Page 51 of Forget Me Not

“Whatever. You two deserve each other.” She shakes her head, turning to storm out of the room.

“You’re wrong there. I definitely don’t deserve her,” Kade says, the words aimed at her, but his focus never leaves me. “But I’m keeping her anyway.”

Kayla doesn’t slow her steps, practically bolting out of the room and, I’m assuming, the shop, leaving us alone.

“Fuck, I missed you.” He grabs my hand, pulls me down to sit on his lap, and kisses me. I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him back with the same urgency.

“Give me a few minutes to clean this shit up and then we can head upstairs, sound good?” He nods over to the mess of papers he has covering the keyboard of his computer.

“Sounds good.” I smile at him, standing up off his lap. “I’m going to go say hey to Asher if he hasn’t already left.” I walk out of Kade’s room and to the one next door, closer to the lobby. The door is closed so I gently knock.

“Come in,” Asher yells from the other side of it. I open the door to see him sitting on his stool in the same spot I just left Kade, scrolling through his phone. “Well, this is a nice surprise. Did you finally leave that asshole next door and come straight to me? I could think of a few ways we could celebrate.” He smiles cheekily at me.

“Sorry to crush all your hopes and dreams, but I’m still with the asshole. He’s cleaning up, so I just came to say hey.” I laugh.

“Damn it, I thought I was about to get lucky.” He laughs with me. “So, you two are doing good?”

“We are.” I smile at him. I walk over to the tattooing chair, jumping up onto it to sit with my legs crossed under me. “We’re happy.”

“Good.” He pauses. “So, how’s Demi?” The words come out almost timid. His phone dings with a message. He picks it up, looks at it, and a genuine smile covers his face. Not a joking one, or a flirty one, but a real one.

“I think I should be asking you that.” I nod my head toward his phone. “What’s going on with the two of you, for real?”

“She’s just cool to talk to,” he says. I give him a look, calling him on his bullshit. “For real, we’re just friends, Lo.” He sighs.

“Why?” I ask.

“What do you mean, why? Why are we friends?” He looks confused.

“No, I mean, why are you just friends? Come on, Asher. It’s obvious you both like each other. Why not try for something more?”

“It would never work. I don’t do relationships, Lo. Demi deserves more than what I could offer her. I’m not saying I don’t think she’s great. She is great, a great friend that I don’t want to fuck up and lose.”

“I get it, but I think you’re wrong, Asher. I think the two of you would be good together. The fact that you’re both too blind to see it makes it all the more of a perfect pairing.”

“Hey, you ready?” Kade stops right outside Asher’s door.

“Yup.” I stand up and walk toward the door, pausing just before I’m all the way out. “For the record, I think you’re pretty great too. Stop selling yourself so short.” I smile back at Asher.

“Thanks, Lo.” He nods at me.

“Anytime.” I intertwine my fingers with Kade’s and walk with him down the hallway and up the back stairs to his loft.

“What was that about?” Kade asks as he unlocks the door.

“Nothing important.” I step inside as he opens the door for me. “So.” I turn toward him as he closes the door behind him. “What was this you were saying about missing me?”

His lips are on mine seconds later. Devouring me in the delectable way he always seems to. Every time Kade kisses me, I have to fight the urge to beg him to never stop. I wrap my arms around his neck as he slides his hands over my ass and onto my thighs. He lifts me and my legs instinctively wrap around his waist.

“I could use a shower.” He walks farther into the apartment and into the bathroom, kicking the door shut behind us. He lets my legs slide to the ground and reaches through the glass showerdoor to turn on the water. “Care to join me?” He looks back at me, lifting his shirt over his head.

I can’t help but stare. Drinking in each divot of muscle in his chest, his stomach, his shoulders. He looks like the epitome of strength, doing nothing but standing shirtless in front of me. It doesn’t matter how many times I see him like this, I don’t think I’ll ever not be obsessed.

“Lo? You’re really fucking testing my patience looking at me like that.”

I smile up at him slyly as an idea pops into my head.

I slowly lift my long-sleeve shirt over my head, dropping it next to me. I unclasp the bralette I have on and let it fall to the floor.

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