Page 183 of Love Me

“Welcome home,” they all chime.

Our friends are all there in a circle, but it doesn’t escape me how Blake is in the corner, again keeping his distance.

“Haven’t you talked?” I ask Kaden.

“No.”

Why is he so stubborn?

Music pounds from the speakers and bubbly champagne fills the glasses. I give in and enjoy my welcome home party. It’s so good to unwind, to live in the present.

Hours later, Hunter crashes on the couch, right next to a sleepy Bailey.

He mumbles something under his breath, yet tucks her in. Mia and Blake are on parallel walls, their eyes doing a weird tango.

Dane storms outside with a panicked Abi running after him.

I dart to rush to them. The idiot better not drive after all the drinking.

“Baby, that’s their issue. Stay out of it.”

I tilt my head to the door, but he gathers me up in his arms, careful not to hurt my injured arm. A delicious ripple travels down my belly as he carries me upstairs. The hospital stay helped with something else: I was too high on pain meds to even feel the pain of my period.

He plops me on his bed, and I straddle his legs.

Desire ripples through me.

“What will you do to me?” My finger traces his six-pack up and down.

“Nothing, because you’re still healing. Believe me, I yearn to make love to you. I am burning to fuck you.”

“Kaden, please fuck me. I want you to give me everything you have.”

My words unleash a dormant beast. He rolls me over, getting on top of me, yet he stops.

“No, Sky… please…” Looking at his tormented face between giving me what I want and doing what is right turns my desire into understanding.

“Kiss me then.”

And he does. Bye bye, reality. When he’s done, my lips are swollen and my heart is full.

“I love you.”

“Today. Tomorrow. Always.” He finishes our love declaration and I cuddle myself to him.

***

I wake up before Kaden and contemplate him in his slumber. Grazing my finger over his jaw, he stirs awake. He whispers my name so reverently and deep with love, my heart overflows with feelings.

Rolling out of bed with him right behind me, we go in the shower where we do nothing more than kiss as he washes me, being careful of my bandages.

I lucked out in the husband department.

As he changes, my eyes fall on the nightstand where my necklace rests. I thought it was forever tainted, but it was a reminder to keep fighting. I pick it up, aching to have it back on my skin where it belongs.

Kaden takes me in, almost shyly, and I say, “Would you help me put it on?”

He gulps, deep blue eyes and notes of gray swimming with emotions. His fingers tremble to lock it.

---