Promises of Mercy(Montana Promises-Book 1) (19 page)

Their meal arrived and they dug in. Cade made cute little moaning sounds with each bite.

She chuckled. “Don’t you eat well?”

He glanced up at her. “When do I have time? Remember, I suck at cooking.”

“Stone is a great cook.”

“When he cooks. He mostly eats at the station.”

Then how could they possibly think they had time for a woman in their life? Would they fit her in when they could? Did they even want something permanent? At some point, she’d have to ask them, but right now she wanted to enjoy everything about Cade Carter and Stone Benson as possible.

After dinner, Cade paid. He held out his hand and helped her from the booth.

“Next time, I’m paying.”

He cocked a brow. “That would be a no.”

She was a strong believer in equality. “I make good money, you know.” At least compared to a public servant.

He escorted her outside and into his car. “I never said you didn’t. It’s not about that.” He
walked to the other side and folded himself onto the seat. “Taking you out makes me feel good. Okay?”

She wasn’t going to argue for now. “Okay.”

He started the engine and drove out of town. Cade tapped his fingers on the wheel. “Maybe you should consider leaving a bag of clothes at our house for when you spend the night.”

“Really?” Excitement laced her tone at the implication.

“You sound surprised.”

How did one respond to that comment? “I’m just cautious.”

“In that case, I need to show you just how good it can be between us.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Amber thought they’d go back to Cade’s place, but instead he drove to her house. Maybe he planned on spending the night and thought it would be easier on her in the morning. That was nice in theory, but it would mean when Stone returned home in the middle of the night, he couldn’t crawl into bed with them.
Darn
. She missed him already. Though to be honest, if she had to discuss her suspicions about Ben to Stone so soon after her revelation to Cade, she might crack, and she wasn’t ready to shed another bucket of tears.

Cade pulled into her drive. “It’s a shame
Stone couldn’t have joined us,” he said.

“I know.”
With each passing day, the idea of being with two men was sinking in. “I would have enjoyed hearing more about Stone’s life.” She wanted all three of them to connect on a deeper level.

Next
time.

When they stepped into her house, she headed to the kitchen. “I bought some ale for you.”

“You didn’t have to do that.” Cade followed behind her. “Do you have a Coke?”

That surprised her. “Sure do.”

She grabbed two cans, one for him and one for herself. On her way home from work, she’d stopped at the store and bought snacks—not because she thought Cade would come back here after dinner, but because she liked to have some on hand. It was her comfort food. “I can make popcorn. I also have some leftover cheese and crackers.”

“Great.”

As she handed him the can, her cell rang. She set down her drink and located her phone in her purse. Her heart nearly stopped. “It’s Ben.” She looked up at him.

“Let it go to voicemail.”

Her mind raced. “But I always answer. He’ll think it strange if I don’t.” Her heart pounded.

Cade lifted the phone from her fingers. “Next time you see him, you can say we were making love.”

His logic helped settle her nerves. “Okay.” Another round of reality struck her. “What am I going to say when I finally talk to him? What if he and Jamie come over next weekend? Do you think he knows that I—”

Cade gathered her in his arms. “Shh. It’ll be okay. Let’s think about this.” He guided her to the sofa. “Here’s what you’re going to do. If he or Jamie asks you to meet them, for the first few times, tell them you have a date with either Stone or me.”

“I can do that.” Amber certainly had complained enough to Jamie about not having enough time to be with the men because of their crazy schedules. “What if he stops me in the hospital hallway?”

“You talk with him. Sugar, if—and that’s a big if—Ben is guilty, you have to pretend he’s innocent. Don’t give him any reason to think you suspect him.”

She was happy he didn’t add that Ben might harm her. She knew better. Ben wouldn’t. Hell, he couldn’t even tie up Jamie or spank her for fear of causing her pain. Amber relaxed. “Okay.”

He pulled out his cell. “I’m texting Stone to let him know where I am. I’m not leaving you in this state of mind.”

He hadn’t planned to spend the night? She knew better. “Who are you fooling? You can’t leave without some booty.” He glanced up at her and chuckled. The sound was a balm to her tormented soul.

“You up for that? ’Cause if you’re too upset, I’ll be
happy to hold you all night. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you. Ever.” He dragged his knuckle down her cheek.

“Thank you, but if you think you are getting out of making love with me, you are sorely mistaken.”

He pulled her close. “That so? Just so you know, I will always
want
to make love with you.” They both leaned forward at the same time and kissed. Every cell in her body heated. He sat back. “I can’t get started. I have to text Stone now or I’ll forget.”

While he left his message, she placed the popcorn in the microwave. Doing a menial chore helped
settle her stomach. When she returned to the living room, Cade was stretched on the sofa.

“I need to change,
” she told him. From all the anxiety and emotional upheaval, she’d perspired heavily.

He grinned. “Don’t put too much back on. I’m just going to have to take it off.”

His words skimmed over her skin and made her simmer. She planted a knee on the sofa and kissed his cheek, then rushed to her room. It was only eight, so she figured they could relax before engaging in mind-blowing sex. She quickly put on a tank top and comfortable bottoms. After she washed off the streaks of mascara, she dragged the damp cloth over her armpits. Fearing she might become emotional again tonight, she didn’t put back on any makeup.

She headed out. Cade had taken off his boots and socks and unbuttoned his shirt halfway. No man deserved to look that sexy.

Amber nodded to the television. “Pick out something to watch while I get the cheese and crackers.” He picked up the remote and turned it to Netflix. The microwave dinged. “Good timing,” she said more to herself than to Cade.

She removed the bag and inhaled, loving the buttery smell. She dumped the contents in
to a bowl, grabbed a roll of paper towels and the saltshaker. The aroma made her very full stomach grumble.

He was scrolling through the movies as she plopped next to him. “Anything look good?” she asked.

“How about The Twelve Dates of Christmas?”

She laughed. “That’s a chick flick.”

He held a palm upward. “So? You don’t like romantic comedies? I find that hard to believe since you’re such a romantic.”

She laughed. “I like them fine. I thought you’d want something starring the Rock or Tom Cruise or a movie where people battle to their death. You know, a tough guy film.”

He set the remote down. “Sugar, I appreciate that you see me that way, and while I admit I’m focused, ambitious, and hard working, that’s my job. Hopefully, those things don’t define me. What my dad did to me and my mom might be my motivation for working hard, but I have a lot of other facets. Sometimes, I like to forget. I can even be silly.” He raised his brows up and down fast, and she laughed appreciatively.

“Me, too.” She stuck out her tongue. “Like to forget, that is.” While it felt good to let loose, she needed a lot more than that to help douse her demons tonight. She snuggled close. “I want you to make love with me. Now.”

This was what she’d yearned for. But it was incomplete. Stone should be here, but for now, she’d enjoy Cade to the fullest.

“Oh, sugar.” Cade stood in front of her and pulled her up. “If you’re good with letting this hot popcorn go to waste, I’ll be happy to oblige.”

“Mind if I take a quick shower?” She’d purchased candles, too, and wanted a moment to light them. “Give me a few minutes before coming in, okay?”

“Hurry.” He kissed her.

When his lips lingered, she pulled away then rushed down the hallway. For the first time today, hope filled her.

* *

Wanting to give her all the time she needed, Cade paced. Had this been under different circumstances, he’d have rushed down the hall after her, stripping his clothes on the way.  After everything she’d been through tonight, Cade didn’t want to move too fast, but the butt plug was burning a hole in his pocket. When it came to Amber, he had no control. He wanted her—bad. After seeing her struggle with the ethical question of what to do about her good friend, Ben, his admiration for her grew. Never before had doing right by her seemed so important.

If he were honest, he’d acknowledge that he had never taken his time to really understand any woman well. Why? He never saw the relationship lasting more than a few nights or at most,
a couple of weeks. Yet the older he became, the more he wanted what Stone’s family had. Love. Stability. Friendship.

Amber had nailed him the first time she met him. She could see his need to atone, but now he understood no matter how many people he brought to justice, he’d never make up for his father’s wrong doing. Like Amber, he needed to do what
he believed was right.

That meant loving
her the best he could. If he fucked up this relationship then he might never get another chance at having something this wonderful again. He had to be on his most sensitive behavior—reading her every breath, understanding her every move. It didn’t matter their time together had been short. They’d connected.

He couldn’t wait any longer
.

With strong strides, he ate up the space between here and her room, stopping only when he reached her closed door. Not only did he need his heartbeat to slow, he wanted to give Amber time to think about tonight. It was going to be amazing, not only between the two of them, but between all three of them soon.

Cade stepped in. The room was bathed in candlelight and he smiled. The woman was all heart. The bathroom door stood ajar, and he imagined her wet, naked body.

Once he
set the lube and plug on the dresser, he opened the bathroom door.
Fuck me
. She’d just stepped onto the bathmat, and his balls drew up tight at the sight of her. Glistening, she was a true vision.

Her eyes widened and she grabbed the towel and placed it over her front. “I’m not ready.”

“Sugar, you don’t need to be shy around me.” He stepped toward her and lifted the material from her grasp. “Allow me.” He turned her around and dried her back, her delicious butt, and her shapely legs. He wanted her needy. “Turn around.” She obliged. “You are magnificent.” As much as he wanted to take his time, he couldn’t wait. In a flash, she was in his arms.

“I’m still wet.”

He grinned. “Then I guess I’ll just have to lick off every drop of water.”

She giggled, and he fell for her even more. Once in the bedroom, he pulled down the comforter and gently placed her on the bed. The flickering candles danced over the walls, creating a womb-like environment, and he couldn’t wait to take her.

He debated how to make tonight extra special. One thing he knew about his woman. She liked it when he talked dirty. “Is your pussy wet and ready for my big cock?”

“I’m not sure.” When s
he dipped a finger into her opening, his cock turned to steel. Dear God in heaven, she’d be his death.

She then
waved her finger, and he nearly lost it. Two buttons later, his shirt was history. The belt came next and then the trousers. Amber sat up as if she wanted to make sure not to miss the show.

She grinned. “Keep going.”

He stepped over to the bed, needing her hands on him. “How about you finishing?”

Perhaps he shouldn’t have offered his cock so quickly. He was weak when he was with her, but she did seem to enjoy tempting him to come. Using a light touch, she guided his briefs up and over his cock. When his dick popped out at her, she squealed. Her pleasure thrilled him.

“Hurry.” He hadn’t meant for the one word to come out strangled.

If he let her tease him for too long, he’d never last long enough to put the butt plug in her.

She looked up at him. “Hurry? Uh-uh. I’m going to take my time. Make you beg for my pussy.”

God he adored this woman. “So you think you have all the control?”
She did, but he wasn’t ready to tell her that just yet.

She touched her tits then dragged a hand between her legs. “I got these.”

Cade shook his head. She was taking this too far. He stepped back and shucked his briefs before moving closer. “Suck on him.”

“Yes, sir.” She had the nerve to salute him.

With the tips of her fingers, she drew his rigid shaft toward her with slightly jerking movements, acting like this was her first blowjob.

The second her tongue touched his cock, high-voltage power
shot up his body. His heart pounded. He could be on a stakeout for hours never taking his gaze off a building, but put Amber in front of him, and he lost all focus. He lowered his arms and dragged his fingers through her hair, helping to guide her down his cock. With her free hand, she clasped his balls. The combination of her tongue, hand, and magic fingers, had him hissing in a breath.

Don’t come
.

They had so much loving ahead of them. Showing Amber about pleasure would be his one gift to her, though she was bestowing a lot of joy on him right now.

When she sucked hard and tightened her grip, he closed his eyes, trying not to lose it. Her tongue swirled and her fingers danced along his cock. He pulled away. “Enough play time.” Even though he’d used his toughest voice, she looked up, cocked a brow, and grinned.

Oh, crap
. He’d just open the gate and given her free reign. His heart was doomed.