Chapter 13
He deepened the kiss. His tongue tangled with hers, the taste, scent of hers worming throughout his body and taking root.
His fingers tugged the careless bun she had made of her hair.
His fingers tightened, lifting her face to take the kiss even deeper.
She was pressed against him, slender curves making an impression he would not soon forget.
Dragging his lips from hers, he raced his lips over her cheek, her nose and eyes, before starting all over. He would never get enough of her.
Sliding on top of her, he nibbled at her throat. Words were not necessary. He wanted to show her by his actions that he wanted her. Needed her.
When he nibbled at her throat, she gripped his shoulders. His lips trailed across her collar bone, before venturing further.
Her nipples were aching. Sweet sensations coursed through her body like honey. Flames licked at her, enflaming her when he closed his mouth over the nipple. Her body arched, quivering like an arrow that was straining to leave the bow.
He plucked at her, sending her into a vicious spin that had her moaning.
His lips moved down, tasting her taut stomach and staying there for a few minutes. She had carried his baby inside her. Grief and regret swamped him that he had not been there for her. He wanted to make up for it. Wanted to take away the pain and rejection he had made her feel.
"Cade." Her voice whispering his name sent passion coursing. He was overwhelmed.
Lifting his head, he gazed at her. She looked sexily rumpled, her wealth of hair streaming over the pillows. Her magnificent eyes were bright, lips swollen.
"Don't tell me to stop." His voice was sharp, harsh with the need to restrain himself. "Please. It would kill me."
"No." She shook her head wildly. Something glorious was happening to her. And she could not say no, not to this, not to him. "I can't." She admitted brokenly. "Please."
"Tell me you want me." He pleaded. "Tell me that I'm not the only one going through this."
"I want you." She had to swallow the lump in her throat. "I want you so much."
With a muffled groan, he tugged at her shorts and tossed it aside. His hands roved over her hips, fingers sliding into the waistband of her lace panties.
His eyes were on hers as he took them off. Then he looked down and words failed him. Their second time had been inside his vehicle, and he never had time to look, to appreciate. Words failed him as he studied her. He could look for days, for weeks.
Pressing a hand over her, he met her fevered gaze. Her lips parted, her body arched. He continued to stare at her as he slipped a finger and then another inside her.
She was wet and hot. A groan escaped him. When she erupted, simply erupted, he almost lost the tenuous control he had over his emotions.
He wouldn't be able to hold out much longer. It had to be now.
With his breath backing up and his body throbbing, he practically tore at his underwear and covered his body with hers.
Her tightness stole his breath. Sliding her hands up, he twined his fingers through hers and held on tight.
"I love you." He told her thickly. His blood was boiling, his heart like a jackhammer through his skin.
"I know you don't believe me and it's going to take time but let me prove myself to you." His mouth hovered over hers, his body rigid as he tried to slow things down. He knew instinctively that as soon as he moved, it would be all over. He wanted more time.
"I love you." He closed his mouth over hers, his tongue plunging.
A groan escaped him when she simply lifted her legs to wrap around his waist. He moved then, the momentum building, building, building.
Until finally they were thrust into the eye of a storm that battered them until they were clinging to each other.
The climax slammed into her until she could not breathe. Her hands lifted, wrapping around his neck, racing down his back, fingers making grooves in his skin. His own hands freed, he gripped her hair and angled her head so that he could take, take, and take.
When his own release came, it was so powerful, he found himself gripping her hips and thrusting until he was pushing her up against the pillows. And did not stop until he had emptied himself.
With his body still shuddering, he buried his face in her hair and did not move. Could not move.
Gradually, as his breathing slowed, an overwhelming tenderness swept through him. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close, silently vowing never to let her go again. In that quiet aftermath, their bodies tangled and hearts exposed, a sense of peace settled between them, fragile but real.
The world outside faded away, leaving only the two of them, cocooned in the sanctuary they had built together.
She stirred and he just realized that he was still on top of her, still inside her. Even though he was loath to move, to break the contact, he shifted but kept his arms around her.
"I should--"
"No." His arms tightened.
She lifted her brow at him. "You have no idea what I was going to say."
"I can't let you go." His eyes were intense, and they both knew he wasn't talking about their current situation.
"Look--"
"No." He repeated, lips thinning. "Don't ask me to take a step back Abigail, I can't."
She stirred restlessly. "I need time."
"Take all the time you need. Only don't ask me to stay away." He brushed his lips on hers. "Please."
"I cannot think when you do that."
His smile was feral. "That's the point."
She found herself going under and only just managed to slap a hand on his chest to ease him back. "I need to think." Taking a deep breath, she tried to surface from the fog of desire clouding her brain.
"You don't trust me."
"No."
Even though he expected the answer, it still sliced through him. Easing all the way back, he let her go and sat up against the pillows, his face grim.
"I'm sorry."
He shook his head and tried to align his thoughts. "You have every right." His hands clenched into fists and he forced himself to relax his fingers. "I was a player." His mouth twisted bitterly.
"I never wanted to settle down. Kev was the sober one, even when we were growing up.
He was always studying, always had this serious look about him.
Kat and I used to tease him mercilessly, but he wouldn't budge.
He was determined to take his place in the company, and nothing was going to stop him. " He lifted his shoulders in a shrug.
"Kat and I were allowed to run wild and we did. Being the second son meant I had no responsibility or obligation to adhere to rules. Everything came easy for me. I have a brilliant mind and never had to study. I aced every test, was always the first to finish in class.
"I was easily bored and restless. I couldn't settle at any one thing."
Lifting his hands, he dragged them through his hair. She sat quietly, with the sheets around her and listened.
"I passed through high school, was valedictorian and did not take it seriously.
I lost my virginity when I was thirteen.
" He turned his head to see her reaction and was not surprised at the shock on her face.
"Betty Lou was sixteen and a senior. She was rich and entitled and spoiled and offered me a ride in her convertible.
"We ended up doing it in the back seat of her car in broad daylight." He shook his head. "From that point on, I considered myself a man. I've had more women than I can count. I was careless with their feelings." His lips thinned.
"Why are you telling me this?"
He turned to face her. "I want full disclosure." He started to reach for her but decided against it. "When I met you..." He closed his eyes briefly. "I saw you when you came into the room and felt something, here." He pressed a hand to his heart.
"It was strong and vibrant. I thought it was plain old-fashioned lust. You are after all, a beauty and I was attracted to beauty." He leaned his head back and laughed harshly. "The only thing I knew was that I had to have you. When I did, I wanted to stay, wanted to prolong what we had.
"For the first time in my life, I wasn't in control of the situation, and it pissed me off." He glanced at her. "I ran. And told myself that it was a damn fluke. I spent several months trying to get you out of my head, the taste and texture of your skin." His fingers curled into fists.
"I took women to bed, just to get rid of the taste of you.
I thought I had. Sophia..." His mouth twisted bitterly.
"I knew she was starting to get too attached, and I was so bloody arrogant.
I thought I could handle it and her. It would be like all the times before.
When the passion fizzled out, we would go on our separate ways. "
"Instead, she tried to kill herself."
The pain and grief came and had him sucking in his breath. "I never wanted anything like that to happen. You have to believe me."
When she remained silent, he turned his head, afraid of what he would see on her face.
She met his gaze, expression unreadable.
"Please say something."
"You hurt me." She told him bluntly. "It was foolish of me, and I was naive and too innocent, but I fell in love with you that night. We danced in the garden..." A smile ghosted her lips. "It was the most magical night of my life.
"I thought you were the most beautiful person I had ever seen and when you took me out of the room and into the garden, I was dazzled.
" Her expression sobered. "If you'd asked me to go with you, anywhere, I would have done so without hesitation.
" She plucked at the sheets, fingers restless. "You broke something inside me, Cade."
"Then let me fix it." He gripped her shoulders and hauled her on top of him. His expression was fierce and sincere. "Let me make it right. I cannot go back and change the past, but I can do my best to make it up to you. I love you.