Kresley looked up at the handsome man that was so close to her that she could see the individual hairs that were making up his heavy 5 o’clock shadow. Instead of verbally answering, Kresley raised her arms and wrapped them around Cade’s waist. She took the extra steps until she was touching him from chest to knees. She felt Cade wrap his arms around her and draw her in further to his body, hugging her tightly and kissing the top of her head. Kresley lay against his chest, feeling the warmth oozing from him. This felt so right, so perfect. It felt like home. And that scared that bejeezus out of her.
“I no longer consider you an asshole”, Kresley quietly stated, hugging Cade tighter.
Cade was trying to gather his wits together as he tightly held Kresley in his arms. He let out a snort at the asshole comment and couldn’t remember ever feeling this complete before. He had relationships in the past with women. Some of them even lasted longer than a few months, but he had never had a closeness like this before with another female. They were a perfect fit together. His hardness to her softness. Her curves fit into his ridges like pieces of a puzzle. Her head fit right under his chin and her hair smelled like flowers and sunshine. How that was possible Cade didn’t know. He took a deep breath of that smell again and squeezed her tighter for a moment before letting go. He backed away a few inches and took his fingers, raising her chin up to his face. He waited until she opened her eyes and said the only thing he could. “Thank you Kresley”.
“Why are you thanking me? Because you’re not an asshole after all?”, Kresley asked with a dry, broken voice. She cleared it and waited for him to answer.
“I’m thanking you for trusting me to hold you. I’m thanking you for trusting me enough to let go and let someone else take care of you besides yourself. It means a lot. So, thank you baby.”
Kresley didn’t really know what to say to all of that so she softly stated, “in the words of all Chic-Fil-A employees, my pleasure” and then watched as he let out a loud laugh, his head thrown back for good measure. He then let her go and straightened to his full height once again. Cade checked his watch and groaned.
“It’s midnight already and I have to be at work at seven in the morning. What time is a good time to come here and talk tomorrow?”, Cade asked Red.
“Mornings are always better for me work-wise. What about 8 AM here and I’ll make us breakfast. We can eat while we talk. Sound good?”, Kresley asked hesitantly. She wasn’t really good at this whole pursuing a man thing.
“That sounds amazing. I haven’t had anyone cook me breakfast since the last time I visited Aunt Mae. That was four years ago. Count me in Red”, Cade happily stated.
Kresley grinned back and then took his cue, walking him to her apartment door. They walked downstairs together to the back door. Kresley noticed that Cade had the note in his hand, holding on to it by the corner. He opened the door and reminded Kresley about locking up tight. Cade turned around quickly as he was walking through the door and took Kresley by surprise, pushing her back against the wall. He placed his hands around her waist, against her back and the back of her head and quickly leaned in and took her mouth for his own. He didn’t kiss her softly or sweetly. No, this was a taking. He took what she eagerly offered. Mouths open, tongues soft and wet, teeth nipping at lower lips. This kiss was heavy and spoke volumes to anyone who dared to observe it. Cade slanted his head slightly to the side and took the kiss even deeper than before, slanting and moving his mouth side to side, pushing his tongue into Kresley’s and devouring her. The hot meter in Kresley’s brain rose to the extreme and then exploded. Big Sexy was accurate. At that thought, Kresley began to giggle softly.
“Please tell me you aren’t giggling at my kissing abilities, baby”, Cade gruffly spoke as he looked at the mark he’d left around her mouth with his heavy beard scruff. Her lips were swollen, soft, full, and wet from his kiss. He was definitely trying to make a statement with that kiss. He only hoped Red got the message. She was his. Period.
“No, of course not. I was giggling because I thought your new nickname from my girl tribe is definitely correct. Big Sexy shall forever be Cade Grantham’s call sign. So, when I want a kiss or need you to hold me or flirt, then I’ll call out for Big Sexy to show himself. And you best come running, Cade”, Kresley flirted in her best southern accent.
Cade hadn’t seen this flirty side of Red before now, but he was loving what he was seeing. He decided to play into it and leaned into her heavily. His chest, pelvis and legs were touching hers and he nudged her
