He stops in front of me, and I force myself to hold his hard stare. “I keep my word,” he murmurs, bowing his head. “You’re safe here, and the storm won’t hurt you.”
Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s the storm I’m worried about anymore. Not when those eyes seem to strip away every last shred of my self preservation. Not as he drinks me in like I’m the only thing left in this world.
This is so unlike the man I literally fell into the arms of. Who treated me like I was some kind of burden, something he didn’t want disturbing his whole world.
The way he looks at me now makes me think it might be the total opposite, and I don’t know how to feel about that.
When the lights completely go out, I can’t help but yelp. Cade’s arms wrap around me protectively as he chuckles. “There it goes,” he says.
The hold he has on me should make me want to fight back, push him away.
But I’m so close to melting into him that it physically hurts.
I shouldn’t want this. I shouldn’t even be tempted. The thought of kissing him shouldn’t elicit such a strong reaction in me or have me wishing for more. It shouldn’t have me considering what it might be like to have his mouth on other parts of my body, to know what it might feel like to be his entirely. And yet…The thoughts consume me. They fill my head with crazy ideas.
Especially when his arms feel too right—too perfect.
And all I want ismore.
SEVEN
CADE
She feels far too good in my arms, fitting against me almost perfectly. It shouldn’t be so damned good holding her. And yet my heart is crashing hard against my ribs, chest warm not from the heat of the fire, but from her proximity.
The war that’s been playing out between us since she got here seems to be tipping to one side, and I’m not sure if I should feel relieved…or fucking terrified. Not when she has so much power over me.
“I, uh, I’m sorry,” she says quietly, looking up at me with those stormy grey eyes. “That was so inappropriate of me.”
And yet, she doesn’t leave my arms. Doesn’t pull away.
She’s giving me the opportunity to do it first—to put some distance between us and take a breath.
As her boss, I should. I should be setting down some obvious boundaries that should never be crossed again so we don’t repeat what happened this evening. I should let go and ensure she’s warm and do something else to keep busy—like go back down to the garage and fix the fucking generator.
But when her lips part and her eyes soften, I do the only thing that’s been on my mind for the last couple of hours.
I kiss her.
Lydia makes a sound in the back of her throat, cut off only by my tongue sliding against her lips. She grants me access with a groan, her arms winding around my shoulders, bringing us closer.
Beneath the layers, I feel how soft she is, especially against my hardening cock. My hands move to her hips and grip her hard, almost like I’m terrified she might be ripped away from me.
She meets my kiss with a heat I don’t expect. Her lips mould against mine, tongue battling for dominance, challenging me just like I knew she would.
I walk us backwards to the sofa and guide her into my lap as we sit, feeling her snuggly against my bulge. Lydia gasps as I press into her, ripping her lips away as another moan falls from her lips.
“You like that, cowgirl?” I ask, thrusting into her. “You like how my cock feels?”
Her hands grip my shoulders as a blush darkens her cheeks. “Cade?—”
“Answer my question,” I demand, stopping. “Tell me what you like.” Those last five words fall from my lips desperately before I can stop them.
Lydia tugs her bottom lip between her teeth and chews it before answering. “I don’t know,” she replies, fingers digging into the burn on my shoulder. The pain should knock me out of this, but instead it lights something in me. Burns through the last of my resolve.
I skim a hand up her side before I palm her breast, earning another soft gasp from her. “Are you a virgin, Lydia Sterling?”
The blush deepens, embarrassment flaring in her eyes. “Does it matter? I?—”
