people know we are a couple between the social media posts at his hockey game here in Riverside to the posts about Cade punching Ford in the face.
I’m standing in line when I hear my name. I turn to see Ford and my stomach sinks. My instinct is to walk away, but I really need a hot chocolate. I must be getting my period and I’m craving all the sweets.
“Annie,” he repeats my name from behind me in line again.
I turn to him. “I don’t think we have anything to say to each other.”
“I think we do,” he insists, and he raises my hackles.
I furrow my brows.
“I mean, I want to apologize to you. I’ve been thinking about it lately. I let my ego get in the way of a lot of things in my life, and the way I held on to you at Black Jack’s. . .”
“You mean grabbed hold of me and wouldn’t let go,” I correct, figuring there are enough people around that I can be bold.
“Fair,” he says. “Bottom line is, I drank too much that night. I read the situation wrong and your boyfriend had every right to punch me out. I would’ve done the same thing, had I not been the asshole in this scenario.” He smiles and his dimples pop. That smile used to make the world around me melt away, but now I don’t feel anything at all.
“Thanks for apologizing,” I say to him. When it’s my turn to order, I get my hot chocolate.
Ford steps forward to pay.
“I can pay for my own drink,” I insist.
“I know, but I feel bad. Let me pay, Annie.” He taps his card and then orders himself a drink. “I know your dad settled out of court. I hope things work out okay with the farm. I know how much you love it there.”
“Thanks. Daddy is relieved they reduced the penalty, but we are still in a bind. We may have to sell most of the animals,” I say, frowning because I must be getting my period soon, I become overemotional and a small tear escapes. I brush it away and Ford reaches out to console me.
“Your dad is a smart guy. He has a lot of connections in the dairy industry. I’m sure he’ll come up with something.” Ford is being nice. This is how I remember him. He was always a good guy, he just had trouble keeping his dick in his pants.
“Thanks, Ford.”
When I look up, I see Cade walking by. He walks up to us.
“Everything okay here?” Cade asks. He is much bigger and stronger than Ford and when he stands tall, he towers over both of us.
Ford picks up his hand. “I was just apologizing to Annie about that night at Black Jack’s. I feel terrible about what went down. Can we call a truce?”
Cade watches Ford like he’s a loose cannon and he doesn’t know what to expect. I can’t say I blame him.
Ford has his hand extended to Cade, and it takes Cade a few beats to react and shake his hand. “We can call a truce but if you ever lay a hand on my girl again, I can’t promise you the consequences won’t be uglier next time,” Cade warns.
Ford laughs but it sounds nervous. “Okay, yeah, I get it. Annie, I’m glad you have this guy watching out for you,” he says. “You both have yourselves a good day.” He walks off without taking the drink he paid for.
“What was that about?” Cade asks.
“He was literally apologizing like he said,” I inform Cade.
“You guys looked a little cozy when I walked over here,” Cade notes, looking tense.
“Cade Price, are you jealous?” I grin mischievously.
Cade’s response is one of confusion. He looks like he is trying to figure himself out. “I don’t know, I’ve never been jealous before. If you saw me sitting here with Scarlett talking all quiet, would you get jealous?” he asks, throwing me off.
The thing is, I don’t even have to think about it. “I’d be jealous, Cade.”
“Yeah?” he asks, and he looks turned on.
“Yeah,” I confirm, feeling my body heat from the way his amber eyes are searing into me.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” he asks.
“That you want to have sex?” I state.
He laughs. “This is crazy.”
“Where can we go?” I ask.
“Oh, we’re seriously considering this? When is your next class?” he asks.
I look at my watch. “I’ve got the same amount of time. We could go out to my car…” he suggests. “The windows have a very dark tint.”
I bite my lip. I’m actually considering this. “Let’s do it.”
Cade takes hold of my hand. We speed walk our way through the halls and out the main door. We continue speed walking until we make it to the lot he parked in.
“This is crazy, Cade,” I say when we make it to his car. Before he opens the door, he dips his head and claims my lips. I reach up on my tiptoes and wrap my arms around his neck.
When I moan into his mouth, he says, “In the car.” His voice is deep and filled with need.
We throw our backpacks and jackets in the back seat and then Cade is leaning over the seat and grabbing something. I don’t know what he is getting until I realize it’s a shade for the front window.
“I use it to block out heat in the summer,” he says. “Now we’re using it to block the view.”
He turns on the car and blasts some heat.
“Take those jeans off, Annie. I can’t undress you in such a small space.”
I take off my jeans and panties with an urgency that surprises me. When Cade sheathes his cock with a condom, I feel a clench between my thighs from just watching him.
“Ride me, baby.”
“Seriously, but I don’t know how,” I say hesitantly. I’ve learned not to be shy around Cade because he doesn’t judge me and he’s an eager teacher.
“Come here. It’s probably the same as riding a horse which, by the way, I remember you wanted to show me the trails over Christmas and we never got to it,” he says. Why does he have to be so sweet and attentive? He wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me onto his lap so I am straddling him. He reaches under my shirt to tweak my nipples, and I feel it between my thighs. We start kissing again and hunger for him pulls me under. When I start rocking myself against his cock, he reaches down with his finger and strokes my clit.
“Always so ready for me.” He isn’t wrong. I’ve never responded to a guy like this before. My trusted toys got me off fast, but it was fast and didn’t feel anything like what Cade does to me.
“I need you inside me.” I nip his lower lip as he guides his cock inside me. I seat myself on him and I start to move.
“Yes,” he hisses. “Just like that.” He uses his hands to help me move my hips until I find my own rhythm. I realize from this vantage point I can ride him and rub my clit along his length, and it feels exquisite.
I begin to moan loudly and place my hand on the window to help myself ride Cade harder and faster. “It’s so good, Cade. I’m going to come.”
I don’t even understand how sex can be this good. The windows get steamy, and Cade pulls on my nipples, which I am learning I like very much. I go off like a rocket, rubbing myself in all the right places. My orgasm is loud as I ride him. I feel him stiffen as he tilts his hips up to meet me thrust for hungry thrust. I fall limp on him and try to catch my breath.
Despite the cold outside, our skin feels dewy from the heat in the car and the workout we just had.
He checks his watch. “We have five minutes to get to class,” he says. I move off him and dress quickly. Cade discards the condom and pulls up his jeans and boxers. We get our jackets back on and take our bags and leave the car.
“My legs feel like jelly.” I laugh.
“You have a healthy flush on your cheeks too,” Cade notes.
We walk back to the main building and part ways but before we do, Cade pecks my lips and smiles, and my heart melts. Yup, I’m in so much trouble with him. “I need to meet with Scarlett at some point this week. I thought about it after we spoke, and she and I need to have closure,” he says.
I blink. “I know.” But I don’t like it.
Cade goes left and I go right. I make it to lecture just as the prof is about to start, and I can’t wipe the stupid smile off my face the entire time.