Page 42 of Entangled
I tried to keep my breathing even, feigning sleep, straining my ears to hear any further noise. I could feel my stomach in my throat, my heart beating fiercely in my chest.
I heard the distinct sound of a zipper and the rustle of clothing, as if whoever it was stripping down for the night.
The side of the bed dipped, the intruder sitting on the edge, before I heard shoes kicked from feet, felt the sheets lift up, and whoever it was got underneath. A warm body curled against mine, spooning me, and pulling me close.
I stopped breathing, unable to intake any air. But when I did, the scent of bourbon and a familiar cologne filled my nostrils,cedar mixed with the faint hint of jasmine. There was only one man I’d come to know who wore that scent, and I breathed a sigh of relief that it was him.
His body and skin was warm against mine, as well as his breath on my neck. It was only the second time we’d been this close, the groggy memory of his comfort during my nightmare faintly coming back to me. Before that, we hadn’t been this close since we had sex the first time, the time in his gym had more clothes between us.
It was a nice feeling, his body cozy and snug against mine. I would never admit it to him, but I had never laid with a man like this before him. I was usually used and dumped, no time for cuddling and spooning.
So this was a nice change of pace, and one that I could get used to. But I knew in my heart that this was short-lived.
I waited to see if he was going to say anything, or if he was just going to lay here holding me until we both fell asleep.
But my mind was finally quiet and I could have fallen asleep at any moment, finally knowing that he was safe. He was here.
Just as I was beginning to doze off, more than willing to slip into oblivion, I heard his voice whisper gently in my ear.
“Goodnight, beautiful,” he breathed. “I’ll miss you.”
For some reason, his drunken words meant more to me in that moment than I cared to admit.
But then I realized that he said he’d miss me, and those words soured in my gut.
I wokeup alone the next morning, the space where Kade was cold. It was proof he hadn’t slept here long and had probably snuck out long before he knew I’d wake. It was the second time he’d done this in the span of a couple days, but I tried not to hold it against him.
I peered over at the clock on my nightstand that read 9AM and wanted to groan at the thought of getting out of bed already. I felt like I barely got any sleep until Kade had come into my bed. After that, I had a nice, dreamless sleep.
But what if I had dreamt he came into my bed?
I knew that wasn’t the case because I could still smell his cologne on my pillows, proof he’d been here recently. I was just confused on why he’d stumbled in here in the first place, and then why he felt the need to leave so quickly.
At first I assumed in his drunken state he thought he was in his own bedroom. But that made no sense since his room was on the opposite side of the house. Not to mention the fact that he’d held me in his arms with a purpose, and spoken directly to me.
So I just chalked it up to alcohol making our brains do things they wouldn’t if we were sober, and soaked up his warmth and intimate actions while I could.
Part of me didn’t want to get out of bed because I didn’t want to face him this morning. Would things be awkward between us now? More so than they already were with sexual tension lacing the air whenever we were in the same room together?
But I knew I’d eventually have to find out. I couldn’t hide out in this bedroom forever. I’d have to face him, especially if I ever wanted to see the library again.
And that is what pushed me out of bed more than my fear of embarrassment about my current…relationshipwith Kade. With the Mafia man who kidnapped me out of my own house under the darkness of the quiet sky, like a dark knight in leather armor.
I threw back the covers, slipping my feet into my slippers and decided to pad down to the kitchen for some coffee before I started my day and inevitably encountered Kade.
But what I didn’t expect when I walked into the kitchen was his hulking, messy bed head form leaning over the coffee pot in a white t-shirt and gray sweatpants.
Do men not understand the attraction of gray fucking sweatpants?
I stopped dead in my tracks, before playing it off and gaining my composure, making my way to sit on one of the bar stools at the kitchen island.
“Morning,” I greeted, trying to play it casual.
“Hmph,” Kade grunted.
It was the most unkempt I’d ever seen him. While I was used to his messy hair, it usually had a method to the madness. Now it looked like he’d slept on it wet, one side sticking up. Don’t even get me started about seeing him in something other than a suit and gym attire.
I didn’t even know his closet contained anything other than workout clothes and suits, let alone casual clothing.
