Wanting Mr. Cane (Cane #1)

by Shanora Williams

"Are you supposed to be here? I don’t know who you are…" "I’m a friend." "I’ve never met you. How can you already be my friend?"

"Did I scare her, really?" He stepped into the house, and I held Mom tighter. "I was only kidding, Kandy. I know who you are. I know all about you. We’ve actually met before, but you probably don’t remember."

"It's okay. I scared her. She just has to warm up to my twisted sense of humor."

"Can you guess what it is?" he asked softly.

"I know why you're upset with me," he finally said. "Why you've been treating me like shit the last couple of months."

"I'm not upset with anybody. I only see you when you come to the house. How can I possibly be mad at you?"

"When I asked if you were jealous of Kelly, I didn't think you really would be, Kandy."

"You are. You like me. It's obvious by the way you treat me. Cute, honestly. A little crush that I'm sure will pass soon."

"Is that why you picked me up? So you could rub it in my face while my parents aren't around?"

"No. I'm just being a good friend and feeding you before dropping you off. T...

"You are really bitter, you know that? I have no idea why your parents went with naming you Kandy. They should have named you Sourpuss instead." "Whatever, asshole."

"You feel good when you curse at me, don't you? Your dad would have a fit if he knew about your potty mouth,"

"What other names have you called me behind my back?" "Jackass. Dipshit. Fucker. Asshat. Jer...

"You really know how to break a man's heart, Kandy Cane."

"I'm not mad about Kelly," I finally said. "It just caught me by surprise when she showed up. " I admitted.

"Why did it catch you by surprise? Am I not allowed to date anyone?"

"I can't tell you what to do." "You can," he said, simply. Blatantly. "But it doesn't mean I'll listen."

"Because you're Kandy Jennings. A feisty little shit who doesn't know how to hold her tongue."

"She's not even your type." "Oh, yeah? And what is my type, exactly?"

"I don't know, but it's not her. You seem too...harsh for her. She's all proper and prim and chipper, and you're just...Quinton Cane.

You need someone who can stand up to you when you're being illogical and unfair. After meeting Kelly, I highly doubt sh...

"Harsh?" he repeated, seeming delighted. "You think I'm harsh?" "I don't call y...

"You make me laugh, little one." He made a right turn. "Try working for me. Then you'll see what harsh really is."

"Are you kidding? I would never work for you."

"Never say ...

“It’s just crazy that you’re growing up so fast. I still remember when I first met you as the little girl with pigtails and rainbow socks, running away from me because of stranger-danger.”

“Well, yeah, she told me about the guy you’re supposedly talking to when your dad wasn't around. She thinks I'm a good listener. Good at keeping secrets, too."

"Just make sure he treats you right," he said after a brief silence. "Last thing any of us wants to see is you get hurt.”

"He won't be my boyfriend. Don't worry. Just like Kelly isn't your type, he's not my type either. Maybe it's just a phase for both of us." "Yeah." He fought a grin. "I never said she wasn't my type. Now you're just putting words in my mouth."

"I'm only a phone call away if you ever need me, little one. Just know you can talk to me whenever you need to."

"Anytime, Kandy Cane." He said that silly nickname again, only this time, I didn't just feel the tingle in the pit of my belly. I felt it between my thighs, on my bare neck, and on my full lips. I felt it everywhere I shouldn't have.

I had fallen hard for him, and it hurt so much to want a man I couldn't have.

“You mean the adult line for the lingerie and edible body oils?”

“How’d you know about that?” I stared at him. “There’s this thing called the Internet. I wanted to know more about the chocolates. Then I saw the lingerie tab. It’s cool, honestly. It all fits into the same thing—wine, chocolate, and lingerie. I’m eighteen, Cane. I’ve shopped for lingerie before.”

“You’ve shopped for lingerie. For what?” I shrugged. “It makes me feel pretty, I guess.”

“I don’t know,” I paused. “I always used to think I wanted to be a model. My best friend, Frankie, always tells me that I’m tall enough and pretty enough to be one. I guess it takes confidence to do that kind of modeling though. Like being half naked in front of so many cameras and stuff?”

“Kandy, you are too damn blunt for your own good, you know that?” I shrugged. “Mom tells me to always express myself however I want. She doesn’t think it’s a bad thing, being this blunt.”

“That blunt mouth of yours could get you into some serious trouble one day.”

“Say the wrong thing to the wrong person and they may take it as something else.” “Well then I’ll clarify myse...

“I’m proud of you for getting that scholarship though, Kandy. I really am.”

I woke up with a gasp, my panties damp, and my core tight and raw. My nipples were taut, prodding through the white camisole, and I don’t know why, but I was working hard to catch my breath. Holy shit. I’d dreamt of Cane using his mouth on me. Everywhere. Sucking. Licking. Tasting.

Why did he feel the need to give so much to the people who simply enjoyed his presence and his time? What was he trying to change or run away from?

"Y-your father has been shot."

"He's my best friend. Love him like a brother." "How long have you known him again?" "Since I was twenty-one. He saved my mother's life." "How?" I asked, intrigued.

"From a domestic abuse dispute. He got a call about it, showed up in less than five minutes since he was nearby. I was on my way home from college and still an hour away." "Domestic abuse?"

"Thanks to Derek, my mother wasn't killed that night. My father had pulled a gun on her. He was drunk and accused her of cheating, but he was the cheater. We all knew it. Derek came at the right time and took care of it, sent my sorry-ass father to jail, and I haven't seen him since. I was only twenty-one then. Derek was twenty-eight and new to the job. I haven't been able to thank Derek enough for it. He put his life on the line for hers. He considered it his duty—said he was just doing his job—but I respect that much more than he will ever be able to imagine. She could have been seriously hurt or dead if he hadn't shown up when he had. After that, I invited him to meet me about once a week, whenever he was free, so I could repay him with cheap beers and hot wings at this late-night bar a short drive from downtown. As we got older, and when I finally kick-started Tempt, we got a little busier. We still kept in touch with phone calls and texts, but didn't get to see each other as often. He was raising a child, taking care of his family, and I was building my career."

"What are you drinking?" "Macallan scotch. Strong stuff. And expensive." "Can I try it?"

"Do you care about a lot of people?" "I can count on one hand how many people I truly care about." "And who are those people?"

"My mother. Your father, of course. Mindy, your mom. My sister, Loralei…" He paused, eyes sparkling as he looked down at me. "And you."

I slid my hand down, running it over the bulge in his pants anyway. I moved it over the denim, shifting it back up gradually. I felt him getting harder, his breaths unsteady now, body tensing.