Unable to stay away, and with a quick glance out the window to confirm that Evan was still engrossed in a conversation with Jamie, he placed his hands on her hips.
Big mistake. It only made him want her more.
“Bella,” he said just above a whisper. “I want to go out with you.”
She sighed loudly and knitted her brows together, in stark contrast to the desire in her eyes and her quickening breaths. Her reaction worried him, but he wasn’t willing to ignore the emotions she sparked in him.
“I can’t date,” she finally said.
“Maybe what you really mean is that you can’t afford to get hurt again.”
Her eyes widened so slightly that he would have missed it had he not been looking for an indication that he was striking a chord. She shifted her gaze away, and he drew her chin back so she had no choice but to look at him.
“I know all about being hurt, and although I can’t promise that I won’t hurt you unintentionally, I can promise you that I will try not to.”
Bella pulled from his grasp and walked into the living room, where she flopped onto the couch.
Caden sat on the coffee table across from her and placed his hands on her knees. He felt her stiffen beneath his touch, but again the air around them sizzled, and her eyes betrayed her attempt to avoid the passion brewing between them.
“Getting hurt sucks.” She spoke softly, but her eyes were narrow and angry.
“Agreed.”
“I made a plan. No commitments.” She crossed her arms and looked away.
“I’m not asking you to break your plan. I didn’t realize that I had a plan, but apparently I do. My plan is to not get hurt either, and it’s obvious, even after just a few hours with you, that you have the power to hurt me.” He had no idea where the words were coming from, but being with Bella pulled the truth from him.
That brought her eyes back to his.
“So what are you saying? I’m totally confused. You made it clear today that you don’t want to sleep with me because I can’t commit.”
“That’s funny. I thought I made it clear that I wanted to sleep with you, but I wouldn’t because you won’t commit.” He slid his hands to her outer thighs, and she closed her eyes for a beat. When she opened them, desire was still there.
“Well, I still can’t commit,” she answered.
“Won’t, but that’s okay. I’m not asking you to commit. You don’t know me from Adam, and you’re right. I don’t know you very well, either. Both are reasons why we shouldn’t sleep together.”
Confusion filled her eyes again. He squeezed her outer thighs, and she placed her hands on top of his. He could feel the heat radiating from her.
“Then what do you want?” she asked in a breathy voice.
“To spend time with you tomorrow night while Evan is with Jamie. Call it whatever you want.”
“Not a date,” she said adamantly; then she inched his hands higher.
“Not a date.” He wanted to carry her into the bedroom and make love to her, commitment or not. But he wasn’t about to allow his heart to get torn to shreds, and Bella had the power to do it. She leaned forward, and his willpower fell away. He covered her mouth with his, taking her in a deep, sensuous kiss.
This wasn’t going to make it any easier for him if she walked away. He shot a look out the window. Evan was still deep in conversation with Jamie. Thank goodness. He swept her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom, locking the door behind them. He backed her up against the door.
“Caden,” she said wantingly.
He clutched her wrist and held it against the door, kissing her neck, and loving the way she breathed harder with every touch of his lips. Her eyes fluttered closed.
“You’re so beautiful, Bella. You drive me crazy.”
He took her in a rough kiss, trying desperately to thwart the urge to take more than he should. He drew back again and stared into her dark, hungry eyes. She licked her lips, and he kissed her again, slowly, sensually, memorizing the feel of her mouth against his. Holding her to the door with his hips, he just had to taste the soft skin of her belly. Just one taste. Lifting her dress, he kissed his way across her taut stomach, feeling her body tremble with need. He closed his eyes for a beat to try to restrain the need that gripped him. Like kissing Bella, one taste of her would never be enough, but he knew nothing short of making love to her would be enough, and with his son so close, he forced himself to stifle the urge to throw her on the bed and make love to her.
He sealed his mouth over hers again. He had no business kissing her like she was his world, or intimately exploring her body, when she might never be willing to give him what he needed, but he was powerless to walk away. He’d already committed, even if she hadn’t.
He forced himself to tear his lips away from hers.
Eyes still closed, she said, “It’s not a date.”
His lips curved into a smile, and he whispered, “Not yet, it’s not.”
Chapter Six
BELLA STRUGGLED TO remain focused Monday morning and to not let her mind wander to Caden. She wasn’t the type of person who usually moved that fast with men, but with him, she couldn’t stop herself. No matter how hard she tried to convince herself that it was shameful and that she was sending the wrong message to him—no commitment, but ravish me, please—she couldn’t. What they did didn’t feel shameful. It felt incredible, passionate. Right.
She forced her attention back to Dr. Wilma Ritter, the superintendent of Nauset Regional High School. Wilma was tall and willowy, with salt-and-pepper hair that she wore in a messy bun. She had a limp handshake, and based on the fact that they’d been walking around the school since Bella had arrived, the inability to sit still.
“We’ve been pushing for this type of program for years, but there was never enough budget, or the right person to head it up, or…” Wilma waved her skinny hand in the air. “I’m just glad you’re giving it a shot.”
They walked down a long corridor lined with lockers. Wilma rattled on about how much red tape was involved in doing anything with the school system.
“It’s the same everywhere,” Bella agreed. “In Connecticut we had the same trouble. It’s amazing to me that professional sports teams have more money than they could ever spend, and our educational system barely scrapes by.”
Wilma pushed open the heavy door and waved Bella through. They were behind the school, facing a grassy field that led to a thickly wooded area. Bella followed Wilma down a sidewalk, along the side of the brick building.
“I have a list of businesses that I’ve been putting together since they hired you. Companies that might have an interest in supporting the program, both nonprofit and for profit.” She stopped walking and nodded toward the edge of the woods. “This is what I wanted you to see. Every year we have a few kids who tend to get into trouble. For whatever reason, that spot has become a gathering place for them.”