Chapter 22
COURTNEY
This is my new favorite time of the week.
The sun’s up, Saturday morning rays creeping down the wall as the moments tick away.
Monday through Friday, I’d already be out of bed, showered, and trying to decide on whether I should have eggs or a smoothie for breakfast or if I’d rather just save some time by having a protein bar in the car.
But today, at least for the next few hours, I don’t have anything pressing to do. Later, it’ll be crazy, but for now, I’m soaking in relaxed bliss, lying in my bed, relishing the warmth of the body next to me as Kaede lazily traces his fingers along my skin, just petting me.
And yes, I know how ridiculous that sounds, especially from me.
I would deny under penalty of torture actually looking forward to being a pet.
I’ve worked too hard to be the Ice Queen, but he melts me so readily.
Even bitchy cats occasionally let you pet them, and that’s what I’ve become .
. . for him only. Icy and distant as usual for everyone else, but I purr at the merest touch from Kaede.
“You ready for today?” Kaede asks quietly, not wanting to break the spell we’re both under.
“As I’m going to be. I hate being paraded around like a show pony by my parents, but for this, I guess I’ll have to make allowances.”
Kaede chuckles, his hand still tracing patterns on my shoulder. “They’re just proud of you, of all of you. You’re the greatest gift they have.”
God, he’s so sweet. Does anyone else know how amazing he is? I hope not. I want it to be my secret. My sweet Kaede, just for me. And ooh, that’s the spot.
I have to stop my leg from bouncing like a dog’s when they’re being stroked just right. Dog, cat . . . whatever, just keep doing that.
“I know.” I sigh into his touch. “But it’s weird to stand there while Dad introduces me to his colleagues with a list of my accomplishments like it’s the annual Christmas card, or worse, my resume.
And then it’s this whole show of one-upmanship.
Oh, your daughter’s a VP? My son is a renowned surgeon, doing Very Important Work, caring for refugee orphans with UNICEF outside the wire.
Oh, well my son’s going to be named executive officer of the Abraham Lincoln, youngest XO in the fleet.
Everyone says in two years he’ll have his own command, and then it’s flag ranks, or maybe politics.
You know how he loves to serve his country.
It’s like watching a bunch of people kissing their own asses so hard their heads get sucked inside like a wayward vibrator. ”
He almost chokes, sputtering at my imagery.
“Well, that would be impressive to see.” Kaede wiggles his hips and cranes his head up without moving enough to dislodge me, making me laugh.
“Nope, can’t see myself doing it. Maybe I should go with you and Abi on that yoga date? Work on my ass-kissing flexibility.”
I shove at him, giggling. “I know! I’m a monster, but ugh .
. . I’m going to be left standing there, trying to figure out how to say ‘Well, the most charitable thing I did was support the Girl Scouts by buying too many cookies last spring, so I guess you win the humanitarian dick measuring contest.’ ”
Kaede laughs too, grabbing my ass and squeezing hard at the muscle, and okay, at the Thin Mints that definitely do not make me thin and instead took up residence in the suburbs of my cheeks.
“I support the Girl Scouts too. Although I prefer if my cookies are all-natural, made from real Girl Scouts.”
I laugh, the line from The Addams Family even more hilarious after we watched it last night before making love. And that’s what it is now, no bones about it even if we’re not saying it.
Kaede kisses my neck and then freezes, pulling back. “Wait . . . is that real? Somebody there tonight actually has a superhuman doctor kid?”
I grin wryly and nod, looking up between his arms that are just about to cage me. “Yup. His name is . . . get this, I swear I’m not making it up . . . Blaine Cleveland . . . the Third.”
I dissolve into helpless giggles, and Kaede collapses next to me, shaking his head. “And the Navy guy?”
“Yup, real as real can be. Xavier Hollingsworth,” I gasp out between laughing clenches of my stomach muscles. At least I’m getting an ab workout today.
“Tell me this—is there an oil tycoon heir named Chet?”
I cannot quit laughing, especially as Kaede rolls onto me, still chuckling too. “No, I don’t think so. Is that a friend of Ross’s?” He shakes his head, his teeth flashing white as he gives me that smirk that’s mine alone. “They’re awful, right? And we’re normal?”
Kaede sighs. “Shit, I hope so. Then again, if we’re the awful ones, at least hell’s gonna be fun with you there too.”
“Thanks!” I wiggle beneath him as he tickles me, both of us cracking up again. It’s bright and fun, light and silly. I’ve never done this in a relationship before, joking and lazing around on a Saturday morning, but with Kaede, I want to just lie here and soak him in like sunshine.
Sex with Kaede is a powerful, body-melting experience.
We’ve learned each other’s bodies and can play one another like masters.
But talking with him, just being with him like this, is equally powerful because we know each other’s mind, too.
I’ve never been with someone this passionate and brilliant, both equal turn-ons.
I’ll miss this.
“Hey,” I ask, mainly to distract myself from any future end, “wanna get a training session in before we get ready?”
“Let’s do it.” He pops my Thin Mint-enhanced ass, grinning easily as he hops up.
We get dressed, me from my closet and him from the bag he has on the floor of my closet.
It’s killing me, and I know it’s got to be driving him nuts.
I have an open drawer already cleaned out for him in my dresser, but I haven’t found it in me to offer it.
Every time I do, it’s like I’m shattering this convenient lie we’ve woven, that this is just temporary fun.
It feels too permanent for something with an expiration date.
But folded clothes in a bag isn’t either of our styles. Even his work clothes for the gym shouldn’t just be stuffed in a bag.
At least his suit for tonight is hanging in the closet. Maybe I can build on that?
We hit the strongman area of One Life for today’s training session. Using a weighted sled, Kaede does a couple of pushes up and down the floor while I do some slow-mo burpees so I can watch my man work.
As he gets winded, I decide he could use some encouragement, and I wouldn’t mind a close-up view.
I hop onto the sled, perching on the flat weights, and call out, “Mush, mush!” Kaede’s no sled dog, but he does another lap, grunting as he laughs at my version of a hard-nosed football coach giving him ‘inspiration’.
“C’mon, man. Give me all you’ve got. Push .
. .” And that of course turns into me singing off-key, “Sha, push it. P–push it real good.” That makes him laugh even more, but we make it.
At the far end, he stops. “Down and back, race you.”
Oh, shit! I hop off the sled and line up with him. I take a good step and then yell back, “Go!” He still beats me easily, but it’s fun to race one another, even if I cheated.
We have fun and Kaede talks about actually competing in the strongman competition. “Not sure if that’s legit, since it’s my event. Definitely a conflict of interest.”
I shake my head. “Only if you win. If you participate, you’re supporting your members. AJ’s gonna win, anyway.”
He wraps his arms around me, picking me up and spinning me around while I try to hold back the squeal of delight that’s trying to fight free.
“You think so? Think he can beat me?” he mock-growls.
I tilt my head and give him a wry look because while Kaede is in amazing tip-top shape, AJ is a monster.
“Well, you don’t have to be so sure about it,” he jokes.
I give him a quick kiss, soothing the not-even-an-insult. It’s just a fact.
We get back just after noon and use some good old-fashioned teamwork to make a quick meal of chicken and asparagus together, dancing around my kitchen like pros.
After we clean up the dishes, we shower and get ready.
I pull on my dress, a black cocktail dress that I know looks a little conservative, even for me, but tonight’s event requires it.
“You look beautiful,” Kaede says as I put on my earrings, a gift from Mom that I’m wearing for her.
“You too . . . well, handsome in a sort of geeky, I guess I’ll take you to the party way.”
Kaede laughs and mimes adjusting some glasses before we head out. I grab my gift from the kitchen and pause at the front door. I know it’s just a few minutes . . . but this part sucks.
“I’m going to stop at a specialty liquor store to pick up some single malt Glenfiddich for Morgan so we don’t arrive together,” Kaede says, looking me up and down. “And I know you need to get going to do your daughter duties.”
Shit. Looking into his eyes, I’d almost forgotten. It feels so natural with Kaede, but we have to keep up appearances, dancing this real-no real edge.
We discussed going to my parents’ anniversary party as two singles, not a couple, because we're not extending the charade to my parents. There’s no need to. Still, it pinches something inside me painfully.
I want to go with you, arrive on your arm, dance the night away, and be with you, Kaede McWarren.
I nod and reach up to adjust his tie a bit even though it doesn’t need it. “Okay. And remember, he prefers the fifteen over the twenty-five-year-old bottles, so don’t splurge on the old stuff. I’ll see you there?”
He nods stiffly, kissing my cheek politely, but it’s nothing like this morning when it was just us. Which just sucks because it means we’re putting on our fucking masks again.
It’s almost a tradition as my parents have tallied up the years of their marriage.
Twenty-five years? Elegant.
Thirty years? Resplendent.