Page 30 of Bind Me

“Me?” Kade feigns innocence despite his evil smile. “I’m irresistible, and I don’t know why you’re fighting fate.”

I don’t have time to argue. I sprint after Moore, reaching him just as he throws himself up against the fence. I don’t hesitate this time—raising my taser, I zap him right in the ass. He yelps and falls onto his side, curling up, shuddering, and making strange noises. Once the electrical cycle ends five seconds later, he collapses to the ground, still quivering and groaning.

“Told you, fuck with me, and I’ll tase you,” I say, leaning down and pulling out the taser barbs. He cries out, and yeah, it hurts bad, but he’ll heal quickly enough. I nudge him in the side with my foot. “Will you behave now?”

He groans, clasping his rear, and Kaden steps closer, grimacing.

“Oh, you really are dark, aren’t you?” he says, almost admiringly. “I’m adoring this in you.”

Exhaling loudly, I collect the strings with the prongs and wrap them around the taser. I’ll replace the cartridge in the car. Holstering my taser, I fix Kaden with a look that’s all serious. Then I bend down and cuff Moore’s hands behind his back.

“Sometimes, you have to be dark to get the job done,” I answer, my breath still catching from the chase.

“And you enjoy this kind of job?” he asks, one of his thick eyebrows rising.

“It’s what I’m good at, and it pays the bills,” I reply honestly, looping an arm under Moore’s to heave him up. As Moore struggles to rise, Kaden is suddenly at his side, grabbing him by the hair and yanking him to his feet with ease.

Moore whines, cringing from the sharp pull.

Kaden leans in close to his face. “Today’s your lucky day, buddy. You ever lift a hand to my mate again or disrespect her by not doing as she asks, I’ll rip your fucking spine out.” He then gives Moore’s shoulder a patronizing pat. “We good?”

Moore’s eyes widen, face draining of color as he nods vigorously.

“You don’t need to do that,” I say, but Kaden’s all smiles.

“I will never stand back when I see anyone mistreating you.”

It’s hard to hate that, in all honesty, especially when a torrent of excitement bubbles in my chest at hearing his protective promise.

“O-okay, let’s get going,” I manage, tightening my hold on Moore’s arm and dragging him toward the main street. My car’s parked across the road.

Kaden strides alongside me, and I feel his gaze on me, analyzing and studying.

“You have a fierce warrior side I admire,” he comments, as if his approval means something to me. “It will serve exceptionally well when I breed you.”

I gasp, choking on my breath, while Moore snorts a chuckle. Scowling up at Kaden, I glare, and I expect him to smirk, but he’s utterly serious.

“Don’t say shit like that, ever!” Shaking my head in disbelief as I reach my car, I fling open the back door and shove Moore inside before slamming it shut. The locks click, ensuring he can’t open the doors from the inside.

What the hell is Kaden thinking? I keep telling myself I can’t have a fated mate and risk becoming a siren and killing him, yet he’s talking about breeding. Has he lost his mind? Heaving for breath, I turn to Kaden, and he’s right there, in my face.

“Why not? It’s the truth.”

Instinctively, I push my hands against his chest to shove him back, but the moment we touch, a shock of electricity jolts through me. It races up my arm and pierces my chest, leaving me breathless. I find myself studying him as though he holds all the answers to the universe.

It’s the fated mate effect; it has to be. Nothing else could make my heart race this fast or my body react so viscerally to his proximity. The intensity of the sensation leaves me momentarily helpless, as if only he can save me.

He moves in closer, trapping me against the side of the car, his body inches from being pressed to mine, and I’m really not that averse to the idea. Except, are these my feelings or the blooming attraction our destined fate is awakening between us?

Kaden notices the change in my expression, his own face softening.

“I know it’s a lot,” he murmurs, his voice a low rumble that seems to vibrate through me. “But we don’t need to figure it all out today. All you need to do is accept that we’re together now and move in with me at my mansion.”

His words, meant to be reassuring, only tighten the knot in my stomach.

“Why would I move in with you?” I ask, my question steadier than I feel on the inside. Around him, half the time, I’m trying to just concentrate and not get distracted by the feelings he brings out in me, the ones that have me gawking at him, that leave me buzzing with unbearable need.

The bridge of his nose creases. “Because you’re my fated mate, Sasha. I’m not living apart from you,” he states, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

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