Authors: Dee Ellis
I waited for the others to head off, noting that as we had discussed, Devon hung back. Charli was talking with Britney so I took the chance to step aside so we could talk about whatever was on his mind.
“Cage, I think I’m pretty interested in following through with this. I know you said you got started right out of high school. Where did you start?”
“I’m glad to hear that, Devon. I think you’d make a great fireman. Well, I was lucky because my pop works the job too. But he didn’t make it easy on me, I had to go through the EMT courses and volunteer first. How long till you graduate?” Though I was intent on helping him, I was aware of Charli just feet away, my eyes watching her every move.
“I’m a senior and my credits are good, my grades are just okay though. Does that matter? Should finish this year.” Devon seemed uncertain and I trained my focus on him again, wanting to reassure him.
“No, grades don’t have a huge effect on it. I would suggest taking some classes at the community college if you can fit it in; they offer some great basic training courses that could help get you ready. Stay out of trouble; keep your eye on your goal. Keep your nose in your books. You got Byrne’s number, right? Take mine too, and you call either of us if you have questions or need some input.” I took the card Hunter had given him earlier and added my own name and cell number.
“Thanks, Cage. This...well it means a lot. I mean all kids want to be a cop or a fire fighter, right? Just listening to you talk about it, and how rewarding it can be, how you can make an actual career out of...it has me thinking it’s something I’d like to take seriously. Thanks for all the time you’re giving us.”
We talked a little longer and then he headed off with his head high and a bright smile on his face. I was more than willing to mentor him beyond this course and I would let both Sara and Charli know that. In fact, I was willing to spend as much time at the library doing this as they would allow. Not because of Charli. Because of kids like Devon, and even Marcus, who just needed a little guidance and a lot of hope.
Of course, being around Charli could be nothing but a bonus. I looked at her now, waiting on the corner as the streets of Chicago teemed with life and traffic. Damn she was beautiful.
That beautiful hair caught a breeze and she shined in the sunlight and damn, I was breath taken. I closed the distance between us, realizing all at once were alone. The usually busy street was empty, our kids gone and commuters quiet.
“I like that kid. I think he might make a good fire fighter. What do you think?” Charli smiled a sweet smile, watching after the direction Devon had headed.
“I think so too, actually. Just needs to get some confidence about himself. I think you,” Her lovely eyes swung back to me, “might be able to help him with that.” The smile she gave me made my knees weak.
“You think so, do you? So, what now, Sugar? Back to your day job? Or do I walk you home, like a gentleman?” Charli tossed her head back and laughed, leaning against a tree as she leveled a look at me.
“A gentleman now? I don’t know, Cage,” She let out a sigh and I smiled, moving closer, “nothing about today leads me to believe you might be a gentleman, exactly.”
“Ouch, Sugar. I am absolutely a gentleman; Gwen raised me right. Now, as far as you may be concerned.... I may not have complete control of my behavior at all times. Not my fault, gorgeous. Not my fault.” I was close to her now and that electric zing that charged the air between us was doing its worst on me.
“Is that so, Cage?” Her head tipped back, long hair spilling over her tits and down nearly to her ass.
“Absolutely. I don’t want to exactly pin the blame on you,” My hand reached out to cup her hip, unable to deny myself a moment longer, “but I mean...it is
kind of
your fault.” Again she laughed. I just watched, watching the light in her eyes; every second she was dragging me deeper.
“Explain this revelation, Cage. How is it my fault you don’t know how to behave with an absolute stranger.”
“Sugar,” Both my hands framed her hips and I settled close, my fingers digging into her plump ass, “we’re hardly strangers. See, I’ve always been looking for something...or rather
someone
. The minute I saw you, somehow I knew I had found it. Found you. I felt like I knew everything I needed to the minute I laid eyes on you, Charli. I am an open book though so whatever you want to know, just ask, Sugar. Because I want to know-every. Single. Thing.”
“Cage...” Charli gasped when I pressed close beneath the shade of the tree, touching my nose to hers.
“Charli...I warned you...you keep saying my name like that, I might not be able to remain a gentleman much longer.” I felt her breath hot and shaky at my mouth and I groaned, but I didn’t take her mouth yet.
“Why?” Charli spoke finally, blinking up at me as I struggled to maintain control.
“Clarify that one, Sugar.” My hands slid up around her waist then back to fully cup her ass and she gasped.
“Why...well there’s lots of why’s. Now...why does my saying your name...” Again I leaned close to her, taunting us both as I spoke against her lips.
“Charli...I’ve imagined your voice saying my name plenty since the first time you uttered it. When you ask me to take you, soft and hungry. When you scream it when I make you come. Afterwards when you let me hold you and tell me about nonsense no one before me cared enough about. When I fuck something up and you let me know it. That’s why...you saying my name right now, the way you’re saying it...is driving me crazy, Sugar.”
“Oh.” Her perfect mouth formed an ‘O’ and then we both smiled as I lifted away.
“Oh. Hmm, what other whys do you want to know, Charli?” I tugged at her, knowing full well I was pushing my luck being so handsy. But not caring.
“Well...the obvious of course. Why do you believe I am the end to your search? I mean...what is it that makes you so certain?” I realized her teeth nipping at her bottom lip both drove me crazy and let me know she was anxious.
“Maybe I should ask you that, hmm? My mom and Pop,” I smiled as I heard horns honking and someone arguing a few feet away, “they have something special, you know? Something real; my pop knew it the minute he saw her. Both have different reasons, different ‘why’s.’ That’s what I was searching for, something like what they have. I don’t know just yet, why, Charli. I just know what I know.” Charli pressed her hands to my chest and pushed a little.
“I don’t know you. You don’t know me. I mean...,” Her face flushed deep red before she went on, “physical attraction, what does it really mean? Nothing in the grand scheme of things. Finn found me attractive. Lola found you attractive. It’s a chemical reaction to...” Charli stopped when I cut her off; I wasn’t about to let her start thinking her way out of this.
“Sugar, I find you more than attractive. Do you find me attractive?” It was a dick move, making her give me something that could cost her.
“Cage...I... I-I....yes. I find you attractive. I’m attracted to you.” Again with those teeth at that bottom lip, my cock took note of how delicious her lips looked.
“Charli I’m more than attracted to you. I want you,” My voice dropped and she responded immediately, arching away from the tree and watching my eyes, “so badly I don’t know how I’ve managed not to take you yet. You are the most stunning woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. Curves in all the right places, beautiful face and gorgeous eyes. That fucking mouth.” I touched her there, my thumb tracing the shape again like I had earlier.
“Cage...please I-I don’t...” Shaking my head, I broke away but kept my thumb pressed to her mouth.
“Sugar, I want to fuck you. I want to make you come until you forget every other man who’s ever touched you. I will, soon,” I wet my lips at the very idea of having her and her eyes went stormy.
“I intend to take every inch of you and make it mine. I can wait. Because once I have you, I don’t intend to let you go. You need to get right with that before I can make you mine. Charli, if I just wanted that, I could fuck anyone,” She scowled and I laughed which only deepened her scowl, “That is not what I want. Or what I need. I want you; your beautiful smile, the lightness in your eyes and everything that comes with you.”
“You don’t even know me,” Again she was thinking with her head and not her heart or, unfortunately, her body, “just because I want you...” A growl ripped through me and she gasped as my hands lifted to tangle in her hair.
“Say that again.” I demanded; Charli’s gray eyes turned frothy as she lifted away from the tree.
“Even if I do, I don’t know you. What I do know is I’ve been here less than two weeks. I came here for a reason. To live my life for me. Not to just become some
thing
for someone else again. I want to live and fuck up and eat and make mistakes and cry and hurt. For me. Not for you or anyone else.” Jesus Christ she was amazing.
“Charli, I won’t stop you from any of that. You just do it by my side. With me. I know you want to run from me. I know me laying my shit out for you scares the shit out of you. I know that back there,” I jerked my head towards the fire house, “scared the shit out of you. I know...you’ve lost some shit. I don’t need to know you long to see that. You can run, because I know you need to like I said. Just like you said, you can set the when, the where, and the how. It’s up to you, Sugar.” To prove it, I dropped my hands away from her and backed up.
“Oh. K. I... I uh...need to get home.” For a moment, Charli looked flustered and I knew that was a good sign; my words were getting through to her.
“Let me walk you to the cottage. It’s close.” Charli glanced behind us at the fire house then down the block at the library.
Then she stood straight, squared her shoulders and leveled a narrowed look at me. I was sure she was going to deny me. I would still walk her. It wasn’t late yet but I wasn’t about to let her walk home alone. Like I said, Gwen raised me right. Charli gave an imperceptible tilt of her head. Pleasure flooded me and then we headed towards the cottage.
It was still crisp and cool out and I was fairly certain she needed a jacket. I thought about grabbing her one from the station before we got too far. Something told me she would deny me so I didn’t. Instead I walked close to her, giving in to my need to touch her with a hand at her back.
We were quiet as the skies overhead slowly started to darken and I realized something important. I didn’t need to flirt with her or talk or even touch her. I just liked being near her. The sound of her breathing, smelling that citrus scent that clung to her, feeling her warmth.
It was all like a drug she was letting me take hits off. I was becoming addicted. Of course I wanted her. All I said about wanting to own her body and fuck away every other touch before mine was true. That I could just be in her presence and feel so connected was possibly as satisfying as fucking. Well, maybe not as satisfying as fucking
Charli
, but still.
We reached her place quickly and I was glad she was close to both my fire house and my own place. It would be easy to keep an eye on her. I felt kind of creepy stalker-ish for thinking that, though. I wanted to see what she had done with the place, if she had left all Regan’s work as we left it. I didn’t want to push my luck. I knew we had plenty of time. I wasn’t going anywhere.
Pausing at her front door, hand on the knob, Charli peered up at me. Again her teeth worried her bottom lip. I wanted to suck her lip into my mouth and slap her ass for tearing it up so bad. Instead, I took a step back. I wanted to kiss her so bad my entire body ached with it. With wanting to bring her close and taste her.
“Thank you for walking me. Guess....till tomorrow, Cage.” It was one of the hardest things I’d ever done not pinning her to the wall and kissing her senseless.
“Goodnight, Sugar,” Her eyes flashed every time I said that pet name and I couldn’t get enough of it, “looking forward to it.” Charli flushed and then backed inside, eyes never leaving mine.
I realized as she backed away, something happened to her eyes. Something that I took for disappointment flooded them. Too late, I realized my mistake. I vowed earlier I would be kissing her today.
Charli wanted me to kiss her.
Shit! I took a few cautious steps towards her just as she slid inside. My head fell with a thud against the door as I heard the lock click.
Way to go, idiot!
So much for being a man of my word.
My breathing took longer than I was proud of to come back to normal. The thud of my heart took a lot longer. With my back pressed to the door, I slid to the floor and tipped my head back. It was still early but I was so exhausted from the emotions I’d battled with all day.
My big bed sounded amazing. Once I could stand. Or breathe. “
I want to make you come until you forget every other man who’s ever touched you.” Sweet Jesus.
Cage Cooper was going to be the death of me. It might be the hottest, sweetest death ever recorded, though.
Had I any doubt just what Cage’s words had meant, or what exactly he had in mind, I certainly didn’t anymore. I should be offended he was so forward. I should hate how cocky and certain he was. When he saw me putting stock in all the battle stories Finn was telling earlier, he went right to work. Somehow he knew his nearness, his touch, affected me in ways I couldn’t fight.
So instead of promising me bullshit he couldn’t mean, or arguing away the facts, he touched me. Slid in between my legs and slid his big, strong hands up my skirt and gripped me tight. Let me fight out my anxiety as fears of loss his job could cause had me wanting to run. Again.
Then, with us tucked in the corner of their commons room, he undid me. With his hulking frame blocking the others view of me, he had pressed his fingers between my legs. Once. Twice. Three times, his thumbs swiped over my panties, pressing gently against my pussy. By then his sweeping touch at my skin, and the roiling heat it shot through me had me wet and wanting.
When he found how wet I was, for him, he let out a sound I was certain the others had heard. Which only made me even wetter. Then he had talked to me about nothing, soothing me even as he drove me fucking crazy. As I was sensing was a pattern between us.
Since we met, I had been unable to get him out of my mind. I thought about his honey hazel eyes and the tattoos spiraling down his muscled arms. Dreamt of him holding me down as he thrust into me and told me how good it felt, how he needed me. Couldn’t get enough of me.
It had been what...two days? No wait...three, right? Jesus could I remember a time pre-Cage? What was life like before I had met him? Calm and collected and b-o-r-i-n-g.
The minute I felt his eyes on me that first day, looked into his shockingly beautiful face, I had felt alive. Aware of bright colors and strong aromas and the pulsing need he brought to life. The need he was very aware of. Certainly capable of satisfying.
Had I ever wanted someone like this? Thought about them all day, leaving me unfocused and unable to work or, shockingly, read? The horror. I wanted Tucker in a way that was warm and innocent. We spent plenty of time working up to things but I never felt hungry for him. Or like I needed him.
Even my passing fancy for bad boy Ryder had felt different. Like I wanted him just because I knew I shouldn’t. Because he was reckless and everything I wasn’t. I wanted Cage because...he struck something deep inside me that made me feel sexy and wanton and desired.
Cage looked at me like a woman he wanted to claim. To own without end. Which he could not possibly know was exactly what I craved. While I wasn’t into anything kinky, at least not that I knew of in my limited experience, I wanted someone to take charge.
To tell me what they wanted. To show me. I knew without a doubt that was exactly what it would be like with Cage. The things I knew he could do to me, could make me feel? It made me hot and molten everywhere that counted.
Tonight, Cage had made a promise to me. A threat. That he would taste me. The words had just about made me come on the spot. As did most of what he said to me, to be honest. Cage had a way with words. I could only guess his pillow talk would make me blush.
I wanted to hear it, though. Wanted to hear his husky, raspy voice in my ear telling me dirty, filthy things as he slid inside me. Hard and fast, his body pinning me down as he took what he wanted. Because I wanted to give it to him. If he had kept that vow and kissed me, I had real doubts I would be sitting on my floor, fantasizing about him.
About his full lips that I wanted to bite and lick. About how his rough, heavy hands had felt on my skin. How quickly my body caved to his commands. My breasts got achy and my nipples pebbled the minute he looked at me. Because he didn’t just look at me.
No, Cage devoured me with his hot, needy looks that left me weak and wet. I felt those heavy looks as if they were whispered touches at my skin. Fingertips at my nipples, his thumb pressing between my wet folds and making my swollen clit throb. Just from a look.
Sweet Jesus
, Cage just might be the worst thing to ever happen to me. If he wasn’t in fact, the best.
When I managed to climb to my feet and make it to the shower, my gait was unsteady at best. Tomorrow I had to face him again and I wasn’t sure how much more I could take. I learned more about him every day and I was getting sucked in deeper and deeper.
As I stepped beneath the shower spray, I thought back to all the stories his friend, Finn, had spun earlier. I knew they were embellished; especially when he repeated himself three times, with an injury he mentioned getting worse each time. Still, it was a likely threat that Cage could be hurt, or worse, every day he reported to work.
Filling my loofah with a puddle of the White Citrus body wash I was somewhat addicted to, I took my time running it over my skin. I dipped my head back and let the water pour over me. I considered just what Cage was doing to me. It was exhilarating and somewhat intoxicating to have someone so bold and demanding.
Cage was unlike anyone I had ever met. Something about him and his commands, the way he told me things were going to be worked for him instead of making me pull away. I wanted to settle into his broad chest, trail my fingers over the tattoos that ran his arm as he took care of me.
Because, I had never been taken care of before, not really. Massaging my scalp as I weighed all I knew about Cage, the good and bad I’d learned, I knew I was in trouble.
Somehow I was coming up with more good than bad. Shit. The last thing I had wanted when I came here was to end up just like I had been. Relegated to being someone’s girlfriend, fiancée, wife, but nothing more.
Stepping out of the shower, no less frustrated than when I climbed in, I thought perhaps I needed reinforcements. Wrapping my long honey brown hair in a towel before slipping on my fluffy robe, I padded to my bedroom.
I was getting used to having the place to myself and I loved it. Sometimes it was too quiet. Then the cacophony of Chicago would filter in and it would get too loud. I was getting used to that though, too.
“Tell me everything.” Maisie said as way of a greeting.
“Hi to you too, sis. So... just as expected it’s dirty and loud...and I love it. The pizza is just as amazing as expected; I tried sushi and almost enjoyed it. I love my job, I found the cutest place, on the planet, and two of the girls at work seem to be promising girlfriends. Might have found my future husband.” I ticked off everything of importance since it had been a few days since we had spoken.
“Sushi? I want photos of everything. Sis you should have Skyped me so I could see the place. Wait a tic...back it up. Husband? Charli?”
“Sushi might grow on me, actually. I haven’t seen sights yet but once I do, all of you will see plenty of photos. I’ll Skype you both this weekend.” Knowing it would drive her crazy because Maisie loved nothing more than boy talk, I left mention of Cage out.
“Charli. That’s lovely. Now. Get to the details about my future brother in law. Is he beautiful?” I knew I could count on her; she was like a dog with a bone. Horny.
“Mais’ he is...fucking gorgeous. It’s the weirdest set of strange coincidences.”
Then I detailed how Sara had used her connections with the Coopers to get me the cottage. Before I launched into the good stuff, I gave her a rundown of the place. I gushed about Regan’s work and how I couldn’t wait to show them. I was still trying to convince everyone, myself included, that I was here to stay. That would mean visits with my country bumpkin family. Which had me missing them and my hometown and the big house I hated.
Maisie wasn’t letting me get away with teasing information, so she pressed and I caved. Told her about the that first day I’d met Cage. Then the second day where he had all but staked a claim on me. Maisie swooned at that.
Then I told her about today; the threatened kiss and my fears. Then I began detailing some of the cons, knowing Maisie would be ready with nothing but pros.
“Sis...that sounds like one of our trashy novels. Which Sadie and I are on this series, Crossfire? Whew it’s hotter than July by the river! Put it on your to be read list, sis. Back to your man trouble; I see no trouble at all. First of all, he sounds like sin on a stick. Second, a fire fighter? Men in uniforms just do things to my lady bits. Lastly, you remember what I said to you?” I giggled at her mention of her lady bits.
“I do. Follow my dreams, fail, succeed, fuck around,” We laughed together as I quoted her parting speech, “fuck up. Break hearts and get your heart broken. No regrets. Maisie....after...after Tucker and... everything, I don’t want to risk losing something again. Not like that.” Maisie sighed and I knew that sigh; I always thought she knew more than she let on.
“Sis, you can’t not live life because it might hurt. Your mom, Tucker, neither would want you so afraid of loss that you actually lose out on the good stuff. Look, let’s say this guy, Cage? Let’s say he means what he says. You give in to it, and give yourselves a chance. You get all the good stuff you could imagine. Then, god forbid it, something happens to him. You suffer of course. But you knew something great because of it. Do you regret your times with Tucker?” I frowned because I couldn’t be entirely honest about that.
“No of course not. I know there’s good with the bad, Mais...I just don’t know if I’m ready to feel that fear that the bad is right around the corner again.”
Another reason the girls and I had been able to finally bond, despite my stubborn resistance, was our shared experience. While I was waiting for Tucker they too were waiting for Colton and Cash. They knew what being a military wife was like. Infrequent letters, calls when they got the chance, a Skype if we got lucky. The fear of never really knowing where they were and what they were going through.
Luckily for us all, my brothers had been stationed at the same base. They were able to watch each other’s back and were together when they got hurt. Tucker was not so lucky and was stationed in an entirely different country. The constant fear that something terrible could happen, likely would happen, had been a constant cloud over all three of us.
The good that came of it was the closeness I got with the girls. We were so different but so alike, really. They had played all the parts, cheerleader, and homecoming queen, that I was also expected to, but they enjoyed it.
I never felt comfortable in my skin in our tiny town, and they lived for the gossip and the close knit community. When we became family, I realized I had judged them too harshly.
They liked the crowns and the pom poms because it was all they knew. Their mama was home coming queen, their Daddy star of the state championship football team. They wanted that life. There was nothing wrong with wanting what they knew. I realized I was being petty for judging them just because I didn’t.
My brothers had wives to come home to, lives to pick back up there. Despite the ring on my finger I doubted that’s what Tucker wanted. By then the letters we did exchange were long and emotional and full of truths from both of us. I loved Tucker, in all the ways I could.
For a while I thought I was in love with him and he was in love with me. Before he put that ring on my finger, I wasn’t so sure. I never spoke much about Tucker. The truth wasn’t mine to tell. But, I always suspected Maisie understood anyway.
The girls never pressed for more, even when others did. They were just there while I waited for my life to start when he came home. Whatever that life would be once he was home. Sadly, I never got the chance to see what life with Tucker and our truths might be like. The girls understood what I was going through then more than anyone.
Someone else getting the complexity of my relationship with Tucker, how his loss truly affected me, made the months after his death livable. While the entire town mourned him and the wedding that they never got to see, I started to move on. To consider a life outside of that place and those expectations. One that was about me and my own truths.
Getting involved with Cage would end that. Would take away the chance I just took for myself. I would once again be a woman waiting for that phone call. Wondering if there was any possibility of a me without someone else.
Even as Maisie went on, making it all make sense, I was withdrawing. Shuttering myself as I had grown used to doing now. Maybe I was just not willing to take a chance on someone like Cage. Someone who promised loss.
“I don’t know,” I lied as I cut Maisie off, because I did know, “Mais. Cage may be worth it but maybe I’ll never even get that chance to find out. Maybe I don’t want to find out.” Okay that was a lie too. I wanted to find out everything.
“Don’t take yourself out of the game because you might get a strike, sis. Could also get a touchdown.” I giggled because when she slipped into sports euphemisms, I couldn’t take her.