Page 25 of When I Had You

The hour doesn’t call for controlling every emotion, and I start laughing. “Yes, princess.”

Her arms lower, and she releases a sigh that sounds like it’s been held for years waiting for this moment. “Why do you have to be such a jerk?” The defensiveness is gone as teasing weaves through her words. Coming closer, she grins up at me. “You’re a powerful man, one of twenty on the racing grid, but you’re standing here making sure I’m okay. Why is that?”

“Because you have a great ass.”

I’m whacked on the chest with her bag. “You’re the worst, Cash!”

I catch her by the hips before she slips out of reach again. Leaning down, I whisper in her ear, “Trust me, babe, I’m the best you’ll ever have.”

The warmth of her breath hits my neck, and when she turns, her cheek slides against mine. Her lips reach my ear, and she waves the green flag with two whispered words, “Prove it.”

I kiss her, cupping her face and holding her steady. I’m pushed, shoved toward the room with more strength than I expected her to possess. Grabbing her waist, I lean back with a laugh. “How long did you say it’s been?”

She fists the front of my shirt. “Are we going to do this or not, Ryatt?”

“Well, since you asked so nicely . . .” I scoop her up and put her over my shoulder because I’ll happily get us back in the room much faster.

A hard smack to my ass accompanies her laugh. “Cash!”

“Shh. People are sleeping.” Using my foot, I push the door back open and lock it once we’re inside.

After a huff, she snarks, “Any day now.”

“Safety first. Women have been known to sneak into my room to seduce me.”

“To seduce you? You mean groupies?”

“Women who call you at all hours or show up at your work—”

“Wait.” Her body stills over my shoulder, and she lifts her head up. The woman’s got great abs. “Are you insinuating that I’m a groupie?”

“Those are your words, not mine.”

“For the record . . .” She holds a finger in front of my face, the middle to be precise. I rub my palm over the round of her ass because the beads, and let’s face it, her fucking insanely sexy body has me wanting to grab a handful.

“What are you doing?”

“Nice beads.”

“Uh-huh . . . ”

I carry her into the bedroom and stand at the end of the mattress. Just after she lands on the mussed-up bed, she says, “I didn’t sneak. I was invited the first time and forcibly transported the second.” She takes a breath and says, “And if this is your idea of seduction, you’re hanging out with the wrong women.”

“How would you do it if you can’t get a word in edgewise?”

Lifting up on her elbows, she asks, “Seduce you?” Falling back in a fit of laughter, she flails her arms around the crumpled sheets before relaxing and looking back at me. “I don’t have to seduce men, so it’s not a skill set I’ve developed, but if I had to pick one thing, at the moment, I’d have the bed made to make it more enticing to stay.”

I toe off my shoes. Whether she decides to stay or go, I’m getting in that bed. What happens after that is her decision. “I was sleeping when you called to have me rescue your ass.”

She slips off the edge and turns her backside to me. With a pat, she asks, “This ass? The ass you’re obsessed with?”

“Fuck me,” I growl, reminding myself to be a gentleman. “That’s the one.” I release a sigh, equally exasperated and getting hard watching her walk toward the bathroom. What the fuck have I gotten myself into with her?

Trouble.

Bad decisions.

“Don’t go to bed without me.” She closes the door before I can respond, reaffirming that this woman never hears the word no.

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