Chapter 20: Smitten

SLOAN

When I walk back into the ballroom, I feel lighter than air. Everything has worked out so perfectly tonight.

I got the closure I needed from Archie, Marlene is happy, and I’m still riding the high of everything that’s happened with Kade since last night.

Kade is still on stage, but all I want to do is kiss his face off.

I make my way back to the front of the crowd and stand underneath him again, taking in the end of his sexy performance.

After the last song ends, I scream and yell with the crowd, and he hops off the stage and wraps his arms around me. Without missing a beat, he lands a heart-stopping kiss on my lips.

I smile. “Wow, I have so many things to tell you.”

“I have something to ask you, but how about a dance first?”

Kade pulls me to the middle of the floor. Overhead, music has started to play, and I spend the next half hour dancing and laughing with him.

He keeps breaking out silly moves to make me smile but he is somehow still sexy, even while he does the funky chicken.

The party is starting to wind down, and I’m ready to get Kade alone, so I drag him out to the lobby and walk him back to the wall before I kiss him passionately.

“I’ve got to go get my stuff from the dressing room,” he admits.

I follow him down a hall, where he grabs a bag, but I still feel wild, so I push him against the door and kiss him hard. “Take me home, Kade.”

He dons a sexy smirk, but then a realization dawns on him. “I don’t have my car.”

“I have mine.”

I pull him into the room for the LILAC staffers to find my purse. But when I notice there is no one in there, I get an idea.

“Kade.”

“Yes, Sloan?”

I lock the door and walk toward him as sexily as I can.

“Oh,” he says before he smirks, then takes me into his arms and starts kissing me, trailing his mouth down my neck.

I slide my hands down his chest and palm his erection. He’s ready, and I’ve been ready for hours.

I unzip his pants and pull him out before I hitch my leg over his hip.

“Damn, Sloan.”

He walks me back to a wall and lifts me off my feet while he hikes my skirt up. It doesn’t take much effort before he’s sliding into me.

“Mmm, Kade.”

He kisses my neck while he bucks into me. It’s hard and fast—needy—but it’s exactly what I want right now. I entwine my fingers in his hair and tug, and he lets out a moan.

His feverish pace is bringing me close to orgasm quickly, but I’m not complaining. I wrap my legs even tighter around him to hold on.

I can feel his hot breath on my neck, and everything about this moment is perfect.

Kade taking me against a wall in a public place would never have interested me before, but he’s unlocked my sexuality and, now, it’s perfect.

“Baby, I’m going to cum,” he says breathlessly.

He finds my clit with two fingers and encircles it until I’m shaking, then he lets go inside of me, and I follow him over the edge.

“Oh, my God, Kade, that was—”

“Hot, perfect, naughty?”

“All of the above.”

He sets me on my feet, and I try to straighten my clothes.

“I’m going to make a pit stop at the ladies’ room. Meet you in the lobby,” I say.

He gives me a sweet kiss before I unlock the door and leave him to his devices.

When I find him back in the lobby, he doesn’t look disheveled at all; you would never know what has just happened between the two of us. The only clue is the sexy wink he gives me as I approach.

I smirk. “Your place or mine?”

“Yours is closer.”

I take his hand and pull him to where I parked my car. Soon, we’re on our way home.

Kade smiles. “So, what did you want to tell me?”

“Tonight was so good—like, ~so~ good—and I owe so much of that to you, so I want to tell you, thank you.”

“Well, I was happy to help, but Sloan, all I did was tell people how amazing you are. You’re still the one who is amazing.”

My cheeks flush and I feel a flutter in my chest.

“So, um, Archie was there,” I admit.

“What?” Kade asks, looking like he’s trying to contain himself.

“He didn’t stay long. He actually apologized and said all the right things. I guess I got closure. He told me good luck with you and that he thinks you’re smitten with me.”

“That might be the smartest thing he’s ever said,” Kade teases, so I playfully shove his shoulder.

“And Marlene is over the moon. She is so happy with the event and told me she is already being approached by sponsors to make the purple party an annual event.”

“Wow, Sloan, that’s awesome.”

“There’s more. Since you saved me from the grope-y asshole, you kind of turned the party into a platform for consent. Marlene said she wants to kiss you.”

He takes my hand and smiles. “There is only one LILAC employee I’ll be kissing.”

“Well, for that one LILAC employee, would you consider giving an interview for the write-up about the party?”

“I could probably be persuaded.” He smiles, then picks my hand up and kisses the back of it.

“Okay, table that for now. What did you want to ask me?”

“I’ll ask you when we get back to your place.”

“Oh, mysterious.”

“Did you eat dinner?”

“I didn’t but I owe you a meal, right? I’ll make something at home.”

He smiles. “Works for me.”

“So, I get to feed you for once?”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

***

When we get back to my apartment, we both change into something more comfortable, and I check what I have in the fridge, while Kade takes a seat at the counter.

“So, there are two types of people in the world: those who love cilantro, and those who don’t have taste buds.” I giggle. “Which one are you?”

“Is that a serious question? Cilantro all the way.”

“Okay, perfect.”

I get to work making dinner, and Kade slides up behind me and puts his arms around my waist as he says, “It smells good.”

“Well, I’m trying to impress you, you know.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“I’m crushing pretty hard on you,” I admit.

“What are you making?”

“Cilantro-lime tacos.”

“Wow, you’re fancy.”

“I don’t know about that, but hopefully, you’ll like them.”

I finish preparing the meal and serve it up to Kade, who looks like he’s just won the lottery.

“This looks so good, thank you, Sloan. I’m starving.”

I pull a bottle of wine from the fridge and pour two glasses.

Kade takes a bite of food and moans, “Don’t tell my mom, but this is better than her tomato soup.”

I laugh and dig into my food.

After dinner, we take the wine over to the couch and sit down.

I smile. “So, are the tacos enough to persuade you to do the interview?”

“Of course, I’m always going to do it. I was just teasing you.”

“Are you going to tell me what you wanted to ask me?”

“I know this is sudden and that so much has happened in your life in the last week…

“But, Sloan, I already have strong feelings for you and, I guess, I wanted you to know that I don’t plan on dating anyone else.”

“Kade…?”

“I have to tell you that I loved everyone calling you my girlfriend tonight—nothing sounds better to me, actually. So, I guess, I wanted to ask you, are you my girlfriend?”

“Are you teasing me? What is that smirk?”

“I’m nervous,” he admits.

“Why?”

“Will you answer me already?”

“I don’t know, Kade, are you my ~boyfriend~?”

“If it’s up to me, hell yeah. But you know, I’m asking you because I know about consent.”

I can’t suppress my giggle anymore and I burst out laughing. “I would love nothing more than to be your girlfriend.”

He smiles so widely that I swear it sparkles and he leans in to kiss me. “You had me sweating.”

I laugh. “I couldn’t make it too easy for you. I already jumped you in a dressing room tonight.”