Page 35 of Worthy

I assumed Cade would be a good kisser, but I expected those kisses to be passionate. Hungry. Not slow and gentle, like he’s savoring the contact. Savoringme.

Cade’s mouth brushes affectionately over mine as his hands caress my cheeks, my jaw, my throat. His touch is sensual, patient, like he could spend hours doing nothing more than exploring my mouth, learning my taste.

I’ve never been kissed like this before. Never been made to feel cherished, like my touch is a precious gift, but that’s exactly what Cade’s doing to me right now, making me feel as though kissing me is the most profound sensation he’s ever experienced.

It’s profound for me too, so intense and intimate I can’t contain the emotion building inside me. I sigh, a throaty, lust-filled exhale that makes Cade freeze and pull back slowly.

His jaw is locked tight as his eyes roam over my face, lingering briefly on my lips before meeting my gaze, searching. Waiting. His breathing is shallow, like it’s taking all his energy to stay in control, and while the gentle exploration we just shared was perfect on so many levels, it’s no longer enough. I want more. I break our stare to look at his lips, and his restraint evaporates.

Cade hoists me off the stool and sets me on the table, putting my face level with his. He casts my apron aside and spreads my legs wide so he can step between them, pressing our bodies together as he crushes his mouth to mine. He moves urgently, hungrily, threading his fingersin my hair and tilting my head where he wants it so his tongue can slide against mine. This is the passion I expected from a man with his experience, and while I don’t want to think about how he got that experience, I’m not complaining about its benefits.

Whereas our first kiss was sweet and tender, this kiss is carnal. Demanding. Lips and tongues and teeth clashing together furiously now that we’ve given into our desire. Both kisses are intense in their own way, but while Cade had me melting earlier, he now has me burning up.

His mouth clings to mine, his tongue stroking feverishly against my own, coaxing a moan from deep in my throat. He responds in kind, deepening the kiss.

I slide my hands up his arms, over his shoulders, into his hair, relishing the feel of the soft strands sliding through my fingers. I swear he growls under my touch, clutching my head in his hands and pulling me closer.

Heat explodes through my body, traveling from my mouth, past my chest, and settling between my legs. It’s been several months since I felt the sweet ache of desire, sensed the press of a man’s erection against mine. I rock my hips forward to relieve the pressure building there and feel the extent of Cade’s need. Flames shoot through me as I grind against his length, the friction causing me to moan against his mouth. I want more of that.

I rock forward again and…

Cade utters a strangled groan and steps back so our bodies are no longer pressed together, although he’s still holding my head in his hands, forehead pressed to mine.

″Fuck, Madd,” he pants. “I wasn’t supposed to do that. You shouldn’t have let me touch you.”

″I wanted you to touch me.” I heave, just as breathless. “I want you to keep touching me.”

I feel his head shake slightly. “Don’t say that to me. It’s hard enough to resist you as is.”

″Why resist?” I gasp.

″You know why.” He traces his fingers along my cheeks.

″I don’t.” I shake my head.

″Yes, you do. Your first instinct about me was the right one.” He drops his hands and takes a step back.

″What are you talking about?” I frown.

″You thought I was an outrageous flirt. Don’t deny it,” he adds when I start to shake my head. “I know what you saw. It’s what everyone sees. And you were right. Just because you see more than a flirt doesn’t make me good for you. I fuck people for fun, nothing more. You deserve better.”

″You didn’t kiss me like it was just for fun,” I protest.

I can tell I’ve tripped him up because he doesn’t answer right away. He seems to be reliving that kiss, what it meant. But either it meant nothing, or he doesn’t want to acknowledge it did, because he shakes his head dismissively and says, “It was just a kiss. I’ve got a lot of experience with that,” he adds for effect.

His comment was meant to sting, but it doesn’t make me hurt as much as he intends. It makes me sad, because I know it’s his way of trying to make me see him like he sees himself. What he doesn’t understand is how I can’t unsee the good parts of him. It doesn’t matter what he says to push me away, I’ll still see the whole picture instead of the parts he thinks I should focus on.

I want to make him understand that, but I know years of being regarded as a plaything have conditioned him to believe that’s all he is, and it will take time for him to trust that I really do see more thanwhat's on the outside. If I push him tonight, he’ll just retreat further, so while it literally pains me to see him doubt himself, or think that he made a mistake by touching me, the best thing I can do now is leave. But I won’t leave quietly.

″If you have so much experience kissing then you should recognize the difference between simply touching your lips to someone else’s and tasting them. Getting lost in them. I know the difference. Make sure you do before you make decisions about what I deserve.”

Cade’s eyes track me miserably as I head for the door. I don’t know if my words make any sense to him, but I do know that was not the kiss you give someone for casual fun. Now, I have to help him understand that.

Chapter ten

Cade

As soon as he’s gone, I lean back against the counter and rub my hands over my face. That was… I have no fucking idea what that was.

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