“He seemed rather busy with work today. Certainly you don’t need to interrupt him to ask if I’m allowed the common courtesy of sustenance?”
“His orders were very specific,”Declan informed her, denying her request not to involve Cade with an immediate call to his superior.
Fuck.
Kara weakened in defeat, knowing how the sadistic bastard would likely respond to her request.
“Hello…Yes, sir…No, she hasn’t left her room….She’s asked if she can eat dinner downstairs…I called yo,k;’ll put her on speaker.”
“He wants to speak with you,”Declan told her, his tone wary.
“Kara,”a muffled voice came from the other side of the door, the angry address unmistakably Cade’s.
“Yes,”Kara answered, careful to keep her tone even, not allowing her frustration and hatred to seep in.
“I see you decided talking to Declan was worth disobeying my orders, yet again.”
“Yes,”Kara responded simply, the answer obvious.
“And you seem to think I’ll allow you to leave your room? Allow you the pleasure of eating when all you have brought me today is vexation and insubordination?”
“Yes,”was Kara’s third monosyllabic answer.
“Disobedient brats do not deserve dinner, Kara.”
“Fuck you!”Kara shouted angrily, his demeaning attitude finally breaking through her collected composure.
“I promise you’ll regret that disrespectful outburst. Very soon, in fact,”Cade warned ominously.
“Declan,”he redirected, finished indulging Kara with his attention.
And that was the last Kara heard from either of them.
IT was a few hours shy of dusk when Cade finally arrived home. He was weary, frustrated, mentally taxed, and longed for nothing more than to collapse into bed and allow slumber to overtake him. But he still had one manner of unresolved business, and sleep would have to wait.
Cade’s previous fury from that afternoon had cooled to a mere echo of anger over Kara’s transgressions. The passion had subsided in favor of calculated retribution. Unlike the heated interaction in his study, Cade could now trust himself to punish Kara fairly and without malice. He was no longer out for blood. He would be satisfied with a small measure of pain as payment for her betrayal. Kara had committed a number of sins that day, and the time of judgment had come.
From the top of the stairs, Cade could make out Declan’s sleeping form; he had passed out on the floor, his head resting on Kara’s door frame. Cade released an exasperated sigh of disapproval, making a mental note never to put Declan on guard duty again. He’d deal with the kid later; doling out one punishment in the early morning hours was more than enough in his sleep-deprived state. For the moment, Declan would escape unscathed. The insolent girl on the other side of the door wouldn’t be so lucky.
Cade lightly kicked Declan in the side, startling him awake.
“Ashford! You’re back?”Declan asked in surprise as he jolted upright, his heart racing with the shock of being thrust into consciousness as well as nervousness at being caught sleeping on the job.
“Clearly,”Cade responded shortly, lifting his hand to massage the weariness from his temple.“Go to bed, Declan. We’ll be having a discussion in my office in the morning.”
“Yes, sir,”Declan replied guiltily.“Goodnight, sir.”
Cade waved him off without another word, summoning his last stores of energy for what was sure to be an uncomfortable confrontation. His face settled into unforgiving stone as he unlocked the door and entered Kara’s room. She lay peacefully on the bed, any angers or fears she had regarding him melting away in the sweet bliss of slumber. Cade had entertained the hope that she would wait up for him, as eager to clear the animosity and dissension between them as he was, but he didn’t begrudge her the desire to sleep away the stress of a long day.
He walked toward Kara quietly, treading lightly so as not to wake her. His caution was illogical as he would be doing just that in a few moments, but he enjoyed getting the chance to watch her while she was free of mouthy insults and infuriating obstinance and all the other traits that came with Kara being conscious. Cade sat beside her on the bed, unable to refrain from brushing a stray strand of pale blonde hair from her forehead. Her skin was warm, inviting, and the smallest bit flushed as Cade continued to run his fingers lightly along her cheek. She was beautiful, heartbreakingly so. Her biting temper, so blatantly incongruous with her own fragility, drove him mad while also igniting a tenderness in him that he didn’t know existed. He ached to wrap his arms around her, feel her warmth against his body, and fall into tranquil sleep beside her. The enticing temptation almost banished any thought of broken promises and punishments.
Almost.
“Kara,”Cade said firmly, loud enough to startle her from sleep.
She blinked at him with bleary eyes, her sleep-addled mind searching for the reason for Cade’s untimely awakening. Slowly, consciousness brought with it the unwelcome reminder that she had pissed off the man single-handedly in control of her future, and he had promised retribution. Instinctually, Kara buried her shame-tinged face in the cover of the pillow in the unrealistic hope that the bit of fluff would shield her from Cade’s ire. Unsurprisingly, it did not.
“Look at me, Kara,”Cade commanded calmly.