Playing for Keeps (Heartbreaker Bay #7)(44)

He smiled. “You think I’m charming and charismatic?”

“I think you’re a lot of things.”

He stroked a finger along her temple, tucking a loose strand of hair back from her face as he nudged in closer.

She bit her lower lip and let out an almost inaudible moan, rocking her body to his.

Yeah. For once they were on the same page at the same time.

“What are you waiting for?” she whispered.

Leaning in, he nuzzled her neck just below her ear. “Your body’s saying yes,” he murmured, “but that’s only partial consent.”

Her hands fisted on his shirt. “Seriously. You’re a nut.”

“Uh-huh.” He kissed the spot just beneath her ear and then gently sucked, smiling when she shivered and moaned again. “But a nut you want to kiss, right?”

“Yes, very much, even if I’m still trying to figure you out.”

He blazed a trail down her throat with his tongue while running his hands down her arms, to her hips, which she was still rocking into his and driving him half-mad. “Some things take time to figure out,” he murmured. “There’s no rush.”

“Says you,” she whispered and drew his head down to hers.





Chapter 15




Sadie so completely lost herself in Caleb’s kiss that when she pulled back for air, she was shocked to find she’d tugged his shirt free from the waistband of his pants and unbuttoned it. Her hands were flat on his scrumptious abs trying to decide between heading north or south.

No slouch, he had one palmful of her ass, his other beneath her shirt cupping a breast. When his teeth grazed her ear, need slid through her like fine wine. She was taking short ragged breaths, but his breathing wasn’t any more steady than hers as he slowly loosened his grip on her and gulped in some air.

She’d wanted to see his control slip, and it thrilled her.

“Sadie. Tell me you want this as much as I do.”

It was cold enough in her place that their breath crystallized. Staying close for body heat, she slid her fingers into his hair to tug his face back to hers. “I want this,” she said against his lips and then she kissed him. “I want you tonight, Caleb.”

His eyes heated when she said his name. “Just tonight.”

It wasn’t just a statement, it was also a question. “Yes,” she said. “Is that enough for you?”

He made a sound, low and deep, which rumbled through his chest, vibrating against hers, making her nipples go hard. He looked like a man being offered a present he’d dreamed of but hadn’t expected to ever have. “It’s enough for now,” he answered. “Be sure, Sadie.”

“Oh, I’m very sure.”

With a groan, he took over, hoisting her up his body, wrapping her legs around his hips, heading with her to her bedroom. Her room was lit only by a slant of light from her living room lamp. It was chilly, very chilly, but it wouldn’t stay that way for long, she thought as he let her slowly slide down his body. His chestnut eyes, darkened to the deepest pools of brown, met her gaze with a dizzying amount of heat.

Then he kissed her and they both went up in flames.



She was the sexiest thing Caleb had ever seen. He let his hands settle on her hips, holding her still for him as he lowered his head, his mouth dragging wet hot kisses across her collarbone. He stopped briefly at the hollow of her throat where his tongue dipped in for a taste while he lifted her shirt over her head and tossed it aside. “It’d be warmer at my place,” he said.

“Too far away. Just leave some clothes on, and I’ve got lots of blankets.” She tried to tug his shirt from his shoulders but he was too busy working her camisole down to bunch at her waist. When he stroked a hand over the low-cut black lace bra, his fingers slipping beneath the lace to tease her nipples, her breathy moan fueled him. Then her bra fell away and she sucked in a breath. “You’ve got a hidden talent.”

“I’ve got several.” He’d had many, many fantasies about this, but Sadie in the flesh was better than any of his fantasies had ever been. He nudged her to the bed and followed her down, crawling up her body, leaving no question about his intentions.

She didn’t shy away. Instead, she reached for the top button on his pants. “Off,” she demanded.

Going up on his knees to assist, he froze when he found Lollipop in the doorway, staring at them. Specifically him, her head cocked as if she was puzzled.

“It’s bedtime, baby,” he said. “Go to your bed.”

“I am in my bed,” Sadie said cheekily, laughing when he rolled his eyes at her smartassery.

Lollipop whined.

“Ignore her,” Sadie said. “She doesn’t sleep on my bed so she isn’t expecting that.”

He grimaced.

“Are you kidding me?” she asked. “You still let her sleep with you? I told you not to do that.”

“Hey, I did the research,” he said. “There are lots of valid reasons why you should let your dog sleep with you.”

“Name ’em.”

He ticked them off on his fingers. “They keep you warm, they relieve stress, reduce depression, help you fall asleep faster, make you live longer, and there’s always free hugs available.”