Bad Mouth(35)

Chapter Twenty-six


Kade stood outside Val’s hospital door for several minutes, his gut in knots. He was completely lost. Despite his attempt over the past few days, he realized he could never live without her. He’d take her any way he could, even old and frail. She meant too much to him to let go so easily. With a sigh, he pushed the door open.

If he’d expected to see a woman in pain, it wasn’t what he got. Instead, he faced Val’s fury. When she saw him, she swiped up a slender vase of flowers at her bedside table and threw it at him. Her reaction stunned him, and for once, his reflexes failed. The fragile vase struck the center of his chest, shattering against him and dousing his T-shirt. Her eyes flew wide. Apparently, she’d never intended to hit him. He brushed off the glass clinging to his shirt before his gaze returned to her. She was fully dressed and packing a small bag.

He scowled. “What are you doing out of bed?”

Her surprise hadn’t lasted long. She scowled right back, her ire flaring anew. “How dare you? You’ve ignored me for days, and now you think you can come in here and tell me what to do?”

“I haven’t ignored you.”

“Kade, I’ve called you every day. Not returning my calls constitutes ignoring. Now get out of my room. I’ve been released, and I’m waiting for Ezra to come and pick me up.”

“Ezra, is it?” He stalked toward her. She backed up slowly until the back of her thighs met the bed.

“Y-yes. Ezra.”

“He’s not coming for you.”

“N-not?” She peered up at him, her candy-coated eyes liquefying his insides. Her body heat permeated his chest only an inch from her delicious breasts. He slid his fingers into her sexy, blond curls. Her breath hitched, and his ignited with a lurch. His blood surged, bringing heat to his limbs. Her palms rubbed over his chest. Did she realize she was fondling him?

His lips curled into a smile. She looked at her hands and dropped them to her sides. It only made him laugh. If she couldn’t help but touch him, maybe he had a good shot at getting her naked before taking her home, despite her anger.

She shoved him, but he didn’t budge. No way would he leave her alone right now. He burned to taste every inch of her, burned to stroke her pale, supple skin, burned for her.

“I missed you,” he murmured, his eyes searching hers.

She frowned. “That’s your fault.”

“I had a case to solve.”

“That doesn’t stop you from using a cell phone.”

He stroked his thumbs in lazy circles over her temples. Her pupils dilated, and her lids lowered. She couldn’t hide her desire from him. He brushed his lips across hers, earning a soft moan from her. Pressing his thigh between her legs, he slid his hands down to cup her ass, riding her hard against him.

“Tell me no,” he whispered.

“No,” she whispered back, but she didn’t resist. Instead, her lips parted and her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him deeper into their kiss. She pressed her breasts into his chest and tightened her legs around his thigh. He was a goner.

…

Her resolve was shot. Three minutes with Kade, and she was pawing him like an oversexed teen in the backseat of a car. How did he do this to her? Yes, that was her hand stroking him through his jeans and he was certainly happy to see her, from the feel of things. He thrust his hips against her hand.

He groaned with approval into her open mouth and then broke away, his breath heaving. The sound of it and the pound of his heart at the pulse on his throat flattered her. She couldn’t believe she had such a strong effect on him.

“Right there, baby,” he said. He covered her hand with his, pressing harder against his erection. He thumbed the button open on his jeans and lowered the fly.

“Not so fast, Romeo,” she said, her voice raspy with arousal. Now that he was in front of her, she didn’t want to spend her time angry with him, but she couldn’t make it easy for him either, could she?

His eyes pleaded with her. A fine sheen had appeared on his brow. “I’m sorry, all right? Don’t stop.” His expression showed his suffering. Maybe he’d hurt himself as much as he’d hurt her with his absence. She kicked her sandals off, eased onto the bed, and tugged her skirt up. She couldn’t help smiling because he looked like he’d scored the winning touchdown.

“Oh f*ck.” He slid her panties down her legs, his lips planting kisses along the way. He climbed on the bed, kneeling between her legs, and then froze. “Are you—can you do this now? Do you hurt?”

She caressed his hair-roughened face, her heart swelling at the tenderness in his eyes. Even at his crudest, he was sweeter than syrup. “I’ll hurt if you don’t make love to me right this minute. I know you’ll be careful.”

His pained expression softened. “I wouldn’t hurt you, Val.” He smoothed his hands up her legs and pushed her shirt up, then frowned, his jaw clenching.

“Oh, baby. If only I’d—”

She put her fingers over his mouth. “It wasn’t your fault. Kiss it better?”

Kade didn’t hesitate. He lowered his head to the reddened scar under her ribs. It looked worse than it was. The scar was smaller than a dime and would fade soon enough. Luckily, the crossbow bolt had missed everything that counted and hadn’t gone deep. Kade’s lips tickled her belly. He licked his way toward her breasts, where his hand worked underneath the shield of her bra. He spread her shirt open, exposing her to his gaze.

He sighed with pleasure. “You’re so beautiful.”

“Take off your shirt, Kade. I want to see you.” He smiled and obliged.

She sucked in a breath when his chest was bare to her view. Sexy didn’t begin to describe it. He wasn’t bulky, monstrous muscle but had definition that was pure perfection. Sleek strength rippled under his skin as he moved over her, the hottest male specimen she’d ever laid eyes on.

He braced on one arm over her while his other hand wandered, and his mouth blazed a trail along her neck and her breasts. He’d pulled one breast out of the cup and fixed his mouth over her nipple. His fingers moved lower until they brushed the curls at the juncture of her thighs. She moaned and strained her hips toward his touch. He released her nipple with a pop.

“That’s so nice,” he said. He slid those skillful fingers through her folds. “Mmmm, I want to taste you there.”

She wasn’t about to protest. She dragged her fingers through his hair as he lowered along her body. His breath on her tender bits spiraled her anticipation. She quivered with it, spreading her thighs apart for him. After a moment, she looked down at the top of his head. She was panting for his tongue, and he was busy worshiping her with his eyes. She tapped his head lightly.

He looked up at her and chuckled. “Can’t help it. You have a pretty *, Val.” He cupped a hand under her rear. “And this, too.” He stroked a thumb over her other entrance. She gasped. His face grew tight and strained. “I want to f*ck it. Goddamn. Please, Val, let me f*ck it.” Another hard stroke over her rim sent a jolt of pulsing current to her clit. Her inner muscles clenched hard.

She cried out, her hips writhing against the pressure of his thumb. She’d never considered that spot an erogenous zone, but heaven help her, he was turning her on like a reactor.

“Kade!” She reached for his shoulders, pulling and scratching. “Not this time. I can’t wait. Come inside me. Now. Please now.”

He got in a quick taste of her, a long lick and a hard suck at her aching center before he lifted up and pressed at her entrance, squeezing into her tight grip. He kissed her, his tongue exploring the shape of her mouth, the softness of her tongue, the curve of her teeth. And then he filled her with the slow burn of his rigid girth.

“Perfect. Perfect,” he whispered against her lips. “Look at me, Val.” With a grand effort, she opened her eyes. His glowed as they met hers. He plunged into her again and then again, making her body drunk with pleasure. “I want you to see this, to see me. This is me making love to you.”

His words, his gaze, his touch, all drove her over the edge of rapture. She screamed into his shoulder, her legs clamping around his hips, while her body shook with release. He shuddered against her, his teeth biting into the pillow beneath her head. The jet of his orgasm slid onto the inside of her thighs as he relaxed against her. He kept his weight on his elbows. She loved the feel of his face against her throat, his hot breath spreading across her skin.

She closed her eyes and let out a soft moan. “I can’t walk after this. You’ve turned me into a wanton hussy.”

His chest shook against her. Thought it was funny, did he? He shifted to her side and cupped her chin, turning her face in his direction.

“You are the most incredible woman. Come home to my place so I can take care of you while you finish healing.”

“AKA, you want to screw my brains out.”