I come to a complete stop, my eyes wide as saucers, I’m sure, and not just because he called mebaby.Not just because his rushed footsteps approach but because my whole body tingles.
One word, but it’s enough to knock me off my damn feet. I turn to Cody, stunned into silence by his determined gaze. My heart threatens to burst when he grips me by the waist, dips his head, and presses his lips to mine.
It’s a peck. Nothing more. Just one hard, unyielding peck, but the softness of his mouth, and the warmth of his body against mine is enough to send a delicious shiver surging through my entire structure.
I tremble in his arms. Emotions accelerate the hot blood in my veins, overwhelming my senses as he pulls away, his deep brown eyes locking onto mine with a sort of diffident, tentative amazement.
“Jesus...” he whispers, lifting both hands to my face.
Just as it dawns on me that this kiss is a show for Ana, Cody’s mouth is on mine again.
And it’s not just a peck this time.
His fingers caress my cheeks as his lips claim mine before his hands slide down to lift me off the floor, hauling me into his arms with the avidity of a musician seizing the perfect melody. My legs have nowhere to go but around his waist. His hand clasps the back of my neck and I can’t escape.
I don’t want to escape. Not now, not ever.
There’s so much power in his kiss. So much raw intensity in his touch as he slams me against the wall, one hand supporting my butt, the other tangled in my hair, pulling my head back to deepen the kiss, his whole body pressing into me.
I whimper, surrendering to his inaudible demands.
His hard cock juts against me and I arch into him, craving the contact. It’s as if a switch flipped inside his head, removing any resolve he had left.
His hand moves from my neck to my back, then the side of my face, the kiss greedy, desperate... like he’s trying to consume me, like he’s imprinting himself on me, and I lose my goddamn mind. I’m powerless to resist.
A low hum starts inside me, growing louder with every flick of his tongue, and when he sinks his teeth in my bottom lip, pulling gently with a low groan, my body responds in kind, my hands fisting his hair as I kiss him back with equal fervor. I swear I’m seconds away from coming apart. Seconds from orgasm, and he’s done nothing more than kiss me.
But as quickly as it all started, it ends.
Ana’s teary voice breaks the moment, penetrating our bubble. “You’re such an asshole.” She storms past us, whacking Cody’s back.
Her hastened footsteps retreat, and once she rounds the corner, my feet hit the floor.
Cody steps back, running a shaking hand down his face. The silence is deafening. I can’t bring myself to look up to him, knowing what I’ll see will hurt.
Pushing a long breath down his nose, he grabs my bags off the floor, handing them over. “I shouldn’t have done that,” he says. “I... I didn’t think. It was an impulse. I ran out of ideas how—”
“It’s okay,” I cut in, calming myself as I push off the wall. “A favor for a favor, right? You helped me with Alan, I helped you with Ana. Hopefully, she got the message.” Forcing my feet to move, I trot away, head down, hand in my purse, searching for keys. “Goodnight.”
“Blair...”
“Goodnight, Cody.”
FIFTEEN
Cody
SHE CLOSES THE DOOR BEHIND HER, and I stumble into my condo.
What the fuck have I done?
The idea struck me like lightning, powerful and unshakable. I didn’t plan on using Blair to send Ana a message, but I also didn’t know what else could stop her obsessive stalking, short of calling Shawn for help.
And when Blair appeared just as Ana accused me of cheating, I took it as a sign. Fate showing me the way.Maybe seeing me with someone else will stop her fixation?
Deep down, Ana’s a good person. She’s just lost, struggling to find her way. As much as I’d like to help, she takes every kind word the wrong way. I’d rather hurt her feelings than mess with her future by filing a restraining order.
What I didn’t expect was how quickly my dumb idea would backfire. I thought I could stamp a quick kiss on Blair’s lips and get on with the show.Baby, Ana was just leaving. Nothing happened, I swear. Please don’t go, I’ll explain everything... blah, blah, blah.
