Melody
Chapter twenty-four
Our sleepover didn’t involve much sleep.
Kaden carried me upstairs in my building, swiping my student badge until he cornered me in the bathroom with a consuming kiss as he sloppily felt around the shower for the handle.
As steam filled the bathroom, he hoisted me up until my legs wrapped around his hips and he backed me into the wall, ravaging me like he didn’t have his fill during The Hunt.
That turned into him bending me over my desk and tasting our mixed arousal as I came for a fourth time in one night. It didn’t stop there. He dragged me to my bed to “break it in” before we were both panting, our bodies slicked with even more sweat that rendered our shower utterly useless.
I weakly held up my phone, offering it to Kaden as I tried to regain what sanity I had left before he fucked it clean out of me.
“Food. You know what I like.”
“Chinese it is,” he muttered, kissing and nipping at the flesh of my neck.
An hour later, and I’m sitting up in bed, fresh hickeys and bruises covered by my plush bathrobe as I shovel forkfuls of stir fry and sweet and sour chicken into my mouth.
My feet are propped in Kaden’s lap as he extends across the lower end of my bed, his magic hands massaging into my heel as I groan.
I offer him another bite, and he takes it, chewing contentedly as we sit in mutual silence. This is the part that I’ve always loved. We didn’t have to share words or make small talk. It’s always been so…natural.
Kaden grabs my lotion off my shelf, putting a glob in the center of his palm before massaging it into my feet. I rest my head back against the wall, closing my eyes as he pampers me.
“I’ve missed this…” I whisper.
I peek my eyes open to see him chuckling silently as he focuses on my toes. “I’ve always loved spoiling you. It was a secret hobby of mine. The way your face would light up and get this soft look lived in my dreams.”
I tilt my head, the corners of my lips tugging up fondly. “I remember searching for you any time something went wrong because you would hold me until I stopped crying. You used to do this thing—”
He laughs, nodding. “I would shove my face into your neck so I could smell your vanilla and honey soap.”
I scoff playfully, pushing his shoulder. “That’s what you were doing? I thought you were comforting me!”
“I was,” he shrugs. “I just had my own ulterior motives.”
I giggle, my cheeks painting a rosy color as I settle in and get comfortable. There’s a question that’s been plaguing me for a while now, and it’s burning at the tip of my tongue as I roll the hem of my robe. “Why haven’t you picked a college yet?”
Kaden pauses, it’s only for a beat before he returns to massaging my feet. His face remains impassive, not giving away a single emotion. “Just haven’t thought much about it.”
I hum. “Mom said you’ve been helping Ivan with some kind of business—”
“Alright,” He interrupts me, gently moving my feet to the side as he stands and stretches out his back. He takes the container of food from my lap, tossing it onto my desk before cutting the lights and motioning for me to scoot over.
I shuffle aside, picking up the duvet for him to scoot in next to me. “You’re not going to answer me?”
He turns to face me, the moonlight from my window dancing across his face. It slants over his emerald eyes, making them shine as he lifts a hand and tucks my hair behind my ear. “No, Sunny. I’m not.”
I frown. “But why?”
He sighs, moving me to my side, facing the wall as he wraps a strong arm around my waist. His breath skates across my neck, making my pulse pound wildly.
“Because I don’t want to ruin this,” he whispers so low it’s barely audible. Something twinges in my chest, making my heart pang.
Why won’t he tell me?
He trusts me, doesn’t he?
“Stop worrying,” he mutters, lowering my hand away from the end of my robe.
“How can I not worry?” I ask quietly. “I always worry about you…”
“I know,” he kisses the shell of my ear. “One day I’ll tell you. Until then, I need you to trust me.”
I trust him with my life. Of course I do. He’s Kaden. How can I not?
“Okay,” I relent, my eyes dropping with exhaustion. “I trust you.”
He stays quiet, and I waver between sleep and awake. I can still hear him rustling from behind me, but sleep is beckoning.
When he finally speaks, it’s so soft I mistake it for a dream.
“You shouldn’t.”
Something clicks in the distance, metal sliding and making a horrible noise. I groan, smacking a hand behind me and connecting with Kaden’s cheek.
“Knock it off!” I mumble sleepily.
“What?” He grumbles from beside me, his voice rough.
Shoes slide across the floor outside my bedroom door, and my eyes rip open as I shoot up in bed. In the living room, I can hear Kodi laughing as she talks to someone on the phone, her good mood oozing from her as she shuffles around the dorm.
“Melody!” She shouts. “Are you here?”
I turn to my brother, who’s still fucking sleeping, and smack his chest hard. His eyes blink open as his face screws up. “Your little fists are bony.”
I wave my hands animatedly, motioning to the door as my heart drops into my ass. “Kodi is home!“ I hiss in a whisper.
He peers over his shoulder as she shouts for me again. “Tell her to shut up. People are still sleeping.”
I grab his cheeks, shaking him. “She can’t find me in bed with my brother!”
Kaden places a hand over his heart. “Ouch.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, yeah, act betrayed later!”
“Where do you want me to go?” He asks, sitting up. The moment I see that he abandoned his shirt during the night, my mouth runs dry with the miles of toned and inked skin. He’s like a living work of art, with various dark designs that curl and mold to his physique.
He swipes his thumb next to my mouth, smirking. “You’re drooling, Sunny.”
I snap out of it, shoving him off the bed. “No, I’m not! Get in the closet!”
“Can’t I just jump out of the window?” He asks over his shoulder as I push him toward the wardrobe.
“And run half naked across campus? Hell no.”
“Maybe I’ll run into Dylan, and we can exchange notes about last night,“ he smarts. “And by exchange notes, I mean punch him in the fucking jaw. Better yet, is there a lake around here?”
I make an egregious sound, cramming him into the tight closet until he looks like a sardine in a can. “You’re a menace, you know that?”
He smiles crookedly. “Only for you.”
I soften a fraction before lifting onto my toes and giving him a gentle kiss. It’s quick but still makes my whole body come alive at his touch.
He cups my cheek tenderly, tilting into me before we pull away. “Get rid of her so I can have you all to myself today, pretty girl.”
My stomach flutters. “Okay.”
The door handle wiggles, and I slam the closet closed, acting fast to put on a bright smile as Kodi barges in. She’s still dressed in her clothes from last night, her car keys dangling from her wrist as she blinks at me. “I didn’t expect you to be here.”
I laugh nervously. “Where else would I be?”
She lifts a brow before smirking. “I don’t know, Melody. When The Hunt ended, and I didn’t see my best friend, I assumed she was whisked away for the night. You also haven’t answered your phone since twelve in the morning.”
Oh, right…
I wasn’t there when everything wrapped up.
“You caught me,” I wince internally, hoping she doesn’t notice my discomfort.
She flicks a finger over my neck with amusement. “Yeah, looks like a dog used you as a chew toy. Good for you. I’m glad you had fun.”
She shuffles over to her desk, pulling out some makeup before reapplying mascara and blush. “I met someone, and she’s taking me out on a date.”
“Oh?” I question as something shifts inside the closet. I cover Kaden’s sound by clearing my throat and sliding my foot across the ground.
“Yeah!” Kodi boasts, eyes filled with hearts. “She’s a real sweetheart, and I can’t wait to continue what we started last night.”
“That’s awesome!”
She grabs her purse from beside her bed before kissing my cheek. “Get some rest and stop studying so much. You’re going to give yourself hives again.”
“Noted,” I mumble. “Have fun! I want details later!”
She glides out of our dorm, and my shoulders sink as I finally release my breath. The closet door clicks open before Kaden squeezes out.
“You’re giving yourself hives again?” He asks.
I deadpan at the door, silently cursing Kodi. “College is hard.”
He wraps his arms around me from behind, kissing my neck. “Then let’s get your mind off of it, hmm?”