Chapter 12
Vulnerability glistens in Celine’s eyes. With her in my arms, this moment feels ethereal. I revel in it, sealing it in my soul.
I slam my mouth against hers. It’s a hard, bruising kiss, teeth and tongue colliding. Nibbling on her sweet lips, I feast to my heart’s content. Everything in me comes alive. She’s mine. I am hers. Need drives me. Desire owns me. Patience evaporates.
I reach for her top and she lifts her arms. Discarding it, my palms cover her round, perky breasts. A satisfied groan vibrates low in my throat.
I drove even more aggressively tonight, but I hated the guys ogling her, asking if they could have a go at her. Never. She’s mine, all mine.
I swipe my thumbs over her nipples. They pucker at my touch, and I lift her up to straddle me. Desperate to satiate my hunger for her, I dive in, sucking each pebbled cherry. Her moans ring in my ears––a crescendo of pleasure. Locking her arms around my neck, her nails bite into my skin, just as desperate as I am. I am painfully hard, ready to get inside of her.
I could almost laugh at my stupid ass. As if I could just fuck her when she’s so deeply rooted inside of me, traces of her would be found in my genetic coding.
Celine looks gorgeous with her lips parted and a flush covering her beautiful complexion.
She arches her back, gripping the ends of my hair, wanting more. I am desperate to give her everything she wants. With jerky moves, she pulls at my shirt, tossing it to the side, and her hands land on my chest.
We savor the skin-on-skin sensation for a few moments. I place her down and she helps me get out of my jeans, peeling them down my legs. I stumble out of them, and she giggles. I’d make a fool out of myself to hear those heavenly sounds. Next, I slip her shorts off. Only a thong separates me from entering my home.
I slide them down gently, wanting to prolong the moment. Our reunion deserves more than a quick fuck. I toss them on the pile with the rest of our discarded clothes.
Her skin shines, bathed in the moon’s light. The gentle breeze plays in her hair––a goddess right before my eyes. The sight is breathtaking. Her teary eyes find mine, punching at my heart.
I love you.It’s at the tip of my tongue.
You are the only thing I fear because only you can break me.
I kiss her neck and down her chest, peppering her nipples. Every kiss and touch is a testament to my devotion to her. My hungry being is desperate to taste and touch every inch of her, trying to get a fill––impossible.
In one swift move, I pick her up and place her on the hood. Finally, I can check out this fantasy of fucking my girl on my car.
I step back, admiring the view.
“Take a pic. It might last longer.”
“If anyone else sees you like this, I’ll kill them.”
Celine props her elbows on the hood, legs spread. At the invitation, I step between her thighs and drop to my knees. Such a beautiful pussy: rosy, puffy, and glistening. Need tears through me while I come apart in front of my altar of worship. My tongue meets her core. A note of musk and sweetness coats my taste buds, making me drunk on her. How I missed this, nothing between us.
“So wet, my sky. I could spend all my life eating this sweet pussy of yours.”
“Kaden…” My name out of her lips is a moan of surrender.
Yes, feel me, take me, let me own you like you own me.
“… no games tonight.”
“The only game we’ll be playing is how many times can I make you come.”
And like the starved man I am, I dive in––famished for her. Opening her pussy lips with two fingers, I lick at her slit from bottom to top. She sucks in a breath while I coax even more wetness from her. Pleasuring her fills every crevice in me with satisfaction.
Laving her clit, she bucks up. My hand splays on her stomach to keep her in place. I haven’t even begun. She will come so hard and so often, she’ll realize it’s only me for her.
Seeing her lost in the haze of lust pumps me up. Heat courses through my veins, firing me up. I can’t stop, won’t stop until I push her over the edge so I can catch her.
Her honey taste makes me ravenous, and I bury my face in her hot core, drinking her up. I don’t need air when I can feast on her nectar. Her wetness paints my chin as I slurp greedily. Her hands find my hair and tug at the ends of it. Each moan gets higher in pitch.
Yes, show me how much you crave me. God knows you’re everything I crave. My rapture and my perdition.
I want her to explode on my tongue. Snaking my hands around her thighs, I pull her even closer to my face. With my mouth and nose buried in her pussy, I don’t stop until she starts trembling. Her belly muscles constrict, and she cries out my name, filling me with pride that I could roar to the sky above.
“Number one,” I say, placing a kiss on her pussy and trailing my lips against her thigh.
“Wait, what?”
“My fingers are next. Be a good girl and take everything I give you.”
Standing up, I slap her pussy, wanting her mad with desire. Another tremor rocks her. She settles her feet flat on the hood, splaying her legs like a butterfly. She’s the most exquisite vision, and I can’t stop gorging on it.
At the open invitation, I step between her legs. One hand grips her waist, the other fists her hair. I kiss her with pent-up passion while my fingers trail down her smooth stomach and between her thighs. Reaching her slick center, I push two fingers inside of her. She moans in my mouth, feeding me life and endless delight.
“I can’t decide where I would rather live. Inside your sweet mouth or pussy.”
“Both?”
“So greedy, my sky?”
“For you? Always.”
If it were possible, I’d freeze this moment between us: sweet vulnerability yet animalistic desire––the perfect intimacy. I push my fingers in and out of her, coaxing every bit of pleasure. My thumb presses against her clit. Her walls clench around me, and I can’t wait to sheathe myself in her. Eagerness spurs me on, but this is about her. And seeing what I do to her gives me the best fucking high.
“Yes, squeeze my fingers. Show me what I do to your pussy and how needy you are for me.”
A shudder skates down my spine at how good it will feel when her walls clench around my damn cock. My thumb circles her clit in lazy strokes while I admire the woman laid open for me––my personal buffet and I can’t help but overeat.
Her eyes are glazed over, looking at me with raw emotions that put me on my damn knees. I dip my head to kiss her again and we both moan-groan when our tongues meet.
“Do you have any idea how beautiful you are like this?”
“I do…”
Chuckling, I slip another finger inside her, speeding up my rhythm. She pants, legs shaking.
“Just like that, give me one more.”
“I’m almost there.”
“I know, baby. I feel your walls constricting. Can’t wait to feel your pussy around my cock, taking every inch and milking me dry.”
Her hands fly around my neck, holding on to me.
“I’m here, baby. Let go. Let me watch my beautiful girl come apart for me.”
That’s all she needs, and she comes a second time.
I want her to ride this wave longer, so I grip my cock, guiding the head to her entrance. I thrust inside of her, bottoming out. It feels so fucking good that my vision blackens for a moment.
She lets out the longest moan yet. The sensation of her bare is maddening. Pleasure courses through my veins. I’m high on euphoria.
Her nails dig into my ass. “I’m pretty sure there are more stars now.”
“My cock paints the most beautiful sky, for my Sky.”
She giggles. “You’re so full of yourself.”
“Just stating facts, baby.”
She watches transfixed between her legs. The image is awe-inspiring. My cock opening up her tight pussy makes me forget my damn mind. But I pull out, sliding my length up and down her slit, and then knocking it against her pussy.
Her chest vibrates with a pleasure filled sound, and I prop up on my elbows above her.
“You want me? Put me inside you.”
I need her to do this, never to regret it, to be fully conscious when she takes me back in. Let me fucking in.
She wraps her dainty hand around my girth, her fingers not even touching, and points my cock at her entrance. Pleasure shoots from my marrow into my spine as I enter her. Life flows through my veins. My head rolls back, and I am only one inch inside of her. She’s going to be the death of me, but I doubt there’s a better way to go than buried inside my woman.
I thrust inside of her, and she gasps while I hold my breath. Watching myself inside of her is nothing short of marvelous. Her pussy takes all of me, sheathing me in paradise. The pleasure is so fucking intense, I jab my teeth into my lower lip, but I doubt I can last long.
Her arms fly around my neck, nails digging into my back, leaving half-moons while I palm the hood of the car, trying not to come. But it’s been so fucking long.
“It feels so good…”
“Yes, it fucking does.”
Fuck, this is what I missed, what I ached to have back. Her with me, while I feel her from the inside out.
“Look at me, Sky, being fucked under the night sky.”
When she does, I lose myself in her. If it were possible, I’d never resurface, content to spend eternity as her willing captive.
“I’m pretty sure we’re going to leave a dent. This one is not on me.”
“No, this is on me. Because I’m fucking desperate for you.”
In and out, I thrust in a savage rhythm. I can’t hold on much longer, so I change our position. With my ass on the hood, I hitch her up to my lap and she straddles my thighs.
Eyes locked, the world fades away, making me blind to everything but her and the pleasure consuming me. I am even deeper in this angle and the sensation is to die for. She throws her head back while I dip my face, sucking on her nipples. With my palms on her perky ass, I bounce her up and down on my cock.
“I feel you so deep inside of me. Every ridge, every inch. So full…”
I bite into her neck, and she scratches at my back while we keep up a frenzied rhythm.
She’s almost there, and I’ll be damned if I come before her. I place my thumb against her lips, and she immediately opens, licking and sucking at the tip. That’s hot as fuck, making it even harder for me not to come on the spot. Gliding it down her chin, past the valley of her breasts, until I reach my destination. I press it down on her clit, strumming it.
“I am…”
“I know, baby. Kiss me.”
Mouths clashing, our kiss is as wild as our fucking: desperate and needy.
She constricts around me, coming apart in my arms. Her release pushes me over the edge, and I follow her into sweet paradise.
Breathing hard, I need a moment to compose myself, but my need for her is not even minimally quenched.
I kiss the tip of her nose and her eyelids, peppering kisses all over her face.
She sighs contentedly, snuggling into me. I stroke down her spine, staying inside of her, and I brush a kiss on her shoulder. Breathing her in, I close my eyes for a moment, powerful emotions punching at my chest.
Nothing else matters but the feel of my woman safely tucked in my arms after that intense experience we shared––our bodies coming together and our hearts connecting. She caresses my arm, threading her fingers through my hair.
In the silence, the familiar intimacy and sense of comfort stretch, creating my heaven on earth.
“That wasn’t fucking.” She whispers to the sky above, and I chuckle.
“No.”
“I hated the thought… you know…”
“Celine, don’t you get it? It’s only you for me.”
“Then stop. Please stop.”
My chest fills with emotions, threatening to spill over.
“You don’t understand––”
“I don’t even want to understand what could make you put your life in danger like that.”
I lost you. I didn’t care.There are things I can’t control swirling in my head, dragging me into the pit of darkness.
“Racing is something I can control.”
She lets out a deep breath. “Then this was a mistake.”
Her words stab me, killing me renewed.
She pushes away from me, shutting herself off from me again. A few minutes of serenity. That’s all I get after the years I have spent in hell. It’s cruel to dangle happiness and peace before me only to snatch them back.
She puts her clothes on, mumbling under her breath. Yanking the car door open, she shuts it with more force than necessary.
I pull my jeans up, then my shirt, and get inside the car. It smells like her and the heady scent of sex.
“Did you think you could manipulate me?”
The thought alone torches my insides. I grip the wheel, and she puts her cheek on her palm, her elbow resting against the window.
“I guess it didn’t work,” I gnash into her silence.
She shoots me an angry look, and I speed away, more torn than before.
When we reach the house, she climbs out, stomping the entire way inside.
“We didn’t use protection. But I guess you like to live dangerously.”
I must be deranged if I like her pettiness this much.
“Don’t fuck with me.”
“We’ll wait and see.”
She sounds so damn calm while I’m hyperventilating. Not at the thought of her getting pregnant because there’s no other woman who will be the mother of my children, but because it can’t fucking happen now.
I grab her elbow, but she yanks her arm away.
What if I got her pregnant? She was on birth control back then. She must still be on it, or she would freak out like I am.
A child in this family, if she knew the truth… I would never do that to my child.
I hear the bang of her door shutting, and that pulls me out of my train wreck of thoughts. Heading to my room, I fall into an agitated sleep.
I toss and turn in bed, dip in and out of sleep until I wake, drenched in sweat from a nightmare. The old hag was holding my child, telling me I would never see my baby again.
Rolling out of bed, I go straight to the basement, where I spend the next two hours hitting the bag until my body screams. But I am no more calmer than when I walked down here.
“You look like crap,” Blake says as he enters the gym, and I shake my head.
“What happened?”
I stop the heavy bag from swaying and put my forehead against it. I look at him.
“Oh, fuck. You fucked.”
The idiot laughs while I am one second away from knocking him out.
I have to do something about the potential pregnancy. It’s crucial to ensure not only Celine’s safety but also that of my friends.
A plan forms in my head. Hurrying into my room, I shower and change quickly. I drive to the first pharmacy I see and buy the morning-after pill.
When I return, I go straight to her room. She’s curled on her side, and I am fighting with myself not to slip under the covers with her.
Celine senses me and shoots upright, wiping her hair from her face.
“What are you doing here?”
“Take this.”
I throw the package in her lap, and she opens it. She whips her head at me. I am so damn sorry for putting her in this situation, for not fucking thinking, and being a selfish asshole who simply assumed she was still on birth control. But above everything else, I must protect her.
“Get out,” she yells.
“Take it.” I snap right back.
“What if I don’t?”
My trusted three friends burst into the room while Celine and I are locked in a fiery staring battle.
Abigail’s gaze lands on the package, and her eyes widen, the color draining from her face.
“Are you two idiots out of your fucking minds?”
She goes on a rampage, pacing around.
“You take the pill without even blinking, do you hear me? And you…” She jabs a finger at me. “I knew this would happen, stupid hormonal man.”
Bailey is so still, she could be confused with a statue.
“I have class,” Celine says and ushers us all out.
“Take it,” Blake says resolutely.
Celine grabs the white pill and flushes it down the toilet.
“Now leave.”
In the hallway, Abigail, Blake, and Bailey look at me like I have the power to change things, but I won’t force Celine to do something she doesn’t want to do. Never again.
“What are we going to do?” Abigail asks.
“Calm down. Even if she’s pregnant, she’s with Hunter,” Bailey says.
The thought alone has me rushing back into her room. The others try to barge their way in, but I lock the door.
Whatever she sees in my eyes, Celine steps back. I prowl to her, caging her into the wall next to the bathroom. My body shakes with undiluted fury.
“Would you even know who the father is?”
Her hand flies toward my face, but I catch it in midair.
I release her, and the hurt in her eyes decimates me.
“Hmm, so it would be mine then?”
She pushes me off her. Her chest heaves, and her eyes that looked at me last night with pure emotions are filled with unadulterated distaste.
“I would never need you to fill in. I have and will always have Hunter.”
A shot to the head, delivered perfectly, execution style, followed by a bullet straight to the heart.
“Stay away from me, you fucking heartless bastard!”
***
In my room, I get ready for the bi-monthly dinner and dress in a navy dress shirt, slacks, and leather shoes, respecting the elegant dress code Grandmother demands.
Abigail, Bailey, and Blake wait for me downstairs. Behind me, Celine, sidesteps without a glance in my direction, greeting everyone in the group but me.
Hello, am I invisible?
Fucking great.
I drive away in a heap of screeching tires. When I get to the compound, I wait for the others. Celine is the first to walk into Grandmother’s mansion.
Abigail wraps her arm around my elbow and we plaster on our fake smiles. Even after all this time, this constant faking hasn’t become easier. Staying vigilant is paramount if I want to succeed. Bailey and Blake trail behind us.
Grandmother appraises Celine, who transforms into the epitome of demure under her gaze. I have to give it to her. She’s smart and understands what’s expected of her.
I can’t stop staring at her stomach, though. Raw feelings claw at my chest. There’s a chance my baby is growing inside her.
“My dears.”
Abigail curtsies, and I kiss Grandmother’s hand, the taste of char coating my taste buds. One day, you old hag, you will be nothing but a memory.
She gazes at Bailey like she’s a nuisance. Celine catches the same look in Grandmother’s eyes, and grips the edge of the table, her knuckles whitening.
Blake salutes Grandmother and pours himself a glass. He’s the only one allowed these slight gestures of disrespect. I am sure the drink won’t be the only one during the next few days, especially since he’s spending the weekend with his father. I am not looking forward to what comes after that.
Grandmother glances at each of us. I am pouring it on thick, avoiding looking at Celine when I burn inside.
Grandmother puts her hand around her pearl necklace. “We should announce your engagement,” her pointed stare lands on me and Abigail.
Do not fucking react.
Celine’s entire body freezes, and she takes a sip of wine.
“We can’t wait. We’re ready to make our relationship official,” Abigail says, masking the panic as we exchange a quick glance.
I kiss her on the cheek. “We have waited long enough as it is.”
I feel Celine’s stare burning holes in my side, but her face is a mask of impassiveness when I steal a glance. She’s a brilliant actress because there is no way she would be okay with this. At least, that’s what I hope.
Grandmother’s wrinkled features contort into a pleased one. Got you, old hag.
“Kaden.” Abigail shoves my hand playfully away as if I had my hand on her thigh. Celine grips the knife, and I stiffen for a second, afraid she will expose us by throwing it at my heart.
“I can’t control myself. I apologize, Grandmother,” I say.
At her pleased expression, I force a smile. Next to you is the girl I am desperate for. The one who might be carrying our baby.
“Celine, you’ll stay the weekend at the estate.”
“Of course, and tomorrow you can meet Hunter at the gala.”
It looks like we are all spending the weekend here. Fabulous.
Abigail digs her nails into my thigh, and I glare at her. She must see how serious I am about wanting to stay here as well when she says in the sweetest voice, “Can we stay the weekend here as well? I would like to talk to you more about our engagement.”
Grandmother can’t say no to that.
“Of course.”
I breathe a sigh of relief and kiss Abigail’s temple, thanking her.
“Your love for her will be our downfall,” Abigail whispers and sips from a glass of wine. Celine does the same, and I move my pointed look from the glass to her belly.
She coughs, spurting the contents into the glass. She apologizes and sends me a death glare.
Grandmother turns to her, and the tension lays heavy in the room.
“Tell me.”
Ah, she wants to pit us against each other.
Celine looks from each of us back to her with a coy expression. She’s good, damn it.
“Bailey is the most level-headed among them. Blake has potential, but his reckless behavior puts a strain on that. Abigail is your copy. You should be proud. Together with Kaden, they will bring this family to new heights.”
My chest swells with pride. Grandmother eyes Celine inquisitively. I know the next part will hurt.
“But his arrogance is a problem,” Celine continues.
She loves my arrogance when I make her come so hard she sees stars.
“Why did you say that about Bailey?”
The old hag looks at Bailey for the first time with something resembling interest.
“Bailey is quiet, unassuming. The weapon no one would see coming.”
I could wring her little neck for putting Bailey in the spotlight, but I understand that she needs to give her something.
“Bailey.”
“Yes, Grandmother?”
“Stay the weekend as well.”
I count the minutes until we can excuse ourselves.
Grandmother has ears only for Celine anyway. A woman with her life experience shouldn’t be so easily fooled. But how could she know the difference? It’s not like we can say otherwise. Since Celine moved into the house, we have given each other enough ammunition to keep our mouths shut.
Grandmother, in what has to be an excess of goodwill, says, “I know you kids already live together. You have my blessing to do the same here.”
“Thank you so much. It’s hard being apart, even for a night.” Abigail’s eyes widen, realizing her slip.
Grandmother snickers at my fake fiancée.
“I won’t mind if you make me a great grandmother.”
I steal a glance at Celine, who grits her teeth. You might, but you have the wrong girl.
“Oh, Grandmother, we’re too young. We haven’t even finished college yet.”
“Wedding next year, then children right after you finish college.”
Abigail freezes. I swallow the bitterness down, washing it away with a large gulp of wine.
That was a command.
“Of course,” we say, being dutiful little soldiers.
When excused, Abigail and I rush out of the house together. Her entire body shakes as we make our way to her car. She has to press the start button a few times until she gets the engine going.
“Abi, pull yourself together. Meet me at my place.”
A tear slips free, but she nods. I get in the driver’s seat, driving to my childhood home.
Inside the foyer, I switch the light on and wait for her to enter before I close the door.
“Kaden… I… that…” But I know. Abigail’s not only in love with someone else, but having children is a sensitive topic to her.
“We’ll find a way.”
When we enter the living room, I go straight to the bar and pour each of us a glass of whiskey.
“He… I mean…”
“By the end of this year, we’ll be somewhere else.”
“Promise?”
“I swear.”
“What if––?”
“Celine can’t be pregnant. She just can’t.”
“You hurt her…”
“I would hurt her time and time again to keep her alive.”
“Sometimes being dead hurts less, Kaden. There’s a fine line.”
She squeezes my shoulder and goes into my bedroom.
We never know who is watching.