“I’m glad you’re here.” He kissed her again as he lifted her.
Lucy wrapped her legs around him as he carried her into his house and settled onto the couch with her in his lap. They made out for a long while, and by the time they came up for air, it was dark outside.
“You know,” she smiled, running her fingers along the tops of his shoulders. “I like how you say hello, Cade.”
“Mmm.” He kissed her neck. “I like how you do, too.”
They sat for a long moment, just gazing into each other’s eyes, and Lucy loved how wonderful it was just sitting together like this.
Cade reached out, tracing his fingertips along her jaw.
“Damn, I missed you today.” His voice was low and gruff, sexy.
“I missed you too.” And sure, she should probably be freaked out by that fact, but she wasn’t.
Not at all.
“Lucy, honey,” Cade cleared his throat, “I need to tell you something. It might sound completely crazy but, I need you to hear me out.”
“I’m listening.”
Somehow, she knew whatever he had to tell her wasn’t scary, and yet, she found her heart rate speeding up as she watched Cade’s Adam’s apple shift while he swallowed.
He was nervous.
“It’s no secret I’m incredibly attracted to you, but it’s not just for a good time, Lucy. I want to be with you long term.” He cupped her cheeks with both hands. “I need you to know what you’re getting into with me, though.”
While she liked the idea of something long-term with Cade, she frowned at the seriousness in his tone.
“And what is that?”
“I’m a shifter, honey.”
“Okay.” Lucy searched Cade’s face for more clues. She didn’t see what the big deal was, but he was obviously anxious about it. “So, do you normally work nights, then? I’m an indie artist. I make up my own hours. We can work out schedules.”
Cade rested his forehead on hers, wrapping his arms around her waist. “No, honey, that’s not what I mean. Although, being in law enforcement, sometimes I do work strange hours. I mean…” he leaned back, taking a deep breath. “You know how your family heritage is Hispanic and Native? Well, mine is like that, only different.”
“I don’t care about your ancestry.” Lucy frowned. “Is that a thing in small towns? People care about stuff like that? My Yayo lived here just fine and got along with everyone.”
What the hell?
“No, Lucy.” Cade shook his head. “It’s not that, it’s—” he ran his hand down his face. “Shit, this is hard to do. We don’t usually talk about it.”
She nodded, understanding his hesitancy.
She’d put up with her own share of crap from people who didn’t look like her at boarding schools growing up.
“Look, Cade, I don’t care what your heritage is. As long as you or your family aren’t actively oppressing anyone for theirs, I don’t care. I just want to be with you.”
“But I’m a shifter, honey.”
“I don’t even know what you mean by that.” Lucy sighed. “I can tell it’s important to you and you think it’s a bad thing, but…”
“No, being a shifter is a good thing.” Cade interjected. “It’s a very good thing.” He shook his head. “Shit, we’re not supposed to talk about this with others, but you need to know.”
Lucy cupped Cade’s face in her hands, wishing she could do more to calm him.
“Then tell me, Cade.” The way he was getting worked up over this shifter thing was kind of freaking her out. “Just tell me whatever it is and we’ll figure out how to deal with it. Or not.” She shrugged. “Just tell me.”
