Alicia tried to pull away from Caden. “Just a casual question,” she said, attempting to regain some distance.

Caden chuckled softly, unfazed by the hit he’d taken earlier. It seemed like nothing bothered him.

He leaned in slightly, inhaling Alicia’s scent.

His movement brought their skin into contact, his cold lips grazing her cheek lightly. The touch lingered, a reminder of the tension in the air.

Alicia, trying to steer the conversation elsewhere, asked, “That hit was aimed at me. Why did you help me?” She had always assumed that Caden didn’t like her.

His reply was vague. “Instinct.”

Alicia fell silent for a moment.

She thought about pressing him, asking why his instincts had led him to protect her, but something held her back. It felt too awkward.

And with someone like Caden, she knew she wouldn’t get a straight answer anyway. More likely, he’d just tease her.

The moment passed, and Alicia finished tying the bandage on his wound.

“There, all done,” she said, ready to leave the car. But Caden wasn’t about to let her go. He pulled her back against him, holding her close.

“Where are you going?” he asked, his grip gentle but strong enough to keep her in place.

They were so close now that Alicia couldn’t look away.

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Her eyes were locked on his.

She felt trapped, unable to look away from his gaze. “Heading back,” she muttered, unsure of herself under the intensity of the moment. She felt like she couldn’t stay here, in this intimate space with Caden, without her mind wandering to those embarrassing dreams she’d had.

Caden squinted slightly. “Are you really going to walk out of here and go straight to Joshua’s bed?”

Alicia instinctively denied it. “No.”

Her quick answer didn’t surprise him at all. “Why not?” Caden pressed.

Given their relationship, why wouldn’t she?

Alicia scrambled for an excuse, but before she could respond, Caden interrupted with a low laugh. “Because I’m better in bed, right?”

Her heart sank at his words.

She couldn’t deny it.

Caden’s lips brushed close to her ear, his voice teasing. “How about we give it another try?”

A shiver ran through Alicia, her body reacting before she could stop it. It felt like her breath had left her entirely. “Doesn’t it bother you that I was just with Joshua?” Alicia asked, her voice wavering with uncertainty.

Caden chuckled softly. “You’re the one who came to me, remember?” His tone was ruthless, stripping away her doubts. “You’re sitting on my lap and still asking if this means anything?”

Alicia’s throat tightened. She had no response for him.

Pressing her hands to his shoulders, she asked hesitantly, “Here?”

Outside, the rain beat down, thunder rumbling in the distance. The storm that haunted him didn’t seem to affect his mood at all. How could he think of this now, after everything that had just happened?

Without hesitation, Caden leaned in, kissing her before she could utter another word.

“Too uncomfortable in the car?” he murmured between kisses. Even then, he managed to keep his composure, his voice smooth and collected. “Pick a hotel. I’ll get the room.”

Alicia felt dizzy from the intensity of his kiss. Her mind was a whirlwind, and all the reasons why they shouldn’t be doing this blurred away. She wasn’t thinking about their past or their tangled relationship anymore. The pull between them was maddening, driving them both beyond control.

What caught her off guard was the realization that he was just as consumed by this as she was. Something wild and burning stirred between them.

By the time she regained some sense of clarity, the cool air brushed against her bare skin, and she realized just how far they had gone. Caden moved with ease, as if he had done this countless times before.

Alicia was taken aback. “You—when did you—?”

Her voice came out so soft it was almost a whisper, and she immediately bit her lip to stop herself from saying more.

Just then, her phone rang, breaking the tension that had been building between them.

Alicia reacted slowly, and by the time she realized what was happening, Caden had already picked up the phone and held it out to her.

“It’s your man,” he said, his laugh low and raspy.

Her cheeks burned with embarrassment. She tried to pull away, but his hand remained firmly on her, holding her in place.

As the call connected, the words Alicia had been about to say died in her throat.

Joshua’s voice came through the phone. “Alicia, where did you go?”

Alicia inhaled sharply, trying to calm her breathing. Just as she started to respond, Caden leaned in mischievously and pressed his lips against hers, silencing her.

His kiss was slow, teasing, but silent enough that Joshua wouldn’t hear.

Alicia weakly attempted to push him away, her heart racing. Joshua, impatient with the lack of response, spoke again.

“Alicia?”

With a hint of playful mercy, Caden pulled back just enough for her to breathe, and in her haste, she let out a soft gasp.

The sound startled her, causing her to freeze.

Caden’s lips curled into a wicked smile. And as if rewarding her slip, he leaned in and kissed her again, his hold on her unrelenting.

Alicia, furious, bit down on Caden’s lip, hard enough to draw blood.

He didn’t flinch. In fact, the pain only made the gleam in his eyes grow darker, more intense, like a predator caged but ready to break free.

Her breath hitched as she covered his mouth with her hand and grabbed her phone.

“Joshua,” she rasped, making her voice sound frail. “Can you come pick me up?”

Caden’s hands roamed freely now, taking advantage of her distraction.

Alicia stifled a muffled groan.

Joshua’s tone was sharp. “What are you doing?”

Alicia quickly added a sob to her voice. “I don’t feel well, Joshua.”

She made her voice sound as though she had been wronged, but Caden knew better. Every word she spoke was laced with genuine emotion, and he was the cause of it.

In that moment, his obsession with her only deepened. The urge to pull her close, to have her right there, nearly consumed him.

“What’s wrong?” Joshua asked.

Alicia kept her hand firmly over Caden’s mouth, her voice trembling. “I caught a cold. I went out to get some medicine, but now my stomach hurts. I can’t move. Can you come get me?”

Joshua paused, his mind lingering on the sounds he had heard earlier.

His voice was laced with doubt. “Where are you?”

Alicia hesitated before replying, “I’ll send you my location.”

“Alright. I’m coming.”

When she finally ended the call, Alicia exhaled deeply, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over her.

The tension had drained from her, and even Caden’s fervor seemed to have cooled.

He chuckled, his voice rough. “Miss Bennett, that was quite the act.”