I pick her up in one swoop and plop her on the desk, right on top of all her papers. “Today’s your lucky day.”
She fists her hands into my shirt and tugs me close. “Excellent.”
I wrap my hand around her neck and lean in to kiss her, but stop short.
She blinks those molten eyes at me.
Before I deliver, I find I need to say something. I brush my thumb over her lower lip. “You’re so beautiful.”
There’s a slight shake of her head, but she says nothing as her thighs squeeze around me.
“Yes.” I tighten my hold on the nape of her neck. “Fucking gorgeous.”
Her arms snake around me, everything about her soft and open. “Thank you.”
Something tickles at the back of my throat, wanting to be exposed, revealed to this unexpected woman. My gaze flickers over her face. “I didn’t like that you were gone.”
She bites her lower lip. “I had things I needed to take care of for tonight.”
“I understand.” I brush my mouth over hers. “But I still didn’t like it. I wanted to feel your skin.”
Her expression flickers. “I would have stayed if I could.”
“I know.” I put my arm around her waist and pull her closer. I’m not a man that articulates feelings. I’m not even sure the last time I had any, and now that I want to say something significant, I struggle for the words. “You don’t make me feel like anyone else does.”
Her brow furrows, because of course I’ve made a mess of it.
I try again. “My whole life, no matter how smooth things were sailing along, I felt restless. But when I’m with you, I don’t feel that.”
Her eyes get bright, like she might cry. Although I can’t imagine why she would, considering how clumsy I made it.
But instead of crying, she wraps her legs around me. “Come here.”
And I do.
Cat
I laugh, throwing my head back and letting the sound reverberate through me. We’re all at a large table at the restaurant. The lights are low, soft music pipes through discreetly placed speakers, and everyone is having a fantastic time.
Every plate Jackson and Gwen have put in front of us has been like a bite of heaven, and I’m in a happy, floaty place. My stomach is pleased, the wine has flowed, and my muscles feel like Jell-O.
But the best thing about the night is Caden next to me—his hand on my leg, his fingers brushing over my thighs as we’ve talked and laughed. It almost feels like we’re a real couple, our heads bent close as he whispers something in my ear. We’re all relaxed and loose, and a feeling so foreign to me I almost can’t name it settles deep into my bones.
I’m…carefree.
Like I don’t have a worry in the world.
It’s been so long, I’ve forgotten what it felt like. But now that it’s upon me, I find I’m hungry for it.
I want to kick off my shoes and slow dance on the table.
To run outside and feel the warm air on my skin.
I want to skinny dip in a moonlit pool and have sex on the grass.
I want everything I’ve been denying myself.
But most of all, I want to bottle up this feeling so I can remind myself over and over again why it feels so good. So I don’t forget again.
Caden’s fingers slide up my spine and wrap around the nape of my neck. His lips brush the shell of my ear. “I love the way you look right now.”
I turn toward him, my lashes fluttering. “And how do I look?”
His fingers brush the curve of my shoulder. “Like you’ve been well fucked.”
I giggle, pushing at him gently. “So this is really about you, not me.”
“You didn’t let me finish.” His attention moves to my mouth.
“By all means, continue.” I wave my hand.
“You’re beaming. Your eyes are bright, your cheeks rosy.” He nuzzles my neck. “And best of all, you have no tension at all right now.”
We never made an agreement, never spoke about it, but we’re not hiding what’s happened between us, and I like it. It makes me feel like… I don’t know…like I belong somehow.
Like I’ve clicked into a place that feels like home.
I’m not sure how he’s managed it—to fill a space I hadn’t even known was empty—but he has.
I brush my mouth over his. “I want to drive out to the lake after this and swim naked.”