Page 45 of Confusing Cade
“I should be thanking you.”
“The meal was great,” Cade said, his voice a low hum that seemed to ripple through the air between us. He paused, his gaze pinning me in place, dark and searching, as if he could see straight through to the parts of me I kept hidden. “But the best part of it was you.”
His words landed like a match struck in the dark, smooth and deliberate, their warmth spreading through my chest, igniting something reckless and alive. My breath hitched, a tremor of want pulsing beneath my skin, making my fingers curl against the bench. It was flirtatious, yes, but there was a raw honesty in his voice that unraveled me, made me feel exposed and desired all at once. I leaned in before I could think, my lips crashing into his, driven by a hunger I hadn’t known I was carrying until this moment.
This time, Cade’s kiss was a storm. It was fierce and unyielding, his lips claiming mine with confidence that stole the air from my lungs. It was nothing like the hesitant spark we’d shared in the office, constrained by the pretense of professionalism. Now, there was only heat, his hands sliding to my hips, fingers digging in just enough to make my pulse race faster. My body arched toward him, craving the press of his chest, the roughness of his jaw, the everything of him. Desire coiled tight in my core, a wild, aching need that threatened to consume me whole.
“Don’t stop,” I breathed against his mouth, my voice ragged, almost desperate, as if letting go would shatter something I wasn’t ready to lose. “Don’t ever stop.”
His lips curved into a faint, knowing smile, his breath hot and teasing against my skin. “We can’t stay on this bench all night,” he whispered, his voice thick with the same longing that burned in me, his thumb brushing the edge of my jaw. “But my place isn’t far from here.”
My heart slammed against my ribs, the world narrowing to the heat of his touch, the taste of him still lingering on my lips—salt and want and something intoxicatingly him. The thought of pulling away felt like tearing myself in two.
“Let’s go,” I said. “Now.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
CADE
Had I been planning to sleep with Bella, I would have arranged things better and wouldn’t have ended our dinner with a walk to the ocean. But since we had, we also had to go through a short, sexually tinged walk back to the valet stand. It was all I could do to not pull her into the small courtyards that braided and branched off from Worth Avenue and take her there, against a wall, the darkness and the tropical plants giving us cover while I brought her to oblivion.
Thankfully, the valet was quick to get the car, and before long, we were speeding down County Road toward my house. I held her hand as I drove, glad once I parked the distance from my garage to the side door wasn’t far. Once alone inside the mudroom, my mouth was on hers again, and I pressed her against the back of the door, kissing her before we even took off our shoes.
My pulse hammered in my chest, a wild rhythm that matched the heat coursing through me, my body straining with want as I stood close to her. But this corner of the house was too dim, too cramped, and too wrong for what I craved. I wasn’t going to let this happen here, not like this. So, I pulled back, my breath uneven, and broke our embrace.
“Come on,” I murmured, my voice rough as I reached for the wall switch, flooding the house with soft light.
We crossed the threshold into the living room, her hand still in mine, the air between us electric. I tried to hold out, to keep some shred of control, but halfway across the room, my resolve shattered. Need roared through me, raw and unrelenting, and I couldn’t wait another second. In one swift motion, I swept Bella into my arms, her body light and yielding against mine, and guided her toward the wall. Her back met the smooth surface with a soft thud, her eyes locking onto mine, wide and blazing with the same hunger that had me undone. I moved my mouth to the nape of her neck, which I kissed again and again. She relaxed underneath me, a physical sign of giving in to her own wants, and we moved in unison for a few minutes. There was nothing that mattered more than me and her, and the tension between us was rapidly pushing us to a place of no return.
My fingers found the zipper of her dress, and I yanked it. The fabric slipped off her shoulders, then down her body, and pooled at her feet. I stepped backward and said, “Let me see you.”
She wore a black lacy bra and a pair of gauzy underwear that accentuated her hips. Her breasts overflowed from the cups, spilling out. They were larger and rounder than I expected, and a thousand times better in person.
“My God,” I managed. “You’re stunning.”
She opened her mouth to reply, but I was on her again, the passion taking full control now as we moved together against the heat. Her hands found the edge of my blazer and pushed it off, sliding it down my shoulders and arms until it fell to the floor next to her dress. With an even faster pace, her fingers ripped off my shirt, buttons flying, and then tore it off as my mouth devoured her.
Once shirtless, I cupped her ass, feeling the warmth of her skin against my palms. With a gentle yet firm grip, I lifted her body off the ground, and her legs wrapped around my waist. I carried her to the bedroom, each step echoing with anticipation.Once there, I placed her in the center of the soft, plush bed, her body sinking into the mattress like she was meant to be there.
Bella’s moan reverberated through the quiet room as she reached back with deliberate grace, her fingers deftly unhooking her bra. The delicate fabric slipped from her shoulders, cascading to the floor in a whisper revealing her completely to me. She glowed in the dim light from the hallway, her curves catching shadows that accentuated her vulnerability and allure. Her eyes sparkled with a heady mix of desire and relief, as though a dam of long-suppressed tension had finally burst, flooding the space between us with unspoken promises.
Her fingers traced the line of my jaw, tentative at first, then bolder, igniting a fire that threatened to consume me. I wanted her. And I was going to take her. Takethis. I was going to claim this connection, this unspoken vow that pulsed between us. My lips found hers, urgent and hungry, tasting the sweetness of her surrender. Our connection deepened, a dance of need and discovery, each movement unraveling another layer of restraint. Her hands roamed my back, nails grazing my skin, urging me closer, deeper, until the world beyond us dissolved. Time slowed, each second stretching into eternity as we lost ourselves in the rhythm of our shared longing. Her skin was warm and yielding under my hands, and I took my time, savoring every inch of her. My fingers traced the curve of her collarbone, lingering at the pulse point in her throat where her heartbeat fluttered like a caged bird. I kissed her there, the rhythm quickening under my lips, a silent testament to her arousal. Her hands explored me with equal reverence, mapping the planes of my chest, the muscles of my shoulders, as if she was committing every detail to memory.
Once protected, our bodies connected, and it was with a deliberate slowness that made every sensation more vivid. Entering her was electric, a spark that ignited a blaze deepwithin me. Her breath hitched, a soft sound that sent a shiver down my spine, and I paused, letting the moment stretch, letting the weight of our connection settle over us. Her eyes held mine, fierce and unguarded, reflecting a trust that made my heart ache.
