Part Six

The door clicked shut quietly behind him.

A soft “Hey” from Lily stopped him in his tracks. There she stood across the hall from him. His eyes tracked from the heels of her stilettos up her legs along the length of her skirt...is that a new dress cause damn....!!

Going by the blush heating her cheeks that ‘damn’...may have been said out loud!! 

“You look amazing...I mean you always look amazing but wow Lily you are stealing my breath right now.”

“Thank you.” The blush is now accompanied by a warm smile.

“What are you doing here? Did you come to see Sam?”

“Um..no..while that would be nice, I came here hoping to run into you!”

“Oh? How did you know where to find me?”

“The kids may have mentioned where you would be.”

“The kids mentioned it huh?” They turn and start slowly walking side by side down the hall. 

“Yeah...after I asked if they maybe knew what you were up to this evening...” She places a hand on his forearm, pausing their movement. “Thank you for telling them about your sessions.”

Cane acknowledges that with a nod and they continue walking. “You haven’t told me why you wanted to see me...”

“Are you hungry?” 

“Why Lily Ashby...if I didn’t know better I would say you were asking me out on a date!”

“I believe that is what I’m doing.”

“Yeah...I could eat. How does Top of the Tower sound?” At her nod of agreement he continues, “And to think you got yourself a new dress and walked in here like you stepped off a runway just for me...could give a guy ideas...!!”

“What this old thing? I just grabbed this out of the closet, I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“Okay, I’ll just leave that sales tag attached then.”

“What?” She tries to reach for it without success.

“Here let me...” Stepping into an alcove out of the way Cane comes in close, the heat of his body enveloping hers. With one hand on her shoulder he holds her still while with the other he slowly slides his fingers across the back of her neck, moving her hair to the side over her shoulder. His breath tickles her and a shiver slides down her spine making goose bumps appear...

Lily’s breath catches while Cane grasps the tag and gives a firm tug to remove it.  

Reaching around in front of her, he says close to her ear. “Here you go.” His fingers close around hers when she goes to take it.

Lily looks back at him over her shoulder, “thanks,” she says softly.

Giving her fingers a squeeze, Cane reluctantly lets go and steps back. “Ready? We can take my car.”

“Okay but could we maybe establish a couple of ground rules before dinner?”

Lily was basically asking him on a date and all Cane could think was that he would literally walk barefoot on broken glass if that’s what she wanted... “Yeah, anything.”

“Could we maybe not talk about the kids or the future tonight, just maybe be in the moment?”

“I think I can do that.” With his hand pressed against the small of her back Cane escorts Lily out of the hospital and into the evening.

.....

Getting to Cane’s car instead of opening her door he takes her hand and turns her to face him. Her back presses against the car and he closes the distance aligning his body with hers. Eyes locked his fingertips graze her jawline. “Lily what is this?”

His nearness is intoxicating. “Din-dinner?”

He continues to search her gaze. “No Lily...What is this really?” His voice low, it rumbles over her. His fingers continue to skate along her cheek as he waits.

Breathless she whispers, “it’s...me...trying.”

Cane’s face breaks into a seductive smile and he leans in pressing his lips to the corner of her mouth. “That’s all I needed to hear,” he whispers in return.

....

Noah, happily surprised to see Cane and Lily out together shows them to a secluded table tucked away in a corner of the restaurant. “Your server will be with you shortly, it’s great to see you both...together.” He gives them an encouraging smile when they thank him then Noah walks away.

Cane holds out Lily’s chair for her to sit down before seating himself. His leg brushes against hers as he does, causing what feels like an electric current to travel up her body....no matter what had happened in their relationship this feeling...this electricity was always between them.

Cane clears his throat feeling it to. They pick up the menus not quite sure what to say...their server arrives, gets their drink order and steps away to get it. Cane puts the menu down, “know what you want yet?” Cane can’t take his eyes off her while she continues to stare at the menu.

“That’s a rather loaded question, don’t you think?” Bringing her gaze up to his. 

“I’m just talking about food sweetheart.” His seductive smile slowly spreading across his handsome face. “Lets just start with that anyways, shall we?” 

Just then their server returns with their drinks and after taking their food order she leaves with the menus in hand. 

Lily takes a sip of the crisp Chardonnay she ordered. “Mmmm..” The tip of her tongue glides along her upper lip. Cane’s eyes track the movement and suddenly he’s transported back to all those years ago to that night at Indigo when after much back and forth, he just couldn’t resist her any longer. 

He makes a sort of strangled noise in his and takes a drink of his sparkling water. He opens his mouth to say something but closes it a moment later instead.

“What?” Lily asks.

“I just...I know we have these ground rules for tonight and I just had this flash of memory and was going to say something but...”

Lily places her hand over his and says, “ Cane I didn’t say we couldn’t talk about the past...but maybe I was too hasty in saying we couldn’t talk about the future either...”

Cane’s eyes widen and he’s about to say something when the server reappears with their food and the moment is interrupted.

Looking at their plates after the server leaves, Lily asks quietly, “so what was it you were remembering?”

“That night at Indigo when Karen was supposed to perform and you were on a double date with Devon and Roxanne and some guy named Allen.” 

Lily coughs on the bite of food in her mouth and takes another sip of her wine to clear it. “You remember his name?”

“Sweetheart, I remember everything that has to do with you...and us. I remember you in that little black and green dress..your hair tied back..that was the night I officially asked you out...the night I promised to never pull the rug out from under you again...I’m sorry I -.”

“I remember...” Cane leans closer...suddenly Lily blurts out, “so how are things going at Chancellor?”

Cane makes a little noise in the back of his throat and sits back again. “Umm..things are good...busy but good.” He glances at his silent phone on the table beside him, “in fact I’m waiting for some contracts to come in from London for a new subsidiary company we just acquired there.”

“That’s great.” They continue eating their meals.

Cane decides to go with her current direction of conversation not wanting to push too much. “And things here at Newman are good?”

“They’re okay. Victoria has a been a little more considerate as of late but, I don’t know it’s just a job I guess. It’s just not something I’m particularly passionate about...” 

“If you aren’t happy at Newman you don’t have to stay -.”

“I know..it’s just...” with their plates now clear and neither wanting desert. Lily asks, “do you mind if we stop at my office on the way out I just need to grab a couple of files to go over for tomorrow.”

“Okay...” Cane signals for the check, not sure what to think at her abrupt change and after paying they make their way to the elevator.

They step in alone and the doors slide shut. Looking around the enclosed space as it slowly descends, this time it’s Lily whose mind slips into the past. “Another time..another elevator,” she whispers. 

...........

Cane closes the distance between them but stops just shy of touching her. “Lily I swore to myself that I wouldn’t press but...what is this...,” he waves his hand in the minimal space between them, “this hot and cold, back and forth thing is making me crazy dizzy! You tell me you want to try and that’s fantastic but what does that mean cause last time I looked this divorce is still on hold, is still hanging over our heads. Everyday I worry that today will be the day you drop that hammer.”

The elevator stops on the floor for Lily’s office and the doors slide open. Frustrated at her silence he runs a hand through his hair and steps through the opening.

Lily snaps out of the trance she found herself in and follows, “Cane wait!” In a few seconds she reaches him, her hand at the crook of his elbow halting his steps outside her office door. “Please...I know I’m being confusing and that’s not fair to you...I...I want to put the divorce on hold indefinitely...I want it off the table, I want it gone from over our heads but...”

“But what,” he asks looking down at her.

“But I am so scared that I’m opening myself up to be hurt by you again and...,” her voice trails off and her head lowers.

“Baby... Baby, look at me please.” Cane tips her head up with his hand beneath her chin. “I know that I have hurt you in ways that I will never be able to take back and I’m so sorry for that...all I can do is spend everyday for the rest of my life showing you that you can trust me again and someday I can only hope that you will.”

“I’ve hurt you too..so badly...but..J-.”

“No not tonight...there will be a time to discuss other people who have impacted our lives but not here...” Cane hesitates and takes a deep breath before he continues, “maybe we could try again at some joint therapy sessions..the Doc mentioned that she would be open to seeing us together again.”

Lily considers it and after a moment she says, “okay I think we can try that.”

Cane feels some of the tension leave him. “Okay..,” He reaches behind him and opens the door to Lily’s office, stepping to the side to let her precede him in. “Let’s get your files.”

Stepping over the threshold, Lily flicks the light switch just inside the door.

The room floods with light and Cane sees the tiny windowless office Victoria has stuck her in for the first time. “Lily!” 

“Don’t Cane, this may not be the job I want but it’s a job that I need.”

“But Lily you don’t need this...this is beneath you.”

“Cane..,” there is a warning tone in her voice. “I see the balance in our joint account. You have been putting what I can only assume is ninety percent of your weekly salary into it since you started back at Chancellor.”

“Lily you know I’ve always considered what’s mine to be equally yours. I need to make sure you and the kids have everything you need. Besides if we are really giving things another shot then what does it matter anyways.”

“Just because the divorce is being taken off the table does not mean you are moving home anytime soon, there is too much we still need to work through.”

“Oh, no rush I was thinking in like a week or two that could happen...anyways.” 

At that Lily whips around to stare at him but he can’t keep his face straight and breaks into a chuckle. Holding up his hands in mock defeat he says, “kidding..just kidding. I would never pressure you like that, we can take this as slow as you want. Now where is that file so we can get out of here.”

Lily approaches the corner of her desk. “It should be in this stack here...” She starts flipping through the pile.

Cane comes in close and leans around from behind to peak at the folders. “What’s the name of the file you’re looking for?”

“Oh it’s labeled, Strategic Marketing Plan.”

His arm comes up along her side and he flicks at a folder with his finger. “And what do I get if I help you find it,” His voice rumbles in her ear.

They both felt it this time...that deja vu of a another time long ago. Lily drops the files she had been searching through and Cane spins her around to face him, his eyes travel over her face. He leans in and their noses brush, their breath mingles the distance between their lips closes.

“Are you expecting any cleaners to start vacuuming?” He whispers.

Lily stares into his eyes. “Short of this building collapsing I can’t see anything stopping this.”

“I was thinking the exact same thing.”Cane frames Lily’s face in his hands, the last of the space between them disappears when their lips finally touch. 

The kiss while having started off tender quickly evolves, becoming more intense by the moment...the soft thud as the files fall to the floor when Cane lifts her by the waist on to the edge of the desk, barely register. 

Cane’s jacket joins the files when Lily slides it from his shoulders and down his arms. 

His lips move to Lily’s jaw and he grazes her with his teeth causing her to moan and clutch his hair harder. His legs between her thighs presses the skirt of her dress higher, allowing him even closer. Cane’s hand slides up her spine and rests at her the top of the zipper. His mouth leaves her neck, both breathing hard he pulls back and looks at her.

“You’re sure? Tell me to stop and I will.” He promises while searching her eyes.

“Cane, please don’t stop.”

He kisses her again, tongue sliding between her lips to dance with hers. Lily moans softly as Cane slowly slides the zipper down with one hand while the other follows along the silky length of her back. 

The dress slips from her shoulders exposing breasts now only covered by the red lace bra she wore.

Lily hooks the heels of her stilettos behind Cane’s thighs. Her fingers wrestle with his tie finally undoing the knot, she attacks the buttons of his shirt next. Running her hands over his chest and abs, she leans in and nips at his left peck with her teeth causing a gown to escape his lips, his fingers grip her thighs.

God it’s been so long...he just had to taste her. Lily gasps as he drops to his knees, he slides her dress further up her thighs and with a little help from her, up and over the cheeks of her ass.

Leaning in, his shoulders press her legs further apart until she slips her legs over them. Cane glances up as he leans in to press a hot kiss to the inside of right thigh. Not breaking eye contact he does the same to her left.

His fingertips graze the edge of her panties, the lace damp from her arousal. He slides them over to the side, exposing her center. “God, Lily you are so beautiful.” Leaning in he seals his mouth to her while she grips his hair, holding him tightly to her.

He strokes her folds with his tongue, Lily arches into him. “Cane,” she cries out in the silent office, cumming on his tongue. 

Panting, she slowly loosens the grip on his hair  while he places soft kisses along her inner thigh. Gently he slides her legs from his shoulders and stands.

Lily reaches for his belt when the sound of their heavy breathing is joined by the buzzing of Cane’s phone. Lily let’s go knowing that he needs to get that.

“It could be the hospital,” she says.

Cane reaches for his discarded jacket, retrieving his phone from the pocket. He groans not the hospital but the contracts have finally arrived. 

“I have to go over to Chancellor. These have to be signed and couriered our right away. I’m so sorry but why don’t you come with me.” The look in his eye conveyed that he hoped to continue this little adventure there. 

Lily catches the time in her watch as she slips her dress back on her shoulders. Oh shit! It was getting quite late. “I -.”

Cane, though disappointed knew that this was a lot for Lily and she was feeling a little overwhelmed. He finishes buttoning up his shirt and reaches for her. Hands wrapped around her arms he pulls her close, once again kissing her. 

Breaking it, he presses his forehead to hers before pressing a kiss there as well. Gently he turns her around and slowly slides the zipper of her dress back up. 

“Thank you.” 

“No Lily, thank you!”

“But you didn’t..I mean we didn’t...” A blush warms her cheeks.

“You think that matters to me? Tonight has been many things but disappointing is not one of them.”

Lily comes in close and wraps her arms around his waist...the urge to tell him she loves him is almost too much to keep inside...yet she does.

Cane kisses the top of her head. “Come on lets clean this up and get the file you need. I’ll drop you at your car on my way to Chancellor.”

They crouch to the floor and gather up the folders. 

“Can we make plans for tomorrow?” Lily asks softly.

Cane grins and replies, “I was just about to suggest the same thing.”

Grabbing the file and the rest of their belongings, Cane reaches for Lily’s hand and they head back to her car.

......