Page 58 of Chasing the Sun

Austin was twenty-eight, built like a tank and with a metabolism that hadn’t seen the dark side of thirty, and his cocky smirk proved that he knew it too. He may be Brody’s half brother, but I’d still lay the kid flat out if he thought he had a chance with Elodie.

Besides, I reminded myself that it was her sister Selene that Austin was asking about.

I scoffed in her direction. “If you think that kid can kiss you well enough to make your toes curl, then by all means have at it.” I took a step toward her, closing the gap between us as primal instinct took over. “But don’t forget, I couldsmell how badly you wanted me when I kissed you. Admit it ...” My voice lowered. “You were dripping for me, weren’t you?”

Her cheeks flushed, but my words hadn’t scared her off yet. “Tell me, Cal. Tell me exactly what it is you hate about me.”

I couldn’t do what I wanted to, so instead I let her have it. “I hate that there are workers stomping all over this place. I hate that my kid would rather spend time with you than me. I hate that I can’t get asecondof peace and quiet anymore. I hate that if you somehow manage to pull this off, the place will be crawling with tourists. I hate that you think you’ve got what it takes to actually pull this off, and I really hate that I know you’re fucking right.”

The last part had slipped out, but once it did, tension charged the space between us.

She swallowed hard, knowing she’d won. Her chin lifted. “You are the most insufferable man on the planet.”

I shook my head, letting a lie roll off my tongue. “You and your opinions mean nothing to me.”

She blanked and her lips pursed. I knew my shitty comment had wounded her, at least a little bit. “Is that why you came all the way over here? To prove to me exactly howunaffectedyou are by my presence?” Her eyes flicked to my dick and he twitched at her attention.

I opened my mouth to fire back a retort when her hands gripped the sides of my face, pulling my mouth to hers.

For a millisecond I was stunned, but I didn’t hesitate.

I took control.

My arm banded around her slim little waist as I pulled her roughly into me. Her body melted into mine as her breath hitched, opening her mouth just enough for my tongue to delve in and explore. I couldn’t think straight withthe way her leg hitched up against my hip, pressing her heat into me.

My cock throbbed, begging to take her in every way possible. My body moved as my thoughts scrambled to keep up. My hands gripped the round globes of her ass, lifting her up so she could straddle me. Our mouths moved in sync, her tongue sliding against mine as little moans pumped out of her and into my bloodstream.

I had never felt such a clawing, aching need for someone.

I ripped my mouth from hers. “Tell me to stop.”

She was breathless, her eyes searching mine as I stomped up the porch steps toward the front door of her cottage. “Why the hell would I do that?”

My mouth clamped onto her neck, my teeth dragging a path along the smooth column of her windpipe, stopping just below her ear to whisper, “Because if you don’t, I’m going to hate fuck you until you learn to do what I say.”

A wicked grin flashed across her features. It was a challenge, and I think a part of her knew I was full of shit—that she was the one completely and utterly in control of me.

Elodie’s tongue slid across her upper lip as she stared down at me. “I hate you too,” she whispered, then pulled my lip into her mouth, gently biting down on it. “Don’t you dare fucking stop.”

It was all the permission I needed. Her consent was the last thread keeping me from completely unraveling. With one free hand I turned the knob and kicked open the front door of her cottage with my boot.

It swung open, rattling on its hinges and slamming into the wall with a crack.

Elodie giggled as she arched against me. “Ooh ... Wes is going to be pissed at you. He’ll have to fix thathole.”

I growled up at her. “I don’t give a shit what Wes thinks. He can bill me for it.”

“Oh, Daddy with the deep pockets,” Elodie teased.

Such a fucking brat.

She climbed higher on my waist, making it impossible not to feel her heat pressed against me. I deposited her onto the kitchen table with an ungraceful thump. Her tits bounced, and my throat went dry. My fingertips found the collar of her T-shirt, and without hesitation I ripped it open, admiring the creamy, sheer lace bra underneath.

“You’re paying for that too,” she said, breathless.

Her fingers grabbed my belt buckle, yanking me forward until my thighs hit the table. She jerked and pulled until my belt came loose.

As she went for the button of my jeans, I covered her hands with mine. “Mm-mm, Darling. You’re not running the show here.” I gripped underneath her thighs and hauled her to the edge of the table. “I am.”