Page 56 of Broken King

My phone rings again. But neither of us acknowledge it.

Cade’s palm holds me to him, resting flat against the small of my back as the other grips the back of my neck, anchored in my hair. It’s possessive and protective and so utterly Cade.

We breathe into each other as I ride him into oblivion.

There’s a knock at my door, but I ignore it.

It’s just us.

Him. Me.

In our bubble.

Our heavy breathing.

The slide of our skin.

Complete desperation.

“Scarlet.” His voice is strained as I scrape my nails against his scalp.

My grip on his hair grows tighter. “I know. I’m so close.”

His head tips back.

His firm lips drink in my skin, then my lips again. The hand that had been resting on my back wraps around my waist, pulling me closer to his firm chest, holding me tighter and changing our angle. What had been just out of reach is being rubbed over and over again now. Friction and feelings. Sensation and sanity. Memories. Reality. It’s all meshing together, driving me higher and higher again, until I freefall from the cliff’s peak.

I come on a silent scream.

My breath caught in my throat.

My world tilting on its axis.

Every single neuron in my brain firing at once and yet, not working at all.

Cade leans his head against my chest as he thrusts up again and again, holding me to him. Whispering words I shouldn’t want to hear but couldn’t possibly thrill me more. Until he finally can’t hold back anymore and follows me off that cliff with my name whispered like a benediction from his lips.

The power of it is overwhelming.

Oh, God. What did we just do?

My brain doesn’t get a chance to ruin the euphoria coursing through my body when another knock sounds at the door. This time it’s followed by Max’s powerful voice. “Scarlet.”

Max knocks again as Cade lifts me to my feet, and then pulls up his pants.

“Give me a second, Max.” I start sliding everything into place as Cade picks up my panties and stuffs them in his pocket. I’m about to give him hell and rip the lace away from him when he places one finger over my lips, then kisses me quickly.

“Can I see you before Saturday?” There’s no twinkle in his forest-green eyes. No cocky smirk on his handsome face. Just a man asking me to make time for him.

“Cade...”

Max knocks again as the phone on my desk rings. I heave out a deep breath, knowing what this is going to look like—exactly what it was. Damnit. Caught in the act like a teenager.

Who am I kidding?

We were never caught as teenagers.

When I unlock and swing my office door open, Max marches right through, then slams a folder down on my desk. He looks around as Cade moves across the room but doesn’t even have the decency to look surprised. “St. James.” Max nods, then sighs and side-eyes me. “At least you locked the door.”