“Your thinking is kinda really loud there, babe.” His sleepy tone pulled me from my thoughts. “Man, I can’t sleep with the war you’re waging inside that beautiful head of yours.”
I blinked and Kaden sucked in a breath as my eyelids fluttered open to be met by his stormy grey ones. He took my breath away. As I smiled down at him, his hand reached to touch my face. I leaned into his touch so he didn’t strain his already hurt shoulder.
“What’s going on inside there, baby? What’s worrying you?” His index finger tapped against my temple gently.
“It’s painful and frightening to be reminded that no one cares nor loves me the way you loved her.”
My hand flew to my mouth, slapping the words back. I couldn’t believe I uttered them out loud. The look on his face told me I had.
“Fear and love need each other to survive, babe. There will always be traces of her inside me, in my heart and my mind. But you? You bring me to my knees. You have changed my world, so if you’re ready and willing to be swept up by the storm within me, hang on. My mind hasn’t been the same since I met you but you need to find a way to love the fireball which is me.”
I shook my head, his words slicing through the walls I’d spent years erecting. I had spent so long locked away with war raging inside me, I’d forgotten to open my eyes to see what was around me.
“Look at me Gracie-May.’ His tone was assertive, sensing my unease.
“We’re two tormented souls fighting our inner demons to be stronger than their taunts. We can win these battles together.”
Tears slid down my face, his thumb wiped them away.
“Don’t let him hold you captive, babe. Don’t give him that kind of power over you.” He pulled me forward, into him. His fingers linked behind my neck.
“You’re letting Ari do the same to you.”
His eyes were glazed over with wetness, tears he wanted or needed to shed. He held them back, not allowing me to see his weakness.
“I have given my life to him, but he has given his to the bottom of a beer bottle. I wasn’t enough.” I straightened and stepped away from him.
Kaden reached out to pull me back, his fingers grasped mine. I watched him wince as his shoulder and ribs bit out at the movement.
I moved to the window, my hands found the cool edge of the small boxed sill, holding me in place as my eyes roamed the falling night. Stars began to sparkle in the dark.
“And I gave Ari all my love but she couldn’t love anything beyond the beer and pills, baby. So, you see, we’re the same.”
My body hummed at the throaty sound of his voice.
“Will you be able to set her aside to love me?” It was a question I didn’t want to ask, but I needed to know.
“She will always hold a place in my heart, Gracie, I’d be lying if I said I could toss her aside. I can get past her, move forward. I can give you my love. Every second I’m without you I suffer. I will give it all for you, babe. I will fight for you.” His sharp intake of breath had me turning and I found him attempting to stand for the first time. His legs now encased in moon boots.
“Kad….”
I remained quiet as he pushed his wobbling body into mine, his body rigid with pain.
“I stand before you a man who has been broken, but I vow to become whole again. To stay if you’ll allow me in.”
I helped ease our bodies into the oversized armchair and Kaden blew out a breath he’d been holding, expelling the pain which had flooded his body with the movement.
We curled into each other, his breath warm on my neck. We did nothing for a moment, just held each other, feeling the connection I had never felt with anyone else. This intimate closeness sent a heated flare through my tightly strung body.
From the first moment I encountered him, I saw through his broken yet beautiful exterior to the impossibly raw, dark and nurturing man. To the world he was a dangerous man, trained to kill. To me, he was a soft sensual human who I wanted to breathe in forever.
“How do I leave him?” I asked the question I feared while chewing on the end of Kaden’s pen which I’d forgotten I held. “I’m so scared.”
“My pen?” He glanced over to where I’d laid his notebook.
My cheeks heated when I realised he must know I’d read what he’d written.
“I have nothing to hide Gracie-May, I will tell you anything you want to know, unless it’s secret army business.”
