Chapter Eleven
Rowan
I’m still wrapped in Cade’s arms, my forehead resting against his shoulder.
The steady warmth of his body slowly settles something deep inside my chest that’s been spinning wildly since this morning.
It’s a lot to process. I’m grateful for Elana’s honest reaction…
the way her breath caught, the brief pause, and then the genuine warmth in her voice when she said she loved it for us.
Even though Cade and I aren’t anything official yet, Dr. Hart had made his point clear: the world won’t automatically see us as disgusting.
We’re not blood-related. That’s a fact no one can argue with, and it helped. It helped more than I expected.
I still can’t believe I cried in front of both of them.
Internally, I’m mortified. This isn’t who I am, or at least, it never used to be.
I feel like I’m discovering a softer, more fragile side of myself that’s been locked away for years, and it took Cade forcing the door open for it to finally surface.
Cade’s voice gently pulls me out of my thoughts. “Ro?”
I manage a quiet, “Mhmm?” without lifting my head. I don’t have the confidence to look at him yet.
“You’re scared… of wanting more?” he asks softly.
I inhale shakily and nod against his shoulder.
He pulls back just enough to cup my face in both hands, forcing me to meet his eyes.
Heat floods my cheeks instantly, those stupid butterflies exploding in my stomach again.
Cade seems to like it though… his thumbs stroke slowly along my cheekbones, right where I know the blush is sitting brightest.
“Why are you scared?” he murmurs.
I swallow hard and whisper, “Because it’s you.”
“Should I be offended?” There’s a teasing lilt in his voice.
I let out a small, breathless laugh and shake my head. “No… it’s just… I don’t know. We’ve never really…”
“Gotten along?” he finishes for me, smiling softly. “Spent time together? Had anything in common?”
I roll my eyes, but a small smile tugs at my lips as I nod.
“Hmm,” he hums. “Would this help?”
I search his face, confused, right before he leans in and kisses me, gentle at first, warm and unhurried.
Oh my god. He’s kissing me.
His lips move against mine, coaxing, and when I don’t respond immediately, he speaks softly against my mouth. “You know, Ro… if you want me, you should really kiss me back.”
An overwhelmed little noise escapes me, half-need, half-surrender, and then I’m kissing him properly.
My arms slide up and wrap around his neck as I open for him.
The kiss turns filthy fast, deep, wet, and hungry.
His tongue slides against mine, slow and possessive, tasting me like he has every right to.
I moan softly into his mouth, fingers tightening in the hair at the nape of his neck, and he answers with a low, rumbling groan that vibrates straight through me.
The sound of Dr. Hart’s voice approaching from the hallway snaps me back to reality. I pull away quickly, breathing hard, and clear my throat. Christ… where did that come from?
Cade steals one more dominant, lingering kiss before nodding toward the chairs. “Sit down.”
I nod, feeling a little more confident meeting his gaze now. We settle back into our seats.
Cade laughs under his breath and mutters, “I feel like I’ve won a virgin.”
My head snaps toward him. “What?”
He shrugs, smug as hell. “I mean… I’m the only person who’s really satisfied you, right?”
I groan and cover my face. “Shut up.”
Cade’s still chuckling when Dr. Hart walks back in.
“How are we doing?” Dr. Hart asks kindly.
Cade holds his hand out, palm up. I take a deep breath and slide my fingers through his. He gives my hand a gentle squeeze and answers, “Good.”
Dr. Hart smiles, genuinely pleased. “And you, Rowan?”
I nod. “Yeah… better. Thank you.”
Dr. Hart sits down. “Rowan, I think we should change your appointments to fortnightly and have you bring Cade along, if you’re both comfortable with that.”
I nod, glancing at Cade, who’s smiling like an idiot. “Of course,” he says easily.
Dr. Hart continues, “Now, it’s not for everyone, but I know a very good sex coach who would be willing to help if you’re interested?”
Both Cade and I stare at him.
I laugh nervously. “No… I… I don’t think…”
“Absolutely not,” Cade cuts in, shaking his head. “We don’t… Christ, that’s a thing?”
Dr. Hart chuckles, clearly amused by our reactions, and nods.
Cade shakes his head again. “No thank you, respectfully. I’d like to explore this just with Rowan.”
I let out an embarrassed laugh, heat crawling up my neck.
Dr. Hart nods understandingly. “Very well. Now, where were we…”
…
Half an hour later, we’re standing up to say goodbye to Dr. Hart.
Cade’s hand automatically finds the small of my back as we rise, warm and steady through my shirt.
I draw in a deep breath and tell myself it’s fine.
I need to get used to this. I do like it…
the possessiveness, the casual claim… it’s just still so intense that my skin prickles with awareness every time he touches me.
Cade shakes Dr. Hart’s hand firmly. “Thank you for fitting us in today.”
I manage my usual polite farewell, voice steadier than I feel. “Thank you, Dr. Hart.”
As we step out of the office, Elena glances up from her desk and offers a warm smile. “Have a nice day, gentlemen. And congratulations.”
She says it so casually, like we’re any normal couple leaving a regular appointment, then immediately turns back to her work. I blink, caught off guard by how easily she accepted it.
Cade laughs softly and reaches for my hand, threading our fingers together. “Come on, let’s go.”
“Yeah… right,” I murmur, letting him lead me for a moment.
But the second we step outside into the fresh air, I gently pull my hand free. Cade frowns and opens his mouth, but I speak before he can. “I’d like our parents to know before the rest of the world does.”
He nods without hesitation. “Yeah, okay. That makes sense.”
I seize the opportunity to tease him, a small smile tugging at my lips. “You should know that, being head of social and all.”
Cade laughs, the sound low and warm. “Do you want me to drop you off at work? I’ve got to go check on how the renovations are coming along at my place.”
My chest sinks. I’d completely forgotten about his renovations. The thought of going back to my apartment alone… of not having Cade wrapped around me… settles something uneasy and hollow in my stomach.
I frown as we approach the Porsche, still not answering. We climb in, and the silence stretches for a few seconds.
“Why don’t you come with me?” Cade asks.
I offer a small, not-quite-genuine smile. “Okay.”
Cade starts the engine and I lean my head against the cool window, watching people pass by on the sidewalk. My emotions are a messy swirl… newfound happiness tangled with a strange, looming sense of loneliness I can’t quite name.
Twenty minutes later we pull up to a brand-new street of modern homes. The grass is still patchy and new, the cement freshly laid, and most of the houses are still half-built. We stop outside one with tall dark gates and sleek, contemporary lines. It looks finished to me.
I climb out as Cade cuts the engine. “It looks done to me?”
“Yeah,” he says, nodding. “This is where I’ve been living, but one of the pipes burst and completely ruined the kitchen. Thankfully I haven’t had to pay a dime… builder’s error.”
I nod sympathetically. I’d be furious too if I’d built my dream home only for something like that to happen.
Cade gestures toward the house. “The company assured me they’ve sent their best team to fix it.”
I follow him inside. To my horror, one of the builders immediately approaches Cade with an easy smile and shakes his hand. The man is wearing low-slung work pants and nothing else on top, sweat glistening across defined chest muscles and abs. He’s not unattractive… at all.
I don’t even hear the conversation they’re having because I’m too busy realizing I just noticed another man that way for the first time in my life.
The builder eventually walks away. Cade turns back to me, leans in close, and cups my crotch possessively through my trousers.
His voice drops low and dark against my ear. “Keep staring at these men like that and I’ll have to punish you again.”
A whimper slips out before I can stop it. I nod quickly. “Maybe I’ll just… wait in the car,” I mutter.
Cade presses a gentle, teasing kiss to the corner of my mouth. “Good boy.”
I shiver hard at the words and turn around, desperate to escape the testosterone-and-muscle-filled chaos of the house.