Housebound with the Blackridge Heirs novel Chapter 17

**Change Begins With You — Jayden Collins**
**Chapter 17**

**Maya**

The kiss took me completely off guard, yet I couldn’t deny the way my body instinctively melted against him.

Caden’s lips moved against mine with a fervor that suggested he had been holding back for far too long, and now, finally, he had decided to let go. My hand found its way to his shoulder, searching for balance, though deep down, I wasn’t quite sure if I wanted to stabilize myself or pull him even closer.

Perhaps it was a little bit of both.

Before I could even catch my breath, he deepened the kiss, one hand slipping behind my neck while the other found its way to my waist, anchoring me firmly against him. His touch was not rough; rather, it was firm and assured. It was as if he knew precisely how much pressure to apply, how far to push me before my mind began to falter.

When his hand slid lower, gripping my hip, I gasped against his mouth, and that small sound was all it took for him to respond.

In one fluid, deliberate motion, he lifted me off the ground, and my legs instinctively wrapped around him. I barely registered what was happening until my back hit the wall, the impact sending a jolt through my body.

The shock of it made me break the kiss, but he didn’t let me pull away far. His forehead pressed against mine, both of us panting heavily, as if we were searching for words that hadn’t yet been formed.

“Caden,” I whispered, my voice a blend of warning and pleading.

He smiled against my cheek, a slow, crooked smile that only intensified the storm of emotions swirling within me.

“You can still tell me to stop,” he murmured, his breath warm against my skin.

But I didn’t. I couldn’t. And he took my silence as an invitation to continue.

He claimed my mouth again, this time more slowly, more deeply—so much deeper.

His fingers curled into the fabric of my shirt at my waist, and the scent of him—something rich like coffee mixed with his unique essence—hit me with an intensity that felt almost surreal.

The warmth radiating from him was intoxicating, as though he were heating up in response to our shared moment. The weight of the situation and what it meant crashed over me like a tidal wave.

I didn’t care that I could hear the faint vibrations of laughter from students passing somewhere behind the courtyard wall. I didn’t care that my thighs were half exposed due to the way he was holding me, leaving me vulnerable for anyone to see.

In that moment, I didn’t even care what anyone would think if they did happen to catch us.

The world had narrowed down to just him… to Caden.

To the way his thumb brushed just under my jaw, making me forget what it felt like to breathe. To the way he expertly combined his lips and tongue, his hands balancing against my thigh while the other cradled my neck, his thumb rubbing my ear in a maddening rhythm that made me melt into him.

When he finally pulled back, his eyes were darker than I had ever seen them—blue, but not quite. More like a storm brewing, ready to unleash its fury.

“You shouldn’t look at me like that,” I said softly, not trusting my voice to convey the whirlwind of emotions I was feeling.

“Like what?” he asked, a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes.

“Like you mean it.”

He let out a small laugh, brushing a stray strand of hair away from my face. “Maybe I do.”

The air between us crackled with tension again, as if the slightest movement could ignite something dangerously beautiful. I wanted to speak, to say something profound, but my body had other ideas. My hands rested against his chest, feeling the rapid thump of his heart, and in that moment, I realized just how fast my own heart was racing in response.

“I’m not trying,” I protested, crossing my arms defensively, though my pulse betrayed me, racing wildly.

“Sure you’re not.” His boyish smirk returned, lighting up his face. “Maya, I can practically smell how turned on you are right now.” His eyes darkened with mischief.

He leaned in again, not for another kiss but close enough that I could feel the warmth of his breath against my ear. I knew he was doing it on purpose, just to tease me even more.

“I thought we were getting lunch?” he said, his tone suggestive, making me interpret “getting lunch” in a way that sent a shiver down my spine.

“Bye, Caden,” I rushed out, turning on my heel. His laughter echoed behind me, a sound that was both intoxicating and infuriating.

“See you after work, Maya.”

I hated that my stomach flipped at that. Because yes, I would be seeing him after work. We lived together. The thought both thrilled and terrified me at the same time.

When I glanced back, he had already turned to leave, hands tucked into his pockets, as if he hadn’t just turned my world upside down in broad daylight.

I watched him walk away, the sun catching in his curls, until he vanished around the corner.

—

I exhaled sharply, pressing my hand to my face, feeling the heat radiating from my skin.

When I finally dared to look toward the courtyard again, Jamille was gone. But something told me she wasn’t finished with me yet.

And as for Caden… I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted him to be.