Chapter 18 Aspen
EIGHTEEN
ASPEN
February melts into March when Cade receives a text that makes him grin, and then he switches on the TV to a specific news channel right as the anchor’s voice echoes through my living room. The volume’s loud enough Millie inches onto my lap for safety from the perceived threat.
“Our breaking news story for tonight. Victor Mosey, leader of the notorious gang that goes by the name of the Vendettas, was arrested earlier today. He, alongside some of his associates, were found in Niagara Falls. Victor has been on the Ontario Provincial Police’s watchlist for over a decade, but no arrests had been made until now.
Police report his location was an anonymous tip, but no further details have been shared. ”
Cade switches off the TV with a whoop, turning to lift me in his arms. “All safe, sweetheart, just as I promised.”
He’s promised me a lot. And he’s spent the past month proving every single point.
So as March then blends into April, he’s even more correct—I’m falling for him and hard. The age difference between us stops mattering, nor does his position.
Which is why, after my first day as a research assistant, I agree to meet his crew.
Other than Bones, I’ve stayed away from his life, though have often been curious.
He’s returned to them and took up the mantel, usually working when I am so we can spend evenings together, though sometimes rejoins them during the night, too, after he’s fucked me into a blissful sleep.
I exit the university, spotting him immediately. He’s hard to miss, a shadow of intensity leaning against a motorbike. It makes me grin because he remembered. All those letters ago, which now seem like a lifetime, when I said I’d love to ride one eventually.
I throw myself down the stairs and into his arms. He catches me, swinging me around. “How’s my smart girl?”
He’s grown obsessed with my job, but more so, my PhD application. Constantly praising, constantly complimenting—which leads to the best sex of my life. Until he perpetually one-ups himself, of course.
“Great! I think this job will be really good for me. Being back in school makes me excited to start applying for my doctorate. Plus, the prof I’m working for mentioned he’d read my MA thesis and really appreciated the take. He feels it’ll be an ideal start to a doctorate dissertation.”
“As long as his interest remains only on your paper and nothing else of yours.” He grips my hip, angling me into him as his hand sweeps over my ass. His jealousy comes across playful, but we both know it isn’t.
Cade swings me around to the side of his bike and picks up a second helmet with a silver calla lily on the side. “Lucky find. I can’t believe you remember me wanting to get on one of these deathtraps.”
“I remember everything about you. As for the helmet”—he plops it onto my head and tightens the strap—“it’s custom-made.”
“Of course, it is.”
He winks. “Nothing less than everything for you. We’re heading to the main compound. The guys are eager to meet you. Any mention of you from me or Bones gets them curious how a cute girl can fall into it with someone like me.”
“Maybe because I’m not so cute.”
His hands encompass my hips as he readjusts me onto the seat, squeezing again to make his point. “No, you’re perfect. I’ve also booked a tattoo appointment with my guy for this evening.”
This again. He’s mentioned the possibility of me getting one for weeks now, but what he’s asking for is ridiculous. “I’m not getting your name on my body, Cade.”
“Sweetheart, if you’d like to come at all tonight, yeah, you will. Besides, since when have I ever really asked?”
That night, when Cade has his tongue buried inside me, I come with his name on my lips and a fresh tattoo etched around one of my breasts.
A tattoo of his name.