Free Hearts in Darkness by Laura Kaye Page A

to her bags in one hand while her other went to the door handle. Caden's jaw clenched. “Okay, then, I guess...good night, then.” She engaged the handle and pushed the door open.
    His stomach rolled. She shifted herself and hopped down onto the sidewalk, then turned to drag her bags behind her. What the fuck, Caden, stop her. Tell her. “I'd like to—"
    She shoved the door shut, drowning out his words, and leaned against the open window. He swore she looked sad but wasn't sure, just didn't know her facial expressions well enough to read them. Yet. Please let there be a “yet."
    "It's okay. I understand."
    Caden gaped, then pressed his lips into a tight line. Understand? Understand what?
    She tapped her hand twice against the door interior. “Thanks for the ride. See ya."
    "Uh, yeah.” He ran his hand roughly over his scar as she turned, slung her bags over her shoulder, and walked across the wide sidewalk toward the brightly lit windowed lobby.
    Uh, yeah? uh, yeah?
    When she was almost to the door, Caden threw the Jeep in first and pressed his foot on the accelerator. He pulled out into the drive. The growing distance from Makenna felt so damn wrong that Caden stopped in the middle of the street and looked back over his shoulder.
    Makenna was standing in the lobby. Watching him.
    He growled. Fuck. This.
    Caden slammed the transmission into reverse. The tires screeched against the pavement as he jolted the vehicle back into the spot. He pulled forward just as gracelessly to straighten out. He wrenched the keys from the transmission and smacked the headlights off and heaved his body against the door, which he slammed shut.
    Stalking around the back of the Jeep, he glared up at Makenna—glaring not so much at her as at his own idiocy for not making things right before the eleventh goddamned hour.
    Her eyes widened. Her lips froze somewhere between a smile and an O. She pushed and held the door open for him.
    And he hoped for all he was worth he was correctly reading the desire on her face.
    He crowded right up into her space, pressed his body against hers—trapping her against the glass of the door behind her, plunged his hands into her hair until he was cupping the nape of her neck, and devoured her lips with his.
    He groaned at the goodness of touching her again, like this. It was the first time anything had felt right since he'd held her on his lap in the elevator.
    Anticipation stole Makenna's breath—and then Caden did with his forceful kiss. Oh my God oh my God oh my God he came back! He came back!
    His demanding tongue tasted so damn good, and his piercing bit deliciously against her lip from the aggressive way he pursued her over and over. His hands tugged and massaged at her hair and neck. He just surrounded her. The difference in their height made Caden lean down over her. The way he forced her head back commanded her to open up to him. With the metal handle of the door pressing into her back, she felt completely enveloped in him, in his ardor, his scent. The world dropped away. There was just Caden.
    Her hand fisted in his black shirt. He stepped closer. They panted. Their bodies heaved against one another. She moaned at the possessiveness of his grip. There was nothing shy or tentative or questioning about the way he was handling her. She felt claimed. She felt euphoric.
    A tantalizing sound somewhere between a purr and a growl erupted from low in his throat. His hands continued to grip her, but he leaned his forehead against hers and pulled his lips away. “I'm sorry. I couldn't let you go."
    "Don't be sorry for that,” she rasped and swallowed. “Never be sorry for that."
    "Makenna—"
    "Caden, I—"
    He clamped his lips over her mouth, their noses smashing. This time his sound was very clearly a growl. “Woman,” he said against her lips, “would you let me talk already?"
    The longing and frustration in his voice made her smile. She nodded. His lips quirked against hers, and he kissed her again, a