Page 12 of Cursed to Love (Cursed to Love #1)

CHAPTER TWELVE

Saturday, October 26

S tanding in the large foyer of Akerman Contracting with folding tables and chairs set up, Paige couldn’t help but smile at Blake.

“Who wants a piece of cake?” he asked loudly, his voice full of excitement as he egged on the horde of children surrounding the table.

A chorus of me’s and I do’s responded.

Earlier in the day, Paige had worried that Blake wouldn’t even be able to see where he was walking, let alone be able to do something like cut a cake.

“I’ve got it under control, dude,” he’d assured her in an exaggerated tone, getting into character.

Blake, Jake, Ford, and Gage were dressed in elaborate Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle costumes. Except for the colored masks over their eyes, they all looked the same to Paige, but Blake had informed her that he was Michelangelo, Jake was Leonardo, Ford was Raphael, and Gage was Donatello. She learned later that Dane had drawn the short straw, so he was dressed as a rat named Master Splinter.

Their elaborate costumes came complete with molded turtle heads. Blake said they went all out every year.

This was her first time seeing all his brothers in years and the youngest ones as adults. As much as she would have liked to see them, she was having so much fun watching them joke around for all the kids.

Cade told her he’d opted out of the group costumes so he, Jessica, and Malcolm could dress up as a theme. They were really cute. Dressed as the characters from Toy Story, Cade was Woody, Jessica was Jessie, and Malcolm was the most adorable little Buzz Lightyear.

“Wait,” Blake called out. “Where are my brothers?”

“We’re here, dude,” the turtle in the red mask answered. If she hadn’t confused them, it was Ford. She’d made sure to remember that Blake’s mask was orange; after that, it didn’t really matter.

A photographer moved throughout the crowd snapping pictures. When Paige pulled out her phone to take pictures, Blake had told her he had it covered. He was true to his word. As soon as they arrived at Akerman Contracting, Blake guided them over to a large blowup pumpkin on the front lawn where the photographer was taking pictures of everyone. They took some together, some of her and Emmie, and Emmie on her own. Paige was dressed as Ana to match Emmie’s Elsa. She’d parted her hair on the side and made two long braids to hang over her shoulders. The dress made up the rest of the costume, which Paige had been thankful for. No extensive makeup or awkward costume parts to worry about.

When the turtles and the rat posed for pictures together, they drew quite a crowd.

“Hey, dude, we were getting some pizza,” the turtle with the blue mask said, coming up beside Blake. Turning to the kids, the blue mask turtle, maybe Jake, put his hands on his hips and leaned back in an exaggerated pose. “All you dudes like pizza, right?”

The kids screamed in excitement. Emmie was right in the front, perched on a stool, her Elsa wig pushed back off her forehead. Blake had taken her around to all the games and made sure her treat bag was full, the two of them hamming it up and laughing all afternoon.

The turtles continued to talk to the kids, amping up their enthusiasm.

As if scripted, Master Splinter pushed between two of the turtles and stood in front of the cake.

“Now, my sons,” Master Splinter said, his tone serious as he held up his hand. “It is time. Sometimes the path to the greatest joy is cake.”

She’d never watched the show or read the comics, but judging by the chuckles from the turtles and some of the adults gathered around, Dane must be in character.

He turned to Blake’s turtle. “Michaelangelo, cut the cake.”

“Yes, Father,” Blake said on a laugh. He raised his knife and then stopped midair. “Wait. We have one more cake.” He turned toward a hallway off the foyer, and the crowds parted as two men carried in another large cake.

When they placed it on the table, Paige could see that the cake had a line of icing down the middle. One side was decorated like the red mask turtle and the other side like the purple mask turtle.

“We have two birthdays to celebrate today. Raphael and Donatello, come. Cut your cake.”

One of the men who had carried the cake in handed a knife to each of the turtles.

“Let’s sing hap?—”

“No singing,” the purple mask turtle said, cutting off Master Splinter.

Tension held in the air for only a moment, before Blake moved to stand beside his brothers. “We don’t need any singing, right, dudes?” Blake called to the kids.

“Right!” the kids yelled back.

Making a big show out of cutting the cake, Blake held the large knife up high and his brothers did the same. “On one. Three, two, one.”

All three turtles brought their knives down, slicing through their cakes, and shouted, “Cowabunga.”

Paige laughed again, something she’d been doing all afternoon. She didn’t think the turtles could have gotten the kids any more wound up, but they did. There were shouts of “cowabunga” everywhere.

Linda and Denise, who Paige had met earlier, elbowed the turtles to the side and took over the cake-cutting. When the plates held a slice of cake, they passed them to the turtles, who handed them out.

Paige would have offered to help, but there seemed to be enough volunteers already. Emmie didn’t even need her help because Blake gave her a piece of the turtle cake and continued to check on her.

Blake came over and handed her a piece of cake before leaning against the wall beside her. “Can you hold my cake for a second?” he asked.

“Sure.” She took his plate and waited while he pushed the molded head of his costume up enough that she could see his face. His skin was flushed. “Hot under there?”

A laugh rumbled up from his chest as he took his cake back. “You have no idea. I think I’ve sweated off a couple of pounds.”

“Will you need to go straight to bed when you get home?” she teased.

His smile was slow and wicked as his gaze met hers. “First a shower and then to bed, but not to sleep.”

Paige knew she was flushed now too. The last ten days had been sexually frustrating but still some of the best of her life. Each night after Emmie was in bed, she and Blake either played backgammon or watched a movie. Their conversations were easy and fun, but by the time they went to their separate bedrooms there was underlying sexual tension. Her battery-operated boyfriend was getting a workout. It wasn’t enough anymore, but it was at least taking the edge off.

Last weekend they kissed again, but didn’t go any further. It was an effort on both their parts to stop, but tonight they wouldn’t have to.

“Did you get enough?” Blake asked, pulling her from her lust-filled thoughts.

She looked down at the forgotten cake in her hand. “Yes, thanks.”

“Be right back.”

Emmie was chatting up a storm, her face covered in green icing. As soon as she’d met Malcolm that afternoon, she’d taken on the role of big sister. He was sitting in a highchair beside her, babbling away.

Blake came back, adopting his previous position against the wall beside her, and handed her a bottle of water. “Figured you might need something to wash down all the sugar. I think I’ll be buzzed all night.”

“You and me both.”

“Good. We won’t be tired.” He winked at her.

Feeling her face heat up again, she decided to change the topic, or she would need to change her panties soon. “Why Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?”

“Because Gage said he’d be here and TMNT was his favorite growing up.”

“He doesn’t live close enough to get back often?”

“He does, but no, he doesn’t come home much. I’m hoping that will change soon.”

Paige wondered if Blake knew his tone changed when he talked about his brothers. His voice softened, similar to when he talked about Emmie and Malcolm. Family was important to him. It always had been, but she expected the increased need to have his family around him could be because he was the oldest and both his parents were gone now. Regardless of how many times he told her he didn’t want a family, his actions said something different. Everything he did spoke to family.

Blake pushed away from the wall. “I think this will wind down soon so I’m going to get started on the clean up.”

“Do you need help?”

“No, we’ve got it covered. Besides”—he pointed at Emmie and grinned—“I think you’ll have enough to clean up.”

Blake laughed and walked off as Paige let out a small groan and walked over to her daughter.

“Did you have fun?” Paige asked Emmie as she washed her hands and face with wet wipes. Someone had brought out several containers of them and paper towels. This definitely wasn’t their first rodeo.

“The bestest,” Emmie said, smiling so wide her green teeth showed. “Did you see the dog? He’s huge . His name is Chewie. I got to pet him. His owner is a turtle, and the turtle said he is best friends with Blake, just like I’m best friends with Sophia, Olivia, Riley, and Ava at daycare, so he said he would bring Chewie to our house so I could play with him. And maybe he could bring Chewie to daycare when it’s reading time. Or maybe one of the turtles could come to reading time.”

“The turtle’s name is Jake. And later we can talk about community reading time. What else did you like?”

“I liked the big pumpkin and the cake. And the game with the bean bags. But not the haunted house.” Emmie shivered. “It was scary, but Blake picked me up. Then it wasn’t scary. I liked playing with Malcolm. He’s just a baby, but he’s like having a little brother. Can I have a little brother?”

“I think that’s my cue,” Cade said with Malcolm in his arms, coming up beside Paige.

“Thanks for the save,” she whispered to him.

“Any time.” He turned to Emmie. “You’re going to have a sleepover at our house tonight.”

Emmie’s eyes widened and she bounced in her chair. “Yay!”

“Are you sure you and Jessica are still up for this?” she asked Cade.

“Yes, we’ll be fine. We’ll run them around a bit to wear off some of the sugar. Blake already put Emmie’s bag and car seat in my SUV, so we’re all set.”

A few minutes later, Emmie and Malcolm were all buckled in the vehicle. Paige turned to Cade and Jessica. “Thank you for this. Just let me know when I can return the favor.”

“Definitely,” Jessica said before getting into the front passenger seat.

After they drove off, Paige went in search of Blake.

She didn’t have to look far. He, Jake, and his brothers were in the main foyer, discarded pieces of their costumes in a pile on the floor. They were laughing with each other, and she wondered if she should wait outside.

Before she could retreat, Blake noticed her and called her over.

“Paige, I’d like to re-introduce you to my brothers now that they don’t all look like turtles.”

“Or a rat,” one brother teased.

Blake grinned. “Or a rat. That’s Dane, Master Splinter.”

“Dane is enough.” Dane offered his hand to Paige. “Good to see you again.”

“You too.” All the Akerman men were on the tall side and good looking. Blake was the only blond in the group, although Dane’s hair wasn’t a lot darker. His hair was a light brown like Cade’s, but whereas Cade’s hair was swept to the side and off his forehead, Dane’s would probably be considered a sexy mess. He had blond streaks through the dark strands and a few days’ growth of beard. Everything about him said relaxed and easygoing.

“You remember Jake?” Blake asked, pointing to the bearded man beside him. A dog sitting at his side.

“You’re right, I don’t think I would have recognized him; he is kind of a mountain man,” she said in mock seriousness as Blake and Jake both laughed. Beard or no beard, he was still a good-looking guy in Paige’s book, but it was always his inner protectiveness that had drawn her to him. When she’d walked away from Blake, she’d left Jake and his family behind too. She offered her hand. “It’s been a while.”

“It has.” Jake took her outstretched hand and used it to pull her into a hug. “Glad you’re back,” he whispered against her ear before letting her go.

“This must be Chewie.” She bent over and petted the St. Bernard to hide her flush from the emotions Jake’s comment had induced. “Emmie was telling me all about him.”

“Chewie is a better brother than Jake is,” one of the brothers said, causing everyone to laugh.

That brother walked up to Paige. “Hi, I’m Ford,” he said flashing his pearly whites in his clean-shaven face, as he stuck out his hand. “I was still in high school the last time we met.”

Blake had said that Ford came across as the charmer of the group. When she asked what he meant by came across , he said that Ford was deeper than he looked. Paige shook his hand, responding, “Yes, I think so.”

She turned to the last brother, once more offering her hand. “I don’t think we’ve met before.”

“No, I don’t think so either. I’m Gage.” He shook her hand and smiled, but it was more subdued than his brothers’.

Paige knew Ford and Gage were twins, but even with their similar coloring, and facial features, they were easy to tell apart. Gage’s hair was longer, several days of stubble covered his face, and tattoos covered his arms.

With the introductions out of the way, Paige wasn’t sure what to do next. It occurred to her that maybe Blake’s brothers, except for Cade, didn’t know she and Emmie were living with him. What if Blake wanted to keep their arrangement a secret? Should she leave now?

She looked up at him as the familiar sense of doing something wrong swamped her. Craig had hated it when she hesitated and didn’t make a decision fast enough. He also hated it if she did something he considered inappropriate. It didn’t matter that Blake and Craig weren’t the same people; she’d lived in his environment for so long she couldn’t always stop the thoughts.

Before she made a move, Blake walked up to Gage and gripped his shoulder. “Thanks for coming. You going to stay the night?”

Gage gave Ford a look Paige couldn’t decipher. “No, I’ve got to get back. Ford and I are just going to go for a beer first.”

Blake dropped his hand. “Talk soon.”

“Ready?” he asked Paige.

They said their goodbyes and walked to Blake’s, which was only a few houses away. During the short walk, neither of them spoke. Paige wasn’t even sure she could have said anything intelligent, her thoughts swimming with what was about to happen.

Blake unlocked the front door and waited for her to enter, then locked the door behind them. She kicked her shoes off and hung her bag and coat on hooks. Seconds later, Blake’s hands were on her upper arms and her back against the door. His coat was already gone, and with the heat from his body so close to hers, her breath quickened with excitement.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment,” Blake said before his lips dropped to hers. There wasn’t any of the sweetness of their previous kisses. He captured her mouth like he wanted to devour her. Good thing, because she wanted to devour him too.

Paige thrust her hands into his short hair, not wanting him to let go. He crushed his muscled body against her, his hard length igniting a sudden flood of wetness in her panties, unlike anything she’d felt in years.

She moaned, tightening her grip in his hair when he pulled back.

“Baby, I’m sweaty.”

“I don’t care,” she said, her voice almost a whine.

“I know, but I’ve got something better in mind.”

Blake held her hips as she let go of his hair and she gasped when he lifted her.

“Wrap your legs around me,” he said. When she did, he headed for the stairs.

“Oh, my god. This is so sexy.” She ground against him, causing a groan to erupt from deep within his chest. “Just don’t hurt yourself,” she said against his jaw as she continued to kiss him.

Not even out of breath, he climbed the stairs like he did it with her in his arms every day. “I could carry you all the time, baby.”

Swoon. As she felt herself melting into him, the annoying little voice in her head told her she had just given up control to Blake.

With the promise of amazing sex ahead, she shoved that voice down deep.

* * *

Blake lowered Paige onto the bathroom counter. “Don’t go anywhere,” he said, giving her a smirk as he leaned into the shower to turn it on.

“How about I get undressed?”

When he thought his dick couldn’t get any harder, the sound of her husky voice proved him wrong. It had been years since he wanted a woman the way he craved Paige.

“No, I want to undress you. Reacquaint myself with your body.” He was going to take his time undressing her, learning every inch of her all over again.

“Next time.” Paige tugged up the dress she’d worn for her costume and pulled it over her head before sliding off the counter.

He feasted on the glorious sight in front of him. Her breasts spilled from a white, push-up lace bra, and all he could think about was getting his mouth on them. Savoring her naked body, instead of revealing one piece of her at a time, would work too. He was an adaptable guy. As long as he got to touch and taste her soft skin, he’d be happy.

Needing her, he trailed his fingers down her neck and onto her chest, eliciting a full-body shiver. Bending over, he filled his lungs with her vanilla and orange blossom scent before his lips followed his fingers’ path.

Pulling one bra cup down, he ran his tongue over her pert nipple. He nipped and laved at it before sucking it into his mouth. Urged on by Paige’s small gasps, he lowered the other cup and took turns lavishing both her breasts with his hands and mouth.

He dropped to his knees, kissing down her torso, and reached for the waistband of her leggings.

“No.” Paige pushed at his shoulders. “Uh, do that later.”

She pulled away from him and shimmied her leggings down her hips. That was the second time she’d stopped him. Could he have taken their agreement in a way she hadn’t intended?

For him, sex, even without strings still meant taking their time and enjoying each other. It didn’t have to be rushed.

Paige removed the rest of her clothes and added them to the growing pile on the floor, unaware of the conflict warring within him. This was their first time together after years apart, and he wanted to relish every second. He knew he shouldn’t be unhappy with her fast and furious approach because he didn’t want a commitment any more than she did, but something seemed off.

Not waiting for him, Paige pulled open the glass door and stepped into his massive, walk-in shower, right under the water. It cascaded over her body as she closed her eyes and tipped her head back. Her hands slicked through her wet hair.

Deciding to follow Paige’s lead for now, he grasped the front of his shirt, and pulled it off, dropping it to the floor. He watched her as he shucked the rest of his clothes.

When his briefs hit the pile of clothes, he ran his eyes over her, noticing the differences in her body. From the moment he’d first seen her years ago, she drew him in, and he always found her beautiful. Now, he found her stunning—curvier and softer than she’d been before, radiating femininity. Magnificent.

His initial need to savor her intensified. Blake joined her in the glass stall, shutting the door behind him.

Their tests had come back negative, and Paige was on the pill, so they wouldn’t need a condom. He’d always been leery about having sex standing up on a slippery surface, but he could pleasure her.

Paige opened her eyes and met his gaze, a sly smile teasing her lips. “Took you a while. Second thoughts?”

“Never.” Paige was offering him everything he wanted—a close friendship and sex without any complications. He’d be stupid not to take it, and he never considered himself an idiot. It was the niggling feeling that something wasn’t right that made him want to slow things down, even though he was following her lead.

Turning on the second showerhead, he quickly soaped himself up and rinsed before shutting it off. The costume had been fun but hot, leaving him a sweaty mess.

Paige watched him, her eyes running down his body. The tip of her tongue slipped out to run along her upper lip as she looked up at him with hooded eyes, like a siren’s call.

He moved into her space. As he wrapped one hand around the back of her neck and the other at the small of her back, keeping space between their bodies, she placed her hands on his chest. Being naked with Paige felt like a dream come true. If he wasn’t careful, he’d come like a teenager having a wet dream.

He lowered his mouth to hers, nipping on her lower lip like he had her nipple, then he slowly ran his tongue over it. Their moans mingled as their mouths played.

Inching forward, he backed her against the wall. Placing his hands on the tile on either side of her, trapping her hands between them. Finally, unable to resist any longer, he thrust his lower body against hers.

She arched into him. “Yes. More, Blake.”

Her fingernails dug into his chest, sending zings of pleasure right to his groin. He dropped to his knees. Determined to make it good for her, he trailed his lips down the front of her body while his hands explored her backside, continuing the journey they started before. He cupped her ass, pulling her closer as his mouth moved lower.

“No.” She pushed on his shoulders as she had earlier. “Please, Blake, just fuck me.”

Standing, he cupped her face, looking into her eyes, needing to see her reaction. “You used to love it. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I want you inside me.”

Moving his hand to the back of her neck, he pulled her into him and kissed her. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong, but he would take his cues from her. She wasn’t being soft and gentle, so he responded in kind. He snaked his other hand down her body and dipped a finger inside her.

“Yes.” She wrapped one leg around his hip, opening herself up to him. “Please, I need more.”

Still kissing her, he inserted another finger and rubbed his thumb on her clit. He increased his pace, his fingers fucking her faster and deeper.

Paige moaned and thrust into his hand, working herself on his fingers.

“Yes, baby,” he rasped. “Fuck yourself on me. I want you to come all over my fingers. I want to feel you squeeze my fingers like a vise. Then I’ll take you to bed and fuck you again. Hard.”

He rotated his fingers upward, searching for the spot that always set Paige off, while he continued rubbing her clit with his thumb.

“Ung,” Paige cried and rocked against him faster.

He kissed her hard, remembering how she liked to be consumed by sensation.

She ripped her mouth away from his. “Yes,” she yelled as her muscles tightened around his fingers. She lowered her leg, and he kissed her softly, waiting for her breathing to come back to normal.

After they rinsed off, Blake took his time drying Paige, letting his hands linger on her skin. He wanted to please her, but he also wanted to know why she had faked her orgasm.