Cherish Me Forever: A Fake Relationship Romance (The Maxwell Brothers)

Kane is a good distraction. His hands are an even better one.

My eyes close, and it feels like I’m floating. Water caresses my body, the waves of Kane’s subtle movements gliding against my skin like a feather. I’m so tired, exhaustion keeping me unmoving, while his fingers play with the inside of my thigh.

I’m worked up in all the best ways, craving his touch instead of sleep.

A soft breath slips from my mouth when his hand moves closer to the apex of my thighs. With the water, he easily slips a finger inside of me, only to pull it out slowly a moment later.

He does this several times before my breathing turns from slow and steady to ragged and uneven.

“Feel good, baby?” He nuzzles his nose against the side of my cheek.

I answer with a whimper and relax farther into his hard chest.

“You’re so beautiful,” he mutters, spreading me wider with another finger. “I love watching you come undone from my touch.”

I lick my lip, my eyes remaining shut. His slow strokes feel so good I can’t focus on anything but the way my body is curving to meet him halfway. The water laps the sides of the tub, the splashing mixing in with my heavy breathing.

“That’s it,” he encourages, his voice raspy.

The brushing of his teeth against my earlobe pulls a moan out of me, and when he adds his thumb to my clit, I turn my face and find his lips.

The kiss is lazy and slow. Our tongues move in sync, his fingers working their magic. My toes begin to tingle, and water laps at my breasts. I arch my back with the first touch of pleasure bundling low in my belly and then break completely with a powerful orgasm.

“My god,” Kane groans against my back, a low rumble deep in his chest.

My eyes flutter open, the bathroom in a hazy glow. I’m sated, but with his rigid length digging into me from behind, I know he’s far from it. I try to turn, ready to rub my hand against him, but he stops me with a firm grip on my wrist.

Our gazes crash, and he studies me with a furrowed brow. “What are you doing?”

I inhale a shaky breath. “Taking care of…” I nod at his wet shorts stuck to his body like glue. They outline how hard he really is, but before I can do anything, Kane is climbing out of the tub while picking me up in the process.

We’re soaking wet, water falling to the rug beneath his feet. “Absolutely not.” His voice is pulled tight. “I’m here to take care of you. Nothing more.”

After wrapping me in a fluffy towel, he walks me over to my bed and lays me down before going back into the bathroom.

I don’t know how long it takes him to return, but we’re both fully dry when he pulls me underneath the covers with him. He kisses my forehead softly, and I snuggle closer to his warmth. I know I should be worried that River will walk in after his shift and see us like this, but I just don’t have the energy.

I wake to a tiny sliver of sunlight streaming through my window. I sigh wistfully, my muscles less achy and my mind a little clearer. I know my body enough to know that things are still feeling off, especially as I glance at the clock and see that it’s almost lunch time.

How long did I sleep?

I groggily sit up and try to remember the night prior. My gaze is pulled to the bathroom. I flush, and a small smile slides onto my mouth.

Kane Barlow taking care of me is my new favorite thing in the entire world.

His tender touch, soft kisses, and talented hands…no one would believe me if I told them.

I guess I’ll just add that to my list of secrets that have been continuing to pile up.

After steadying my feet and taking care of my needs in the bathroom, I quickly run my fingers through my hair and splash water on my face.

My temperature is normal, which is a good sign.

Walking over to my window, I pull back the curtain and let the sun shine onto my plants.

“There,” I whisper.

A deep voice catches my attention from the living room, and butterflies pull me toward the door.

“You know she’s going to be pissed,” River says, voice hinting with humor.

“So?” Kane scoffs. “Plus…who’s to say I don’t know how to take care of plants?”

I gasp and head straight for my bedroom door.

Both Kane and my brother look like they’ve been caught red-handed when I push open the bedroom door and step into the living room.

My brother holds one pot steady as Kane grips my green watering can in his hand. Water trickles out of the spout. “Stop right there.” I place my hands on my hips. “What are you two doing?”

“Well, good morning, sleepy head.” My brother lifts a brow. “Kane here thought it would be a good idea to water your plants.”

Kane peers at me from across the room. “The soil was dry. They’re thirsty.”

He’s probably right. Exhaustion has won lately, and with the fogginess of my Lupus settling in, I can’t remember to water them. I’m going to have to start a chart again, just like I used to do.

My brother sets the pot down on the ground, and a little bit of soil plops onto the tile. “Careful!” I shout.

He ignores me, putting his hands on his hips. “So when were you going to tell me about being in a flare?”noveldrama

I immediately gape at Kane. His jaw flexes, but he keeps a hold of my stare until River interrupts us.

“Don’t be angry at him.” River walks over to the coffee table and snags my journal. “I forced it out of him when I found you two in bed together.”

The blood drains from my face, but I make sure to keep my attention on River instead of Kane.

River flips open my journal, landing on the page where I’d been writing my fevers down. “I’ll admit, I thought he was in your bed for a completely different reason.” He chuckles sarcastically, as if he’s saying, what an absurd idea, right? “Once he told me that he found you on the floor after you didn’t show at the game and then showed me this”—he holds up my journal, but I don’t bother looking at it—“I knew he was telling the truth when he said he was making sure you were okay because you were in a flare.”

Whew.

The nerves in my stomach fizzle when I see that we’re in the clear.

“I’m calling Doctor Gibson.”

Even though I know it’s childish, I stomp my foot. “River. Let me try to regulate myself before jumping to conclusions that I need a steroid or something long-term. This may just be an acute flare.”

He turns his back to me. “Bloodwork won’t hurt. If Dr. Gibson agrees that the homeopathic route is the way to go, then so be it. But you know what this disease can do, so you’re going in for bloodwork.”

My shoulders dip.

I’m not one to jeopardize my health, and I know deep down that he’s right. This is something I should discuss with Dr. Gibson. It’s one of the main reasons I’m in Chicago. I have to get a better grasp on my life, even when I’m in a flare. I’ve been trying to keep things under control and the same as before, but since I’ve gotten here, things have gotten to be too much.

Once River is on the phone, talking to his friend—my doctor—Kane makes his way over to me. My watering can is still in his grip, but it lowers when he dips his head closer. “I’m sorry,” he whispers. “I had to give an explanation as to why I was in your bed.”

I try to grab the watering can, but he doesn’t let go.

“I thought you’d use it as a good excuse to tell him about…” My words fade because do we put a label on this?

“Us?” he finishes for me.

He pulls on the watering can, and I stumble toward him. “Because there is an us, Daisy.”

My mouth remains closed.

I won’t argue, not after the last few times we’ve crossed the line.

“I’m letting you lead.” Kane’s finger brushes mine, and I swear it leaves a trail of heat behind. “If it lowers your stress to keep this between us for now, then okay.”

With River’s back to us, Kane’s hand slips up my arm and around my neck for a brief second. His messy hair flops onto his forehead as he tilts his head toward me. “I’ll keep you a secret forever if you need me to…as long as I get to keep you forever too.”

A blush spreads over my face.

He pulls the can from my grip, and I willingly let go. He takes his time inspecting each of my plants with as much care as he showed me last night and waters them with a steady hand.

When my brother comes back, informing me of Dr. Gibson working me into his schedule, I hardly hear a word he says because, instead of paying attention, I’m too busy falling head over heels for his best friend.