Grayslake: More than Mated: A Bite of Love (Kindle Worlds Novella) (7 page)

15

Case

I sat on the new swing and pushed off the porch. I didn’t try to rebuild the old one that had plummeted over the edge. I ordered this one online and installed it yesterday.

I took a sip of my coffee.

It had been a week since Donovan’s last report on the Litchfields. Noah, Eli, and Ronan were all working with him closely. I knew something was wrong. I could feel it under my skin.

The birds chirped in the forest. Sitting here in the remote stillness you’d never know there was a war brewing. But there was. The hair on the back of my neck stood up. The Litchfields were going to try to take the Charleston territory soon.

I pulled the phone from my back pocket and called Noah.

“Case,” he answered on the first ring.

“I haven’t heard from Donovan. What’s going on down there?”

“He doesn’t want us to update you until things are confirmed.”

I shook my head and tossed the coffee off the railing and walked inside to rinse out the china cup. “That’s not his call.”

“He is regent.”

“Fuck, Noah. I’m the king.”

“Sorry.”

Noah was one of the few members of the Tribe who treated me as a best friend and not a ruler.

“So what’s happening? What’s the Litchfield count?”

I sat at the kitchen table. Everything in this room was completely new. Refinished hardwoods. Reclaimed countertops. Open cabinets that displayed my grandmother’s china.

“Donovan won’t say more than the three we confirmed last week, but I say twelve,” he grumbled.

“Twelve? What the hell?” I growled. The activity had ramped up. So much for them taking their time to infiltrate.

“Caroline thinks she has identified six on the outskirts of town and Eli and Ronan picked up two. I found one.”

I ran my hand through my hair. “I’m coming down there.”

“No. We’ve got it, Case.”

“Like hell you do. There are twelve members of the Litchfield clan there.”

I didn’t know if I could assemble more of the Tribe quickly enough. Josh and Drew could be there by tonight. They were in driving distance.

“Not confirmed,” he reminded me.

“I don’t give a shit if Donovan confirmed them or not. I’m driving down.”

“All right. You’re the king.”

“It is my territory. Apparently I need to keep an eye on it myself.”

“Come on, he’s doing a good job. He’s trying to keep you out of the details. What if you get here and there are still only three Litchfields?”

“Then I’ll enjoy my time at the beach,” I snapped back.

“I’ll buy you a drink.”

“That I can agree to.” It had been too long since the Tribe had been together. After the war we had all taken time to lick our wounds. Four months later and we needed to get our shit together.

“See you tonight, your majesty.” Noah liked to mock my title. He was the only one who could get away with it.

“I don’t know what time I’m leaving. Don’t tell Donovan. I want it to be a surprise.”

“You sure? He’s going to want to know.”

“I’m sure. Don’t tell anyone. I’ll text on the way.”

Noah paused. “It’s good to hear you like this.”

“What?”

“You’re back aren’t you?”

For an instant I was angry. Angry he was calling me out for ever being anything but myself. However, this time he was right. I had been gone a long time. Searching for peace. Needing shadows. Craving light. I was a jumbled wreck of hope and despair. A heart that stopped beating. A leader that stopped caring.

“Shut up, Noah.” I said it with a grin.

He laughed. “Glad to hear it. See you later.”

I hung up. It didn’t happen all at once. I didn’t flip the switch and cure the pain. It had been months of mistakes. Months of torturing myself. Months of wanting something to be different than it ever was going to be. Months of running from the truth.

But not anymore. When I wasn’t looking, it had lifted. The pain was gone. The misery had been replaced by certain calm.

I walked to my room to pack the bag I had brought with me. I had moved my room to the top floor a couple weeks ago. I liked the view out of the back windows. I could see the creek that ran along the edge of the property from up here. It also had a private bath.

But I had forgotten to grab the suitcase when I moved all my clothes. It was still in the lower level room. I rushed in the room and opened the cedar closet, stopping suddenly when I spotted the silver earrings next to the bed.

Cadence had left the pair there. I hadn’t touched them since she had spent the night in my bed.

I pulled out my phone and scrolled for the number to
Achording to Cadence
. I was suddenly hungry for a going away dinner.

16

Cadence

Sundays were my days off. I sat on the couch watching another episode on how to turn a dresser into a half-bath vanity sink. I took notes in my journal. One day I’d have a huge house and I’d devote my extra time to remodeling it.

I wondered how far Case had come with his place. It wasn’t my fault was it that I could picture all the ways to fix it up? He had two extra bedrooms and a sitting room I hadn’t even seen. There was a small staircase that led to an upstairs I was dying to get my eyes on.

I scolded myself for even thinking about it. Another week had crept by and not a word from the broody jag. He had forgotten about me. Totally.

I turned off the TV and padded off to the shower. I had worn my pajamas way past lunch.

I took my time, shaving my legs, and using this new boutique shampoo I ordered online. It smelled heavenly. I lathered my long hair and rinsed it before doing the same routine with the equally expensive conditioner. This stuff cost a fortune, but it guaranteed to make my hair glossy and thick. I needed some luxury in my life.

Even if things with Case were over, I knew he had opened a sliver of doubt in my mind. I’d like to think it was a sliver of dreams. But it had kept me up more than one night. Was I going to be content in Grayslake? Was this the life I truly wanted?

I rinsed the conditioner out and turned off the shower. I wrapped a towel around my body and dressed. I slipped into a pair of jeans and a tank top. Sundays were my junking days. I liked to browse the antique markets outside of Grayslake and see what I could find. I’d come home with treasures. My arms loaded with blue mason jars, porcelain drawer pulls, milk glass serving pieces, and whatever frame I thought I could turn into something extraordinary.

I walked to the side of my bed, unplugged my phone, and looked at the screen. I had a missed call.
Holy shit.

I covered my mouth. It was Case.

***

I stared at the number. Underneath was the voicemail symbol. I pressed the button and held the phone to my ear and listened.

“Cadence, it’s Case. Call me.”

I blinked.

My fingers trembled as I hit redial. I knew I wanted this to be more than a question about a recipe. Or a friend who needed a recommendation for lawn care. I didn’t want him to call because he had a bear clan question, or couldn’t find his way to Miller Grocery. I held my breath. I wanted him to call for every other reason in the world.

“Hey,” he answered, his voice smooth and steady.

I almost melted on the spot.

“Hi.”

“I have a question for you, darlin’.”

My chest was tight. I had to fight to make myself breathe.

“Sure. What is it?” I tried to sound light and happy, as if for the past month I had thought of things other than him.

“Would you like to have dinner with me?”

“Wh-what?”

“Dinner. You and me? My place. Let’s say seven.”

“Sundays are my day off,” I wanted to explain that I wasn’t going to cook for him. He had to know that. A month after our last meal together and I couldn’t take myself back there like that. It had to be different.

“Perfect. Then you’re free. I’ll have dinner ready.”

“You will?” I was stunned.

“I will. See you at seven, gorgeous.”

He was gone before I could ask what was going on. I sat on the edge of my bed. I think Case Maddox just asked me on a date.

17

Case

There was a first time for everything. And this was the first time I had cooked dinner.

I looked at the casserole dish baking in the oven. It had an hour to go. In the meantime, I could take a shower.

I showered and dressed. I pulled a T-shirt over my head. Water droplets soaked through the shirt in spots. I pulled on a pair of jeans and jogged downstairs. The entire house smelled like garlic. I hated it, but I hoped it proved a point.

I pulled a pair of candlesticks from the cabinet and took them to the back porch. I lit each one. There wasn’t much breeze back here. Fall was starting to settle into Grayslake. The nights were getting cooler. I grabbed a couple of quilts and tossed them over the new porch furniture.

I observed the setup. I was pretty damn impressed with myself.

My ears perked up at the sound of tires on the driveway. I rushed to meet Cadence at the front door.

As she stepped from the car, I propped myself against the railing and watched her walk toward me. Damn, she filled in those jeans in all the right places. Her eyes were bright and clear. God, had she always been this beautiful?

Her blond hair hung loosely over her shoulders. I could almost taste her creamy white skin on my tongue. I repressed a growl.

“Hey, you.” I winked.

She blushed. “Hey.”

“Hungry?”

She nodded. But I could tell she was cautious. I didn’t blame her. A month ago I was a different man. Tonight was my chance to show her just exactly how different I was.

I took her by the hand, feeling the warmth of her palm slide next to mine. “Right this way.”

I led her through the house and onto the back porch. I smiled when I heard the gasp come from her mouth.

“Wow. You did this?”

“For you. Yes.”

I pulled out one of the chairs for her. She looked up at me, her eyes full of questions. I’d answer all of them before the night was over.

“It’s beautiful. I don’t know what to say. You’ve been busy.” Her head swiveled to take in the porch renovations.

“I’ve gotten a few things done since your last visit.” I worked on uncorking a bottle of champagne.

Her eyes landed on the swing on the far side. “Oh my God. I’ve always wanted one of those.” She stood from the table and walked toward the massive hanging piece. “You put a bed swing out here?”

“I like to sleep outside sometimes,” I admitted.

“It’s amazing.” She tested it out. “It does need some pillows, but for a guy you’ve done a pretty good job.” She smiled at me, and I felt the chilliness between us melt.

“You know I love to remodel and I refinish furniture when I’m not working. I don’t think I ever mentioned it. Why didn’t I mention it?”

I don’t know why, but it made me smile. “Of course you do.”

She tilted her head slightly. “What?”

“I’m not surprised you have one more line of perfection Cadence Hathaway.”

And it was true. This woman was perefect. Perfect for me.

I walked toward her and handed one of the chilled glasses.

“And champagne?”

“Thought we could celebrate.” I took a seat next to her on the swinging bed.

“And what is it we’re celebrating?” she whispered.

My eyes glowed. “A new chapter.” I clinked my glass to hers and inhaled until the champagne was gone.

“Case…” She was hesitant. “What’s the new chapter?”

“Don’t you know?”

She shook her head. I wanted to kiss that look of doubt off her pretty face. I wanted to tell her what an ass I was. But I needed to be an ass for a while. I needed that time, so that I could be here now.

I held out my hand to help her off the swing. “Let’s talk over dinner,” I suggested.

“What are we having?” she asked.

“Lasagna.”

18

Cadence

I sat at the table while Case jogged off to the kitchen to get our dinner. I felt as if I were starring in some bizarre and wonderful dream. He was different. Still sexy. Still smoldering. But a total flirt. And mysterious in an incredibly charming way. Holy hell, I had already fallen off the wagon and I’d been here fifteen minutes.

He walked onto the porch carrying a glass dish of lasagna. He placed it on a sideboard. He disappeared inside and returned with a loaf of bread under his arm and a salad bowl in his hands.

“I thought you hated Italian,” I teased.

“I do. But I thought it was the most obvious olive branch I could feed you.”

God, he was sexy.
Cool it, Cadence
.

“Oh.” My heart fluttered and something distinctively electric pulsed in my core.

He served me while I sat dumbfounded. The candles. The night closing in on us. The amazing food. It was all surreal.

I took another sip of champagne, wondering how much the silky bubbles had impaired my judgment.

“How have you been?” he asked, sitting in the chair across from me.

I forked a sliver of cucumber. “You mean since the last time we saw each other?” Damn it. Why did I have to bitchy about it? I closed my eyes immediately regretting the way I had said it.

“It’s ok. I deserve a few punches tonight.”

I put my fork down. If I didn’t start asking the questions, they were going to eat me alive. I wanted to be wined and dined, and heck even seduced by this man. But there was too much left unsaid between us.

“Case, what is going on? What have you been doing for the past month? Why am I here?”

“We are having dinner.” He smiled wickedly.

He poured another glass of champagne for both of us, taking his time to not spill a drop on the white linen tablecloth. I was temporarily distracted, wondering if this was another antique piece of his grandmother’s. I was curious how many antiques were in the house. Did Case like doing the refinishing projects or was it his way to pass the time?

“Cadence?”

“Hmm?”

“You were doing that thing where you disappear.”

“Sorry.” I bit my lip.

“Don’t be. It’s cute.”

I blushed. I couldn’t let him sidetrack me. I needed answers.

“I just have to put this out there because I can’t pretend it’s not already between us. Has something changed?”

I almost jumped when I felt his hand slide along my thigh and squeeze. “Everything is different.”

“Tell me,” I whispered.

He leaned back and took his hand with him.

“I don’t know where to start really.”

“The beginning?” I suggested.

He chuckled. “You are a little smartass at times, aren’t you?”

“I am n-n … ok I am. But I want to know. Why did you ask me here tonight?”

His playful look turned serious. “A couple of years ago I received my list.”

“List?” I didn’t know the beginning would take us back years.

“Yes. You sure you want to know everything?”

I swallowed hard. I thought about my conversation with Lauren at the clan den. I thought about all the nights I couldn’t sleep because of Case. I thought about how my body responded to him. How when I was with him I wanted to get lost. How no matter what I tried, I never forgot our last night together.

I nodded. “I do.
Everything
.” I was certain.

“Ok. I want you to know. This is important to me.” He exhaled. “There are different laws that apply to cat shifters,” he explained. “Jaguars gain territory and property from their mates.”

I had to keep my non-judgmental face on. The one the clan had thought was worthy of neutral status. Because right now I was certain Case was describing some kind of ancient dowry system.

“But those mates are predetermined by a council. The council gives a jaguar his list of mates. I received mine two years ago and that’s when I moved to take my first mate, Dare.” He paused and I tried to keep my reactions as minimal as possible while he told me their story.

It was a tumultuous two years. He wanted me to know exactly what happened.

“I’m not going to lie and tell you I was in love with her like she was my soul mate. I wasn’t. She was a means to grow my territory. I know it makes me sound like a bastard. But that’s what I was raised to do. I told you as a kid I spent summers here with my grandmother, learning about the she-panthers. My uncles taught me how to fight. I learned tactical strategies. It was in my blood. I didn’t care who Dare was—I wanted her territory and that was it.”

I needed more champagne for this. I held my empty glass forward for him.

“And I wanted hers in particular.”

“Why?” It was my first question.

“Because she was a queen.” His eyes fell on me. “Queen of her own she-panthers, and somehow it made it even more critical to gain control of her lands.”

“She was a queen?” My voice sounded small and insignificant in the middle of this story.

“She was. She is.” He kept going. “Eventually my interests changed.” His jaw clenched. “She stopped being a target, and she became my world.” He slung back the glass. “I tore up the list the council gave me. What I wanted changed. Anyway. It didn’t work out between us. It turned out that she married me because of the magic. I had to let her go.”

“M-married? Did you say
married
? Like rings and a ceremony and a big poufy dress?”

It felt as if there were nothing but stale air on the porch and we were locked in a room lined with plastic, not breezy screens. I couldn’t breathe.

“Hold on. Let me get some water for you.” Case stood abruptly and returned a few seconds later with a pitcher of water and a glass. “Here. Take a sip.”

I did as he ordered, and felt a slight sense of relief. “I’m fine. Really.” But how was I going to wrap my head around this? Case had been married.

“It wasn’t a marriage.” He sat next to me, watching me drink. “I never claimed her, Cadence.”

“Oh.” I thought back to the conversation I had with Lauren in the bear clan kitchen. The pit that had formed in my stomach loosened slightly.

“It never got that far.” He shook his head.

I resisted the urge to reach for his hand. I could tell there was more, but I was having my own happy dance party inside my head. If he didn’t claim her, maybe that meant they never …

He looked at me. “When I showed up in Grayslake I was pissed. I was angry at her. Angry at the world. Angry that the future I thought I had was destroyed. So I decided to destroy everything around me. I barely spoke to the Tribe. I wrecked the house. And I pushed away the most beautiful caring girl I’d ever met.”

I was afraid to breathe. I wanted to know what he was going to say next.

“But I wasn’t ready, Cadence. I needed more time. I needed to destroy everything before I could build it again. My own way. In my own time.”

I nodded. “And how do you feel now?”

He smiled. “Like a new jaguar. Like one who walked through hell and survived.”

“And her? What about her?” I didn’t think I could bring myself to say her name in front of him.

He shook his head. “I’ve let that idea go. I let her go somewhere between ripping out cabinets and using the floor polisher.” He cracked an irresistible grin.

“Really?” I needed to know for sure. I wanted to throw some kind of logic into this equation.

“There is only one girl I’m interested in.” His fingers curled to the inside of my thigh again and I inhaled sharply. “And she happens to have beautiful blue eyes and the most fucking edible lips I’ve ever tasted.”

Who was I kidding? Logic was never going to play a role in this.

Case’s eyes flared with green flames and I felt the beckoning draw to him. He had poured out his heart to me the way he knew how. He had done everything he could tonight to show me he was ready for a new chapter. That all this time apart from each other was time he needed to be here with me now.

“Are you going to kiss me?” I whispered.

But Case wasn’t the kind of man to share his strategies. He was steps ahead of me.

In the breaths it had taken me to utter the question he had pushed back the chair and swept me into his arms. In two long strides he rested me on the bed swing.

“So much more than that,” he growled.

My entire body shivered with his promise as his lips brushed over mine. My lips parted as I felt the pressure of his tongue glide between them, twining and flicking. I’d missed these kisses.

One knee came down on the swing, floating us over the porch before his entire body hovered over me. I liked the sensation of gliding at the same time I felt the heaviness of his chest press into my breasts. My hands wrapped to his back.

“Tonight I want you to know all sides of me.” His eyes glowed green. They took my breath away.

I ran my fingers along the ridges of his toned muscles. “And what does that mean?” I felt playful and serious at the same time.

His hand slid to the roundness of my ass and he squeezed. I trembled. “Ohh,” I whimpered.

“It means you’re not getting out of this bed until my jag is satisfied.”

My teeth sucked my bottom lip in.
Holy crap
. How could that make me turn into a complete puddle? My pulse raced. My core twitched. I wasn’t taking one step off this porch until that happened either.

I’d never wanted a man like this before.

Our pasta dinner was long forgotten. The bottle of champagne slowly warmed. The candles dripped with heavy layers of wax. Nothing else mattered, but Case, me, and what our bodies could do together.

My hips lifted with eagerness as he tugged on the denim, wriggling it over my hips and off my thighs. He deposited the jeans on the floor. He pushed my shirt forward until it was over my head and my breasts peaked over the lining of my bra.

“You smell so good.” He nuzzled behind my ear. Thank God I showered earlier, taking extra time to use all my favorite scents. My legs were smooth.

His expert hands unclasped my bra, tossing it on the porch. And with one snatch my panties were gone. I looked down at my naked body. How had he done that so quickly?

His mischievous grin was going to get me in so much trouble. My eyes darted to his gaze, but he wasn’t looking at my face. He was feasting on every part of my body with a ravenous stare.

He cupped my breast, squeezing until my nipple perked and hardened for him. My hips jolted and rocked at the same time. With a slow lick over the peak he made me moan. And then suddenly he slipped his fingers inside me.

“Ohh.” I gripped his shoulders as he began to intensify the swirling motion of his fingers, dipping and curling with intense strokes.

“So. Fucking. Sexy,” he whispered.

But I was lost in every sensation. The night air around us held us in a private sphere of sexual bliss. We soared through the air, back and forth, encased in the coolness of the fall. And Case drove my body to ecstasy, pumping, sliding, and grinding until I felt the twinge in my core. The tiny blast of heat that told me I was going to tumble hard in his arms.

It was as if he could read my body language. His lips pressed into mine just as the orgasm began to rip through me. His tongue jutted inside and I sucked and moaned. Moaned and clenched, riding the pleasure he gave me.

My breathing slowed and my eyes lifted to his. I wanted more. There was a new spark spiraling through my nerves. A spark that set me on fire.

I grabbed the buckle on his jeans, yanking it away and unbuttoning the denim as fast as I could. If I didn’t have him, I might suffocate. I would thirst to death. I would starve without him.

He sensed how desperately I wanted him to sink inside my walls.

He threaded his T-shirt over his head, exposing the perfect sculpted abs and chest I had admired all those weeks ago. Every time I came to the house he was a sweaty filthy mess, but it only seemed to make him hotter. He’d never looked as gorgeous as he did right now.

My hands landed on the band of his boxer briefs, hurriedly shoving them out of the way. The fire fueled me. The need for him made everything seem like life or death.

I didn’t think about cat shifter laws or his broken heart. I didn’t care that he was a king and came to Grayslake to escape. What was between was thick and tangible. It was magical and passionate. It was primal and hot.

Case rolled me the side while he dug something out of the pocket of his jeans. I heard the ripping sound of a foil packet.

I tried to catch my breath. This was happening.

I felt Case pry one knee to the side and then the other as he settled between my legs. His kissed me roughly and it stoked that spark again. I bowed from the bed.

“Case, I want you. I want you to do whatever it is …” My words trailed as he kissed me again.

But I didn’t need to say another word. With a sudden thrust he was inside me and our bodies joined in an explosion of feverish heat.