Page 57 of Worthy

“No,” he draws, “but I wanted to impress you anyway.”

“You did,” I half-rasp, half-chuckle.

“Good, because blow jobs are harder than they look.” I turn my head to see him rubbing his jaw and stifle a laugh. “Any idea what time it is?”

I glance at my watch. “Eight.”

“Shit, I better clean up and get out there before Deacon gives me hell about leaving him to do all the work. But maybe after I’m done for the day we can hang out?” He rolls his head to face me, an almost shy smile on his face, and my stomach does this unnerving little flip.

Coy, bashful, confident… It doesn’t matter the expression, this man can make me melt with a single look.

“I’d like that,” I give him a smile in return.

***

The following Saturday begins, bright and early, with Cade nuzzling my neck until I open my eyes.

“Morning.” I roll over and stretch, and he takes the opportunity to run his hands over my naked body, which he seems to do whenever he has the chance. On the multiple occasions he’s stayed over during the past few weeks, and while this would usually turn into something more, today we’re on a schedule.

″Morning.” He grins, planting a quick kiss on a puckered nipple. “We have to stop at my house to grab the bikes, so if you don’t want to be late you better put some clothes on.”

True to his word, Cade has had zero issues jumping into his new bisexual role. He doesn’t shy away from touching me, and his appetite for trying new things borders on voracious. The only thing we’ve yet to do is switch roles, which he’s anxious for, but I’m trying to easehim into that since I want his first time to be more pleasure than discomfort.

It’s taking more restraint than I expected since I’m just as ravenous for him as he is me.

″What happens if I don’t put clothes on?” I trace a finger over his firm pec.

″I’ll have to ravage you, which we’d both thoroughly enjoy, but then the whole town would know we were late because I was balls deep in my man.” He licks his lips and gives me a wicked grin, winking at me to seal the deal.

″Yourman?”

″Yeah.Mine,” he says as he hugs me to him and affectionately bites my neck. I groan and roll out of Cade’s reach to head for the bathroom.

Even though I know he doesn’t mean anything by calling me his, it’d be way too easy to get swept up in the fantasy, so I default to finding amusement in his possessiveness.

Or trying to.

We haven’t really defined anything, and I don’t think either of us intends to since we know this is only for the summer, but it feels an awful lot like we’re dating. While it makes me smile to know Cade wants to be with only me, it’s also a heavy burden, and one I’m doing my best to navigate without anyone getting hurt.

Cade has never had anyone take an interest in him, for him. And though I find it difficult to keep my hands to myself now that I’ve finally touched him, I’m careful to make sure sex isn’t the only thing we do. I want him to know he’s worthy of more than a good time.

So, in the last few weeks, we’ve been on several hikes together, we usually cook together, I’ve watched him in his workshop, and I try to get him to talk about himself when we’re alone. All of which is so he knows I don’t view him as the tourist attraction he thinkshe is. Yet, it also means I’ve gotten to know him on a deeper level, and I really, really, like what I see.

Cade is observant, almost wise—almost—in terms of how he sees and understands the world around him. He’s not afraid to admit what he doesn’t know or ask questions, like he does on the rare occasions we talk about my work. My first instincts about him being a flirt and a tease were correct, but not entirely. He’s playful, and has a mischievous side that he shows me when we’re alone, particularly in the bedroom. But he doesn’t use it as a defense mechanism to keep me at arm’s length anymore. Rather, he simply uses it to make me smile and laugh, or turn me on.

And damn, can that man turn me on.

I only have to look at Cade and I feel my body trying to react. That’s why I roll my eyes at his flirtatious antics. If I let my body be in charge, I’d be down for the count. And to give myself fewer opportunities for my body to claim control, I sometimes insist he do his own thing. Partly, so he isn’t ignoring Deacon, but also to keep myself in check. It feels so natural to be with him I could easily get hooked on that, and when it’s time for me to go home at the end of the summer I’d prefer not to leave a piece of myself behind.

After I clean up, we have a quick breakfast and throw our gear in the truck since we’ll be in town all day if not longer, then swing by Cade’s to load up the bikes. When we get to town we park behind The Underground, and as I round the front of the truck, Cade clasps my hand as we walk inside.

It’s a simple gesture, but it makes my heartbeat accelerate and my mind short circuit. This is boyfriend level stuff, and Cade doesn’t do boyfriends.Wearen’t boyfriends. Right? So why is he making a statement like we are?

Cade likes to touch me when we’re together, such as guiding my head to his chest when we lay on the couch or putting his own in my lap. It’s not the fact he’s touching me that’s strange. It’s the fact he’s touching me when others will see it.Deliberately.

Dex cocks an eyebrow when he notices our clasped hands but otherwise doesn’t say anything. Ally is less discreet. “I knew it,” she accuses with a perfectly arched brow.

Finn clears his throat, for our benefit or Ally’s I’m not sure, and Ryder slips a twenty to Deacon, who’s smirking knowingly. I swear Dex says something about a dumb bet under his breath.

---