Page 20 of Dreaming at Seaside
Bella took the dishes from him and set them on the counter. “I’m really glad you and Evan came tonight, and I know Evan will learn a lot from Jamie. He’s a really nice guy.”
“Yeah, he seems it. All of your friends seem really nice.”
He’d been fighting the urge to reach out and touch her all night. He’d wanted to drape an arm over her shoulder, to feel her pressed against his side, but those were things people did when they were dating—and he didn’t know if they were dating or not. She’d been sending conflicting signals all day, but then tonight she’d touched his leg a hundred times even after he’d turned her away earlier in the day.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked.
Unable to stay away, and with a quick glance out the window to confirm that Evan was still engrossed in a conversation with Jamie, he placed his hands on her hips.
Big mistake. It only made him want her more.
“Bella,” he said just above a whisper. “I want to go out with you.”
She sighed loudly and knitted her brows together, in stark contrast to the desire in her eyes and her quickening breaths. Her reaction worried him, but he wasn’t willing to ignore the emotions she sparked in him.
“I can’t date,” she finally said.
“Maybe what you really mean is that you can’t afford to get hurt again.”
Her eyes widened so slightly that he would have missed it had he not been looking for an indication that he was striking a chord. She shifted her gaze away, and he drew her chin back so she had no choice but to look at him.
“I know all about being hurt, and although I can’t promise that I won’t hurt you unintentionally, I can promise you that I will try not to.”
Bella pulled from his grasp and walked into the living room, where she flopped onto the couch.
Caden sat on the coffee table across from her and placed his hands on her knees. He felt her stiffen beneath his touch, but again the air around them sizzled, and her eyes betrayed her attempt to avoid the passion brewing between them.
“Getting hurt sucks.” She spoke softly, but her eyes were narrow and angry.
“Agreed.”
“I made a plan. No commitments.” She crossed her arms and looked away.
“I’m not asking you to break your plan. I didn’t realize that I had a plan, but apparently I do. My plan is to not get hurt either, and it’s obvious, even after just a few hours with you, that you have the power to hurt me.” He had no idea where the words were coming from, but being with Bella pulled the truth from him.
That brought her eyes back to his.
“So what are you saying? I’m totally confused. You made it clear today that you don’t want to sleep with me because I can’t commit.”
“That’s funny. I thought I made it clear that Iwantedto sleep with you, but I wouldn’t because you won’t commit.” He slid his hands to her outer thighs, and she closed her eyes for a beat. When she opened them, desire was still there.
“Well, I still can’t commit,” she answered.
“Won’t, but that’s okay. I’m not asking you to commit. You don’t know me from Adam, and you’re right. I don’t know you very well, either. Both are reasons why we shouldn’t sleep together.”
Confusion filled her eyes again. He squeezed her outer thighs, and she placed her hands on top of his. He could feel the heat radiating from her.
“Then what do you want?” she asked in a breathy voice.
“To spend time with you tomorrow night while Evan is with Jamie. Call it whatever you want.”
“Not a date,” she said adamantly; then she inched his hands higher.
“Not a date.” He wanted to carry her into the bedroom and make love to her, commitment or not. But he wasn’t about to allow his heart to get torn to shreds, and Bella had the power to do it. She leaned forward, and his willpower fell away. He covered her mouth with his, taking her in a deep, sensuous kiss.
This wasn’t going to make it any easier for him if she walked away. He shot a look out the window. Evan was still deep in conversation with Jamie.Thank goodness. He swept her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom, locking the door behind them. He backed her up against the door.
“Caden,” she said wantingly.
