Page 18 of If The Shoe Fits

"Mmh."

If she wasn't mistaken, he liked her answer, though. He wouldn't have liked for her to owe him any more than she would have. "You're awfully nice," she noted. "You know, for a stranger. One might think you have ulterior motives."

"How so? We've already established that I'd very much like to fuck you, one day. My motives aren't hidden."

He said it ever so smoothly, naturally. She could only gape. "You're one of a kind."

"Here's your secret, Helene." He took another step, closing the distance between them. "You like it."

And then, he kissed her.

Helene couldn't remember the number of guys she'd kissed in her life. It was a fairly decent list. The occasional club night stands, Tinder dates, and the handful of failed relationships she could boast of. Some of them had been decent kissers. None like this. His mere touch was enough to make her insides explode in a thousand butterflies. His touch was fire. His hand grazed the sensitive skin of her arms and rested on her shoulder, keeping her close. Not close enough. She ran her fingers through his dark curls, and clung to him like a lifeline. She didn't ever want to let go. Cade practically growled against her lips before devouring her hungrily, deepening their maddening kiss. She couldn't get enough. She protested when he finally moved to let her breathe. "I need more." She was practically whining. Cade's dark eyes flashed with something so primal she had to suppress a shiver. His thumb ran along the line of her mouth.

"We're in a library, in your sister's house." His voice was hoarse, harsh. "There are hundreds of people right next door. If you don't behave, I'm going to give you exactly what you're asking for, regardless." She did the only thing she could think of: she opened her mouth and licked his thumb, keeping her gaze on him. Now, he looked furious. Ravenous.

"Promise?" Helene asked, with a teasing smile.

"You're a special brand of trouble, Franklin." Then, thankfully, he was done talking.

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