Built to Last (7 page)

His cell phone rang and he jumped for it. “Noelle?”

“It’s Rick Caster, Boss. Have you seen the forecast?”

“Yeah I was just watching it. Maybe it won’t be as bad as it sounds.”

“I got Steven here with me, and couple of the other guys. Poker night. We just thought we should check in with you.”

“Well, you know the drill Rick. Tell Steven to start calling people off in the morning if we can’t get to the site, otherwise I want everyone there and remind them that we are indoors with heaters.”

“I don’t think that’s going to make a helluva difference to any of them if the plows haven’t gotten through.”

Cade closed his phone and checked the time again. He decided to give her a call. He listened to her voice on her voicemail. “Just me, hope to see you soon.”

He jumped when the doorbell sounded and felt his heart drag up into his throat. He took a deep breath and answered it.

“Hi,” she said simply and leaned up to kiss him on the cheek.

“I just tried calling you.”

“I shut my phone off when I got into the car. I didn’t want any more interruptions tonight. Something smells wonderful,” she commented as he took her coat and gloves. She had her hair tied up on the back of her head and he longed to pull it loose and delve into the tresses. He’d smelled her shampoo again when she leaned up to kiss him. It all made him feel lightheaded. A big silly grin creased his face.

“I made herb crusted halibut with potatoes and stuffed mushrooms.”

Noelle raised her eyebrows in surprise, “You cook? You know I would have been okay with ordered in pizza.”

“Now you tell me,” Cade teased, “Would you like a glass of wine?”

Thinking about her reaction to the beers at the club only an hour ago, she decided against it. “I think water would be great. I didn’t really get a chance to look around the other night. Your place looks nice.”

“Thank you. It’s a work in progress. It’s too much house for me though. I bought it with the idea that I would update it and remodel then resell it. Other things have kept me from it though. How was your thing with your friend?”

Noelle smiled, “Jealous?”

“Should I be?”

She wasn’t sure if he was serious or just teasing her. “No, Griffin and I knew each other back in college but we never dated. He’s not my type.”

“So what’s your type then?” Cade asked not liking that she had actually gone out with Griffin. He’d heard Griffin talk at work about the girl he was seeing. The thought made him want to punch the other man in the face.

Noelle blushed, “I walked into that didn’t I?” She moved into his dining room admiring the beautiful table in front of her as Cade brought her glass of water from the kitchen. “I like tall, confident, strong men that smell of pine,” she replied walking up behind him in the kitchen and running a hand up his back. She nuzzled her nose into his shoulder blade and inhaled. “But I supposed you’ll do for now.”

Cade’s breath caught in his throat as she touched him. He turned to face her, his deep green eyes burning with longing. Her teasing just seemed to add another level of intimacy to her touch. She was mere inches from him and he looked down into her incredible mahogany eyes feeling the ever present pull between them. He lowered his head and gently brushed her lips with his own, teasing her back. He pulled away and grinned, “Let’s eat.”

Noelle felt like her blood was on fire. It sizzled through her body and warmed her through and through. Right now, food was the last thing on her mind as she looked at him. “We could start with dessert first if you like,” she countered, leaning over him to whisper in his ear as he sat down at the table. She watched the shiver of pleasure wash through his body.

It was all Cade could manage to not bolt up out of his chair and ravage her right here on the table. She smelled incredible and her touch seared him. He watched as she sauntered to the other end of the table, her soft skirt swishing gently just above her knees. “Plenty of time for dessert,” he replied, forcing himself to breathe and take control again. His smile was wicked as he looked at her. They both knew what the conclusion of dinner meant and the sexual tension seemed to mount with each bite taken.

“The halibut was delicious Cade,” she commented and pushed her plate away, having finished her dinner. She fully intended on throwing herself at him and letting him take her here on the table. She stood and walked around behind his chair again. Each minute in his company without touching him when she knew she could, was torture. She touched his shoulders rubbing them and heard him groan with pleasure.

He let her go on touching him until it was just too much. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to last if he didn’t have her soon. He stood and scooped her into his arms in one swift deliberate motion. His lips sought hers as he pulled her close. The length of him was touching the length of her. Her breasts pressing into his chest, tightened up into sharp peaks as he ran his hands down her back. She moaned into his mouth and was rewarded with his arousal throbbing against her hip.

“Where’s your room?” she whispered hoarsely.

He lifted her from the floor and felt her legs wrap around his waist putting the core of her against him. He could feel the heat of her need through their clothing. Continuing to kiss her exposed neck and shoulders, he moved them slowly down the hall to the master bedroom. Every few feet he’d plant her back against a wall and take her lips with his again, delving his tongue into her mouth and tasting her. God, he loved the way she tasted. They finally passed through the doorway of his bedroom and Cade carried her to his bed. He set her down on it and looked down at her. Her skin was flushed pink and her beautiful eyes were heavy-lidded with her desire for him.

“You look incredible.”

She sat up on the edge of the bed and reached for him, pulling at the waistline of his jeans. The button pulled loose as she did so. “Take off your shirt. I want to touch you.” she requested, her voice low and breathy.

She watched as he did as she requested, pulling loose the white cotton dress shirt from his waistband and then opening each button before sliding it off his shoulders to toss it over a chair. His chest was tightly muscled, and sprinkled with dark hair. He was in great shape from his work, his wide shoulders tapering down into a narrow waist. The muscles across his abdomen rippled and just above the line of his jeans more dark hair started. She wanted to run her hands over him, so she stood and traced his collarbone with her fingertips following it up over his shoulder and down his back, she leaned up and kiss the backs of his shoulders. They looked so strong and solid, just what every girl wants to lean on. She followed the length of his spine with her tongue, tasting his skin. The woodsy scent of him filled her nostrils and her eyes fluttered closed as she moved around to the front of him again.

“My turn,” he growled huskily. He reached up and carefully pulled the pins from her hair letting the soft length of it fall down her back. He bent and kissed her lips once again weaving his fingers through her hair and pulling her to him. His lips were soft but demanding as he kissed her. His tongue pressed her lips open and tangled with her own. She reached for his face, caressing his jawline as they kissed. She felt little electric sparks jumping all over her body each time he pulled away from her mouth and started again.

He kissed down the side of her neck and across her one exposed collarbone. Hearing her sighs of pleasure fuelled his desire for her even further. His hands slid down her arms to her hips and back up again as he kissed her. He slid his hands under her shirt urging her to lift her arms and gently tugging the shirt over her head, leaving her hair to tumble around her shoulders once again. His hands moved back to her waist as she looked at him. A slight blush crept into her cheeks as he looked at her. He bent her over the bed once more as he unclasped her bra and removed the dark lacy fabric from her creamy mounds. He dipped his head and took first one and then the other into his mouth drawing gasps of pleasure from her lips and causing her back to arch into him. Her hands curved up and into his hair, pulling him down closer as he tormented her with his tongue.

He moved down her belly to her hips pushing her skirt down as he went, leaving her in nothing but a pair of dark matching panties. Her stomach fluttered as he moved lower, kissing her hips and the tops of her thighs.

He ran his fingertips up the inside of each leg starting at her ankles leaving a path of fire in their wake. As he reached her hips once again, he hooked his fingers inside the wisp of fabric and drew them down and off her. He knelt on the floor over her and looked at the whole of her. The intensity of his desire showed in his emerald eyes as he stood and removed the last of his own clothing.

“Cade,” she murmured and reached for him.

He
moved over her again, fitting himself between her thighs as she invited him in. She pulled him to her in a long hot kiss as he slid into her for the first time. He growled with the immense pleasure she was creating in him. He kissed and nuzzled her as they found a rhythm together.

Each of his thrusts brought her closer to the brink. He moaned her name near her ear as they moved together. Her hips moved against him meeting him for each stroke and driving her home. She pulled his body closer to hers and her need for release intensified. “Cade, oh God, Cade...” she moaned and then her world shattered into thousands of searing sparks. She heard him grunt with his own release as she clung to him.

As their breathing returned to normal, he rolled them over to lay twined together. She felt shy as he looked at her. She didn’t quite know what to say to him. He solved that problem for her.

“Stay the night with me.”

It sounded like a question more than a statement but how could she refuse him anything after the way he’d made love to her. “Yes,” she whispered, and snuggled her head under his chin. He wrapped an arm over her small body and pulled her in closer, stroking her back with his fingertips. It didn’t take long before he had her stoked and ready for a second round.

Cade groaned as she took his nipples gently between her teeth alternating sucking on them and flicking them with her tongue like he had to her. She kissed and tasted his skin and ran her fingers through his chest hair. She touched and tasted every inch of him until he was panting a
nd pulling her up and over him.

“You look so beautiful,” he whispered, sliding his hands up her thighs to her hips. She watched his face as she rocked against him loving how open he was with her. They locked eyes, green and mahogany, and Noelle was moved by the tenderness and emotion she saw. She felt more connected to him than any other man she had ever known and
it thrilled yet frightened her.

Cade gave everything of himself while making love to her. It created an ache deep inside her that only he could fix. She leaned down, kissed, and nibbled on his neck letting him take over again. She felt tears prick her eyes as she buried her head in his neck. He wrapped his arms around her and rolled her over so that he was on top of her again. His strokes were languid and slow and he caressed her face, as he moved inside her. She clutched at him as her need began to peak again and this time when her world shattered around her, tears spilled down her cheeks.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured, wiping at her eyes.

“Don’t be Elle. You are one of the most amazing women I know. Cry if you need to cry and don’t be embarrassed.” He curled up around her and held her in his arms feeling her sob until there were no tears left and her breathing became steady and even.

Cade lay next to her, feeling honored that she had opened herself up so deeply to him. He knew what she had been through with her mother and could not imagine what it must have been like for her. She was a strong confident, independent woman and he cared for her quite a lot. He wanted this woman in his life. She made him feel whole and he hoped that he did the same for her. He kissed the back of her head and held her close, closing his eyes.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Cade stood in his kitchen whistling as he made breakfast. Noelle was still upstairs asleep. They’d made love several more times through the night. He couldn’t help himself. Every time she moved in the bed next to him, or brushed against him in her sleep he just couldn’t resist her or she him.

Snow had continued to fall during the night and now they had more than eighteen inches of the soft fluffy stuff. It was enough to close down schools for the day and some businesses as well. More was predicted and the wind had begun just shortly after his stomach had dragged him out of bed. The snow was already drifting against his patio door. The world beyond was a swirling mess of white and gray. He plated up the food and was just heading for the bedroom when Noelle came bounding out toward him.

“I’m late for work, oh god, I need this job!”

“Whoa, slow down Noelle, it’s okay. I answered your phone a little over an hour ago. The temp service called to tell you not to go into work today. The storm has shut down the city.” He nodded toward the patio door.

Noelle physically sagged with relief. Now that the urgency of the morning was gone, she took in her surroundings. “You made breakfast?”

“Mm hmm, I was going to bring it to you in bed...”

Noelle laughed, “I could get undressed again and crawl back into bed.”

“Very tempting, but I don’t want the food to go to waste.” He set the tray back on the counter and brought the plates over to the table.

“Two meals in a row, a girl could get used to this kind of life.”

Cade chuckled and shook his head. “You make it easy to pamper you.” He watched her tuck into her plate, and then joined her. The quiet felt comfortable and right as they shared a meal together. He reveled in it, realizing his house felt like a home to him for the first time, all because of this woman in front of him. He liked the way her smile made the room warm and her laugh broke the silence. “So, what would you like to do today?”

Noelle looked outside again pushing her plate away empty. “Precious is home by herself. So I suppose I need to get back to my apartment and take care of her.”

“Your car isn’t going anywhere in this mess until the plows have gotten through. But I’ll take you back to your place this afternoon after the storm has settled down if you like.”

“Thank you, I would appreciate that. Other than that, I really didn’t have anything I needed to do today. It was mostly a workday. What about you?”

“I spoke with the guys last night. The crew can’t get to the site in this weather nor would I want them to try. The interior of the hotel isn’t complete enough to hold much warmth to work and I imagine part of the city is already having power issues. This snow is pretty heavy.”

Noelle moved around the table to rub his shoulders. “Well, then it sounds like we are stuck here for the day. What do you suggest?”

Cade slid his hand up over one of hers, “I bet we can think of something to occupy the time.” He tugged her around the chair and down into his lap, claiming her lips with his own once again.

Noelle giggled and snuggled into his embrace, as he stood with her in his arms and carried her away from the table. She nibbled at the side of his neck and his earlobe.

“You keep that up, I’m liable to drop you,” he growled.

She acquiesced, resting her head on his broad shoulder instead. He set her down in front of a set of doors that lead out to the deck. It had a wonderful view of the mountains and the snow hadn’t accumulated here, as it had on the patio. It was also enclosed by glass on one side with a hot tub, which was steaming.

“Are you serious? It is way too cold out there right now for the hot tub.”

“Actually it’s perfect weather for it. I started it up while I was making breakfast,” he replied sliding off his shoes. He looked at her, a grin lighting up his emerald eyes. The morning stubble on his face made him look even more ruggedly handsome than usual if that were possible. “Unless you’re chicken?”

“Really?” she asked affecting a pose with her hand on her hip. “Are we school children again Cade?” but she grinned in spite of herself and slipped off her own shoes. “Won’t your neighbors see? I assume you don’t just keep bathing suits around for this kind of thing.”

“Between the drifting snow and the fence it’s all covered. You can’t see into the tub unless you’re in the yard itself, I promise.”

Noelle smiled again, something she seemed to be doing a lot of since she had arrived the night before, if the soreness of her cheeks was any indication. She shimmied out of her clothing again and stood before him as naked as the day she was born. “Lead the way.”

Cade grinned in response to her conf
idence, finding it incredibly sexy. He was already half hard with need just looking at her in all her glory in front of him. He dropped his robe to the floor then his pajamas bottoms followed suit and he pushed the door open. Noelle let out a little squeal as a blast of cold air met them and she darted for the hot tub. Two steps and a splash and she was neck deep in wonderfully hot bubbling water. Cade joined her a moment later, pulling her to him for a long languid kiss. Pulling away, he tucked her into his shoulder and looked out over the snowy white world before them.

Cade’s heartstrings seemed to be pulled tight. Everything felt perfect to him, and this incredibly beautiful brunette sitting next to him was the cause. The hole in his life, that he hadn’t even noticed existed until he had run into her again, was filling. She made him feel complete and happy. His eyes drifted closed as she started her assault on his neck. He stroked her back with his fingers brushing and memorizing every inch of her as she moved to straddle him in the water.

“You are so beautiful,” he whispered before covering her lips with his. What started as a deliciously soft kiss, deepened into something needy very quickly as she nipped at his bottom lip with her teeth. Their tongues entwined as he pulled her closer and slid himself deep within her.

She threw back her head and sighed at the feeling of him. “Cade,” she murmured thrusting her fingers into his nearly black hair. His lips drug across her damp skin and found one of her taut nipples with his teeth. His hands slid up her back to support her as she began to ride him. He moved to her other breast and paid it similar attentions making her body tighten around him with the need he was creating in her. Her need for release was on a slow simmer as she moved over him. The water gently lapped the sides of the hot tub as he kissed and tasted her skin. She barely noticed the cold of the air around them as his hands moved to her hips to guide himself deeper inside her. She ground her hips against his enjoying the power she felt when he moaned with appreciation.

The sound of her sighs and moans were driving him to the brink. Her voice dropped to a sultry alto that burned him to the core. He lifted her, rolling them both gently so that she was resting against the edge, both of her arms bracing herself above the water and continued to make love to her. “I just can’t get enough of you,” he whispered next to her ear. Her eyes pleaded with him to give her release.

Noelle mind was clouded with desire for this man. After making love to him all night, she still wanted more. Every fiber of her being cried out for him. His feathery light touch made her head swim. His kisses drove her mad with need. She wrapped her legs around his waist taking him into her, wanting as much of him as she could stand.

“What do you need Elle?” he queried, stilling his hips as to tease her as she began to crest into the abandon of ecstasy.

“You, Cade, you,” she whimpered, as brought them both to the pinnacle of their desire. Her soft cries rang in his ears as she pulled him into her body trying to make them as close to one as any two people can be.

“Elle…” he murmured allowing their still joined bodies sink back into the depths of hot water.

***

Afternoon found the two of them in Cade’s den. They were curled up on the couch together watching old movies and reading. It turned out that Cade had quite the library in his house.

“I still love collecting books. With all the e-books you can find these days I worr
y that someday words on actual paper will be gone.” She told him as she looked through the books on his shelves.

“I like the weight of a book in my hands. It makes me feel more connected to the story and characters inside.” He replied standing behind her with his hands resting comfortably on her shoulders.

“Which one is your favorite?” she asked turning in his arms.

He reached for an old beat up paperback, handing it to her.

“Really? I would have never pegged you as a Sci-fi guy.”

“When I was a kid, I used to dream of flying through space inside my own rocket and landing in cities built on other planets,” he admitted.

“Ohhhh, that is so cute!” she teased reaching up to ruffle his hair.

“Are you mocking me?” he grinned grabbing for her as she tried to dart away.

“Who me?” she asked with mock innocence. “Never!”

He laughed and caught her up in his arms. He picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. “I’ll teach you to mock me,” he growled and carried her off to the bedroom once more.

***

The storm was still going strong that evening, nearly another six inches had fallen throughout the day, but it was the winds keeping everything and everyone at a standstill. It was a record-breaking storm according to the news. Noelle stood at Cade’s bedroom window wrapped in his bathrobe staring out at the weather. She turned and looked back at Cade, asleep in his bed. He sprawled in his sleep, which told her he was not the type to share his bed often. The thought made her smile.

They’d played games, read, slept, watched TV, and made love all day. It had been a perfect day, but doubt still played at the back of her mind. The sex was amazing, their conversations were interesting and playful, he even could cook, and Noelle could see herself falling for this man. There was no doubt in her mind that was exactly where she was headed but she didn’t know what the future held for her. She was running headlong back into her life and the speed of which everything was happening was quite frightening.

She’d had a plan for her life once, before her mother had gotten sick. She wanted a career. She wanted to teach and maybe write a novel or two. She wanted to find a man that respected her drive and wanted to be her partner. She wanted to be a mother with a houseful of kids. All these things had been her dreams. Now, at twenty-seven she had come to realize that some of those things might just not be in the cards for her. They took time. School was a good start, but it was just that, a start. When she let herself go in Cade’s arms, she felt that those dreams might get left in the dust. She didn’t want to lose herself completely in him. She needed to spend some time finding out who she was again, and she knew that no matter how much she enjoyed being with Cade. She could only figure it out on her own.

“Hey beautiful, come back to bed,” he murmured to her sleepily.

She smiled down at him. He looked so incredible laying there reaching for her. His hair fell across his forehead and she reached down to brush it back. She knelt on the side of the bed and leaned down to kiss him, melting into his arms again. Nothing could be done tonight. She would savor this moment and tomorrow she would begin to get on with her life.