Page 35 of Before and After

“Don’t have a drink with him.” His tone was unyielding.

“Let me explain?—”

“No.” His hand curled around my arm. “Ross, keep an eye on Allie’s drink.”

The bartender nodded, his wide gaze ping ponging between the two of us.

Caden dragged me off the stool and pulled me toward the area that led to the restrooms. “What are you doing?”

“I think you need a little convincing.”

Heat flickered through my lower belly, goose bumps breaking out on my bare skin. This was all very un-Caden-like. “How are you going to do that?”

He towed me past the restrooms and into a small alcove used for storage. There were a few spare stools and a step ladder tucked in there.

He pressed me back against the wall and I felt like my heart lodged in my throat.

“You want me to show you?” His hand curled around the base of my neck, his thumb rubbing over my racing pulse. “You want me to show you how I’d convince you?”

His voice was like a deep, dark caress. My chest hitched. God, he was so big, and hard, and intense. I should tell him no and get the hell out of there.

I didn’t. “Yes.”

He leaned in, and our chests pressed together. Air puffed out of my lips and I bit back a moan. He ran his nose down the side of mine, his breath warm on my cheek.

“Do you know how much you drive me crazy? How much you push me until my control is gone?”

God. My nipples beaded into hard points and I pressed my thighs together. I liked it. No, I loved knowing I pushed this heavily controlled man past his limit. “How much?”

His hands clamped on my waist and one big hand slid up, then cupped my breast. This time, I couldn’t stop my low moan.

His thumb flicked over my nipple. “Maybe as much as much as you want me.”

I pushed into him. I felt like all the brakes were gone. There was only the two of us. “You left the chocolate in my locker.”

He stared down at me. “It’s your favorite.”

My lower belly clenched. “Why shouldn’t I go back out there and have a drink, Caden?”

His fingers tightened. Then they slowly traveled down, tugging on the waistband of my skirt, brushing the skin of my belly. “I don’t want you with him. With anyone.”

A terrifying tangle of emotions stormed through me. The biggest one was hot desire throbbing between my legs. Desire for this cool, intimidating man, who was the opposite of cool right now.

“Who should I be with?” I whispered.

A look crossed his face, his lips hovering over mine. His hand moved again, this time tracing over the hem of my short skirt, rubbing the sensitive skin of my thigh. I felt the hunger in him, barely contained. “I can’t say me, even if I want to. I’ve got nothing to offer you. I’ve got nothing to offer anyone.”

My chest hitched. He couldn’t really believe that.

“I’m a selfish asshole because I don’t want you with anyone else.” His fingers skimmed up my thigh. “Allie.”

There was so much need and possession packed into that one word.

His lips touched mine, his hand travelling up to my inner thigh. And the desire in me broke loose.

Everything about him overwhelmed. A needy sob escaped my lips, then I pressed my mouth to his.

In an instant, he kissed me. A powerful, urgent kiss. His tongue slid into my mouth, firm and demanding. The desire inside me roared like a fire. I threw my arms around his neck, grinding my body against his.