#### DISCLAIMERS: in Part 1

### Hidden Desires, Part 23

©2003 -Vertigo

Wade got home early, meeting Jodie at the apartment. They cleaned everything spotless, including the litter box, putting trendy new "pearls" in it to look chic. La La wasn't impressed and as soon as the two stopped admiring the shiny pearls, he christened them.

The two friends set the table, argued about music and cooked dinner with a minimum of disasters. There was a slight altercation during the peeling of some tiny potatoes, and a dish towel caught on fire, but other than that it was smooth sailing.

"Jo, put the flowers on the table."

"Ooo, flowers, how gay!" Jo declared, smelling them.

"Gerber Daisies are not gay. Now Tulips... I'd question Tulips." Wade argued.

Jodie did as she was told, then rearranged the candles for the hundredth time. "Wade, I don't like this candle," she said, holding up a big yellow one. "Vanilla doesn't go with Salmon and roasted potatoes."

"We're not going to light that one. It's pretty and we're candle deprived. If someone didn't feel the need to hole up in her room and brood by candle light we'd have a bigger selection."

"Well, lets hope Brooke adds some light to her otherwise dark existence." Jodie said with a dramatic air.

"Oh, please, she's not a Fellini movie. She's a brooder, not irreversibly maudlin."

"It sounded deep." Jodie joked. "Okay, Salmon?"

Wade peeked into the broiler. "Check!"

"Potatoes?"

Wade took the tray out of the oven. "Check, and they're all crispy brown too."

"Salad?" Jodie questioned.

"Coming along smoothly." He held up half a cucumber and a knife and Jodie hung her head in sadness. "What just happened?"

"He looks like Pete."

Wade looked at the cucumber in puzzlement. "Pete?"

Jodie sported an evil smile. "Yeah, Pete was my best friend that weekend I ran out of batteries."

Wade gasped. "Jodie! That is so cruel! You know how I feel about vaginas and food!" He stomped his foot and pouted.

Jodie snickered. "You have nothing to worry about. Pete was a loyal friend but his time on this earth was brief."

"You're disgusting. I'm ignoring you."

"Fine, ignore me, so I won't tell you that Cayden and Brooke should be here any minute."

"What?" Wade dropped the cucumber and ran into his room. "I'm not dressed yet!"

Jodie laughed and finished making the salad.

****************

"You look... great." Cayden said with a shy grin, unable to tear her eyes away from Brooke's chest.

"Thank you, I thought you'd appreciate them." Brooke said with a giggle.

Cayden turned pink and cleared her throat nervously. "I'm sorry, it's just that they're.. you know..."

Brooke patted the tall woman on the arm. "It's okay, feel free." SCORE!

So, I have to close the shop, so you want to help?" Cayden asked, changing the subject. Fishing for the keys would give her something else to concentrate on.

"I don't think I can reach the gate, you'll have to pull that down." Brooke said innocently, yet her heart sped up in anticipation of Cayden squatting.

"Well then, I'm going to turn off the lights and when I do, run outside unless you want a repeat of the last time."

Brooke chuckled. "No thanks. I'll go now to avoid that scene. My ears are still ringing from the last time."

Cayden watched Brooke's ass intently as she walked away. Her mouth watered and she took a deep breath. Calm down or you'll never make it through dinner.

With the alarm set, Cayden ran outside and Brooke's eyes stayed riveted to the tall woman as she pulled down the gate and squatted to put on the locks. The blonde smiled wolfishly as she stared. Oh, yeah... those thighs are irresistable. I could die to feel that skin on my cheeks.

"Man, it's hot out today." Cayden commented as she stood up. She turned to face Brooke and her pulse quickened at the way the blonde was looking at her. "Um, cab?" she asked, putting her sunglasses on.

Brooke blinked a few times before nodding. "Yeah a cab, it's hot alright." Stupid shades, her eyes are the best part.

Cayden chuckled to herself. It looked like Brooke was thinking with the same body part as she was. It was going to be a very interesting evening.

Cayden held the cab door open for Brooke and the blonde got in, leaving a very tiny space for the tall woman to squeeze into. Cayden stood outside until the people stuck behind the cab started honking and yelling. She gave them the finger and sat down, her body pressed firmly into Brooke's. "Wanna sit on my lap?" she mumbled.

"Don't tempt me stretch. That's an awful lot of lap." Brooke teased, nodding to Cayden's uncomfortably bent legs. "Why is it so cramped in the back of a cab anyway?"

"To annoy me." Cayden replied with a sigh, she could feel herself getting damp where their bodies met and it wasn't from the heat. She was nervous.

"God, I'm already stuck to the seat." Brooke complained.

"Thats cuz you hardly have any clothes on to protect you." The shop keeper said with a raised eyebrow.

Brooke just smiled, pleased with herself.

Cayden sneakily spied on Brooke behind her glasses, she was so close the tall woman could smell her hair. It looked so soft, Cayden wanted to touch it right then a nd there and had to ball her hands in her lap to control herself.

Brooke didn't have on shades and wasn't as subtle, she openly drank in the tall beauty. Such close proximity to the object of her every desire was stirring her libido, and images of her nightly dreams cascaded before her eyes. She swallowed hard and sighed heavily. "You smell good." she said, her voice husky.

Cayden's gaze fell on Brooke's lips as she spoke, the urge to smother those full, pink lips with her own startled her. She closed her eyes to break the connection. "I smelled better this morning." she said absently. "You smell good too."

"Thanks, Irish Springs, the yellow one. It has vitamins in it."

"Hmm, mine's something green, I'm not sure what though. Wade bought it." Cayden said, trying to squish herself into the door.

Brooke smiled at the tall woman's attempts. She was testing Cayden to see if she would say something and thought it was sweet how she didn't. "You could always ask me to move over you know." she said, scootching over a bit.

Cayden flashed an embarrased grin. "Well... it wasn't killing me or anything. Just that... it's hot and all."

"That's perfectly alright, it was killing me." Brooke said, fanning herself.

Cayden felt a twinge of excitement knowing Brooke was having the same trouble as she was. I make her horny. she thought with an excited internal chuckle. Not that I didn't know that already, but still...it gets me tingly.

"How's Wade and Jodie"

Cayden turned to Brooke and addressed her chest. "I haven't heard from them all day. I have no idea what to expect when I get home, I'm a little nervous."

"I'm sure it will be alright. I don't know about Wade as much as Jodie, but Jo, she's harmless. She just tries too hard, she cares about you a lot. Wants to see you happy."

"Yeah, I suppose. " Cayden pondered that. "Hey," an evil grin formed on her face. "You want harmless? Just you wait until I put on the outfit she has planned for me, then tell me harmless."

Brooke's heart rate doubled. "I can hardly wait."

*******************

"They're coming!" Wade yelled as he ran to Jodie. "I just saw them get out of a cab, and wait until you see Brooke!"

Jodie clapped her hands excitedly. When Cayden put her key in the door, Wade yanked it open, pulling Cayden inside and almost to her knees.

"Wade! You almost took my arm off." She complained.

He dismissed her with a wave. "Don't be so dramatic sweetie. Brooke, come in and let me look at you."

Brooke stepped passed Cayden and into Wade's open arms. They hugged and Wade laughed. "Ooo, look at these tits girl! Baboom!"

Cayden averted her eyes, she'd been trying not to look at them.

Jodie hugged Brooke too and made yummy noises. "Hey Cayden, have you taken a good look at them yet? They're wonderful."

"Yeah, I saw them. It's kinda hard not to."

Brooke, Jodie and Wade giggled to each other and Cayden rolled her eyes. "I need a shower, I'll be quick. You guys go ahead and eat that leafy green substance without me."

"Oh no, it wouldn't kill you to eat a salad, we'll wait." Wade said, pulling Brooke into the living room. "Have a beer, Jodie, go get her a beer."

"Aye, captain."

Brooke drank gratefully from the cold bottle. "So the bra was a good choice?"

"Wade snorted. "Good It was a smashing idea. You're going to get some for sure. Cayden can't resist those tits and that ass."

Jodie walked behind Brooke and hummed her approval. "Oh definitely. Cayden would have to be dead not to indulge in some of that."

"Hey now, I'm not looking for her to throw me down or anything.... on second thought..." Brooke's ears turned red from her sudden thoughts.

"Looking a little flushed there, kiddo." Jodie teased.

"Oh my god, the things she does to me. It should be illegal to get someone so hot." Brooke shook her head and flopped into the couch. "Where's La La?" She looked around curiously.

"He's locked in the bathroom. It was best for everyone involved if he was far away from the salmon." Jodie answered.

"The poor thing. " Brooke sympathised.

"Trust me, once he gets a good knead going, your in big trouble, and where there's salmon involved, it could get ugly."

Cayden's voice drifted through the house. "Stupid cat, I'm trying to get dressed!"

Brooke turned towards the voice and sighed, drinking down the rest of her beer.

"Wait until you see what she's wearing." Wade said with a smirk.

"Bring it on, I need new fantasy material." Brooke said with a wink.

Cayden's voice was heard again, less muffled than before. "You know, why is it that every time my legs are wet, La La wipes his fat ass on them? And what in god's name is in that litterbox?"

"They're pearls dear, they're chic." Wade said snootily.

Cayden popped her head into the room. "Brooke do you really give a rat's ass what the cat craps in?"

"Well, I always wanted to see what the pearls looked like."

Cayden rolled her eyes and disappeared again. "I'll be a second." Everyone waited patiently until the tall woman entered the living room.

"Dear Lord." Brooke's eyes bugged out. Cayden's hair was wet, her shorts short and her tank top testing the very limits of cotton.

Wade elbowed her and chuckled. Brooke's gaze followed Cayden as she went to sit down at the table.

"I'm starved, are you guys coming?" The brunette asked "I know its rude to start without you all but I'll give you 5 seconds."

The three friends ran to the kitchen and Brooke sat herself between Jodie and Cayden, across from Wade. She tried desperately not to stare at the shop keeper but was failing miserably. Cayden's just washed hair smelled delicious, and Brooke shivered imagining it tickling her skin. She glanced up at the stupid smiles on Wade and Jodie's face and cleared her throat. "Okay, all set, Cayden you can eat now."

"Good." The tall woman doused her salad with dressing, and smirked to herself. She could feel the tension rolling off of Brooke and felt very smug. Ha. So there. "Ranch?" she asked, holding up the dressing to Brooke.

Brooke nodded, and took it. "Thanks. Hey, cucumbers. My dad loves cucumbers." she said just to make conversation and bring her mind out of the gutter.

Cayden speared a cucumber with her fork and studied it. "Any relation to Pete?"

Jodie snickered and Wade spat out his salad. Brooke looked amused, but puzzled.

"Pete was Jodie's special friend. Cayden explained with a wink, then popped the fork in her mouth.

"Oooh." Brooke nodded. "I have a special fried too, but you won't find it in any slad plate. My parents would have strokes."

"Which one do you have? I have the jammer, I'm in love with it." Jodie asked excitedly.

"Really? I was looking at that one but I..."

Wade dropped his fork with a clang. "Must we?? he asked in horror.

"Oh, I forgot, Wade's got vaginaphobia. We'll continue this conversation later." Jodie said with a definitive nod.

Cayden was busy trying not to hyperventilate. Oh god, she has a vibrator, she uses it....

Jodie noticed Cayden's expression and chuckled to herself. "So Cayd, how's work?"

"Good." The shop keeper grunted, stuffing salad into her mouth.

"A very... colorful old woman was there when I got there. Ida I think her name was, Brooke mentioned.

"Oh! Ida Friedman! Ain't she a pip? I love her. Cayden is an angel of the highest order."

"I am not. I have evil thoughts." Cayden argued.

"Oh yeah? Like what?" Jodie dared. "Ow!" she yelled after Cayden kicked her under the table.

"She was really evil the other morning when she dreamed... OW!" Wade rubbed his shin.

The tall woman glared at her friends, her face turning red.

"She's being evil right now, look at that tank top." Wade continued. "There ain't nothing pure about that shirt."

Brooke took the opportunity to openly stare at Cayden's chest since everyone else was. "Oh yes... definitely impure... evil..." She muttered, trying not to throw herself face first into Cayden's cleavage.

"And you're one to talk honey," Wade smirked, pointing his fork at Brooke.

Brooke stuck out her chest and Jodie stood up and applauded. "You go girl! Nothing wrong with flaunting what ya got. Cayden, you better claim your woman before someone else steals her right out from under your nose."

Cayden panicked. They could do that? She looked at Brooke who was still showing off her boobs and her nostrils flared. Of course they could, she's not mine or anything... ooo... mine? she wondered tracing Brooke's body with her eyes. I don't want anyone but me touching her. Cayden's stomach clenched thinking about actually touching Brooke. Her gaze met Brooke's and Brooke's cocky little smile changed into a sultry stare.

"Well, there you go." Wade said of the way the two were staring at each other. "It looks like the claim has been staked."

Cayden broke the eye contact and clamly placed her fork down.

"I don't know really," Brooke said, "She really hasn't said or done anything to prove that to me."

"What do you want me to do?" Cayden asked seriously.

"Claim your woman. Kiss her or something... just claim her." Jodie urged.

"I already kissed you." Cayden told Brooke.

"No, you attacked her, this time, do it like you mean it. Make her want you." Wade pushed.

Brooke's eyes widened. Want her more than I already do? Is that even possible? Good grief! I'll explode!

"Here? At the dinner table? During salad?" Cayden asked nervously.

"We don't mind. "Wade spoke for Jodie. "Do you Brooke?"

"Not at all." The blonde breathed out, already able to feel Cayden's lips.

The tall woman licked her lips and bent her head, and Brooke tilted her head up. Their lips met tentatively, lightly as they were both very aware of their audience. Cayden froze at the contact, the only thing moving on her body was her lips which she adjusted just slightly to fit better with Brooke's. That little movement was all the incentive the blonde needed and she reached up and threaded her fingers through Cayden's hair, pulling her closer and strengthening the kiss. Cayden emitted a tiny whimper from the back of her throat, and slipped her tongue out, tracing Brooke's lips. The blonde groaned, opening her mouth to give Cayden permission to explore.

The shop keeper's blood was pounding in her ears. This kiss was so different in comparison to the others... she could feel it in her toes. Her scalp tingled as her tongue wandered over the different textures in Brooke's mouth. She didn't quite understand why this kiss was so different, so much more intense than the others, even though it was less desperate. It felt like something, it seemed to mean something.

Brooke's tongue met Cayden's and sparklers went off in the blonde's brain. She slid her tongue sensuously over and around Cayden's, gripping her head tighter, not ever wanting her to move. If this kiss was meant for claiming, the deed was done. She couldn't dream of anyone else invoking such an intense feeling of want in her. Her knees were shaking and she felt like she wanted to scream.

Cayden was startled as she felt someone lifting her arms and placing them around Brooke. She wanted to protest, but once she had Brooke in her grasp, she forgot what she was thinking. She flattened her hands on Brooke's back, and pulled her as close as the chairs would allow. The lack of body contact prompted a growl of frustration from her chest.

Brooke sighed into the long, sexy kiss, it was so satisfying. Cayden's large hands, were warm and comforting, yet strong and exciting at the same time. She leaned back into them, drawing another growl from the brunette.

"Wow," Wade said quietly, "Now, that is a kiss."

Cayden, suddenly shy, withdrew, and after long moments, opened her eyes. They focused on Brooke's damp, parted lips, and her belly tightened so dramatically, her body jerked. No, I do not want anyone else touching those lips. A strange possessiveness washed over her and she leaned back in her chair. "How'd I do?" She asked her voice shaky and deep.

Brooke blinked rapidly, shook her head to clear it, and blew out a long breath. "God, Cayden."

Jodie smiled happily, her insides all warm and fuzzy. "I'd say you scored Cayd."

"Big time." Wade agreed, noting the flush that crept up Brooke's neck.

Cayden smiled and puffed up with pride. "Well, then, so I've claimed my woman?"

All eyes turned towards Brooke, who was still flustered from the sensual intensity of the kiss. "Yes." she nodded, then turned to Cayden and grinned. "But I may need some more convincing."

Cayden, a bit full of herself headed in for another kiss, but Brooke held her back.

"Later, or I swear to god, my head will explode." Brooke said, reaching up and tucking some stray hair behind Cayden's ear.

The surprise Cayden felt when Brooke pushed her away turned to cockiness and she smiled smugly. "Okay." she said, her heart beating hard at the implications. "I suppose we should finish eating then?"

Wade snickered and stood up. "Coming right up. Sheesh, you'd figure after something like that, you'd skip right to dessert!"

Brooke grinned "I have plans." she said with a wink.

Cayden's mouth watered and it wasn't from salmon and little roasted potatoes.

************************

Dinner was a very tense affair for Cayden and Brooke, and neither of them knew each other's problem. They both dwelled on the sensations that the kiss invoked, and were thinking up scenarios in which they could do it again. All the while they kept up their end of the lively chatter, leaving Wade and Jodie to assume they both had gotten over the kiss incident.

Cayden's mind was stuck on replay, of the moment that her tongue entered Brooke's mouth. Cayden liked kissing enough, but for some reason, this kiss was so much more than a kiss, it was sex. Her tongue was enveloped in sweet softness and her mind clicked to something a lot more intense. She never associated a kiss with sex, sure, lots of kisses could lead to sex, but the kiss itself never felt so arousing. And that was another thing, after the first two kisses with Brooke, Cayden swore she could never be more turned on by a kiss, but this one was far more arousing, and in a different way. The last two, were hungry and hard, they made her hot, in a frantic sort of way, and she needed immediate release. This kiss was sensual and soft, and turned her on more than the others, and it was the sort of arousal she could stand forever. A sweet torture of hours of kisses, the build up more satisfying than the release.

Brooke was fixated on sensation. How soft Cayden's lips were and how hot her hands felt. She recalled over and over how her tongue felt against the velvety texture of Cayden's and the striking difference in the sharp strength of the tall woman's teeth. She shivered a few times, imagining those teeth nipping at the skin of her throat. Brooke wanted Cayden in a bad way. The kiss proved that Cayden was a lot more than she appeared to be. There was a gentleness hiding under that facade, and knowing she had that quality, among the others, excited Brooke in more ways. She fantasized, as she ate, of the many different ways in which Cayden would make love to her. Gently, rough, soft, hard, and she wondered how Cayden liked to be touched.

Wade started to collect the empty plates. "Who wants cappuccino?"

"If you're going to drag that machine out, I'll take one. Ooo, can I make it?" Jodie asked.

"No, it's my machine. " Wade denied her.

"Give it up Jo, he gets irrational if someone else froths his milk." Cayden joked.

"Do not!"

"I'll have one." Brooke said, getting up to help Wade clean.

"No, sit," he insisted," I got it." he turned to Cayden, "But I'll need you there woman to get the machine down from where you hid it."

Cayden stood up and rolled her eyes. "Well, if you didn't insist on making cappuccino at ungodly hours I wouldn't have put it up there."

"I was PMSing." Wade said with a pout.

"No, I was PMSing, and you just pissed me off." She replied, reaching up to take down the heavy machine.

"Oh yeah, work those delts baby." Jo remarked.

"Mmm." Brooke agreed.

"Aww, there's nothing special about my delts. You know, I'd look much better if I had a Bowflex." Cayden said, looking directly at Wade.

"I think you look fine." Wade commented, rinsing out the machine.

"I can look better and so can you."

"I look fine thank you." Wade said, flexing his biceps.

"What gives?" Jodie asked.

"The Bowflex is expensive and Wade won't go halves with me. He'd rather go to the gym and smell boy sweat."

"There's more to the gym than boy sweat." Wade said with an eyebrow waggle.

Cayden turned to Brooke. "have you seen the Bowflex?"

Brooke nodded, "Of course, who hasn't?"

"Its the the only thing on 48 channels after midnight." Jodie added.

"I think it's a sexy machine, I can see the attraction." Brooke said.

Cayden stood by Brooke and smiled triumphantly. "Brooke, tell him the benefits!"

"Well..." Brooke stumbled. "Um, you know, if you put in the sweat equity at home, you'd have more time to socialize at the gym."

"Yeah!" Cayden said excitedly.

"Plus, you'd be able to stand around and look fabulous while everyone else sweats." Jodie added.

"Hmm." Wade furrowed his brows in thought. "You may have a point, I'll think about it."

Cayden's eyes lit up and she hugged Brooke spontaneously. Her breath caught when their bodies met and she breathed deeply, capturing the scent of Brooke. Her eyes closed and she blew out the breath, blowing warm moist air across Brooke's skin.

The blonde shuddered, her nipples tightened, and she swallowed hard. She pulled away and tried to calm down.

Cayden wanted more than just the hug and fought the urge to reach out and take what she wanted. This new feeling of dominance was strong, she never had the urge to take control like she did with Brooke. She was sure it had something to do with the whole stake your claim thing. Regardless, the feeling was new and she wasn't sure she could keep it at bay.

"If you'll excuse me." Brooke said, getting up.

"Don't let La La out!" Wade called after her.

"I'll be careful." Brooke closed the bathroom door behind her and ran the cold water. God, I am so incredibly turned on! She splashed the cold water on her face, and when that didn't cool her off, she filled up the sink and submerged her whole face. Gotta do something about this. I want more Cayden. Ý

"Oh, Cayd, this is so perfect! Don't let her get away!" Jodie exclaimed the second the bathroom door closed.

"Yeah, play for keeps Cayd." Wade agreed. "I saw that kiss with my own eyes, it said something."

"I know." Cayden admitted. "It was wild... I want her so bad."

"Hell, I want her!" Wade exclaimed. "I'm frothing for you now Jodie."

"Oooo baby, froth for me... it makes me hot."

"Let's not talk about hot, I'm on fire here. Did you see her tits? Oh my god, they're reaching out to me, they're begging me to touch them." Cayden whined.

"I'm sure we can find a way to leave you two alone." Jodie said, with a wink.

The bathroom door opened. "Cayden, can you come here a minute? I need your help."

All eyes turned to the brunette and she raised her eyebrow. "What in the world could she need me to... " a smirk spread across her lips. "Coming." she yelled and got up quickly.

"Hey the bathroom, now there's a novel idea." Jodie joked.

"We won't wait up." Wade giggled, slapping her on the shoulder.

"Oh please, like we'll really do anything in the bathroom, how tacky can you get."

Part 24

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