Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
CASH
Who the hell would do this? To Kindred, much less.
It doesn’t make sense to me, but I might be too close to the situation, so I’m not seeing it as clearly as I should.
Ethan went back to the house to stay. He told me he would see about cleaning up the wall but would take pictures first and send it all to me.
"I have made myself right at home." Kindred does a spin into the kitchen, wearing one of my shirts from my time as a Ranger. That's all she's got on with a pair of white fuzzy socks. I have seen her in shorter dresses, but her in my shirt does shit to me, and I don't mean all sexual.
There is this comfort to it. That she's strolling around our home, wearing my things. This is going to be my life. She's my family. A word I haven't associated with myself in decades. As far as I was concerned, I didn’t have a family. Kindred has changed all of that for me.
"Are you okay?" She asks. "Or are you just enjoying the sight of my legs?"
"I enjoy all sights of you." I place the grilled cheese I made on the plate before taking it over to the kitchen island and setting it next to the tomato soup.
“My fave.” She slides into the chair. “I’m not shocked you know this. I should quiz you. See how much you really know.” Kindred playfully rubs her hands together as I set my own plate down next to hers.
“Hit me.” I pick up my sandwich and take a bite. I should be buckling down on finding out who did this, but it can wait for tomorrow. Kindred is back to smiling, and she is tucked away here with me. I know she’s safe.
“What instrument do I know how to play?”
“The flute.” Though I have never seen her with one. I know she played it in high school.
“What’s my favorite sport?”
“Trying to rile me up.” A giggle leaves her. “You also enjoy going dancing and being in everyone’s business.”
“Damn, you’re good.” She takes a few bites of her food, thinking. “How many kids do I want?” I was just getting my dick to calm down, and she asks that. My eyes drop to her legs, the shirt having ridden up farther now that she’s sitting, swinging her legs back and forth.
“I know you want a few, but I don’t think you have a number on it.” She bumps her shoulder into mine.
“You got it. I know I want them, but I have to feel it out, you know?” She dips her sandwich in the soup before taking a giant bite.
Who knew I would think eating was sexy? When it comes to Kindred, I find everything attractive.
The little sounds she makes when she enjoys something go straight to my dick.
“Because you’ll be a damn good mom, and you don’t want to take on more than you can handle, thinking there won’t be enough of you to go around.”
She peeks over at me. “I mean—” Her tongue comes out, swiping across her bottom lip. “What if we have one and it feels right?”
“Then we only have one.”
“You don’t have a number?”
“Before you, I didn’t think I’d ever have a family, but I find when it comes to you, I always enjoy the hell out of the ride you take me on, so—”
"Really, you still like your control."
"On some things," I agree. "That can happen when for a big chunk of your life you felt as though you had no control.
" Her eyes soften on me. "Being a Ranger worked.
I had a schedule, and I was merely moving through life, checking off each day.
I think I would have kept going that way, but you came along.
Then I started to want things. To see the enjoyment you can get out of simple things.
" The moment I laid eyes on her had changed everything for me.
"What kind of simple things?" Kindred turns in her chair.
"I do enjoy the fuck out of figuring out what you might be up to."
"And here I thought I was annoying you." She lets out a fake annoyed huff.
"Going to the bar."
"What!" she squeaks. "You hate the bar. You stand in the corner like this." Kindred folds her arms over her chest and glares around the kitchen, tracking every inch of it. Not too bad of a job.
"I enjoy watching you dance and sing, even if you can't hold a tune to save anyone's ears."
"You did not say that."
"It adds to your charm." I tug one of her locks that has spilled free from the clip she put it up into.
Kindred places her hand on my chest, leaning toward me. I changed into a shirt and sweats before I started making dinner for us. I turn my head to be closer to her. Her eyes search my face.
“You know so much about me, and I don’t think I know enough about you.”
“Didn’t really start living a life worth talking about until I got here.” This place, New Hope and Kindred, woke me up from a long slumber that I didn't know I was under. Not until she stayed to clear that fog.
Her hand slides up, and I wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her over into my lap so that she’s straddling me. Fuck, she's beautiful and so full of life and happiness. I have never been a religious man, but she could make me a believer.
“You did. Those experiences contributed to your journey here. They are a part of you.”
“That’s one way to look at it.”
“Do you not want to tell me about your past?” Her bottom lip slightly puffs out. It's a small tell of hers that she's not happy but won't push. She wants me to open up to her.
“My mom died when I was young. They said it was suicide. Not sure I believed that even as a young boy.”
They said she took too many pills paired with alcohol. I know she did drink, and often, but if that was the case, I still lay that at my father's feet. He never would have let her leave, especially with me. I remember him using me as a weapon against her in the past. That is my youngest memory.
“Oh, Cash.” I can see her hurt for me. Her body melts more into mine, wanting to get closer. That's Kindred, wanting to give others comfort. She takes on so much from others. It's her nature, who she is. At her core, Kindred is that sweet goodness in life.
“See, my father spread enough pain. I don’t want it on you too. I won’t allow him to hurt anyone else. Especially you. You're mine.”
“I am yours, Cash. I think I have been my whole life, but that’s not how this works. These are the things we share with each other. That’s what makes us close." I want to be so close to her that I feel her every breath as she breathes life into me. I don't want to know where she begins and I end.
"All right," I agree. "I want to be as close to you as I can get." I push back the chair and stand with her in my arms, carrying her through the house. I don't stop until we're in the master, and I sit her down on the bed. Kindred simply watches and waits to see what I'll do next.
I reach behind me and pull my shirt off and toss it away.
"Oh, Cash." Kindred shifts to her knees, her delicate fingers coming to my chest to softly stroke one scar and then another.
Her touch is like a balm to them that I never knew I needed.
"I always thought of you as a badass Ranger, but you're a warrior.
" She kisses the scar on my left pec and then one on my side, her lips erasing the bad memories and replacing them with good.
"You've been fighting battles your whole life. "
I sink my fingers into her hair and close my eyes, feeling that sweet mouth of hers against my skin. Kindred’s touch is gentle and filled with her love. I have never experienced that in my life.
“Kindred.” I groan when her mouth dips low. I open my eyes to see a mischievous smile on her face.
“What?” She bats her eyes at me like an innocent angel.
"That wasn't the deal." I tighten my hold on her hair. She lets out a small gasp.
"You're going to tell me no?" She runs her fingers along the top of my pants, letting them dip inside. "I don't think you want to." The little minx licks her lips, her eyes on the outline of my cock straining to get out.
"Yes." I tug, making her lean back. "You forgot I like control, Cupcake?"
"You can control it. I don't know what I'm doing anyhow, so you'll have to teach me what feels good and what you like." She licks her lips again, and fuck, she's tempting, but it's not happening. Not right now, at least.
"I will control it." Her eyes widen a fraction, thinking she won. I release my hold on her hair but don't give her a chance to move. I grab her, lifting her and easily tossing her farther back onto the bed. I catch a flash of her white panties from under my shirt as she is bouncing.
I don't give her a chance to remove it. Not with Kindred. You have to be quick. I come down over her, pinning her to the center of the bed.
"We had a deal, and nothing is stopping me from getting my mouth all over your bare cunt."
"Cash." She whispers my name as shyness slips in. A doe-eyed expression is taking over. It makes my cock jerk. This is the closest to innocence that I'll ever be, and I want to drown in it. To have it surround me for the rest of my life. "That mouth of yours."
"Is going to eat every inch of you." I push my shirt she's wearing up as I knee her legs apart, making room.
I lean back, wanting to get a full view of her, and my fingers slide up her hips to her ribs.
My hands easily wrap around her delicate body.
"So small," I murmur to myself. I need to handle this body with care and worship it.
"We're past the point of no return, Cupcake. There is no stopping this now."
"Wouldn't dream of it."
"Hands above your head," I order her. She hesitates. "I've got cuffs."
"Cash, that is not a threat." A giggle leaves her, but she puts her hands above her head.
I can feel pre-cum leaking from my cock.
Now I'm picturing her cuffed to the bed.
Fuck, I'm going to cum before we do anything.
I need to get cuffs that won't hurt her skin.
I want to dominate her, but I don't want to mark up her perfection.
I lower my gaze down her body to her breasts, my hands releasing my hold around her to slip up and cup them. Her rosy pink nipples harden more, begging silently for my attention. I lean down and wrap my mouth around one. She doesn’t need to beg for pleasure. I'll always give it to her.
I'll give her everything.