Paradise Found: Cain (Paradise Stories Book 2) (15 page)

“I have responsibilities, but I don’t think my body in the fight is the best solution anymore.” His voice had grown quiet, as if he had admitted to a dark secret he’d been harboring for a while. He looked up at me self-consciously, then quickly looked away and began to eat the remainder of his lunch.

We spoke casually while we finished eating our meal. I mentioned how the summer session was taking a toll on me, and I’d need to figure out what the science department would cover from my damaged books. He told me again not to worry about my things. When we finished, or rather, when he did, he asked me if I’d take a walk with him. Exiting the diner, and circling around to the back, a trail led up the steep mountain before us, through the thick greenery. We walked side by side at times. Other times, he led the way, either guiding me by holding my hand or supporting me with a hand on my back. We eventually reached a secluded area. A small cement structure formed a turret-like banister, and we stopped to look out at the variety of pine trees intermingled with white boulders below. The view was breathtaking. The world was quiet here, except for an occasional cry of a hawk or an eagle.

The place made me think of ancient kings and queens, and a story came to me. One I’d read long ago of a bird princess and a snake prince. They were betrothed, in hopes of uniting two kingdoms: the Sparrows and the Snakes. It was an odd combination, and even stranger that the two characters could shift into such small creatures. The snake was determined to make the marriage work. He even went so far as to trust two birds to carry him the height of a tall tree, where the castle-nest was made and the princess’ chamber awaited him. She distrusted him at first, but eventually gave into his charms. She would have to deny who she was to enter his kingdom and live as his wife, I recalled. I would never change who I was to fit into Cain’s world. My hands braced on the cement barrier, and I straightened my arms to take in the view, inhaling deeply the clean scent.

My back arched and hit a different barrier, directly behind me. Cain stood close, his own hands coming around me to rest next to mine on the cool stone. That snake tattoo on his arm reminded me once again of the story. I was definitely the innocent bird, although the image of a sparrow didn’t seem very glamorous. I considered myself more of a dove: white, pure, and peaceful, except when I was near him. Then I was something other than myself.

“It’s beautiful,” I said softly, not turning to face him, but feeling his presence surrounding me. I willed myself to concentrate on the scenery and not my wild thoughts of the morning.

“Hhmmm,” he replied, smelling my hair. The deep intake of his breath tickled the back of my neck, then the soft pressure of his nose was at the base of my head. His face slipped around to my throat, where his nose skimmed my sensitive skin. I tilted to allow him better access. He used his cheek to brush back my loose hair. The scruff of his face gently scratched mine as he moved it across delicate skin. My heart rate increased, gently hammering to match the soothing caress on my face. Breathing became erratic when his hands covered mine, pinning me to the cement enclosure.

“Cain,” I whispered, uncertain if his name was a question or a plea. His nose continued its slow assault of my neck, below my ear, then around it to my cheek. It was as if he was drawing a pattern, forming a path, testing the trail before he would strike. My breath hitched in anticipation, waiting for his lips to connect with moist skin, damp from the exertion of walking through thick woods. Tingling with nerves from his nearness, he practically purred, as he forged a slow drawn design over my profile. Then his hands joined the temptation.

One hand climbed up my bare arm, skipping suddenly to my side, and skimming dangerously close to the side of my breast before outlining the contour of my hip. Coming to rest on it, he gently tugged back so my backside nudged the length of him, bulging through tight jeans. That purr-like sound came again, riveting the pulse between my thighs. My legs vibrated in a sensation similar to riding his bike. His hand skimmed and his nose scanned. He was drawing out the anticipation, holding off from kissing my skin or reaching for a vital part of my body. My hips instinctively pressed back, begging for some type of friction from him.

“Sofie,” he warned, his hand present on my hip. He tenderly squeezed to still me then guided me, encouraging the connection. I arched so my backside met him hard and my front fell forward. His hand slipped to my lower back and pressed gently. I instinctively leaned against the cement wall, lowering to my elbows, twisting my head to look partially over my shoulder at him. His hand skated up my back, eventually weaving his fingers into my hair. With a gentle twist, my tresses were entrapped and he tugged tenderly.

“Sofie,” he hissed louder, as my ass collided with the hard length of him. He tugged again and I pressed back.

“What I wouldn’t give to take you like this.” His voice was gravelly, rough, and needy. The sound of it echoed just enough to set that vibration between my thighs to a more intense speed. I spread my legs further and his knees bent behind me. He dragged himself upward and I whimpered.

What were we doing?

It was as if we couldn’t be alone together without giving into a primal attraction. My mind was charging forth to overrule my body, which began to rock against the firm length pressed into my ass.

“Oh, Sofie,” he groaned. One hand remained firmly on my hip; the other held me against the stone. It wasn’t enough. I needed him to touch me on a deeper level.

“I want inside of you, Sofie,” he growled, squeezing my hip hard enough to pinch as he thrust forward. My whole body was humming. My desire for him was too great.

“Cain,” I whimpered.

“Tell me you’ll let me in,” he pleaded. He commanded. Our bodies were working a rhythm beyond our control. We were dry humping like teenagers. All I had to do was say the word and he’d touch me. He’d slip his hands into my pants and his fingers would spread me wide. He’d dive into me, and the wetness already gathered would heighten the speed he’d be able to slide inside me. I clenched at the thought as he repositioned himself so the tip of him was at the right angle. If we didn’t have the barrier of clothes, he’d slam into me so hard, I’d be one with the low wall before me. A groan so animalistic surrounded us, and I worried we were being watched by wildlife until I realized the sound was me. With pent up frustration, I ground back hard, letting the covered tip of him tease me, tempt me. I knew what it felt like, and yet I didn’t remember well enough. I wanted him deep within me, but I was afraid.

“Sofie,” he hissed, increasing the rhythm behind me. The friction almost burned. I was nearing the peak when he stilled, thrusting forward on a choked, “Fuuuccckkk.” The word was so low it became one with the rustle of the trees. He collapsed onto me, breathing in my hair again.

“It’s almost Eden,” he whispered. I had no idea what he meant, and I suddenly worried he meant a
who
instead of a
where
. Malinda’s name flashed before me. I straightened quickly, unsatisfied and flustered beyond control. Forcing him back, I spun and faced him. Our eyes met and a slow smirk curled up his lips, then his face fell. Narrowing his eyes, he glared at me.

“You didn’t?” he questioned. My whole body shook in growing irritation and suppressed orgasm. I couldn’t believe I’d almost given in. I almost begged him. I was spiraling out of control over him. Again.

“I need to go home.” I paused. “I mean I need to get back. To school, that is.”

“You didn’t finish,” he said, reaching for the button on my jeans. My hand covered his.

“No,” I said, forcefully. 

“Sofie.” My body hummed under the spell of him, but my heart couldn’t take the strike. We were divorced. We weren’t married. We shouldn’t be together.

“You promised to never let me take advantage of you,” he whispered against my cheek. “You promised. But take advantage of me. Let me finish you.”

His hand remained at the waist of my shorts, but I straightened, turning my head away from him. Instantly, he stepped back, rubbing a frustrated hand over his short hair and the other hand over the seam of his zipper. He muttered a string of swear words, then twisted and pointed forward for me to lead the way.

I cursed myself as I realized I’d have to wrap around him, in order to get back to his house. The bike didn’t move as fast on our return trip. We glided at a slower pace. Over time, my tension lessened, the ache for him dulled.

By the time we reached his street, my senses returned to me. I had to be clear headed around Cain. One look, one touch from him, and I was hypnotized into actions that I didn’t weigh against the consequences. Our morning activity should have been enough uncontrollable wantonness. In the seclusion of the woods, I’d almost given in again. Nature was a tempting aphrodisiac in matters with Cain. We’d done something similar in the river near Eden. The thought struck me. Each moment with Cain was a constant push and pull of memories revisited. Reality outweighed the recollections, though. Cain hadn’t loved me then any more than he could love me now.

Without a word, I went to my room. It was strange to call it mine. It was unreal to believe the house was ours. I didn’t wish to stay here, but I didn’t have the energy to leave. Nor did I have my car. Still parked near my trashed apartment, I didn’t have the means for escape. On emotional overload, I curled up on the bed to rest.

She’d been alone for hours. I paced my office, making calls about her apartment and following up on my personal investigation. I had my suspicions, but I didn’t want them to be true. I prayed they weren’t a reality. After spending the day on a search for his own clues, Kursch arrived with Sofie’s car. I didn’t want her to feel she was a prisoner, without the means to leave. I had to trust that she would stay. I wanted her to stay.

Eventually, I crept to her room. Knocking softly, I found her door unlocked and her body curled on the bed. Her legs were separated, with one knee bent and positioned higher than the other. Her face was peaceful, angelic, against the pillows. My mind raced before I came upstairs. I’d battled my demons of abandonment long enough. I feared Sofie would leave because of my afternoon foolishness. I didn’t want her to feel I was a threat in anyway. I should have gone to the garage to punch the bag, but instead I wanted to hold her, wrap myself in her calm. The peace present on her cheeks was something I longed to feel.

“Sofie,” I said softly, climbing the bed behind her. I was careful not to jostle her. I didn’t wish to startle her awake, as my ulterior motive was to wrap myself around her and breathe her in again. I slipped a knee between her open thighs then lowered myself to drape half over her. My chest rested partially against her back, and my arm slid over her waist. She nestled into my hold.

“Cain,” she said, sleepily.

“Shhhh,” I whispered. “Just rest.” Nuzzling into her neck, I breathed in the afternoon scent of her. My mind raced to a distant memory.

A voice in the dark. A whimpering cry.

“Don’t make me go,” she pleaded with him. The sound of tears filled the brightly lit room, but I was outside the office.

“I can’t believe you’ve done this to us. To them. You’ve ruined everything,” he growled. I recognized that tone. I imagined the clenched jaw. I’d seen the pressure he enforced on himself, when he tried to remain calm, but couldn’t contain the explosion brewing under the surface.

“I didn’t mean for this to happen. You took me to the ring,” she reminded him. The truth of the words was lost to him. He didn’t listen. Even at my young age, I knew he wasn’t hearing her.

“I didn’t force your hand. I didn’t make you take that poison. I didn’t introduce you to him,” he spat. Venom released with his words. His anger was hardly contained and I sensed the clench of his fists. He was holding the pressure within him, the volcano yearning to erupt.

“I never meant for this to happen. I didn’t…I didn’t expect to fall for him.”

The words were heavy and hung in the air. I didn’t know what she meant. Who was him? The tenderness in her voice seemed foreign to my youthful experience. But as I recalled the memory, the sound became clear. Fallen. I recognized that word. It pressed down on me. Fallen. It was said with something familiar. It was said with desire. I’d fallen as well, and I suddenly understood what she meant.

I jolted awake, unaware that I slept. The memory was vivid, the realization strong. Sofie lay under me, her arm twirled around mine, holding me in place. She whispered my name in the dark of the night before her hand gently rubbed up and down over my skin. The touch of her fingertips was soothing. She seemed to sense I’d had a bad dream; only it wasn’t a dream. It was a reality. My mother had left after that night. She was gone in the morning, leaving me wondering. Leaving me alone and afraid as I faced the demon on my own.