He smiles. "Give me a few more hours, and you're on. But we're expected at the White House in less than thirty minutes."
"The White House," I say with an air of disbelief.
He sips from his mug, watching me over the rim as he does. "You know the big white building at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Where the President lives with his wife."
My pulse acts up again because the President. "Colin McKenna. Am I going to meet him? I . . . he's . . . cute, you know."
Caden's eyebrow arches as he reaches for my hand. "Do we need to talk about who you belong to?"
"Yes, okay. Yes, I think we should." He pins me down with those damn eyes, shining blue-green daggers of passion and penance. I swallow, hard. He's really hot.
Caden straightens, looking at JT as he does, and then me, before walking around the island to where I sit. I'm very aware of his body, naked and chiseled and bronzed from the sun, so I keep my gaze trained on his face to avoid any visual mishaps with his member.
"Piper?" His gaze is intense, but his features soften as he tips my chin.
"Caden?"
"The last three months have been amazing."
I let out a long breath. "Yeah?"
"Yeah. And I'd like to take the next step, if that's okay with you?"
I smile, cupping the crown of JT's head with one hand and reaching for Caden's neck with the other. Both warm, both sweet, and both very much mine. Everything about Caden is right-more than right. "Caden?"
"Yes, Piper?"
"You're cute with clothes on."
His grin splits his face as he leans in. "Yeah?"
"Yeah. And you're mind-blowingly sexy when you're naked. I like your honesty and that you just kind of get me. Your love for JT is the sweetest thing. You've got a nice butt too. But Caden?"
The warm rush of his breath fans over my lips as he stares at my mouth, waiting.
"I think the best part about you is that you're careful with my heart."
He groans low in his throat, brushing his nose against mine.
I nod, moving my hand to cup his cheek. "I've enjoyed your company and getting to know you, not just as Justin's friend, but as mine. You delivered my baby and helped me learn how to be a parent. You built a house and gave me a picket fence. You dedicate your life to this country and you like my post-pregnancy body. I feel incredible when I'm with you, so thank you."
His hand meets mine, holding it in place. My heart kicks in my chest. I'm all in. It's not too soon to take another chance, and I won't pass this by, pass him by, because he's worth the risk. "Thank you for coming to Lilyfalls. Thank you for making me laugh and smile, for wanting to take care of me and JT. Thank you for being you. Now please, please promise me you'll fuck me. I don't think I could handle it if you said no."
"More than friends?" he murmurs against me.
"Way more. The best more-than-friends we can be."
"Piper?" He kisses my breath away, his tongue daring me to respond. A moment later he releases me, and I gasp. "As your more-than-friend, can I lick your piercings?"
Anticipation pushes me off balance. "I hope you will, but later. It has to be later," I say as he frowns. I take JT from his arm and then shove him away. He doesn't budge. "Put some clothes on, Popeye. We have a date at the White House."
"I thought you liked me naked?"
I roll my eyes at his devious smile and ignore his hand when it lands below the belt. "Go," I murmur into JT's cheek and then put him up to my shoulder to rub his back. "I have to get JT ready too, so you have to go."
Caden's lids lower while he watches us. The chemical imbalance bubbles up, and I feel him in the hum of energy sizzling over my skin.
"Tonight." He crushes his mouth against mine, hard and hungry, until he breaks away and we're both panting through the aftermath. "Tonight you're mine, sunshine." His thumb rubs my bottom lip, and I can't help but taste his offering with my tongue. "I'm less than patient when time is the only obstacle keeping your skin from me. Not when I'm consumed with tasting you. Think about that for the next five hours."
Caden pivots and walks away. His ass clenches and unclenches with each step forward. God, he's cute. And, yeah, I'm thinking about tasting every inch of him.
MAGICAL AND ENCHANTED lands don't exist. Mother told me so repeatedly, but I have a moment's hesitation, and I want to call and tell her she's wrong. A modern-day fairytale lives on in D.C., and we have our own king and queen to prove it.