He took her hand and led her from the restaurant. He had no idea where they were going. It would take too long to get to his place, and he didn’t want to wait. Once they were outside the restaurant, he sized up their options. They were downtown, a place he tended to avoid. But there were perks. Like having two hotels to choose from within walking distance. He picked the closer, heading in that direction. Her fingers twined with his, inflaming and soothing him. He glanced at her, taking in her flushed cheeks and accelerated breathing. She felt it, too.
It took ten minutes to check in to the upscale hotel.
He took the key card, and Cady tugged him into the elevator. He waited until the doors closed behind them before grabbing her around the waist and lifting her to sit on the wooden railing that lined the elevator.
She reached for him, threading her fingers in his hair. “Kiss me.” It was part plea, part demand—the hitch in her voice telling him everything he needed to know. She wasn’t as in control as she pretended to be.
Neither was he.
He bent his head and her fingers tightened in his hair, pulling him close. He angled his head, dragging his nose along the shell of her ear and the arch of her neck. Her scent wrapped around him, drawing him to her. He tilted her head back, his mouth grazing her skin where neck met shoulder. She shivered, her skin contracting beneath his lips.
The elevator dinged, forcing them apart. He helped her from the rail before an older couple and several teenagers joined them. She stood in front of him, the curve of her hip resting against the ridged length of his arousal. His hand skimmed along her hip then slid around her waist to rest against the lower part of her stomach. He could feel each unsteady breath.
The ride to the eighth floor took too freaking long.
The elevator dinged, and Cady pulled him from the elevator. She turned into him, knocking them into the wall as she stood on tiptoe to kiss him. He caught her, his hand cradling the back of her head. Her lips were soft, welcoming him, opening to him. Her breath, her tongue... When his hand slipped to the bare skin of her shoulder, he couldn’t stop his groan from spilling out into the hallway.
The elevator dinged again behind them, reminding him that they still hadn’t reached their destination. He read the small room number plaque, gripped Cady’s hand and led her to their room. She opened the door and he kicked it shut behind her.
She pulled off her sweater, wriggling out of her gray skirt and heels before he’d caught his breath. And seeing her, in barely-there black panties and a bra that left little to the imagination, knocked the breath out of him again.
He shook his head. “Cady—”
She launched herself at him, pressing those silky curves against his still-dressed chest. He didn’t argue when her hands tore open his shirt, sending buttons flying all over the room. He didn’t give his scars a second thought as he yanked off his undershirt; shedding clothes was the only thing that mattered. He wanted to feel all of her against all of him.
His mouth devoured hers, nipping her lower lip, sucking it into his mouth and sealing them together. She swayed into him but he held her up. He couldn’t get enough of her, deepening the kiss until he was dizzy with the taste of her.
They stumbled across the room to the massive bed, hands and mouths exploring. She lay back on the bed, breathing hard.
“You’re beautiful,” he rasped, meaning it.
She rested on her elbows, staring up at him. “So are you, Patton.” She sat up then, her fingers trailing down his shoulders. She paused at the sight of the scars, but not for long. Then her fingers were stroking down his chest, to his stomach. She tugged his boxer briefs down and smiled, falling back onto her elbows again. “This night just gets better and better.”
He choked on his laughter when those dark-blue-tipped fingers wrapped around his cock.
“Wow,” she whispered.
He knelt, tugging her panties off and throwing them over his shoulder. She watched as his hands explored the dip of her hip, the curve of her thigh, the soft thatch of hair between her legs. Her legs parted for him and he stared up at her. She had no inhibition... And it was sexy as hell. He kissed her stomach, licking her belly button while his hands ran back up her stomach to the satin of her bra.
“Patton,” she whispered. “Please.” She buried her hands in his hair, tugging him up.
His arm held her to the bed as his tongue found the soft nub at her core. Her hands gripped his hair, her moan soft and breathy. He smiled, using the tip of his tongue to set a quick, light rhythm. She tried to arch up, to move, but his arm kept her still. His tongue continued as he slipped a finger deep inside her. Hand and mouth, he fought his own desire until her hands fisted in his hair, her body bowed off the bed and a raw moan tore from her throat. It took everything he had not to bury himself inside her then, but he wasn’t done yet.
He kissed his way up her body, lingering over the ridge of her hip and the underside of her breast. He tugged the lacy cups down so his tongue could explore the tight peaks of her breasts, sucking first one nipple, then the other.
He settled between her thighs, so hard it hurt. “I don’t have any protection—”
“I’m protected.” She paused and took a deep, shaky breath. “I’m clean. Are you?”
He nodded, holding her gaze. She reached for him, gripping his upper arms and hooking one leg around his hips. His breath hitched as he pressed into her slowly. She was so hot, so tight. He closed his eyes briefly, reining in the need to move. But he wanted to see her, to watch her. Her lips parted, her eyes closed. Her hands gripped his forearms tightly, and her head lifted off the bed.
Her hands moved, clasping his hips. “Please.” Her nails dug in.
He eased into her, letting her adjust to him. But when she started to move, he decided to let her take charge—he wanted to watch her. He rolled them, pulling her on top.
She smiled down at him, running her hands across his face and along his shoulders. She braced herself on his chest and began to move. Her back arched, her breasts swaying in time. His hands slid up her sides, cupping her breasts, teasing the nipples that peaked over the lacy cups of her bra. He loved the way she felt, the sounds she made. He pressed kisses to her side and nuzzled the place between her breasts, drawing her scent in.
Her movements grew frenzied, out of control. Her hands moved over his chest, her nails raking across his skin. Each touch, every thrust, pushed him closer. But he held on until her body clenched around him. She cried out, her climax forcing his release. He gripped her hips, holding her tightly against him as his orgasm ripped through him. He couldn’t stop his groan, or ease his hold on her.
She collapsed on his chest, gasping for breath. He stroked the length of her back, his fingers tracing each notch of her spine. She was soft and warm, so he wrapped his arms around her and lay there. He didn’t know what the hell he was doing, but it felt good. It was the first time—in a long time—that the ache in his heart and the scars on his chest didn’t keep him from falling into a deep, restful sleep.
“THE GOOD CHINA?” Patton eyed his mother’s carefully set table.
“Zach said he had big news.” His mother sounded far too excited.
Patton knew his mother. He also knew his brother Zach. The two of them had a bond he and his other brother Spence didn’t understand. “You have any idea what his big news is?”
His mother glanced at him, her light blue eyes bright. “No.”
He