Page 45 of Lessons in Falling
It did the exact opposite.
He exhaled forcefully, his hand around the cue tightened, and it wobbled in our shared grip (most likely because, despite my hands on it, Caden was doing all the heavy lifting).Don’t,he stressed.
Don’t wha—?I tried to turn my head in his direction, and he pressed himself tighter against me.
Move,he snapped, but the bite in his tone was missing entirely.Don’t move, Val.Please.He cleared his throat, and a low groan played in the sound.Still, no one was paying any attention to us.Which was fortunate, because I didn’t think I could play this situation cool.
Him, hard, pressing against my backside.In the middle of a crowded bar.Ten feet from my friends, who were convinced this was the first time we’d been this close.
Caden.I hissed his name, but that didn’t help the fact this entire situation was a little too much, and he was a little too close, and I was very, very turned on.Inappropriate, to say the least.They’re gonna know.
It felt like he’d been hanging over me for an hour, honestly.How couldn’t they be a little suspicious—at leastcurious?But still, one glance around showed that no one was paying us any mind.Anni and Mike were still kissing.Alfie and Iris were still talking shit.
Caden tried his best to align the cue in our hands again.He pulled it back, and the polished wood grazed my skin.If you stop blushing, they won’t suspect a thing, sweetheart.Then, like it was nothing, he—we?—hit the cue ball just right, and the previously neatly aligned balls shot in all possible directions.Two solids went in.
At the loudclang, everyone’s heads shot in our direction again.Caden stood up, then took a step back.Stick in hand, he lazily leaned on it, a content smile on his lips.
Damn.Anni’s eyes narrowed as she assessed the game.Can Caden helpme, too?
Hey!Mike complained, and she blew him a consolation kiss in return.
Though, if Caden would help Anni the way he’d helped me—bulge pressing against my ass, whispering sweet nicknames into my ear, and trying his very best to keep himself from searching for more friction against me—I understood why Mike wouldn’t be a fan of the idea.
My eyes slid back to Caden, fixing the cap on his head when our eyes connected.Tension still filled the air between us, even with the space that separated us now.It’s like I could still feel his skin on mine, and it was hard to keep my eyes from trailing all the way down his toned arms to his hands.Strong, and firm and precise.Not just when he was playing pool, but when his fingers would find the perfect spot between my legs or his thumb rolled across my clit just right.
Bathroom!I yelped before I could fall down that particular rabbit hole.I’ll be right back.
When Anni said,Two balls went in.You have another turn.I shook my head, already on my way.Caden can take it,I half-shouted, and disappeared in the secluded hallway leading to the bathrooms.
It was exactly what I’d feared it would be like, the reason why I’d done my very best to stay away from Caden Callahan—first completely, then at least when anyone else was around.It’s like self-control flew out the window the second he touched me, or looked at me or said my name inthatway.Even worse when he used one of the nicknames he’d made a common practice.
Val.Sweetheart.Baby.
All of them were doing things to me.So awful and dangerous, it shouldn’t be possible that they felt so good at the same time.
I wanted to run my face under ice-cold water, but my makeup prevented that.Instead, I stood in the dimly lit bathroom, fanning my face in front of the mirror with one hand, and running that cold water over the other.Something—anything—to cool me down.To wash Caden off me.To regain control.
I took a deep breath.Reapplied my red lipstick, color matching my hair.Looked at myself in the mirror until I stared back at a less flustered version of myself.Cool, calm and collected.Or at least something like it.
Another hour, maybe, until we’d be back behind our shared door, where no one could see us, devouring each other.I’ve got this.
One more deep breath, and I pushed the door into the hallway open—and ran straight into a chest.Caden’s chest.
Fuck!I wasn’t quite sure what was more prominent: my surprise or my frustration.I’d just gotten myself under control again, and there he was, ready to ruin all that progress.Whatare you doing here?
Officially,he said, and leaned against the wall behind him.The hallway was so narrow, though, that we’d barely be able to pass each other, so he was still too close.I’m getting another round of drinks.
And unofficially?
He raised his brows, like it should be obvious.Maybe it was.To underline his point, his gaze flicked down my body, then slowly lifted back to my eyes, lingering at the hem of my skirt.Instinctively, I inched it lower.
That’s what he was here for, then?Blowing off some steam, working out the frustration he’d channeled during the time his cock had been resting against my ass?
You okay?he asked instead.
And somehow, knowing he’d come here to check on me— not to kiss me or touch me or make use of one of the empty bathroom stalls behind us—made it worse.The bare minimum tugged at my heartstrings, made my insides clench and told me I wassofucked.
I’m fine.My head shook.Please don’t start being nice to me as well.
