Page 16 of Hooking

She looks at me incredulously. “Why can’t you have me?”

Because I’m fucked up. “Because I’m not the guy you need in your life. I’m the hit it and quit it type. One who doesn’t do commitment. The one who refuses to settle down because doing so opens the door to feelings.”

“And Channing Halloway doesn’t have feelings?” She looks at me with a serious expression dawning on her gorgeous face.

I want to stand on the table in front of the entire restaurant and shout yes, I have feelings, and I want all that I’m feeling to be felt with her. Yet I can’t; I just shut down. Hoping that the server will come over here to interrupt this conversation.

“No. Feelings open your heart to being hurt,” I say, realizing relief wasn’t coming.

“I call bullshit on that,” she says, narrowing her eyes at me. “I’ve seen you have multiple flings with women. Hookups that last weeks, months. You can’t sit here and tell me that you hadn’t had any feelings for any of those women.”

“I didn’t.” That’s the truth. “They all knew the score when they decided to crawl into bed with me. They knew the risks. They knew I was in it for nothing but a good time. A way to keep my bed warm and not lonely.”

“Then why am I so different?” She raises her voice at me. Pissed at my revelation. “Why are they the exception to your hookup rule, but not me? Did you not think I was willing to accept the risks, that I would understand—”

Before I can process what’s happening, I find myself leaning across the table, gripping the back of her head, and pulling her mouth to mine. I kiss her deeply as her body, once tense, relaxes. She kisses me back with such intensity as I run my tongue along her bottom lip, urging her to open for me. I need to taste her, all of her, and I’m pretty sure the inappropriate moan that escapes from her gorgeous mouth says she needs to as well. Her lips are warm and sweet from her drink as she deepens the kiss, relaxing into my hold as we fight for dominance over one another.

God, I could get lost in her for hours. That’s the dangerous part.

Her hands move to my chest. Her grip tightens their hold as she pulls me closer. The warmth of her body against mine as her chest brushes against mine. My cock tightening as my arousal builds to an unbearable level.

The clearing of a throat has us springing apart from one another as the server sets down our appetizers. “Is there anything I can get you in the meantime while you wait for your meals?” The smug smirk of the server causes a sheen of red to coat Cassidy’s neck and cheeks.

I watch intently as Cassidy thanks the server, reassuring him we’re fine. Imagining those full lips opening, welcoming my swollen cock inside as she drops to her knees on the cold tile floor of our villa. Her fist tightening around the shaft as she works it all the way up to the crown. Her tongue spreading the bead of precum around the head before pulling it deep into the back of her throat.

“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath as my hands ball into tight fists under the table. Willing every ounce of self-control I have left to stay intact.

This is wrong. I put boundaries in place for a reason, but one taste of hers has pulled me right back into her. Like a drug. She is my addiction and no matter how wrong I know this is, it feels so fucking right.

“Channing,” Cassidy says breathless as she expertly averts her gaze from mine. “I’m sorry I lost control like that. It shouldn’t have happened. You’ve made yourself clear, and I shouldn’t have pushed.”

My hand reaches out instinctively, brushing gently under her chin, angling her head so she’s looking at me. Her short, blond hair blows gently in the wind as the light in her blue eyes turns to a smolder.

Regret, it’s one thing I won’t be doing this week. It’s one thing I won’t be letting her do this week.

We finish eating our meals in uncomfortable silence, and soon after, we decline dessert. The warm cool breeze carries us down the winding path back to our villa. The faint scent of vanilla and coconut teases my senses, reminding me of the night we spent together. Glancing at Cassidy, I take in her beauty, watching as she tugs her bottom lip between her teeth.

God, tasting her tonight was amazing.

“Do you ever think about that night?” she says, pulling me from my trance. Her eyes casting downward at the cobblestone pavement.

Of course, I’ve thought about that night we spent together. More than I’d like to admit. But how could I ever forget? She’d driven me wild for weeks when I first met her. Playing coy often. Acting as if my advances couldn’t have bothered her in the slightest. She had shot me down more times than I could count. Yet, the thrill of chasing her kept me coming back for more. Pushing her until she could no longer resist.

I thought distancing myself after that night would stop the want. The need. The lust for her.

It didn’t. It only made me want her more, making everything I had promised myself go to complete and utter shit. Her eyes catch mine as we face one another. The lust from dinner burning deep behind them.

I clutch my fists at my sides, trying to restrain myself from reaching out to her. Claiming what I want. But I know it’s useless. I need her like she needs me, and I won’t apologize or regret anything that will happen next.

No more running. I want Cassidy Reynolds, and it’s time I man the fuck up.

I watch as her chest falls and rises. Her breath quickens as her eyes darken a shade. “Fuck it,” I say, just as I reach out. My hands snake around her waist, pulling her body close to mine.

Perfection.

She fits perfectly against me like she was always made for me. She always had; I just fought it for so long. I bring my mouth to hers, my tongue rubbing along her bottom lip, begging for entry. Once she allows me inside, I suck her tongue into my mouth, silencing the light moan that escapes her lips. My hands stay firmly planted on her hips as she weaves her hands into my hair, gripping and pulling. Deepening the kiss causes the most animalistic groan to rumble deep in my chest.

“Fuck, Cassie. If I don’t get you inside soon, we’ll be giving the whole resort something to talk about,” I say, as I pull back, breaking the kiss slightly.

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