Chapter: 161

"Where are you going?" he asked, his grip gentle but strong enough to keep her in place.

They were so close now that Alicia couldn't look away.

Her eyes were locked on his.

She felt trapped, forced to meet his gaze. “Heading back," she muttered, unsure of herself in the intensity of the moment. She felt like she couldn't stay here, in this intimate setting with Caden, without her mind drifting to those embarrassing dreams she'd had.

Caden squinted slightly. "Are you really going to walk out of here and go straight to Joshua's bed?" he asked.

Alicia instinctively denied it. "No."

Her quick answer didn't surprise him at all.

“Why not?" Caden pressed.

Given their relationship, why wouldn't she?

Alicia scrambled for an excuse, but before she could respond, Caden interrupted with a low laugh. “Because I'm better in bed, right?"

Her heart sank at his words.

She couldn't deny it.

Caden's lips brushed close to her ear, his voice teasing. "How about we give it another try?"

A shiver ran through Alicia, her body reacting before she could stop it. It felt like her breath had left her entirely.

"Doesn't it bother you that I was just with Joshua?" Alicia asked, her voice wavering with uncertainty.

Caden chuckled softly.

“You're the one who came to me, remember?" His tone was ruthless, tearing away her doubts. "You're sitting on my lap and still asking if this means anything?"

Alicia's throat tightened.

She had no response for him.

Pressing her hands to his shoulders, she asked hesitantly, "Here?"

Outside, the rain beat down, thunder rumbling in the distance.

The storm that haunted him didn't seem to affect his mood at all.

How could he think of this now, after everything that had just happened?

Without hesitation, Caden leaned in, kissing her before she could utter another word.

“Too uncomfortable in the car?" he murmured between kisses. Even then, he managed to keep his composure, his voice smooth and collected.

“Pick a hotel. I'll get the room."

Alicia felt dizzy from the intensity of his kiss.

Her mind was a whirlwind, and all the reasons why they shouldn't be doing this blurred away. She wasn't thinking about their past or their tangled relationship anymore.

The pull between them was maddening, driving them both beyond control.

What caught her off guard was the realization that he was just as consumed by this as she was.