Page 34 of Perfect Alpha

God, he smellssogood, like the woods, cinnamon, and Cade.

Against every rational cell in my body that is warning me to run home, my disobedient hands start massaging Cade’s feet, remembering the exact pressure he craves. And my reward comes immediately when a long, low groan rumbles from deep in his throat.

“Damn, that feelssogood. I’ve been working killer hours lately, and I’m completely exhausted.”

The sound of his pleasure ignites something inside me and I melt, my body becoming pliable, liquid heat willing to do whatever he wants. Why, oh, why do I have to be a puddle of weakness for a man like him?

“You can’t do everything,” I remind him softly, my thumbs relaxing the muscles in his tight calves. “If you have to say no or hire help, then you shouldn’t feel bad about it.”

“They’re my family. I’ll always find a way.” My phone vibrates on the table and Cade groans. “Ignore it. Don’t stop touching me.”

“Where’s your phone?” I ask.

“Upstairs.”

That’s a first. What if he misses out on a date? I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen him without it.

“Then it might be Hannah trying to reach us,” I point out. “You answer it.”

He reaches over and grabs my phone while my thumbs work into the arches of his feet. “It’s Bobby.”

“Well, answer it and find out what he wants.”

“Sorry, sorry, it’s hard to think right now. You always make me feel so good.”

Chills run down my spine because I’ve missed this closeness with him so badly. He’s acting like the version of Cade I want back, but I only ever get flashes of the old him before he transforms into a stranger.

“Hey, Bobby,” Cade answers crisply. “Hannah?Yeah, I know this is Victory’s phone. No, I won’t explain. Where are you?” He pauses. “You need to leave your chargerinyour car, okay? That’s why I bought it for you.” Cade sighs. “See you soon.”

“What’s going on?”

“Hannah’s car broke down. No, she’s fine, keep rubbing.” His easy, lopsided grin has me following his orders. “Her phone died, and she forgot her charger. Luckily, Bobby drove by and he’s going to tow her car back. They’ll be here soon, so you’ll have time to say goodbye.”

“Okay,” I reply, my mind on anything but my best friend and her toddler.

Almost choking on my bravery, I slide up the couch and start rubbing Cade’s quads. His eyes darken dangerously, and he’s giving me that sexy, hooded, want-you-right-now face I love so fucking much.

I want him. Not just his body, which he has never had a problem sharing.

I want him to be the guy who calls to ask about my day and cares about the answer. I want us to lie in his truck bed under the stars and laugh so hard at our inside jokes that we can’t breathe. I want intimacy that isn’t sex, like the way he always kept his hand on the small of my back when we walked, and how he rubbed my knee when he was driving because he couldn’t resist touching me.

God help me, but I want to be a couple again. And maybe I have it all wrong with holding back sex. Maybe physical closeness will remind him about how much he misses us, too.

“You’re so tense, Cade.”

“I’m a little on edge,” he replies tersely.

The familiar outline of his hard cock steals my breath. Wetness instantly pools between my legs, rushing like a river as need damn near engulfs me.How far can we get in ten minutes?

“Cade, can we…”

Before I can finish my thought, a flash of profound sadness crosses his face and twists my heart, making the words die on my lips.

“I should go,” Cade says, throwing his feet to the floor and taking a few steps away from me. “I have plans tonight.”

He might as well have slammed a door in my face, and I struggle to keep my expression neutral. He smirks and we lose whatever we were just about to find.

All the reasons I hate Cade come crashing down like a tidal wave as the stabbing pain of jealousy destroys my insides. He didn’t say the word date, but I’m sure it is.

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