Even better? She didn’t salivate over Hugh like I thought she might.
Leaving Louise with our little group—and neglecting to acknowledge the pointed stare Violet is shooting in my direction—I go back to the restroom area, hoping to catch Caden so I can talk to him privately.
He’s already there, waiting for me in the depths of the dark, short hall, leaning one shoulder against the wall, his arms folded defensively across his chest. Whereas the rest of us are in work attire, he’s dressed casually in jeans that mold perfectly to his strong legs and a white polo shirt that offsets his tan skin. He stands out with his longish hair and the stubble covering his cheeks. Not that he looks unkempt. More like he looks … amazing.
My heart trips over itself just staring at him.
“Where’s your boyfriend?” he asks snidely, sounding like a jealous idiot.
That shouldn’t please me, should it? That he’s jealous? Well, it does. And if that makes me petty and foolish, then so be it.
“I thought I was looking at him.”
He huffs out a sarcastic laugh. “Please. You’ve been up-front about what we’re doing from the start. Vacation sex, pure and simple.”
“If this is a vacation then why did I go in to work today?” This isn’t how I wanted our conversation to go. Not at all.
“Guilt? You’ve been fucking around with the useless guy and now you’re finally realizing you need to straighten up and fly right.” He pushes away from the wall and takes a few predatory steps toward me. “When are you going back to New York? Or are you sticking around here for a few more days so Hugh can show you around town?”
So he definitely heard Hugh’s offer. Great. “I turned him down,” I say softly.
“Why?”
“Because I’m with you.” I lift my chin, hoping I don’t regret that statement.
“With me? How? Don’t tell me you’re starting to take this—thing between us seriously?”
Yep. Guess I regret my statement. “I thought maybe we both were,” I murmur.
He looks down at the floor, his hands on his hips, his hair falling over his forehead and hiding his face from my view. “I’m not good enough for you, Rose.”
His words cut like a knife but I say nothing, silently urging him to go on. I want to hear the exact reasons why he believes he’s not good enough for me. I need to hear them.
“I can offer you nothing,” he says after a few minutes of silence. “That other guy … Hugh. He’s probably the better man for you.”
He sees it. Everyone sees it. But I don’t care. “I don’t want him. I want you.”
Caden lifts his head, his dark gaze meeting mine. “I don’t get why.”
I want to slap him. Really. “I don’t want to fight, Caden. Please.”
He stares at me for long, agonizing minutes. “Let’s get out of here.” His hands drop to his sides and before I can say a word, he’s rushing toward me, grabbing me, pulling me into his arms, his mouth fusing with mine. I’m helpless in his arms, returning his kiss, crying out against his lips when he pushes me to the wall, pinning me there, his hips keeping me still.
I bury my hands in his hair and he tilts his head, deepening the kiss. We’re right back where we started. In a hidden spot at the White Swan, losing all control, too wrapped up in each other to worry about anyone else.
The obvious throat clearing comes seconds, maybe minutes, later and Caden lifts his head away from mine, the both of us turning to see Hugh standing there watching us, appearing uncomfortable.
“We were worried when you didn’t come back to the table,” is his only explanation, his gaze locked on me. “I told Violet I would go look for you.”
Did Violet want Hugh to discover Caden and me together like this? Doubtful, but what else could she think the two of us were doing? “I’m fine,” I tell him, sounding breathless. That’s because I am breathless. My heart is racing and my body is vibrating from Caden’s all-consuming kiss.
Caden says nothing, just glares at Hugh, his hands resting possessively on my hips, his body pressed intimately to mine. He’s sending a message and I can see Hugh gets it, loud and clear.
“Well, glad to hear it. I’ll let everyone know the two of you are otherwise engaged.” He offers a little wave and walks away.
“I hate that guy,” Caden mutters under his breath.
I tug on his hair, making him yelp. “You’re jealous of that guy.”
He looks at me, really looks at me, and it feels as if he can see every little thing inside of me. I return his stare, leaving myself open, practically bleeding for him. Whereas he’s always hiding from me, I want him to see me. See all that I have to give, that I want to give. “You’re right,” he admits. “I was jealous.”
“Was? As in you’re not anymore?” I relax my grip on his hair, moving my hand so I can brush those wayward strands away from his forehead. I could touch him like this for hours. I have touched him like this for hours.
“Not when I have you in my arms like this.” He kisses my temple, his hands squeezing my hips. “I want to get you alone.”
I nod and release a shaky breath. “Then let’s go.”
Chapter Seventeen
Caden
We walk back to the hotel after saying goodbye to everyone. The only reason we went back to the table was for Rose’s purse. Otherwise I would’ve snuck her out the back so we wouldn’t have to face them.
Nigel was preoccupied with some cute redhead and Hugh looked butt hurt. Violet appeared ready to do violence if I so much as looked at her wrong and Ryder shook my hand, seemingly oblivious to what was happening around him. It all felt very … odd.
Tense.
Truthfully, it was a damn relief to get outside, away from the pub, away from the people who are making me feel guilty. Damn it, I like all of them, with the exception of Hugh the fucker Watson, and I bet he could be a friend now that he knows Rose is off-limits.
As in, she belongs to me.
I feel like my truth is hanging off the tip of my tongue, dangling, really. Ready to be revealed so I can get it over with and face my reality—face Rose. I’m both dying to tell her and scared out of my mind over how she might react, especially with the necklace sitting in my bag. I need to get it out of there and back into the safe, stat.
I’m more scared, though. Afraid she’ll reject me. Hate me. Worse? That she’ll tell the authorities and I’ll end up in jail for the rest of my life.
She wouldn’t do that to me … I don’t think.
We’re silent as we walk, though at least she lets me hold her hand. She looks beautiful, her head held high, that white dress hugging her breasts and waist and hips, the high black heels she has on making those sexy legs of hers look impossibly long.
I am a lucky man, walking down the street holding this woman’s hand. Random guys take a second look as they walk past and I send the ones that do a murderous glare. Can’t they see she belongs to me? Do I need to write a sign across her forehead that declares, Property of Caden Kingsley—Eyes and hands the fuck off?
Yeah. I think I do.
“You’re awfully quiet,” she says as we enter the hotel lobby and head toward the elevators.
I shrug, feeling morose. Like the end is coming and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. “I’m moody.” And now I sound like a whiny girl.
“Too many beers?”
“Unfortunately, I’m pretty sure I’m completely sober.”
She flinches at my choice of words and I curse inwardly. I can’t fuck this up now. My time with her is limited. She’s going to leave me soon.
I have to make the most of it.
“I’m being an asshole,” I tell her when we enter the elevator and the doors close us in.
“Yes, you are.” She smiles.
“I’m sorry.” I never apologize. There’s usually no need, because usually I’m long gone by the time anyone I’ve wronged finds out.
For once, I want to stick. I want to live a real life, not s
ome constant con game. I want to be real with Rose. And if that means sometimes it gets ugly, and sometimes I’m scared, mad, sad, or whatever-the-hell emotion I’m struggling with, I still want to do it.
So I’ve got to fight for it. Own it. Own me. Own her.
Own us.
“You’re forgiven,” she says, her voice soft, her gaze open, showing me all she’s got. And I like what I see. “I’m sorry, too.”
“For what?” I frown.
“For that whole thing with Hugh.” She waves a hand. “He’s nice. I like him. But not … not like that.”
“He likes you like that.” Just thinking about Hugh makes me want to hit something, specifically his smug face.
“I bet he doesn’t anymore.” Her smile grows. “You couldn’t have been more possessive, what with the way you practically growled at him when he caught us kissing by the bathrooms.”
“I didn’t growl at him.” Did I? I don’t remember.
“Yes. You definitely did. You should’ve just hung a sign around my neck that said Property of Caden. That would’ve sent your message loud and clear.”
“I considered it,” I say truthfully. “But I guess my growling was good enough.”
Her eyes sparkle with amusement. “I thought it was kind of sexy.”
“Oh yeah? You like it when I growl?” She can’t be serious. That smile on her pretty face is telling me she’s making fun of me, but you never know with Rose. She’s a constant surprise. A dirty, naughty, fun, extremely sexy surprise.
“I do. Maybe you can growl for me later.”
“I can growl for you right now if you want me to.” I go for her, my arms sliding around her waist just as the elevator comes to a stop at our floor and the doors slide open. She slips out of my embrace and practically races out of the elevator toward the room.
“You have to catch me first,” she calls over her shoulder, the key card already clasped in her fingers.
I saunter after her, not bothering to run. I’ll catch her; I have complete faith in that. She wants to be caught. Maybe she’s a little buzzed from the two drinks she had. Maybe she’s relieved to get out of the tense atmosphere of the pub. Maybe she’s just happy to finally be alone with me.
Whatever it is, I’m letting her have her fun because I reap all the benefits.
She opens the door just as I approach her, my hands going to her waist so I can shove her into the room. Crowding her, I wrap my arms around her from behind and pull her to me, her ass pressed against my front, my hands reaching for her breasts as I kiss her neck. The door shuts behind us, closing us in so we’re all alone. “Caught ya,” I mutter against her skin and she giggles.
“I let you catch me,” she murmurs, tilting her head to the side to give me better access.
“Where’s the fun in that?” I ask, skimming my teeth along her neck, making her shudder. I slide my hands down, along her waist, her hips, gripping her there so I can pull her tight against my growing erection.
“Oh, I can guarantee you loads of fun.” She reaches behind her, her hand wrapping around my cock that’s straining against my jeans, and I grunt into her neck, thrusting against her ass.
“Are you saying you want to play?” I tug on the fabric of her skirt, easing it up slowly, resting my chin on her shoulder so I can watch her dress rise higher and higher on her slender thighs. “Because I’m always up for that.”
“You certainly are.” She laughs, then moans when I nip and suck on her neck. Her skirt is bunched around her waist, revealing the skimpy panties she’s got on, and now it’s my turn to moan. “What in the fuck are you wearing?”
Rose tilts her head back so her gaze meets mine. “You like them?”
“I think I need to look at them closer.” I release my hold on her and turn her around, falling to my knees so I can examine the scrap of material she’s calling panties. They’re white. Sheer, so I can see her scant pubic hair, her plump pussy lips. Lace trims the outer edges and tiny white silk bows dot either side of her hips. “They’re indecent.”
“I knew you’d approve,” she teases.
I glance up at her, smoothing my hands up along the sides of her thighs. “I love them.” I grip her hips, turning her around, and I close my eyes for only a second, leaning my head against one exposed butt cheek for a brief moment before I drop a kiss on it. “Why did you even bother wearing panties? There’s nothing to them.” The back consists of a silk string around her waist and between her cheeks, another innocent bow dotting the top center of her ass.
“I wore them for you.” She glances over her shoulder, smiling down at me. “They make me feel sexy. Like you make me feel sexy.”
I palm her ass, gripping her ample flesh. She has a perfect butt. Round and full and with two little dimples at the base of her spine, I don’t appreciate this particular body part of hers enough. I need to rectify that. “Well, these little panties are definitely sexy, but I think they’re going to have to go.”
“Really?” She sounds thrilled at the prospect.
“Definitely. But first, we need to get rid of the dress.” I stand, my hands going to the zipper, and I slowly draw it down, revealing her back and the matching white lacy bra she’s wearing. I swallow hard, imagining what the bra must look like in the front. Probably completely sheer and offering me a perfect view of her nipples.
With eager, shaking hands, I pull the dress up over her head before I toss it onto the floor. I turn her around, my gaze dropping to her chest, and hell, yes, just like I knew it would be, the bra is a killer. Sheer white and trimmed with lace, with more innocent white bows, one in the center, two more on the top of each breast. Skimpy as hell and probably not offering much support, the bra and panties are all about the visual.
And I fucking approve wholeheartedly.
“You’ve been wearing this all afternoon and I had no idea.” I reach out and tease the little bow at the center of her bra.
“Isn’t it a pleasant surprise?” She hitches in a breath when I trace the edge of her bra with my finger, touching her skin, seeing the goose bumps rise.
“Very pleasant.” Total understatement. I’m going to drive myself out of my mind if I keep this game up, but it’s worth it. I want to savor this moment. Rose in her pretty lingerie she wore just for me, standing immobile in front of me like some sort of offering, still wearing the sexy black heels, her body trembling, her nipples hard, and I can just about guarantee in between those pretty thighs she’s soaked.
Bending my knees, I rain kisses across her chest, the tops of her breasts. She tilts her head back, her eyes closing as she reaches for my head, but I duck away from her hands, dropping to my knees once again where I scent her arousal, heady and sweet. She gazes down at me, the beautiful agony etched across her face making my cock jerk in my jeans, and I reach between her legs, drifting my fingers gently across her mound.
She jerks against my touch, a whimper escaping her, and I smile. Just as I predicted, the thin fabric of her panties is damp, and I sneak the tip of my finger beneath, teasing her pussy with a quick flick before I pull back out.
“You’re mean,” she accuses, though there’s no anger in her tone.
“You fucking love it,” I return, knowing I speak the truth. “You look at me and get wet.”
“Arrogant much?” she asks, and I chuckle.
“Just stating the truth. Considering every time I look at you I get hard, I figure your body is having a similar reaction.” I press my mouth to her pussy and kiss her there, breathing deep her scent, my hands coming up to grip the thin band that rests on her hips. Leaning back, I tug the panties down, torturing her, torturing myself as I slowly pull them down her thighs, going past her knees until she’s lifting one foot, then the other before she kicks them off.
Leaving herself bare.
“Take off the shoes,” I demand, and she steps out of them, pushing them away with two quick kicks. Her pussy is even closer to my face and I glance up to find her watching me, her eyes wide,
her cheeks flushed, her hair falling around her face.
She looks beautiful. Aroused.
She looks like mine.
Resting my hands on her ass, I pull her in and she takes a step closer. “Spread your legs,” I mutter against her thigh and she does, offering me a heart-stopping view of her glistening pink depths. I lick her there, one long swoop across her folds with my tongue flat, and she shudders, my name falling from her lips.
“You like that?” I ask, not needing to hear her answer. I know she likes it. She loves it when I go down on her and I love going down on her, so it’s a win-win for us both.
Like when she sucks my cock. I know she enjoys it. Hell, one time she gave me a blow job while grinding her pussy on my upper thigh the entire time, coming all over my leg just as I was spurting inside her mouth.
Talk about hot. The woman is insatiable.
I lick and tease, flick my tongue against her clit, thrust it inside of her, my hands gripping her ass and keeping her steady. She settles her hands in my hair, her little moans and whimpers driving me on, and then she’s pulling my hair, begging me to stop.
That’s not a normal request. Pulling away, I gaze up at her. “You want me to stop?”
She nods furiously, her hair spilling everywhere. “I want you inside of me,” she whispers.
I’m down with that. Standing to my full height, I strip off my clothes in a hurry, watching as she removes her bra and goes to the bed, pulling back the comforter so it falls on the floor. She crawls onto the mattress, her body gleaming with a light sheen of sweat, her breasts jiggling as she falls on her back in the center of the bed.
Bending at the knee, she plants her foot on the mattress, her thighs spread, the look on her face pure temptation. “Going to join me?”
I say nothing, just go to her like a man caught in her spell—and I am a man caught in her spell. She pulls me down on top of her, her mouth meeting mine in a hot, wet kiss that I drown in.