7. Chapter Six
Chapter Six
Spencer
We step outside and I take in a giant breath, letting the cool, fresh air wash over me. It helps clear my head from the chaos bouncing around inside of me.
I cannot believe Cade and I have been double booked again. I really should have thought of that before we got to the hotel but for some reason, all I could think about was getting into my own room so I could finally masturbate and take the edge off without worrying about Cade overhearing. So much for that plan.
To be honest, I’m not mad that we’ve ended up in the same room once more. Getting to know Cade has been wonderful. He’s confident yet soft, dominant yet kind. He’s larger than life and I’m just happy he’s letting me into his orbit.
Now that we’ll be sharing a bed, I can’t help but let my thoughts drift. Are we going to do more than sleep together during the next few days? Do I want to have sex with Cade?
Okay, that’s easy to answer. Fuck yes. But is that a good idea?
“The weather couldn’t be more beautiful,” Cade says beside me as we walk down the street. “I can wear a hoodie without sweating my ass off and the wind keeps me cool. I love this.”
I tilt my head up towards the sky, smiling at the sunshine. “I agree. I love weather like this. I thought it would be colder here since we’re so close to the ocean, but it’s perfect.”
“What should we be looking for?”
I look across the street, then up at the signs ahead of us. Nothing really catches my attention so I give Cade a shrug. “I have no idea,” I admit with a laugh.
“I’ve got an idea,” Cade says before walking over to a couple walking in the opposite direction of us. He stops them. “Hey, I’m so sorry to bother you but we’re new to the area and we’re looking for some of the best spots. You know, the kind that locals know about but newcomers and travelers would totally overlook?”
They look at each other before looking back at us. “You have to try out Periwinkle’s Penne. It’s this tiny Italian restaurant.”
“That sounds amazing.”
“There’s also Chocolate Meltdown. It’s the most adorable cafe you’ll ever see. It’s really not far from here!”
We thank them for their time and head down the road they’ve pointed out for us. I startle when the back of my hand touches Cade’s. He looks over at me, ready to give a soft apology but I reach over and grab his hand before he can.
My stomach is a flutter of butterflies. We are holding hands, I repeat, Cade and I are holding hands! It’s such a small, simple thing, yet my entire body is sparking with excited shivers.
We hold hands the entire walk to Chocolate Meltdown. The outside has the tiniest sign. It’s no wonder this isn’t a tourist spot, I would have never guessed this was a cafe without those people telling us!
Stepping inside, I look around and can’t help but smile. It’s obvious that most things here are chocolate themed. The tables and chairs are all a deep chocolate color, the walls are covered with different chocolate paintings, and there’s a display of flavored chocolates by the counter.
We walk up to the counter, looking up at the board filled with different drinks, flavors, and specials.
“Oh wow,” I breathe out, “there’s so much to pick from.”
“I think I’m going to get a peppermint mocha and a chocolate donut with sprinkles. Or maybe I’ll get something bigger since it’s lunch time? No, I’ll stick to the donut. We’re on vacation after all.”
I hum as I listen to Cade.
“I want a donut too,” I decide.
The worker comes over to us after she’s finished wiping down the counter. “Welcome in! What can we make for you today?”
Cade orders and then looks at me. “I’ll try the caramel chocolate donut with a vanilla iced latte please.”
“Perfect,” she says, taking Cade’s debit card from him.
“Thank you, Cade.”
He looks at me and smiles. “You’re welcome, handsome.”
I smack his arm in response, doing my best not to bury my face under the collar of my shirt. Damn him and his smooth lines. Why the fuck do I keep falling for them, hook, line, and sinker?
Cade puts a hand on my lower back as we walk away from the counter, finding a table to sit at. My entire body warms, the pit of my stomach fluttering delightfully. I like it when he touches me so casually.
I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve never felt this way before, especially not with someone I’ve only just met. There’s something special about Cade, something that’s pulling me in by my lapels and not letting go. These feelings are overwhelming in the most wonderful way. I feel like I’m a fresh kitten getting his first crush. There’s butterflies in my belly, warmth in my cheeks, and lightning bolts of pleasure that continue to roll down my spine every time I’m in his presence. I somehow both love it and hate it at the same time.
Cade adjusts his beanie as he sits down across from me. “So,” he says, tapping his fingers against the table. “What is the scariest thing you’ve ever done?”
A strangled noise leaves my throat. “What?”
“What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done?” Cade repeats the question, looking at me expectantly.
“Okay, so that’s really what you asked. What a cute little icebreaker,” I say, raising my brow at him.
“Icebreaker? I think we’re past that, don’t you think?”
I let out a long sigh, pretending to be annoyed but in reality, I’m thrilled beyond words. What an interesting question. I think about it for a moment before smiling.
“Honestly? Probably going on a vacation all alone. I know I hide it really well, but I’m a bit on the anxious side,” I say, letting out a self deprecating chuckle.
“I never would have guessed that. You hide it so well, Spencer.”
“Shut up,” I say, reaching across the table and flicking Cade’s hand. He latches on to my hand, holding onto it. A shiver runs through me as his thumb skims across the sensitive part of the inside of my wrist.
He’s so soft with me.
“I’m proud of you,” he says softly. “You did something scary. I’m so happy you decided to come on this vacation. If you hadn’t done the scary thing, we wouldn’t have met.”
I inch my wrist forward, very obviously rubbing our wrists together. It’s something shifters do in order to purposely rub each other’s scents onto each other. I’m scent marking him. My stomach swoops as I do it and Cade watches with wide eyes before turning his eyes back to me and smiling softly.
“I’m really glad we met, Cade.”
The barista walks over to our table, dropping off our drinks and donuts.
“Thank you,” Cade says, giving my hand another squeeze before pulling away so he can take a drink of his mocha.
Picking up my drink and bringing it to my mouth, I subtly sniff my wrist. Everything inside of me lights up at the smell of our scents mixed together pressed into my skin. It’s perfect and wonderful and everything I’d want from a mate.
Wait. Fuck. Mate?
I take such a deep sip that I end up choking, cursing myself for thinking about mating someone I’ve only known a few days. But now that the word has been brought up within the safety of my mind, I can’t stop thinking about it.
Cade would look so wonderful with my bite marking him as mine.
“What are you thinking about right now?”
My eyes snap up to meet Cade’s, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. “Nothing,” I tell him right away.
“You’re lying,” he says with a smirk. “You’re thinking about something and I’d really like to hear what it is because you’ve got a really dreamy look to your eyes. And now you’re blushing. It must have been a really good thought.”
I clear my throat. “Umm, it was just. I was just thinking. Shit,” I finally say, covering my face with my hands, thankful that they’re cold from my iced latte, helping to cool my face.
Cade’s chuckle makes molten lava lust pool heavy in my gut. Gods, I want to hear him chuckle like that again when we’re back in our room, just the two of us locked away from the world.
I want him. In the carnal sense.
Not only that, but I can admit that I have real, genuine feelings for him. Sure, the feelings are coming on hot and fast, but I don’t care. They’re just as real if we’d known each other for years instead of days.
Cade looks at me with a raised brow, waiting. I bite my bottom lip before blurting out, “I was thinking about how pretty you’d look covered in love bites.” Close enough to the truth.
A sly smile stretches across Cade’s face. “Oh my gods, Spencer.” He leans across the table, talking soft enough that only I can hear him, his voice deep and husky. “Hearing you say that just made me so hard my head grew light.”
“Really?”
“Yeah,” he says, sitting back in his seat, looking relaxed and at ease. The fact that he’s apparently hard but acting like nothing out of the ordinary leaves me breathless. Fuck, I want him and I’m tired of holding myself back.
Cade’s been open with me about his past, about his life, and about his interest in me. I’ve been terrified of embarrassing myself, of putting myself out there and having him reject me or making things awkward. I don’t want to live in fear any longer. I want to let myself have Cade and take everything he’s been gently offering me.
A thrill goes through me as my decision to fully pursue Cade settles within me. We finish our donuts and coffees, asking each other random questions and exchanging light touches. Someone once told me foreplay started outside the bedroom and I never really understood until now. There’s a hum at the back of my head, a simmering of lust just under my skin, burning brighter and brighter from everything Cade is doing. His teasing looks, gentle touches, and sly smiles.
Instead of going back to our hotel, we decide to keep walking around, exploring the area. We pass an adorable outdoor trinket shop and I pull Cade along, forcing him to stop and look at everything with me. There’s little keychains and buttons and stickers. Some of them relate to the area we’re at, but others are random.
Cade and I each pick up a keychain. His is the most adorable cartoon manatee I’ve ever seen while the one I find is a cat sleeping in the shape of a heart. We buy our respective keychains and hand them to each other, an unspoken agreement that we were buying them for each other.
“Thank you,” I say, putting the keychain into my pocket right away. “I love it.” Then I look down at him. “Is this because you’re a manatee?”
Cade pauses. “Is that a fat joke?”
“What? Oh my gods, no ! I wouldn’t joke about that. Plus, I like your body just as it is.”
Cade puts his hands on my shoulders, pulling me from my ramblings. “I’m just fucking with you, Spencer. Yes, I’m a manatee shifter.”
“Okay,” I say, my shoulders falling away from my ears. “Sorry. I just wouldn’t want you to think I’d say something mean to you. Especially because I like you. Like in a romantic way. But also in a sexy way. You’re very sexy. The most sexy. Fuck, I’ve said the word sexy too many times in a row and now things are awkward.”
The hands on my shoulders squeeze. “You’re perfect,” he breathes out before getting onto his tiptoes and kissing my lips.
Everything around us fades away until the only thing inside my mind is the two of us and the feeling of Cade kissing me. I wrap my hands around his back, tugging him until our bodies are pressed together.
Cade is a ridiculously good kisser and I’m swept away.
When Cade breaks the kiss in order to breathe, he doesn’t go far. He runs the tip of his nose against mine, his beard tickling my face. “I mean that, Spencer. Keep being yourself because you’re perfect. I’m so fucking glad those asshole YouTubers scammed us into taking this vacation together.”
I smile so wide my cheeks begin to hurt. “Me too, Cade. Me too.”