Seaside Dreams (Love in Bloom: Seaside Summers, Book One) Contemporary Romance by Melissa Foster

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 and slid them to her inner thighs, so close to her center that 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 moved his hands higher. His fingertips grazed her panties.
    “Not a date.” Jesus, 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 opened her legs and leaned forward, and his willpower fell away. He covered her mouth with his, taking her in a deep, sensuous kiss.
    “Touch me,” she whispered against his lips.
    He slid his fingers into her wetness, and holy hell, he knew better. 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 God . Bella arched against his hand. He swept her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom, locking the door behind them. He backed her up against the door as she fumbled with the button on his pants.
    “Caden,” she said in one hot breath.
    He clutched her wrist and held it against the door. “No.” He laved her neck with his tongue, loving the way she breathed harder with every stroke. Her eyes fluttered closed as he ground his hips into hers and filled his free hand with her breast.
    “You’re so beautiful, Bella.”
    He took her in a rough kiss, trying desperately to thwart the urge to drop to his knees and taste her most private area. She reached for his pants again and he drew back again and stared into her dark, wanting 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 lifted her dress and had to close his eyes for a beat to try to restrain the need that gripped him. He just had to taste her belly, the soft skin that lined the sexiest pink panties he’d ever seen. He kissed his way across her belly, feeling her body tremble with need. The scent of her arousal drew him lower. One stroke of his tongue against the damp fabric of her panties drew a groan from his lungs and a wanton moan from hers. She clutched his shoulders, urging him to continue. Like kissing Bella, one taste of her was not enough, but he knew nothing short of being inside 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 broke from her grip and rose to his feet, taking her in another rough kiss, capturing her pleas in his mouth. He had no business kissing her like she was his world, or intimately exploring her