Hooked on the Game (The Sterling Shore Series #1) (16 page)

Chapter 15

Too Soon

"There you are," Kade says with an adorable grin as I walk into the house, still worried about the Audi that tailed me.

I spent the entire bus ride staring out the window, tense with trepidation and dread.  It had to have been a tail.  There's no other reason it would have been at the bus station and the prison.  I looked for an app, but you have to pay for the information, and I don't have a debit or credit card.  I'll have to wait on Uncle Joey.

I wrap my arms around him and he hugs me to him.  I didn't realize how badly I needed to be held until right now.  It feels so good.

"You okay?" he asks when he feels my tense body pressed against his.

"I am now," I mutter softly, inhaling his scent like it's home.

He starts trailing kisses down my cheek until he reaches my lips, and then the fire sets in when his tongue presses through my parted lips.  My fingers twist and tangle in his soft dark hair as he slides his hands under my rear and lifts me up.

Just like that, my bad day has been shattered, and a cloud of euphoria comes to settle in place of the dark cloud that had loomed.

"I love you," I blurt out, instantly wishing that had stayed inside my mouth.

Shit.  Shit.  Shit.  No.  No.  No.

He stills against me, and the kiss that had been heated is broken.  Very slowly, he lets me slide down from his body.  I've just ruined this.  I didn't mean to say it.  It's too soon.  Hell, even I know it's too soon, but I do.  I can't help but love him.  I quite possibly fell in love with him before we started dating.

I start to back away when he jerks me to him and crushes his lips against mine, claiming me and banishing all the angst that had settled on my chest like a heavy weight.  I feel the wall at my back before he lifts me back up.

I don't hesitate to wrap my legs around his waist.  Suddenly, I wish I had worn a dress.  This would be so much better if I was in a dress.

I grip his shoulders to keep my weight better divided, but he treats me as though I'm weightless when he carries me out of the living room and into the bedroom.  I can't catch my breath.  It's all happening so fast.

The kiss is almost too hungry, too devouring.  It's as though Kade's switch has flipped.  I wish I knew how to make him be this way all the time.  Damn this is good.

My clothes come off in swift motions, and words are lost amongst the heavy breaths and excited moans.  It's all I can do not to unravel before we even start.  Aggressive Kade is hot.  Very hot.

"I want you to stay here," he murmurs softly, kissing and nipping at my neck as he slips out of his jeans.

I tug his shirt over his head, almost forgetting he finally said something... Even though it wasn't exactly what I wanted to hear.  In fact, it's confusing.

When his devilish tongue slides into my mouth, and the sound of a foil packet tearing resonates in my ears, I forget we were talking at all.  I become greedier with the kiss, taking all he'll give, and giving all he'll take.

He sinks in until he's completely buried inside me, and then he starts moving, finding an incredibly merciless rhythm.  He slams into me so hard a grunt springs free from my lips, and that forces a low growl to emerge from him.

I don't know what is going on, but I frigging love it.

With each perfectly executed thrust, he pushes me closer to that peak I'm begging to fall over.

A ragged moan and his name tear through my lips in unison, and the violent, mind-blowing release I feel sets him off, making him grunt loudly as his eyes roll back in his head.

He collapses to me and almost crushes me with his solid weight.  I chuckle when he lets out an exaggerated exhausted breath, and then I run my fingers through his hair, relishing his hard breaths on my chest.

I keep waiting for him to acknowledge what I said, because I'm sure as hell not saying it again until he tells me he feels the same.  I'm so stupid for letting my emotions run free.  I rushed this.  What was I thinking?

"I mean it, Raya," he breathlessly releases.

He means what?

"Hmm?"

I'm almost scared to move my lips after my accidental slip.  I don't trust my mouth to say the right things.

"I want you to stay here.  I don't want you leaving at the beginning of the semester."

That's a long way away.  So he's not freaked out by my confession... I guess.

I smile, though it's weighted.  We're apparently not going to address what I said.  It's fine.  He needs more time.  That's completely understandable.  So why do I feel a little hurt?

"I won't leave," I say without thinking.  That's not a promise I should be making.

"Good.  Now how the hell am I supposed to drive to the vineyard after that?"

I giggle when the conversation lightens, and he smiles while lifting his head to kiss me.  Those blue eyes will haunt me forever if this doesn't work.  I really do love him.  I can wait on him to feel the same.

With the top down,
I was forced to wind my hair up on my head to keep it from beating me to death on the way here.  I love Kade's convertibles, but they wreak havoc on a girl who doesn't have short hair.

"So... this is it," he says as we pull in.

His grin is ridiculously huge.  He's excited... very excited.   I don't know if I've ever seen him so giddy about anything.

"
Colton Wines?" I ask when I read the sign.  "This is your family's?"

He nods, letting his grin grow bigger.  "My grandfather's.  My dad's dad."

I look around at the enormous vineyard that stretches on farther than I can see.  My mouth falls open.  This is where Paul Colton came from?  And they thought he was poor?  Shit.  They must think I live in the gutter.

"So not what I was expecting, considering the way everyone has depicted father's upbringing."

He laughs as we idly make our way down the hellacious long drive.

"It wasn't like this when Dad lived here.  My grandfather owned the land, but he hadn't planted on all of it.  He didn't have the manpower he needed back then, and he didn't have the funds to make his dreams come true.

"Granddad sold wine that should have been worshipped, but he was a small businessman with few clients, so the prices were extremely low.  This land is so fertile that it's ridiculous, and he found the gem others overlooked.  But he couldn't capitalize.  Mom and Dad changed that.

"When Dad met Mom, he brought her a bottle of wine, not really thinking about it being something so fabulous it would change Colton Farms - the name at the time - forever.  Granddad made more money off tomatoes and cabbage than he did on wine before that day.

"Mom was amazed, and she accused Dad of spending too much money on wine when she knew he couldn't afford it.  She didn't want him trying to impress her.  When he explained it was from his dad's farm, she was shocked.  She came out, brought her parents, and then from there... Colton Wines became a brand in every rich household.

"Most people don't associate it with Dad because he's the fashion capitalist.  Dad loves this place, but he loves the challenge the world of fashion presents more.  He has to stay on his toes to keep one step ahead, and he loves it.  The vineyard is a lot of work, but it's not really a competitive edge sort of thing... at least not with my granddad's wine.

"It's the best.  There's no competing.  If you don't have his wine at a function, people snub you.  They've gotten spoiled.  More pride and heart goes into the bottles than people will ever know.  That's what makes it so good."

I've never seen him so excited to talk about anything.  He's like a child on Christmas right now.  Then it dawns on me.  How did I miss this?

"This is the business you'll be taking over?" I ask, not really meaning for it to be a question.

"Yep.  People assume I'll be taking over Burndell Industries, but I could care less about all that boring shit.  This... this is me.  It's my home.  When I came out here as a kid, I couldn't get enough of the farm.  Granddad taught me about the grapes, the lands, and the farming portion of the business.  The older I got, the more I came out here.  I'm here once a week usually.  It's been a little longer since I came out here... since I haven't been able to tear myself away from you since you moved in."

His smile makes my heart flutter, and he pulls my hand to his lips to kiss it just before we stop in front of a beautiful chalet sort of home.  There are windows lining every wall, and each bit of rich cedar only adds to the appeal.  It's so perfect.

"Wow," I murmur as he steps out of the car.

He takes quick strides to my side to open the door for me, and then he helps me out while I gape at the beauty surrounding me.

With it being the off season, the grapes aren't in bloom, but everything is still... amazing.  I can only imagine what it'll look like when the grapes are dripping over the large fences built for their clingy vines.

The wrap-around porch has hand-carved rocking chairs that look so inviting.  This is so peaceful.  I can picture Kade here.  So much about him makes sense now.  He loves this place.  I don't know that I've ever seen him love anything.

"There's my boy," a raspy voice announces, drawing my attention.

Kade grins as he leaves my side to head over to the older man who doesn't seem to have a problem getting around.  I've seen Kade with his mother - stiff hugs, soft smiles, and polite gestures.  I've seen him with his father - no physical contact, stale conversation, and the same polite gestures.  With his grandfather, he greets him with a real, genuine hug, a warm, incredible smile, and a carefree abandon that makes me tingle.

It's like he's a different person here.  I already loved him.  I don't know if I can be around him here for very long.  I may very well ask him to marry me.  He's so happy right now - so real and unguarded.

His grandfather claps his back as the embrace ends, and he lets his eyes find me before letting out a low whistle.  "How the hell did you convince a pretty girl like that to ride out here with you?" he teases, making Kade laugh as he jogs back toward me.

He laces our fingers together as he starts tugging me toward the man who is grinning at our connection.

"Granddad, this is Raya Capperton.  Raya, this is my grandfather, Thomas Colton."

"That's the best you can do?" Thomas pokes.  "You're supposed to introduce her as who she is to you as well.  That's how it works.  Friend?  Girlfriend?  Fiancée?  Wife?"

I laugh as Kade rolls his eyes.  "You'd know it if I got married.  This is my... girlfriend?" he says, sounding more like it's a question.

"Are you asking or telling?" Thomas prods, making Kade laugh nervously and squirm uncomfortably.

"I suppose... telling?" he asks again.

I'm not used to seeing Kade so nervous.  Is it me or his grandfather that's making him act so awkward?

"I swear, boy.  If you have a girl that looks like her, you say 'girlfriend.'  You don't stumble around like an idiot who's waiting on her to clarify.  Be a man."

I burst out laughing when Kade turns red and shakes his head.

"Be a man," I tease, poking at him while I have the chance.

"Don't encourage him," he groans, making both me and Thomas laugh louder.

He leans over and kisses me lightly on the lips, making my smile grow.  He's different with me in front of his grandfather than he is with me in front of his parents.  He doesn't ignore me by any means, but during our stay in Aspen, he only acted this affectionate when they weren't around.

I didn't expect him to maul me in front of his parents, but I thought it'd be different.  He's not the same in front of them.  He's a different person most of the time.  He keeps some fences up, as though he has to separate different parts of his life.  I'm glad he's not that way when it's just the two of us.

"Come on in.  Show her around."

We walk into the enormous building that is loaded with wine bottles, beautiful fruits and vegetables, and numerous jarred goodies.  It's like a colorful explosion of tasty treats.  I'm almost salivating.

Wine glasses hang in various places, adding elegance and function - considering the wine-tastings.  A cedar staircase leads to a loft that has a view to overlook the vineyard.  It's breathtaking, all of it.

It's spacious, and despite the built-in wine racks, it's not cluttered.  The counter at the front reminds me of an old malt shop; not a fancy wine place.  Each room holds a new selection of wines.  Glamorous signs hang to explain the different tastes, awards won, and foods the wines best complement.

Even a rookie like me could walk in and find the right wine.  I'm amazed at the range in prices.  Some sell for a hundred dollars, and some sell for ten thousand.  I tuck my hands in the pockets of my jeans to keep from accidentally breaking something I can't afford.

"You good?" Kade asks, running his fingers through my hair.

"Paranoid," I murmur as I back away from a Merlot that screams expensive.

He chuckles lightly.  "If you break something, I'll try to talk to the owner about giving you a pass.  We're pretty close."