Chapter Eleven
Keely stared up at the top floor of the building. Caine’s loft.
Asshole.
Why the hell was he so insistent she come back?
This was the last place he should want her.
He’d made it abundantly clear that one night was all he was interested in.
She, on the other hand, was silently nursing her battered heart.
Seeing him again in the stockroom had proven she was still harboring her crush.
She started across the lot, tightening her jacket around her body.
The cool air was sending a chill over her skin.
Or maybe it was being alone in a poorly lit parking lot.
For someone who worked security, Caine should’ve known better than to have a woman walk alone after midnight.
And that right there shows, he doesn’t give a shit about me.
Not that she’d thought differently. Him kicking her out of his loft spoke volumes.
Keely was only a few feet from the entrance and about to step up on the curb when the door flew open. She gasped, jumping back and jerking her head. Caine was standing just inside the door, holding it open with one arm.
“That’s perfect timing.”
He didn’t say a word.
“Did you hear my car pull up?”
“No.”
She knitted her brows. “Then how’d you know I was here?”
“I’ve been waiting here since one.” He arched his brow. “You’re late.”
The nerve of this man!
“Well, I did have to drive twenty minutes out of my way after working an eight-hour shift. But I’m here now so” —she held out her hand, palm up— “Can I have my bracelet, please?”
“It’s upstairs.”
Of course it was. She would’ve been a fool to think he’d have it waiting for her. This was all a game to him.
“Fine.” She ducked under his arm and walked down to the elevator, stopping in front of the closed doors. Keely folded her arms, staring straight ahead. When the doors opened, she stepped inside. She was there for one purpose only. She’d get her bracelet and get out of there. Done!
She ignored the faint smell of his cologne, which for some reason had her mind drifting back to the other night. God, stop!
When the doors opened, he gestured for her to get out. Keely shook her head, huffed, and walked in, but stopped a foot from the elevator.
“I’ll just stay here while you get it. Wouldn’t want to invade your space or overstay my welcome .” The edge in her tone wasn’t helping mask her anger. Or hurt.
Just as the doors closed, Caine reached in his pocket, pulling out her bracelet. What the fuck? He had it on him the whole time?
She snatched it from his hand, slipped it onto her wrist and glanced down at the jewelry. A sense of relief washed over her, which was quickly replaced by aggravation.
“Why didn’t you just give it to me downstairs?”
Caine stepped closer, and she forced herself not to react.
“I wanted to talk to you.”
Keely scoffed, twisting her lips. “ You want to talk? Bullshit!” she snapped. “What? Did you think you’d get me up here, and I’d sleep with you?”
He cocked his head, and his gaze heated. Oh my God, that was exactly what he thought!
“How fucking arrogant of you to think I’d just have sex with you again after the way you treated me?”
He lifted his chin. “How did I treat you?”
“You kicked me out!”
“Did I? When you were feigning sleep, did I wake you up and make you leave?”
“No,” she snapped. “You thought I was sleeping.”
“If I’d wanted you gone, you would’ve left that night, not the morning.” Caine sighed. “Maybe I wanted you sleeping in my bed all night.”
What? Did he? This was a new revelation she hadn’t considered. He took no issue making her leave the following morning. He could have easily done that after the sex. Do not buy into his bullshit!
She straightened her shoulders, arching her brow. “Or maybe you’re just saying that now because you want to fuck me again.”
There was a small stretch of silence. “I do want to fuck you again.”
She gasped. It was not the answer she was expecting.
He was so blunt, she found herself looking around the room, refusing to make eye contact.
There was no concealing the blush spreading across her face.
What the hell was happening? Everything in her mind was telling her to shut this down, walk away, and not look back.
And for once, she was going to listen to her sensible and responsible self-advice.
Keely turned toward the elevator, but Caine stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
“I don’t allow people in my private space. Ever. ” Caine drew in a breath, and she peeked up through her lashes. “The next morning, you were comfortable here, making plans. It fucked with my head.”
Keely didn’t fully understand his reasoning. For someone like her who craved companionship, the concept of needing space was foreign.
“You could’ve been nicer and just told me that.”
“I could’ve.”
She raised her brows. “But you didn’t!”
“Like I said, I don’t allow people in my space. Not my bed, my loft, or anywhere too close.”
“Then why didn’t you just drive me home and be done with it?”
“’Cause I wanted you here.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat following his admission. It could’ve been a line, but Caine didn’t come across as the type of man who needed to use them on women.
“Bubble mint.” His voice was deep and low.
What? She peeked up at him, and he drew in a breath.
“You asked my favorite flavor gum.” He paused. “It’s Bubble mint.”
This was the smallest step in getting to know someone and having them open up. But he was making it.
Caine reached out, sliding his knuckles over her arm, and it sent a shiver over her flesh. She clenched her teeth, ignoring the heat shooting straight to her core.
“I’m not sleeping with you tonight!”
“Alright.” His rumbling growl only intensified her lie, and she inched closer.
Alright. Alright? What the hell kind of response was that?
“So, I’m gonna leave.”
Caine cocked his head but remained silent. This was an absolute mindfuck.
“I’m leaving.”
Caine stepped closer. “Or you can stay.”
“Is that what you want?” She held up her hand, waving her finger. “And keep in mind, I’m not sleeping with you.”
His lips twitched, and he slowly nodded. “Yeah, I got that. Still want you to stay. Made dinner. I’ll warm some up for you.”
It seemed like the most unexpected Caine thing to say. Then he doubled-down, surprising her again.
“I was an asshole, and I hurt you,” he whispered. “That won’t happen again.”
Technically, it wasn’t an apology, but it was a promise and acknowledgement of her feelings.
Fuck it, call me weak, but I’m folding.
She inched closer, sliding her hands over his chest. “I’m not hungry, but I want to stay.” She swallowed. “And I’ll retract that part about not sleeping with you.”
His mouth crashed down on hers, stealing her breath. There were a million reasons why she shouldn’t get involved with him. And Keely ignored them all. She dropped her pocketbook to the floor and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, giving in to the kiss.
He wasted no time. Caine spread his hands over her ass and hiked her up, forcing her legs to straddle him. He never broke away from the kiss and carried her into his bedroom. He lowered her down to the mattress, and neither of them bothered with the slow seduction of undressing each other.
They were naked in ten seconds flat, and he came over her body. His mouth was everywhere, his lips sliding over her neck, licking the column of her throat. She dragged her nails over his back down to his ass. This man was all muscle. She was ready to go, but he had other plans, it seemed.
He grabbed her wrists and braced them over her head, forcing her hands onto the barred headboard.
“You let go, and I’ll cuff you.”
She raised her brows, and her breath hitched. “As in handcuffs?”
Keely’s sexual experience hadn’t dipped into the kink realm, but the mention of being tied down spiked an adrenaline rush, not only through her blood but directly to the lower region between her legs.
“You like that?”
She clamped her lips, unsure of how to respond.
Did she like it? The idea, yes. But she had zero experience in this department.
Caine slid his hand down the inside of her arm.
She was still clasping onto the headboard.
He flipped his hand over, his knuckles scraping over her chest down to her nipple.
She sucked in a breath under his watchful eye.
Caine leaned to the left of the bed but kept his gaze trained on her.
He opened the drawer to his nightstand, and she instantly heard the clanking of metal.
She darted her eyes to his hands, watching him carry over a set of handcuffs.
Holy shit.
“You like these?”
The knot in her throat grew larger, making it impossible to swallow.
How was she supposed to answer him? It didn’t matter.
Caine lifted his hand, hooking one cuff over her wrist and looping the chain behind one of the bars then cuffing her other wrist. His free hand caressed over her stomach, and his hand slipped between her legs.
The pad of his finger teased her clit, and she gasped, drawing in a deep breath and arching her back, seconds before his finger dipped inside of her.
The corner of his mouth curled, and his chest rumbled in a deep growl. “Yeah, you like them.”
He would know. Caine had the proof on his fingers. Keely closed her eyes, swiveling her hips and virtually riding his hand.
“Open.” He growled, and she followed his command, flickering her eyes open.
Caine pulled his hand from her pussy and lifted his chin. “Open your mouth.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat and parted her lips. He drew his hand up, sliding his fingers inside her mouth.
“Suck.”
She tightened her lips on his fingers, tasting herself. He withdrew his fingers and came over her, taking her mouth for a kiss. His rumbling groan vibrated over her chest.
“You taste sweet.”
She found her voice, whispering, “You like it?”