Cadence
“Areyou sure this is a good idea? I mean, it’s not too soon, right?” This is what I ask Santiago as I’m lying on my side. He’s on his back, an arm wrapped beneath my neck, playing with the ends of my hair. We’re just waking up from a nap, or better yet, I am. I’m not exactly sure if he slept or not. All I know is that I was out like a light after the two orgasms he gave me. One with his mouth on my clit, the other once he slid his thick, long cock inside my center. I was still convulsing from the last only for him to work me up higher and higher.
“It’s not too soon. This is happening, and if I have to tell you that every hour of every single day, I will.” He moves us. He’s now hovering over me, the crisp black sheet the only thing that he pulled over us apparently. Which works well because Santiago puts off enough body heat to keep me nice and warm. My thighs spread as he presses his body between them, his cock notching at the entrance of my pussy, sliding the tip through the gathered wetness.
“Please,” I moan, my concern taking a back seat, loving what he is doing to my body.
“Are you done worrying about if this is too soon, that we don’t know each other long enough, or this isn’t real?” Clearly, this is his way of making me stop questioning every single facet of my life.
“If I say yes, will you continue doing what you’re doing?” My head tips back, hips canting forward, searching for his cock, willing him to slide inside me.
“Not until we’re on the same page. I told you I’d tell you anytime, day or night, but I need you to believe it. We had a rocky albeit weird start. Could almost thank my brother for that, minus the bruises you’re sporting and the amount of hurt you went through. I want us on the same page, permanently.” He moves my hand that was grasping his shoulder to his mouth, kissing the tips of my fingers before pulling it towards his heart, my palm pressing against the beating organ. My other hand is on his firm oblique, more than likely leaving crescent-shaped bruises from my fingers digging into the taut skin.
“Fine, I promise to never have any doubts or question our relationship or lack thereof.” The sass leaves my mouth, and I notice the hardness in his jaw on the last two words.
“Oh, there’s a relationship, one that will involve you wearing my ring, your name tied to mine permanently, and you having my child growing inside you.” If you had told me yesterday when I walked into Santiago Martinez’s office that I’d get to see this sweet and adoring side of his, I’d have called you a liar. Not after seeing him in magazines, hearing about him on television, and knowing that he is not the man to settle down. Believe me, women tried, multiple times, or at least that’s what the gossip rags say. They’d try to get close to him at charity events; he’d stay cordial but would never allow them to go any further. Either they’d be escorted out or he’d untangle himself. I’d say it was just a rumor until one of those award shows didn’t pan out far enough and the whole world saw it happen to a very famous model.
“You’re that sure? How can you know this already? What if I snore or I do something disgusting that you won’t like?” I ask dumb questions.
“Then we work through them. Besides, what could you do that I don’t like, hmm?” The underside of his cock slides through the lips of my pussy, catching on my clit in a delicious way.
“Leave my toiletries out everywhere, not pick up after myself? I’ve been single for a lot of years. This could get bad. And you, you’ve been a bachelor, too. Oh God, this is going to be a disaster. We’re going to fight, you’re going to hate me, and our relationship will be over before it starts, I just know it.” My tirade is never ending. Clearly, Santiago is over it because there in front of me is that unwavering alpha, dominant man who knows what he wants and goes after it.
“Shut up, cariño. I’m going to fuck your worries as well as your attitude out of you. If we have issues, we’ll work on them as they come. Right now, though, it’s just about you and me, no outside worries, okay?” My hands, the one that was on his heart and my other that was attached to his side, are moved above my head, with one of his bracketing both together.
“Okay, Santiago.” I relinquish my worries, allowing him to take over. He’s right, we’ll work things out together, and if there’s an issue, well, maybe he’ll screw it out of me.
“Cadence.” In one fell swoop, he’s breathing my name against my lips, his cock is planted deep inside me, and all I care about is this moment in time.
TWENTY-ONE
Santiago
“And she sleeps.”I somehow manage to slide out of the bed, kissing the side of her head as I do, resituating my pillow when I notice Cadence’s hand is reaching out like she’s searching for me. I’ve got a few phone calls to make. That doesn’t mean I’ll be leaving the room to make them. Doctor Hodges mentioned she’d need as much sleep as possible, what to watch for if she got worse. Nothing like that has happened. That still doesn’t make me thrilled to leave her side for too long. The shower was damn near long enough, hearing what I thought was the worst, her falling, me not catching her yet again. It’s why I barreled through the door, not giving her a moment’s notice or allowing her to cover herself. I’d say it worked in both of our favors. I grab my gray sweatpants from the floor, slide them on, and move back to the bathroom to grab my cell phone from the counter. I’ve got heads to pound, shit to process, and money to go after for Cadence. We didn’t go over her business plan, something we’ll be doing as soon as I can keep my hands occupied. The rate we’re going at each other, that won’t be for years to come.
“I know, I know. I fucked up,” Alejandro answers the phone after I dialed his number, still pissed at him for the stupid stunt he pulled.
“You did way worse than that, and you know it. Here’s what’s going to happen. You’ll make sure you release the funds so Cadence will get paid, you’ll apologize to your future sister-in-law, and I’m still breaking your nose the next time I see you.” I’ve had a chance to calm down in some aspects; the only saving grace for Alejandro is that he’s my brother. Had this been anyone else, I’d have gone a completely different avenue. I’d hit a man where it hurts the most—his wallet. Even if it meant buying up more real estate than absolutely necessary just to block his next move.
“Holy shit, you’re serious.” I hear him let a breath of air out, envisioning him pacing the floors, awaiting my phone call seeing as how I went silent on him.
“Deadly. Now send me Rachel’s number.” I walk out the bedroom door and move to Cadence’s phone I put on charge while she showered, knowing exactly what I’m going to do.
“I’m texting it to you now. Can I ask why you want it?”
“Because Cadence never signed a contract stating sexual favors were a part of her job atDates for Hire. A fact each of us figured out too late, and I was a dick not to listen to her. Now that things are ironed out, I’m going to figure out exactly how this Rachel bitch got it in her head that she could loan Cadence out like she’s a runway for a jet.” It wasn’t necessary to tell Alejandro the whole story. I did it to rub salt in the wound.
“Oh fuck, keep me posted. The funds are released, too, by the way, and for what it’s worth, I am sorry. I thought it would be a good joke, not that anyone would get hurt or something like this would happen.”
“Appreciate it, but Cadence deserves it more. I’ll talk to you later. I’ve got shit to handle.” We hang up. In the palm of my hand is her phone. Adding to my lists of things to help Cadence out with is making sure she’s got a decent phone that has a battery that lasts. It’s halfway charged, and I notice while I walk back to the bedroom that there’s no code or thumbprint necessary to unlock it. Damn this woman, yet I’m the one about to break a cardinal rule, going through a woman’s possessions, and if it weren’t for wanting all of my ducks in a row when it comes to this woman named Rachel, I wouldn’t be doing it. It’s why I’m thumbing through her phone, running a search for the company name, Rachel’s, and contract on her emails.
“Bingo.” I hit the unopened email and pull up the file. I should have brought my laptop with me. Instead, I grab my glasses I use for reading fine print off my nightstand. There’s a fucking pair in every room at any given time. In the last six months, my eyes have shown my age when it comes to reading or being on the computer, never mind using my phone. I move to the couch that’s at the foot of the bed, sit down, and shoot a quick glance at the contract, not seeing a damn thing about any type of sexual activity outlined. I drop Cadence’s phone to the seat beside me, grab my own, and dial the number Alejandro sent me.
“Hello, this is Rachel withDates for Hire. How may I help you?”
“Hello, Rachel, this is Santiago Martinez. I believe we have a bit of a problem.” I don’t say anything else, letting my name speak for itself. If I didn’t want this situation resolved as quickly as possible, I would have fed it to my attorney. Since it’s nearly Christmas, that wasn’t going to happen; plus, from the way it seems, Cadence is ready to put this behind her.
“And what would that problem be, Mr. Martinez?” The hesitation, the lilt in her tone, this woman has brass balls, I’ll give her that.