Chapter 24
As I prepare for tonight’s dinner, my enthusiasm is nowhere to be found. I’d rather stay home and spend time with Kaden. But I must do this so we can be free and love each other openly. No more hiding. No more stolen moments.
Aware of Grandmother’s judgmental tendencies, I sweep my gaze through my dressing room. I go with trousers, a silk halter top, a matching beige cardigan, and flats. My hair falls in loose curls down my back.
I’m putting the final touches on my makeup when my door opens, and Mia steps inside. Her inquisitive eyes watch me intently before she starts shooting off questions.
“And? How are you? You both disappeared.”
We haven’t had time to talk since I got back a few hours ago.
With the whole Abi thing and thoughts of my father, I preferred to be alone for a bit.
“It’s… I love him.”
Her eyes scan me, and she says, “If I can see it, so will they.”
And that is my biggest fear.
“I don’t know how to control my feelings for Kaden.”
“I understand, but we have come too far to let anything jeopardize our plan. Especially when we’re so close. We have a meeting tomorrow.”
My phone pings and it’s a message from Dane. I need a favor.
I tell him that I’ll meet with him when we are done with dinner.
They wait for me downstairs. Abigail appears her old self, styled and dressed impeccably in a tweed suit, her hair and makeup done gracefully.
We head toward our respective cars, and I ask Abi, “How are you?”
“I don’t know…”
I place my hand on hers, giving it a little squeeze.
“Just a warning,” Abigail says. “I’ll be all over Kaden tonight because you two fools shine like a beam in the dark.”
“Thank you.”
We reach the mansion, and Thomas lets us in, one after the other.
While Abi and Kaden have their elbows looped together, I imagine how I will be at his side one day. One day, this will all be a part of our past, which infuses me with strength.
They walk inside first, and the wench looks at them with sheer delight. Abigail puts her left hand on his chest, and he kisses her temple. Grandmother’s eyes seek mine, searching, but I smile right back. You won’t find a damn thing on my face. I rejoice knowing that she’s in the dark. When everything crashes down on her, I will smile at her demise from above.
We take our seats around the dinner table and Abi lays it on thick with the wedding plans. Kaden nods at her every word. Grandmother shoots Blake a displeased glare as he sits with his second glass of wine.
“To the happy couple,” he says.
I don’t get smart with him.
I cut through the filet mignon and chew each piece slowly.
“Next time, bring your boyfriend with you, Celine.”
“Of course, Grandmother.”
“No one told me you all moved in together.”
“Ah, Grandmother, you know Celine, always needing people to coddle her,” Kaden says.
Our gaze finds each other, and it’s hard to hold on to the pretense when his eyes say a hundred different apologies.
“You’re one to talk. I hope Abigail doesn’t wear white on your wedding day. That would be blasphemous.”
Blake spurts in his glass, eyeing me with pride.
Bailey mouths. “That’s good, keep it up.”
“At least I am doing it with my fiancé. What about you?” Abigail says.
Grandmother clutches her pearl necklace. “She’s right, Celine. Now, I don’t particularly wish to hear more about your personal lives.”
We fooled her. That’s all that matters. In my ear, I hear Mia say, “I really want those pearls.”
“Don’t you dare,” I whisper through gritted teeth.
“Oops, too late. I don’t like being left in the trunk.”
I smile and pretend my best friend is not in Grandmother’s room, snooping around.
While I smile at you, Grandmother, Mia just snuck out of your window with a set of your pearls.
Grandmother stands up. “I’m tired.”
With that, we’re dismissed. When we’re at a safe distance, I stop the car and open the trunk.
“You don’t even like pearls.”
“I do now.”
“Whatever.”
Mia’s playing with the necklace when she asks, “Have you ever been inside her room?”
“Only once and I don’t remember much.”
“It’s like a mausoleum. Pictures of your mother everywhere.”
“Must be the guilt.” But it could also be grief. I’d rather take that than her daring to mourn the daughter she might have killed. That’s pouring alcohol on a festering wound.
“I didn’t see guilt. I saw grief,” she says.
“While you were in there did you see Kaden’s necklace? Like mine, but without the stones?”
“I know you want it back, but that would have been too obvious.”
“You stole her damn pearls. You’re sorely mistaken if you think she doesn’t keep track of every set.”
Mia shrugs. “Good luck proving that. And don’t worry about Kaden’s necklace. We’ll get it back,” she says, smiling at me in reassurance.
I arch a brow. “So… Blake?”
She folds her arms across her chest and looks outside the window. “He’s a damn fortress. Unconquerable.”
“You like him.”
“He intrigues me.”
“He’s not book-boyfriend material.”
“You do not know the book boyfriends I’m into.” Her cheeks redden. “By the way, I heard the conversation at dinner. You did good.”
“I hated it.”
“Well, you can fuck him behind our backs tonight.”
I groan and she goes on. “Kaden came in, full of sunshine. You appeared a few minutes later, looking freshly fucked. Without the Abi situation, we would have called you out on your bullshit.”
“You like them.”
“We have a lot in common.”
“I’m worried about Abi.”
“She’s tough, but whatever she went through… I have never seen that level of fear and panic on someone before. She was terrified.”
Kaden hasn’t even scratched the surface of telling me what exactly he went through. I am sure Abi went through the same. So why doesn’t Blake have the same fear?
“I have something to do,” I tell Mia when I bring her home.
She hops out, and I drive to Dane’s place.
He has money and influence if he can afford to live in a damn mansion by himself off campus grounds. He opens the door, looking disheveled. Pacing around, he says, “Tell me what you’re planning.”
“First tell me what you did.”
“That’s between me and Abi, but she told me what they did to her, and now I am one step away from setting this world on fire.”
“You have a penchant for it.”
He rushes past me, and I grip his elbow.
“Dane, listen to me.”
“You don’t get it, I saw her… I…” He shudders, and I ease instantly. He loves her. Good to know.
“There is a lot at stake, and if you do something reckless, you will put us all in danger.”
“I am not a patient guy.”
Something pushes me to take him on board. “Can I trust you?”
“You can.”
Everyone deserves a chance to prove themselves. This is his, and I hope he will get the girl at the end. Because I relate to him.
“Don’t blow this.”
“I won’t.”
My phone pings, and it’s a message from Kaden.
Baby?
I reply. Have something to do. It won’t take long.
The dots appear, then disappear, a clear sign he’s mad.
“One more thing. The group has to accept you,” I say to Dane.
“Whatever.”
“Bye.”
I wave and put his house behind me. He’s like a lone wolf, but maybe I understand that better than anyone. Finding your tribe anchors you and gives you meaning, even a sense of belonging. I was given that chance, and I want to pass it on.
When I park the car, the second I am in the house, Kaden slams his mouth down on mine, claiming and demanding. So hot. So him.
“I knew you were fucking.”
A light switches on. I burst into laughter when I find Hunter by the switch. Bailey peeks from the couch, and Mia peers from behind the curtains, playing along for show.
Abi rolls her eyes at him. “I already told you that. Ugh, this is so beneath me.”
Blake runs down the stairs.
“Did I miss it?”
“There is nothing to miss, idiots,” Kaden grumbles, dragging a hand down his face.
“We didn’t want to keep things from you, but…” I say.
“Ah, look, Mommy and Daddy are reunited and protecting the kids.” Blake pretends to wipe a tear from his eye.
“Since we’re sharing a moment here. I was just at Dane’s.”
All eyes are on me. I can feel the tension rippling from Abi.
“Why?”
“He wants in.”
“Of course he does,” Abi says, sounding exhausted.
“Look at us. We were at each other’s throats, and now we’re sharing the same space,” I point out.
Kaden hasn’t said a word yet, his features drawn in deep thought.
“It doesn’t surprise me,” Blake says, looking at Kaden. “Come on, man, you know him too.”
“That’s why I have my issues with him being in.”
I leave the room, finding hope in the fact that no one said “no” outright.
My bedroom door opens and shuts. I said that too soon.
Our eyes lock in a relentless battle of wills.
“He’s too volatile.”
“Maybe, but how long did she suppress that, huh?”
Kaden flinches, and I go on. “Exactly. And knowing her, she would have kept it inside of her until she exploded. Dane broke down her walls. You two are too similar. She does the same as you did. Keeping me out to protect me, and that has to stop.”
“Why do you trust him? You barely know him.”
“I felt the same. Lost, angry, wanting to destroy things.”
“Fine.”
With that, he stalks out. I scream inwardly at him.
And it’s just day one. Great.
I’m getting ready for bed when Kaden returns. I knew he couldn’t stay away. We’ve lost too much time. We’ll figure everything out but without the distance and silent treatment.
I lift the blanket, and he gets into bed next to me. He props up on his elbow, facing me. “I don’t want to sleep without you.”
“Even if you’re mad at me?”
“Especially if we’re mad at each other. I don’t want to set a precedent when it’s okay to sleep apart because we have unresolved issues. We can do that tomorrow as well.”
“I love you.”
He leans in and kisses me. “I love you.”
Happiness bubbles inside of me, and snuggled together, we fall asleep.
***
Light from the early-morning sun starts to lighten the room. My eyes suddenly pop open and land on him between my legs. His wicked tongue ignites a fiery pleasure. I grip the sheets, moaning.
“You’re forgiven.”
He chuckles and continues eating me until I am lying in a puddle of wetness. Kaden is relentless in making me see stars. His skilled fingers and hungry lips offer me the maddest pleasure and sweetest bliss.
“Kaden, please don’t stop.”
“Don’t intend to. Give me what I want, baby.”
I can’t deny him and combined with the pleasure I experience: legs trembling, thighs constricting, I come hard. I am afraid I will suffocate him.
In my euphoric state, he flips me over on my knees and elbows.
“Grip the headboard. Baby, I will not go easy on you.”
“Being fucked hard by my husband. The horror.”
He smacks my ass, and his thrust propels me forward. My hands fly to grip the headboard for leverage.
This is fucking, and it’s hot and sexy, and the pleasure feels like too much. Ecstasy licks at my belly.
“Kaden.”
“Take me. All of me. Every inch. Everything. I can’t get enough of you. Will never get enough of you. You’re my only addiction, my only truth.”
The bed rocks with his savage thrusts. The headboard hits the wall repeatedly. My moans mix with his low groans, creating a symphony of lust.
I bite my lip, all the pleasure making it almost impossible to keep silent. He lights a fire in my core that only he can soothe.
“Feel me taking you, claiming you, owning you.”
His hands dig into my ass cheeks, and he bends forward, getting deeper. It’s a slight burn and so much fullness, sucking me into a world of pure bliss and carnal euphoria. His lips trail down my spine, his tender kisses the opposite of his unyielding thrusts as he abandons himself to his animalistic side.
“Whose are you? And this time, I expect your answer.”
How is he capable of forming intelligible sentences?
“Kaden… yours. Only yours.” I was born to be his. Will die as his, and in between, I am meant to love him. And it’s liberating because he feels the same.
“Exactly. Mine. Just fucking mine. In this life and if there’s something beyond death, I want that with you too. Because I’m yours and only ever yours too.”
That declaration, combined with him inside of me, heightens my pleasure. Being his is a blessing. He worships every inch of my skin, treasures every heartbeat, and showers me with endless pleasure. I never want this to end. He’s not the only one who’s addicted.
Pure madness. Sheer delight. Sweet oblivion.
“I know.”
“I’m not fucking you hard enough if you can still sass me.”
My next words are drowned out by his palm coming down on my ass. At the same time, he pulls out, only to push even harder.
I am losing my damn mind. The pace he’s keeping up is maddening, either too slow, where I feel every ridge dragging out and teasing me, or hard and fast, dots dancing before my eyes.
“Kaden, do you have any idea what you do to me?” I ask over my shoulder and our eyes lock. Sheer adoration, bottomless love, and raw passion reflect in his gaze, making my heart soar in my chest.
“I want you undone for me like I am for you,” he rasps while dominating me completely. I feel only him. I hear only him. I smell only him. And I can’t do anything but surrender.
His fingers dig into my ass cheeks. I feel the imprints and imagine him leaving his marks on me.
Nothing compares to our bodies united, our heartbeats aligning and beating as one. This is what I never want to miss, this passionate intimacy and endless need we share.
He bends from his waist, snaking his arms around my middle, and pulls me to him. My back is pressed to his chest. At this angle, I feel him even deeper inside me, branding me, possessing me from the inside out. And just when I thought it was impossible for sex to be even better, he proves to me it can. He kisses down my neck, nibbling on my ear.
“You’re killing me. This is so good.”
He wraps one hand around my throat, squeezing lightly.
“Your life is in my hand.”
“I trust you completely.”
“Perfect fucking answer.”
With the other hand, he tweaks my nipple before moving to the other. Sensations tear me apart while he builds me back together. It’s a cacophony of feels. Too much and not enough.
I look down as he pulls out and slides his cock between my pussy lips, already glistening with my juices. This image is so freaking erotic my thighs clench.
“Kaden…”
“Look at your greedy pussy wanting to suck me back in.”
“Don’t tease me.”
In one swift move, he’s back inside of me, slapping my pussy at the same time. I don’t see stars, but fireworks exploding.
He twists my nipple and I bite into his arm, body liquefying.
“Come on my cock. Flood me with your release.”
I do, crying out his name so loud he covers my mouth with his palm. My limbs feel like clay while he molds me into his.
He presses his lips on my temple. “I love you so fucking much. I need to see your beautiful eyes when I come.”
I turn in his arms with the last energy I possess and straddle him.
He lifts on his knees and lowers himself on his ass, holding me while pushing in and out of me. My arms lock around his neck, giving in to the sensual rhythm.
“One more. Give me one more, baby.”
I tingle everywhere. I might die from this all-consuming pleasure. With his lips on me, kissing me with unadulterated passion, his hands trailing up and down my body with sheer adulation, and his cock hitting all the right places with relentless abandon, I don’t stand a chance.
The orgasm rips through me again. My core vibrates. Bursts of colors flash before my eyes. I let myself fall straight into Rapture’s arms.
Kaden erupts inside of me, holding on to my trembling body.
“What have you done to me?”
A proud expression stretches over his features. “What I am supposed to do. Satisfy my woman.”
He scoops me up, carrying me to the shower, gently tending to me. There’s no one else for me, and no one could take his place.
I am drying myself, humming while I watch my husband showering. What a mouthwatering sight and only for my eyes, which makes me delirious with awe and pride. But then I hear my phone ringing and rush to answer it.
“Let’s have breakfast together,” my father says.
“On my way,” I reply.
Kaden leans against the door frame, a towel hanging low over his sculpted thighs, making me forget everything else for a moment. Saliva pools in my mouth. Those broad shoulders, trim waist, planes and ridges of muscles, he’s a gorgeous male sculpture. I pull myself together and stop ogling him.
“I have to go. My father called.”
“I’ll give you some time alone and then meet you there.”
I drive quickly to his place. My father waits for me in the backyard. A table is set for two, filled with a breakfast lover’s dream.
I eat a pancake and try not to blush. Every movement reminds me that Kaden was inside of me––such an addictive soreness.
“You look different.”
I choke on the pancake as he looks deep in thought at the manicured and lush garden surrounding us.
“Your mother will be disappointed in me. I focused more on finding her than being the father you needed me to be.”
“It’s okay, Father.”
“No, it’s not. But that will change. I want us to be an intact family.”
It breaks my heart. He sees me as a little girl, not a woman who already has plans of her own. I hope my mother and father find their way back to each other.
When we finish breakfast, we chat and stroll through the garden.
“I scheduled an appointment for you. Dr. Camden is a psychiatrist who specializes in past trauma, and she uses hypnosis. She’s an expert in her field. She might be able to help recover your memories.”
“Good.” It’s time that I discover exactly what happened on that day.
Please, Mom, be alive.Sadly, the prayer is more for him than me.
“I dragged this one out for too long. There’s something I need to tell you about Kaden,” he says but the tires of a bike scatter pebbles around us before coming to a stop. Kaden removes his helmet, running his fingers through his disheveled hair. He looks so damn good.
“I know, Father.”