30. Dani
30
dani
The lodge is breathtaking.
I take my time as we walk into the lobby to enjoy the intricate details of the wood, the chandelier that hangs from the ceiling, and the tile work on the floor. It was clear the place was made with love, and the minute details that went into it are a far cry from some commercial builds you see these days.
Aveline had told me a little about how her husband Ethan put so much time and effort into it, saying that since he’d moved home years ago, he’d found his passion in woodworking. His love for it was clear in every detail of this place.
It was a little strange for me to be here to check into a room for one night. Clearly, everyone here would know what we were up to, but Amelia swore she would be discreet when I’d asked her and said her client’s confidentiality meant a lot to her.
Not to mention, she understood not having time for dating when there is family hovering.
I stopped by earlier to grab the key, so there’s no reason to stop at the desk, though when I look over, Amelia gives us a wave which Cade returns, and I give her a smile.
“So.” He clears his throat when we get to our door, which is thankfully all the way down a long hallway. I think there’s another level upstairs, making this place way bigger than I had expected it to be. “Now everyone will know we’re here.”
I pause to decipher the tone of his voice and turn to face him before opening the door. “Does that bother you?”
Cade smiles down at me and shakes his head. “Honey, if I could have told the world we were back together already, I would have.”
His head leans closer to mine, my back against the door, and I feel a tingle in some places I haven’t felt in a long time. “You would?”
“Mm-hmm,” he murmurs before he presses a soft kiss to my lips, so soft there’s barely pressure, but the tease is enough to get my heart rate quickening. “You gonna open the door, or is the whole town gonna know more than a rumor?”
I smile softly and spin, pressing my backside against him as I do as torture. Victory is mine when he groans, and his hands fall to my hips. Finally, I get the door open, and we move inside the room. I let Cade shut and lock the door and toss my bag on the floor.
“Wow, this is—” I let out a yelp when hands spin me, and Cade fireman lifts me over his shoulders. I’m laughing when he tosses me down on the big king-size bed. “What in the world?” I ask, a smile overtaking my lips.
“I’ve waited over six years to be with you again.” His eyes blaze as he looks at me spread out before him. “I’ve never let myself think I deserved to be with you again, but you’re letting me. You’re giving me a chance to not fuck it up, and I’m not about to spend my first night alone with you talking about the color of the walls in here.”
I chuckle at his intensity, cocking my head to the side. “Well, then, what are you going to do?”
Cade doesn’t answer but instead starts at my feet, sliding my boots off one by one, followed by my socks. I lean up and take off my jacket, tossing it off the bed.
He sets his hat on the side table and kicks off his own boots before moving back over to me. I’m lying in the center of the bed, and he crawls over me, gazing down at me like a prize he’s won .
“Fucking hell, Dani.” He shakes his head, a look of wonder, maybe, on his face. “Do you even realize how gorgeous you are?”
A blush rises into my cheeks, but I try to ignore it. I’m no longer the girl who is going to get shy. I’m going to push for what I want, and what I want is him.
“Why don’t you show me?”
He grins down at me, and his hands go to the buttons on my blouse, undoing them one by one and revealing the lacy white bra underneath, his eyes dilating at the sight.
He untucks the shirt from my skirt, and I show him that the skirt wraps, he unties it, and it falls around me. “Like the best kind of gift,” he compliments, and I smile at him, my breath picking up now that I’m almost down to my underwear.
Sitting up, he pulls at his shirt and quickly unbuttons it before tearing it off, damn near ripping his undershirt when he yanks it over his head, and I take that moment to take my shirt all the way off before lying back.
He covers his body with mine, the skin of our torsos touching, and I shiver. “I’m going to cherish every moment with you,” he whispers, his eyes holding mine, eager affection in his every look and movement. “I’ll never take another minute for granted. I promise.”
I swallow back the tears that threaten to flood my eyes and nod my head. “I know you won’t.”
“Good.” He lowers his head, kissing me and letting our emotions guide us in the moment. It’s more powerful than it’s ever been.
It’s the hurt between us getting let go.
It’s the passion between us increasing.
It’s the love we still share growing and blossoming.
It’s everything I could ask for.
Cade quickly discards his jeans and grabs a condom out of his pocket. He pulls my panties off so quickly that I think I hear a tear, but I just smile.
If my partner doesn’t want me so desperately that he doesn’t sometimes rip a panty or two, well, I don’t want it.
Lying back over me, he reaches behind me and unclasps my bra, pulling it off me and throwing it behind him, I chuckle at him, and he smiles broadly, taking my lips with his in a quick kiss, one that gradually grows as his hand wanders, running over my breasts and stomach before finding my center.
I moan and shake my head. “No need. I’m more than ready.” And I can feel he is too.
“No, baby. It’s not about being ready. It’s about being cherished.” He grabs my legs, sliding each one over his shoulders as he gazes down at me. “Let me cherish you the way you deserve.”
I open my mouth to respond, but it’s cut off by a sharp inhale of breath as his nose nudges my clit. My head tilts back, and I moan as his tongue finds the spot it’s looking for.
This man…
He makes a noise that vibrates through me. His hands wrap around my thighs, bringing me closer to his face, and I grasp the bedding at my sides.
I let out a little noise as he continues to work. I wasn’t kidding when I said I was ready. It takes no time at all before I see stars dance behind my eyelids, and I call out his name in a moan.
He sits up, his movements now somewhat hurried, and I’m still catching my breath.
He gives me almost a grateful look that makes me giggle, and he sits up, ripping open the condom and then sliding it on in a quick motion.
Positioning his body, he looks down at me, and for some reason, I nod, giving him the go-ahead just in case me booking a room for us wasn’t enough of an answer to the unspoken question, and he positions himself, sliding into me with three careful thrusts.
I feel my back arch off the bed and gasp at the overwhelming sensations that pulse through me. It’s been years. It’s been years of not having sex, but it’s been years since him , since allowing emotions and feelings to open up enough for someone to have this piece of me. He’s the only one I’ve ever allowed to have it.
I bite back the sting of tears at the intense affection I feel for him, and he pauses, clearly noticing.
“Are you okay? Am I being too rough?”
His vocal concern touches me, and I shake my head. “No, no, it’s good. Please move.”
I look up at him when he doesn’t, and I nod my head in encouragement. Cade’s hair falls in his eyes, and he moves lower, positioning my legs around him and his arms come around me, holding me tightly.
As he moves, he holds me, and I realize that no matter how desperate he is, he’s not rushing.
We’re not fucking. We’re making love.
“God, honey, you feel like heaven on earth.” His voice is strained, but he pushes through, holding me and rocking his hips back and forth, changing angles as his pace quickens.
“You too,” I moan out, my nails digging into his shoulders as his mouth crashes down onto mine again.
I revel in the feel of him, in his weight on top of me, and the connection between us growing stronger .
I love this man. More than I’ve ever loved anything.
Letting him in like this is a step toward our future, a step toward a life filled with the love and magic that only Cade can make me feel.
“Cade!” I call out, feeling myself rush toward my climax, and his hand slips between our bodies, rubbing my clit and encouraging me to come faster.
I lose my breath as I come, and not two seconds later, Cade stills inside of me, still holding me close.
We catch our breath for a few minutes and hold each other, not willing to let the other go as we let ourselves just feel in this moment.
He lifts and holds himself above me, his eyes moving over my face, awe in his own expression. “You called me Cade again. That’s only the second time you’ve used that name since we…started talking again.”
I think about how I called out his name, how I let that wall slip in my moment of passion. But he’s slipped past all the barriers. He’s made me feel loved and whole again, so this is no surprise.
“I guess I did.” I smile at him, my hand reaching up to cup his bearded cheek. “Calling you CT protected me from letting you in.”
His eyes soften as understanding dawns. I’m fully, truly giving myself over to him again. “Thank you.” Then he kisses me again.
We hold each other the rest of the night, alternating between talking and making love.
It’s a night I’ll remember forever. No matter what the future throws at us, we can come back to this moment, to the moment where nothing scared us. Where we both put our hearts on the line, willing to risk them again for each other.
It was as terrifying as it was exhilarating.