The dark prince dismounts his new matte-black Harley. His strong legs are encased in a pair of well-worn make-you-drool jeans. A classic black hoodie conceals his muscles underneath the thick cotton as his Sacred Sinner cut finishes off the full H.B.B. vibe he has going on. Not waiting for me to join him, Kade wades into the grass and approaches the house not far from the deserted country road.
“Kade, what are you doing?” I call to his back, smiling, then rolling my eyes as he shakes that money maker like a silly teenage boy. I stifle a giggle, feeling an awful lot like an alien in a Rosie shaped body.
What the hell is wrong with me? A few orgasms and a dead-to-the-world night of sleep and I’m acting… bizarre.
With a ridiculous bout of giddiness, he waves for me to join him. “Come on. I wanna show you our new home.”
Huh?
My eyebrows furrow in confusion. “What? Our what?” Did he… what?
“Our home,” he explains in his normal, smooth I’m-too-sexy tone, harboring no odd inflections. We could be talking about the weather and you couldn’t tell the difference.
Our home?
“I don’t understand.”
He reaches the bottom step and lays a hand on the railing, glancing over his shoulder at me. “What’s to understand? You. Me. House.” A pair of mischievous eyes flick to the front door. It’s painted a classic barn red. It suits the house. As do the iron lanterns flanking either side of it.
“Since when?” I ask, the words somehow forming on my lips.
He climbs two steps, halfway to the top. “Since you deserve a place to call your own.” Eyes on me, Kade caresses the banister with palpable fondness and quirks a private smile that does funny things to my middle. “Since Big told me you didn’t have a home. Since you belong here, with me. Since Big bought us this place.”
“Big… what?” I focus on the latter of his explanation. The other is too complex to think about right now.
“You’re askin’ an awful lot of questions, Swan. Just come and see.”
Dumbstruck, my forearm accidentally slips off the helmet and I fall forward, catching myself on the tank before I faceplant. Down the damn helmet goes, crashing to the ground, landing straps up in the freshly mowed grass.
This can’t be happening.
Did he really say our house that Big bought?
Big… As in my Big? As in his national prez? As in Big Dick, asshole extraordinaire? The man who likes to boss me and everybody else around. That can’t be right.
I dismount my Ducati and dust off my black pants out of habit. Then I stand on the side of the road looking like a complete idiot, unsure of what to do, say, or think.
Nerves begin to eat away, my mind racing a thousand miles an hour, as Kade pulls a key from his pocket and unlocks the red door. Pushing it inward, he doesn’t go inside. Instead, he sweeps a hand in a are-you-coming-or-what gesture, trying to persuade me to move my waterlogged feet.
I don’t budge.
“Babe.”
“I still don’t understand.”
“Let me make it simple for you. House. Yours. Mine. Ours. Together.”
My eyes dive into the back of my skull in an exaggerated roll. “I got that part, smartass.”
“Then what’s the hold-up?”
“A house? Really?”
“What? Did you think we were gonna live at the clubhouse? I think fuckin’ not.”
When had he planned on living together, period? How can he go from meeting, to this in a month?
I scratch my arm. “Living together. A house. I… It’s like I somehow got a Chance Card and advanced to Boardwalk when we haven’t even made it past Baltic Avenue.”
“Babe, did you just compare our lives to Monopoly?”
I shrug a shoulder, not embarrassed in the least. So, I played a ton of Monopoly in my various foster homes as a kid, I’m not ashamed of that. Between that and cards, that’s what we did. I got good at it. Enjoyed the hustle. Everyone complains it takes forever to finish. I’ve always thought that was the point. Wear ‘em down, take their money, and barter the rest.
Kade chuckles, a deep and throaty sound. His smile is a thing of masculine beauty. “This ain’t Boardwalk, Rosie. This is… Well… Fuck… I dunno what… St. James Place? No. That isn’t right.” Kade scratches the side of his head, thinking.
A good thirty seconds pass before he throws an arm in the air, almost catching the porch ceiling. “I got it! North Carolina Avenue. We’re North Carolina Avenue!”
How’s that different from Boardwalk?
Pressing my lips together, I shake my head. “No, we’re not.” Not even close.
Convinced he’s right, the dark prince sets out to prove his point. “I love you. So that takes us as far as the pink housing. You know, after the jail.” He lifts one finger, ticking off his first reason.
“We killed people together. Sorta.” He shrugs and up pops a second digit. More like he killed a kid in my presence. The rest was all me.
Building confidence on the trivial matter at large, Kade shoots me a devious wink. “That brings us to those red spaces nobody remembers. Then there’s the shit I’ve shared with you, the small stuff you’ve shared with me, and sex. Amazing fuckin’ sex…” Numero tres is thrusted high in the air, as the sinister man adjusts his bulge. “See, North Carolina Avenue, babe. If the house was nicer and you loved me too, then it’d be Boardwalk. We’ll get there. Give it time.”
This is crazy. Pure madness. Right? Am I the only person thinking that? Sure, the house is charming on the outside. I’m sure the interior is just as great. But we’re not ready for this leap of commitment. Dating, yes. Sex, obviously that’s fine. Better than fine. Living together in a house outside of Red Fort, Texas? That’s insane. I was to ride in, deliver papers, and leave. Now, I’ve got a man and a house, what’s next? An apron and old lady slippers? I think not.
My iron-forged walls restack themselves like they should’ve done hours ago. I cross my arms over my chest and face off with Kade. “We’ll have to agree to disagree on that. Why don’t you live on your North Carolina Avenue while I hang here at Baltic?” Baltic is safe and sane.
“Orrrr, you could quit stallin’ and come see the house.” He stands on the edge of the porch, shoulders squared, feet planted as he challenges me.
“What will that accomplish?”
“You get to see where you’re gonna live.”
“You do realize, just because you concocted this elaborate scheme, I don’t actually have to play along.”
Brow arched, Kade tilts his head to the side. “Rosie, do you have a place to live?”
“Technically?”
“I’ll take that as a solid hell no.”
“Fine.” Jerk.
“Good. Glad we’re on the same page… Do you wanna live on the road forever?”
I glower at the know-it-all. “Not exactly. But I’m not gonna turn into some domestic, Suzy Homemaker. That’s not me.”
“No shit. If you listened to anything I said, you’d see that this is a place for you—for us to put down roots. Not change you… If you don’t wanna live in the same bedroom as me, fine. I don’t give a fuck. I’ll sleep on the couch. This ain’t me controllin’ you, or schemin’, or whatever bullshit stories your brain is crafting to protect you. I talked to Big. He bought this house, out of respect for you. Do you think he’d do somethin’ like this if he didn’t know what he was doin’? Do you think I’d jump into somethin’ this life changing if I hadn’t already made up my mind? Now, I’m gonna go inside this here house, our house, and walk around a bit. You stay out here and overthink shit until you’re ready. I’ll be waiting no matter how long it takes.” With that, the stubborn mule about faces and marches in through the open-door frame, leaving it wide for me to enter whenever I… you know.
Knowing he’s right, even if I don’t like it one damn bit, I stride toward the house to get this over with. If I stay out here too long, I will overthink and talk myself into a circle
that won’t solve a thing. New man, newish life, why not add a new house to the picture? Fuck. I guess it can’t hurt.
Trudging up the steps, I admire the quaintness of the house, and run my hand along the banister before I cross the threshold, doing my best to stay neutral. The foyer isn’t much more than a place to hang your coat on one of four wrought iron hooks mounted next to the door. There’s an old basket below for shoes. It’s empty. The floor underfoot is scuffed and in rough condition. Or it was, before someone slapped a coat of sealer on top to preserve the old age and character it brings. I’ve never seen anyone do that before. Usually they want to buff out those imperfections, but not here.
A sense of rightness envelops me as I stare at the hardwood, appreciating its history in silence. Like it deserves my respect. When I glance up, Kade’s standing in the middle of the living room, his eyes on me. Between us is nothing more than a couple yards and a navy-blue couch. White ship lathe, I think that’s the correct term, covers every wall. It lightens the room, giving it a country chic ambiance. Hey, don’t judge. Kat made me watch those silly home decorating shows on HGTV. I learned a few things I didn’t know before.
Kade doesn’t speak. I don’t speak. We simply stare at each other. There’s no sense of urgency or tension. With the sweep of his hand, Kade motions to a built-in bookcase that flanks a rustic fireplace from floor to almost ceiling. This place isn’t like Ryker’s, it doesn’t have over-the-top beamed ceilings. Just normal ones, and they suit me just fine.
I take a step closer to see what Kade’s trying to show me.
Another step and every muscle in my body coils tighter and tighter until I can barely breathe. I wrap my arms around my middle, gasping for air as hot tears, born of infinite heartache begin to drip down my face.
“T-that’s,” I choke out.
Kade scratches his forearm, uncomfortable, like he wants to bring out his knives, but is fighting the urge. “When Big bought the house, he had your things sent here. I went through them to make this place feel more like home.”
“My son. That’s my son.” I point to his black urn that is nothing more than a box. It’s there, on the middle shelf next to…
Giving me space, Kade nods, never taking his uneasy eyes off me. “I know, sweetheart.” His words are smooth as silk, making me cry all the harder.
“And my husband,” I blubber.
More scratching ensues until Kade has long, red stripes covering his forearm. “I hope you’re not mad.” He shifts from foot to foot.
Mad? How could I ever be mad? That’s my family. My… life up there. In the house I… he gave me. That Kade gave me. That Big gave me. I… It’s too much.
“T-they have a place. Their own place.” With pictures. He put up pictures of Johnny and Sebastian. Of us together on the beach. In our house on base. At the park. Then there’s one of my husband in his fatigues, our infant son in his arms. That was the first moment he met our boy. He’d just returned home from deployment.
The tension around Kade’s eyes softens to a fondness that squeezes my heart in a vice. “Always, Swan. They belong here. This is their home, too. With us.”
I swipe the tears away with the back of my hand, doing fuckall to remove them as they keep on coming. “I… I… I dunno what to say. You… knew about them… But you didn’t tell me.”
Kade rubs the middle of his chest with his fist. “You’re cryin’. Please don’t cry. We—I don’t like it when you cry.”
If I could stop, I would. I don’t like crying either. “I haven’t seen those pictures in years,” I point out instead.
Vulnerability laces Kade’s words. “I don’t know much, I promise. I didn’t read the letters. Those are yours. I only looked through your pictures so I could frame a few. It didn’t take much to put the pieces together. You don’t have to tell me a thing. I didn’t put them out for me. They’re here for you. If they’re too much, we can take them down. Guess I didn’t think about that before I got the frames.”
God, I can’t believe he did that for me. Can you imagine what went through Kade’s mind when he opened a box and found two urns, letters, and those pictures? That’s all I kept. There wasn’t anything else I wanted. And that was enough. It’s sad how the most important parts of your life can fit inside a basic moving box.
Touched beyond my ability to form a proper… thank you. Hell, a thank you doesn’t cover this. Not for what he’s done for me… Fighting for me every step of the way, even when I resisted. He knew. And up until this point, I didn’t know for sure. Didn’t know feeling like this about someone could be real. That love was possible for a second time. True love. The kind that makes you feel cherished and cared for. The kind that Johnny showed me day in and out for almost a decade. I’m not the same as I once was, but my dark prince who struggles with his own demons doesn’t care. He loves me for me. And… I love him, too. God, I do. That’s so messed up. I love Kade. Kade… the man who gets off on killing people. Who always has a boner around me. Who has the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen. Who gets me, even when I don’t get myself. It’s been a month. A month. Who falls for someone in that short of time? I’m a rational woman on most days. This is… I love him. The clarity is stifling, yet incredible.
Wanting to give Kade a small gift. To share myself with him unlike I’ve never shared myself before. To show him that I love him too, without using the words I can’t yet speak. I swallow down the lump in my throat and muster every ounce of bravery to forge this uncharted path. “They died and it was horrible, Kade. Johnny had PTSD and… there was a crash. Sebastian didn’t make it.” As each word breaks the surface, erupting from my soul, my beautiful, loving, dark prince takes a step in my direction. The moment I speak the very last word, he wraps me in his arms and guides me to the couch, where we sit together. Overwhelmed with everything in my life, I cling to the solid force I know I can trust, and sob against his chest. Kade pulls me onto his lap and kisses my temple as I break down in front of another person. Letting him see the wounds I carry that will fester for the rest of my days.
“I’ve got ya, babe.”
Letting my emotions guide me, I press my nose to his pec and inhale. The scent of wind, leather and him calms me. It doesn’t take long and I’m breathing easier. My emotional well dries up as it soaks into the cotton of his hoodie, but he doesn’t care.
When I’m ready, I crack open my vault of truths and set my past free. “Johnny killed himself.” A mountain I didn’t realize I was carrying, lifts from my shoulders.
He peppers kisses into my hair. “Awe, Swan. I’m so sorry.” Warm breath bathes my scalp. The closeness is perfection. A relief.
“Me too…” Kade hugs me a little tighter, imbuing me with his endless strength. “I’m an orphan and he was my only person…Until…”
“Big?”
“Yeah… and—”
“Me?”
His intuition never ceases to amaze.
“Yeah,” I whisper.
“You don’t have to share. I don’t expect anything. But I’m glad you stopped cryin’.”
“Is it okay if I want to?” Needing to be closer, I slip my palm under the hem of his hoodie and touch skin. Kade makes a sexy rumbly sound on contact, and I curb a smile to keep all to myself.
“Absolutely. I want to know them. And I really want to know you. All of you.” Fingers comb through the side of my hair.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Bein’ you.” For being what I need, even when I didn’t know I needed it.
“Jesus, woman, way to stroke my ego and make me wanna cry at the same fuckin’ time. I love you.” A tighter squeeze commences, a kiss landing in my hair.
“I think I might, too.” There. I said it. Going with my gut is always the answer, there’s no backing down now.
I return a peck to his sternum, curling my fingers around the top of his jeans, entering the inside of his boxers. Not to tease him or arouse him any more than he already is,
but to be closer, to stay connected.
“Love me?” Kade rasps, a shiver passing through his frame. Then a lofty sigh releases as though the weight of the world has been lifted.
“Is that okay?” I tread lightly.
“Whenever you’re ready, I’m ready… for you. For us.”
“You’re a great man, Kade Knox.” The best.
I sense a head shake. “No, babe, I’m not. I’m just as fucked up as you are. That’s why we fit. I’m a selfish man, who goes after what he wants. I’m also a sadistic motherfucker.”
“I like all that.”
“See. I tell you I like holding a beatin’ heart in my hand and you think that’s okay. When every other woman would be callin’ the police to lock my ass up.” True.
“We make quite the pair.” I chuckle against his pecs.
Quick bursts of rich laughter are a welcome response. “That we do, Swan. That we do. Are you feelin’ better?”
I nod, forehead brushing the black cotton. “Yes.”
“Can I show you the rest of the house, then? I promise there won’t be any more of those surprises.”
“Sure.” I’d like that.
Ever the gentleman, Kade helps me to my feet, but doesn’t stray far. He cups the side of my neck and leans down to deliver the sweetest kiss a woman could dream of. My eyes close of their own accord as I soak it in. There’s no urgency or heady passion. It speaks of devotion and trust. Of understanding between two wrecked souls beginning a new journey. When Kade pulls back, he’s smiling and somehow, I’m doing the same.
“Let me show you around, my lady.” The sinister prince winks, lightening the mood. Then takes my hand in his to lead me into the kitchen, right off the living room. It’s simple. Nothing more than a row of white cupboards and an old fashioned cast iron sink. The house is as it looks on the outside, quaint.
There are two bedrooms. One with a single twin positioned in the middle with a bare mattress on top. Across the hall, our bedroom is slightly more complete, with a queen sleigh bed and matching nightstands in a bluish slate gray. The bedding is much like Kade’s clubhouse style, plain. In this case, white. I like it a whole lot. The best part is the giant picture window that overlooks a sizable backyard full of trees, green grass, and bushes. I pause to appreciate the view, and Kade steps up behind me. He wraps his arm around my upper chest, holding my back to his front.
Wrecked & Reclaimed (Sacred Sinners MC - Texas Chapter Book 5) Page 21