Chapter Sixteen
Mikayla
Why is it weird? Isn’t it weird? I’ve only met this man once. I had dinner with him and his brother, and I never saw him again until I unexpectedly called him.
Isn’t it weird to be this attracted to a man I barely know? Living in his house? It’s weird! And his other brother?
“I don’t know you,” I say, not knowing what else to say.
I expect Caine to agree with me because that seems like the reasonable thing to do under these circumstances. But rather than nod or say, “That makes sense,” instead he laughs.
“Isn’t that why people spend time together? To get to know each other?” he asks with a goofy grin on his face.
I pull back and look up at him, his arms still wrapped around my back, and I frown. “To what end?”
“What do you mean?” he asks, his brows furrowed as he looks down at me, his smile fading.
“I recall a man who looks a lot like you saying something to the effect of, ‘It isn’t you, it’s me. I’m shit at relationships,’” I remind him. “I’m not saying you’ll become something, but I definitely don’t want to invest time into something when the outcome is assured to be nothing.”
I can’t believe I’m actually saying the things that are coming out of my mouth! Yet, I mean every word, but to actually say them out loud. I just keep telling myself, what do I have to lose? Right?
“What if I said that I would like to get to know you?” he asks noncommittally.
“To be my friend? Because I don’t think that’s realistic,” I say, pulling away from him. What does that even mean, get to know me?
I’m beginning to feel uncomfortable. Like maybe I’m misreading this attraction, and it really is one sided.
I’m hardly experienced. He fucks random women, and I definitely don’t fuck random men. I’ve been with one guy. One… and he fucked my mother.
“I’m not asking to be your friend. I’m saying I’m interested in the possibility of more. Fuck, I’ve been thinking about you for months, pissed at myself for not asking for your number,” he says. “I think it’s pretty apparent that I’m very attracted to you.”
“So, what are you saying?” I ask not having any clarity about anything except that I’m not alone in being attracted.
“Would you like to go on a date with me?” he asks softly.
“Will you shower before we go out?” I tease. I’m nervous. Did he just ask me out? Did that just happen?
I see Caine’s lips twitch before he says, “I can commit to taking a shower.”
“Then I can commit to going on a date with you,” I say. Then I frown… wait. “Tonight doesn’t count.”
“Ah, hell no,” he says, shaking his head. “I’m taking you out on a real date,” he says with a big white toothy grin. “Now will you come back into the kitchen and have dinner with me?”
“Your brother hates me.”
“I don’t hate you! And you really do need to get a painting or something, Caine, I could hear that entire conversation,” Lance says.
My face burns like fire, and I bury my face in Caine’s chest. I feel Caine’s laughter vibrate through his body. Then he tilts my chin up and bends down and I suck in my breath when his lips touch mine.
Soft, gentle lips take mine, and I find my hands moving up around his neck. His hands cup my butt and squeeze. When his tongue skims the seam of my lips, I shudder against him. It’s like I’m floating, and my body is electrified.
I part my lips and tilt my head, and he deepens the kiss, our tongues dancing as our lips tangle. I’m breathless when he pulls back.
“My God,” I whisper, my eyes still closed.
It’s as though I can still feel his lips on mine. They feel swollen and tingle from his touch.
I open my eyes as Caine takes my hand, and we walk into the kitchen. Was he affected at all?
Lance is at the stove, removing the rice. He’s already plated the small roast I had found in the freezer.
“Let’s have dinner,” Lance says. And I sit beside Caine at the table.
Lance opens a bottle of wine and pours himself and Caine a glass.
“Only half for Mikayla,” Caine says when Lance begins to pour a glass for me.
“Are you serious?” I ask. “I’m not going anywhere,” I point out.
“Did you eat today?”
“Did you?” I ask defensively. What is he getting at?
Caine frowns. “I did.” He glares at me but nods.
“Well, I had breakfast,” I say, turning away.
Why is he being so rude?
“Why didn’t you eat lunch?” he asks, forcing me to look at him. “At the restaurant—when we met, you hadn’t eaten before dinner either.”
“I lost track of time.”
He raises a brow. “Doing what?”
“If the smell of the house is any indication, I’d say she cleaned your goddamn house and cooked your dinner,” Lance says as he pours me a glass.
I smile at him when it’s fuller than Caine’s.
Lance sits and winks at me as he cuts into his steak.
“I like the Montgomery brothers,” I say with a chuckle, taking a sip of the wine.
“You mean you like one Montgomery brother,” Caine says with a scowl.
I look up at him and smile. “Well, the three I’ve met so far are very nice,” I say. “And all very handsome.”
Lance chuckles. “She’s got your number.” His eyes spark, and he shakes his head. “If things don’t work out with him, and his track record isn’t in his favor, I’m available.” Lance teases, waggling his brows at me.
I burst out laughing, my cheeks burning.
The man is definitely handsome. The hot gene is strong in this family. Unlike Caine, Lance has brown hair. It’s dark but definitely sun-kissed from his time outside. He has the same baby blues as Caine and the same chiseled jaw.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” I wink then cut my steak.
“Okay, bye Lance,” Caine says, his voice angry.
My jaw drops when he grabs his brother’s fork right out of his hand!
“I’m kidding, Caine!” I exclaim with a chuckle.
“Man, has she got you pegged,” Lance repeats with a laugh. “How exactly did y’all meet?” Lance asks.
Lance reaches across the table and grabs his fork back.
“At Shirley’s,” I tell him before I take a bite of my steak.
“Is she…” Lance begins, then trails off.
I look from him to Caine, but the set of Caine’s jaw is enough to keep me from asking any questions.
Dinner is not as light and breezy as our others before, and I can feel this uncomfortable tension between me and Caine. But there’s nothing to say, especially with his brother here.
“Remember,” Lance says as we walk to the front door, “if things don’t work out with Shrek, I’d love to take you out.”
“Fuck right off!” Caine growls as he practically pushes his brother out the door.
I stare in shocked amusement as Lance winks at me before Caine slams the door in his face. But the humor fades when he turns around and looks at me.
My eyes follow him as he stalks toward me. I don’t know why, but I’m nervous, so as he steps toward me, I begin to walk away until my back is met by a wall.
“I need to shower,” Caine says as he cups my face with his huge hands.
He tilts my face up, and my eyes dart back and forth between his large baby blue eyes. And then his lips are on mine and my breath hitches at the contact.
I shut my eyes as heat moves through my body. My arms move up his hard chest and my core clenches as I imagine what he looks like under that shirt.
I shiver when his tongue moves past my lips and he groans, telling me he’s feeling something too. This fire between us isn’t in my head, and yet, I don’t know what any of it means. But right now, I don’t want to worry about it because my skin feels electric, sizzling from his touch.
Caine grabs my ass and hoists me up, wrapping my legs around his waist as he presses me against the wall.
My tongue passes through his lips, tasting him, needing all of him. I’ve never wanted anything as much as I want him.
“Mmm!” I moan when his hands squeeze my ass cheeks, his fingers brushing against the junction between my thighs.
I can’t help but grind against him, wanting to be closer. I want more; I need more! But to my shock, the man pulls away and sets me back on my feet.
What?!
“Tomorrow, be ready in the morning.” He places a soft kiss on my forehead.
I stand in stunned silence as he walks away! Seriously! I can’t believe it! Was he not as affected by that kiss as I was? Is he really able to just walk away?
I lean against the wall and shut my eyes when I hear his door close. What the fuck?
Fuck him!
I walk to my room and shut the door. I’m pissed! Like seriously pissed off! I was ready to go to bed with him. I seriously would have, had he not pulled away. Yet, he left completely unaffected.
I throw off my shirt, pull down my pants and look in my suitcase that sits on the bench. I have a toy. Who needs a man when you have the best vibrator? I bought it while in Austin with Raquel. It’s amazing! It has an external clit stimulator as well as thrusts! Who needs a man?
Fucker!
Play games with me all you want; I’ll get mine, Mr. I-Have-To-Go-To-Bed!
Fine then! I walk over to my suitcase and unzip the top flap and remove the pink device from its box. There’s definitely something deliciously wicked about using my toy with Caine in the room right next door. But I know he’s in the shower and won’t hear me.
I toss my vibrator onto the bed and pull off the rest of my clothes. I throw back the covers and lie down. I sigh and open my legs, then grab the device and push the button, turning it on.