“I don’t believe you,” I said.
He buried his face in my hair and neck, not looking at me as he spoke. “I couldn’t get you out of my head after we met. I told myself it was the novelty of an innocent Neph girl, but it was more than that. You see the best in everyone.” He paused to kiss my earlobe. “You drove me mad that trip, little Ann. I’d never been more terrified of my own self than I was when I realized I fancied you. And then you gave that homeless woman all your money in Hollywood, and that was it. I was done.”
I pulled back to look at him. His eyes were gorgeous as he remembered, and I’d never been more turned on. I didn’t care if my dad was listening. I put my fingers in Kaidan’s sea-salted hair and pulled him to me. He didn’t hold back, either, and I threw a leg over his hip, moving closer. It wasn’t a kiss of desperation, like so many we’d shared. This was a kiss of elation that came from knowing we were wanted and needed. I wished I could suspend time and wrap myself in this moment.
His hands roamed over me and I moved closer, wanting so much more of him. I’d fallen further in love with Kaidan over the last few days. Witnessing his willingness to face peril—his bravery and strength under pressure—was sexier than anything I’d ever seen.
I didn’t know exactly what the future held, but I knew we were a team. Parting today would not break us. I took in the scent of him, the sweetness of his pheromones and the natural boy-smell of his skin. I took in the feel of his soft lips and his firm body as he pressed it against me and moved in the exact right ways. I took in the sight of him, the waves of hair over his angled face and the passion in his eyes when he looked at me.
As he did now.
Each of these things I etched into my memory to be remembered and cherished at future times.
“We’re gonna be okay,” I whispered between kisses.
“Better than okay,” he said with a grin. And then he kissed me again and I pulled him until he rolled on top of me.
“I want to take you with me,” I said.
“So you can drive me mad like this every day?”
Was he kidding? He was the one making me all crazy.
“I think someone’s coming up the stairs,” Kaidan whispered, then kissed under my ear.
“No. Not yet.” I arched into him and held him tight.
We were both breathing hard when Dad pounded on the door. We froze, an inch from each other’s lips, and I giggled.
Traveling the world in search of possibly hostile Neph and eluding murderous Dukes seemed like a piece of cake in comparison to trying to be a good girl in the arms of Kaidan Rowe.
God give me strength.