Caiden (A MacLaughlin Family Novella Book 2) (3 page)

“They have the best lobster ravioli here I’ve ever tasted. And I’ve eaten all over the country.”

She took a taste from her bowl and sighed.
Damn. That is good. The way the butter and lobster melted in her mouth was divine. The hint of lemon was just perfect, too, and the pasta was just the right thickness. Not too much.

“See.”

“Yes, I have to admit it is very good.”

“I don’t run into many women that enjoy working on cars. Of course, I have to drag my brother Harvey into the garage to work with me and my other brother, Trevor, won’t go near a bucket of grease. So I guess, I’m the only one in the family that likes working on cars. Even my dad would just sit and watch.”

“Me, dad, and Cole worked on it all through high school. Building the GTO is one of my favorite memories. I don’t think I could ever let go of that car.”

“It’s amazing how integrated a car can become in your life. I look at different parts of my mustang and I can remember the conversations I had with dad while I was working on it.”

“Yes, it’s like a map to memories.”

“Where have you been my whole life, Lina?”

“Arizona.”

He turned to face her and lifted his hand to her cheek. His hand was callused and hard, but his touch was so gentle. She leaned into the caress and closed her eyes, forgetting they were in a restaurant in the middle of a crowded room.

His other hand slipped behind her head and pulled her toward him. She opened her eyes just as his lips closed over her mouth. It was slow and gentle, playful at first. He licked along the seam of her lips and she opened her mouth, inviting more. The invitation was not ignored and she squelched a moan when his tongue swept through the inside of her mouth, tasting her.

Nerves fired throughout her body and a throbbing ache settled between her legs. She would need more than a kiss from him for her body to be satisfied. Her palms pressed against his chest, not pushing, but enjoying the hardness of his muscular frame. She wanted nothing more than to slide them inside his shirt and really get a feel for his body.

He pulled back gently and leaned his forehead against hers. “We need to leave before they kick us out.”

“I agree.”

He stood from the booth, pulled some cash from his wallet and tossed it onto the table. Then held his hand out to her to help her up. Lina grabbed her purse in one hand and took his with the other. They walked quietly to the front door.

Night had fallen and the restaurant parking lot wasn’t well lit. The winter chill in the air swirled through her loose hair and she shuddered. Maybe she should stay with Caiden or his family. It wasn’t safe to be alone. And Luke was crazy enough to follow her all the way to Texas. She’d driven from Arizona so he couldn’t follow her travel plans online. He was super-smart with computers and she knew he’d hacked her email account already. She’d even ditched her regular phone and replaced it with a burner.

“I’ll walk you to your car. Lock the doors, pull out, and wait for me at the front of the restaurant.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll go get my car and follow you to your hotel.”

A dozen steps later they arrived at her car. He peered in all the windows and glanced around the parking lot.

“You are making me nervous.”

“Good. You should be alert,” he answered and gave her a quick kiss before she slid into the drivers seat. He waited while she locked both doors and turned over the engine before jogged across the lot to his vehicle.

She pulled out and puttered up to the front of the restaurant. A knock on her window stopped her heart. She turned, expecting to see Luke leering down at her. But instead she saw Cole.
What the hell?

He rapped on the window again and motioned her to open it. That window had been broken for a few weeks though and she still couldn’t roll it down. But he’d probably forgotten.

She opened the door and stepped out. He wrapped his arms around her in a familiar hug.

“Cole, stop.” She pressed a hand to his chest and he stepped back a little. “Why are you here? You shouldn’t have come.”

“Why, because you decided to hook up with some other guy,” he snarled in Navajo. “Your dad sent you here to be safe and lay low.”

“Well thanks to your dumb ass, Luke probably followed you here!” she spit back.

“I was careful.”

“How long have you been here?”

“A few hours. Pete told me where you were staying and I got to the hotel just as you were pulling out to come here. I called and made reservations, so I’ll be in the hotel with you in case anything happens.”

“Damn it! Cole.” She threw a few extra Navajo curses out just for him.

“I’m just trying to protect you, Lina.”

An angry growl from two paces away was the only warning Cole had before a giant fist slammed into his face. She flinched at the crunch and then turned and saw Caiden.

“No, stop!” She touched his shoulder before he threw the second punch. He was six inches taller and easily had forty pounds on Cole. That first hit had nearly knocked him to the asphalt.

“Is this him? I can call the police.”

“Caiden, no. This is Cole.”

“Fuck you, asshole!” Cole yelled and threw a solid punch to Caiden’s face. “Stay away from Lina.”

Caiden groaned, dropped to the ground with a spin and kicked Cole’s legs right out from under him. “From the tone of her voice, I think it was you she wanted to stay away. What kind of man yells at a woman he claims to care about? Pick yourself up and go back to Arizona, I’ll take care of Lina.”

Cole scrambled to his feet and met her gaze. He was hurt. She knew he loved her, but it didn’t matter. The feelings weren’t mutual. They never had been.

“You’d rather stay with this stranger than me?”

She nodded and stepped closer to Caiden.

“Did you fly, Cole?”

“Yes,” he answered, wiping blood from his nose.

“Then Luke is already here, if he’s coming. I’m sure he’s hacked your email too.” She sighed.

Cole’s face whitened. “Lina, I’m sorry. I didn’t think.”

“English, jackass! I don’t speak…whatever it is you are speaking.” Caiden’s voice rumbled from his chest and Lina rubbed his arm.

“It’s okay. He was just apologizing.” She glanced up and met his gaze. The fire was still there, but it was controlled. The kick had startled her, but he must have some type of martial arts training. “If he tracked Cole’s airline ticket, Luke is most likely already here. I can’t go get my things from the hotel,” she murmured.

“I’ll have the sheriff pick them up. Don’t worry. We’ll get your stuff, just not tonight.” He turned to Cole. “You need to go back to Arizona. The more pieces in play out here the harder it will be to keep an eye on her.”

Cole nodded and moved away slowly. He paused a few feet away and turned back. “If you need me, Lina, just call.”

“I know. I’ll see you later, Cole.” He walked away and she let out a heavy sigh.

“Everything okay out here,” a deep male voice called from the restaurant door.

“Fine, just leaving. Sorry about the scene,” Caiden bellowed back. “Come on, sugar. It’s a long drive, but we are getting out of Dodge tonight. That Holiday Inn was the only decent hotel in town.”

“Where are we going?”

“My place.”

Sparks of excitement fluttered across her skin. Her cheeks warmed and she slipped into the driver’s seat of her car before he could notice.

3

An hour later they pulled to a stop in front of a nice brick house. The second Caiden’s car pulled into the driveway the outside was lit with bright floodlights. Lina pulled in right next to him and got out.

“This is your house?” It was huge for one person. Easily two or three times bigger than the house she and her father still shared.

“Yeah, Mom was sad when I finally moved out, but I decided it was time.”

He laughed. The sound made her smile.

“She lives in the same neighborhood. Just a few blocks down that way.”

She looked down the street the direction his hand waved. That was sweet. He’d moved out, but stayed close.

“I’m sure she’s glad you are close.”

“Lizzy still lives with her. My brothers both own houses in the neighborhood too. I guess we all felt grown up enough to move out, just not grown up enough to move too far away from Mom’s home cooked meals.”

She laughed out loud. “So you eat there a lot.”

Red crept up his cheeks and he nodded. “Usually at least once a day.” He walked to the garage and punched in a code on the outside panel. “Come on in.” The door opened quietly, the sound reminding her of a cat purring.

She followed him through the very organized garage, but what really caught her eye was the half rebuilt 1968 Chevy Camaro Coupe. The body was still sanded down. No paint had been applied. But the shiny new chrome V-8 engine gleamed, calling to her inner mechanic.

“Oh my God! Where did you find this?”

He stepped up behind her and gently rubbed both her shoulders. “She’s beautiful isn’t she? I got her from a guy down in El Paso. He’d had her stashed in his barn for almost thirty years. Said he started working on her, but ran out of money.”

They walked into a small mudroom off the garage and then into a beautiful, but stark kitchen. The dark wood cabinets and black granite made for a nice contrast to the lighter oak floor, but there was no color to accent the room. Actually, it barely looked lived in. She’d at least been expecting a few dishes in the sink.

“Duke. King,” he called softly. “Come.” Two huge black German shepherds appeared instantly in front of them. He walked to the porch door and pulled a piece from a dog door to open it. He gave them a quick pat and a treat from a bowl on the counter. “Patrol.” Both dogs gave a soft woof and disappeared out the dog door.

He turned back and smiled. She gave him a quick smile back. “They are well trained.”

“Very.” He was in front of her with one step. So close she could smell his aftershave. “You aren’t allergic are you?”

“No.”

“Good.” He leaned down and nuzzled the side of her neck. His warm breath on her skin awakened the embers glowing inside her. The familiar ache between her legs returned with a vengeance and she pressed her body against his, wrapping her arms around his head and shoulders.

His arms encircled her waist and lifted her from the ground. They were moving, but his mouth on her neck distracted her. She didn’t care where they were going as long as he was coming with her.

A door clicking shut made her eyes open. She peered around the semi-dark room. A small lamp from the bathroom en suite threw off just enough light to see the giant king-sized bed in the center of the room.

She shuddered in pleasure. His mouth moved to the center of her neck as he let her feet touch the floor again. She clung to his arms. He ran his tongue along the hollow of her neck and she moaned.

The clothes had to go.

He must’ve had the same idea because his hands were on her waist pulling at the hem of her shirt. She raised her arms and he yanked it over her head, tossing it away. His hands were immediately on her bra and with a quick snap he’d freed her breasts from their lacy prison. He latched onto one of her breasts, sucking the nipple to a hardened peak. She gasped, stiffening in his arms. If he wasn’t careful, she’d come right now before they even made it to the bed. Before she’d gotten one stitch of clothing off of him.

Tremors ricocheted through her body and her panties were soaked. She fumbled with his pants, but couldn’t get her hazy brain to focus enough to get the button undone. His mouth moved to the other breast and her knees nearly buckled under her. He slid his hands onto to her ass and squeezed before unhooking her jeans and pulling them down. His tongue trailed down her stomach and stopped just above the waistband of her black lace panties.

“You smell sweet, sugar. I can’t wait for a taste.”

He hooked his forefingers in the waist of the panties and pulled them down slowly, following their descent with his mouth. Her whole body shook with each caress of his tongue. Her pussy throbbed and moisture slicked the inside of her thighs.

“I love that you are bare.” He ran a hand up her thigh and slid one finger between her wet labia and up into her vagina. “I plan to start tasting here.” He pulled his finger out, brushing it gently against her swollen clit before licking it clean. “Then I’ll work my way up.”

Oh God.
Her body hummed. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to hold back the orgasm she’d nearly had watching him lick her juice from his finger.

He reached behind her and yanked the comforter from his bed. “Up, sugar.” He stepped forward, pressing the back of her thighs to the foot of his bed.

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She scrambled onto the bed, her eyes wide in the low light watching his every move. He knew her body was close. Her muscles were shaking like leaves in the wind. Knowing those deep breaths she was taking was to stave off an orgasm, only made him want to push her further. If she thought he was going to let her off at only one climax, she was in for a surprise.