Chapter 7 Blood On The Family Tree #2
The shame of Maureen’s secret had taken an obvious toll on her. It was a difficult position to be in, but as Lana looked down on her, she didn’t feel pity for her. She was fresh out of sympathy to give.
“And now it all makes sense. You kept Kim close because you had to. And Kayden was the price you were willing to pay for her silence. But I have a sinking feeling that’s not all of it, is it, Maureen?”
Maureen’s eyes snapped up to meet hers, then she broke down and wailed so loudly Lana thought for sure the whole floor heard her through the paper-thin walls.
She frowned, bent over, and lifted Maureen’s chin with her index finger.
Lana’s eyes were locked on hers, searching them and making sure the matriarch gave her her full attention.
“Stop. Crying.” Lana’s voice was cold and steely.
She couldn’t give this woman a shoulder to cry on, especially when she was the cause of so many of her own tears. Maureen had done a great job of digging her own grave, and it seemed now she was going to have to lie in it finally.
“You’ve had plenty of opportunities to come clean with your son, your beloved Kayden, and you chose not to. All of this is your fault. You might as well have driven the car into us yourself,” Lana released her and stood up.
“Please, Lana, you can’t tell Kayden and Paula. They’re all I have left. I can’t lose them, too,” she begged.
“Not to worry, Maureen. I won’t say anything. You will. While you’re in New York with Kayden, you’d better come clean.”
Lana walked out of the room, leaving Maureen on the floor of her hotel room.
As she neared the elevators, she switched directions and took the stairs instead.
Lana lowered herself to the staircase and sat, her stomach twisted in knots.
She digested what she had heard and bit back the shriek beginning to fly out of her mouth.
What else was Maureen hiding? As much as she revealed, Lana knew there had to be more.
There had to be, and the look Maureen gave her when she asked said it all.
What kind of family did these things to each other?
She was no longer going to New York, that was for sure.
While Kayden dealt with his mother, Lana would be flying home to take a much-needed break from the chaos.
As much as she loved Kayden, she was unsure just how much more she could take of the endless drama and malevolence of the situation.
She stood and continued down the six flights of stairs until she reached the exit.
As she walked towards the car through the asphalt, she glanced at the pole and remembered how close she came to losing her life.
Everywhere she looked was a rollercoaster of memories—really high peaks and really low valleys.
She needed balance—she needed to go home.
KAYDEN WAS STILL awake when Lana climbed into bed after a nice hot shower. Although he didn’t move, she could tell from the way he breathed that he was wide awake. She snuggled close to him and buried her head in his chest as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
“How did it go?” he asked carefully.
“Not good.”
“That was to be expected. What happened?”
“I was right. Kim’s holding something huge over your Mom and played us all like a fiddle,” she replied.
He shifted on the bed and sat up, turning the small lamp on, next to his night table.
“So, what is it, what does she have?” he asked her.
“I made a promise to you when I came back to Hamby. No more lies, and no more secrets.”
“I remember. We made that promise to each other,” he stated, waiting for her to say more.
“Because of that, I’m not going to tell you. It’s something she’s agreed to talk to you about in New York,” Lana replied.
“Ok,” he answered, confused.
“But Kayden, I’m gonna go home to Florida and see my parents while you’re there,” she said.
Kayden hopped out of bed, now standing in front of her, hand on his hip.
“What? You’re not coming with me?”
“I can’t, baby. The thought of being around Maureen right now turns my stomach. Besides, I miss my Mom and I need her right now. I need her advice…a break...some peace.”
Kayden winced as she said the last part, but he couldn’t blame her. Peace was something they both needed, and although he tired of his own mother, he understood her need to be with hers. Who he didn’t trust was Sam.
“Do you understand?” she asked.
“I do. It sucks, but I do,” he admitted, and ran his hand through his hair in that sexy way he always did.
Watching him standing in front of her, she admired his six-pack and that deeply defined “V” that sat on his hips.
Her eyes fell on his boxer briefs, and she felt a hard pull in the pit of her stomach, an aching she hadn’t felt in a while.
Before she left him for a week, she wanted to feel him, needed to have him inside her.
She wanted her hands all over him, and her mouth watered and craved him.
They had had a very long dry spell, but tonight that would end.
Lana crawled toward him on the bed and slipped her nightgown over her shoulders, throwing it to the floor by his feet.
His eyes widened, and his body stiffened at her bare, perfect breasts and lace panties.
It had been such a long time since he touched her that way, he’d almost forgotten how.
Lana sat on the edge of the bed, her legs dangling over the edge, and pulled him by his boxer waistband toward her.
“You sure you’re ready?” he asked, unprepared for her to say no.
“The romantic gesture earlier wasn’t lost on me.”
Lana pulled his package from his briefs and, using only her mouth, took every inch of him in, sucking firmly as she got to the tip.
Kayden let out a moan she hadn’t heard in months, and instantly, she was wet.
If she had to go home and miss him for a week, she needed a good memory to follow her.
Kayden placed his good hand on the crown of her head as she worked her mouth over him, using her tongue to flick back and forth over the head.
When he groaned like he was about to explode, she stopped and guided him to the edge of the bed, so he could sit.
Kayden knew this wouldn’t last long. He was so engorged he thought he would pop the minute he felt her soft, wet body against him.
He tugged on her panties, and she helped remove them.
She climbed onto the bed, straddling him, and guided him inside.
She winced at the pain. It had been months since they’d had one another that way, and soon she was full of him, pulsating in her, and she was ready to explode.
Lana swirled and rocked her hips slowly on him as she pushed him onto his back.
She increased her pace, bouncing on him, bending over to kiss those lips as soft as butter.
He moved her up slightly and tugged on the buds of her nipples, sending streams of agonizing pleasure through her body.
Kayden held on and grabbed onto her thigh firmly, thrusting his hips into her, matching her rhythm, as her core clung to him like a vice.
He felt like she would swallow him whole with each motion, pulling him deeper and deeper still.
Lana panted erratically, sat up, and ran her hands from his abs to his broad chest, her hands gripping his pecks, and saw stars dance across her eyelids for a moment.
Her every nerve was on fire, the climax building more powerful the deeper he got.
No longer able to control herself, her head fell back as she let out a cry, her body erupting at the same time his did.
She could feel him release inside her and harden once again.
Insatiable. Lana slowly rolled off and lay on her back when Kayden grabbed both her legs with his one hand and put them in the air.
He positioned himself, then pushed himself into her slowly, then quickened the pace.
He couldn’t resist the urge to taste her breasts as they jumped beneath him, then parted her legs and sank deep.
She moaned, and he groaned deep and visceral.
The sling on his arm stopped him from getting as close as he liked, and as if reading his mind, Lana pushed herself up, locked a leg around his waist, and pulled herself up. He slid inside her so deep she gasped, holding onto him tight as she tried to catch her breath again.
She found his mouth and lightly bit down on his bottom lip as he moved into and out of her slowly. He clung to her waist and increased his thrusts, pumping into her faster. She felt perfect and made especially for his body. He didn’t want it to end—he needed and wanted more of her.
“Harder,” she commanded, and he thought he might explode at the words.
He breathed, “Yes, ma’am,” and obliged.
Lana arched her back, slipping down a bit, and held onto his waist to keep herself balanced.
Her head almost touched the bed as she stared up at the moving ceiling.
It was as if she were on an erotic carnival ride and lavished every bounce of his hips as he collided into her.
She felt a combination of her heart stopping and shivering ripples tearing through her body, and cried out his name as he plunged deeper and deeper.
He roared fiercely as he released, and she was frozen for a minute, a single tear of pleasure rolling from the corner of her eye.
Slowly, he lowered her onto the bed and lay panting over her, his long hair falling into her face.
He planted soft, sweet kisses along her neck, chin, and lips, then lay his head on her chest. Lana wiped the escaped tear from her face, then smiled as she stroked the top of his head.
He shifted, his chin resting lightly on her chest, then smiled up at her.
“Round three?” he asked. His wicked grin crept up, along with his brand-new erection. Insatiable.
BY THE TIME the sun came up, Lana had most of her bags packed and in the foyer waiting for Paula to take her to the airport.
She looked forward to being with her family for a while, and the trip gave her a chance to tie up loose ends with her townhouse rental.
Kayden sulked a little as he helped her take the bags in the hall, but was doing his best to be supportive.
He wasn’t looking forward to spending a week with Maureen, but needed to get his arm examined by the best.
Lana was confident Maureen would spare no expense, even without all her recent guilt.
She sat on the living room couch and gazed into the fireplace at the charred pieces of wood.
She remembered feeling a lot like them a month ago—burned out and cold.
Kayden entered the living room, snapping her out of her thoughts.
He looked as dashing as ever and near perfect except for the sling.
He sat next to her, grabbed her hand, and brushed her knuckles against his soft lips.
“I don’t want you to go,” he kissed her hand and then reached around her and hugged her.
“I’ll be back before you know it,” she replied, leaning in and kissing him.
The slip of his tongue sent shivers down her stomach, and she sighed. She started to regret leaving for a minute and wished they could go back into the room down the hall. As she pulled away from his mouth, he looked her deep in the eyes, resting his forehead against hers.
“You’re coming back to me, right?” he asked.
The look in his eyes pulled at her heart, his face eagerly waiting for her answer. He was serious, and that made her misty-eyed.
“You obviously don’t know how much I love you if you have to ask,” she replied, smiling, “I’ll be here with bells on and clothes off.”
He chuckled and pulled her into his arms, then leaned back onto the couch, laying her head against his chest.
“That a promise?” he teased.
“Yup, as long as Paula is in LA,” she replied.
“It’s going to be OK. I promise this mess will pass.”
“It’s not going to be OK. Not until that bitch is in jail where she belongs,” Lana replied.
Kayden sighed, “Lana, I thought we were going to move forward and forget her. It’s done, we can’t change the judge’s decision.”
Hearing him state the obvious didn’t help, but it made her angry nonetheless. He tilted her head to his face, feeling her body stiffen when he uttered the words. Her frown confirmed his suspicion.
“Listen to me, Lana. We are going to move forward and live our lives the way we see fit. Okay? That girl will never get within breathing distance of you or my family again.”
Lana smiled weakly, but she knew better. Crazy people always found a way to get what they wanted, no matter the obstacles in front of them. When Kim made her move—and Lana could feel it in the air that it was coming—she promised herself she would be ready. The gloves were off.
The familiar click of heels came down the hall, and Paula emerged, dressed as fashionably as ever, with her Vera Wang shades on. She had her hair pulled into a tight bun, a loose paisley shirt, and Capri pants. She took her shades off when she walked in on them.
“All ready to go?” she asked, smiling.
She was glowing. Paula was already beautiful, but for some reason, it was dialed up by ten.
“Look at you! You’re positively radiant! Did Garrett sneak into town last night or something?” Lana teased.
“Nope, this is just me,” Paula giggled, giving a twirl.
Lana rose from the couch, but Kayden pulled her back down on his lap and planted kisses all over her face, landing last on her lips. His tongue parted them, then prodded her mouth, sending shivers to her toes.
“I’m gonna miss you,” he said when he pulled away finally.
“Me too. I love you,” she groaned, wanting a repeat of last night more than a four-hour flight home.
She gave him another quick peck before she lost her resolve and stood up.
As she walked to Paula, Kayden felt a pang of concern in his stomach.
What if Sam was all over her when she got there?
He didn’t trust him or his goatee. Brushing the thought aside, he got up and walked her down the hall to the door.
As Paula opened the door to leave, he spun Lana around with his free arm and dipped her, giving her a Hollywood kiss in the hall. Paula rolled her eyes but smiled as she walked out to the porch to give them a moment.
“I’m coming for you, Mrs. Capshaw. Don’t stay away too long,” he whispered against her mouth.
She smiled, and a tear escaped her eyes.
“I won’t. I miss you already,” she replied.
He gave her another lingering kiss and then let her up.
As she walked out the door, he got another pang in his stomach.
He was sick of his woman leaving him and would fight as hard as he could to keep her.
He picked up her last bag, carried it out to the car, and saw her off, watching the car disappear down the road around the roundabout and out of Hamby—again.