My toes curled hard enough to wrinkle the sheets.
“Cade,” I whispered, really enjoying wherever this was going.
His thumb disappeared, and weight settled on both sides of my head—as if he’d caged me with his arms.
It was both hot and a little alarming how the white sheet tightened against my face. It probably made me look like a gobsmacked ghost to him.
“You still want out of our deal?” he murmured.
I blinked against the fabric. How could he ask thatnow, when I was practically panting for him to kiss me?
I swallowed before whispering, “No.”
“Good,” he whispered back.
He sounded closer than before, and a moment later his lips pressed teasingly against mine through the sheet.
It wasn’t a kiss, not really, but my veins still ran hot like they’d been flooded with lava. Just a slight mold of his lips against mine—with the blanket between us—but it was over before I could really react.
He pulled back with a sigh. I pushed up off the mattress, chasing his lips.
“We need to be on deck in thirty minutes, and I still need to shower,” Cade whispered, just a breath away.
I swallowed, tempted to tell him we could skip the next retreat activity. Or maybe we could shower together to save time.
Instead, I didn’t dare say anything. I didn’t even breathe.
Cade hummed, close enough that the slight vibration traveled through my lips. “But I also told you I’d follow through when you aren’t drunk.”
Air finally filled my lungs. “I’m definitely not drunk anymore.”
He chuckled and nipped at my bottom lip, earning a soft gasp. Cade pulled down the blanket in a way that could only be described as torturously slow—giving my hair enough static tostick to my cheeks—while I just lay there, feeling a bit like a dead body being revealed.
My blood warmed in anticipation of a real kiss as soon as the sheet passed my lips, and Cade leaned in—right before Whiskey took a flying leap at his head.
“No!” I cried, but Whiskey hit his mark with perfect aim.
Cade grunted and backed off, grabbing Whiskey’s fur. “Holy?—”
Whiskey jumped off Cade and landed on my stomach, knocking the air out of me and sniffing at my shirt—well, Cade’s shirt—to investigate.
I scratched under his chin and tried to smile apologetically at Cade. “Sorry. I think Whiskey considers me part of his treasure hoard, and he has a bit of a possessive streak. We’re working on it.”
Cade watched Whiskey headbutt my chin and raised a brow, unamused. “I’ll leave the little hellion with Mac next time.”
I bit down hard on my lip.Next time?
But the spell was broken. Cade backed away before disappearing into the bathroom to shower, and I snuggled Whiskey to my chest—earning a displeasedmeow.
“Sorry,” I murmured, easing my hold. My cheeks hurt from how big my smile was. “I’m just a little smitten.”
Unimpressed, Whiskey rubbed against my arm before breaking free and returning to his pillow. The splash of the shower came on, and I allowed myself to fall back against the pillows. The warm and fuzzy giddiness Cade made me feel overshadowed the hangover, and I stretched against the cloudlike mattress—daydreaming about what could’ve happened if Whiskey hadn’t interrupted.
I was smiling like a fool and kicking my feet when the door flew open, and a scream tore from my throat.
A dark-haired woman draped in pearls and cashmere strolled inside like she owned the place. I leapt off the bed—legs caught in the sheets—and crashed to the floor in a heap. I struggled against the blankets just as Whiskey trotted up to my side.
“Oh dear.” The intruder raised a tanned, manicured hand to her chest and frowned sharply at me—as ifIwere the one who’d walked in onherhalf-dressed. Her dark eyes narrowed. “What are you doing in my quarters?”
