Chapter 19
CHAOS
Kane
I’m not going to make it.
This woman has me completely fucked.
First, I wanted to wring her neck for sneaking out in the middle of a goddam night, making my heart nearly stop when I thought of something happening to her.
Then, when I found her, the relief hit me so hard it knocked the fucking air out of my lungs.
And I’m still trying to pretend that didn’t happen.
And of course, she couldn’t just leave it at that. No, she had to call me out for accusing her of sneaking out. And the worst part was, she was right. I’ll give her that.
Then, she had me standing in the rain with my eyes closed, feeling the goddamn forest, like some lovesick fool.
And the worst fucking part is that it worked.
For the first time in years, I felt something. It was quiet, and peaceful even.But it wasn’t the storm that unraveled me, it was her.
My hands curl into fists at my sides, fighting the urge to taste her again. She’s under my skin, twisting me up in ways I can’t explain, and I don’t like it. No matter how much I tell myself to back off, she keeps pulling me back in.
She’s looking at me now like she’s peeling back layers and dismantling walls I’ve spent years building. And it’s fucking unnerving.
She’s a lot of things. But the one thing she isn't? Mine.
And that makes her completely off-limits. I can’t let her in any deeper than she already is.
Vulnerability so fleeting I almost miss it, flashes across her face. Just as fast, she buries it, slamming the door shut with that guarded mask she wears like armor. And it should be enough of a warning of exactly why I need to stay the hell away.
Because she’s a master at keeping people out. And I can’t afford to get tangled up in whatever she’s hiding.
“Time to go back inside,” I say, trying to put distance between us.
“Are you just saying that so you can get out of the rain?”
My cock twitches, but the moment’s passed, and I force my body to settle.
“No,” I pause, watching her expression. It softens a fraction before I add, “It's late, and you’ve been out in the cold for a while.”
Her mouth parts, and I can see the spark of defiance flaring in her eyes, and the battle lines forming in her mind. She’s seconds from arguing, I can feel it.
“Come on, Princess,” I cut in, before she can push back. “I’ll make ye some hot chocolate.”
Chocolate. That was the key, I can see it in her face.
There's a hint of hesitation before her shoulders drop.
“Fine. Lead the way,” she mutters, crossing her arms but falling into step beside me. The sooner we get back inside, the better.
I take a faster route back, but she’s watching me like a hawk.
“How do you know where you’re going?”
I tense. “This is the way I came.”
Technically, not a lie. But definitely not the full truth.
She studies me for a second longer, like she’s trying to piece something together, but thankfully, she doesn’t press.
The storm is fading and the silence between us grows heavy with things neither of us are willing to say.
When we finally reach the back door, I push it open, letting the warmth of the kitchen spill over us. She steps inside without hesitation, and I trail after her, locking the door behind us.
She heads straight for the table, practically bouncing into the seat like the cold never touched her. It’s the most relaxed I’ve seen her, and for some reason, it makes me smile.
“You should get out of those wet clothes,” I tell her. “Hang them in front of the fire in your room, there’s a robe in the bathroom.”
Her lips thin like she’s considering arguing, but then she nods. “I can do that.”
She stands and bounces down the hall like she didn’t just spend the last hour in the rain, challenging the gods themselves.
I exhale, stepping toward the stove and go through the motions of making the hot chocolate. I heat the milk, add the cocoa powder, the sugar, and a touch of vanilla. The smell fills the room, but my mind isn’t on the damn drink.
I'm stuck replaying the moment in the rain, watching the fire in her eyes and thanking the Gods above that I have any self control left.
She's hot as fuck.
There aren’t many people who would look me in the eye and call me out like that. And it only makes me want her more.
What’s worse is, she won’t back down. Not that I'm trying to intimidate her, but let’s be honest, I’m intimidating. Yet this woman doesn’t seem to have a back-down button.
I grip the counter, tightening my jaw as I try to push the thought away. I’m trying to be respectful. Trying to keep my hands to myself. For her sake.
I know exactly what would’ve happened if we’d stayed out there a second longer. If the storm hadn’t snapped me out of it, I would’ve had her shoved up against that tree with her legs wrapped around me. I can already feel her nails digging into my back as I—
I cut that thought off before I lose the last shred of restraint I have left. My cock is already hard enough to break through steel, and I don’t need to make it worse.
She chooses that moment to walk in, barefoot, wearing a robe.
The tie at her waist is cinched tight, but it doesn’t fucking matter. My brain is already stripping it off, imagining how easy it would be to pull the knot loose, let it pool at her feet, and take what I’ve been craving since the moment she walked into my life.
“Sit down.” I set the steaming mug in front of her. And because I’m already too far gone, I set a chocolate chip cookie next to it.
She looks up at me with those big, dangerous eyes and her whole fucking face lights up.
“My cookie!!! You remembered!” She beams, but I can see the suspicion through her delight. “Wait, when did you have time to make cookies?”
I chuckle, leaning back against the counter, watching the way her whole body reacts to something so small. “Found them over there.”
Technically true.
She doesn’t need to know that I had someone make them earlier and bring them over. She doesn’t need to know I would’ve made her fifty fucking cookies just to see that look again. And at the same fucking time… why do I want to bend her over the counter?
I’m losing my goddamn mind.
She takes a bite of her cookies, and a satisfied moan slips out, and I swear to God, I almost black the fuck out.
I grip the counter hard enough to crack it, so I don't say anything I'll regret. My fingers twitch with the need to grab her, to make her moan like that for something other than a goddamn cookie.
“Oh my God,” she mumbles around a second bite. “This cookie is amazing.”
She talks through a mouthful, completely oblivious to what she’s doing to me.
I focus on slowing my breathing, forcing my body to stay in check. I want her. And yet, there’s one massive, glaring issue. She has no fucking clue who I am.
“Raven, there’s something I—”
But before I can get the words out, Cam strolls into the kitchen, stretching and yawning like he just rolled out of bed.
Fucking perfect timing.
“I knew I smelled cookies!” He declares, making a beeline for the counter. His grin widens when he spots the cocoa. “Aw man, and cocoa too? You really do love me,” he adds, patting his chest with exaggerated appreciation.
I grind my teeth. Not sure why the hell I’m irritated.
Raven shakes her head, still smiling. “Try one, they're amazing.”
Cam narrows his eyes at me, then takes note of my still-damp clothes before his expression goes from confusion to exaggerated shock.
“Why are you wet?” His tone is loaded. Then he pauses, glancing between us with a slow, shit-eating grin. “Wait… you actually…” He gestures wildly, making the implication painfully obvious.
Raven reacts first. Her eyes widen for half a second before she turns on him, sharp as ever.
“Oh my God, Cam! No, we did not fuck,” she rolls her eyes. “And for the record, that's none of your business.”
Cam barks out a laugh, throwing his head back like this is the best entertainment he’s had all week. I shake my head, hoping we can all just go to bed.
It’s rare to see Cam caught off guard. But Raven knocks him off his pedestal like it’s her personal mission. Watching his jaw drop as he looks between us is pure gold. Even if it is at my expense. His expression shifts from shock to amusement, and I know he’s gearing up for something.
“You know,” Cam starts, his grin returning in full force, “I don't know what’s more surprising, Raven turning you down or the fact that you’re laughing. Should I be concerned? Is the world ending?”
Raven leans her elbows on the counter. “Relax, Cam. The world’s safe. For now.”
Cam let’s out another laugh. “Alright, Kane, seriously. Did you slip and fall on the way here?”
I hold his gaze, “Yeah. Right over your pile of bullshit.”
He laughs, swiping another cookie, taking a slow, exaggerated bite, groaning dramatically. “God, I’ve missed these.”
My pulse stutters. My grip on the counter tightens.
Rachel shuffles into the kitchen, looking half-asleep but fully ready for chaos. Her eyes dart to me, as she takes in my wet clothes. Then, she scans the room.
“I’m so glad everyone’s awake.”
Without hesitation, she heads straight for Cam and snatches his cookie right out of his hand before plopping down on the stool beside Raven.
“Wait, we have hot chocolate, too?” Her eyes lighting up like this is the best thing that’s ever happened to her.
Cam groans, “That was my cookie, woman!”
Rachel doesn’t look the least bit bothered by his outburst. “Possession is nine-tenths of the law, Cameron.” She takes a slow smug bite. “Mmmm, these are delightful.”
Rachel is both a blessing and a goddamn problem. Because now, there’s zero chance I’ll get Raven alone again tonight. I grab another mug and slide it toward Rachel, who hums in satisfaction.
Cam grabs another cookie and turns back to Raven. “So why were you outside in the first place?”
Rachel cuts in without hesitation. “She was probably laying in the rain somewhere.” She waves a hand like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
Cam raises a brow, staring between them like they’ve lost their minds. “Laying in the rain?” He repeats, like he’s trying to understand the logic.
I lean against the counter, “Aye, but thank God her ankle survived.”
Raven snorts, shooting me a glare that could flay skin. And fuck if that doesn’t make me want to kiss her again.
“That’s exactly why I was outside, actually. And it was epic,” Raven fires back, rolling her eyes. “Kane here, thought I was sneaking out to snoop through the garden or meet up with some bandit in the night.”
“A bandit in the night?” I bark out a laugh. Where the fuck does this woman come up with this shit?
But she plows forward like I never spoke. “So” she continues, her tone smug as hell, “he decided to follow me outside and sneak up on me. He’s lucky I didn't stab him. It rained, we got soaked, and then we came back inside.”
She’s grinning now, clearly pleased with herself. She forgot to mention a few details, but I’ll let it slide. Details like her moaning into my mouth. And the way she melted against me. And don't even get me started on the way her thighs clenched when I—
I force my grip to loosen on the counter, slowly letting out a breath. Not the time.
She also conveniently glossed over the part where she was practically begging me for more. But that’s fine. Let her pretend.
She’s not mine. That fact alone should be enough to kill whatever this is. But it’s not doing anything other than make me want her more.
Cam laughs, shaking his head. “Why is it you’re always finding trouble?” His teasing grin makes her roll her eyes, but I don’t miss the way her cheeks flush.
“Um… Kane, gross. We don’t follow people into the woods. Bad.” Rachel interrupts, wagging her finger at me.
Cam bursts out laughing, slamming a hand on the counter. “Oh Gods, you guys are fuckin’ hilarious. How long are you staying again?” He turns to me, his eyes sharp and full of mischief. “Can we keep them?”
I shake my head, but his question lingers in my mind. How long are they staying?
Raven doesn’t answer. She doesn’t even look up. She just focuses on her cookie, pretending to be so intrigued by each chocolate chip. But I see the slight blush creeping up her neck. And that tiny, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corner of her lips. It’s a goddamn weapon.
Cam and I have a meeting tomorrow about a case, so we’re having it in the ring. And after that kiss? I’ve got more than enough fucking steam to blow off. And I already know he’s gonna give me hell for it.
Rachel stretches, letting out a dramatic sigh. “Well, thanks for the cookie and hot chocolate, I still have a headache, so I'm going back to bed. See you in the morning.”
She hands Cam her half-eaten cookie before disappearing down the hall and Raven jumps up like the building is on fire.
“Night.” She follows Rachel without so much as a glance in my direction.
You can run all you want, Princess.
Once the girls are out of earshot, Cam elbows me, hard. His grin is downright infuriating.
“Sooo…” He drags the word out, leaning in. “What’s going on with you two?”
His brows lift like he’s been waiting all night to ask that question. I roll my eyes, because there's no point in lying. “We didn’t do anything.”
He lets out a low whistle, leaning back in his chair with a grin. “Ahh, so the ring then?”
“As soon as we drop them off, aye.”
“And the breach?” His voice drops slightly. “Still nothing?”
Tension coils in my chest, but I shake my head. “Tomorrow.”
His jaw tightens, but he nods.
I clap him on the back before pushing off my chair. “I’ll see you in the ring.”
Cam lets out a low chuckle, looking down the hall. “You’re fucked, mate.”