Chapter 7
seven
LENA
I wake to the soft, golden light of dawn filtering through the curtains, the warmth of Cade’s body pressed against mine. We’re tangled in the sheets, both of us naked beneath them, our bodies humming with the tension that filled the room last night before Max showed up. I can feel his breath on the back of my neck, the steady rise and fall of his chest against my back. His arm is wrapped around me, his hand resting just below my breast, and I can’t help the flutter of desire that pulses through me.
For a moment, I let myself relax into him, enjoying the closeness, the comfort. But then reality creeps in, and with it, the uncertainty. We’ve shared so much in such a short amount of time, and I can’t shake the feeling that everything is moving too fast. But when he shifts beside me, his lips brushing lightly against my shoulder, all my doubts seem to melt away.
I roll over to face him, our eyes meeting in the soft morning light. There’s a look in his eyes that sends a shiver down my spine—something tender, yet fierce, like he’s holding himself back from something he wants more than anything.
“Morning,” I whisper, my voice barely audible.
“Morning,” he replies, his voice rough with sleep.
For a long moment, neither of us moves. The air between us feels charged, like we’re both waiting for the other to make the first move. And then, almost instinctively, Cade leans in, capturing my lips in a slow, deliberate kiss. It’s gentle at first, but the hunger behind it is unmistakable. I respond without thinking, my body pressing into his, my hands sliding up his chest.
But just as quickly as it started, he pulls back, his breathing ragged, his eyes dark with restraint. “Lena,” he murmurs, his voice strained. “I don’t want to rush this, not with you.”
I nod, understanding what he’s saying, even though my body is screaming for more.
“I know,” I whisper, brushing my fingers along his jaw. “I don’t want to rush either.”
We lay there for a few more minutes, our bodies still close but the tension easing slightly. Cade kisses my forehead before slipping out of bed. “I’ll make us some coffee,” he says, giving me a soft smile before disappearing into the kitchen.
When Cade returns, he hands me a mug of coffee and sits down beside me on the bed. I take a sip, letting the warmth of the drink settle me before I speak. “Cade, about last night... What’s really going on with your family’s firm? Why does your brother want you to go back so badly?”
He sighs, setting his mug down on the nightstand. “It’s my dad,” he says, his voice heavy. “The firm’s struggling. Dad’s not able to keep up with things like he used to, and Max is picking up the slack, but it’s not enough. They think I should come back and help out, but I can’t... I don’t want to go back to that life.”
I listen carefully, my heart aching for him. The weight of his family’s expectations is clearly taking a toll on him, and I can’t help but wonder how I fit into all of this. Then an idea sparks in my mind, and I sit up straighter, excitement bubbling in my chest.
“Cade,” I say, my voice soft but determined. “What if I helped you? With my marketing skills, I could organize an event, maybe a gala, to bring back your dad’s old clients and boost the firm’s reputation.”
“I don’t want you in the city,” he says possessively. “I want you with me.”
I laugh. “We could fix up my cabin, and I could live there while we get to know each other better. And who knows... maybe we could both find a way to work remotely, so you don’t have to go back to the city full-time.”
Cade looks at me, surprised, but there’s something in his expression that tells me he’s considering it. “You’d really do that?” he asks quietly. “Why would you help me with all of this?”
I reach for his hand, squeezing it gently. “Because I care about you. And because I think we both deserve the chance to figure out what this is between us without everything else getting in the way.”
For a moment, Cade just stares at me, as if he’s trying to wrap his mind around what I’m saying. Then, before I can say anything else, he pulls me into a kiss—this time, there’s nothing gentle about it. It’s full of heat, of want, and I feel my body responding to him instantly. His hands roam down my sides, pulling me closer, and I gasp as his fingers tease the edge of the blanket, brushing against my bare skin.
CADE
By the time the sun started to peek over the horizon, the storm had long passed, leaving the world outside calm and drenched in a silvery light. Max had left early in the morning, his departure as abrupt as his arrival. We exchanged few words. There was no need—everything between us had already been said. He wasn’t happy about it, but he knew there was no convincing me to return to the city, to take up the mantle in the family business. Not now, not when I was starting to see what life could look like outside of all that pressure.
Now, though, none of that matters. Right now, it’s just Lena and me, her soft curves pressed against my body, her eyes half-lidded with desire. I can’t think of anything else but the way she feels, the way she looks at me like she’s daring me to lose control.
I carry her back to the bed, my lips trailing kisses down her neck as I lower her onto the soft mattress. The room is still dim, but the morning light filtering through the curtains casts a warm glow over her skin.
I don’t know what it is about her—her kindness, her willingness to step in and help when she doesn’t have to—but I can’t stop myself. The moment I kissed her, I felt everything click into place. She’s so generous, so sweet, and I’ve never wanted anyone more in my life.
My hands slide over her body, feeling every curve, every soft inch of her, and I can’t hold back anymore. I pull the blanket away, revealing her to me fully, and my breath catches in my throat. She’s gorgeous—her full breasts, her creamy skin, the way she looks at me like she wants me just as much as I want her.
I kiss her again, harder this time, my hands sliding down to her thighs. I’m already hard, my body aching for her, and when my fingers slip between her legs, I feel how wet she is—how ready she is.
She gasps, her hands clutching at my shoulders as I move against her, my fingers stroking her until she’s trembling in my arms. I can’t stop. I don’t want to stop.
“Cade,” she moans, her voice breathless, needy. The look in her eyes is enough to undo me, and I know there’s no going back now. I need her. Now.
I can't take my eyes off her. The way she lies beneath me, her lips parted, her skin flushed, her dark hair spread across the pillow—she’s like a vision I never thought I’d be lucky enough to see. The weight of this moment presses on me, and yet, I’ve never felt more alive. She’s giving me everything, trusting me completely, and that makes my chest ache with something deeper than lust.
Slowly, I run my hands down the curve of her hips, feeling the softness of her skin beneath my fingers. Her body reacts to my touch, a soft moan escaping her lips, and it sends a rush of heat through me.
“You’re so beautiful,” I murmur against her skin, my voice husky. “Do you know that?”
She shivers at my words, her eyes fluttering closed as my hand moves to cup her breast, feeling her heartbeat beneath my palm. Her body trembles, her breaths coming faster now, and I take my time, letting her feel how much I want her, how much I need her.
Her breasts are soft, perfect, and I take one into my mouth, swirling my tongue over her nipple, teasing her until she moans, her hands clutching at my hair. The sound of her voice, the way her body reacts to me, it’s intoxicating. I want to hear more of that. I want to hear her say my name over and over.
I trail kisses lower, across her stomach, feeling the tension in her muscles as she anticipates my next move. My fingers brush between her legs, and I find her wet, already so ready for me. I groan softly at the feel of her, and when I touch her, just the lightest stroke, her back arches off the bed, a desperate sound escaping her lips.
“Cade,” she breathes, her voice trembling with need.
I want to make this perfect for her. I want her first time to be something she remembers forever, something she craves. So, I take my time, teasing her with my fingers, feeling her body respond to me, her hips moving against my hand. She’s so sensitive, so responsive, and it makes me want her even more.
When I finally position myself between her thighs, I pause for a moment, looking down at her. Her eyes meet mine, wide and full of trust, and it makes me want to hold her, protect her, more than anything. I lean down and kiss her softly, brushing her hair from her face. “If you want to stop, just tell me,” I whisper, my voice full of tenderness.
She shakes her head, her hands gripping my shoulders. “I want this. I want you.”
Her words send a jolt of desire through me, and with that, I slowly press into her, inch by inch, giving her time to adjust to my thick cock. She’s so tight, and the sensation is almost overwhelming. I grit my teeth, holding back, wanting her to feel nothing but pleasure. Her breath hitches, her hands tightening on my arms, but she doesn’t pull away. She’s with me, every step of the way.
I move gently, letting her get used to the feel of me, watching her closely. The way her body reacts to mine, the way her legs wrap around my waist, the soft sounds she makes—it’s everything I’ve ever wanted. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted.
“Are you okay?” I ask, my voice strained as I fight to keep control.
She nods, her eyes half-lidded, her lips parted. “Yes,” she whispers. “Don’t stop.”
And I don’t. I start to move, slowly at first, each thrust deliberate, savoring the feel of her wrapped around me. Her hips rise to meet mine, her body instinctively responding to every movement, and the way she looks at me—like I’m the only thing she needs—makes my heart race.
She’s so sweet, so soft, and I’m barely holding on. Her breasts bounce with every thrust, her nipples hard and begging for attention, and I lean down, taking one into my mouth again, sucking gently. She moans, her body tightening around me, and it takes everything in me not to lose control right then and there.
I can feel her getting closer, her body tensing beneath mine, her breaths coming in quick, shallow gasps. I want to make her come. I want her to feel nothing but pure pleasure.
She’s trembling now, right on the edge, and with one final thrust, she falls apart beneath me. Her body tightens around me, her nails digging into my back as she cries out, her orgasm ripping through her.
That’s all it takes to send me over the edge. I thrust into her one last time, deep and hard, and then I’m coming, my body shaking with the force of it. I spill into her, filling her completely, and the feeling of being inside her, of being so connected to her, is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.
When it’s over, I collapse against her, both of us breathing hard, our bodies slick with sweat. I stay inside her, not wanting to let go, not wanting this moment to end. I press a soft kiss to her forehead, my hand gently caressing her side.
“Lena,” I murmur, my voice hoarse. “You’re everything.”
She looks up at me, her eyes filled with emotion, and I know, in that moment, that whatever happens next, I don’t want to lose her. This isn’t just about the physical connection. It’s something deeper, something that scares the hell out of me but also makes me feel alive in a way I haven’t in years.
For now, though, we’re here, together, and that’s all that matters.