Page 120 of Their Naughty Student (Office Intrigue Duet 6)
“Please don’t leave me,” I begged, not caring how I sounded.
His eyes perused my face momentarily, followed by a reluctant nod. When I shifted over, he crawled in behind me, his arms warm and secure as they encircled me. I gripped his forearm, holding him tight, letting his presence settle me.
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered, tears streaming from my eyes. I was a blubbering mess and I hated myself for it. I wasn’t the sort to break down like this, to allow all the emotion to escape. If I’d learned anything from Zeke, it was that you kept it all in, bottled it up, never showing weakness.
Unfortunately, that was how I felt. Maybe not weak, but definitely hopeless.
Cav’s lips brushed my neck as his arms tightened around me. “I’m sorry, too.”
“For what?” I blubbered.
“For interfering.” His voice was soft, warm. Tormented. “I had no right. I never should’ve gotten involved that night at the club.”
I turned my head, needing to see him. “Please don’t say that. Don’t make it sound like a mistake.”
He propped himself up on his elbow, stared down at me. “It was, Jamie.”
“No.” Pain, fierce and hot, shot through my chest. “Don’t say that. It wasn’t a mistake.”
Remorse filled his gaze and I knew he was regretting what had happened between the three of us. I didn’t want his regret.
Not thinking, I leaned up, pressed my lips to his. I wanted to be closer to him.
For a brief moment, I was. Cav kissed me back. It could’ve been instinct or the simple need for affection. Either way, the kiss deepened, our tongues hesitantly brushing. Seconds turned to minutes, our lips fused together as I turned in his arms, moving closer.
When he jerked back, I stared up at him.
Neither of us spoke. Not with words, anyway. Our eyes, on the other hand, spoke volumes. I could tell he was searching for answers and I was doing the same. I needed this man. As much as I needed Edge. It certainly didn’t feel like a mistake, being here with him, having him hold me, kiss me.
When I thought he would ask me to leave, Cav exhaled sharply, then dropped back to the pillow. He nestled me against him as he rolled to his back. I inched closer, resting my head on his chest as his hand came around, his finger teasing my hair as he brushed it back from my face.
“Sleep,” he said softly. “We’ll talk more after.”
I didn’t want to sleep. Or that was what my mind said. Clearly my body had other plans because not too long after, I drifted off, safe in this man’s arms.
CAV
SHE SMELLED LIKE HIM.
That was my first thought as I came awake.
The sun was peering in the wide window, slipping between the buildings of downtown Chicago. When I got back here last night, I hadn’t bothered to close the curtains and it wouldn’t be long before the room was flooded with sunlight.
I cut my eyes to the right, peering down at Jamie, where she slept on my chest, one arm flung across me. I loved that she was so close, had been for the last few hours.
Unable to resist, I caressed her arm with my hand, her smooth, soft skin under my fingertips.
My thoughts drifted back to last night, to a different hotel room. To Jamie. Edge. The whole situation had been a clusterfuck of epic proportions and I had no idea how things had gotten so out of control. But that was exactly what it was. Out of control. Pure chaos.
Not once in my thirty-five years had I felt this much for any one person, let alone two. And yes, I’d been in love before. Young love was something I’d strived for. Again, none of my past relationships compared to what I was feeling now. While Jamie had slept for the past few hours, I had stared up at the ceiling, thinking about her and Edge, what was happening between us. At some point, I’d fallen asleep, but it hadn’t been peaceful.
My emotions were sitting too close to the surface. Anger, frustration, hurt. It all warred inside me. Then again, I’d always allowed emotion to lead me, to make me impulsive.
Last night, before Jamie had appeared at my door, I’d been thinking it was time to head out, to go somewhere else. I wasn’t the sort to put down roots. It never worked for me. A few times I’d considered it. Oddly enough, it was usually when I was here. Some inexplicable force always seemed to draw me back here. Back to Chicago. To Edge.
And now Jamie.
Although I’d been pissed and hurt, I hadn’t come up with a plan. The thought of leaving was worse than the idea of spending every day with Jamie and Edge at arm’s length.
Jamie stirred, her hand sliding over my chest. I felt her lashes flutter, her soft sigh.
