Page 45 of Enchanted Kisses
“Sure you did.” He lowered his head, and when he lifted it, the old Caiden appeared.MyCaiden.
I couldn’t keep from smiling. It was as if my heart said, “There you are.”
“You lost plenty,” he said. “Who you thought you were. The life you knew. Your mother for a second time. And the two people you believed were your human friends.”
I hadn’t thought of it like that. Hearing it listed sent shivers of sadness down my spine. But I didn’t want to feel sad. I wanted things to go back to the way they were. WithmyCaiden here, it was easier to pretend they hadn’t changed, if only for a moment.
“What are you saying? That you and Raysa aren’t my friends anymore? Too cool for a halfsie?” I teased. Or was I flirting?
Caiden didn’t look amused. He released his glamour and transformed back into his glorious prince form.
That was when I realized how close I’d moved to him.
I leaned away and considered something I hadn’t before Raysa told me about Caiden’sactivepast. How did I compare to the females of his kind? I was sure they were all as beautiful and perfect as Raysa. Then I questioned something else. How many had he been with? No! I didn’t want to know that.
My lip curled with disgust.
Caiden took my expression the wrong way. “Am I that repulsive to you? Most girls like this look better than the other. But you…” He shook his head, seeming at a loss.
“I’m not trying to hurt your feelings. I like your look. It’s a nice look.”
“Nice?” One brow lifted. “How generous of you.”
“Attractive?” I offered, unable to tell him what I really thought.
“Is that a question or a compliment?”
Hadn’t I told him he was hot earlier today? I couldn’t remember whether I’d said it out loud or not.
Caiden shook his head again and let out a frustrated sigh. He glanced around my bedroom as though he could see it clearly in the dark. With his glowing eyes, I bet he could.
While he focused on my room, I took a moment to appreciate him for who he was, and not who he wasn’t. It seemed only fair. Here, aglow in the darkness, I found him… “Mesmerizing.”
His face snapped in my direction. Had he heard my thoughts? Nope, he didn’t have to. I’d said the word out loud. Swooned it aloud was more like it.
“I likemesmerizing.” His intense gaze devoured me. “Relax.” He leaned in and put his hand over mine.
I flinched and waited to feel the warmth and peace that usually accompanied his touch. When he moved closer, I squealed, “It’s not working.”
“What’s not working?” His sweet breath caressed my nose.
Overwhelmed with an urge to be closer and desires I’d never felt before, I clenched my fists. Sure, I’d felt something for Caiden in the past, but it had been nothing compared to these new sensations whirling through me. Was he doing it to me?
“I don’t feel relaxed like I usually do when you touch me and all of the sudden, I’m calm.” My voice sounded breathy and faint.
“Perhaps I don’t want you to feel calm.”
“So then youaredoing this to me?”
He frowned. “What is it you think I’m doing?”
Making me want to climb into your lap and kiss you until my lips go numb.No way would I admit that to him.
My breathing grew louder by the second. I tried to think of what to say—what Icouldsay without lying. But all I could think about was losing myself in his arms. A foreign part of me wanted to tempt his darker side. How stupid was that? Although Raysa thought Caiden wanted me for other reasons, I knew enough about bad boys after dating two in high school to know they were all the same.
He tilted his head, his lips now an inch from mine.
I put my hand to his chest but didn’t push him away. “Wait.” Heat prickled my skin. “Tell me what you’re doing. Are you playing with me? I know you like games.”
