Chapter 41
Chapter Forty-One
Kaden
The Play Beyond the Whistle
I force a polite smile as my dad pulls me into a brief, firm hug, the scent of his aftershave lingering in the air between us. “You handled yourself well tonight, son,” he says.
“Yeah, sure,” I mutter, stepping back and shoving my hands into my pockets. Pop gives me a solid clap on the shoulder, his usual way of showing approval. No fuss, no over-the-top words. Just action. That’s how we work.
“You’ll visit soon, right?” Dad asks.
“Of course,” I lie, knowing full well soon could mean weeks or months. I’m already itching to get out of this hotel lobby and back to somewhere less . . . crowded.
We head for the exit after a few more pleasantries. Valentina’s heels echo against the glossy floor as we walk side by side. I glance at her out of the corner of my eye. Even now, after hours of playing nice for the cameras and dodging endless small talk, she looks composed. Calm. Like the chaos of the night didn’t even touch her. How does she do that?
The driver stands by the car, his face a mask of polite professionalism. “Mr. Crawford, Miss,” he greets us, opening the door with a practiced smile. “Will this be to your residence, sir, or . . .”
“Mine,” I say before she can say a word. My voice comes out rougher than I intended, and I catch her tilting her head at me, one eyebrow raised. Her look says it all: What’s your problem? But she doesn’t say anything, just slides into the car with her usual grace. I follow, letting the door shut behind me.
The interior feels like a different world—quiet, insulated, private. She settles into her seat, her posture as flawless as always, while I stare straight ahead, my jaw tight. I should explain why I answered for her. I should say something, anything.
Instead, I act. My hand finds the back of her neck, fingers skimming the curve of her skin, and I pull her toward me. There’s no hesitation, no second-guessing, just the pull of something I can’t hold back anymore.
Her lips meet mine, and it’s like striking a match. It’s not soft or careful; it’s a rush of everything I’ve been holding inside. My heart thuds in my chest as her lips part slightly, and for a split second, she stills—caught off guard.
But then, she moves. Her hands grip my shirt, her nails digging in as if she’s bracing herself. I tangle my fingers in her hair, ruining whatever perfect style she had earlier. My other hand slides to her waist, pulling her against me until there’s no room left between us.
The kiss is fierce, consuming, her breath mingling with mine in the close space of the car. It’s like the rest of the world has fallen away, leaving just this—her, me, and the electricity crackling between us.
And for once, I don’t fight it. I just let myself feel.
Our kiss deepens, and I can taste the sweetness of champagne on her tongue, mingling with something purely her—intoxicating and addictive. My pulse pounds in my ears, my head spinning as her nails scrape lightly against my chest. Every nerve in my body feels alive, raw with need.
When we finally pull apart, gasping for air, I rest my forehead against hers, our breaths mingling in the charged silence. Her eyes meet mine, dark with desire, and for a moment, it’s like the world narrows to just us, the heat humming between our bodies.
“I’ve wanted this all night,” I rasp, my voice rough with need. “You have no idea what you do to me, Valentina.”
Her lips curl into a small, wicked smile, and she leans in just enough to whisper against my mouth, “Oh, I think I do.”
Before I can respond, she claims my lips again, her kiss hungry and demanding. A soft moan escapes her as my hands skim her thighs, sliding beneath the hem of her dress. The warmth of her skin against my palms drives me closer to the edge, and when she shifts onto my lap, grinding against me, I groan low in my throat.
The private screen slides up with a soft hum, sealing us away from the rest of the world. My hand brushes the fabric pooled at her hips, and I can’t stop the grin that spreads across my face.
Her fingers fumble with my belt, then my trousers, freeing me with an urgency that matches the fire in my chest. When she wraps her hand around me, I hiss, my head falling back against the seat. The sensation is almost too much, and I struggle to hold on to the last threads of control.
“Condom,” she murmurs, fishing one out of her purse. Okay, so we both learned to be ready. Her hands tremble slightly as she tears the wrapper, sliding it onto me with a touch that nearly undoes me.
“Are you sure?” I manage to ask, my voice rough, my restraint hanging by a thread.
Her answer is a look—a smoldering, deliberate glance as she positions herself above me. Slowly, agonizingly, she sinks down, taking me in completely. A ragged groan tears from my throat as her warmth envelops me, and for a heartbeat, we stay still, breathing heavily, savoring the electric connection.
Then she moves. The rhythm she sets is intoxicating, her hips rolling in a way that has me gripping her thighs for dear life. Her silk dress spills over us like a curtain, brushing against my skin as she rides me. She throws her head back, exposing the elegant curve of her throat, her lips parted in bliss.
“You’re perfect,” I murmur, my voice thick with awe and desire. “So fucking perfect for me, Valentina.”
My hands roam her body, tracing every curve, committing every detail to memory. When I tug the neckline of her dress down, baring her to me, I can’t hold back a low groan. “Beautiful,” I whisper, leaning forward to take her peaked nipple into my mouth. She gasps, her inner muscles clenching around me, the sensation drawing a deep, guttural sound from my chest.
The car rocks faintly with the urgency of our movements. Her fingers tangle in my hair, pulling me closer as my lips and tongue worship her skin. Her soft cries fill the space, and I know I’ll never get enough of this—of her.
“Kaden,” she whimpers, her voice breathless, desperate. “Oh god, Kaden . . .”
I slip a hand between us, my fingers finding her clit, and the reaction is instant—her breath hitches, her cries growing louder as her hips roll against mine. She moves with frantic, desperate need, and I know neither of us will last much longer.
“Valentina,” I growl, my hands gripping her hips as she rides me. “You’re so fucking perfect. So warm. So wet. All mine.”
Her head falls back, her body arching beautifully, exposing the long, graceful line of her neck. The silk of her dress brushes against my thighs as it pools around her waist, adding to the erotic chaos of the moment.
“Say it,” I demand, my voice rough as I thrust up to meet her movements. “Tell me you’re mine.”
“I’m yours,” she gasps, her nails digging into my shoulders for leverage. “Kaden, I’m yours. Always.”
“Good girl,” I rasp, my fingers teasing her clit, driving her higher. “This gorgeous cunt was made for me. Do you feel how perfect you are, Valentina? How perfectly you take me?”
Her rhythm falters as she tightens around me, her gasps turning into moans that echo through the car. “Yes,” she whimpers, her hips rocking harder, faster. “I need you. I can’t—oh god, Kaden.”
“That’s it,” I groan, trailing kisses along her jaw, her neck. “You’re so beautiful, so damn good for me. Do you feel how perfect you are? How amazing you make me feel?”
Her nails dig into my shoulders, her breath hitching as I thrust up to meet her movements, my fingers still working her in time with the rhythm we’ve created. “Kaden,” she whimpers, her voice trembling with need. “Oh god, yes . . . just like that.”
“Yeah?” I growl against her ear, my hand sliding up to cup the back of her neck, holding her close. “You’re mine, Valentina. Every gorgeous inch of you is mine. You feel so fucking good. So tight, so warm.”
Her moans grow louder, her hips moving with wild abandon. She’s breathtaking. I lean forward, catching the top of her tit, sucking on it, and her reaction is instant—a sharp gasp, her body tightening around me, drawing a guttural sound from my throat.
“That’s my girl,” I praise, my voice rough with admiration. “So perfect. So damn sexy. Keep going, baby—just like that.”
Her body trembles, her thighs quivering around mine as she chases her release. I feel it building, the way her inner muscles tighten, fluttering around me with each thrust. Her head falls back, exposing her throat, and I watch, mesmerized, as she falls apart.
“Kaden,” she screams, her nails raking down my chest as her climax hits her like a wave. Her body spasms, squeezing me so tightly I can barely breathe. Every pulse of her around me pulls me closer to the edge, her cries of ecstasy echoing in the confined space of the car.
“That’s it,” I rasp, my voice rough, almost broken. “You’re so beautiful when you come. God, Valentina, you’re fucking incredible.”
She trembles against me, her body clenching and releasing as aftershocks ripple through her. The sight of her—flushed, undone, trembling—pushes me past the point of no return.
I grip her hips, thrusting up to meet her as I bury myself deep inside her one last time. A guttural groan tears from my throat as my release overtakes me, white-hot pleasure searing through me. I come hard, my body tensing as her name falls from my lips like a prayer.
Her body rocks against mine, our movements slowing as the intensity fades, leaving only the heavy sound of our breathing and the warmth of her pressed against me.
Valentina collapses forward, her face buried in my neck, her soft pants brushing my skin. I hold her there, my hands still cradling her hips, unwilling to let go just yet.
“You’re amazing,” I murmur, pressing a kiss to her temple, my voice still rough from the rawness of it all.
She doesn’t respond with words—just a small, satisfied sigh that feels like an answer.
In this moment, as she rests against me, her body still trembling faintly, I know I’ve never felt anything like this before. And I don’t think I ever will again.