So Not Meant to Be, page 35
Now that I’m here, at their place, I know for a fact he doesn’t care. He still wears a calculating gaze, but it’s directed at JP, not me.
Leaning in close to my sister, I say, “Lottie, I’m so infatuated with the man.”
“Oh my God, I can tell. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this happy. The smile on your face, oh my God, Kelsey … it makes me so freaking full of joy.”
“He makes me happy. He’s so … God, I don’t know how to say it. There used to be such constant bickering and irritation, but the moment the dam broke, he became this overprotective alpha that won’t let anything hurt me. He possesses me in all the right ways, but he’s also all about me being independent and building my business.”
Lottie nods. “It’s the Cane way. Don’t you remember how Huxley and I were at each other’s throats? And then, we just … slipped into each other and it’s been hard to breathe without him since.”
“Yes.” I glance toward the house, where the boys are putting together dinner, most likely talking about us. “It’s been a few days, and I can feel myself … God, I can feel myself falling for him, hard.”
Lottie quietly claps the tips of her fingers. “Ohhhh, this makes me so happy. I just knew it. I knew you two would be perfect for each other.”
“I’m just terrified that something is going to go wrong. Someway, somehow, this is all too good to be true.”
“It’s not. Don’t think that way. He really likes you. I can tell from the way he looks at you, the way he sits near you, and how he rests his hand on your thigh. He’s infatuated, he has been for a while. This is it, Kelse, this is what you’ve been waiting for.”
I roll my teeth over my bottom lip and say, “I think it is, too. Even before we got together, when we were just hanging out as what I thought was friends, he understood me. He supported me. He knew what I needed. I’m just …” I press my hands to my cheeks. “I like him so much.”
The sliding glass door opens and the boys walk out holding large, wooden charcuterie boards stacked full of crackers, cheeses, meats, jams, spreads, and fruit. They set the trays down on the coffee table in front of us, and then JP takes a seat next to me, slipping his arm behind me before leaning in and tilting my face toward him to place a gentle kiss on my lips.
When he pulls away, he whispers, “Talk about me?”
I can’t hide my smile. “Yes.”
“Good things?”
“Great things.”
“Huxley, look at them,” Lottie coos. “God, I’m so happy right now.”
I catch Huxley’s glare toward JP as he says, “I’m happy, too.”
But he doesn’t look happy. Not even a little.
Later that night, when JP is walking me to my apartment door, I ask him, “Is everything okay with Huxley?”
“What do you mean?” JP asks. When we reach my door, he takes my keys from me and unlocks it for me. He holds the door open and I walk in, with him following closely behind.
“He didn’t look happy. I know he said he was happy for us, but I can’t help but think he might be upset. Is he mad at me?”
JP shuts the door, then leans against it. He pulls me in close. Holding my hands, he says, “He’s happy for us, but he’s basically shooting off warning signs to me. He doesn’t want me to hurt you. I assured him that wasn’t going to happen, but he’s more protective of you than me.”
“Oh. So, he’s not mad at me?”
“Not even a little. I’m sure if you ask Lottie tomorrow, she’ll confirm that. As he explained to me in the kitchen, Lottie is his everything, and what’s important to her is important to him. Apparently, you trump me now, and honestly”—he rubs the side of his jaw—“I’m okay with that. He gave me the speech not to hurt you or he’ll hurt me.”
I smile at that. “Well, look at me having a big brother.”
“That’s exactly what he is, and I hate to admit it, but I might love him even more for looking out for you.”
“So, does he approve?”
JP nods. “With caution. He likes the idea of us, but he wants to make sure I’m in this. I told him I was, that I was one hundred percent invested in making you happy, and that wasn’t ever going to change.”
My heart flutters and I close the minimal space between us. I run my hands up his chest, to his jaw, then pull him closer to my mouth. “You make me happy—you know that?”
“Same, babe.” He wraps his hand around the back of my head and very slowly kisses me, the delicious feeling of his lips spreading through my veins, all the way to the tips of my toes.
Yup, I’m falling so hard for this man. Harder than I’ve ever fallen before.
CHAPTER TWENTY
JP
“This is absolutely breathtaking,” Kelsey says as she takes in the 360-degree view of the San Francisco skyline. “I can’t believe you flew us back up here for our first official date.”
“Felt only fitting.”
With the meetings piling up on my calendar, I knew waiting until the weekend would be best, and I knew I wanted it here. I wanted to spoil her. I sent her a green, off-the-shoulder dress that I personally picked out because I knew it would accentuate everything I like about her—her curves, the color of her eyes, and her slender shoulders. I had someone do her hair and makeup at her apartment. When I picked her up, I blindfolded her and brought her to the airport, slipping off her blindfold as we boarded the plane. I kept my eyes on her the entirety of the short flight up, happy to see her beaming with excitement. I didn’t tell her a thing until the driver pulled up to Parkside and opened the door for her.
Nothing feels more fitting than being at Parkside with her when I can finally call her mine.
“I’ve had the chef create a special menu for us. I hope that’s okay.”
She smiles—fuck, I love that smile so much. “That sounds amazing.” Then she leans in and says, “Not to put too much pressure on you, but any chance we can get some honey cake before we leave San Francisco?”
“One step ahead of you, babe.”
She tilts her head, such joy in her eyes. “You really do know how to woo a girl, don’t you?”
“Only you,” I answer just as our first course comes out.
A bowl is placed in front of each of us as well as a traditional Melamine Asian soup spoon. Then, with a cloth draped over his arm, our waiter says, “Mr. Cane, Miss Gardner, I’d like to present your first course. An Asian curried soup with sweet potatoes, chickpeas, and coconut milk, artfully seasoned with Malaysian flavors. Enjoy.”
He leaves us in the private room reserved for me and my brothers.
Whispering, Kelsey says, “I think this is the fanciest restaurant experience of my life.”
“It’s not too much, is it? Because we can go somewhere else.”
“No, not at all. I mean, I like the laid-back experience, but I also love this. I’m such a sucker for a romantic evening and this, JP, it’s … it’s really just beautiful.”
“You’re worth it,” I say before picking up my spoon and dipping it into my soup.
“You spoil me.”
“As you should be.”
She smirks and dips her spoon into her soup, as well. Her eyes widen and they meet mine. “Oh my God, this is amazing.”
“This is only the beginning.”
“TELL me more about your mom and Jeff. Did he help raise you?”
Kelsey shakes her head. “Not really. My dad left us when we were really young. He was a truck driver and wanted to be on the road. Mom raised us on her own. Our dad sent money, but that was about it. There was no involvement in our life. And then when I was around fourteen, my mom met Jeff. To our knowledge, he was the only boyfriend she had while we were growing up, and we didn’t even know they were dating until after six months. How she did it, I don’t know, but she was very protective of us. When we finally met Jeff, it was this big relief because we saw how happy our mom was. We immediately accepted him into our family, and he’s been a rock for us ever since.”
“That’s such a good story,” I say. “I’ve had a few conversations with him, and just from those chats, I can tell how much he treats you as his.”
“He’s the dad we never had,” Kelsey says as the waiter removes our salad plates. “There was this one night where I came home from a date in high school and I was heartbroken because the boy I went out with said I was a bad kisser. I knew that wasn’t right because I’d practiced on my hand several times.” She winks and I laugh out loud. Of course she did. “Jeff was very quiet, and when my mom took me to my room to console me, Jeff left the house.”
“Oh shit, what did he do?”
“Never told me. All I know is that the next day, Skylar—the guy I went out with—gave me an apology card and told me it was him who was the bad kisser, not me.”
“That’s my kind of man. I hope he scared the absolute shit out of Skylar.”
“I’m pretty sure he did.”
I lean closer to her and say, “And for the record, you’re easily the best kisser I’ve ever had.”
“Same.” She winks.
KELSEY PRESSES her hand to her stomach and says, “Okay … hands down the best dim sum ever.”
“Told you.” I dab my mouth with my napkin. “Nothing tops it.”
“And those Szechwan noodles changed my life.”
“Hopefully in a good way.”
“The best way.” She lifts the tea she ordered and takes a sip. “I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”
“What’s that?”
“Have you talked to Huxley about your job, what you feel, and the ideas you have to feel more fulfilled?”
I shake my head. “Not yet.”
“Are you nervous?”
“No, I’m more focused on you at the moment.”
“You don’t need to focus on me, you have me.”
“Yeah? Is that a promise?”
She leans over and takes my hand in hers. “That’s a promise. So, now you can focus on your job. Do you need help putting together a presentation? I’m good at organizing thoughts.”
“Of course you are.” I kiss her knuckles. “But I think I should do this on my own.”
“Mmm, I like that. I like when you’re in charge.”
“I know because you scream my name when I’m in charge.”
Her cheeks redden as she glances around.
“It’s a private room, Kelsey.”
“Yes, but our waiter pops in and out.”
“And he signed an NDA, so there’s nothing you need to worry about. Plus, given the tip he’ll get tonight, his loyalty is with me.”
“Still, I don’t need people knowing I’m a screamer.”
I chuckle. “Nothing wrong with that. I like that you scream. I actually wish it was my ringtone.”
“Oh my God, are you trying to ruin the night?”
“It can’t all be roses and candles, babe. There has to be some reality to the night, and that is, even though we’re together, I’ll still drive you crazy.”
“Oddly,” she says on a sigh, “I think it’s what I like the most about you.”
“Liar, you like how I make you come.”
She shakes her head. “Nope, I like you … you, the person. I like Jonah the sweetheart. JP the instigator. The sex, that’s just a bonus.”
Fuck, she knows how to make me feel whole.
Loved.
Cherished.
Wanted.
I knew this woman had the potential to change my life, but I didn’t know how quickly.
When Huxley asked me how serious I was about Kelsey, if this was just fun or if this was real, I wasn’t kidding when I told him she was it for me. No one else. I told him that I fell for her weeks ago, and being with her, being able to hold her, kiss her, just solidifies that feeling.
She’s my person.
“HOW ARE YOU FEELING?” I ask Kelsey as I sit across from her on our private jet.
“Good. Happy. Lucky.”
After our dinner, we went to the rooftop of the building and I played our song again—what I refer to as our song—and I danced with my girl under the stars while candles lit the space around us. It was romantic as fuck, and Kelsey cried when I first took her out on the rooftop. Then, we sat on a couch, shared a piece of honey cake, and talked some more. About everything and anything. Our conversations flow so easily, and it’s like we’ve been talking for years. Once we were ready to leave, I asked her if she wanted to fly back or stay the night, and unfortunately, she has a dress fitting with Lottie tomorrow, so we had to fly back home tonight.
The captain informs us that we’re free to get out of our seats, so I unbuckle my seatbelt and rise from my chair. I hold my hand out to her and say, “Come with me.”
I lead her back to the bedroom where there’s a bed freshly made. I shut and lock the door behind me and then turn toward her. “I want you naked.”
Her eyes widen with excitement. “What do you plan on doing?”
“Something that takes us the whole flight to accomplish.”
“That’s over an hour.”
“Exactly.” I undo my shirt buttons and tug the shirt out of my dress pants. “Seems like the perfect amount of time to explore your body with my tongue.”
She places her hand on my chest and slowly runs her nails over my pecs, across my nipples, and down my abs. “You know I love how you make me come, right?”
“Why do I feel like there’s a ‘but’ after that statement?”
“Because there is.”
“Fuck, are you on your period?”
She shakes her head. “No, but I am preventing you from making me come tonight.”
“Why?” I feel my brow draw together.
Her hand slips to my pants and she undoes them, then dips her hand past the elastic of my briefs and right to my cock.
A hiss escapes me as I lean against the door of the compact bedroom.
“I want to make you come this time,” she tells me.
“But we’re taking it slow.”
“You making me orgasm every time we’re together isn’t taking it slow.”
I pause and grip her hand. “Fuck, you’re right. I’m … hell, I’m sorry.” I remove her hand. “You’re right, I shouldn’t end the date like this. We can—”
Her hand covers my mouth as she presses her breasts to my chest. “Don’t finish that sentence.”
“Kelsey, you’re right, I’m not honoring what you asked.”
“What I asked was dumb. We can connect on both levels. We have. I really want to make you feel good.”
“Babe, you make me feel good without having to stick your hand down my pants.”
“This is different. I want to connect with you on this level, too.”
“Are you sure?”
She nods. “I’m very sure.” She reaches to her side and undoes her zipper, letting her dress fall to the floor, leaving her in a light pink two-piece lingerie set.
“Remind me to get you a gift card for your favorite lingerie store, because this is never going to get old.” I smooth my hand on her back, grip the clasp of her bra, and undo it with one quick pinch. It snaps off and falls to the ground with her dress.
“I thought I was the one pleasuring you?” she asks as she pushes down my pants and briefs at the same time until I step out of them, removing my shoes and socks first.
“Seeing you naked pleasures me.” I push her thong down so we’re both naked.
I reach for the spot between her legs, but before I can, she drops to her knees, moves her hair to the side, and grips my cock at the base.
“Hell,” I whisper, leaning against the door.
Her tongue peeks out past her soft lips and she runs circles over my head, swirling and swirling, while she casually pumps my length.
It’s subtle.
And it drives me crazy because it’s not nearly enough. I know what she’s doing—she’s attempting to torture me as I torture her. Little does she know, I could do this all fucking night.
That is … until her hand slides under my balls to the spot just behind them. She pushes up, and my eyes widen in pleasure.
“Fuck.” I clench my teeth together as I feel my cock grow in her mouth.
“Like that?” she asks before dipping her tongue to the base of my dick and dragging it all the way up, making short flicks against the underside of the head. Her thumbs work my balls, dragging over the seam, fondling them, one at a time. It’s an onslaught of pleasure, but once again, not what I need, not what’s going to drive me to fucking her mouth.
“You trying to torture me?”
She smirks and brings her entire mouth over my cock, sucking me in. Fuck, yes, that’s what I’m talking about. I’m prepared to settle into her mouth when she pulls off in one slick motion and brings her tongue down to my balls.
The fucking temptress.
I reach down and grip her hair in my fist, turning it over once so I have a tight hold. She doesn’t even flinch. She loves it just as much as I do. She reaches for my balls, brings them close to her mouth, and sucks them in, her tongue running all over them.
“Babe, that feels good. But I want in your mouth.”
“Sometimes you don’t always get what you want.”
My eyes narrow at that smart mouth of hers and I give her hair the lightest of yanks. She smiles before taking my cock into her mouth again, this time, straight to the back of her throat.
“Fuck … me,” I say when she swallows. “Yes, baby. Just like that.” She allows me to thrust into her once, twice, and when I go for a third, she pulls away and releases me. “Jesus.”
Sweat trickles down my back as her hands start working my length, up and down, tugging, pulling, massaging. Her hands work over the head, over sensitive veins to my perineum, where she lightly plays, tapping, rubbing, driving me more and more nuts.
“Babe, I’m about to fuck you in two seconds.”
She chuckles and stands. She keeps one hand on my cock, lightly tugging on it as she kisses my chest, my neck, my jaw, and then matches her lips to mine. I open-mouth kiss her, driving my tongue against hers, aggressively taking what I want. One hand on her lower back, keeping her tight against me, I reach between her legs and find her completely drenched.
