finding Reese.: a SAFELIGHT novel vol.2 (SAFELIGHT Series) Read online

  Samantha looks down and exhales. “No, Jupiter, certain things need to be left as is.” She pauses to clear her throat. “Listen, it was nice catching up with you. As you can see,” she says gesturing at Jax’s t-shirt, “some habits die hard. I’ve got to go. Pleased to meet you Cat. I’ll see you around.”

  And with that she walks away towards Jackson’s bedroom with confident steps. I look up at Stryder and a knowing smile quirks his lips. “Oh, such a curious little one you are!”

  I poke him in the rib, “Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “You know damn well what I’m saying.” He chuckles.

  “I kind of have an idea. Jax seems to like her a lot, and I’d be a liar if I said I’m not intrigued . . .”

  Stryder releases me to grab a mug from the cabinet. I watch him make coffee, patiently waiting for him to spill the beans. Of course, he takes his sweet-ass time. Once he’s done with the first few sips of his coffee, he finally speaks.

  “They used to date a long time ago, but their careers and schedules made it impossible to have a stable relationship. Sam was born and raised here just like Jax. She’s a cross country skier for the US Olympic Team, and last I heard she lives in Denver, but that was a while back. It’s been a long time since we’ve talked.”

  “I see. She’s the one that got away, am I right?”

  Stryder quirks his head, but keeps his eyes fixed on the coffee maker. “Yeah. I guess you can say that. They are both willful people with similar backgrounds. They butted heads a lot, but when they are together it’s something special to watch.”

  I stand there thinking about Jackson’s happiness and how having a woman in his life, especially now, could help him. I’ll make sure to have words with him when Stryder leaves. I want him to be himself whether he’s with Sam or not. Jackson needs someone to ride his ass when I can’t, and someone to care for him when we can’t. The thought of him finding love thrills me. Perhaps Cupid needs a Cupid of his own.

  After finishing his coffee, Stryder places the empty mug in the sink and walks over to hug me. I wrap my arms around his neck inhaling his scent and committing it to memory. I’ll miss him more than I’ll ever care to admit.

  “I woke up this morning thinking about something, Catalina,” Stryder muses, as he rubs circles against the small of my back.

  I smile. “And that would be?”

  “Valentine’s Day,” he whispers gruffly. “We were so busy with the press tour, the day came and went without us even realizing it.”

  “Wow. You’re right. Valentine’s Day . . . In my defense, I’m used to not celebrating it.”

  Stryder takes a step back and his steady gaze meets mine. “I know. I used to feel the same way that is, until I fell in love with you, Catalina.”

  My heart beats furiously at his words. “You are not alone there, Stryder. I think I fell in love with you the moment you put your arm around me in that SUV to calm me down. I was a hot mess then. I still am, but I’m better with each passing day. Thank you for loving me.”

  Stryder cups my face with his large hands and kisses my lips lovingly. “And I fell in love with you the moment you sat beside me on that plane. I’ll never forget the warmth of your cheek against my shoulder, your scent, and more importantly how you made me feel on the inside. I was a jaded man before I met you, Catalina, and now I’m such a happy, lucky bastard.”

  We stand in the middle of the kitchen gazing into each other eyes, confessing our feelings for each other out in the open, and damn it feels wonderful. “I love you, Stryder.”

  “I love you too, Catalina.”

  The sound of a throat being cleared makes us aware we are not alone in the kitchen, and we turn around to see Jackson and Sam holding hands, looking at us with warm, tender smiles.

  “They’ve got it bad, Sam.” Jackson nuzzles his nose into the crook of her neck.

  “I know. This is nice to see, Jupiter.” Sam winks, combing Jax’s wayward hair with her fingers.

  They love each other in their own unexplainable way, and I wonder if either of them realizes it. Smiling, I wrap my arm around Stryder’s waist. “The view of you two isn’t so bad from here either, you know . . .”

  Sam separates herself from Jackson and walks over to say goodbye, hugging us both. The three of us walk towards the foyer to see her out.

  “It was nice to meet you, Catalina,” Sam pipes, wrapping her gloved hand around the doorknob.

  “Likewise, Sam. Don’t be a stranger.” I wave, and she waves back as she opens the door.

  With his hands in his pockets and a pained expression on his face, Jackson mutters, “I’ll walk you out to your truck.”

  Stryder and I make our way up the staircase towards our room, and on the way there I take a glance out of the window. Jackson and Samantha are kissing beside her snow-covered truck. Feeling intrusive, I quickly look away. I can’t help but think she’s the owner of Jax’s heart, and nothing would make me happier than to see them experience the same kind of relationship Stryder and I share.

  “He loves her,” Stryder mutters as we walk into our room. “He always has.”

  I figured that out the moment I saw them kissing in the kitchen. Jackson’s eyes were soft and tender in ways I’ve never seen before. I wonder if that is what Jackson saw in us back in Whistler. Perhaps he needs a reminder−a sip of his own medicine.

  Sitting on the small chair next to the bed, I prop my legs over the arm and watch Stryder walk into the closet. “What do you want to do today?”

  He walks out with some clothes in his hands and lays them out on the bed. “We are going out on a date, Raven Girl. It’s almost March, but I’ll be damned if we don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day before I leave.” He grins, walks over to me, and bends down to kiss my forehead.

  “Sounds perfect,” I reply, my heart skipping a beat. Thoughtful, handsome, and loving . . . He says he’s lucky. I respectfully disagree.

  Stryder goes all out for our belated Valentine’s Day date. We drive to a rustic movie theater downtown, where we steal kisses from each other during the movie. His constant displays of affection have me like a pot on the stove set to simmer.

  The weather isn’t terribly cold as we walk down the quaint sidewalks of downtown Casper. Stryder pulls me by the hand practically dragging me into a flower shop. As a native New Yorker, I’m used to seeing colorful bouquets sold on each street corner . . . flowers for people on the go, but to see them beautifully displayed inside the shop like this really takes my breath away.

  I peruse the aisles and find a colorful bucket full of gerberas, and smile, remembering the first time Stryder gave me flowers back in Whistler. Stryder hugs me from behind, and whispers, “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” With a grin on my face, I nod.

  Stryder motions the shopkeeper over.”I’d like to buy these, please,” he says pointing at the bucket. The woman walks over and trims the gerberas’ stems; the colorful splashes of orange, red, yellow, pink and purple contrast beautifully with each other in the cellophane wrapping. After paying, Stryder pulls a red gerbera from the bouquet, and, snapping the stem, he pushes it softly into my hair. “Red is definitely your color, Catalina,” he whispers sultrily.

  I wasn’t expecting to celebrate Valentine’s Day today, and I’m at a loss as to what to do for him. As we walk past a corset maker’s shop I take a peek through the frosted windows, and that’s when the light bulb in my head clicks on. It’s my turn to drag him inside, where he looks at me with a raised eyebrow and a salacious grin.

  “Since this is our Valentine’s Day, I’d like for you to pick something out for me,” I say, gesturing at the racks and feeling brazen all of a sudden. Our eyes meet, and the way he looks at me makes feel like butter melting in the middle of the lingerie shop.

  Bending down, he whispers into my ear, “Naked is how I want you, Catalina. Naked is how I’ll take you, and naked is how I’ll make you writhe beneath me begging for more. That is how I’ll make you come . .
. over and over again.”

  His words hit me like a tidal wave, traveling through my cells at the speed of light. My body trembles as the seduction simmering in my belly slowly unfurls. My thighs instinctively clench against each other, seeking reprieve from the overwhelming ache pooling there. Through my layers of clothing, my skin tingles, and my hardened nipples push against the padding of my bra and sweater. My lungs feel like they are void of air, and I can hear blood rushing through my ears. I glance to my sides nervously and when I see the coast is clear, I grope his cock, slanted and hard in his jeans. He lets out a hiss of approval when I squeeze him gently. Thankful his pea coat is hiding my movements, I rise on my tippy-toes, and whisper into his ear.

  “You have your talents, Stryder Martynus, but don’t forget I also have mine. So pick something out, and let us get the hell out of here before I shove you into the dressing room, and ride my wet pussy over your thick cock.”

  I smile in victory when he swallows hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. Adjusting himself he moves towards one of the racks.

  “Turn around, Cat,” he says. “I’d rather surprise you.”

  Nodding and smiling like a sweet little girl, I turn around as asked. It isn’t long before he snakes his arm around my waist and walks us towards the door with his purchase in hand. As soon as our feet land on the sidewalk, Stryder’s hand squeezes my bottom.

  “I hope I didn’t scare the saleslady, Catalina.” He chuckles, looking down at himself. “You don’t play fair.”

  With an innocent smile, I bat my eyelashes coquettishly and reply, “And I never will.”

  BACK AT JACKSON’S RANCH I’M shocked to see a note from Jackson saying he will be spending the night at his parents. Either he’s feeling down after Sam’s visit, or he knows tonight is my last night here and wants us to have the place to ourselves. I want to think it’s the latter.

  I get busy plating the Chinese takeout we picked up on our way back while Catalina showers. Grabbing my phone, I shoot Jackson a quick text.

 

  A few seconds later my phone chirps.

 

  I knew it. Smiling, I send him a quick reply.

 

 

  I chuckle softly and dock my phone into the sound system, setting soulful music to play in the kitchen. I bring our plates into the dining room and set them on the table, lighting some candles. The sun is setting and hues of orange and yellow filter into the room. Standing by the large picture window, I try not to think too much about tomorrow. Leaving is my decision, and I have to stay true to it. This past week I’ve been tiptoeing around the idea of leaving, but I need to prove my relationship with Catalina is different from what I had with Olivia.

  Things will definitely change when I get back because I’m determined more than ever to commit to a life with Catalina. We’ve been in a bubble of sorts since we met, and leaving could change everything, but deep down I know this time things are different. I’m no longer the jaded son-of-a-bitch I once was. I have so much to look forward to, so many dreams to fulfill, dreams which have Catalina front and center.

  My spine straightens when I hear Catalina’s footsteps coming down the stairs. When she walks across the threshold, I find myself short of breath. Her long raven hair is curled down the sides of her face, and with each step she takes it bounces happily. She’s wearing a black satin robe with a red sash around her waist, and bright red stilettos which stand out against the black silk stockings I bought for her today.

  My mind wanders, imagining the red garter belt holding her stockings in place. Fuck. My dick stirs in my pants when she stops in front of me. All I want to do is bury myself deep inside of her, but there will be ample time for that later. I want to give her a proper date first. I reach out to caress the soft skin of her cheek, my thumb tracing over her beauty mark.

  The Catalina that stands before me is slightly different from the Catalina I met almost two months ago. She’s significantly thinner, yet the curves I fell in love with are still there. Her eyes used to be sad, but now those dark chocolate beauties burn bright. At the end of the day her external features don’t outweigh the beauty of her soul because it’s the most beautiful and perfect part of her, the part that loves me in return.

  Catalina cradles her face into my hand and smiles, a red hue coloring her cheeks. Her cherry-red lips are slightly parted as she tries to even her breathing. There’s an energy surrounding us, and if I could describe it I’d say it’s like a seismograph needle drawing waves of tectonic plate activity. The same could be said about my racing heart; Catalina Pardo is the only woman in the universe who can make it beat this hard.

  Licking my lips and gathering my thoughts, I speak. “You look, wow.” I tilt my head to the side and place my free hand at the base of my neck. Clearing my throat, I continue. “Damn, Catalina. I can’t even . . . you sure know how to make a grown man stumble.”

  She giggles.

  “Hardly, Stryder . . . I wonder how a man like you, with such enviable vocabulary skills suddenly finds himself unable to use his words,” Catalina quips playfully, forcing a chuckle out of me.

  I bring my free hand to cup her other cheek and gently coax her forward. She looks at me through her long onyx eyelashes, blinking rapidly, and when my lips hover over hers she closes her eyes. Our lips are so close they’re almost touching, our breaths one and the same, and her candied scent plays a grueling game of chess with my willpower. The air seems too thin, and my hands begin to shake.

  My body knows and recognizes Catalina’s, and I swear if I don’t take a step back right this minute, we’ll end up skipping dinner, dancing, and the proper date she deserves. While every single cell of my body wants to kiss her, my resolve remains firm. Instead, I wrap my arms around her frame and hug her fiercely, and when she hugs me back I bury my face in her hair. Our hearts are so close, and each beat feels like a love letter to each other in Morse code.

  I break our hug and pull out a chair for her. She sits down, her curious eyes scanning the dinner table appraisingly. I never knew I had it in me to be a romantic kind of guy, but ever since I met Catalina I’ve been doing things for her I’ve never done for anyone before, including Olivia. It wasn’t my style, but when I’m given the gift of Catalina’s love the romantic side of me surfaces, and to be frank I like this newfound side of me. I feel like the man I always aspired to be, but was never given a chance, and it feels fucking good. The more I think about it, the more I believe a man isn’t fully a man until he meets his soul mate. Sex might make you feel like a man, but it’s ultimately love that makes you one.

  We sit and enjoy a quiet dinner, taking turns to feed each other. I like how natural these moments come, how effortless it is to be myself with her. While I’m dying to unwrap my Valentine’s Day present, I’m making sure to pace myself. Every so often, Catalina snakes her hand inside her robe to touch her shoulder, and each time I see her tanned skin, I find myself gripping onto my fork a little too tightly.

  With dinner behind us, we retreat to the kitchen to wash our plates. I reach into my pocket and grab the rectangular box from my pocket. Catalina is too occupied wringing out the water from the sponge to notice it on the counter right next to her. As she reaches for the paper towels, she gasps.

  “What’s this?” Catalina asks, pointing towards the red velvet box beside her.

  I clear my throat. “It’s a gift, Catalina. Open it.”

  She dries her hands and opens the box. She covers her mouth with her hand, and gasps when she sees the white gold pendant in the shape of a star.

  “Oh, Stryder! It’s beautiful. Thank you!”

  “Did you read the inscription?” I ask, pointing at the pendant.

  “My North Star . . .” Catalina reads aloud, her words measured and s
low. She turns to face me with a curious expression on her face.

  Grabbing the velvet box from her hands, I remove the pendant and walk behind her. Catalina moves her hair aside to grant me access to her neck. I put the pendant on her, and once the clasp is secure, I kiss the curve of her neck. My hands land on her shoulders, and I spin her around.

  “Catalina, I’ll be away for a month and while that sounds like a reasonable amount of time, to me it isn’t. Do you want to know why?” I ask, and when she nods, I continue. “My home is wherever you are, and I know it’s too soon to make promises to you, but I want you to know while I’m away I’ll be thinking of you always. Stars . . . They shine bright in the night sky, and they are constant, always twinkling, even when we can’t see them. Catalina, you are my bright North Star, and I know I will never get lost because you will always guide me home.”

  Her eyes glisten with unshed tears, and she smiles revealing the lone dimple on her left cheek. “Stryder, I already loved the necklace, but now that I know its significance, I’ll cherish it with all of my heart,” she promises, and lifts the star to her lips and kisses it once before letting it fall against her neck.

  She gets on her tippy toes and kisses me. I pull her close and press her tightly against me. I rub my thumbs up and down on the small of her back enjoying the soft material of her robe. As our tongues tango, I feel a fire building inside me, a fire that demands to be quenched. I break away from our kiss and, with measured steps, approach the counter where my phone is docked. After a couple of taps Halestorm’s “Break In” starts to play. With confident strides, I return to Catalina and lift her hand to my mouth, brushing my lips against her knuckles.

  “Will you dance with me?” I ask. Catalina nods, then smiles. She lifts her right hand and places it on my left shoulder.

  “Your left hand goes on my right shoulder, and your right hand goes on my left shoulder,” I whisper. Catalina nods and positions her hands like I explained.

  I place my free hand on the small of her back, and lead her away from the counter. We slow dance, looking into each other’s eyes with a considerable amount of space between us. A few bars of the song pass before I decided I can’t take her being so close yet so far away. I press her flush against me, and breaking my dance hold I guide both of her arms around my neck, our foreheads resting against one another's.