Page 7 of Thicker than Blood
“Maybe you should go back to the city then and find one.”
“Maybe I want you to be the one.”
She tries to take a step back, but I reach up and cover her hand where it is resting on me, trapping it so she can’t move away from me. “I’ve already told you, I’m not… I would never… not that I would judge someone… no. I’m not like that.”
“Like what, Sweets?”
“My name is Mae. Not Sweets.”
“Like what…Maple?” When she doesn’t answer me, I give her wrist a yank and throw her off balance, so she falls into me. “Sexual? Needy? What are you not like? Are you not tempted by forbidden fruit? Tempted to the thrill of having someone take care of you, give you everything you could ever need or want. You don’t want to find out what it feels like to own a man just by sitting in his lap and giving him a smile. You don’t want to feel the power of being able to tell a man what to do and know they will do it because the pussy’s so good he’ll die for it.”
“Let me go.”
“Oh Maple, sweet little Maple, I’ve not begun to hold you down yet. When I tie you down… there’s not going to be a way to get away from me. No one to protect you and the sweet little treat you keep all wrapped up. Is it as fresh as I think it is?”
She pushes but I stand firm. Then I am taken aback when she raises her free hand and lets it fly against my cheek. I see her ball her fist up next but before she can make contact with my face, I grab her wrist and use her momentum to spin her, so her arms are crossed over her chest and her back is firmly pressed to the front of me.
“You need self-defense classes, Sugar, especially with how fucking beautiful you are.”
I drop my face into the crook of her neck and give it a little bite causing her to cry out. Her chest is rising and falling faster and faster, barely confined by the little sundress she’s wearing. Looking down I can see the gap between her tits… and her hard nipples jutting out. Is she turned on? Is it doing it for her that I have my hands on her, her body brushing against my own, and at my mercy?
“I can’t wait to get a taste of you, Maple. I can’t wait to put my mouth on your…”
“Cas! Where are you and Mae? Cas!”
“It’s going to be so good, Maple, that all you will be able to do is moan and say my name because I will have taken care of that body so good.”
I let her go and watch as she takes off running for my Gramps where she thinks she will be safe. But I didn’t miss the sweet whimper that came from her when I was telling her how her future was going to go. I think I just found my new obsession. And she can run all she wants to… I love the hunt.
Chapter Eight
Maple
In less than a week, I have been worn down and worked around by the two Newcroft men and I move into the guesthouse before the building I live in can even be officially condemned. It is a nice place, but I am constantly worried I’ll fuck something up. Eddie has already told me to change anything I want, but I don’t really think it’s my place to do that.
And then there’s Caspian. I still can’t figure him out. What does he think his end goal is going to be? And why does he go from sweet to a complete ass in no time flat? One minute he’s talking dirty to me and the next he’s telling me I need self-defense like he’s genuinely worried about me.
Since the impromptu picnic, he hasn’t touched me and has barely talked to me aside from backing up his grandfather about trying to get me to stay. Like nothing. Not one wink, nor one sexual innuendo. Not even that stupid nickname he calls me just to piss me off.
Maybe he found someone else to be his sugar baby. I would be grateful to that woman. Really, I would. I wouldn’t care if he told me all those things and then didn’t do them. I’m just glad he is leaving me alone.
So then why am I pacing like a caged lion and wondering where he went today and if he plans to come back? Maybe he’s gone like before and I won’t see him again for months or even years. Why does that leave such a hollow feeling in my chest? Why should I even care when I’ll catch a glimpse of him or fight with him or feel his eyes burning into my soul again? Why should I give a shit that he’s probably making some young woman the center of his world?
I did tell him I wasn’t going to be his damned sugar baby after all. I turned him down. Not that I really believed he was asking me for real. Now… maybe he was, and he went looking for someone else to fill the slot. Enjoy it while it lasts, sweetheart, because I doubt it will go longer than a couple of months before you get too old, and he moves on. I didn’t even warrant a couple of days of his attention before he was moving on.
I turn the television on and flop heavily on the couch. I don’t care. That’s the answer to all those questions and thoughts that have been weighing me down since I got to the main house and found out he was gone. My eyes start to burn and grow heavy with sleep even as my mind keeps tripping back time and time again to the asshole who thought I was sleeping with his grandfather. Just got to focus on the movie, just got to stop thinking god damn it. I’m perfectly happy he finally got it through his head I have no intention of running off with anyone for any reason.
I must drift off because I come awake with a jolt and don’t know why. I was having such a good dream. Such a good dream. The shifting of floorboards has me fully alert and my heart starts to pound like a caged bird beating against the bars. Is someone… here? How did they get past the gates and security?
I’m just about to make a run for the bedroom when a large, broad hand lands on my chest pinning me to the couch. “What the hell?!”
My mouth is covered and for just a second, I fear whoever is here with me is trying to smother me. My nails come up to scratch at the back of the man’s hand. Surely, it’s a man since his hand is so fucking big.
“Don’t panic, Sweets.”
What the hell?! What the utter hell?!
Caspian!