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She lifted her leg around my hip, pussy pressing back against my cock, tenting my jeans. Gripping her ass, I ground her harder into the wall. “You want to know what it would feel like to have my cock inside that cunt?” My fingertips tickled her pussy, the wet center hot and eager.

Knowing I had the power to tear through the fabric separating her heat from my fingertips, made me shudder. I wanted to split her, ruin her, make her mine.

She locked her lips tighter around my mouth, shaking her head 'yes,' then 'no.' Leaning back, her face fell towards the floor, then back up.

“Tell me what you want, tell me.” Gyrating my hips, I rubbed my cock against her swelling button.

“I want this, but I can't.”

Why is she pulling away?

The intense sweltering heat she threw on me was cooling. I couldn't understand where her head had gone, what was drawing her away from me?

Searching my eyes, she wanted to speak, but spit only air. Her lungs heaved wildly behind her chest. “I don't know what I want,” the whisper vibrated over my skin. Pressing her hands against my chest, she let her head fall, sighing intensely. “Why the fuck did you have to do that? You made me weak. Why couldn't you have just minded your own business? He would have left eventually.”

I dug my fingers into her shoulders. “What? Seriously?” Taking a step back, my hand ran over my jaw. “Mind my business?” My voice went taunt, a single brow arched, and perplexed.

Is she fucking kidding me? She wanted me to stand by and just watch that prick verbally assault her!?

Pacing around in small circles, I couldn't believe that she was upset I helped. Was that... No,is thatwhat she thinks a man should do? Should say?

“The minute that asshole raised his voice to you, it became my business. No man should ever... EVER talk to a woman like that. And I'm not some dirt bag who's going to stand by and watch that shit.” Shaking my head, I stared at her in disbelief.

Cadence slid down against the wall, arms falling to rest on her knees. “Look, I appreciated it, I did. Nico deserved to have his ass handed to him. But, now—” Her hands ran over her hair, pulling it tightly against her skull.

“Now, what? Go ahead, finish.”

“It doesn't matter, forget it,” she huffed out. Staring up at me, her shoulders slumped forward heavily.

The crisp silence, so sharp it could slice glass, was broken by the loud ring of her cell phone. Cadence jumped with surprise, every muscle jolting in one quick leap. Pulling the phone from her pocket, she peered at the screen. “Shit. It's my dad.”

“Aren't you going to answer it?” My arms folded up across my chest, leaning back against the wall, I bent a knee up.

“No. He's probably pissed, and I don't want to hear it right now. I should have been back a long time ago.” Releasing a grunt of frustration, her hand came down and slapped the floor. “Are you still coming with me? I need to know now, if not, then I'm fucked.”

Fucked? Why would she be fucked?

She wasn't making any sense.

It doesn't matter. I told her I would go.

And my word weighs more than gold.

Leaning down, I looked into the deep ocean of her gaze. Wonder, confusion, and fear swam beneath the vastness.

Placing my hands on her knees, I spoke softly. “Cadence, I told you I would. And Ialwaysfollow through with what I say.”

I hope that's something she can remember.

What I say, I stand by.