Page 93

Chapter 26

He didn’t kiss me.

Instead, he pressed his lips against my cheek and seemed to wait for my answer. But I’d already lost the ability to think rationally.

My pulse was racing, and I could scarcely breathe; I wanted his touch so much, it almost hurt.

“You’re crazy about me?” I whispered, incredulous.

“Pretty crazy. Even though sometimes I have doubts about my sanity. Like when I think about your terrible taste in coffee, or the perfumed candles, or the Taylor Swift CDs—”

I didn’t let him continue. Instead I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and kissed him.

Kaden gave a surprised sound and froze for a second, as if he hadn’t expected this. Then he placed his hands on my back gently, as if I could break if he pressed too hard—and returned the kiss.

It was a slow, intimate kiss, and a tingling sensation traveled the whole length of my body, from my scalp to my toes.

Cautiously he pushed his tongue into my mouth and touched mine. I sighed. I needed more, much more. It felt like I’d wanted him forever—and now we would complete what we had started so long ago.

I pushed my hands under Kaden’s shirt. He froze. His breath was heavy as he said, his lips still on mine, “I don’t know if now is-”

“If you complete that sentence I’ll hurt you,” I murmured back, and ran my fingers down his spine.

He drew a rushing breath and closed his eyes.

“You’re always telling me not to think so much. And I can tell you now that thinking is the last thing on my mind.”

I kissed his neck and nibbled on his skin until he shuddered.

“I’m crazy about you, too, Kaden,” I whispered. “Whatever’s in my past, or your past. That doesn’t change anything.”

I looked up, straight into his hungry eyes. And then his self-control was gone. He pressed me close until I couldn’t breathe, and I dug my fingers into his shoulders. Then he lifted me up as if I were light as a feather, and my legs wrapped themselves around his hips.

His mouth found mine again and our kiss deepened. More intimate. This time he didn’t hold back.

He carried me through the room and stopped at the bed. I loosened my legs from around his waist, and Kaden let me slide down until I stood before him. His eyes were blazing with desire. I looked at him. A shiver ran down my spine. He let his hands wander up from my hips, under my shirt. I groaned as his fingers finally touched my naked skin. Kaden raised my shirt, and I lifted my arms so he could pull it over my head. He tossed it behind him and reached for my bra, which he opened with one quick motion. Kaden was still looking into my eyes and hadn’t even glanced at my body.

I could see how much he wanted me. And I wanted him like I’d never wanted anyone before.

Trembling, I breathed in as he now let his eyes wander over me. Kaden bowed his head and leaned toward me. His breath swept over my neck, and all my nerve endings were electrified when his lips touched my skin. He kissed me, again and again, sliding his tongue over me.

“You are wonderful,” he whispered roughly. “So beautiful.”

He slid further down, kissed and nibbled on the sensitive skin of my breasts. When he placed his lips on my nipples, I let my head fall back and closed my eyes. He sucked on me, and I let out a moan like never before.

Kaden’s hand ran down my back until he reached my bottom. He grabbed me there while circling his tongue around my nipple.

I buried my hands in Kaden’s hair as he bent over me, his lips gliding downward. He stopped at the waist of my jeans, opened the button with skillful fingers and pushed them down to my ankles. I kicked them off.

Kaden looked up at me through his dark, thick eyelashes. His breathing was as fast as mine. Never before in my life had I felt so wanted.

“You’re wearing too much,” I panted and tugged at his collar. A half-smile spread across his face. He rose, without taking his eyes off me. Then he pulled his shirt over his head in one flowing motion.

My eyes devoured his perfect abs and followed the trail of little hairs that wandered downward from his navel. When I discovered the bulge in his pants, I caught my breath.

“Do you have any idea how often I’ve thought of you at night?” he whispered. Slowly, unbearably slowly, he reached down, opened his button and peeled off his jeans. “I’ve wanted you since the moment I first saw you in my apartment, in those damned shorts.”

Unable to speak, I hoped my kiss would say it all. Kaden put his hands on my waist and lifted me up. A second later I was lying on the bed with Kaden on top of me, his arms to either side of my head and his legs between mine. I threw my legs around Kaden’s hips and pushed up against him. Feeling his hard arousal, I trembled.