Chapter Thirteen #3
He inhales sharply, like the word safe hits him somewhere deep. His fingers tighten around mine, not enough to hurt, just enough to anchor. “You need to rest.”
“I can rest there,” I say, already swinging my legs over the side of the bed. The floor tilts under me, but I force myself to stand. “I don’t want to stay here. Please. Take me home.”
He stands with me, hands hovering near my waist, ready to catch me if I fall. His eyes search mine, looking for something, maybe clarity, maybe strength, maybe the memory I don’t have. “Bunny,” he says softly, “you just woke up. You don’t even know what happened.”
“I don’t need to know,” I say, and the truth of it surprises me. “I just need you.”
His breath stutters. Something in his expression cracks, just for a moment, just enough for me to see the weight he’s carrying.
He’s hiding something. I can feel it. I can feel the heaviness in the way he looks at me, the way he touches me, the way he keeps his voice soft like he’s afraid I’ll shatter.
I reach for his shirt, gripping the fabric with trembling fingers. “Please, Kade. I don’t want to be here. I want to go home.”
He closes his eyes, and I see the exact moment he gives in. Not because he thinks it’s the right choice. Because I asked. Because I need him. Because he can’t stand the thought of me being afraid in a place he can’t control.
“Alright,” he says quietly. “I’ll take you home.”
Relief floods me so fast my knees almost buckle. He catches me, one arm around my waist, steadying me, guiding me toward the door. The nurses try to stop us, but Kade’s voice turns sharp, commanding, and they back off. He signs whatever they shove at him, barely looking, his focus never leaving me.
Outside, the air is cool against my skin. The world feels too big, too loud, too open, but his hand is warm around mine, and that’s enough. He helps me into the car, buckles me in, brushes a strand of hair from my face like he’s afraid I’ll break if he touches me too roughly.
I lean my head against the seat, exhausted, confused, aching. “Thank you,” I whisper.
He looks at me, eyes dark and full of something I can’t name. “I’ll always take you home.”
The drive is quiet. I watch the city blur past the window, familiar streets turning into shadows. I don’t remember what happened. I don’t know why I woke up in a hospital. I don’t know why Kade looks like he’s carrying the end of the world on his shoulders.
He helps me into the passenger seat and pulls out of the parking lot slowly, afraid that any sudden jolt will hurt me, will spook me, I find myself watching him as he drives, face tight with worry, with a rage that still simmers beneath the surface.
“Pull the car over.” I say softly, his gaze flickers to mine for a moment, but he complies, the car comes to a controlled stop, the parking brake on.
I climb out of my seat and into his lap, the chair slides back smoothly as he makes more space for me, I take his face into my hands and look into his eyes.
“Bunny..” A low warning sounds from his throat.
“You’re hurt…”
“I don’t care.” I mutter as I press my lips to his, my tongue instantly seeking entrance, with a groan he allows me in, mouth consuming me, tasting me.
I run my hands through his hair, trying to ignore the pain that shoots up my ribs as I tug softly at the ends, I deepen the kiss fractionally, tilting my head so my lips glide over his with a hunger that has been rooting itself in my lower stomach since I woke up, the need for him fully taking over me.
“I need you.” I whimper against his lips, I’m wearing nothing but his shirt and I can feel everything beneath me, I lean down and press a soft, coaxing kiss on his jaw.
“I need you.” I repeat in his ear, his hands grip my hips with a gentleness he doesn’t often possess.
“Bunny…” He groans as I nip at his jaw, his hands tightening forcing my thighs to clench, my hips to roll against him, I gasp softly.
“Please…” I beg him, the soft sound from my lips is his undoing, he raises me for a moment whilst he unbuttons his pants, tugging them down his thighs.
He lines his cock with my aching cunt and lowers me slowly, giving me time to adjust as he stretches me once again.
“God..” I groan against his shoulder, my head planting firmly against him as I lower my hips further, I grind my hips, causing him to bottom out inside me.
He shifts so he can move, be in control, his hips thrust up to meet me, his groans sending shockwaves of pleasure through me as his movements grow faster, more frantic, but his grip is still soft, afraid I’ll break.
His movements are brutal, but his touch is gentle, a stark contrast with the control that he is trying to keep, and the slight slip in his thrusts, I cling to him as the pressure builds between my thighs, my walls tightening around him as my release draws closer “I… I can’t…
God Bunny…” He groans into my ear, his words my undoing as I climax, biting down on his shoulder, my body trembling with pleasure as it continues to build, higher and higher.
His movements grow slack as he continues to whisper in my ear “Good girl..”
“You feel so fucking good Bunny”
and finally “I… love… you.” broken, fueled by pleasure the omission leaves his lips, my gaze darts to his.
I can’t speak, words form but quickly escape.
He loves me.
Kade
————————
Smooth asshole. Real smooth.
The car is silent except for the sound of my own heartbeat pounding in my ears.
I stare at the road ahead, ignition off, trying not to slam my head into the steering wheel.
I told her I loved her. It wasn’t a lie.
Never a lie. But now? Of all times? Get a grip.
I mentally tear myself apart for the timing, for the way the words slipped out of me like I had no control over them.
She sits in the passenger seat, breathing unevenly, staring out the window like she’s trying to outrun her own thoughts.
Her shoulders are tense, her fingers curled tight in her lap.
She looks like she’s having a panic attack and I’m the idiot who caused it.
I glance over at her, cheeks burning, waiting for her to say something, anything. Put me out of my misery, Bunny. Please.
My phone rings, cutting through the silence. I snatch it up. “What.”
“Sorry, poor timing?” Jaxon’s voice filters through.
“A little. What’s up.”
“I’ve got more information for you. How is she.”
“She’s fine.” I glance at her again. Her eyebrows are furrowed now, eyes flicking toward me.
“How’s Jace.”
“Still breathing and just as insufferable. He wants to see her.”
“Not yet.”
“He won’t like that. He’s been badgering me nonstop.”
“Tell the asshole she’ll come see him when she’s ready. Anything else.”
“Nah. Get her home.”
I grumble something and hang up, turning to face her again.
She beats me to it. “Don’t say anything,” she starts, eyes locked onto mine. “Poor timing, by the way.” She waves a hand vaguely, but her voice softens. “But still…”
She hesitates. I watch her closely, waiting for any sign of what she’s thinking, but she’s unreadable, her expression carefully blank.
Then she says it.
“I love you too.”
The words hit me like a punch to the chest. My head spins. My breath stutters. She looks at me with a small grin forming, like she knows exactly what she’s doing to me.
“You look like you’re going to have a heart attack,” she teases.
I roll my eyes, no malice behind it. “You’re going to be the death of me, Bunny.”
I take her hand, bring it to my face, press my lips gently to her knuckles. Her breath catches, just slightly.
“Let’s go home.”
“Home,” she repeats, softer this time, like the word means something to her now.
I start the engine and drive toward the penthouse, the place where she feels safe, the place where I can keep her close, the place where I can make sure nothing ever touches her again.