Chapter 36
Chapter Thirty-Six
CADE
Violet has zero idea the effect she has on people. Has on me.
Those big fucking eyes are going to be the death of me. Sure, they’re filled with daggers of fury right now, but even so, there’s something else there, the thing that’s deadly.
Vulnerability.
She’s antsy, waiting until I’m not looking.
I pour her a drink.
Sitting on the chair in the kitchen area, she just stares at me with that intoxicating, debilitating mix in her gaze. But she’s also thinking other things.
Like the moment she can, she’s making a dash for the door.
I flipped the deadlock, but she can flip it back and then run.
Where to, who the fuck knows, but I know she’s thinking that.
Because I would be.
Mind you, I wouldn’t have ever gotten in the car with me in the first place. Never let them change your location.
And therein lies the difference. I’m a tall guy, big, strong. She’s small.
She chose the path of least resistance and in Manhattan, there are a million places she could go to once she made it out the door.
But I know something she doesn’t.
My loft has a low tech look and feel, but I had it stripped back to the bare bones when I bought it. I earn a shit ton of money. I could steal even more if I wanted. But I don’t.
When I stripped it back, I made it high tech.
I don’t have a panic room. I don’t have anything that looks high tech other than the Projector TV and my computer system. But every fucking part of this house has hidden alarms. Hidden locks. Right now, she’d need to be a tech genius to leave.
I could go out and lock her in. She wouldn’t be able to get out the door or any window.
If she did manage, my personal alarm would be triggered.
When my brother was here, I knew his comings and goings enough they didn’t even register.
But her? All her steps are accounted for. All her breaths.
I’d make fucking sure she wouldn’t be able to leave.
I put the whiskey on ice down in front of her and pour my own.
She huffs. “You don’t have to stand over me.”
“I know.”
“I’m not going to run.”
I smile. “I know that, too.” Then I take a sip. “Because you wouldn’t get out the door.”
She’s a fucking smart cookie. Her wheels start turning. “You’ve got some kind of alarm system, haven’t you?”
“And locks you won’t be able to open. So, drink up and relax.”
“How can I relax? I’m your hostage.”
I sigh. I want, more than anything, to cross to her, hold her. Smell her, feel her. But I don’t. Because she’s sort of right. She is my hostage. For now.
I don’t think she’ll report it, but I also need her to understand Isaac’s going to disappear and then either turn up dead or never be found at all.
And none of that is her fault.
It’s his.
“You’re not, Vi. I promise.”
“But I am. I can’t leave, Cade.”
“Where would you go? Back to your place?”
It’s the wrong thing to say because her eyes narrow, and she grips her glass, taking a very big swallow, the ice clinking against the side.
“Where your sick cameras are?”
“You never thought they were sick when I was The Ghost.”
She gulps another mouthful. “Finally, he admits it. And no, but I didn’t think you were recording me and showing your friends.”
“My…?” Oh, fuck, what Enzo said. “Nothing was recorded. And you were dressed. It was…it wasn’t pervy.”
“And I’m supposed to take your word for it?”
“You’ll have to.” I raise my brows and try and make her smile. “You didn’t think it was pervy before.”
She turns away from me. “I did.”
Now I grin. “But pervy gets you off, Vi. I think that’s what made me fall for you. That, and you’re pretty fucking amazing.” My words register, but I don’t stop to analyze the truth in them. “Look, I’m not holding you here for fun.”
“You—” Violet stops. Stands. “You admit I’m your prisoner?”
“No, I’m keeping you safe. Two different things.”
“What if I ax the door to get it open?”
“It’s a normal door. Heavy duty fire door, but a door.” I stop. “Do you have an ax?”
“You’re not funny.” But there’s a ghost of a smile on her face, and my chest warms.
Violet is still angry, that much is deadly clear. But that ghostly smile has hope.
“I just…I just don’t want you doing something you might regret.”
Now her eyes blaze. “I assure you the only thing I regret is letting you manipulate me. I thought I was opening up to a stranger with the same…desires as me. But it was you.”
“Sorry to disappoint.”
She growls. “You lied to me, Cade.”
“Technically, I didn’t lie. You asked The Ghost if he was Jack. I said no.”
She stomps up to me. “Seriously? That’s your defense? I told you very private things.”
Things I knew already, after stalking her online, but I don’t mention that.
“I had you do things to me, let you do things to me I’d never have asked or let you do if I’d known it was you.”
That’s a fucking punch to the guts.
I set my drink down and straighten up. “I think I need some clarification here. You wouldn’t have asked or let me do any of that because you’re not attracted to me? Or you were ashamed of your needs and desires?”
Vi looks away, her cheeks turning a deep pink.
That’s all the answer I need.
And I fucking wish she didn’t feel that. I’d do anything in the world to never let her experience even a drop of shame for something she shouldn’t be ashamed of.
“Be honest, Violet. With yourself if you don’t want to be with me. Was fear the only thing stopping you starting something with me? Because outside The Ghost, all those moments we shared can’t have been all in my head. When I kissed you…when you kissed me?”
Her breathing gets uneven, but she doesn’t step away, and the pulse in her throat throbs erratically.
“It’s beside the point.” She pushes out the words. “None of it matters now, anyway, because I’ll never, ever trust anything you say again.”
That pierces my heart. I’m so deep into this girl, and I think it started long before she and Jack broke up. I didn’t admit the feelings growing for her because…she was his girl, whether my little brother appreciated or deserved her or not.
But she ended it. And I kept out of their way.
And then…
Then…
The fact that her preferences align with mine is a damn bonus and just sped things up, but if I’m honest, it’s the spending time with her, all of it, that made me crash and burn for her.
And I need to tell her.
I love Violet.
“There are two sides to things, Vi. I know you’re twenty-one and I shouldn’t have done a fucking thing, I should have walked, kept my distance after you and Jack ended. But you’re more grown up than most people I know. Definitely more mature than Enzo or Jack.”
“Cade…”
I shrug. “You’re smart, funny, ambitious, hard working. You have a path you can see, one you want, and I get it. I had that, too. So, maybe there’s a different approach to anger and blame and the rest.”
“Like what? Stabbing you?” Her eyes are both sparking with anger and swimming with tears she won’t shed.
“No. You could try to put yourself in my shoes. Yes, I made mistakes, but I need you to understand, to know, I love you, Violet. For who you are. All of you. I love you, kinky fantasies and all. There’s nothing I’d change about you. To me, you’re fucking perfect.”
She starts to smile. Then stops. “I’m mad at you.”
“Yeah, well. That’s a given.”
“You lied.”
“You did too.”
She bristles. “You manipulated me into it.”
I lean in close. “And you loved every filthy second, Vi.”
“Cade, I…have feelings.”
“Feelings?”
“That’s all you get. I’m angry and hurt at how you lied. It’ll take me a very long time to get over it.”
“Fine by me. I’m not going anywhere, and I’m more than prepared to work to earn your trust back.”
She half reaches for me.
My phone buzzes, and she drops her hand.
It’s Enzo.
I hit answer, putting it on speaker.
“What do you have?”
“The situation’s been taken care of.”
I look at Vi. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, but thanks for asking,” Enzo says. “The rest of the situation will be handled in a few.”
“Not you. Vi.”
“For crying out loud. I’m on speaker? Asshole.” He hangs up.
I dump my phone on the counter and take a step toward her. “Are you?”
She nods then shakes her head. She nods again, then shakes her head once more. “Isaac wasn’t a good guy, but he’s dead because of me. I don’t know if I’m okay with that.”
Fuck.
I rub my temple. “Vi, what do you think he’d have done if the charges were dropped?”
“Revenge,” she whispers.
“Revenge, or worse.” I want to hold her so badly, but I don’t. “I know you think this was about protecting myself, but really, I’d do anything for you. Vi. I only told you some of what he’s done, and if he ever touched you… As I said, I’d do anything for you. Anything.”
“I’m beginning to see that.” She looks at me. “You know, Cade? Most guys buy flowers as a romantic gesture. They don’t murder their girlfriend’s stalkers.”
“I’m a singular guy.” Then I stop, my heart going wild. And I grin. “You’re my girlfriend?”
She narrows her eyes. “You’re totally missing my point, Cade.”
But the fire burning inside me is now feral. “Do you love me?”
“Don’t push it.”
“How about this? If you manage to make it to the front door, I’ll let you go and take it you don’t love me.”
“You’re an asshole.”
“I’d run.”
She suddenly darts away, and I’m on her in seconds, dragging her to the kitchen and pushing her down on the table.
I rip her underwear off under the dress she threw on and shove her legs apart, my cock hard, my heart melting.
I’m hungry for her. It’s been a million years since my tongue’s been in that pussy.
“Let me go.” She struggles, but same as with her race for the door, it lacks…something.
Or maybe it holds something.
Like…love.
“Don’t make me tie you the fuck down.” And I run my tongue over her wet pussy lips, pushing inside her.
The gasp and moan that float from her are music to my ears.
She tastes even better. And her hips buck as I add my fingers, thrusting in, working her G-spot as I tongue and suck her clit.
Ordinarily, I’d fuck with her, taunt and tease and edge her, but I want her to come. And I want her to convulse.
So, I lick and suck, her pussy tight and hot, her thighs on my shoulders, quivering.
“Stop, stop,” she pants. “Please…it’s too much. And my boyfriend’s going to be home soon.”
A thrill passes through me, to my cock. “Fuck your boyfriend. He’s nothing.”
“I love him.”
“But you want this.”
“No…”
I can feel the build of her orgasm, the way her walls start to pulse, her clit getting harder.
Holding it between my teeth, I suck hard, and she screams, her body spasming.
Lifting my head, I push her thighs back against her body, spreading her open so she’s ready for me.
I release my erection and shove into her, those convulsions starting again and squeezing my cock.
It’s almost too much.
But I slam into her. “You’re a dirty fucking girl. I bet you can’t really do it in a bed.”
“Screw you.”
“What? Your boyfriend gonna beat my ass? You’ll be begging for me whenever he comes near you.” I thrust in again, surging deep. “Fuck! Maybe I’ll take you on the stairs, on my balcony. In an alley. Is that more your speed?”
Again and again, I slam into her.
She’s so fucking perfect. So fucking mine.
I’m not going to make it. I push my hand between us strumming her clit, and she starts to come hard once more.
My spine turns electric, and my balls contract.
I cum. My cock spasming inside her.
I take her face in my hands. I can do this again. And again. And again. For the rest of my life if it is her by my side.
“So, what do you want? Do you want it hard and fast and tied up? Or are you more into crawling over the floor and begging? Or is it being taken hard in public? You’ll never be able to go back to vanilla—”
“Cade?”
“Yes?”
“I love you.”
I grin. “I thought so.”
“Now shut the fuck up and kiss me already.”
I do.