Page 12 of Kaede
That she’d tell me she wants to be mine?
That she’d caress my heart and soul with her body?
I was dreaming.
There’s now a distance. I stepped over a line. I want her and I don’t ignore what I want when I have for so long, but I’m also not going to force a woman to have sex with me. Either she wants me, or she doesn’t.
And it’s killing me inside that she doesn’t.
I get her settled. “There you go. I’ll see you in the morning.” I leave her standing with her arms wrapped around her waist.
“Kaede!”
I turn and Willow stalks across the room to me. I’m trapped in the snare of her gaze.
Her hands wrap around my neck and pull it down. I put up some resistance. If the woman wants me, she’ll have to make sure she’s all in.
She raises to her tiptoes. “Kiss me, please.”
I don’t have to be asked twice. I claim that sassy mouth. Wrapping her in my arms, I lift her more than a foot off the floor to my height. It’s been so long —high school I believe— since I’ve kissed a woman and what it does to my body is amazing. Nerves zing in my lips. I growl and she giggles.
She pulls back, then pecks my lips again. Like she needs just one more hit before bed. “We’ll continue this conversation tomorrow, my mountain man.”
I’m tired, but for her I would’ve ignored every sore muscle and yawn to join her in my bed. But I won’t beg even if my nuts are buzzing to have their moment.
“Good night, sweetheart.”
This time I walk to the living room and she closes the door behind me. If she had balked even once at me sleeping on the couch, I would’ve gladly joined her, but she’s the queen and a queen deserves the bed. I’ve slept on the ground before and this couch is much more comfortable than that. I purchased thishigh-end mattress just for that reason and when she’s gone, I’ll go back to the bed like she was never there.
I strip down to nothing. It’s my usual and I’m not changing that either.
I roll over and face the fireplace, wondering if she’s okay.
It’s new for me to wonder how someone else is doing. I was a ward of the state from four years old. From age four to seventeen I bounced around foster homes, my attitude keeping anyone from truly making a connection— a protective bubble of teenager asshole. It was the biggest reason I joined the Marines.
One, they accepted me.
Two, I wanted to make something of myself.
Three, I needed to get away from what I’d made of myself.
But right now, all I want is for Willow to accept me. To make me feel whole. And to keep what I know is meant to be mine.
Meant to be mine.
9
WILLOW
It’s three in the morning when I think I’ve sighed enough. Two hours of thinking of only one thing. One big thing.
And the man it’s attached to.
I’ve never been this unrestrained for a man. I’ve experienced lust and cravings before —mostly for Ryan Reynolds who wasn’t remotely available to me— but this is like those feelings are multiplied to a factor of a hundred and then multiplied again.
And again.
Kaede could have any woman he wants. It seems like he wants me, but is it just opportunity to him? I don’t think I can do a one-night stand. Plus, I’ll definitely have to see him after this. Boone and Daisy are having a christening in January for Maverick.
