Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
Isabelle
I approach the garden outside the performing arts building and spot Mackenzie walking down the wide stone steps.
Good. I’m just in time. I decided to meet her here after seeing Parker.
She’s treating me to ice cream at the parlor, then a trip to the salon to get our nails done. There we’ll meet the other girls.
When Mackenzie sees me, she runs up to me and gives me the biggest hug.
“Oh, Isabelle, I’m so, so sorry.” We pull apart, and tears fill her eyes. She holds on to both my hands. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am. Every time you go out with me, something happens to you. But this is by far the worst.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“Are you kidding me? I would understand if you didn’t want to be friends anymore.”
I smirk and shake my head. “That’s not going to happen.”
“But I'd understand if you chose to.”
“No. I’m not doing that. I guess I’m just one of those unfortunate people shit happens to.”
“Don’t say that.”
“It’s kind of true.”
“Michael is the least likely person I thought would do that to you.”
“You and me both.”
“I heard that no college is going to take him, especially after you press charges.”
“Serves him right. It was the most horrible experience.” Next to watching my mother die, that was one of the worst things to happen to me.
“I’m so sorry. You were doing me a favor again. You didn’t even want to go.”
“It’s okay. Things haven’t been all bad.”
Her eyes brighten, and the soft afternoon breeze picks up her hair. “Because of Kade.”
“Yes.”
“Oh my God, Isabelle. Something is going on between you two.”
“Kind of.”
“That tentative tone doesn’t match your face. Your skin is glowing just at the mention of him. Like…” Her voice trails off, and she sucks in a breath when realization hist her. “Oh. My. God. Isabelle Kolyav, did you sleep with him?”
“Yes.”
Her skin pales, then the color rushes back to her cheeks. “Holy hell. I guess you worked out what you wanted.”
I lift my shoulders into a shrug. “I guess it is what it is.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“I means I don’t know. It’s Kade.”
“The guy who saved you. I heard he would have killed Michael if Logan wasn’t there.”
“Still, though, I just want to be careful. There’s a lot I need to figure out.” I nod with reflection, thinking about all the things I need to talk to Kade about.
“Maybe so, but you look… happy. That’s a good thing. I like seeing you happy.”
“I like seeing me happy, too. What about you? How are things with your plans?”
“Oh my gosh, well, my parents raised hell just like I thought they would.” She rolls her eyes. “They’re pissed because they can’t do shit. Levi’s family has completely pulled out of talks about marriage to me, and I hear he’s probably getting engaged to Tiffany, so I’m safe.”
“Tiffany?” That intrigues me. Tiffany has been almost engaged at least three time since we started here.
“Yup. As long as it’s not me, I don’t care.”
“Me neither. Is everything else okay with Kyle?”
“Yes. I guess so.” She nods, but I notice the apprehension in her tone.
“But what?”
“It’s nothing. I have nothing to worry about. I’m finally in a good position. And Kyle is good to me. We’re basically just going to date right now, but he might be the kind of guy I could see myself with.”
“I’m still hearing that silent but .” I grin back at her.
“But nothing. There is no but. All is well. And Professor Hartley has even chosen me to be prima ballerina in the upcoming performance.”
“Wow, that’s fantastic.”
“Yeah, so I’m fine.” She nods with determination. “Come, let’s get that ice cream. We can talk some more when we get to the parlor.”
“Sure.”
Mackenzie links her arm with mine, and we continue down the garden path.
She starts telling me about the new flavors of ice cream they’ve just brought into the parlor.
We go through the little wrought-iron gates, and she bumps into someone, dropping the bag with her ballet shoes because she wasn’t attention.
“I’m so sorry, I—” Her voice cuts and her arms loosen from mine when she sees it’s Dmitri.
Like Logan, the sight of Dmitri tightens my stomach. I’m not going to ever forget that night in the woods. They were being a bunch of vile assholes. All of them, especially Kade. While he might have redeemed himself, and maybe Logan, too, Dmitri has not. To be honest, he taunted me the most.
At the same time, as annoying and scary as that experience was, it was nothing at all like what I went through with Michael.
While Mackenzie does the usual frozen deer-in-the-headlights stare she reserves only for him, he crouches down, picks up her bag, and places her shoes back inside.
He glances at me first like he’s acknowledging me, then he looks at her.
“Easy, there…spider,” he says, and Mackenzie pales.
He hands her the bag, and she takes it, her hands trembling.
“Thank you.”
He gives her a clipped smile then proceeds down the path. Mackenzie stares after him as I watch her, my curiosity rising. She always gets like this whenever she’s around him, but this is the first time I’ve seen them speak in years.
He called her spider—which seemed to trigger something—and she said thanks. It’s barely conversation, but it’s something for them .
Mackenzie steps forward, looking like she’s going to run after him. Despite the whole horrible woods thing with Dmitri, I wish she would. It’s clear that she has deep feeling for him. If I’m not mistaken, he seems to feel something for her, too.
She takes another step, balls her hand into a fist, and says, “I flew to the edge of the sun, my lord.”
I don’t know what the hell that’s supposed to mean. But Dmitri does. Her strange words stop him in his tracks.
He glances over his shoulder at her, then he turns to face her, his expression still stoic, but his eyes soft.
“Did you see what was on the other side?” he asks, and I realize this must be some code shared between them.
“A swan.”
The corners of his lips crack into a little smile, but it’s gone before it can fully form.
“My lady.” He dips his head and continues on his way.
Mackenzie watches him go, and I walk up to her. I tap her shoulder, and she turns to look at me with sad eyes.
“You flew to the edge of the sun?” I say with a little smile.
“It’s something from when we were kids. That’s the first time he’s said anything to me in years, so I thought I’d try my luck.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
She shakes her head. “I can’t. I can’t go down that side. But that was nice—talking to him.”
“Come on, let go.”
She nods, and we walk in the opposite direction.
As we walk down the path, I realize what’s wrong with Kyle and every other guy Mackenzie dates. They’re not Dmitri.
You can never replace what your heart truly wants. I know. I have firsthand experience.
I rush to my apartment when I get back on campus.
It’s night now. Kade said he’d see me before nine. He had football practice until late.
I’m hoping to get back early enough to fix myself up. I’m wearing yoga pants and a baggy sweater, what I call my house clothes .
It was good hanging out with everyone today. It was even better to confirm my suspicions about Parker. Having confirmation means I don’t have to question myself. It also leans into my previous beliefs about him wanting my mother killed.
On the downside, now that I’ve seen what kind of man he is, I’ve been thinking about his reasons for wanting her dead again.
Mom was weird before she died. My guess is she saw him doing something and he had her killed to keep his secrets.
When I reach my apartment, I notice the door is ajar. I didn’t leave it that way, but the sight doesn’t worry me because I have a feeling I know who’s inside.
I’ve gotten to know Kade so well I can feel his presence before I see him.
I walk in, close the door, and head down the corridor, where the presence grows stronger. By the time I reach the living room and find Kade, I feel like he could have been walking next to me the whole time.
He’s standing by my mantle looking at the paintings I did of my mother. His hair is ruffled and a five-o’clock shadow is settled on his face
When he lifts his head and gives me that sexy smile, I want to run toward him and kiss him, but I stop myself. Instead, I walk, my heart triple-beating the closer I get.
“Lolita.”
“Hi. Did the custodian let you in?”
“I picked the lock.”
I can’t resist the smile that spreads across my face. “You do realize that's illegal, right?”
“Not in my books.”
“Of course not. And you were searching through my stuff?” My notepads near the paintings have been shuffled around.
“Because I noticed your schedule looks like something from hell.”
“Thanks to your godfather.” We haven’t spoken about that yet.
“He gave you extra work?”
“Yeah.”
“Looks like a fuck of a lot.”
He can say that again. “It’s stuff he wants me to do for my project if I hope to go to Cambridge.”
He walks closer and stops a kissable distance away. “Stuff that’s going to take you away from me.”
“Not this again. You know why I want to transfer to Cambridge.”
“Yes, but I don’t have to like it. I suppose this isn’t like the Dark Ages. I can visit you whenever I want.”
That gives me pause. “You’d go to England to see me?”
“Of course, I would.”
“You’re joking.”
“Am I?” He reaches forward and tugs on the waistband of my pants. “Where’s your old man?”
“He’s staying at our guesthouse for the next two weeks.” Dad said if I won’t go back with him, he’ll stay here for a little longer.
“So, I don’t have to worry about him catching me in bed with his daughter, or up against the wall.”
My body heat rises, and my skin erupts with sensual shivers. “No.”
“Perfect.” He leans in and brushes a kiss over my lips. “And are you feeling better?”
“Yes.”
“Every part of you?” He traces a line down to my chest, and that menacing grin returns to his handsome face. “I wouldn’t want to do anything I shouldn’t when you’re supposed to be resting.”
As if I could rest now that he’s so close and kissing me. “I’m fine.” And I’d want nothing more than to be with him.
“Then come here.”
He pulls me in for a deeper kiss, and I sink into the overpowering sensation of him. His hands splay over my neck, beckoning me to give him everything, so I do, and I fall even deeper for the Greek god I used to call my nemesis.
It takes less than a minute to get lost in him.
My entire body is tight and aroused, and I’ve never wanted anything more than him.
He devours my lips and moves me over to the dinner table. There he pauses to take off my clothes and his.
Once we’re naked, he picks me up and sets me on the table, which is just the right height for us.
“Spread your legs for me. Show me your pussy.”
I part my legs, and he smiles at the sight of how wet I am.
He pushes his fingers into my passage and strokes me until I’m moaning out loud, then he replaces his fingers with his tongue.
His touch and his tongue take me to that place where I crave him and all that exist in my world is him.
He sucks on my clit, forcing more and more pleasure until my hips are grinding against his face, begging for more.
Waves of pleasure wash over my body in streams of electrical energy that dance over my skin and pulse through my soul.
I throw my head back and grab Kade’s shoulders, savoring the spellbinding sensation.
He eats me out until I'm weak and panting, then he stands and wraps a hand around his massive erection.
“Time to take you again, Lolita. I’m not sure I can be gentle with you. It’s been too long since I had you.”
“Then don’t be gentle. Take me however you want.”
He answers with a raw smile that’s full of promises, then he presses his cock against my entrance.
He eases the head inside me, and my breath goes short. It’s only been a few days since the last time, but that pleasure-filled pain comes back.
Every inch of his length stretches me, slowly filling me up until he’s deep inside me and all I feel is possession and pleasure.
The walls of my pussy tighten around him, and he groans, the vein in his neck pulsing.
Kade starts pumping into me, moving his hips in and out, and the world shifts, leaving me quivering with the sensation.
Thrusting harder, he increases the pace, and we moan together.
“You feel so good, Isabelle.” His voice is rough with need. “I’m going to fuck you harder.”
He does, and I feel like he’s going to rip me apart. He fucks me hard, and I come instantly.
Every thrust of his cock sends me deeper into that place where I’ve been severed from reality. Nothing exists except this moment.
Kade pauses for a second, to lift me off the table and bend me over it. Then he slams back inside me, and all I can do is hold on to the edge.
I don’t stop coming. Orgasm after orgasm assaults my body, invading my mind with pleasure.
Suddenly, he pounds into me faster and tightens his grip on my hips.
“Fucking hell, Isabelle,” he growls.
I hold my breath and fall into another climax one last time before he growls out his own finish, leaving my mind dizzy and fractured.
His hot cum flows into me, and I press into him to take it. He slips an arm around me and holds me close to his hard, sweat-covered body.
“I can’t get enough of you,” he husks in my ear.
I look up and kiss the edge of his jaw. “I can’t get enough of you, either.”
“Then let’s do that again. Again and again and again.”
“And again.”