“Right back at you.”
“I was fine before you came along.”
Now that’s a lie, and we both know it. “Were you, Cat? Were you really?”
She does push my hand away, and I let it fall. “I thought I was, but I don’t know anything anymore.”
“Want to tell me about it?”
She shakes her head.
I nod. There’s time for that, and the fact that she hasn’t bolted feels like enough for now. But I do want to make myself clear.
I meet her eyes. “Someday you’re going to tell me your secrets, Cat.”
A shadow crosses her face. “Why?”
“Because I want them.” I lean over and brush a soft kiss on her lips, not letting it deepen and consume us both. “And you want to give them to me.”
She tilts her head. “And if I want yours in return?”
I have a choice here: to put a wedge between us or pull her closer. I choose the latter. “We’ll have to work out an exchange then, won’t we?”
Cat
His words surprise me.
I didn’t expect them, and I’m not sure exactly what to think. But somehow, despite his arrogance and presumption, his presence has made me feel better.
Him sitting here beside me, his touch, his words—soothes away all the ragged emotions pulling at me.
I meet his gaze.
I’ve never had a man look at me quite like Caden does. It’s not with desire—although that’s there too—but like he needs to hear every word I say, to soak them in and absorb them. It’s beyond listening, but I can’t quite articulate it.
It’s wrong to climb deeper down this rabbit hole. I know it will end in disaster. I’m not meant to be with a man like Caden, and he’s not meant for a woman like me.
But right now I’m weak, I want to feel better, and he’s making that happen.
I lick my bottom lip. “Can we start with something small?”
He reaches for me again, curling his hand around my neck. “We can start however you want.”
I blink up at him. “What’s the first thing you think I should know?”
He smiles. “I’m arrogant.”
“I already know that.”
“And demanding.”
“Not new information either.”
“I’m hard.”
I raise a brow. “I’m not touching that one.”
He grins. “Smart girl.”