Chapter 39
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Valentina
When You Cross the Blue Line, Take the Shot
The doorbell rings, and my pulse skips as I smooth my dress one last time. Tonight is the night—our first outing that’s not drenched in media scrutiny or staged smiles. It feels significant, though I can’t decide if that’s exciting or terrifying. Probably both.
I swing open the door, and my breath catches. Kaden stands on the other side, a force of nature in a tuxedo that fits like it was made for him—because it probably was. His shoulders look broader, his chest more defined, and there’s just enough scruff on his jaw to make my knees feel weak. The bowtie is slightly crooked, but instead of diminishing his presence, it makes him more devastating. Rugged and refined, all at once.
His eyes rake over me, and the heat in his gaze has me gripping the doorframe for support.
“You’re gorgeous, Valentina,” he growls, his voice low and rough like sandpaper smoothing out the edges of my nerves.
I smile shyly, heat rushing to my cheeks. “You’re not so bad yourself, Crawford. The tux works.”
He steps closer, his hands stuffed into his pockets like he’s physically restraining himself. “If we didn’t have somewhere to be, I’d rip that dress off you right now.”
A shiver races down my spine at his words, and I can’t help but tease. “Tempting, but this dress took a lot of effort. I’d prefer to keep it intact.”
“Don’t tempt me,” he mutters, licking his lips. “You look too good. It’s going to take every ounce of willpower I have not to drag you into a dark corner tonight.”
I laugh softly, stepping aside to let him in. “Then we better leave before you get any ideas.”
“I already have ideas,” he murmurs, his voice low as his hand brushes my lower back, guiding me toward the waiting limo.
Inside the limo, the air is thick with anticipation. Kaden slides in beside me, the door closing with a soft click. The driver offers a polite nod before the privacy partition rises, leaving us alone in the plush interior.
The hum of the engine fills the silence as I smooth my dress over my lap, trying to ignore the tension radiating from the man beside me. When I glance at him, his gaze is locked on me, dark and smoldering.
“You’re killing me, Valentina,” he mutters, his voice like gravel.
“What?” I ask, though the heat in his stare is enough of an answer.
“That dress,” he growls, leaning closer. “You have no idea what you’re doing to me.”
My cheeks flame, and I glance down at the silky fabric that clings to my curves. “It’s just a dress, Kaden.”
“It’s not just a dress,” he says, taking my hand in his. Before I can process what’s happening, he presses it to his lap, against the undeniable hardness straining beneath his pants. “You did this. You need to take care of it.”
My breath catches as heat rushes through me. “Kaden,” I whisper, darting a glance toward the front.
“The windows are tinted,” he assures me, his lips brushing my ear. “No one can see. And even if they could, you’re my PR, aren’t you? What would people say if I walked into that ball like this?”
His cock twitches beneath my palm, and my fingers curl instinctively, earning a low groan from him.
“Kaden,” I try again, my voice shaky, but he’s relentless.
“Good girl,” he murmurs, his hand sliding up my thigh, pushing the hem of my dress higher. “You drive me fucking insane. I don’t think I can wait until later.”
I gasp as his fingers graze the edge of my lace panties, his touch igniting a fire low in my belly. “We can’t,” I manage, though my voice is shaky, my resolve crumbling with every passing second.
“Oh, but we can,” he murmurs, his tone wicked, his eyes locked on mine. With one quick tug, the delicate lace is gone, reduced to a flimsy scrap now dangling between his fingers. His gaze drifts lower, his smirk turning downright sinful.
“Kaden—” I start, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Shh.” He presses a finger to my lips, his touch both soothing and commanding. “Trust me, Val.”
And just like that, I do. “Always.”
“Perfect,” he mutters, a dark satisfaction lacing his voice. His hands are gentle as he takes my wrists, pulling them together and wrapping the cool, silky fabric of my panties around them. The knot he ties is secure but not too tight, just enough to make me feel both restrained and utterly his.
“You’re gorgeous like this,” he says, his voice thick with appreciation. His gaze lingers on me, the heat in his eyes making me tremble. “All tied up and mine.”
The leather seat beneath me is cool against my thighs as he eases my knees apart, his large hands steady and firm. Vulnerable under his attention, I feel exposed in the most thrilling way—completely laid bare for him.
From the corner of my eye, I see him reach for the champagne bucket. He plucks an ice cube from the chilled water, holding it up between his fingers like it’s the key to my undoing.
“This,” he says, his voice dripping with promise, “is going to drive you crazy.”
The first touch of the ice against the sensitive skin of my inner thigh is a shock. I jerk, the cold electrifying against my overheated flesh. A soft gasp escapes my lips as he moves the cube slowly, deliberately, along the sensitive skin.
“Kaden,” I gasp, my voice caught somewhere between a plea and a curse.
He grins, a devilish curve of his lips that tells me he’s savoring my reaction. The ice trails higher, the cold leaving a slick, teasing path as water pools against my skin. My thighs quiver, but the silk binding my wrists keeps me grounded—or maybe it just keeps me at his mercy.
The ice grazes me, and I jolt, a loud gasp tearing from my throat. He chuckles low, the sound sinful and indulgent.
“Sensitive, aren’t we?” he murmurs, his fingers brushing my hip to keep me steady. “Let’s see how much more you can take.”
The ice circles, deliberate and maddening, teasing me until it’s nearly melted against me. Then his fingers join the torment, their heat a searing counterpoint to the cold that lingers. He parts me gently, his thumb finding my most sensitive spot and stroking with devastating precision.
“Kaden,” I cry, the sound high-pitched and desperate. My hips arch off the seat, straining against the makeshift binding, but he keeps me pinned, his hand unyielding. “Please.”
His name falls from my lips like a broken prayer, and the way he smirks tells me he’s savoring every second of my unraveling. His fingers work in perfect rhythm, driving me higher and higher, until I’m on the precipice.
“You’re close, aren’t you?” he growls, his voice thick with arousal, his breath hot against my thigh.
Before I can answer, his mouth is on me, his tongue dragging over my most sensitive spot with slow, deliberate strokes. My back arches involuntarily, a gasp for air escaping my lips as the warmth of his mouth contrasts with the lingering coolness from the ice.
“Kaden,” I whimper, my voice trembling, but he doesn’t let up. He grips my thighs firmly, holding me open for him, his possessiveness evident in the way he devours me. His tongue flicks, circles, and presses, drawing sounds from me I didn’t know I could make.
Then, as if he knows exactly how much I can take, his fingers return, sliding inside me with ease. One finger curls, pressing against that spot that makes my vision blur, while another follows, stretching and filling me. He moves them in tandem with his tongue, his rhythm relentless, his intention clear.
“You’re mine, Valentina,” he murmurs between strokes, his voice vibrating against me, sending a shiver through my already trembling body. “And I’m going to make sure you never forget it.”
His teeth graze lightly, not enough to hurt but enough to send a jolt of pleasure-pain that has me gripping the leather seat beneath me. As his mouth works, his free hand slides up, his thumb pressing gently on my hip, holding me down when I try to squirm.
The buildup is unbearable, the sensations overwhelming. Just when I think I can’t take anymore, he shifts, his mouth latching onto my clit and sucking hard. His fingers thrust deeper, curling just right, and I feel the tension coil so tight it’s ready to snap.
“Kaden—please—I’m—” I can’t even form the words.
He pulls back just enough to growl against me, the sound vibrating straight through me. “Come for me, baby. Let me feel you fall apart.”
And I do. My entire body clenches, my release tearing through me with a force that leaves me gasping, trembling. He doesn’t stop, his tongue and fingers coaxing me through every wave until I’m completely spent.
Before I can catch my breath, his mouth trails up, leaving hot, wet kisses along my inner thigh. He bites down gently, just enough to mark me, the sting grounding me in the haze of pleasure. “That’s so you remember who made you feel this way,” he murmurs, his voice a mix of pride and hunger.
My body feels boneless, every nerve alive and buzzing, but the sight of him rising, his lips glistening with evidence of what we just shared, makes me want to pull him back for more. He smirks, his thumb swiping over his lower lip as his dark eyes meet mine.
“You’re fucking perfect,” he says, untying my wrists, the silk slipping free. He lifts the lace that was once my panties, giving it an appraising look before tucking it into his pocket. “I think I’ll keep these.”
I’m still catching my breath, my body humming with satisfaction, but one thing is crystal clear: Kaden Crawford knows exactly how to unravel me, piece by sinful piece. His smirk is almost predatory, and I can’t help but follow his gaze as it drops to my trembling thighs.
I glance at the obvious bulge straining against his pants and swallow hard, my voice coming out breathy. “What about you?”
His eyes darken, his grin turning wicked. “No worries. I now know I have access to your cunt, and I’ll be fucking you soon. Probably in the janitor’s closet or an elevator.”
The sheer confidence in his voice makes my stomach flip, his words less of a suggestion and more of a promise. My legs press together instinctively, a rush of heat pooling low in my belly. My body is already primed, desperate for him again, and I can feel the temptation building, almost enough to make me beg him to take me now.
His hand trails up my thigh, slow and deliberate, sending shivers through me. “What’s wrong, Valentina? You look like you’re ready to plead for it already,” he teases, his tone laced with amusement.
I let out a shaky laugh, trying to regain some semblance of control, but it’s futile. This man has me completely at his mercy, and he knows it. The way his thumb brushes over my flushed skin, just light enough to tease but not enough to satisfy, makes me want to scream.
“I—” I start, but the words catch in my throat as his lips curve into a knowing smile.
“Don’t worry, baby,” he murmurs, leaning in close, his breath hot against my ear. “When I do take you, you’ll be begging for it. And trust me, you’ll get everything you want.”
My heart stutters, his words lingering in the air as the car comes to a slow stop. Reality crashes in, the driver clearing his throat politely through the intercom, signaling our arrival. But even as Kaden steps out first, offering me his hand with an air of gentlemanly composure, the heated promise in his eyes tells me this is far from over.