Page 62 of Caged Heat

“Are you done running? Done pushing me away?”

“I haven’t?—”

“You did. Even this,” I said, pointing between us, “was a test to see if I’d run.” I leaned forward, taking her chin with my fingers, and kissed her softly. “That was the hottest moment of my life, and it felt like everything. So, are you going to stop pretending this isn’t different? That this connection between us isn’t real? Because I’d rather quit trying to prove you can’t scare me and spend the first part of the new year between your legs. Sucking, licking, and fucking you until you can’t walk.” I paused, staring her straight in the eyes. “But the choice is up to you. So… what’s it going to be, Sunshine?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

STEPH

The question hung between us, his eyes imploring mine to say yes. My body still buzzed with lightness from the orgasm he’d given me. And what an orgasm it had been. Mack had surprised me—big time.

He wasn’t wrong that I’d baited him. Since I couldn’t seem to keep myself away from him this time, I’d hoped I could push him away instead—no such luck.

Had you really expected anything less from him? He’s not like your hookups.

I’d known Mack was different from the moment our eyes met, yet I kept trying to treat him like any other guy.

He cupped my cheek, and I leaned into his touch. He smiled, the emotion in his eyes soft as he watched me, patiently waiting for me to get my shit together.

Swallowing, I took a deep breath and released it slowly. “I don’t know how to be in a relationship,” I admitted.

“Did I miss where I asked you to be in one?” he teased. “Pretty sure I said I wanted to?—”

I covered his mouth and rolled my eyes. “You’re not the hookup kind of guy despite your dirty mouth.” He chuckled beneath my hand, and I dropped it. “And I’m only good at hookups.” I shrugged.

“I highly doubt that, but I like you enough to take this at whatever pace you need. I’m in no rush; my schedule won’t allow it.”

I gulped. Again, he hadn’t responded how I anticipated. “What are you saying?”

“You need me to spell it out?” I nodded. “You’re in your last semester of college, and I’m in my residency, which means our free time is limited. When I get off work, the last thing I want to do is waste time at a bar or club to find someone worth spending my time with. I don’t know how it is for you, but knowing there’s someone I like and have chemistry with makes the day go by faster. We don’t have to put labels on us or make promises, but I’d like to explore this with you.”

“And what does exploring look like?”

“Food and orgasms.”

“Food and orgasms?” I laughed.

He smiled, and my heart flipped in my chest. “Yep. We both gotta eat, so we do it together. Clothing optional. We can also talk and ask questions over these meals.”

“Sounds suspiciously like a date.”

“Did you not hear the clothing optional part? Pretty sure dates require clothes.”

I smiled despite myself. “So we have food, talk, and have orgasms?”

“Yep.”

“Hm. I suppose that doesn’t sound horrible.”

“Not if you’re doing it right,” he teased.

“If I want to go out with my friends?”

“Go out with them. I don’t expect you to drop everything for me; just cut out a small portion.”

“I hope it’s not small.” He laughed, and my insides sparked, lighting me up. He thrust up, his hardness firm against my leg. Yeah, there’s nothing small about that.

“You don’t get to tell me what to wear.”

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