Page 78 of The Obvious Check

“I didn’t get beaten up. Sure, Luke’s guys threw a few punches, but they have terrible form and the best way to win in a fight is to let your opponent think you’re down.”

“Wait, so you aren’t hurt?”

“No.”

“Then why—” I look down at his still crouched form.

He inhales a deep breath, then blows it out in a low laugh, shaking his head. “I’m going to be honest with you, Sav, and I hope it doesn’t freak you out.”

I tense, my stomach clenching with nerves. “Okay,” I say slowly, already bracing for the impact of whatever words are about to come out of his mouth.

This is it. The moment it all falls apart.

Living here.

Being with Cade.

I never even got to accept his wedding proposal, which I assume is rescinded now.

It was stupid to think any of it could ever be real. Just as hopeless a dream as getting Adley back. He tilts his head up, his gaze burning into mine, and when he finally speaks, it’s the last thing I expect.

“I’m two seconds away from blowing my load in my pants.”

My mouth falls open.

What?

“Because feeling you use me like that…” His jaw flexes, his hands gripping the counter so tightly his knuckles go white. “It riled me up so much, I can’t even look at you without thinking about all the things I want to do to you.”

His eyes flick up, locking onto mine for a second before he curses and drags them back down again. His head tips back, a low growl vibrating in his throat. “I knew I shouldn’t have looked again.Fuck.”

I blink, still trying to process what just came out of his mouth.

“I’m sorry?” I squeak, unsure what else to say.

“Now I’m sure you can understand this isn’t exactly how I want to come in front of you for the first time,” he grits out, his voice strained with frustration. “So if you don’t mind, I think I need to take a very, very cold shower.”

I just stare at him, my brain short-circuiting.His brutal honesty is… commendable? Maybe? But I can’t stop the heat creeping up my neck, or how my thighs clench at the way he’s looking at me.

Uh. What’s the correct response here?

“O-okay,” I mutter, my voice embarrassingly high.

“Thanks,” he grumbles, running a hand through his hair before stalking past me toward his bedroom.

And just like that, I’m left standing in the middle of his kitchen, still wearing his jacket, still in the damn bodysuit, with nothing but the lingering scent of him and the absolutely devastating knowledge that I just made Cade Bright, the most self-disciplined, composed, utterly fantastic man I’ve ever met, so turned on, he had to walk away before he embarrassed himself.

Holy. Shit.

The apartment is quiet. So quiet that my thoughts get louder. The only sound in the room is the steady stream of water coming from the shower. The shower Cade’s about to walk under and… think about me?

The thought makes my stomach tighten and my breath hitches in my throat. I should probably go to bed and pretend I didn’t hear what he said, but I can’t. All I can think about is him beneath the spray, his hands braced against the wall as water droplets drip down his body.

I’m two seconds away from blowing my load in my pants.

It riled me up so much, I can’t even look at you without thinking about all the things I want to do to you.

I shudder. It’s not just his words; it’s the way he said them. Rough, raw, and desperate… forme.

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