Page 51 of Dirty Play

Sawyer, Cassie, and Ellie all came over this morning after our text convo last night. I’m pretty sure that the second I mentioned I was going to Ivy Falls with Cade, they set their alarms and made sure to show up with their questions locked and loaded—and snacks at the ready, because Cassie gets me.

“I mean… yeah. After that first night, we didn’t see each other again for quite a while. But then Sawyer’s big ass mouth told Cade I would be walking home when I got off at midnight, and then he became, like intent on making sure that I was always safe, so he started walking me home.”

“That’s actually pretty fucking cute.” Cassie smirks. “I mean, it’s obvious that man is crazy about you. We’ve all known that for quite some time, but the fact that he’s so protective is hot. He’s like your guard dog.”

“It really is, though. It makes it even hotter that he’s so much taller than you, helps with the guard dog vibe,” Ellie says, giggling. “Like a big pit bull.”

“No, pit bulls are cute and cuddly and will pretty much treat most strangers like their long-lost friend. They want to snuggle anytime, anyplace, and with anyone.” Cassie laughs. “That man is like a Rottweiler or a German Shepherd. You’d have to be dumb as fuck to walk up and try to hurt someone they care about, and once they love you, they’re loyal for life.”

“See, that’s a much better comparison than an onion, Sawyer.” I smirk, which earns me a bag of chips to the face. Lucky for me, I’m hungry.

Cade behaving like a Rottweiler is a comparison that I can see. They’re basically big ass teddy bears with scary looking eyebrows. They seem a lot more vicious than they really are… unless you fuck with them.

“But what does this mean?” Sawyer interjects. “Like… all of this has happened, you two have crossed these lines, physically, but has anything changed between you guys outside of that? Aside from the obvious—he invited you back home with him.”

“I know… I’m honestly still shocked that he invited me. We’ve talked—well, sort of—but it’s enough, for now. Whatever this is, we want to continue doing it and see what happens. But we haven’t labeled it. I know that sounds dumb as fuck, but I don’t want to push him. I'm basically treating him like a scared animal. No sudden movements, no loud voices, and definitely no asking Cade to be my damn boyfriend.”

“That doesn’t sound dumb at all. It actually kind of makes sense,” Sawyer says. “You can tell that man is closed off, has been since before we’ve known him. So I guess at this point, progress is progress if you’re making your way through those walls. Do whatever works for you both. Just be sure you’re getting what you need from him too, and I don’t just mean in the bedroom.”

“I have zero complaints in that department. As for the two of us? I mean, only time will tell, but things seem different this time.”

Walking into Cade’s apartment with a suitcase and bags, I can’t help but notice the doorman’s shocked expression when I tell him I am heading up to meet Cade. It looks like he’s seen a ghost, enough so that it almost makes me laugh out loud. I guess everyone wasn’t lying when they said he never brings women over.

Internally, I’m kicking my feet and giggling that I get to be the one he brings home—both to his apartment and to his mama’s, but I refuse to let that show as I raise my hand to knock on his door. Before my hand connects, the door swings open like he’s been waiting for me.

He looks hot as fuck in his usual gray sweatpants that fit just right and a fitted black tee with the Cyclones logo that shows off every muscle. He’s basically a walking sex ad, and I’m not sure I know how to behave right now.

That backwards hat does it for me every time. I've never once shied away from letting him see my approval, and that was before we got together. Now that we’ve seen each other naked, my cheeks flush, and I’m almost embarrassed at how badly I want him right now.

“Hey, Tink,” Cade says, bag slung over his shoulder, with a smile on his face that tells me he just watched me check him out.

“As much as I love that you’re happy to see me, get that damn bag off your shoulder before you strain yourself. We don’t need you hurting yourself further.”

His smile widens as he drops his bag and pulls me into a hug. I’m not used to this type of affection from Cade. We’ve never really hugged before. We kind of just went from not touching to fucking, not a whole lot of stuff in between.

“Hug me back, dammit,” he grumbles, noticing my arms still t-rexed to the side. I oblige, wrapping my arms around him. It’s surprising—his arms wrapped around me and his chin on my head, feel a lot like home.

“Good girl,” he mutters, and I want to melt into a puddle at his feet. But then I remember he’s still recovering from surgery that was not even two weeks ago, and I hold myself back.

“What’s this for?” I ask, my voice quiet. I’m doing my best not to show him just how badly he’s affecting me. He’s trying, sneaking in a few kisses here and there, but I stop him anytime he tries anything more. The man is insatiable, and I already know he’ll end up popping his stitches if I let him get naked with me.

Not to mention, I’m still a little hurt about him not telling me he was having a damn major surgery. Was I just going to find out the next time I saw him? I mean, the man has barely missed a single night of walking me home, and if I didn’t find out, what was he planning to do in the days he spent in the hospital?

“I’ve missed touching you,” he says, surprising the shit out of me with his honesty, but I bury my face in his chest to hide my smile. “Plus, I really need to apologize.”

“For what, exactly?” I say, pulling back just enough to look at him, his arms still wrapped around me, now resting on my ass.

“For not telling you about the surgery, I know I fucked that up. I definitely shouldn’t have let you find out about all of that while you were at work. You deserve better than that,” Cade rasps out, his voice cracking, and I can tell this isn’t easy for him. But he doesn’t run, and for that I’m thankful.

“You’re right. I deserve better,” I tell him, his eyes widening at my bluntness. But I lean up and give him a chaste kiss on his lips before looking him square in the eye. “And next time, you’ll do better. Now, let’s get loaded up and on the road. I need snacks pronto.”

Cade turns, grabs another bag, and looks at me sheepishly. “I think I’ve got us covered,” he utters, sounding quieter than normal. “But if I forgot anything, we can stop. At this point, we’re going to be there by ten, so we’ve got plenty of time.”

I peek in the bag that’s filled with every snack I can imagine, but the Flamin’ Hot Lime Cheetos and Sour Punch Blue Raspberry Straws stick out, proving that this man really hasn’t missed a single thing.

How did I miss just how attentive he is?

Unable to stop myself, I pull him in for a hug as gently as I can. “You’re really just a constant surprise, Mr. Williams.”

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