Begin Again (Again #1)(52)

Dad was always aloof. He wasn’t interested in my life because it didn’t match his expectations. And Mom … Mom was in a class of her own. There was no future for us. Not after what she’d done today and especially back then.

By the time I stepped out of the tub, the water had cooled and my body felt heavy. The warmth had dissolved my tension and helped me calm down. Wrapping myself in the fluffy hotel robe, I towel-dried my hair. It was when I turned to go into the bedroom that I heard a knock on the door.

Confused, I glanced at the room service menu. I’d wanted to order something but hadn’t gotten around to it yet.

Another knock, this time louder.

I didn’t need a peephole to know who was behind the door. Mom. Ten horses couldn’t drag me back to my parents’ house; there was no way I’d go to the gala. Mom could do what she wanted—locate my cell phone, block the credit card—no matter what she did, I’d be back in my real home, back in Woodshill, tomorrow.

I stomped to the door and tore it open. “I-”

Mid-sentence, I froze, mouth open.

Standing at the door of my hotel room was Kaden. With one arm he leaned against the doorframe; the other hand was buried in his pants pocket. He was wearing what he’d had on this morning. It felt like weeks since then. The travel bag we’d packed together was slung over his shoulder.

A big smile spread across his face as he saw my stunned expression.

My nerves short-circuited. Before I knew it, I’d leapt toward Kaden, flung my arms around his shoulders and buried my face in his neck. He returned my embrace, wrapping his arms around me. I pressed myself against him as tightly as possible, until there was no space between us. Everything else that had happened this day had become unimportant. All that mattered was Kaden. Us.

“Are you okay?” he asked, releasing his hold.

He was cautious and gentle, and I couldn’t explain what was happening to my body. A burning desire arose in me and all my feelings seemed to break out unfiltered. I shuddered.

Kaden looked at me with an intense, worried expression. “Can I do anything for you?”

I nodded and let my eyes wander over his face to his lips.

“What do you need, Allie?”

I hesitated for a fraction of a second before placing my hands on his cheeks.

“You.”

That was all I said before pressing my lips hard against his.





Chapter 21


Kaden muffled something along the lines of shock or surprise. I placed one hand on the back of his head, the other in the crook of his neck. Then I stroked his tongue with mine.

When he groaned, my whole body answered.

My God, I wanted Kaden. More than anyone ever before.

Together we stumbled into the room. Kaden shut the door behind us. For a moment he loosened his lips from mine to look at me. His eyes were darker than ever, and I could see in them only passion and pure desire. My heart was pounding so hard that my whole body shook. Suddenly Kaden was holding my head in his hands, kissing me until I was dizzy.

I wanted to feel Kaden, to explore his skin and kiss every single one of his tattoos. But he was wearing too much for that. Way too much. My hand traced down his back to the edge of his shirt; within a few seconds I’d pulled it over his head and tossed it aside. Now I kissed his chest, which made him sigh; I leaned back and let my eyes feast on his body.

He was as well-built as I remembered. And this time I could gaze at him without feeling ashamed. And touch him. His muscles tensed as my hands traced his upper body, first hesitantly, then more determined. I lingered on his stomach, wondering whether I should keep on going. Why not?

“Oh God, Allie,” Kaden blurted out, running his fingers through my hair. He gently tipped my head back and started to kiss me again. His tongue danced slowly and also roughly with mine, sending such tingling through my body that my knees threatened to buckle. It seemed like Kaden felt the same; he put his hands around my waist and guided me with staggering steps toward the bed. Our kiss continued until he dropped backward and took me down with him. Now I sat straddling him, not even caring that I was naked under my bathrobe.

Kaden looked up at me through half-closed lids before his hands found their way under the soft robe and reached my skin. He stroked my thighs, back and forth, and a pleasant shudder ran through my whole body. I leaned forward, supporting myself with one arm next to his head, and bent over him. I kissed his stubbly cheeks, traced his jaw down to his neck, and remained there until Kaden let out a groan that seemed to come from deep inside his chest.

“You’re killing me,” he gasped, then ran his hands up my body, under the knot of the bathrobe tie, just under my breasts. There he paused, stroking me with his fingers.

I bit gently into his neck and began to move my hips. I could feel his excitement. The fabric of his jeans rubbed against my skin and I wanted them off. My hand moved down, but before I reached his belt, he whirled me around and pressed my back against the mattress.

Kaden’s face was close to mine; I could feel his breath on my lips. He smelled of mint and of Kaden, and I wanted more.

“Allie … this isn’t why I came here.”

I silenced him with my mouth, kissing him until I couldn’t breathe, digging my fingers into his shoulders and pulling him down to me as hard as I could.

Again Kaden drew away from me and said, panting: “I’m not sleeping with you. Not like this.”