Chapter 6 Caden
SIX
CADEN
“I am so sorry,” Sabrina breathed out as she rushed toward my car.
I had been about to walk up to her apartment door to ring her bell after I parked, but she must’ve spotted me through the window and raced outside.
As much as someone could race in heels. She wore a long green dress that hugged all her curves. The slit running up her thigh teased her toned legs when she made her way over to me, her blond curls bouncing as she balanced her purse and what looked like an overnight bag.
“This is just like my sister,” she said with a groan. “Planning something and telling you to come rather than ask—”
She fell silent when her gaze found mine.
I’d let her ramble, watching her as I leaned against my car door and took in the stunning creature that she was.
Instead of being nervous about tonight, I felt lucky.
Lucky that, for a few short and albeit fake hours, this beauty would be mine.
I’d deal with the temptations and the possible fallout to get this one moment in time with her, even if that was all I’d get.
“Wow,” she said as her eyes flicked up and down my body. “You are definitely hot in a suit.”
“That’s rule number one in the fake boyfriend handbook. Be as hot as possible to make a good impression.”
She chuckled as I slipped her bag from where it dangled on her arm and threw it into my back seat.
“Well, you definitely can check that one off the list.” She grazed her hand down the lapel of my jacket.
“So can you. You’re fucking gorgeous, Sabrina.”
A blush crept down her neck as she darted her eyes away.
“Thank you,” she said, her lips curving as she came closer. “We almost match,” she said, running her finger over the knot in my green tie.
“You said you were wearing green. Not sure if couples do this outside of prom, but anything to solidify the look.” I sent her a wink.
“The look, huh? Speaking of, I was thinking. We’re probably going to have to kiss at some point. Are you okay with that?”
“You think?” I said, stuffing my hands into my pockets to hide their quivering, hoping they’d stop before I had to use my steering wheel. “I think as long as we sit close enough and hang over each other at all the appropriate moments—”
Before I knew what was happening, she leaned in and pressed her lips to mine.
Soft, closemouthed, but enough to draw a moan out of me.
It had been decades since I’d kissed Sabrina, but the thump of my heart against my rib cage and the way my blood sang in my veins felt so familiar. So familiar and so damn good.
I slanted my head, taking advantage of her sweet sigh to slip my tongue past those perfect lips, just as pillow-soft as I remembered.
For a second, I was afraid I’d gone too far until a groan erupted from her throat.
Fuck, she tasted good. Sweet and warm, tinged with both nostalgia of what was and regret of what never could be.
It had never been like this with anyone else, including the woman I’d married. I’d attributed it to first love and all the wonder and teenage hormones that went along with it, but it wasn’t that…or wasn’t only that.
It was significant in a way I didn’t want to acknowledge, at least not tonight, but couldn’t deny.
I wrapped my arm around her waist and brought her closer, going in for a couple of quick pecks when she eased away.
“I figured, get the first one out of the way before we got there,” she said, her voice breathy and shallow. “So it’s not awkward.”
“Sab,” I started, cupping her cheek. “The first one was more years ago than we probably care to count.” I let my thumb drift over her jaw as her hooded eyes blazed into mine. “It was never awkward kissing you. So, if you want to make that part of the act tonight, I can be convinced.”
The act. I wanted to laugh. Nothing about that kiss was an act, and every exaggerated touch between us would be real, at least from my end.
And the minute we stepped into that hotel room tonight, I’d be fucked. I was strong enough to hold in my feelings, but I’d need to be made of steel to get through tonight and not waver.
The ride to the wedding was mostly quiet as I focused on the ding of my GPS.
Toni’s wedding was in a swanky hotel out east, and I could only imagine what the hotel rooms were like.
I gripped the wheel tighter as thoughts of Sabrina and me in a room with a Jacuzzi or some other amenity that would make post-wedding sex even more enticing drifted through my head.
“Listen,” Sabrina said as I took the last exit before the hotel. “If I forget to say it tonight, thank you.”
“There’s no need to thank me. I offered.” I reached over to squeeze her knee. “If my being here makes tonight easier for you, I’m happy to do it.”
No matter how hard this night was turning out to be for me. But like Jesse said, I was going with the flow, and if I did slip, maybe it just needed to come out. I’d plan for nothing and just enjoy whatever happened for what it was worth.
She let out a soft chuckle as I drove toward the valet.
“What’s so funny?” I asked.
“We do look like we’re going to the prom.” She dropped her head back and turned to me, a smile that was as sad as it was wistful. “I should have taken you that night instead of—” she pursed her lips “—I can’t even remember who I took. But all I know is I would have had a better time with you.”
“Well, we can reenact it tonight. I’ll see if I can swipe a flower off one of the centerpieces and give you a corsage.”
“You are the only guy who could make that sweet.” She kissed my cheek. “You really are the best.”
I dragged a hand down my face before I climbed out of my car and handed the valet my keys, mentioning that we were here until the morning. I dug out our overnight bags and followed Sabrina inside.
“We should probably check in first,” she said, pointing to the front desk. “Drop this stuff off.”
We checked in and got our keys to our fourteenth-floor hotel room. Sabrina’s features looked strained when I glanced back at her as we made our way down the long hotel hallway.
“This is definitely a fancy hotel. I’m excited to check out the reception hall,” I tried to joke as I hovered the keycard over the lock until it beeped.
I cringed when I flicked on the light. Her sister had booked us a suite, complete with a king-sized bed.
I set our bags down on top of the bed, Sabrina’s eyes boring into my back as if she was thinking the same thing.
“I’ll ask the front desk for a cot.”
She shook her head. “You’ll do no such thing. It’s big enough for both of us. We’re adults. I won’t let you be uncomfortable after coming with me and driving us all the way here.”
Sharing a bed with her tonight, no matter how much space I put between us, wouldn’t be the least bit comfortable.
It would be torture.
She ambled up to the bed, pressing her fist to her mouth as if she were stifling a laugh.
“What’s so funny?”
“It’s like those romance novels Emily edits. The only-one-bed trope.” She raised a brow when she met my gaze.
I drew my brows together. “What’s a trope?”
“That’s right—you’re a guy.” She shook her head.
“It’s like a plot device, for lack of a better term.
Something to get things moving. A man and a woman are stranded somewhere.
They find a room and—” she pressed her hand to her chest “—there’s only one bed.
What could happen?” She patted my chest. “Let’s go, boyfriend. ”
What could happen? It was big enough to spread out—or spread Sabrina out and bury my face between those beautiful legs before I fucked her against the black-padded headboard.
I followed Sabrina to the elevator without a word.
I needed a drink or ten. One would calm the chaos in my head so I could think.
Ten would knock me out. I had to stay away from any amount in between that would bring my guard down enough to encourage me to do something stupid, like give in to the ache to have Sabrina not just tonight, but for as long as I was alive.