“I already know that,” I explained. “Or did you forget that I was there tonight for your show? Or that I used to always tease you about not being the nice boy folks thought you were?”

“Yeah, you have always said that. But that was back in college when I was fooling around by skipping class or cheating on a test. Not when I’m fucking.” He circled the bed in a way that made me nervous and horny all at the same time.

I couldn’t be sure, but I felt like he was testing me. Like he knew we would eventually have sex, but he needed to know how much he could push me. “Cordy, I’ve wanted to lick that sweet pussy of yours ever since that first day we met. I’ve wanted to fuck you so hard, you start spitting all those proper words as if they were your own personal love language to me.”

He leaned down on the bed but didn’t touch me, his palms flattened near my sides so that I couldn’t move. “I can sweet talk myself out of anything, but you’ve always bantered with me in a way that had my mind dreaming about that wicked mouth of yours doing dirty things. I’m relentless in the bedroom, Cordy, and I wouldn’t just take you for a night. I’d need to fuck you for the rest of your time here.”

I absently nodded my head, unable to find my voice. I didn’t know which switch I’d flipped inside of him, but I wanted that.Allof that.

“If you give me the okay to fuck you senseless, but moan for me to stop before I’ve given you an orgasm, I’ll listen because I’ll know you’re overwhelmed,” he said. “But after you get your bearings and allow me to proceed, you’ll learn that a country boy like me doesn’t play nice once I know how delicious you taste or how soft your pussy feels wrapped around my dick.”

He kissed me then, his hungry lips landing on mine with a newfound purpose. I wasn’t sure what I expected to happen next, but earlier, I’d known I wanted to try my best to seduce him. Seemed he was turning the tables.

“Can I continue?” he asked against my lips.

I nodded. “Yes.” I didn’t know what I was giving him permission to do, but it didn’t matter. I wanted anything he was offering if it felt as good as his kiss was feeling. As he lifted my tank, he stopped kissing me and popped one of my nipples into his mouth. I let my elbows drop as I fell deeper into the bed, Caden sitting beside me, working my nipple into ecstasy overdrive. When he dipped his hand into my shorts and rubbed his fingers along my folds, I moaned into his mouth at the unexpected pleasure.

“Relax, princess,” he muttered while he switched between nipples.

Relax? Relax how?Every nerve ending in my body felt like it was on fire with need for him. He could ask me for anything in this moment and I’d probably tell him yes.

I felt my orgasm build at a rate that should have been embarrassing, but I had to blame it on the fact that our foreplay had been lasting all night, so I could try to hold out for longer next time.

“That’s it, darlin’,” he whispered against my nipple, his fingers moving in and out of my core in a way that made me thrash my head into the bed. “Let it out for me.”

Oh boy.I was trying really hard not to savor the moment, but I was slowly seeing it was no use. Up until this point in my life, I’d like to think I was a pretty confident woman. Even if I was uncertain about a situation, I played as if I knew exactly what I was talking about. However, having Caden work me the way he was, daring me to hold back the orgasm he was eager to provide, I realized that I’d messed up even heading down this road.

I wasn’t ready for what he was offering. I knew it. He knew it. My lady pearl knew it because she was whispering to me as if to ask, “Bitch, are you sure about doing more of this?” and neither of us cursed much so I was worried. Worried that I’d led Caden and I down this road and there was no undoing what I’d asked. There was no way I could un-hear all the naughty things he wanted to do to me. No way I could look at him and not think about Rodeo Savage. No way we could ever be the same Caden and Cordelia we once were.

So the logical side of my brain figured, if our friendship was already ruined, why not go for the gold? And I let out that orgasm in the most unladylike way I’d ever been in my entire life.

When the room stopped looking fuzzy, I managed to mutter a quick, “Yes, I accept that you need control. We’ll do things your way.”

His smirk was a mix between devious and sympathetic. “We start at dusk tomorrow.”

My ears perked up in surprise. “What do we start exactly?”

“You’ll find out tomorrow.” And with that, he straightened my pajamas, gave me a sultry kiss, and left my room, leaving me with nothing but my memories of what had just happened and excitement of what was yet to come. Ready or not, there was no turning back now.

Twelve

CORDELIA

I was hotter than the devil’s backside and it wasn’t just because the air conditioning in the loft had gone out. Earlier today, we’d gotten back from Nashville and Caden’s lead staff had to update him on everything he missed. I welcomed his busyness because the last thing I wanted to do was spend all day waiting to see what move he was going to make next.

There was something exhilarating in the way he’d been with me last night. His words warning me that he’d take off the baby gloves if I let him. As apprehensive as I was to dive into unchartered territory with a man like Caden, I knew I could trust him. There wasn’t anything he’d do to make me uncomfortable, but I had no doubt he would push me to my sexual limits.

I stood from the chair and walked to the window, watching the bright sky grow darker with every passing minute. I’d really been at peace since I arrived here, and I never would have thought time away from the office in a small town I’d never visited before would feel as rejuvenating as it did.

My phone chimed, indicating that I had a message.

Caden: Are you wearing pajamas?

I blinkedmy eyes to make sure I’d read the message correctly.

Cordelia: No. I’m currently wearing a maxi dress.

Caden: Good. I want the dress