Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty-Three
Damien
Iwas a fucking idiot.
Why did I wait this long to try to make things right?
I would never let her go, never again. She fit against me like her body was made for me.
I’d find a way to make her forgive me for shutting her out. There was nothing I wouldn’t do to bring us back together.
“Now, this song was not originally a duet.” I looked at Cadence out of the corner of my eye, my cheeks aching from the stupid grin on my face. “But with the help of a good friend of mine, I stole the song and gave it my own little tweak for tonight’s performance.”
I peered out into the crowd and met Jade’s gaze with a wink.
“Are you insane? I can’t do this. I can’t sing with you.” Cadence’s grip tightened on my hip, her body tense with fear.
I moved, putting my hands on her shoulders and angling her so we were face to face. “Close your eyes and focus on me. Pretend it’s just you and me in our hotel room back in LA. Trust me, Cay. I’ve got you.”
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. “I’ve dreamed of this my whole life.”
“I know.”
“Thank you.”
I kissed her forehead and nodded to the guys to signal the start of the song. When the melody began, I worried. Was I putting too much pressure on her?
Maybe I should have waited and practiced with her.
Perhaps this wasn’t such a brilliant idea.
But as the first note left her lips, the air in my lungs evaporated. Her voice was sultry and sexy, and if I thought she was a talented singer back in LA, she was exceptional now.
Jade had told me Cadence had been taking guitar lessons and singing more and more, but I wasn’t expecting this.
Cadence:
“In the wind I hear your voice,
Haunting me each day.”
Damien:
“While everyone I know is happy and free,
shadows of your ghost are all I can see.”
I closed the gap between us, leaving only enough room for our microphones. As we sang, I let my free hand travel along her arm, shoulder, and neck.
Together:
“But feelings are like wildfire, they burn then they die,
Leaving ashes of memories, under a cold cloudless sky.”
Our voices blended in a perfect harmony.
Cadence finally opened her eyes and …
She was mesmerizing.
So much so, I almost forgot the words I was singing.
She stood in front of me, belting out lyrics that resonated with every part of me. Like she sang directly to me, and I to her.
I’d never had this connection with anyone.
And I never would again.
She was it.
Cadence:
“You’ve sewn yourself in with your tiny thread,
And I can’t get you out of my head.”
Damien:
“Your hand belongs in mine, and soon we
Will find the melody that’s you and me. ”
As we finished our song, I let the hand holding my mic drop to my side. Neither of us moved. We were stuck, our feet glued to the stage as the crowd erupted in front of us.
“I’ve finally found the music that matches my soul, my very own Cadence. The music to my heart.” I whispered as my hand found her cheek and I captured her lips with mine, unable to stop myself from kissing her again.
Everything about her felt right, and never in my wildest dream did I think I could ever be this happy. My chest had become lighter after months of heaviness.
She pulled away and looked up at me. “It’s not like you to be so sentimental.”
“Would you rather I explain how badly I want to find an empty, dark closet so I can fuck your brains out?”
“Can I have both? I love it when you talk dirty.” She gave me a wicked grin, and if I wasn’t careful, the entire establishment would realize just how much I wanted to be inside her.
“Come on,” I threaded her fingers through mine. “Let’s go find our dark, quiet place and talk.”
Our quiet place turned out to be the patio again. It seemed like the perfect setting to discuss our future, since this was where our friendship truly began.
Cadence pulled her light pink blazer tighter around her.
I grabbed her by the waist and set her on the edge of the fountain, just like before, and moved between her legs.
Only this time, my hands were all over her body. I traced the lines of her legs, arms, and stomach, getting familiar with her curves again. My pulse pounded through me with every breath I drew in.
But I had to focus, or I wouldn’t get the words out that I needed to say.
“Cay,” I started as I settled with threading my fingers through hers again.
“I never wanted to hurt you. In fact, I tried so hard to spare you and your feelings from the very beginning. I held back so many times when we first met that I lost count. And then, when we finally got together, it was perfect. I’ve never felt this kind of bond with anyone until you.
But none of that was at the forefront of my mind when I got that call from Violet.
It’s the truth, and I can’t change that. I only—”
“You can’t possibly think I’d be mad because you forgot to call me when you canceled your tour and went home. Geez, I’m not heartless or ignorant. I wouldn’t expect you to. Wish you’d thought of me? Sure, but I was okay then. You had months to make that right, and you didn’t.”
“I know. I’m sorry. This was the first time in my life that I honestly didn’t know what to do. It seemed that either path I chose, someone suffered.”
“If you would have told me the truth. I would have walked away from you. At least until I handled my business with Elijah.”
“As you say, shoulda coulda woulda. But I can’t change it now.
I can only ask that you give me a chance to make it up to you.
You didn’t let me say it yesterday, but Cadence, I love you.
We’ve been dancing around this for almost a year.
You came into my life and shattered my reality with your quirkiness, your cleverness, and your ability to see the best in people.
How could I not fall for you? I saw something I wanted and knew I’d someday call you mine.
Whether it was now, or in twenty years. I’ve been in the long game with you from the beginning. ”
The distance between us slowly closed.
“You know I fell for you, too,” she said just before she pressed her lips to mine.
And as cheesy as it sounded, she made me whole, like the pieces of my life were finally falling into place. I pulled her against me roughly, needing to feel her body against me. My previous gentle kiss turned carnal and depraved.
“God, I love you,” I said against her mouth.
“And I, you.”
“Let’s go find our closet.”
“I hope we can make it.”
“I’d take you here, but I don’t want to share you with any onlookers.”
“Next time.”
“Mm. My dirty girl.”
I pulled away and helped her down from the fountain’s edge. We kept our fingers locked as we snuck back into the restaurant and into the bathroom. It wasn’t romantic by any standard, but it would do.
I flicked the lock closed, then turned and tugged her against me. She moaned into my mouth as my hand found the soft skin of her stomach under her shirt.
I ran my hands down her ass, appreciating the piece of her that had caught my attention from the very beginning.
But everything else about her had been the reason I couldn’t let her go.
And even though her ass looked amazing in jeans, right now, I wished she’d worn something else. Something to give me easier access.
I unbuttoned them and pushed my hands into the waistline, pleased when I found the smallest piece of fabric covering her.
“I’m sorry, Cay, but this will be hard and quick.” I ground my rock-hard dick into her stomach. “I promise to savor it later, but right now… I need you. Badly.”
“God, yes. Please.”
I wasn’t sure how she felt about stripping down in a public bathroom, but there was no stopping us now. As if reading my mind, she kicked off her shoes with a seductive grin. Grabbing her by the hips, I pushed her up against the wall next to the door.
I wrapped my hand around the back of her neck and explored her mouth.
Her blazer was the first official piece of clothing to be removed, and I threw it over the stall door without my tongue ever leaving hers.
Moving down her throat, I pulled her jeans down as I went. When I crouched down in front of her, I pulled the soft denim from her legs. Before I stood, I leaned in and ran my tongue along her clit through the fabric of her G-string.
She moaned, pushing her body against me. With her jeans slung across my knee and one hand on her thigh for balance, I still had the other to play with.
I grabbed her leg and propped it up on my shoulder, opening her up for me.
Why hadn’t I removed her underwear with her jeans?
It seemed stupid to me, but at this moment, as I pushed the lacy purple fabric aside, it was a present wrapped up just for me in my favorite color.
And I loved presents.
I only wished I had the patience to enjoy this one more, but all the blood was rushing to my dick, and I’d be no good to anyone soon.
I ran my tongue up her slick lips before I flattened it against her clit.
Shoving her hands into my hair, she moaned my name.
God, I missed that sound.
My name on her lips as I pleasured her sent a wave of goosebumps over my skin.
I did it again, tasting her and wishing this could be my breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and every snack in between for the rest of my life.
I’d put her pussy on a damn pedestal.
I wanted to plunge my fingers inside her, feel her come apart as she rode them.
But again, I didn’t think my dick could get any harder.
And I craved the connection, the passion, we experienced when we fucked.
…Made love.
We had more than a physical attraction to each other.
We shared a love of music, a passion for life, and loyalty to our family and those we cared about most. We were connected on different levels and her understanding and genuine kindness made me feel like she saw every piece of me.
The good, the bad, the ugly… and she loved me anyway.
We were pretty fucking good at giving each other pleasure, though, and that was an added bonus.
How the hell had I survived six months without her?
Fucking idiot.
I was addicted to hearing her call out my name as I pleasured her.
Cadence pulled me up by my hair, and I threw her jeans over the stall with her blazer as my mouth connected with hers again.
I knew she could taste herself on my lips, salty and sweet. The perfect combination. I loved that she didn’t care.
Pulling at my belt and unbuttoning my pants, I had my cock in my hand in no time at all. Cadence’s soft, silky fingers wrapped around my shaft, running her thumb over the top.
“God damn.” I groaned into her mouth.
“I don’t have any—”
“I haven’t been with anyone else.”
“What?”
Leaning back, I held her gaze as her amber eyes roamed my face. “I haven’t been with anyone else. There isn’t any need for a condom if you’re still on the pill. You are the last person I’ve slept with.”
Her eyebrows rose only a little. She was trying to hide her surprise, and I didn’t know if I should be flattered that she thought women liked me that much or offended because I’d been pining over her this entire time.
“Don’t act so surprised,” I said.
“I haven’t either. It’s only been you.”
That was the green light we both needed. I squeezed her ass before grabbing the bottom of her thighs and lifting her against the wall. I angled my cock at her entrance and sank into her.
I saw literal stars. Everywhere.
“Fuck,” I groaned.
She was tight, warm, and wet, and I had to remind myself to stay focused because this felt too damn good to end so damn fast.
Cadence threw her head back as she cried out as I let mine fall to the nook of her neck, feeling everything as her body adjusted to the sudden intrusion.
I pulled out slowly and then slammed back in, her pussy taking all of me.
Every. Single. Inch.
I did it again, and again, and again.
Her pussy clenched around my cock, her body arching into mine, begging for more. I could feel her getting closer to that edge.
Her moans echoed through the empty bathroom like a bouncy ball ricocheting off the walls.
“God, yes,” she cried.
Knowing I wouldn’t last much longer, her body too good of a drug, I angle my hips to rub along her g-spot.
“Come for me,” I whispered in her ear.
And she did.
Her body vibrated around me as the tension from her climax released. And I was right there with her, finishing as her pussy milked my cock of every drop.
As we came down from our high, I nestled against her, leaning against the wall wrapped in the bubble of our pleasure.
When I set her down, I let my eyes roam over her.
Flushed cheeks, freshly fucked hair, and my cum dripping down her leg.
I loved it.
She looked absolutely gorgeous.
It satisfied a primal urge within me to make sure everyone knew she was mine.
She belonged with me. To me.
We put ourselves back together silently. But the air was filled with timid smiles and happiness beyond compare.
This was precisely where we were supposed to be.
Together.
We would figure out all the rest later.
Nothing else mattered as long as we were together.