“I’m not fucking you.”
He tilts his head, an amused smile playing over his lips. “Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah. I don’t know where your dick’s been.”
He snorts. A humorless sound. Pissed off, amused, frustrated. I can’t tell. “You think I’ve been fucking some endless parade of muffler bunnies since you took off?”
“I know it. That’s what you guys do.”
“You don’t know shit. Go to bed.” There’s more anger than amusement behind his words this time.
“I’m not a child. You can’t give me a bedtime.”
“Kadence.” Frustration creeps into his voice. “I’m tired. After everything that happened tonight, you must be tired, too. Don’t fight me over every little thing.”
Fight with him. It’s the last thing I want to do. But also the only thing I want to do.
“Go change and get ready for bed,” he says, pointing at his bedroom.
“I’m not sleeping with you.”
“Well, I only got the one bedroom, sweetheart, and I ain’t sleeping on the couch in my own house.”
“Wow, you’re a real gentleman,” I grumble, turning to escape him.
He stops me with a hand on my arm. “Never claimed to be a gentleman.” He places two fingers under my chin, tilting my head back. “But don’t forget, I was ready to kill for you tonight.” His low, jagged voice melts my insides.
How can such a frustrating man also be so fucking swoonworthy?
“Thank you.”
“That’s better, Kady.”
And I’m back to wanting to kick the smug fucker in the balls.
I spin around and stalk down to the bedroom.
Nothing’s changed. I wander to my old dresser and find my clothes right where I left them.
Won’t lie, I’m excited as fuck Kadence is back where she belongs. Keeping her here might be a challenge.
A challenge I am definitely up for.
I like to think over the years I’ve known her, I’ve learned when she needs space and when she doesn’t. Right now, I think she needs her space, so even though my dick perks up at the sound of the shower and my brain won’t stop thinking about sudsy water flowing over her bare skin, I stay in the living room.
I use the time to check in with my dad and clear my schedule for tomorrow.
Before I realize it, forty-five minutes have gone by and the house is quiet. Leaning over, I slip my boots off and head down the hall.
Seeing Kadence curled up on her side of the bed punches me in the gut. I’ve missed having her here. She left the bathroom light on and the door open a bit. An old habit so when I got home late from work, I’d be able to see where I was going. Maybe straightening out things between us won’t be so hard after all.
I hurry through my shower and slide into bed next to her. Takes everything I’ve got not to pull her into my arms.
Patience.
I’ve got it in spades.
Fuck knows a man needs it when it comes to this frustrating little fireball.
