After a pause, Cade’s bigger toes pushed back against mine. “I’m sorry.”
I managed a weak smile. “Me too. She would’ve loved a trip like this, though. Hopping on a boat and taking off into the open ocean? Neither of us had ever left Westport before.”
Genuine surprise flashed across Cade’s face—like it’d never crossed his mind that someone hadn’t traveled outside the city they were born in. As if it was a foreign concept. And I didn’t blame him; we came from completely opposite worlds.
I took a deep breath and slowly let it out, shocked I hadn’t clammed up. Talking about my mom was a heavy thing, but it didn’t feel heavy right now. Talking to Cade was easy.
I checked on Whiskey—who’d fallen asleep on his pillow—before my eyes strayed back to the silver dome on Cade’s other side.
“So, what’s in the fancy room-service thingy?” I asked lightly, going for nonchalance.
A breath rumbled from him—sounding suspiciously like a laugh and confirming I wasn’t fooling anyone—and he lifted the lid. “Apology croissants.”
My nose twitched, latching on to the rich, buttery scent, and I instantly salivated at the sight. The platter consisted of a teetering mountain of flaky chocolate croissants.
My jaw dropped, and I struggled to pick it back up. “How’d you know to get chocolate ones?”
Cade breathed a laugh. “I’m not blind, Ellie. You eat at least two every morning.”
I bit down on my lip to hide a smile.
“I didn’t know you paid that much attention.” I reached over him to pluck one off the stack and took a huge bite. It was heavenly. Absolutelyheavenly. Swallowing the chocolate-filled masterpiece, I let out a pleased hum. “Oh my word. You really can’t claim to not be a sweet guy, then do something like this. It’s not very convincing.”
Cade’s dark gaze zeroed in on my lips.
“Every rule has an exception,” he murmured. He lifted a hand to my face, and his thumb steadily wiped chocolate fromthe corner of my mouth, while his gaze lingered there. “Turns out, you’re mine.”
My brain promptly forgot how to function, and I could only sit there, frozen in shock with the chocolate croissant halfway to my mouth.
Cade boggled my mind further by sticking the tip of his thumb into his mouth and sucking off the chocolate.
I shivered, eyes glued to his lips as warmth slid underneath my skin. “Oh, you are totally forgiven.”
Surprise filled his eyes. “Yeah?”
“Oh yeah,” I whispered, unable to help myself from drawing closer to him like a moth to a flame.
His lips pulled into a smirk, and he leaned closer. “Good, because I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time.”
That was all the warning I got before Cade’s hand slid around the back of my neck—eliciting a full body shiver—and his lips claimed mine in a commanding kiss that curled my toes.
I eagerly returned it, dropping the pastry to grasp both sides of his stubbled jaw and pull him even closer.
It was hot and urgent and hungry in a way that set my skin on fire.
Cade wrapped his free arm around my waist, tugging me closer as I practically took flight in my hurry to straddle his lap. He kept control of the kiss, while I threaded my fingers through his hair, gripping—yanking. His answering groan only made me want more.
When we came up for air, I was plastered to his front with my knees on either side of his hips. Cade’s touch seared through my skin and into my bones.
“We’re definitely breaking the Cuddle Code,” I whispered in warning.
His lips curved against mine with a smirk. “I’ve never been a fan of that code.”
He pulled me right back into another kiss, quickly deepening it as my head spun.
“Are you kidding me?” A new voice shattered the moment, and I jerked back from Cade—but his arms didn’t let me go far. Harrison marched down the hallway, scowling at both of us. “That manifestation-loving nut woke me at five in the morning for a couples massage with Maddie. Then she sent me on a wild goose chase to find you, only your cabin was empty. When I finally hunt you down, you’re making out in the hallway like a couple teenagers? Give me a break.”
“What do you want, Harrison?” Cade asked shortly, not bothering to hide his annoyance while I sat frozen on his lap.
