Who would have thought a man moaning around food would sound so…erotic?
His eyes pop open and pin me from across the table. “You have no fuckin’ idea when the last time I tasted chocolate was.” He gobbles up another before twisting the box. “Eat.”
“Oh, no, it’s okay. I’m not the one—”Foot in mouth. Shut up!“I mean, I could always pick up more when I…”Fuck my life! Stop talking.
“Leave here,” he finishes with a smirk. “My situation is pretty hard to ignore. This” —he pinches his uniform’s collar— “kinda makes it impossible to. Share with me.”
It’s not a question, but a demand, in an authoritative tone that implies he’s used to getting people to do what he wants.
My ankles cross, thighs tightening. “I got them for you.”
“But I’m stuck in this fuckin’ place and didn’t get you anything, so entertain me with this much. If I knew you were coming, I might have had time, but this is all I got.”
Oh.It’s his pride speaking.
With a small smile of gratitude, I reach for a chocolate and pop it into my mouth, chewing slowly.
The heat in his eyes expands down my chest and into my blouse, and it’s a while before he grins again. “Tell me about your week. I want to know everything.”
So, I do.
I ramble while eating two more chocolates and he polishes off the remaining ten or so. We talk about anything and everything—most of which are demanding inquiries about my life.
When the hour is up, I stand to leave—to tell him this will be it. But when I open my mouth, nothing comes out.
He slides his hands as close to me as the cuffs allow him to, his dark eyes pleading with wonders I’ll never be able to answer. But this, I’m able to. Even if touching him after all the time of sitting apart is probably the stupidest thing I’ll ever do.
My hand lowers onto his, ignoring the guards calling for all visitors to leave. It’ll be my last chance—myonlychance—and I want this as much as he does. He flips his hand over, covering mine on the table. He stares at where we’re touching before tilting his head to meet my gaze. There are no words needed to explain the different power dynamics. He may be the one locked up, but I’m the one held captive.
His hand, so much larger, shifts until his fingers intertwine with mine. A low rumble comes from his chest, and his thumb strokes my fingers until flipping my hand back over so my fingers are draped over the side of his.
Then, he brings my hand close to his mouth, deleting the remaining distance. Warm lips press into the back of myknuckles, held for only a few seconds before a guard shouts at me to leave and Cade is forced to pull away.
His lips may no longer be physically touching me, but the imprint remains. One reinforced by his eyes trailing me out.
“I’ll be seeing you again,” he calls after me.
You won’t.
Holding my hand to my chest, I flee without a backwards look so he doesn’t see the guilt.
And the lone tear sliding down my cheek.
FIVE
CADE
Valentine’s Dayis a complete joke meant to prey upon the weak-minded who believe love is a driving emotion.
Love doesn’t exist. It’s a requited form of obsession, in which a so-called “relationship” is defined as two people being equally obsessed—so much so that they’ve tacked on a title society respects.
Bullshit.
Aspen bringing me chocolates to celebrate the stupid holiday makes the whole thing a bit less bullshit. They tasted as sweet as I imagine her being. One day, I’ll compare. One day, I’ll be between her thighs, and we’ll make those baby blue eyes sparkle for better reasons. Cuffs prevented me from touching her, but soon, tables will be turned, and I’ll haveherin handcuffs.
Because one day, she’ll be mine and mine alone. Mine to fuck, to hold, to break, to taste. One day, she’ll be beneath me and that’s where our lives will end. I’ll bring her into my world, and she can show me hers.
The day after her visit, I write a letter, but this one isn’t for her. It’s for one of my most trusted guys, ordering him to botherthe cop we have in our pocket. Bribes keep him compliant, and while I have nothing to threaten him with right now, he’s aware of the price of not complying—what my guys will do to him if he doesn’t help.
