But how was she supposed to process how amazing, how perfect this felt? She’d never been without protection with a man before. This new level of euphoria warranted a scream.
The warm water covered them to their shoulders, Cash’s arms wrapped around her, and there was a rush of pleasure like she’d never known. Why was every experience with Cash more than she’d bargained for? The man was a constant surprise in the most delicious, glorious way.
His hands slid beneath the water and then his fingertips were digging into her hips, holding her down while he shifted. The sensation had her body gearing up for release.
Jade tore her mouth from his and braced her hands on his shoulders. When she caught him staring, she closed her eyes. There was no way she could let this become too intimate. Exchanging facial emotions was almost like speaking a whole different language, and that whole gazing into each other’s eyes couldn’t enter in here.
Pleasure ripped through her and Cash’s body went rigid beneath hers. Her fingertips dug into him as she stifled her cry. Water sloshed all around and over the edge of the hot tub.
Cash gripped her backside, then let his hands roam up her back until he cupped her neck with one, strong hold. He eased her down into the crook of his neck as she attempted to calm herself and come back to reality.
His heart beat heavy against her chest; his breathing rushed out in fast pants. Jade wasn’t sure what to say or do at this point. As much as she wanted to keep the intimacy out of their sex lives, going without a condom was pretty intimate.
She didn’t regret the decision, though. She trusted Cash, and perhaps the events that just had unfolded were a testament to just how deep she’d gotten. Getting so involved was more than a fling—she just didn’t know if there was a proper term.
“I’d say that was better than my office desk.”
The rumble of his voice vibrated through her. Jade smiled and lifted her head to see his
face.
“A bit better,” she agreed, then remembered the entire office incident. “Did Jax say anything after I left?”
Cash’s eyes darted away for the briefest of seconds before coming back to her. Dread replaced the postcoital euphoria. She didn’t think he’d betray her trust, but she’d put her stock in others before only to be betrayed.
Cash wasn’t like that. Yet his silence was quite unnerving.
“What happened?” she demanded. “Did you tell him about us?”
Jade eased off his lap and sank down onto a seat on the other side of the hot tub. She knew she should’ve hung around and made sure there was no question as to why she was there. Cash had tried to blow it off when Jax came in, but Jade figured the guy talk didn’t fully start until she was out of earshot.
Cash remained silent, and Jade wanted to reach over and shake him. Why did they only get along when they were having sex?
“Are you going to answer me?” she asked.
Cash stood up and stepped out of the hot tub. Water sluiced down his naked form, but she couldn’t even take the time to appreciate the view. He stalked over to a storage bench along the fence and pulled out two towels. After he dried off and secured the towel around his waist, he laid the other towel on the edge of the hot tub.
“No, I’m not.”
She stared at his back as he turned and retreated into his house. Of all the nerve. He just delivered a clipped answer and thought that would satisfy her curiosity?
Jade stood but shivered as soon as the night air hit her bare, wet skin. She quickly stepped out, dried off, and knotted the towel around her chest. Considering her clothes and Cash were inside, Jade marched straight toward the door.
As soon as she stepped in, she took in the spacious kitchen. Only the light over the stove was on and Cash was nowhere to be found. Maybe later she’d appreciate how classy and updated and nonbachelor his place looked, but right now, she was on a mission to find the man who frustrated her.
She moved through the dining area and took note of the hallway to the left, but she headed toward the front of the house, where her clothes were still near the front door. There was no way she could confront him half dressed.
Why was he acting angry? She had a right to know what happened after she left if the conversation involved her, didn’t she?
Jade gathered her clothes from the living room floor. As she dressed, she glanced around at the sectional sofa and the wall-mounted big-screen television, and the main thing she noted was the lack of pictures. It didn’t take much thought to instantly see the parallel to her own decorating. Even in Atlanta, she didn’t have photos of her family.
And in that instant, she realized she wanted to know about his. Maybe this was bachelor pad motif, but she wasn’t so sure. More like a man who wanted to be closed off from emotions.
Cash stepped from the hallway in black running shorts and a gray T-shirt with his gym logo on his left pec. She went over to the sofa and took a seat, because she wasn’t about to walk out of here and leave things even more awkward. They could get along with their clothes on and she was going to prove it.
“Figured you’d be gone or on your phone, checking with Melanie and Livie to see if they’d heard anything about us,” he stated. “But surely if I’d spilled all our secrets to Jax, he would’ve told his wife and then everyone would be texting both of us. Weird how none of that happened.”
Hurt laced his tone and stirrings of guilt slithered through her. “I panicked, all right?”