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"I’m not just any person."
"You’re not, you’re my...my fiancée."Good god, another slip? I’m clearly losing my touch. If this is what happens when you catch feelings for another person, then I’m not sure I like it very much."Also," —I wrap my fingers about her wrist and raise her arm— "you lied about your arms being trapped."
"So?” She rises her chin.
So, I’ve lied to you about so much, you’re going to hate me when I finally come clean. Fuck, fuck, fuck. This is a right ol’ mess, and I’m not sure where to start to clean it up.
"So, nothing."
She blinks. "Did you just back down in an argument?"
"Don’t get used to it."
"Hmm." She tugs on her arm, and when I release it, she cups my cheek. "Wonder what other surprises you have up your sleeve, huh?"
I wince, then square my shoulders. "The only surprise is that we’re late for our engagement announcement which, given my reputation, is probably not a surprise."
"Probably not." She laughs. The jacket begins to slip off her shoulders and she shoves her arms through the sleeves to hold it up.
I draw her up to her tiptoes, then lower my head. I brush my lips across hers gently, tenderly, softly. I draw of her sweet breath, and my head spins. My heart begins to race, and my pulse rate shoots up like I’m about to face down a ball coming at one-hundred miles per hour. Spots of black flicker across my vision. I sway, and she wraps her arm about my waist.
"You okay Cade?"
No, I’ll never be okay. Not since I realized how I feel about you.
"Cade?" She rubs her palm over my chest. "Do you want to sit down?"
I place my hand over hers and hold it against my heart.
"I’m good."
She looks into my eyes, then nods. "Okay."
"Okay." I draw in a breath. "Shall we do this?"
41
Abby
He holds out his hand.Am I actually going to do this? Am I going to pretend to be engaged to him in a bid to help him rescue his public image? It’s for my safety, too, right? Surely, once I’m off the market and about to be married, my stalker will lose interest in me. It’s the right thing to do; it is.I glance up into his face, and he half-smiles. "Trust me."
Shockingly, I do. Maybe, a part of me always knew it would come to this. After all, my entire life has led up to this moment, when I’d finally be with my soulmate.So what, if it’s all a farce?At least, I can pretend for a little while that it’s all real. Get a taste of how it feels to be at the center of his attention, to have his focus solely on me. Bask in his affection and tenderness. Be the cynosure of his concentration.
I place my palm in his, and the tension seems to fade from his shoulders.Was he that unsure about me? Did he think I’d refuse him so late in the game? To be honest, the thought hadn’t even crossed my mind. What does that say about me? Am I that pathetic that I’ll settle for any scraps of attention I can get from him? Even when they don’t reflect reality?I try to pull my hand from his, but he tightens his hold. He holds my gaze, looks between my eyes, then mutters, "Relax. It’s going to be fine."
Only then, do I realize my lungs are burning. I try to draw a breath, fail, and a trembling grips me.
“Shh.” He pulls me into his chest, tucks my head under his chin, wraps his massive arms about me, and envelops me in that edgy scent laced with cardamom and mint that’s so very Cade.
“I’ve got you, I promise," his voice rumbles up his chest.
I bury my nose in the strip of skin bared by the lapels of his shirt and breathe in deeply. The feel of his hard planes against my breasts, the weight of his hands on my back as he rubs circles, the silken-feel of his pants against my legs exposed by my knee-length dress—all of it grounds me. I draw from his strength, take another breath, and my lungs inflate. The trembling slowly subsides, but he doesn’t let go of me. He holds me close and doesn’t take—he just gives—for the very first time. He shares himself with me. We stay there for a few more seconds, until the door to the room flies open.
"You guys ready?" A woman’s voice interrupts us.
I try to pull away, and he releases me, only to notch his knuckles under my chin, so I have no choice but to raise my gaze to his.
"Better?" He surveys my features with his mis-matched gaze, and a different kind of trembling starts deep inside.Gosh, I’ll never be able to look at him without getting aroused. Never.
