CHAPTER 17 #2
I needed this woman like I needed air. I didn’t want to push her away; that wasn’t my intention. Or maybe it was, but it obviously wasn’t what I wanted.
Jamie whimpered, holding onto me. “Edge…”
Backing her toward the bed, I eased her down, crawling over her without releasing her mouth.
“I need you.”
“You have me,” she whispered, leaning up to meet my lips with hers.
Her hand curled around my head, holding me there as I kissed her, my hand working to free her from the robe. When her cool fingers began unbuttoning my slacks, I considered putting this on ice.
You heard her. Get out of your own way.
“I don’t have a condom,” I muttered as she forced my slacks over my hips, using her feet to force them down farther.
“I’m on the pill.” Her eyes met mine. “And I trust you.”
I pulled away long enough to kick off my slacks, returning as Jamie tossed the robe to the floor.
As I kissed her, I used my fingers to tease her open, to get her ready for my cock.
While this woman deserved hours of foreplay, I couldn’t give it to her now.
I needed to feel her around me, needed to bury myself so deep inside her she’d feel me in her soul.
Jamie squirmed against my fingers, soft mewls coming from her, and I prayed she was ready for me.
“Please,” she pleaded. “Inside me.”
I guided my cock to her entrance, pressed the head against her warm, tight entrance. I broke the kiss so I could look in her eyes as I slid into the heaven of her body.
“Jamie … baby.”
She buried her face in my neck, her arms sliding around me as I thrust in, retreated. She felt so good beneath me, as though we were meant for one another. The way she panted my name, her hands groping over my back, her hips rocking against mine … it was perfect in every way.
Over and over, I drove into her until we were panting, sweat slicking our bodies as we moved together as one.
Jamie squeezed my hips with her thighs, pulling me to her. “More,” she whispered. “I need more. All. Give me all of you.”
“I can’t do that.” I couldn’t. If I did, I would hurt her.
“I’m not asking for your heart,” she clarified.
I smiled. “You already have that.”
Her eyes flared slightly. “All of you, Edge.”
I shook my head.
“You can,” she insisted, meeting me thrust for thrust. “All of you.” Her teeth nipped my collarbone. “Everything.”
I slammed into her, paused as I watched her eyes glaze with desire.
Retreated slowly. Slamming into her again, I curled my hand behind her thigh, holding her there as I impaled her, taking and giving exactly as she requested.
Her soft whimpers turned to urgent pleas, and I couldn’t stop.
Her pussy gripped me, pulling me in deeper.
I was completely lost to this woman, so fucking lost.
“Fuck,” I growled. “Baby … fuck. I need you to come for me. Come all over my cock.”
I thrust into her, insane with the need to feel her pussy clench around me. I wasn’t gentle, and when her nails scraped down my back, I knew she didn’t need gentle. This woman needed me. Not the man who wanted to protect her, but the one who wanted to own her.
I slid one hand under her head, fisted her hair, and held her there, staring into her dark, lust-filled eyes. “Come for me, sweetness. Right … fucking … now.”
Jamie screamed, her back bowing as her knees gripped my hips tightly. Her pussy locked on my cock, squeezing, ripping my orgasm from me. I came for what felt like an eternity, holding her in place.
It was then I knew she wasn’t going to be my undoing.
She already was.
Jamie
It was probably bad form to slip out on a man after sex, but that was exactly what I did.
The instant Edge was asleep, I slid to my feet, snatched my dress, and made my way to the living room. I knew I looked like I’d been well-fucked because I had, but I couldn’t do anything about it. I hadn’t brought anything with me, so I was screwed.
Being that we were in an upscale hotel, I took a moment in the secondary bath near the door, washed my face with the tiny bar of soap, finger-combed my hair, then figured it was the best I could do. Hopefully no one would think I was a prostitute, but if they did…
Well, there were worse things.
By the time I made it to the lobby, my Uber was pulling up. Luckily, during one of our previous conversations, Cav had mentioned the hotel he was staying in. Gave me the room number, even. I only hoped he was there; otherwise, I would be on my way home without fixing what I’d clearly broken.
Wishing I’d thought to go home first, to shower and change, freshen up, I forced my feet to move through the lobby, ignoring the eyes of the night manager, pretending I had every right to be there.
The elevator took me to the seventh floor.
I stepped out into silence, glanced at the sign on the wall.
I stopped at the door with his room number and knocked before I could change my mind.
No one answered.
“Shit,” I muttered, knocking again, this time louder.
I wouldn’t blame Cav if he didn’t answer the door. In fact, I was preparing for that when I heard the distinctive click of a deadbolt being unlocked.
Cav didn’t offer so much as a forced smile when he pulled the door open, revealing his near-naked form. He briefly peered into the hall, probably looking to see if Edge was with me. I stood there nervously, waiting for him to say something.
“What do you want, Jamie?” His tone was clipped, his voice raspy with sleep.
“May I come in?” The last thing I wanted to do was grovel in the hallway. I would, sure. But it wasn’t ideal.
Cav pulled the door wider, took one step back. I walked inside, my heels clicking muffled by the thin carpet.
The door shut behind me, and I turned to see Cav waiting, an impatient expression, his thickly muscled arms crossed over his immaculate chest. It didn’t help that he was wearing only a pair of boxers.
I shifted my small clutch from one hand to the other, my tongue tied. I had no idea what to say to fix the rift I’d put between us.
“Why are you here, Jamie?”
“I…” Crap. This was far more difficult than I’d thought it would be.
“Spit it out. I’m tired.”
Ouch.
“I’m sorry about what I said, how I made you feel,” I blurted. “I honestly didn’t mean it the way it sounded.”
“Didn’t you?” he countered. “It’s not the first time you added me in as an afterthought.”
My hands shot to my hips, my defenses falling into place. “That’s not true.”
He sighed, running his hand through his sleep-mussed hair. “I think it’s fair to say I know where I stand with you, Jamie.”
“No, you don’t.” He couldn’t. I’d never told him.
“It’s always been about Edge,” he stated softly. “All of this. It’s a game, one that was fun while it lasted. I think it’s best if we both accept that.”
I glared at him, decided to go with the truth. “Yes. At first, maybe this was about him.” I took a step closer. “Right up until I met you.”
“Then what? You thought it’d be fun to rotate us out?”
“That’s not fair,” I said softly, pain lancing my insides, causing my eyes to fill with tears. I fought them back. I didn’t want his sympathy; I just needed to apologize.
“You’re right,” he huffed.
I knew he was hurting; I could see it on his face. His hurtful comments were to make me feel what I’d made him feel. I understood that.
“Did you fuck him?” His eyes were cool, but his tone wasn’t.
“What?”
Cav took a step closer, his gaze zeroing in on my face. “You heard me. When I left, did you fuck Edge?”
I didn’t like his tone. It made me feel cheap and dirty, and what happened between Edge and me was not that.
“That’s what I thought.” He turned back to the door, opened it. “I think it’s best you leave.”
Swallowing hard, I started toward the hallway. Evidently, I wouldn’t be fixing this. For one, I didn’t know how. Just as I was about to give up all hope of making this right, I changed my mind.
I stepped right up into his personal space, slid my hand up to his cheek. “I’m sorry,” I whispered. “The last thing I’d ever do is hurt you.” His eyes locked on mine, but he didn’t move. “And you have never been my second choice. Ever.”
I’d promised myself I wouldn’t cry, but the tears formed anyway. I fought them back, swallowed repeatedly, trying to fend off the onslaught of emotion.
“I’m sorry, Cav,” I whispered.
“Damn it, Jamie,” he growled, his arms going around me, pulling me into him.
That did it. The dam broke, and tears flooded as his big, warm arms wrapped me in tight. I pressed my cheek to his, holding on, never wanting to let him go.
When he released me, the warmth faded instantly. I furiously brushed the tears away, not wanting him to see me fall apart.
“Where’s Edge?” he asked, leaning his forehead against mine, his palm curling around the back of my neck.
“I left him at the hotel. Asleep.”
He sighed.
“I didn’t know what else to do,” I explained. “I needed to talk to you, to explain. It couldn’t wait until morning. I can’t bear the thought of you being upset with me.”
Cav released me, took a step back, another sigh racing out of him as he moved toward the small dresser beneath the television.
I didn’t know whether to follow or to leave. I’d never been in this position before. In fact, I’d never thought I would be. Leaving one man’s bed to come to see another man? Who in their right mind ended up in that predicament?
I heard him open the small refrigerator, close it.
I thought about joining him, but stared at the door.
This was a mistake. He wasn’t going to forgive me, and I didn’t blame him.
I’d been so upset by what Edge had done, thinking he could control all of us because he was insecure.
He’d left Cav and me in a bad position last night, and emotions had run high. Mine especially.
A sob escaped me when I thought about what I’d said to Cav, remembering the pain in his eyes. It hadn’t been until the words were out that I’d realized how it sounded, as though he was my second choice.