32. 32
Cady has friends.
Cady has friends at the wedding.
One friend, she explains as we eat fish and rice, amber eyes sparkling. Her best friend Malcolm knows Callie, Marcus’s bride-to-be. They’re in a book club together, of all things. I’ve met Callie a few times, and she doesn’t seem the book club type.
The entire book club is here and they’ve adopted Cady as one of their own.
Callie and Marcus are ecstatic at the ease with which the friend group merges, thanks to Cady.
Cady, who is glowing with happiness. I’ve never seen her look so beautiful.
Everyone in the place notices her, especially when she gets up with Callie and others to dance.
“She’s…”
I glance over to see Dexter’s mouth open as he takes in the view. “Yeah.”
I know Cady used to be an exotic dancer, but she doesn’t move like one. There’s no raunch, no check me out, I’d expect from a former stripper.
But there is a whole bunch of sexy. I especially love how Cady throws her head back and laughs.
“Your new girlfriend is hot,” Marcus says as he downs half a bottle of beer.
“I know.” I don’t feel like explaining that she isn’t technically my girlfriend. Like, not at all my girlfriend. Because I keep thinking that it might not be a bad thing. Having Cady in my life…
I’m not sure how that would work, though.
But mainly I just want to touch her.
I want to touch her all over.
The party closes down just before midnight as Callie announces bedtime for all. “You need to be ready to do this again tomorrow!”
“This has been such a fun night.” Cady clasps her hands together.
She looks younger. Happiness pulls the years from her, the tension from her shoulders. She’s no longer the billionaire businesswoman, but a woman having fun with her friends.
It makes me smile. She makes me smile.
“It doesn’t have to end.” I grab her hand and tug her toward the beach. “Let’s go play in the waves again.”
“Not in the dark,” she says, sounding like the old Cady. “Who knows what will bite me this time?”
I could give her a few suggestions, but I keep those thoughts to myself for now. “No water, just a walk. I’ll keep you safe.”
She looks at me strangely. “Who’s going to keep you safe from me?”
“I’m not frightened. How could I be? It’s you—Cady, the dancing queen. I saw you on the dance floor. You were having fun.”
She nibbles at her bottom lip and glances sheepishly at me. “I was.”
“And that doesn’t happen too often, so let’s go have more fun.”
As she lets herself be led onto the sand, Dexter and Nick take the hint that company will not be appreciated, and with a wave, head up to the condo. Alone, which is surprising for them.
Nick anyway. For weeks, all he would talk about was hooking up with one of Callie’s friends.
And look at me, so close to doing just that.
Not that I’m expecting anything to happen. This is Cady’s call to make.
I could take her back to the condo, and sleep beside her in the bed, but I can tell right now, nothing would happen. She might have woken up this morning draped over me, but she’s not going to fall asleep like that.
Not yet. Cady is close to trusting me, but she’s not there yet. And with her, for us to move forward, there will have to be trust. She’ll have to let herself be vulnerable with me.
I’m not pushing, but I’m also taking every opportunity I can find to get closer to her.
The waves roll over the shore, splashing over our bare feet. We hold our shoes. I hold her hand.
The moon is out, shining down through the wispy clouds.
If this isn’t a damn good time to make my move, I don’t know what is.
But still—I told Cady I’d let her make the first move. She kissed me first. True, I did kiss her back, but what choice did I have?
“You know all those movie scenes where they’re kissing and the waves roll over them?” Cady muses.
She instantly has my attention, even though I’ve never seen any movies with folks rolling in the surf. “Sure.”
“Don’t you think that would be uncomfortable? Water in your face and sand everywhere.”
Note to self: do not attempt to kiss her lying in the sand anywhere near the water. “Definitely.” I pause for a moment. “Who are you thinking about kissing?”
“I… you?”
I stop walking because if that’s not an invitation, I don’t know what is. “Where are you thinking of me kissing you?” I ask in a low voice.
“Maybe…here.”
I glance over my shoulder. This part of the beach is deserted, with the umbrellas closed and loungers folded over for the night. “I meant, what part of your body are you thinking of me kissing?”
Cady looks at me, eyes bright, lips parted like I’ve caught her mid-thought. Chuckling, I lead her to a lounger and unfold it.
“Maximus,” she breathes.
“Cady. This is up to you. Let me know if it’s a no, and I’ll take you back to the condo.”
The ego swells, among other things, as Cady promptly sits down.
She sits down, which means…
This beautiful woman is here with me, the moonlight glowing on the water, the shadows suggesting intimate areas to enjoy each other.
I want to enjoy her, but not as much as I need Cady to enjoy herself.
I drop to my knees before her, the sand gritty against my legs. “I’ve been wondering what’s under here all night,” I tell her, my hands gentle as I burrow under the hem of her dress. I stroke my way up the curve of her calf, past her knees.
I pause there— after toying with the spot as I carried her back from the beach earlier, I need to claim it now with my mouth.
When my lips touch the back of her knee, Cady exhales a shaky breath. I keep my mouth on her, dropping open kisses as I continue up her leg, feeling the strength in her thighs as I push up the hem of her dress.
“What will I find up here?” I murmur, heady from her scent, the knowledge I have Cady open and eager for me.
I thought I wanted her in a bed so I could take my time, see every inch of her, touch every inch of her skin, count any freckles, but I know I can’t wait for that. Cady should be worshipped, adored, but I can do it here, on the beach with the moon and her breath hushed by the rolling waves.
I spread her thighs, bending to press my lips against her soft inner thigh, close, so close to the apex of her legs. Her legs go on forever, but there’s a prize at the finish, and I’m so close to that prize.
It’s a prize I very much want to find.
Her smell is intoxicating, just as I knew it would be. Better than the wine, better than the rum drinks. Better than—
“Maximus,” Cady whimpers.
“I like it when you call me that,” I growl, kissing her silk-clad mound before I peel off her thong.
“I want to hear it when I make you come.” Cady’s eyes are heavy with want as I stroke my thumb along her crease. She’s ethereal; her dress pooled around her waist, legs pale and long in the moonlight. “I want to hear you call out my name… just like that.”
She hums her assent and spreads her legs wider. “Yeah,” I say in a low voice, the hint of wetness on my thumb as I trail my tongue along her thigh. “I want this pussy. I want to taste it.”
Sliding my hands under her hips, I pull her down the lounge chair so she’s lying flat on her back. “Look at the stars, beautiful.”
The moon, the stars twinkling, and the sound of the rolling waves can’t be more perfect than this before me.
I push her legs apart, position her just so, and chance a glance at her. “Maximus,” Cady murmurs, running fingers through my hair.
Running my tongue along her slit, a deep breath. Just a taste. I need a taste.
I can’t screw this up. This is too important—Cady is too important.
I knew she was before I laid her out like a five-course meal, but seeing her like this—vulnerable—brings it home even more.
I pull back, stroking my finger along her until, with a breathy gasp, I feel her wetness.
So wet. Warm. I bring my finger to my mouth. “Mm.”
She tastes like honey.
Warm fruit glazed with honey. Honeydew melon and… kiwi…
I can’t stop the smile as the Maroon Five song flashes through my mind.
“Max?” Cady worries her bottom lip.
She’s so beautiful… “My mind just went somewhere it doesn’t need to go.”
She tries to bring her legs together. “If you’re sure…”
I don’t bother to answer because, at this moment, I want nothing more. “How do you like it?” I hold her eyes for as long as she lets me, before dropping her gaze. “Tell me what you like. I want to know everything.”
“However… you like… is fine,” she says haltingly.
“Cady,” I warn.
“Other men… it’s not for me. It’s what they want.”
“There will be no other men,” I tell her roughly before I claim her with my mouth.