Chapter 7 At Your Own Risk
at your own risk
Maureen Capshaw was beyond fed up with her son.
He was an adult, yet he still stumbled through life like a toddler learning to walk.
She was tired of him drifting through life as if she’d continue to fix all his mistakes.
Sitting in the plush seat of the Capshaw private jet as it touched down, she sipped her cocktail and her eyes were affixed to the snow outside, as her mind wandered.
Since the loss of “her boys,” nothing was ever the same to her.
She had a daughter who barely spoke to her despite all her efforts and a son who wouldn’t give her a moment to breathe.
Maureen felt that if he could finally settle down, he’d have to grow up and take responsibility for his life.
Then, maybe, she could retire and start living her life on her own terms.
“The snow’s really bad, huh?” Kimberly asked, leaning over and peeking over Maureen’s shoulder.
“You haven’t seen bad yet, dear.”
“I can’t wait to see Kayden. It’s been so long, I’m so excited,” she chimed like a giddy schoolgirl.
The jet was now slowing to a stop, and after having flown five hours from New York, Maureen couldn’t wait to get out of the plane and relax a bit.
She dreaded having to see Captain Jackson to find out more about the accident and the diner.
She had a plan in place to end the insanity once and for all and brought Kim with her to force an ultimatum on him: Get married and prepare to run Capshaw Realty, or he would be cut out.
This new company he wanted to start on his own wouldn’t last six months, in her estimation.
Capshaw had the capital and the reputation, and Kayden wouldn’t stand a chance without her help.
Kim would help steer him in the direction Maureen wanted the business to go, although she herself was bored with the day-to-day of it all.
The endless meetings with city officials, contractors, architects, and building plans that seemed to bleed into the next were causing gray hairs she didn’t need or want.
It was time for Kayden to take over and, hopefully, catapult Capshaw to greater heights, on her terms or not at all.
Paula naturally was her first choice, but she wanted nothing to do with the family business.
Maureen didn’t blame her daughter for how she felt.
It seemed with their success came great tragedy, and she’d had about enough of it all.
The flight attendant emerged from the cockpit and helped Maureen into her coat.
Kim unbuckled her seatbelt and put on her fur hat, gloves, and coat as the attendant opened the doors.
“Welcome to Hamby, Georgia”, she said as they began their slow descent onto the tarmac.
LANA PULLED UP to the house and was surprised to find Kayden on the porch locking the front doors.
When she cut the engine, he turned toward her, his face pained and clearly annoyed.
Oh no. She got out and climbed the stairs to the porch, holding onto the railing, to avoid slipping on the snowy, icy steps.
“Where were you?” he demanded, panicked.
“I went to Shelby to see Rachel,” she replied matter-of-factly.
“Are you insane?! Do you know what could have happened to you out there?”
“Calm down—”
“You can’t run off in a snowstorm and not tell anyone where you’re going!”
“I’m sorry, did I need your permission or something?” she replied.
It was freezing, and she couldn’t believe they were arguing in the middle of a snowstorm on the porch!
She tried to walk past him, but he blocked her from reaching the door.
“Get out of the way, Kayden.”
“No, Lana. Listen, I don’t know how many snowstorms there are in Florida, but here, you die if you get stuck out there. Do you get it?”
“I get it,” Lana replied.
As she looked at his face, she could see he was genuinely scared for her, and she couldn’t really argue with him about it anymore. He was right.
“I figured I could get there and back before it got too bad and we couldn’t visit her at all. I didn’t realize how dangerous it was. I’m sorry.”
He shook his head at her, turned, and unlocked the door. They walked inside, she took off his jacket and put it on the coat rack as he closed and locked the door behind them.
“That was really stupid,” he said.
“Listen, I said I get it, okay,” she replied, raising her voice.
“You’re really lucky, you know that? All the roads are iced, you could’ve—” he stopped.
She realized why he was so upset, especially since he had lost his brother under similar conditions. Granted, his drinking and driving played a part in it, but his panic was real. He obviously cared about her well-being.
“I know. I won’t do that again, I promise.”
She turned to leave, and he grabbed her hand in his, turning her to face him. His eyes were darkened, and his breathing was elevated.
“I didn’t mean to scream at you,” he finally squeezed out.
“I know.”
She squeezed his hand reassuringly and started towards the living room. As she entered, the stacked firewood in the corner of the room was halfway up the wall.
“Wow, you work fast.”
“Not fast enough.”
Before she knew what hit her, Kayden spun her around and held her close to him, his forehead pressed against hers, breathing deeply and loudly.
He was clinging to her as if she were life itself.
Before she could process what was happening, he pressed his mouth to hers and kissed her slowly and deeply.
She was caught off guard but found herself returning the kiss more passionately than she’d ever imagined.
His lips were smooth and persistent as his tongue searched hers.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, feeling every muscle in his body.
His hard chest pressed against her breasts, and his arms wrapped around her back, encasing her.
They were tangled like weeds in a garden, and she was adhered to him, not wanting to let go. She was metal, and he was her magnet.
Finally, pulling his lips from hers, he trailed soft, warm kisses all over her face as she ran her hands through his thick, dark hair, something she had imagined doing for weeks, and before she knew it, the room was spinning around her.
Was this really happening right now? Was she somehow having a very lucid hallucination?
No one could feel this good because those types of unearthly desires were surely all in her head.
Slowly, carefully, they pulled apart and stared deep into each other’s eyes, breathless.
The want and need that passed between them said everything that needed to be said.
Was she really about to do this? After spending so much energy trying to stay away?
Lana knew she had to talk to him about Rachel; he deserved the truth, but right now wasn’t the time.
Not when he was already feeling as raw as he was in this moment.
He watched her as if waiting for her approval when she kissed him again and whispered, “Make love to me.”
Instantly, he took her into his arms and lifted her up as she wrapped her legs around his waist. He walked slowly towards the stairs, still tangled in kisses, when he bit down softly on her bottom lip as he ascended to the second floor.
Every fantasy she’d had about this moment paled in comparison as she kissed his nose, his mouth, his chin—there wasn’t a place on his face she wanted to miss.
As they reached the second-floor landing, she pulled her sweater off and pulled his shirt up and over his head.
As they made their way down the hall, he unbuttoned her bra, and it fell from her body, exposing the tautness of her nipples.
The chilling air causing them to constrict.
He bent his head and took one into his mouth, and the warmth of his mouth caused her body to shake and tremble, almost causing her to orgasm.
She arched her back as he held on with his lips, sucking a tender combination of pleasure and pain.
He kicked her room door open and released his lips as she slowly let herself down, letting his tongue trail from her breast to her neck.
She took a step back and removed her jeans and panties, exposing herself fully to him.
She stood there breathless and heaving, waiting for him to do something as he admired every curve of her body.
Kayden walked over to her gracefully and smooth unbuttoning his pants and letting them slide to the carpet.
His hardness strained against the fabric, wanting to break free of his boxer briefs.
In another swift movement, he collected her in his arms again and pulled her close.
He kissed her deeper, the passion building in his body, his rod poking the softer, moister area of her body.
He cupped her ass and gave it a squeeze.
Feeling the hardness against her, she almost lost herself, and all her senses were on fire.
All she could hear was the sound of her own heart racing, falling deeper and deeper into the madness.
Their bodies pressed together so tightly, she thought they would melt together and create one being.
Lana found herself craving more, and instinctively he lowered her to the bed, running his hand down her body as she lay flat, gazing into his eyes.
She was spellbound, willing and waiting for his next move.
Kayden raised her leg and began tracing her thighs with his tongue as if he could read her mind.
She grabbed a handful of his hair gently as he moved about, leaving soft wet trails all over her legs.
Then that wicked half smile returned to his face, and he kissed her there.
He took his time licking, nibbling, and prodding with his tongue, and she let out a noise even she’d never heard before.
He reveled in her until her body shook and she could take no more.
Somewhere in their tangle of movements, his briefs were gone, and he moved slowly up her body, trailing more of his kisses from her legs to her lips.
He wasn’t lacking in any area, she noticed as he took the condom out of his jeans pocket and slid the thin material over himself, neither one of them breaking eye contact.
She thought she would explode in anticipation when suddenly he was on her again and their mouths locked.
She arched her back as Kayden carefully slid every inch of himself inside her slowly and repeatedly.
She dropped her head back as he sucked her neck in unison while she held onto his muscular arms as he moved faster and faster, a low and hungry moan escaping his mouth.
When she could almost take no more, she pushed him slightly.
“Stop. Lay down,” she breathed, and he obliged, rolling onto his back.
Lana straddled him and slowly eased herself down on him.
With her hands on his broad and perfect chest, she rolled her hips in a slow circular motion, never moving her eyes from his.
She had never felt so free and natural before in her life.
She leaned forward and kissed him again as she bounced and rolled on him faster and faster until he groaned and she cried out as he lifted his hips while grabbing her der- riere and pulling her down.
She collapsed forward as they both reached that peaceful bliss, her wild hair hanging in his face.
He smoothed it away and tilted her face, kissing her softly and sweetly.
Lana lay her head on him, still trembling from the euphoria as he kissed her forehead and rubbed her back lightly.
She felt like she belonged to someone again.
Something she knew better than to feel, but she would allow herself to enjoy for the moment.
Right then, she was his, and he was hers.
They lived in a beautiful mansion, near a lake, and spent their days making love and restoring buildings.
Lana drifted off to sleep with a slight grin on her face at how ridiculous that sounded, but allowed herself to believe in the fantasy if only for a night.
HAVE MERCY, KAYDEN thought as he lay in bed, as Lana snored softly.
This sweet, soft, loving woman wanted him as badly as he wanted her.
But she’s going to leave eventually. This thought made him sigh, and he understood she lived a state away, but being a Nurse, she could find work anywhere—although she wouldn’t need to, not if she were his.
Lana was a handful, but it was a challenge he would gladly accept if he could convince her to stay.
As he gazed up at the ceiling now, he thought of all he had left to do to get his life in order if he was to be of use to anyone.
He still didn’t understand their connection; he just knew he couldn’t lose her.
He was itching to tell her about his new company, but that could wait until later.
He didn’t want to wake her or let this feeling end.
He rubbed the smooth, velvety skin of her back.
She stirred a little and clutched him tighter, and he smiled.
As long as Lana was by his side, there was nothing he felt he couldn’t do. His eyes slowly closed, and he drifted off to sleep, for the first time hopeful about what opening them up again would bring.