Page 175 of The Ruthless Note

The perfect harmony.

Utter bliss.

We’re both a panting, steaming mess by the time we come back to ourselves.

Cadey is under me, her face buried in the pillow, her body quivering.

I’m smothering her.

Rolling off, I stroke her back, wincing when I notice the purple bruises near her hip from where I gripped her.

I didn’t set out to mark every inch of her body, but between the forceful kisses and my heavy hands, it’ll be obvious to everyone that she belongs to me.

A grin teases across my face, but I shake it off. She’ll probably smack me if she sees me celebrating.

Cadey lifts her head and her eyebrows are drawn as if she can feel the smile getting trapped inside me. Moonlight falls against her bruised lips and her flushed face.

I kiss her like she’s Snow Freaking White, locked in a glass case just waiting to be resuscitated. I want to kiss her again, but I know if I do, it won’t ever be enough. I’ve overdone it already tonight. She needs time to recover.

“Oh my gosh,” she whispers, her hair falling into her face. Her eyes are pure, chocolate brown.

My lips arch up. “Tonight was just an introduction.”

“Oh my gosh,” she says again. She lowers her head, struggling to catch her breath.

I brush her hair over her face. She has no idea all the ways I’m going to wreck her.

My sweet little Cadey.

Brahms.

Redhead.

Mine, whatever her name is. Whatever she’s freaking dressed as.

I grab her into me and mold my body to hers, not to invade her legs but to trap her against my chest. I bury my nose in her neck and inhale, enjoying the scent of her sweat mixed with the fragrance of us.

It’s my first time cuddling someone and I thought I’d hate it. But I don’t. Or maybe I don’t because it’sher.

“Go to sleep, Cadey. I won’t teach you any more lessons tonight.”

She yawns and turns to face me. I can feel her studying me, can feel all her questions, her worries, herwhat happens next. But she doesn’t have to keep any of those thoughts in her pretty little head.

For tonight, all she has to do is sleep.

Tomorrow, I’m going to figure out how to put that ring on her finger.

* * *

CADENCE

Everything in my body hurts.

That’s what wakes me up.

As my eyes open, I become aware of the hot, heavy bear behind me.

Dutch.