He's the One, Jane Beckenham [best new books to read TXT] 📗

"Dad's somewhere down south."

"And your mother?” she coaxed.

Cade shrugged, seemingly nonchalant, but a flush stained his cheeks and the sadness in his eyes darkened.

"That's it. That's enough.” Cade shoved himself upright and kicked at a derelict piece of wood at his feet. The wood clattered across the concrete floor, spinning out of control.

He walked away, his back hunched, hands deep in his pockets. Taylor stared at his rigidity and tried not to think about what that taut denim outlined.

She failed.

Heat curled through her veins, blood pumping at a furious pace.

Unsure what to do, she scooped up the remains of their meal and looked round for a rubbish bin. There was nothing in sight, so she headed for the door, about to exit the building when Cade called her name.

"Taylor, don't go. I'm ... sorry."

Her hand dropped from the door, and she turned to face him, surprised he stood so close.

Too close.

So close, she could reach out and touch him. She wanted to. Wanted to ease the pain she saw etched in his darkened eyes and brush away the furrows in his brow.

Instead, she balled her hands at her side and did nothing.

"I'm sorry,” he repeated. “It's all this questioning. I'm not used to it."

"You said let's go slow, I was doing that,” Taylor informed him.

"I know. It's not you. It's me. It ... oh, hell, Taylor, it's you."

Taylor's heart thudded to a halt.

"You walked into my bar, and everything went up in smoke. I want you, more than I care to admit."

"And that's a bad thing?"

"Yeah. Sad, but true. Okay, I admit it, I'm screwed up, but I don't want commitment."

"We've gone through this, Cade. Neither do I."

He reached for both her hands, fingers snaking around her wrists. The room seemed to have shrunk. It was just her and Cade. One on one.

He looked at her mouth. “I know."

Kiss me. Go on. Do it! Please.

Taylor fought for sanity. “It's only once. A one-nighter."

"Teacher and student,” he replied with a hint of humor returning.

A shuddering breath rippled from Taylor's lips, and she arched toward him.

"You are very beautiful."

She tried to breathe. Nope. Not a hope in Hades. “Every woman loves to hear those words."

"You wanted fire, sweetheart. You've got it.” And with that, Cade's mouth claimed hers. Hot. Demanding. And very delicious.

He pressed his body hard up against her, and the door claimed her back. “So beautiful,” he murmured as his lips slated over hers, his tongue dancing a sensual tango with hers.

She could feel him. All of him. His broad chest brushed against her breasts, enticing her nipples into rock hard nubs, and when his hips pressed against hers, his arousal rubbed against her belly.

Oh, God, she wanted him.

A sound rippled through the air—a sultry cry of need and Taylor realized it was her own voice. She fixed Cade with a direct gaze. “Is this that mood you talked about?"

"Sweetheart, do you doubt it?"

Heat rolled through Taylor at breakneck speed.

Doubt?

She had none.

Cade's lips sealed over hers once more, his skillful hands spanning her waist, sliding upwards in a teasing path. He reached her breasts, and his thumbs circled her nipples, tempting her beyond endurance.

Her head rolled back and exposed the gentle curve of her neck, eliciting a groan of pleasure from Cade's chest. “I've waited for this. Now I know,” he moaned.

"Know what?"

"What you'd taste like,” he murmured as his lips sought solace along her neck. “It's true. Necks are oh-so-very erogenous."

Seeing her surprise, he chuckled, his dark eyes shrouded by long inky black lashes. He looked dangerous and very sexy. Just looking at him fired Taylor's emotions, emotions she wasn't sure she understood.

She brushed them aside. She didn't want to think. Simply feel. Feel Cade's touch. And she wasn't disappointed.

He found the zip of her dress and effortlessly slid it down.

"You've had practice."

"Makes perfect. And you, sweetheart, are perfect."

As he eased the straps of her dress down her shoulders, anticipation fueled her senses, and her mouth went dry. Her eyes widened as she watched Cade's burning expression focused on her.

"Well, well.” He grinned. “Miss Prim is a real surprise,” he said as one hand traced the lacy outline of her bra.

Lace and silk. Sexy and sinful. Her secret.

"Who would have known that you wore such tempting concoctions beneath your prim little clothes."

Cade stepped back and let out a long wolf-whistle as his gaze slid down her length. Slowly. Hungrily. It was as if he ate her up—whole. “Baby, that sure is something.” His gaze slid lower—to her thong—and Taylor's body zinged alive. Hotter than hot.

She should have been embarrassed. No man had seen her this undressed before, and swimwear didn't count.

Cade liked what he saw. Obviously. His arousal pressed hard against his jeans, and his heavy hooded gaze burned with desire. Just the thought of it made Taylor feel—powerful. She'd never felt that before.

A slither of devilment tilted her lips, and her hips tilted forward.

"If you keep looking at me like that, I won't be able to stay in control."

"Who said I wanted control?” she countered.

A flicker of surprise passed across Cade's eyes seconds before he pulled her to him. She came up hard, all oxygen stalling in her lungs.

Then, he kissed her. Again.

And again and again.

On her lips, her eyelids, her cheeks. Everywhere.

And Taylor kissed him right back. She wanted his kisses. Lots of them. Every single one. And more.

She wasn't sure she could breathe. But the moment Cade's warm fingers unclipped her bra, the scrap of garment falling away, she knew breathing wasn't important.

He cupped a breast in each hand, then lowered his mouth and sucked one, then the other. Back and forwards. Over and deliciously over, while Taylor floated in a glorious heaven and swallowed a throaty cry of sinful pleasure.

Scrambling through eyes that could barely focus, she found the hem of Cade's T-shirt and burrowed beneath, rejoicing as her fingers trailed over his slicked skin.

Ridges, angles, his wiry hair slid beneath her fingertips. Everything was new, a sensory exploration that delighted her. She wanted