Chapter 19

Cade

I hadn’t expected her to show me so much of her past so soon, but the way things had gone with us was anything but ordinary. We seemed to be forging our own path.

After we’d walked around some more, Eloise drove us to a bakery so I could get whatever cake I wanted. They actually had a cake tasting plate, like people do for weddings that you could order, and I was all over that.

As usual, the red velvet was my favorite. Eloise adored the carrot cake, which I liked, but wasn’t the best.

I hadn’t taken any pictures of the two of us until now, but I held my phone out as I kissed her cheek and snapped a few. I’d also snuck a few shots when she wasn’t looking. She was beautiful today in her dress, and I had to keep reminding myself that she was with me. She had chosen me.

If I let myself think about that too much, I feared that I would float away, too full of happiness.

Being with her made my pulse race and my skin ache and everything was brighter and better, and it was almost too much but I wanted to drown in it.

Drown in her.

“Stop looking at me like that,” she said when we left the bakery with more cake packaged to go.

I pushed her up against the door of the car, careful not to let the cake drop.

“Never,” I said before I brought my mouth to hers and kissed her until we were both gasping and short of breath.

* * *

“I have an idea,”I said as we were driving back.

“What’s that?” she asked, turning the radio down. I simply could not ride in silence and she’d tolerated the music so far.

“Since this is your first time dating a woman, I was wondering if you wanted to do all the classic kinds of dates. The movies, bowling, mini golf, arcade. What do you think?” I asked, looking up from my phone.

“Oh,” she said.

“It’s a silly idea,” I said, wishing I hadn’t opened my mouth.

“No, it’s not a silly idea at all, Cade.” She reached across and squeezed my leg. “What did you have in mind?”

“Well, there just so happens to be a community movie night a few miles from here. You have to bring your own blanket and chairs and so forth, but they have a huge screen and they sell popcorn and snacks and there’s a food truck.”

Eloise smiled. “What movie is playing?”

“Sleepless in Seattle. A classic.” It was also about a reporter, I remembered. I’d seen it ages ago at a sleepover.

Eloise let out a sigh. “I really love that movie.”

“You want to go?” I asked. “I know you planned this date, but…”

Eloise beamed at me. “Yes, I want to go. What’s the address?”

* * *

The movie wasn’tfor another hour, so we had time to kill. Eloise took us to the nearest big box store to get chairs and blankets and more snacks in addition to the cake we already had.

“They always raise the prices. I’ve been sneaking my own candy and popcorn into movie theaters forever.” Her frugality made me laugh, but they did have a good selection of candy and Eloise told me to get anything and everything I wanted, filling a reusable bag.

“This seems like a lot of stuff for one date,” I said when we arrived at the venue to find our spot.

There were already tons of people who had laid out blankets and set out chairs, and kids running around and chasing each other. The night was warm, but not muggy. Eloise had got us bug spray and insisted on dousing me when we got out of the car. It was sweet, so I let her do it.

We carried our stuff and found a spot that wasn’t too far from the screen but gave us a little more privacy.

“I wouldn’t have thought to do this,” Eloise said, setting up her chair. I put mine right next to hers and wished that we had a bigger one so we could share. “You’ve got all kinds of good ideas, Cade.”

“Sometimes I do. Sometimes they blow up in my face.” That happened a lot.

I laid one of the blankets on her lap even though it wasn’t chilly yet. I didn’t want her to get cold.

Eloise reached up and pulled me down to kiss me quickly. “Thank you for this. I know I’m not good with spontaneous things, but this is good.”

I kissed her again, wishing I could crawl into her lap and wrap her arms around me so we could snuggle together.

Eloise made a little grumpy sound and pulled back. “I thought these chairs were a good idea, but I think if we both try to use one they’ll break.”

Had she read my mind?

Eloise stood and helped me make a nest of the blankets instead, laying back and patting the spot next to her. I lay down, and she put her arm around me, pulling me closer.

“Is this better?” I asked.

I felt her lips against my hair. “Much better.”

* * *

We did tryto watch the movie. We really did. But then one of us would kiss the other one and before we knew it, we were making out and having to stop so we didn’t get arrested or yelled at for doing anything to traumatize the people around us.

“You have to stop doing that,” Eloise said in a low voice that punched every single one of my buttons.

“Doing what?” I asked, nuzzling her nose with mine. My hand had been creeping her dress higher and higher on her leg under the blanket.

“You know what,” Eloise said, putting her hand on mine to make me stop. “We can’t. Not here.”

I blew out a frustrated breath. This idea had been good at first and now it was biting me in the ass. I wish she were biting my ass instead.

“I know,” I said, looking up at the sky. I’d absolutely lost the plot of the movie. This would have been a much better date idea if I wasn’t so goddamn horny for her, but that was a feeling that wasn’t going away and had only increased to unbearable levels.

She was so fucking sexy and I wanted her so much that I could feel it in my teeth. The ache that had taken up residence between my legs was so distracting that I didn’t know what to do about it.

“The movie is almost over,” she said. But then we had to drive back, and it was at least a half an hour. Would I last that long? Could you die from being too horny? Certainly felt like I could right now.

Eloise got out her phone and I wondered what she was doing.

She tapped a few times and then turned to me, grinning at me in the dark.

“I just booked us a room at a hotel nearby. Is that okay?”

“Oh my god, you are amazing.” I kissed her again, but yanked myself back from full-on making out with her.

“I know you didn’t plan for this to be an overnight,” she said, and I could tell she was nervous.

“I don’t care. I just want to be with you,” I said, taking her hand and kissing the back of it.

“As much as I love this movie, I’d rather be with you more,” she said in a low voice.

I closed my eyes and thanked whatever lucky stars or fates had led me to this moment.

“Let’s go.”

* * *

Eloise

The night had taken a completely unexpected turn, but it felt right. Walking into the hotel after we’d bailed on the movie with Cadence’s hand in mine was so right that I didn’t know what I’d been doing with my life until this point.

I checked us in, got two keys and the minute the doors in the elevator closed and we were alone, I pushed her up against the wall and started kissing her the way I’d wanted to during the movie.

It was only for a moment, because the doors opened on our floor and I’d rather be alone in our room with her than in an elevator. I pulled her by the hand down the hall as she followed me, a little dazed. I guess I was better at this than I’d thought.

Swiping the room key with a shaking hand, I shoved the door open and did a quick scan of the room before turning and locking the door.

“El,” Cadence said, putting a hand on my arm and squeezing it. “I know this is all happening really fast, but I just want to make sure that you know we don’t have to do anything.”

I nodded. “I know. And the same goes for you. This is a two-way street. I don’t have any expectations either.”

She nodded and walked over to the large bed, sitting down on the edge.

I put my bag down and joined her. By this point I knew her well enough to know when her thoughts were spinning, and she needed to let them settle before she spoke.

“I just need to get this out there,” she said, turning so she was facing me. “I want you. Like, really want you. But I’m willing to wait. Or not wait. Or whatever you need. I’m on board for this. For all of it. Today has been absolutely amazing and I want to keep it going. I want… God, I want everything. I want you to meet my friends and see my awful apartment and I want to tell my parents and my sister about you. Whatever this is, El, I’m in. I’m all in.”

I reeled from her words. They were so much more than I thought she would say.

“Wow, Cadence.”

She went completely red and hid her head in her hands. “I’m sorry. That was too much. I said too much.”

I reached up to pull her hands away from her face. “No, Cade. No. It wasn’t too much. I feel the same way. I had dinner with Camille on Friday and I told her I was dating a woman and I had to stop myself from telling her about you, because I want to tell everyone about you and how wonderful you are. Before I met you, my life had been this lifeless, boring routine. I controlled every minute out of fear and it was working for me. At least I thought it was. But then you showed up and it was like opening my eyes and seeing everything in technicolor. You’re so bright and sweet and wild and unexpected and it’s exactly what I needed. You’re what I want, Cadence.”

Her smile was so radiant that I thought it was going to break my heart.

“How is this real?” she asked, voice full of awe.

“I don’t know. But I’m glad that it is. That you are.” I pulled her face to me and kissed her gently. Slowly. We had all night. We had the time.

It took me a moment to notice that she was trembling.

“Cade? Are you okay?” I searched her eyes.

She swallowed and nodded. “Yeah. I just…I want you. So much. It’s killing me.”

Her voice was unsteady.

I wasn’t feeling all that steady myself. Desire had set up camp in certain parts of my body in a way that I hadn’t felt for a long time. Maybe never.

“I don’t… I don’t know what I’m doing,” I said.

Cadence shook her head. “It’s okay. You’ll figure it out. And I’ll help you.”

Suddenly the idea of Cadence teaching me erotic lessons was something I very much wanted.

I stood up and took off my shoes. She kicked hers off and moved back on the bed, watching me the whole time.

“Um, just so you know, I’m kind of…a switch? I guess? If you want me to take the lead, I can. Or I can let you explore. Either way, I’m good with what we do.”

I nodded. I’d done a very small bit of internet research, but none of that could tell you how you’d feel in the moment.

“I think,” I said, licking my lips. “I think I’d like to explore you.”

Cadence looked up at me with eyes glowing with desire. “Yeah, you can definitely do that. Fuck, yes.”

I crawled onto the bed and looked down at her.

“You’re truly beautiful, Cade. And I want to see all of your freckles.”

With one hand, I pushed at her shirt and she sat up so I could pull it over her head. She had a basic bra on underneath, and I traced the outline of it.

So many freckles. It would be impossible to count them all.

“Want me to?” she asked, and I nodded as she reached behind and undid the clasp in back.

I slid the straps down her arms and then the bra was falling away from her and revealing so much glorious skin that it made my mouth water.

“Mmmmm,” I breathed out, taking her in. “So perfect.”

I seized her mouth and kissed her hard, pressing her back into the bed as I straddled her legs. She was already pushing up into me, seeking more friction and contact.

Her skin was blazing hot as I kissed and licked and tasted my way down her throat and neck and collarbone, veering directly to her breasts, which were full and lush and exactly right.

“Perfect,” I moaned as I landed little kisses on her breasts, avoiding her nipples as she held my head and tried to steer me toward them.

“Cadence,” I said in a chiding tone. “You said I could explore.” She let out a little whimpering noise. “Are you going to be a good girl and let me do that?”

Where had that come from? I didn’t know, but watching and hearing Cadence’s response was electric.

She arched into me and let out such a sweet desperate noise that I decided it would be my mission to get her to make that sound as many times as possible.

Cadence didn’t release her grip on my head, but she did stop trying to control me, so I took my time. I wanted to make this last. Tease her and torture her until she was absolutely begging. There was still an edge of uncertainty, but I knew I’d find my way. I’d find what she liked and then I’d hesitate to give it to her until she screamed for it.

“You’re so gorgeous. Wanted you from the moment I saw you,” I said, flicking one of her nipples with my tongue. The tiniest touch, but it made her whole body jerk. Her eyes were dilated, and she was restless beneath me.

“Harder,” she gasped out.

“I will, Cade. I will. But not yet,” I said, and she groaned. “It will be worth the wait.” Big words to live up to, but I was determined. This was going to be good for her. Good for both of us.

So gently, I sucked one of her nipples into my mouth, barely touching it with my tongue. Her nails dug into my scalp and she tried to buck her hips into mine, but I had her pressed down into the bed.

“Mmmmm, you taste so good, Cade,” I said, flicking her nipple harder and then sucking it back into my mouth with a little more force.

“Fuck, El,” she said, her words barely coherent. “Feels good.”

I laughed. “I’m glad.”

Taking my time, I alternated what kind of contact I gave her nipple before giving the same attention to the other, making her curse and writhe and beg me to touch her.

I still hadn’t taken my dress of and it was starting to feel like it was strangling me, so I sat up.

“Want me to take my dress off?” I asked her.

“Yeah. Fuck, yeah,” Cadence said, licking her lips.

I lifted the hem and then pulled it over my head. I hadn’t been wearing a bra underneath and her eyes went wide when she saw me.

I had insecurities as much as the next person, especially since my body had a few more miles on it, but when Cadence looked up at me with fire in her eyes, I felt beautiful.

“I’ve been dreaming about this,” she said, fluttering her fingers across my belly.

“And how does reality stack up to the dream?” I asked, trying not to worry about the answer.

“Better. This is better,” she said, nodding emphatically. “Fuck, you’re so hot, El. Can I see the rest of you?”

We both only wore our bottoms.

I rolled onto my back beside her and hooked my fingers in the waistband of my bottoms.

“Take them off at the same time?” I asked, feeling a little silly. But then Cadence grinned and copied me.

“One, two, three,” she said and we both yanked our bottoms off, tugging them down and then over our feet. I let mine drop beside the bed. Cadence flung hers across the room where they landed on top of the dresser next to the TV.

I turned on my side to see her and she did the same.

“You okay?” Cadence asked when I was silent for a few moments.

“Yes,” I said, my throat choked with unexpected emotion. “I just…I want you so much, Cade. You’re so beautiful.”

If I didn’t get my act together, I was going to cry and ruin the moment, so instead I rolled on top of her, both of us gasping at the contact of skin on skin. She was hot and desperate, and I needed to touch all of her at once, but that wasn’t possible.

I kissed her again until my head spun as her hands reached and grabbed and tried to get as much of me in her hands as she could.

On an instinct, I clasped both of her wrists and pushed them over her head.

Her eyes flew open as she stared at me.

“I’m sorry,” I said immediately letting go.

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “Don’t be. You can…that’s okay.”

She kept her arms above her head, crossing her wrists over each other.

“I don’t know what I’m doing,” I said and then wanted to hide under the bed.

Cadence smirked. “Oh, I wouldn’t say that. I think you’ve got good instincts. If there’s anything you don’t want or don’t like, just say stop and we can stop. And I’ll do the same.”

I nodded. “Yes. Okay.”

Sex had never felt this monumental before. Not even my first time. Being here with Cadence mattered, and I didn’t want to do the wrong thing.

“Do you want to stop?” Cadence asked, her arms still above her head. Fuck, I liked seeing her like that. There was something about it that sent a pulse of lust between my legs.

“No,” I said. The last thing in the world I wanted was to stop. “No, I don’t want to stop.”

“Do you want me to keep my arms like this?” she asked.

“Yes. Until I tell you otherwise,” I said, in a voice that didn’t seem to belong to me. It was new. This was new.

Cadence nodded.

Now that she wasn’t touching me, I could focus on her. Sitting back, I dragged my hand down her body from her shoulder to her hip.

“Freckles, freckles, everywhere,” I said. “So lovely.”

Her body was absolutely perfect, with breasts I could fill my hands with, a little curved belly and hips that I wanted to sink my fingers into. All kinds of fantasies I’d never let myself have burst in my brain like fireworks. Too many to count. Lurid and so intense that they made my hands shake.

“Want you,” I said, stroking her outer hips. “Want you so much, Cade.”

“You have me. Take me,” she said, and it was like she lit a match inside me.