At the time, I thought it was to irritate me. Now, I see it for what it really was. Kade loves to take care of people, and that day, I’d been on the floor, mid-breakdown, stomach growling, and frustrated with the lack of food choices. Maybe he thought I’d been about to pass out, or maybe he just sensed how close I was to losing it—but he stayed. Bugged me, followed me, but he stayed, just in case.
And he’s been doing it ever since.
He’s done it again and again—arguing with me, but still caring. Still seeing me. Still showing up.
And now… Aurora’s coming in a day or two. He should be worried about that. Instead, he’s here, taking care of me, protecting me, cherishing me.
My heart twists, body thrums, brain races…
But it’s my soul that cracks.
The blow-dryer clicks off and the room falls quiet—nothing but the sound of birds and wind outside, and the quiet crackle of the dying fire fills the air.
In true gentleman fashion, Kade doesn’t tell me to get up, or rush me out the door now that I’m feeling better. He doesn’t tell me to get dressed, or go home.
He just waits, letting me decide the next move.
Part of me wishes he’d stop being such a gentleman, but then I remember that day on the back of the horse—his hand down my pants, fingertips an inch from finding out just how soaked my pussy gets every time he’s near and I…
I stopped him.
Then I kissed him. Pulled away. Told him to take me back where I dutifully ignored him the whole time he repaired my tire like a spoiled maniac, and then…
Fucking hell,then I almost kissed him again, muttering nonsensical shit into his chest while I played with his beard.
I’m giving the man seven different versions of myself—of what I want. It’s mixed signals on steroids.
And I know, I know, Kade won’t be the one to make the next move. He won’t be the one to ask me what I want or take things between us to the next level. He stepped back because I was scared and told him to, and now…
Now I need to fix it.
His fingers skim through my dry hair, tangling in my curls, tugging in a way that sends a pulse directly to my wet core.
A shiver races through me, vibrating all the way down.
“Cold?” he rasps, shifting like he’s about to stand. “Lemme add another log—”
“No,” I breathe, hands snapping out to clench his legs.
Inside my chest, my heart is slamming against my ribs, but for once, every part of me is in agreement about what I want.
He freezes. “What?”
I stand on legs that are weak and trembling—not from the flare-up, but fromhim.
Two steadying breaths is all I let myself have, and then I slowly turn to face him.
Kade’s gray-and-blue-flecked eyes are dark with desire, lips parted, chest rising and falling like he’s just as keyed up—just as strung out—as me.
“I’m not cold,” I murmur, fingers twisting in the hem of his shirt. It lifts an inch, and those dark, stormy eyes snap to the newly exposed skin like he’s committing them to memory.
“You shivered.”
“I know.” Another step.
His eyes flick to mine, searching. “Sick?”
“No.” My knees hit the couch and this time, it’s my gaze that falls, fixating on the way the hard length of his cock tents his sweats. The sight makes my mouth water.