𝑀𝓎 𝑀𝒶𝓃#1~When Love Lasts
Chapter 45

Later that night, Cedric drove Anna and me back to her house. I almost caved and went home with him, but I needed to have this space from him. I feel like everything happened so quick between us.

He was practically forced to look after me and to keep me safe, and while I don't doubt his feelings for me, I still think our relationship progressed too rapidly.

We moved from strangers to mildly being friends to having affections for one another. Anna was passed drunk and stumbled into her house. She didn't cry any more tonight, which I was thankful for. I didn't enjoy seeing my best friend so upset over something she can't control.

I still think she should talk to Lucas about what happened between them, but she doesn't want to, and I will not push her.

That's between her and him. Even though I wish to fix this for her, I can't. I have to wait and watch their story unfold at the right time. From what I know about Lucas, he isn't the serious relationship type.

Maybe, just possibly, that is because deep down he has feelings for Anna and both are just too afraid to admit it.

“I need to call the station and get an update on the robbery case,” Cedric said as he opened his truck door to let me out. “You sure you don't want to come home with me, baby?”

“I think space is good for us both. We moved so fast that we barely know one another. It all happened so fast, Ced. You didn't really have a choice but to keep me close to protect me from that insane man.” I sucked in a deep breath, praying I was delivering the right words and continued.

“I'm not suggesting that's why you love me. I'm just saying we went from strangers, to friends, to lovers, and then to us dating. And then that night happened, and we have not been the same since. We need to get back to dating.”

“That night didn't change how I feel about you, Avery,” he growled, and pulled me into his arms. “I don't like it, but I understand. You can have your space for now, but babe, you better brace because when I crave something, I don't stop until I get it. And I crave you back in our home and back in our bed.” He sighed, kissed my forehead, and stepped back.

“Goodnight Cedric,” I whispered, and walked backwards into Anna's house, eyes not leaving him until I closed the door.

Once the door was closed, I leaned my back against it and rubbed my chest. It hurt so much to do this. I hated being separated from him, but this is something I think we both need. He has been too focused on keeping me safe, making sure I'm good, that he forgot to live his own life.

Before we started going back to the Sleepy Sheep, he hadn't seen his best friends in weeks.

“This is good for us,” I reminded myself, and headed upstairs to shower and get the smell of lemon martini off me that Anna had accidentally spilled on me while we were dancing.

About thirty minutes later, I'm blow-drying my hair. I had checked on Anna right after I climbed out of the shower, and she was snoring on her bed, still wearing her little black dress from tonight. I had tried to change her into her pajamas, but the girl was dead to the world and was absolutely no help.

My phone suddenly lit up, and I saw Cedric's name, and a picture of him kissing me, flashing across my screen.

I quickly turned off the hair dryer and immediately answered, praying nothing was wrong. He had only left here a little while ago.

“Hey.” I answered as soon as I pressed the accept button.

“Babe, come unlock the door,” he responded, as soon as I accepted the call.

“Huh?” I asked mystified.

“The door baby.”

“What door?”

“The front door.”

“You are here?” I asked again, confused because he should have been home by now.

“Yeah babe, now come on. Unlock it. I lost my spare key,” he sighed. “Anna's going to bitch about that,” he added, more to himself than to me.

“Why?”

“Why what?”

Ugh.

“Why did you come back?”

“Because my woman wants space, but I'm hurt, babe.”

“What? You are hurt?” I shouted, hung up the phone and rushed towards the front door, almost tripping before slamming into it. I unlocked the door, swung it open. I scanned my eyes over Cedric, not seeing anything wrong, and then looked up at him, confused. “What?”

“My heart's hurting without you,” he grinned, gently pushed me backwards into the house.

“You made me think you were hurt,” I accused. “That wasn't nice. I thought something happened to you, Ced.” I growled, annoyed.

“I needed to make sure you opened the door, babe,” he shrugged, wrapped his muscular arms around me, and pulled me into his body. “I told you I always get what I want, and I didn't say I played fair.”

“You can't stay here. This is Anna's house. Can't just invite yourself-”

I rambled because I knew if I slept in this man's arms tonight, I'd never want to sleep without them again, and I really just wanted us to take things slow. I need to know that he doesn't consider me to be a responsibility anymore.

“Don't worry, I'm not sleeping,” he growled, and surprised the hell out of me and pulled his handcuffs from his back pocket. “I mentioned I was saving this for you tonight.”

My eyes widened, and my cheeks blaze hot as I stared at those handcuffs that were being dangled in front of my face. “You can't be serious,” I hissed.

Anna could wake up any minute.

“You claimed you didn't feel like a woman to me. That is one reason you want fucking space from us. I'm going to show you just how much of a woman I think you are. Now shut up and get your sweet ass upstairs,” he ordered, and it shocked me silent.

And then I wasn't silent. “You did not just tell me to shut up.”

“Yeah babe, I did. Go the fuck upstairs. I need to be inside you-” he sighed, and then bent forward and hauled me over his shoulder. “Fuck it. You don't need to walk.”

“Cedric, this is your sister's house. We can't be doing this,” I muttered and tried and failed to twist my body out of his hold, but I'd be lying to myself if I said I wasn't turned one right now.

I missed my caveman.

“Try not to get too loud, baby,” he grunted, slapped my ass, and headed towards the bedroom.

“Cedric,” I hissed, annoyed, but again, way the hell turned on. I can feel the wetness already pooling between my legs for this man. “We can't.” I protested.

He didn't say a word. He bent down, grabbed the hem of my short dress, and jerked it over my head. I was fully clothed one second and then standing in front of him in just my bar and panties the next.

Thank goodness I wore a hot black matching set tonight. Not that I had expected anything to happen, but I just wanted to feel sexy. The lust and passion that was filling Cedric's gaze as his eyes roamed over my body definitely made me feel sexy.

“I'm done talking, Avery. I'm going to show you,” he growled, and found myself being tossed into the air before I landed on the bed. “On your knees. Ass facing me.”

“Maybe we could just talk-” I whispered, suddenly feeling self-conscious about the scar around my throat. It's challenging to feel sexy with it.

“I. Said. On. Your. Knees.”

“Cedric I get it seriously. I understand what you are trying to do but,-”

I didn't get to finish what I was saying because Cedric reached out, wrapped his arms around me and turned my body around and pushed me to my knees.

“What the hell, Cedric,” I gasped.

He has never done something like that before and I can't help but replace him behaving like this hot as hell, potentially even hotter than the inferno if I'm being honest.

“I said I was done talking, Avery,” he snarled, grabbed my hands and gently forced them behind my back, which caused me to fall face-first into the red bedsheets. “You want to feel like a woman to me? Well, babe, you are going to fucking feel me. You can keep those fuck me heels on. Those heels with your long legs drove me crazy tonight."

I turned my head, watched as he pulled those handcuffs out of his back pocket again and wrapped them around my wrists, forcing my hands to stay together behind my back.

"After tonight babe you wont ever be able to say you don't feel like a woman to me again because I'm going to show you just how fucking crazy you make me."