He's So Fine (A BBW Stepbrother Romance) (19 page)

“Is he here?” I asked that because I refused to believe that I would never see Cage again.

My mother sat down beside me and took my hand. “No, baby. They haven’t found him yet.”

I looked around the room and saw the same expression on the other faces—ones that told me hope was fading. I knew the longer it took to find him, the chances of finding him alive plummeted. There were so many coves in and around the Hamptons that it could take weeks to search them all. Plus, we didn’t know if Cage had even made it to one before the boat was capsized. But I had to hold on to that hope. That he would be found alive.

The alternative being that I would never see him again. A sob threatened to choke me. Horace came and sat down beside me. I knew I should be offering him comfort, but both he and my mother seemed to think I needed it more. I guess the cat was out of the bag as far as my feelings for Cage.

The three of us sat there together each lost in their own thoughts.

It was mid-morning before the Harbormaster got the word that Cage had been found. It was another hour before the rescue team brought him to shore. I stood on the deck outside the Harbormaster’s office watching as Cage jumped from the side of the boat. He was smiling and laughing at the crew. If I didn’t know he had spent the night trying to survive a storm, I would have thought he’d just come back from a day of fishing.

I wanted to feel anger. How dare he put me through this? The night of worry and uncertainty. The feeling of absolute joy ran over me. He was safe.

As he made his way along the marina’s wooden walkway, I couldn’t control myself any longer. I ran down to meet him. He saw me coming and stopped walking. The rest of the men stopped too, to see what had grabbed his attention. They smiled when they saw me and walked on ahead, greeting me as they passed. I didn’t acknowledge them, my attention focused solely on the man in front of me.

Cage. As I neared, I realized he hadn’t fared as well as I’d thought he had by his laughing attitude. My eyes took in all of him. There were cuts and bruises all along the right side of his body as though he’d been tossed against rocks. His face sported a raw looking scrape across his cheek. None of it marred his good looks.

I ran faster. He stood there, arms opened wide in welcome. It made my whole body sing. I jumped into his arms and they closed around me. I knew not only had he come home safe and sound. I was home.

CAGE

While spending a night wet and cold on a lonely stretch of beach had not been my intent when I’d started out on my father’s borrowed boat, ending my unexpected adventure with my arms wrapped around Abby was worth every discomfort I had endured.

Her hands gripped the sides of my head as she pressed kisses along my jaw, my face, my throat, anywhere she could touch me.

“I was so worried about you. You scared me to death.”

Tears fell from her beautiful green eyes and I felt like a heel to have worried her unnecessarily. Not that I was making light of the danger I’d found myself in. But if I hadn’t stormed out of the house like an immature jackass, I would never have taken the boat out and put myself in danger in the first place. After I’d left Abby, I’d walked down to the marina. I hadn’t intended to take the boat out. The wind had kicked up and that thing inside me had risen up again and I’d needed to get away from everyone and everything.

“Sssh, I’m fine, baby. I’m fine.” I bent my head and took her mouth in a statement that left little doubt to anyone watching exactly what my relationship with my stepsister really was.

A soft clearing of a throat broke us apart. My father and Julie stood on the walkway directly behind Abby. I saw the happiness in both their faces and I knew it didn’t just have to do with me being safe and sound.

Abby let go of my neck and tried to pull away. I wouldn’t let her go far. I wrapped one arm around her while putting out my hand to my father. He took it, before pulling us both into a tight hug. Julie was suddenly there and I was participating in a group hug for the first time in my life. As one, we pulled apart, but I saw no embarrassment on anyone’s face for being so emotional. I knew mine didn’t show any.

We walked up to the Harbormaster’s office where I told them what had happened. Abby sat at my side the whole time, clinging to my hand as if I’d vanish into thin air. Something I’d almost done. There was no way that was going to happen now.

I’d been alone in the dark before. I’d even though I was going to die a couple of times when I was younger. Last night, lying on that beach, shivering as the rain and the wind swept over me, I’d realized I’d been given everything I’d ever need in my life. And I’d been a damn coward not to reach out and take it with both hands.

When it was time to leave, I hesitated. As much as I wanted to go home and fall into bed and sleep around the clock, I knew I couldn’t. I needed to do something else first. “Dad, I’d like to borrow your car if I could.”

I didn’t realize it was the first time that I’d called him that until I saw the shine of tears in his eyes. He handed me the keys and cleared his throat. “Sure, son. Julie and I will wait here. I’ll call someone to come and get us.”

Abby and her mother said goodbye and she waited for me by the door, a smile on her face. I didn’t know what I was feeling at the moment. Last night had been one of the longest of my life, my hurriedly built shelter of sticks and foliage providing little protection against the bite of the rain. But I’d thought more in that twelve hour period than I had in my entire life.

I knew what I wanted. I wanted Abby. If she’d have me.

ABBY

I watched the scenery go by as Cage drove out of the small town that had been my home for the last three months. I didn’t know where we were going, and I didn’t care. I was with Cage. I didn’t know if he knew where we were going, and again, I didn’t care. We drove for about an hour before he pulled into the parking lot of a luxury hotel.

He came around to my side of the SUV and helped me down. I was dressed in grubby shorts and a shirt that had seen better days. When Cage had stormed out of the house, I’d put away the food and changed out of my dress, wiping away all traces of the romantic evening I’d planned.

He didn’t seem to care how I looked. Not that he was dressed much better. He had on a Coast Guard t-shirt and what looked like the same swim trunks he’d worn on our day out on the boat. They must have been on the boat I realized since he’d left the house wearing a pair of jeans and a shirt. With a confidence I envied, he walked up to the registration desk and secured us a suite. He asked if there were menus for the local restaurants in the rooms and requested extra towels. When he took out his wallet, I wondered where that had come from. He must have seen my curious expression and grinned at me.

“Zippered pockets,” he said, patting his hip. That immediately drew my eyes to his ass. A really good ass. I wanted to grip it as he plunged into me. I shivered as desire flamed over me.

He paid for the room in cash, then took my hand in one of his, and the extra towels in the other.

The suite was grand. A king-sized bed, a large couch and chair and a television screen that took up half the wall. There was even a side room with a mini-kitchenette. He strode straight to the bedroom. “I’m going to take my shower then you can have one. If you’re hungry, grab something out of the fridge. Or go ahead and order something for both of us.”

And with that, he left me standing in the middle of the room.

I heard the shower and sat down on the couch, waiting. I’d honestly expected him to throw me on the bed and have his way with me. Why else would he bring me here? I suddenly doubted myself. Doubt everything that had happened between us this summer.

Just as those doubts were about to overwhelm me, he came out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. He had another one over his head and was rubbing his hair dry.

“Your turn.” He smiled at me, but I didn’t smile back.

He sighed and came closer, sitting down beside me. The towel came apart and I caught a tantalizing glimpse of his tanned thigh. “Go take your shower, Abby. Then we’ll talk.”

I nodded and he stood up, helping me to my feet. I walked into the bathroom and quickly washed off. When I was done, I discovered a large terry cloth robe folded neatly on the vanity. I put it on and combed out my hair. There was every amenity you could ask for. With the furnished comb, I managed to get the tangles out of my hair. I used a towel to get most of the water out like Cage had done. I used the hair dryer attached to the wall. It was far better than some I had used in hotels. At least it had a little more power behind it. I took my time, trying to decide what I was going to do.

I knew with all my heart Cage was the man that I loved. Some would say I was too young to know that for certain, too inexperienced. Others would say that Cage wasn’t the type of man who would make a good husband, or heaven forbid a good father.

I wasn’t looking for any of those things from Cage.

I just wanted someone to be with me, who appreciated me for who I was. And Cage? He did that. Had proven it over the long days of summer. So, I’d take what I could get, whatever he had to offer. If he wanted to fight in the MMA, I’d support him. As I knew he’d support my return to college. He didn’t want me, I’m sure, dependent on him for my very existence. It might be difficult, working out the logistics, but we could do it.

Tying the sash on the courtesy robe, I stepped out into the bedroom. My eyes rounded in surprise to see him already in the bed, sitting against the headboard. His tanned chest seemed to take up over half the bed, even though I knew it was a king-sized bed. A sheet and light blanket lay over his legs, pulled up to his waist, revealing a hint of the tantalizing vee that I found so damn sexy on men, especially him.

“Come on, baby. Let’s get some shut eye.” He patted the unoccupied side of the bed and gave me a sexy smile.

Shut eye? Didn’t he know I wanted him? Couldn’t he see it in the trembling of my hands, the shortness of my breath? I’d thought he was dead for heaven’s sake! Anger simmered inside me as I stalked across the room. Pulling off the robe, I let it fall to the floor as I stood by the bed. There was no tell-tell tenting of the covers to let me know he wanted me.

I climbed into bed and pulled the covers over my shoulders, offering him a view of my backside. We could have done this back home. Him in his bed, me in mine. I didn’t know what I’d been thinking would happen. I’d hoped for some passionate reuniting, but apparently that wasn’t to be.

I grunted and punched my pillow. I heard him move, turning off the light, leaving the room in almost complete darkness. He’d pulled the curtains across the windows, but sunlight came in around the edges. The air unit kicked on, blowing a cool breeze across the bed. Another rustle of the covers and I felt his warm body curl around mine. He placed one heavy arm around my waist and a thick leg crossed by calves. He pulled my resisting body backwards until I was touching him from head to toe. My small spurt of anger melted away like chocolate in the sunshine. This was all that mattered. Being in Cage’s arms.

Sleep overtook me.

CAGE

I had never felt so good in all my twenty-five years. My body was rested and my mind was at ease. I knew immediately where I was and who I was with. In the weeks I’d spent in the Hamptons, my life—I—had changed forever.

Before, I barely remembered if I’d taken a woman to bed the night before, much less her name. Now, a sense of calm settled over me, seeped into my soul. Abby was it.
‘The one’
everyone always talks about on those sappy
Hallmark
card commercials.

Abby stirred and I pulled her closer. Sometime during the night, she’d stopped giving me the cold shoulder and snuggled against my side. Her face was pressed against my chest and I knew I’d discovered heaven—waking up with Abby in my arms.

I watched as she woke up. First, she snuggled deeper into my arms, as if she didn’t want to leave the warmth of my side. Her hand found its way across my stomach. Of course, any touch from her was going to make my cock stand on end. Next, her eyes opened and I knew it took her a second or two to realize where she was and why.

“Good morning, babe.”

She raised her chin and our eyes meet and we connected again on that level I hadn’t known even existed.

“Good morning.”

I leaned down and gave her a very thorough kiss. It was warm and sweet and something I wanted to do each morning for the rest of my life. She returned it and we were both knee deep in emotional shit before I knew it. I ended the kiss and turned slightly until she was resting more fully against my chest. Her large green eyes simply looked at me. Her long lashes fanned her cheeks as she blinked.

“So now what?” she asked.

Crude man that I still was and always will be, I took her hand and pressed it against my morning wood. “How ‘bout you take care of this first and before we talk.”

Her hand squeezed my blood-filled flesh through the sheet, stroking the length and I closed my eyes and leaned my head back. I’d only wanted to tease her, but hell, if Abby jerking me off wouldn’t be a fine way to start the day. Then I’d ram into—

“Fuck, Abby!” I yelled as the covers were thrown off me and I felt her mouth close around my cock. Her tongue encircled the head, licking up the pre-cum that had already dribbled out. Her hand continued to stroke as she used her mouth and tongue on me. My hand caressed the top of her head and I curled the other in the sheet to stop myself from pressing her forward, demanding she take me as deeply as she could.