Page 77 of Cadence
Maddox glances at the number, then at me. His dark gaze drops to my mouth, and I press my lips together, feeling the faint touch from when he kissed me before.
“Right,” he mutters as he stuffs his hands into his pockets. “G’night.”
I fumble with the keycard, fingers trembling as I swipe it against the lock, eyes widening as it flashes red.Of course it does. I try again, shielding the reader with my hand this time, pretending I don’t feel the burn of his eyes as he watches me.
The light changes green, and the relief is instant as I push the door open, not daring to look at him. One glance and I’ll lose every ounce of restraint I’ve got and pull him inside.
“Night,” I say as the door shuts behind me with a soft click that feels final.
I sag against it, chest tight, my whole body thrumming with a want I can’t switch off. My heart races, skin too warm, nerves frayed raw. I press my palm flat to the wood, wishing that he’dfollow me in, that he’d shut the door behind him with a kick of his foot, his hands on my hips and his mouth on mine, finally erasing the space we’ve been pretending doesn’t exist.
I wait.
One second.
Two.
Three.
Nothing.
A bitter laugh slips out, more ache than humor. I drag a hand through my hair and shove off the door, flicking on the light and pacing the room, refusing to glance at the massive, empty bed mocking me from the center.
“You’re such an idiot, Paige,” I mutter as I drop to my knees to rummage through my suitcase. “What did you think was going to happen?”
Grabbing my toiletry bag and pajamas, I head to the bathroom. It’s sleek and modern, all neutral tones, crisp white linens, floor-to-ceiling windows that turn the city outside into a blur of lights.
I toe off my boots, stripping off my shirt and shorts in a trail behind me, dumping my change of clothes on the vanity before turning on the shower.
Steam fills the bathroom as I put my hair up on the top of my head and step under. The pressure from the spray is a welcome change after the last few weeks of being on tour with a crappy shower and barely any hot water by the time Eli’s done with it.
There’s no way I’m missing out on this one tonight; I could stay in it forever. I wash away the night, my skin flushed, not just from the heat, scrubbing harder than I need to, like I can rinse the desire out of my bloodstream.
Spoiler: I can’t.
When I finally step out, wrapped in a towel, the mirror’s useless, and I let my hair down from my clip, combing it out withmy fingers before slipping on a tank and silk shorts. I’m barely done brushing my teeth when there’s a knock at the door.
My heart’s in my throat as I cross the room, peering through the peephole even though I already know who’s on the other side.
Maddox.
Taking a deep breath, I open the door, eyes sweeping over him.
“Is Eli okay?” I ask quietly, fingers tight on the wooden frame.
He’s leaning forward, hands braced on either side of the doorway, head bowed like he’s restraining himself. His chest rises and falls too fast, like he’s been pacing the hallway since we said goodnight, his hair a mess from where he’s clearly tugged at it.
Slowly, he lifts his head, his gaze dragging up the length of me, taking his sweet, torturous time that I feel his stare like a brand on every inch of my freshly scrubbed skin.
“Jesus,” he mutters, voice like gravel sending shivers up my spine. “I thought your denim shorts were small.” His tongue swipes the inside of his cheek. “But these are fucking killing me.”
My body warms as his eyes take me in, and I barely have time to blink before he’s moving. Stepping inside, he curves a hand around the side of my neck, the other slipping into my hair, twisting, tugging me to him like he’s done waiting. His mouth crashes onto mine, and the second his tongue slides past my lips, the world splinters.
Hard. Hot. Unapologetic.
I gasp, and he takes it, uses it to deepen the kiss until my knees go weak and my whole body pulses with a hunger that always seems to be simmering beneath the surface.
He groans an animalistic sound, one ripped out from the back of his throat as I fist the front of his shirt, dragging him closer as he walks me backwards, never breaking away from my lips. The door slams shut with a heavy kick, like he could hear my littlefantasy, cutting us off from everything outside, and severing whatever self-control was left.
