Page 121 of Counting On You

Chapter Thirty-Two

Vicky

The sun ishigh above us, warming the beach, ending another perfect night that means we have one day less together.

Keeping a safe distance in case someone sees us, we walk back to the main building. The morning and afternoon pass quickly. I breeze through my mandatory behavioral therapy session and return to the apartment.

All is quiet, meaning Kaiden’s not back yet. I head for the bathroom to freshen up, content that I’m alone with my thoughts. The conversations with my therapist have become less heated. I think we’ve even started to get along. There are times when I talk about my feelings, masking them as best as I can, pretending it’s all about Bruce when, in reality, everything has become about Kade.

My therapist is adamant that I need some time alone.

I don’t necessarily agree with her.

I strip and twist my hair into a bun before taking a shower.

Closing my eyes, I let the warm water cleanse my body, and gradually, I find myself relaxing as the thoughts in my mind are reduced to a distant hum.

“Mind if I join?” Kade’s rumble wakes me from my reverie.

I turn slowly.

He’s standing in the doorway, fully dressed, but his presence is enough to send an electric current down my spine.

My body begins to tingle all over. In the last few days, we’ve barely slept. My core’s still pulsating from his touch, my clit’s still swollen from his tongue, and yet I find myself longing for him.

Always more of him.

“You forgot to lock the door,” Kade says, misinterpreting my silence, but he makes no move to leave. The way he says it, it sounds as though I did it on purpose.

My breath hitches, rendering me speechless, as he slowly peels his clothes off and inches toward me, his eyes roaming over my naked body, taking in every inch of skin.

And he seems to like what he sees because a small, wicked smile tugs at his lips.

I don’t think anyone has turned me on like he does. The water keeps pouring over me, burning my skin. Or maybe it’s the intensity of his gaze that scorches me.

He stops mere inches from me. Flooded by memories of us together, I try hard not to stare at his perfect body, at the strength and familiarity of it.

The silence is unnerving.

“Kade?” My voice sounds shaky, nervous as I try to break the silence. I need him to say something, anything, before I lose myself in those eyes of his.

“You’re beautiful, Vicky.” His voice is soft and serious, with a hidden meaning I can’t grasp. It doesn’t fit the scene of two naked people who clearly want each other in all possible ways.

“Why does your words sound so heavy and meaningful?” I ask.

“Because one day you’ll find someone who says it to you and you’ll fall in love with him.”

I regard him for a few moments, wondering what brought on the sudden change in tone.

“Don’t choose someone who’s no good for you,” Kade says slowly. “You deserve someone who looks at you like he’s just won a galaxy with all its stars.”

“That’s impossible, Kade.” My eyes turn moist, but not from the water pouring over me.

How can I tell this beautiful yet unreachable man that I could never go looking for the person he describes because I’ve already found him?

“I know.” He sighs and turns the faucet off. “No one will be good enough for you.”

“I don’t understand.” I shake my head. “Do you want me to end up all alone with only a few cats for company? Don’t you want to see me happy?”

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