C.A.K.E novel Chapter 4

"Close your mouth, Casper. You're drooling." Karma rolls her eyes, and breezes away from the front door toward their bedroom.

They just walked Arden and Elliott out of their home. Casper has to admit, he did a horrible job at hiding his affinity for Arden. Touching her felt like shoplifting, a rush of guilt, and intoxicating adrenaline. Given the opportunity, he would make Arden his next five-finger discount. He stares at the door a moment longer, before going after the one woman who should have his concern.

"I was telling her goodnight. I have to look at her to do that."

"You were looking at her breasts." Karma glares at him.

"I was saying goodnight to a friend."

She kicks off her heels and shoves them into their assigned space in the walk-in.

"Here's a word of advice, women's eyes are above the chest area. Remember that, next time you're touching another man's wife."

Casper shrugs. "All I did was dance with her."

"But that's not all you wanted to do. I've seen the way you look at her." A hint of wounded jealousy sparks in her expression.

"Then you shouldn't have invited her over here."

"You're not even going to deny being attracted to her?"

"That is not what I ... " He drags his hands over the trimmed hairs of his goatee. "What was this—some sort of test?"

"If it was, you failed with flying colors." She turns her back to him, while she removes her earrings.

"Because you set me up."

A flash of clarity that comes with several years of marriage strikes him. No, that's not right. Be apologetic. Don't make any more excuses.

He grabs Karma's elbow and asks her to look at him. "I was wrong."

"Yes, you were." She lets him pull her into his arms.

He kisses the crown of her head. "If she makes you that uncomfortable, we don't have to see them again."

"I didn't say that." She lifts her head from his chest. "The Stones are the type of well-heeled people we need as friends."

A revelation dawns on Casper, and he looks down into Karma's brown eyes with a knowing smirk. "Her father ... You knew she was Senator Mitchell's daughter."

Karma moves away from his incredulous stare.

"Former senator," she corrects. "But still very connected. And yes, I thought I recognized her at the culinary school. I wasn't sure until Elliott confirmed it tonight."

"You can't just use people to get what you want."

"Get off the damn high horse, Casper." She stabs his chest with her finger. "The only reason you want Elliott around is to lust after his wife. Can you honestly tell me you want to be his friend?"

She's right. Casper knows seeing Arden means seeing Elliott as well. He makes polite conversation with Eli because he's trying to ignore how much he wants to take a long stroll through the forbidden garden of Arden.

"Elliott is a genuine guy, and Arden is a charming woman. Friendship is as far as my interest in either of them goes."

Karma turns her nose up like she can smell the bullshit on him.

"You're not attracted to Arden?"

"Not in the least." He leans against the chest of drawers and crosses his right leg over the left.

"Casper, I'm paid to know when a man is lying." She sighs. "And you're terrible at it."

Her quick hands lift his shirt over his head and undo his belt. Karma kisses him the way she used to when they were still in high school, and their Motel 6 was the backseat of his '71 Dodge Demon.

Shocked by her gentle show of affection, he forgets his train of thought. All he can concentrate on are the doe eyes looking up into his. What he says next is the truth, at least at this moment.

"I can't think of anyone but you."

He holds the nape of her neck, letting his fingers get lost in the thickness of her hair. Karma smiles and an impish giggle leaves her parted lips. Seeing the laugh lines crease her cinnamon complexion, makes him feel like the sun just decided to shine on the dreary parade of their marriage.

He kisses her again, biting and sucking the blush pucker that is her greeting card for the world. She relaxes, lets him lead. Casper lifts her and lays her body on their bed with a feather-light touch. After some unzipping and unbuttoning, they're both naked as the day they were introduced to the world.

Casper showers her in kisses, starting at her toes and working his way up her dewy skin. She squirms, as he nears her warm, sugary center. He goes slow, tasting her. How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? ... a one ... a two ... a three ... He intends to find out. Karma places an encouraging hand on his head, applauding his work with her low moans.

Casper's research is interrupted by the bombastic thundering of an orchestra from the next room. Beethoven's Fifth Symphony in C Minor shocks the air with a power and presence that demands the undivided attention of the senses. Having lost his concentration, he lifts his head. Karma flies from the bed like she's fleeing the Titanic.

The first movement of one of the most significant contributions to classical music is cut short with Karma's whispered "hello." Her voice moves farther from the open door of the bedroom, its tone quiet and happy. Casper chases her vocal vibrations to the front of the house.

Still naked as a jaybird, she stands with her weight resting on her left leg and her right foot arched like she's ready to transition to en pointe. That dancer's poise from her fifteen years of ballet training still lives in her limbs. Old habits die hard.

Karma bites one of her black-lacquered nails and laughs with a clandestine gleam in her eye.

"Give me twenty minutes ... Yeah, he's here ... No, I'm on my way . . . I'll make up something ... " Another sinful giggle. "All right, bye."

She smiles down at her cell and begins to saunter back to the master bedroom. Her seductive simper disappears and her graceful gait halts, when their eyes meet in the hallway.

"Who was that?"

She slides past him. "Work."

He sucks his teeth and eyeballs her. "At this hour?"

Karma slips back into her flowy dress. Casper notices that she neglects to put on underwear. There's nothing preserving her modesty, but the thin crepe garment. She answers without looking at him.

"A new witness came forward. I have to get his deposition."

"Can't Frome do that?"