Infamous (NeXt Book 2) Read online

  He quickly grabs my hand, probably afraid I’m about to run away. He’s not entirely wrong if he believes that. This whole conversation is making my flight instinct go haywire.

  “No! That’s not it at all. The problem with my family is once they find out about us, we’re going to have to go to every picnic, barbeque, birthday celebration, and get-together they have, and trust me on this. My family knows nothing better than how to party.”

  “And you wouldn’t want to do those things with me?”

  He brings my hand to his mouth and lightly kisses my knuckles. “I was sort of hoping to enjoy it just being the two of us before the March and Jackson clan descends on us. I’m used to it since I’ve lived it my whole life, but it can be a little overwhelming.”

  “Oh. Have your other girlfriends told you that when you brought them around your family?” I ask, obviously fishing to find out how many there have been before me who met them all.

  Cade shakes his head at my question. “I’ve never brought anyone around my family.”

  “Because they can be overwhelming?”

  Again, he shakes his head, but this time he gives me a smile when he answers, “Because I never felt like that for anyone before.”

  “Before?”

  “Before you.”

  “Oh.”

  He kisses the back of my hand again and smiles one of those Cade smiles that could charm the birds out of the trees. “I’m sorry I lied. And I’m sorry you saw what you saw last night. And I’m sorry for how I made you feel. I didn’t mean for that to happen. I would never hurt you, Hailey. I swear.”

  God, I promised myself I wouldn’t fall for his charms and give in, but now that I’m standing here and he’s apologizing for everything under the sun, how can I run away? He sounds sincere. I want to believe him.

  But a nagging thought remains, and I can’t take him back until I ask about it.

  “If that isn’t what you usually do when you bartend, why did you do it last night?”

  He blows the air out of his lungs in a whoosh as a sheepish look comes over him. “Okay, here’s the absolute truth. I don’t know for sure why Kylie jumped up on the bar, and I definitely shouldn’t have gone up there to get her down. I think it had to do with the woman from Tampa Scene magazine being there with a camera guy. Kylie might have been playing it up for Taryn.”

  When he stops talking, I have a sense he isn’t finished. “Okay. Is that it?”

  Cade winces and then says, “I slept with Taryn last Easter. Taryn and her sister. It wasn’t anything big and was over as quickly as it started. One weekend. That was it.”

  “And Kylie? Is she an ex too?”

  Shaking his head, he waves his hand in front of him like he wants to erase that idea from existence. “No, no. No Kylie or her sister. I’m sorry I told you about Taryn and her sister, but I promised to tell you the truth. I’d really rather you not know that about me.”

  “That you took advantage of being a good looking man and had sex with women whenever you wanted? This isn’t a shock to me, Cade. The only shock, actually, is that you would want to be with me after those women. I’m not exactly the jump up on the bar kind of girl.”

  Fear fills his eyes, and he holds onto my hand even tighter now. “You’re exactly the kind of girl I want, though. None of that meant anything, and not just to me but to those women too. That’s not who I am now, Hailey. I promise. I’m exactly the guy you thought I was before last night.”

  For the first time since all that happened, I give him a smile. “You don’t have to worry. I’m not going to run away this time. And for the record, I didn’t run away last night. Meadow and I were leaving when I saw you up on that bar.”

  “You didn’t like the club? Too noisy and too crowded for you?”

  “Actually, I think she saw you before I did and was trying to protect me. To be honest, though, right before we started to head for the door, I was thinking I would have preferred to be with you on your balcony looking at the stars instead of being plastered against all those people and not being able to hear myself think because the music was so loud.”

  Leaning down, he presses a kiss to my lips and leans back to smile. “I would have preferred that too.”

  And just when I think I couldn’t be happier than at this very moment, he presses his forehead to mine and whispers, “What do you say we go to my place right now and wait for the stars to come out?”

  I close my eyes and smile as I tell him I’d love to. When he takes me into his arms and holds me like I’m the most important thing in the world to him, I want to believe some quiet creature like me can be enough for the man who stood up on that bar and looked like a god to all those people and liked it. Because as much as he says he hates bartending and that’s not what he usually does at his job, I saw how natural showing off was for him last night.

  Will quiet nights and staring up at the stars be enough for Cade?

  Chapter Four

  Hailey

  His apartment looks the same as it did the last time I was here, but something feels different. I can’t put my finger on exactly what that could be, though. My eyes scan the living room for something new. Nothing. It looks just like it did that night I was here.

  Same neutral colored walls. Same black sectional. Same end tables.

  “Did you change something since I was here last?” I ask as he heads for the kitchen.

  Cade looks back and shakes his head. “No. I haven’t touched a thing since the designer came in and did her thing. That was over a year ago.”

  I follow him into the kitchen and glance around in this room. It looks the same, but I can’t shake the nagging feeling something’s different in his place.

  “I’m parched. What do you want to drink?” he asks from behind the refrigerator door.

  “Whatever you have,” I answer absentmindedly, still searching for what’s changed here.

  He pops his head up from behind the door and holds up a container of water and a jug of lemonade. “Either one of these work? I have some beer if you’re feeling like drinking.”

  “Lemonade might be good. I had water all day.”

  We sound like two people who’ve been together for forty years. When did that happen? And why can’t I figure out what’s different about his apartment?

  Then it comes to me. Nothing’s changed here. Not the furniture or the décor or even Cade. They’re all the same as the last time we were here together.

  I’m the one that’s changed. What happened last night has made me feel like I need to be on the lookout for anything different here.

  I hate that. I don’t want to constantly be thinking he’s doing something behind my back so I need to inspect every square inch of this place every time I come here. That’s not who I am or who I want to be.

  Cade hands me a glass of lemonade and clinks my glass with his glass of water. “You were quiet all the way over here, so here’s to us talking more. Actually, just you talking more. I’ve talked more today than I think I have in the entire last year.”

  I take a sip of the sweet drink with a hint of tartness that hits my tongue like the taste of lemonade always does and set my glass down on the counter. “I’m trying really hard not to be scared right now. I hope that doesn’t sound ridiculous.”

  God, that makes me sound so vulnerable. I didn’t mean to say it like that.

  But he doesn’t seem bothered by what I said at all and walks over to stand in front of me. Smiling, he brushes my hair away from my face and kisses me softly on the lips. “It doesn’t sound ridiculous. I fucked up, so it’s only natural you’d be a little gun-shy. But you don’t have to be. There’s absolutely nothing between us that isn’t true. I even told you some stuff that I never wanted you to know, so there’s nothing to hide here.”

  His brown eyes look so sincere that I hate I even let myself think like I did when I walked into this place. He did tell me some pretty real stuff back at the restaurant, but I liked hearing all of it.<
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  “You can tell me anything, Cade. Honest. I won’t hold your past against you. All I care about is how you are while we’re together. That’s why last night bothered me so much, but you said your piece and I believe you, so today is a fresh start.”

  “Good. I want you to know something else, though.”

  When he doesn’t continue, my stomach does a flip and butterflies fill me. I wait for him to continue, but he doesn’t. Instead, he simply stares down into my eyes, which only makes me sure he’s about to tell me something upsetting.

  “If it’s bad, you don’t have to. It’s okay.”

  He slides his arms around my waist and in a low voice says, “I feel like you’re trying to run away right now. Are you?”

  Looking away, I nod. “When you didn’t say what you said you wanted to, I got a little freaked out.” I stop and take a deep breath before turning my head to face him. “But I’m not going anywhere physically, so I’m making progress. Don’t you think?”

  With a sweet smile, he sighs. “I do. But I must be getting better at picking up on it because it felt like you were a million miles away and I wanted to make sure you stayed, so I wrapped my arms around you. You don’t have to run from me, Hailey. I promise I won’t fuck up again.”

  I touch my palms to his chest, feeling the muscles underneath his shirt and wishing I could touch his body beneath the fabric. “So what did you want to tell me?”

  He takes my right hand and places it over his heart. “I wanted you to know that I missed you. I know it was only one night, really, but I couldn’t stop thinking that I’d never get to be like this with you again. Every time I thought that, it felt like someone was pressing down on my chest right where your hand is.”

  His skin feels warm against mine, like he’s so much more alive than I am. I don’t know if it’s because he’s fearless and not afraid of being hurt or if this is just who he is, but his ability to confess something like that leaves me in awe.

  “I missed you too. I was sure I’d never be here with you again, and that made me sad.”

  “Well, no more sadness. No more missing either. The past is gone, and now we get to spend tonight together. Any ideas of what we should do?”

  The way his eyes sparkle practically telegraphs what he’s thinking. The feel of his hard cock pressing against my hip gives me an even bigger clue.

  “Not that I can read minds or anything, but I think I know what you want to do,” I say and giggle as I angle my hip toward the front of his pants.

  Worry fills his eyes, and he shakes his head. “I don’t want you to think that’s all I want to do. I get that I fucked up. If that means we don’t sleep together tonight, that’s fine. My cock thinks other things, though, but you don’t have to listen to him. He has a mind of his own, pretty much.”

  Cradling his face, I kiss him long and deep, sliding my tongue into his mouth to taste him like I’ve wanted to for so long today. When I lean back and smile, he looks relieved, like he didn’t expect me to let him back in so quickly.

  “I’m not the type of person to punish you for something you’ve said you’re sorry for, Cade. I accepted your apology, so not sleeping with you tonight would be petty.”

  I slide my hand along the hard ridge in his pants and smile up at him. “Plus, punishing you punishes me, and I definitely don’t think I deserve to be punished like that.”

  “You very well might be the perfect woman. Most women I’ve known love to punish guys that way,” he says before letting out a low moan while I continue to rub him through his pants.

  “Not perfect. It’s just the way I am.”

  He nuzzles my neck, making me want so much more than just talking here in his kitchen. “Well, I like the way you are. The more I find out about you, the more I like, in fact.”

  My fingers slowly comb through his soft hair as he plants kisses just under my ear. I’d have to be insane to not want to sleep with Cade tonight or any night. Assuming he lives up to his promises. No woman in her right mind would deny herself what he has to offer after he’s apologized.

  I might be afraid of a million things in life and still working out my problems with my doctor, but I’m no fool. It’s not every day a gorgeous man like Cade March walks into your life. Only a woman who doesn’t enjoy feeling good would say no to sex with him tonight.

  He wraps his arms around me from behind, and as much as I want us to be in that bed together fucking because he’s got me so excited, I love how safe and protected he makes me feel when he holds me like this. I lean my head back against his chest and cover his hands on my stomach with mine.

  “I could stay like this all night,” he whispers in my ear.

  “That would make sex difficult since we’re both dressed,” I say with a giggle.

  His hands slide up my body to cup my breasts while he nudges his cock against my lower back. “I like the way you have no problem wanting sex. That’s pretty cool. No games or using it as a punishment. I like that.”

  Turning in his arms, I slide my hands under his black T-shirt to feel his soft, warm skin against my palms. “I’m a hundred other problems, I admit, but when it comes to sex, I’m not ashamed to say I like it. I particularly like it with you.”

  “Oh yeah? Why’s that?”

  I drag my fingernails along the space between his hipbones and feel his skin flutter from my touch. “Fishing for compliments? Okay, I like giving them when someone deserves it. The last time we were together, I thought I might pass out when I came. That’s how good you are, so not being with you tonight was never not going to happen. I mean, once you came to see me and apologized. From that moment, it was game on.”

  His eyes grow wide as I tell him the truth, and when I finish, he shakes his head and smiles. “Damn. I didn’t think you could get sexier, but that’s fucking hot. Did you really almost pass out?”

  I sense this isn’t fishing but true disbelief, so I nod and shrug. “Yeah. It was good. Or maybe I just have low blood pressure.”

  Cade slides his tongue seductively along his lower lip. “I’m going with option one. It was that damn good.”

  “Well, you should because I’ve never had any blood pressure issues high or low. I think you might just be a great lay.”

  Again, his eyes get wide, but this time I think he’s really shocked at how I describe him. No point in lying. Cade March is incredible in bed.

  “I don’t know if I’m taking that as a compliment or just blown away that a woman said that to me that way. Either one works.”

  With my fingernail, I trace the outline of his very erect cock through his pants and smile up at him. “I’m having a hard time believing no woman has ever said that to you before.”

  He tilts his head back and moans when I circle the tip of it a few times. “Not that I can remember, but maybe it’s just the way you phrased it. God, I don’t know what you’re doing with your fingernail right now, but it feels fucking fantastic.”

  “Better than what I can do with my tongue?” I tease.

  Cade looks down at me and scowls. “No way. That’s a hundred times better.”

  “Then maybe we should do that,” I say with a smile as I unzip his pants.

  His gaze stays fixed on my face while I lower myself to the floor. Kneeling in front of him, I tug his cock out of his pants and bite my lip at how sexy he looks staring down at me in anticipation of the first moment my tongue will touch him.

  For a few seconds, I close my eyes and inhale a deep breath to take his scent in. He’s all male, muskiness mixed with the clean scent of soap that makes me want him even more.

  With a gentle grip, I guide his cock to my mouth. Just as I part my lips, I open my eyes and look up at Cade to see him watching me with rapt fascination. His intense gaze tells me he’s dying to feel my mouth on him, and a second later, I give him what he wants.

  What we both want.

  A hint of saltiness hits my taste buds when he glides over my tongue toward the back of my throat as I take
as much of him into me as I can. Long and thick, he’s blessed with a great cock, but I’m not blessed with the skills to deep throat, so I only get a little over half of him into my mouth before I have to back off.

  “Jesus, that feels so fucking good,” he groans above me, making my inability to do what I really wish I could do a little less disappointing.

  His hands burrow into my hair, tugging me back down onto him faster this time. Afraid he might slam into the back of my throat so I gag, I keep my hand at the base of his cock, tightening it with every inch I go lower.

  We fall into a rhythm that I like and he loves, if his moans above me are any clue. I flick my tongue along the underside of him, over the vein that runs the full length of his cock, and each time, he tightens his fists in my hair a little more so licks of pain skitter across my scalp.

  “Fuck, Hailey…don’t stop. That feels incredible,” he whispers breathlessly, and I look up to see his eyes closed now.

  I sense he’s not far from coming, so I speed up just a little and begin to move my hand to stroke his cock in time with my mouth sucking him. With my left hand, I drag my fingernails across his skin between his hips, and he reacts immediately with another sultry moan that sounds like it comes from deep inside him.

  He’s sensual and erotic standing above me, and I can’t get enough of how it feels to please him. His happiness makes me happy. His pleasure gives me pleasure.

  All of a sudden, his hands leave my hair and I see him look down at me, his eyes big like he’s scared of something. Before he can say anything, the first taste of cum hits my tongue and I moan against his cock, closing my eyes as I continue to take every inch of him I can.

  When he finishes, I sit back on my heels and tilt my head to look up at him. He looks flushed and satisfied. If it’s possible, he’s even better looking than ever before.

  “I took my hands away and hoped you knew that was me trying to say I was about to come. I guess we got our signals crossed?” he asks quietly.

  God, he can be cute.