THIRTY-SIX
DAKOTA
It was dinner time, and Austin had been chopping some wood. I tried to be kind and help again, but unfortunately, I was failing miserably. He simply chuckled, before saying he’d be right back.
The guys had disappeared inside, and with all the sexual tension between the four of us, I stayed out here.
An arm stretched over my shoulder, and I turned my head, seeing Kaden take the axe from me.
I stepped away from him, watching him effortlessly chop the piece of wood in half. I rolled my eyes, gathering the little pieces in my arms. “Show-off,” I teased, and he only winked in response. I dropped the wood in a pile before dusting off my hands.
I averted his eyes as I glanced around.
Slowly, he approached me, backing me up against the wall. He placed both hands on the wall on either side of my head, caging me in. It was as though he could see right through me, and in this moment, I hated it.
My face heated up, and I was sure a coat of pink blush covered my cheeks. He smiled, lowering his lips to mine.
“I won’t bite,” he mused before capturing my top lip between his and I groaned. Yeah, right. His hips pressed to my stomach, and I could feel his print through his pants. Oh my God.
One thing Kaden was oddly good at was self-control, and he needed a lot of it this weekend. We hadn’t touched each other as much as we would back home, and I could tell it was bothering him. To be honest, it was bothering me as well.
While slightly parting my lips, his tongue slid into my mouth, and I softly moaned, tasting the Brandy on his tongue. Standing up on my toes, I wrapped my arms around his neck to deepen the kiss.
His hands slid from my lower back to squeeze my ass. He smiled, placing one hand on the wall behind me and using his body to press mine against it.
Warmth and excitement rushed throughout my veins, and I gently bit down on his bottom lip.
“Don’t stop,” I breathed as he continuously pressed the bulge in his pants between my thighs—more forceful each time.
I grabbed his waist, grinding against him, and he slowly pulled back to look down at our hips, colliding.
“Not out here,” he shook his head—not resisting or stopping either.
I softened my eyes, looking up at him through my eyelashes with a playful pout forming on my lips. With my brows slightly pinched together, I pleaded with my eyes.
“Don’t look at me like that,” he lowered his tone, taking my chin in his hand. He shook his head down at me, but his stern look inevitably wavered.
I slightly tilted my head, feeling a soft smile coming, and he let out a disapproving groan before leaning down to kiss me. He grabbed the back of my thighs, lifting me, and I wrapped my legs around his waist.
He pressed my back against the wall while I wrapped my arms around him, our tongues swirling together in the most passionate way. I loosened my legs around him, tightening them around his hips so that I could feel him between my legs.
My heart drummed as my adrenaline forced me to chase the sick thrill of being caught right here, and right now. With him.
“Fuck,” he cursed, his teeth nipping at my skin and my hand slammed over my mouth to muffle a moan.
“Jesus Christ,” Chase groaned, and I immediately broke the kiss, dropping to my feet with wide eyes.
I turned to see him folding his arms over his chest, his head shaking in disapproval.
I softly gasped, covering my mouth with both hands as I looked up at Kaden, who didn’t seem fazed whatsoever.
“You’re begging Austin to crack your skull in half,” Chase said to Kaden. “Maybe go somewhere private next time,” he lowered his tone, and his disappointed eyes landed on me.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I didn’t—”
“You find her?” Austin’s voice grabbed our attention, and I stepped out to see him approaching us.
“Kaden was helping her chop some wood,” Chase lied, looking over at me. “She couldn’t even get the axe to stick,” he mused, holding both hands behind his back, and I mustered my most innocent smile.
I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breathing.
“Go help Susanna, sweetheart,” Austin chuckled while nodding towards the house, and I smiled.
“Gladly. Chopping wood isn’t for me,” I rushed away from them.
I fought hard not to glance back, but when I did, I found Chase’s eyes traveling up my bare legs, his eyes holding a thousand words. Thankfully, Austin was too busy gathering wood to notice.
I fought back a mischievous smile and hurried into the house.
I made my way inside, noticing how busy Susanna was as she walked up and down. Logan, who was supposed to help her, was eating out of the bowl, and she hit his hand away, sending him to the rest of the guys.
I offered to help her instead, and soon, the guys all came back inside.
They settled in the living room, and I didn’t miss the little glances Kaden stole of me. Was he upset, or was that just a different kind of frustration? I hadn’t really touched him since we got here, so I couldn’t blame him. I was even starting to get withdrawals from him.
He sat back—legs spread—resting his hand on the armrest while the other held a glass with an amber colored liquid.
Heat grew in my core as my eyes trailed up his perfectly sculptured body.
His long legs, tight abs, muscular arms, broad shoulders, and thick fingers that were currently wrapped around the glass. He brought the glass to his lips and took a sip—not breaking eye contact with me.
My lips slightly parted as his tongue came out to swipe some alcohol off his bottom lip. I immediately looked away, heavily exhaling as I turned toward the sink. Not the time, Dakota!
“Darlin’ this one’s yours,” Susanna said and Kaden approached us. She groaned, lifting and handing him a huge pot, and he easily took it from her.
She gave his bicep a quick squeeze which Logan caught, only to shoot her a look of disapproval.
Feigning innocence, she shrugged. “I was only making sure it’s real.”
I held back a laugh because haven’t I done that a million times too.
Logan merely shook his head and Susanna grinned, stepping closer to my side.
“Don’t be afraid to smack him upside the head every now and then,” she leaned over to whisper, both of us watching the men in the dining room and I chuckled.
“Yes ma’am.”
Susanna headed over as well, placing a bunch of plates on the table.
She said something to Kaden, and he nodded, approaching me. My heart raced and my palms turned sweaty.
“And the wooden spoon on the counter,” she called out from behind him.
I stepped aside, and he opened the drawer beside me. He grabbed a bunch of forks in one hand before closing the drawer.
I kept my eyes focused on the salad in front of me and he pretended to pass behind me, quickly pushing his hips into my ass and I let out a soft gasp as I turned, seeing him walk around the island with a grin on his face.
I shook my head at him before carrying the salad bowl to the table.
We all gathered around and found our places. I sat between Kaden and Logan, and it was Austin’s turn to say grace. We held hands, and when everyone’s eyes were closed, Kaden pressed a light kiss to the back of my hand.
* * *
The guys took over cleaning up after dinner, so Susanna and I plopped down on the couch.
“You enjoy dinner?” she asked with her glass of wine, and I nodded, nervously clutching my hands on my lap. She’d been so good to me since I’d gotten here, but that didn’t change the fact that she was Logan’s mother, and I really wanted her to like me.
“Yeah, you’re a great cook,” I quickly added before my nerves made me forget to remind her.
“I just follow what my mother used to teach me,” she smiled over at me, and suddenly, I missed my mother. I still wasn’t keen on keeping this secret from her, but I had no choice.
Susanna’s hand rested on top of mine, and my head snapped up. A warm smile stretched across her face. “Don’t be nervous, sweetheart.”
My chest burned, and slowly, I exhaled in relief. I returned the smile, and suddenly, the anxious ball in my stomach disappeared.
After the guys were done, the night continued, and Kaden and I couldn’t stop looking at each other to the point where he needed to leave to get some fresh air. So, of course when Austin headed to the bathroom and Susanna went to the kitchen, I followed Kaden.
“Fresh air?” I quoted him as I wrapped my arms around his waist. He looked back at me over his shoulder and smiled, stealing a quick kiss.
“You’re driving me crazy,” he admitted, and I let go, moving in front of him. “And you’re sleeping in my bed tonight.”
“Well…” I trailed off with fake uncertainty. “I was actually going to sleep with Chase tonight,” I sucked air through my teeth, and I could’ve sworn the muscle under his right eye twitched.
“Dakota,” he warned, and I broke out in a smile. “Of course I’m sleeping in your bed tonight,” I gripped his shirt, stepping closer to him.
He leaned down to kiss me, and the heat of his body warmed my skin. His arm slipped around my waist, holding me closer until he broke the kiss and stepped back.
He didn’t have to say anything, so knowingly, I headed back inside. We couldn’t.
* * *
Barefoot, I tip-toed to Kaden’s bedroom and quietly opened the door.
“Kaden?” I whispered, squinting my tired eyes with a yawn.
His bedroom was empty so I closed the door, creeping inside. I poked my head into the steam filled bathroom and he caught my eyes in the mirror above the sink. I smiled, trailing my eyes down his muscular tattooed back.
I walked over but before I could wrap my arms around him he turned, taking my face in his hands to kiss me.
I smiled into the kiss, lifting my hands to hold his waist. Slowly pulling his lips from mine, he stared down at me with a warmth so profound it sent my heart thrashing in my chest. He stepped closer, just a bit, not allowing any space between us.
His tender gaze settled on me entirely, and when he leaned in, his lips curved into a smile that made my grip on him tighten.
“Are you nervous?” he tilted my head higher, amusement caught in his tone.
I’m pretty sure my eyes were the size of golf balls right now. “You’re smiling,” I poked his chest. “At me,” I poked my own.
It wasn’t amusement on his face, or a smirk, a grin, a twitch of the corners of his lips, no. It was a smile. A full blown, heart warming smile. Just when I thought Kaden Moretti couldn’t get any more beautiful, he smiles. At me.
“I can’t smile at the woman I love?” he asked with a chaste kiss and my eyes fluttered closed.
“Say it again,” I breathed when he slightly pulled back, and that gained me a low chuckled from him.
“I—” kiss “Love—” kiss “You, Dakota.” His lips pressed to mine long and hard, and soon our tongues danced with a burning passion.
Gripping the hem of Logan’s t-shirt he pulled it up and over my head, letting my bare chest press to his.
His faint sound of pure satisfaction emitted into the room when our naked skin collided, and my hands rested his shoulders.
Gripping the back of my thighs he hauled me up and I locked my legs around his waist.
Overflowing with joy, I kissed his cheek, neck and shoulders repeatedly as he carried me back into the room and didn’t miss his unwavering smile. I finally kissed his ear, whispering: “I love you too.”