Page 142 of Cross Checked
Luke had tried to intimidate him, and instead Cade looked like he enjoyed finally seeing the mask drop.
The Range Rover suddenly turned into an empty church parking lot three blocks later.
Before I could even ask what he was doing, Cade parked crooked across two spaces, shoved it into park, and climbed out.
My pulse jumped instantly.
A second later, my door opened and he stood there staring down at me with dark eyes and flushed knuckles while cold air rushed inside the cab.
“Come here, Pip.”
His voice sounded wrecked. Not soft or angry.
Overloaded.
I climbed out shakily and barely got both feet onto the pavement before Cade grabbed my waist and pulled me into him hard enough that my breath left in a sharp rush.
Then his mouth crashed into mine.
Holy fuck.
The kiss hit like all the adrenaline and rage and tension from the last six hours finally detonated at once. Cade kissed me rough and deep while one hand tangled into my hair and the other slid hard over my hip and ass like he needed physical proof I was standing here with him instead of back in that house with Luke.
A broken sound escaped me into his mouth when he pressed me backward against the truck.
Cade groaned low against my lips in response, and the noise shot straight through my bloodstream.
“I have been out of my mind since the minute that fucker stepped out the back door with his eyes on you,” he said roughly, gripping my jaw to angle my mouth up. “I couldn’t stand watching him look at you.”
His mouth fell on mine again as he controlled the angle with his hand against my jaw, sucking my bottom lip between his teeth and tongue until my chest tightened instantly.
“I know,” I whispered against his mouth. “I’m sorry.”
Cade pulled back just enough to look at me, both hands sliding beneath my thighs before lifting me effortlessly until I was pinned to the car.
“Don’t apologize for him.”
The words landed hard enough to make my stomach flip.
My legs wrapped around his waist automatically while his forehead dropped briefly against mine, and both of us breathed too hard in the middle of the empty parking lot.
The pressure of him against me nearly melted my brain completely. He was as worked up as I was, and instead of scaring me, it made heat spread through my body so fast it almost embarrassed me.
Cade noticed the exact second it happened too. His mouth twitched slightly before he kissed me slower this time, dragging his lips against mine while his grip flexed possessively against my thighs.
“I know enough now,” he said quietly against my mouth. “I know he’s the ex you told me about. I know he’s the reason you react to things the way you do. I know he thinks you belong to him.” His jaw tightened slightly before he exhaled through his nose. “And all I want to do is strip you down and touch every inch of your body and smother the memory of him out.”
A nervous laugh escaped me before I could stop it, my mind picturing his hands and mouth all over me.
Cade’s eyes flicked back to mine immediately, some of the darkness easing for half a second when he heard it.
“Fuck, you like that, don’t you?” he asked, pressing harder against me so I felt it between my thighs.
My eyes rolled back and I arched against him. “Yes.”
“Yeah, you do,” he agreed before licking a path up my neck.
“You punching him had me molten hot.”
