He took my hand under the table and squeezed it.
“Are you okay?”
I looked at him and all the steam went out of me. I couldn’t stay mad at him. He was just being straight with me about what he wanted. I hadn’t been expecting marriage talk so soon, but it was what I ultimately wanted. Especially if things kept going well.
I wasn’t going to give in that easily though.
It was best to make a man work for what he wanted. Just a little bit. Any woman worth her salt knew that.
My sister-in-law had told me the same thing. Cass had told me that I’d better make Cain beg next time. Judging from the way she had Connor wrapped around her little finger, well, I trusted her say in the matter.
The truth was, Cain’s words made my heart sing. I’d just been hoping for a little more romance. Love words. And sex. I wanted the big man to give me some sex. I was a little nervous about it still, but I knew it was time.
I was ready for Cain. I hoped. I had no idea what I was doing. I was more nervous about doing something wrong than about the pain. I knew he would take good care of me.
“It’s just . . . this is a lot to take in.”
He nodded and squeezed my hand. We finished our meal, including a rich chocolate cake for Mom and chocolate-covered strawberries for me. Cain paid and walked us back out to the limo.
He pressed a kiss to Mom’s cheek and she sighed and pressed her hand to her cheek. I rolled my eyes at that. She gave me quick hug goodnight, whispering, “I like him!” in my ear.
“I noticed!” I whispered back.
Then she was in the limo. Cain and I watched as two guys took off behind it, escorting my mother home. I looked at the other two bikers, leaning against their bikes. Cain nodded to them and took my arm, leading me inside.
“They are just going to sit out here?”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“Until their replacements show up.”
“Why?”
He ushered me to the elevator bay and pressed a button.
“To keep you safe.”
“Isn’t it drawing attention to the fact that we are here?”
He looked at me, thinking. Then he pulled out his phone and tapped out instructions. He put his phone away and watched the numbers light up.
“What did you do?”
“I’ll tell you inside.”
“Cain . . . I can’t stay here for three days.”
“You can.”
The elevator stopped and we got out. I was practically jogging to keep up with him.
“I have psych class on Thursday.”
“I have someone getting notes for you.” He cast me a stern glance. “You aren’t going back there until the TA is gone. Your professor has been notified.”
“My . . . what are you talking about?”
“We will discus this later.”
He opened the door to our room, and I followed him in, still arguing.
“I have work.”
“Taken care of.”
“I can’t just ditch!”
“You can, and you will.”
He shut the door and dragged me down a short hallway to the room. He pressed me against the nearest wall. I stared at him. He stared at me.
And then he pounced. His lips caught mine in a fiercely possessive kiss. The way his hands touched and held tight to me, everything about the way he moved screamed ownership. He was showing me that I belonged to him, and God help me, I loved it.
I felt the heat of his body penetrate me through my dress. I gasped as he lifted one thigh, pressing his hips flush against my center. He lifted his head to stare down at me. I moaned in helpless arousal as his fingertips grazed the front of my panties.
“Bed.”
I nodded breathlessly and was hoisted into the air. I barely got a look at the suite as I was carried through it, clinging helplessly to his massive shoulders. He looked down at me and grunted once we reached the bedroom. The next thing I knew, I was on my back. Cain stood above me, pulling off his suit jacket and tossing it on a chair. He unbuttoned the cuffs of his shirt and rolled up his sleeves. Then he was there, right above me, holding his body up with the brute strength of his massive arms.
He ran one hand down my body, over my chest to my thigh and back again. I whimpered at the heat coming off him, at the way his huge, rough palm covered my breast.
He toyed with the strap of my dress and paused.
“Any rules I should know about tonight, Princess?”
I shook my head frantically. I couldn’t bear a repeat of the last date we’d had where he’d teased me mercilessly, refusing to take my clothes off. I was ready to beg him for mercy and we’d barely begun.
“No. No rules.”