Kade’s eyes narrow like he knows what I’m doing, but he doesn’t call me out on it. Instead, he tucks my hair behind my ear and nods.
“You wanna know if I hate you. If the reason I want you so fuckin’ bad is some misguided attempt at hate sex. You think this…”
He grabs my hand and drags it between us, pressing my palm against his very hard, verylargeerection. My breath catches, eyes widening, and because he’s a cocky asshole—even now, he rolls his hips and pins me in place with his hard stare.
“You think I’m this goddamn hard because you’re someone I’ll be able to fuck out of my system.”
He clicks his tongue and shakes his head, but doesn’t release my hand, and thank fuck, because I don’t want him to. He feels too good, too hot and hard and perfect, and suddenly, my confused system rages against the idea of putting a stop to whateverthisis.
“That what you think, darlin’?”
“Honestly?” I breathe, dazed.
He jerks a nod. “All I ever want from you.”
“Yes,” I whisper, heart thudding. “Yes. I think you just want to fuck me. And…” I lick my dry lips, but it doesn’t help. “I think once you fuck me, you’ll forget about me, and Kade, as much as I wish I could, that’s not me.”
His brows pinch and he drops my hand, releasing me. “How the fuck could I forget you, freckles?”
I scoff, yanking on my hair, hands shaking.
“It’s easy. Trust me. Give it some time, and it’ll happen.”It always does.“Either way, it doesn’t matter. Whatever this is…” I gesture between us, stepping away, needing an escape, to run far and fast. “It can’t happen. I already told you that.”
“And I already told you it’s too damn late. It’s already happening.”
Please don’t push me.
“It can’t!”
I’m already in too deep.
“Why the fuck not?”
Because I’ll fall in love with you.
“Because I’m leaving, for starters,” I snap, chest heaving. “In four months, I’ll be gone.”
“And? We have right now.”
I gape up at him, my entire body trembling. What the hell is he talking about? His face is tense,serious. He’s not fucking around. He really means to pursue…something, with me.
“And what about Aurora, Kade?” I ask, temper and anxiety rising by the second.
He shrugs. “I told you, I see somethin’ I want, nothing stands in my way. Aurora is mine now. In a few days, she’ll be with me and I’ll take care of her. I’ll be there for that little girl every damn day. Won’t let her feel a second of the loss she’s had. But thatdoesn’t mean I’ll stop living. Doesn’t mean I have any intention of being alone.”
My mouth opens and closes, once, twice. And, shit, the room actually spins.
Kade steps closer slowly, like he knows I’m easy to spook.
“You see, darlin’, I’ve been alone. I’ve fought my demons in the dark for years. I buried my dreams with my dad, and for a while, I stopped living, content to punish myself. But I’m done with that. I can’t do it anymore. Somewhere along the way since you walked through my door, I remembered what it was like to breathe, and I’ll be fucked if I give it up now.”
“You’re insane,” I mutter, shaking my head. “Whatever you’re thinking… it’s… insane and impossible.”
“And you’re making excuses.”
“What the hell are you even suggesting? Friends with benefits? Fuck buddies?”
Surely it can’t be anything more than that. We barely know each other.
