I scooted away and eventually stood up, following the instinctual reflex of getting as far away from him as possible.
“Where are you going?” His voice interrupted my escape. My heart beat a little fast, thrown into flashbacks of teenage years.
“I’m just giving you some space. I’m not really sure what to expect.” My voice was small, and it gave away my fear towards him.
“You’re scared.”
“I don’t know what to feel. Every time I’m around you when you’re drunk, something bad happens,” I reminded him, standing a few feet away from him, but ready to bolt if needed. “I didn’t expect to see you like this.”
“I know, I’m a piece of shit, always dragging you down in the mud with me. I’ve been trying not to drink, but being fucking kidnapped together by some psycho and seeing my mom has taken a toll on me.”
Caiden was sitting up now, no longer on the brink of passing out, his anger fueling his energy.
“I can see that.”
“I’m so fucking lost. We’ve been rescued for weeks now, and I still feel lost, like I don’t know which direction to take. I’m seeing a damn therapist, and I’m still confused.” A jumble of words escaped his mouth, accompanied by slurring.
“I know what you mean. Being back is a lot to handle.” I thought about his words. “Why are you so confused?”
He looked at me, a dark heat simmering between us, his eyes clouded with uncertainty as he confessed, “Everything. Especially you.”
“Me?” My voice raised, and my fear dwindled for a moment. “I don’t know what you want me to say, Caiden. You’re the one being hot and cold. I like Alex. I had a nice time with him today, and frankly, you are intruding on the peaceful night I was having.”
The words barely left my mouth before Caiden abruptly stood from the couch, his movements were angry as he stalked towards me. I instinctively shrank back, but he cornered me against the wall.
The scent of liquor was overpowering.
His height intimidated me, and the furious scowl etched onto his face, coupled with the icy glint in his eyes, spoke volumes. I quivered underneath his gaze.
He leaned in, his breath hot against my ear. “You have no idea what you do to me, Amelia," he whispered, the words a low growl that vibrated through me.
The anger was gone, replaced by something raw and dangerous, something that both terrified and strangely excited me.
His hand, calloused and strong, cupped my cheek, his thumb gently stroking my skin. For a moment, the fear remained, a cold knot in my stomach.
“What do I do to you?” My heart hammered against my ribs, but I raised my eyes and challenged him, my voice trembling slightly.
“You drive me fucking wild.” A gruff, low tone filled the air as his voice descended, heavy as a winter fog. “Alex doesn’t fucking matter. You’re mine in my mind, especially ever since we kissed. I can’t get you out of my head. I can’t stop thinking about how you tasted, how you felt, how you fucking melted for me.”
He pulled me closer, the warmth of his body pressing against mine, erasing the chill that had settled in my bones.
His lips brushed against my ear again, sending shivers down my spine. “And I’m going to make sure you know it,” he murmured, his voice a low rumble that resonated deep within me. The fear hadn't entirely vanished, but it was tangled with tingling desire.
His hand tightened on my hip, his touch possessive, and a strange thrill coursed through me.
He smelled of alcohol, but I hardly noticed it, his primal intoxication consuming me like a drug.
His dark, intense eyes, like pools of night, held mine captive, their gaze unwavering. His gaze fell to my lips, and the heat of his attention made butterflies erupt in my gut.
He leaned in, his lips brushing the sensitive skin of my neck, and I felt his tongue flick out, wet and hot, tracing a lazy path up to my ear.
A sound escaped me, something between a gasp and a moan, and I hated myself for it. His hand moved lower, sliding over the curve of my ass, squeezing hard enough to make me bite my lip.
“Caiden,” I warned, my voice shaky, but he just chuckled, low and dark, the sound vibrating through me like a fucking earthquake.
“Don’t fucking fight it, Amelia,” he murmured, his breath hot against my skin. “You want this as much as I do. I can feel it.”
He pressed his hips against mine, and I felt the hard ridge of his cock against my stomach, the heat of it searing through my clothes.
