She hadn’t felt this good in a long time. She had gained weight, felt stronger, and mentally, she was finally beginning to be in a good place again. She refused to admit it was because of the attention Cade was showing her.
She never knew if Rock or Cade would be the one to show up to take her to and from work. Rock had steadily become a good friend of hers, and she would have jumped him long before now, but something had held her back from beginning a relationship with him. And that something was Cade.
“I can’t stand the fucker, but it’s starting to get nasty between those two. You need to cut one of them loose,” Killyama stated as she danced with T.A.
“I’ve tried to get rid of Cade, but he won’t listen. As soon as Stud gets his bike done, he’ll take off.”
“Stud says it should be done in about two months.”
“Then he’ll be gone before Christmas. Merry Christmas to me.” Jane lowered her eyes to the dance floor, not letting her friends see the hopelessness in her eyes.
“I need a beer.” Crazy Bitch fanned herself in the stuffy room.
“Me, too,” Sex Piston seconded.
“I’ll grab us all one,” Jane offered, leaving her friends on the dance floor.
Deciding to use the restroom first, she veered in that direction. As she passed the doorway that led to the men’s bedrooms, she saw Demie standing outside Cade’s bedroom, talking to him. She caught Jane staring at her.
“What you staring at, bitch?” Demie snapped.
Jane started to walk off, ignoring her harsh words, but then anger flooded through her. She had been right not to take Cade’s attention seriously.
Jane turned around and snapped, “Fuck off!”
“What did you say to me?” Demie turned to face her.
“You too stupid to understand what I said?” Jane lost her temper, moving farther down the hall, closer to her and Cade, who was watching the building argument.
“You’re being brave tonight without your friends at your back. They must be within yelling distance, or you wouldn’t be up in my face.”
“I’m in your face because, every time you see me, you have something smart to say to me, and I’m sick of it.”
“That makes us even because I’m sick of everyone feeling sorry for you and walking on eggshells.” As soon as the words had left Demie’s mouth, she found herself flattened against the wall with Cade’s hand on her throat.
“Don’t ever talk that way to her again. If you’re pissed at me, take it out on me, not her. I told you two months ago that I didn’t want what you were begging to give. I’ve tried to be nice about it, but now I’m warning you to not fucking open your mouth to my woman again. You understand me?”
“Yes,” Demie managed to get out.
“Good.” Cade released her, and she took off down the hall, brushing past Jane.
“You weren’t going to have sex with her?”
“I don’t want another woman.” Cade reached out to cup her cheek.
“I can’t let you hurt me again.”
“I won’t.” His thumb traced her bottom lip.
“I don’t trust you.”
Cade leaned forward, gently touching her lips with his. His hand cupped the back of her neck as he walked backward into his bedroom. Shutting the door, he pressed her back against it.
“Give me another chance.”
“No. I’m not going to give you another chance to hurt me. If we do this, it’s going to be what it is—just sex,” Jane said, the words stripping her soul away. “Leave town when you want. Do what you want. I’m not going to expect a damn thing from you, Cade.”
Cade felt her words as if they were flicks of a whip against his skin. She was emotionally distancing herself from him.
Tracing her lips with his tongue, he then parted them, thrusting inside. The faint moan she gave as he drew her closer to his body revealed the lie of her trying to remain aloof. Her tongue dueled with his, searching his mouth in turn, her passion showing her hunger for him. When Cade gave her the control she was searching for, he felt her hands run over his chest, going to the snap of his jeans and unzipping them.
Cade nipped at her neck before breaking the kiss to take off her T-shirt. His hand went for the little cherry nipples he had fantasized about for the last six months. He groaned as their sweet taste filled his mouth.
“No one tastes like you.” Cade’s hand went to her hips, sliding down her pants. Kneeling in front of her, he took off her boots and pants before nuzzling her smooth stomach. “You taste like candy. I’m going to make you melt in my mouth.” Cade parted her thighs, placing one over his shoulder as she braced herself against the door.