I wake up to a sound in my bedroom and open my eyes, my heart pounding in terror as the silhouette of a person standing at the end of my bed comes into focus. I freak out and sit up, about to scream, when Kane’s familiar voice says, “It’s only me.”
With my hand clutching the sheet to my chest, I say, “Kane, what are you doing here?” I look to the left of my bed, the alarm clock on my bedside table telling me it’s close to 5:00 a.m. “Kane, it’ still early out, go and get some more sleep.”
I hear him scratch his jaw, the familiar sound of his whiskers against his nails calming my breathing a touch. “I can’t sleep, babe.”
“Why, what’s wrong? Are you sick?” I let go of the sheet a little but still manage to cover my breasts. Why the hell did I get naked tonight?
His jeans are gone, and he’s standing there in just black briefs. He walks around the bed toward me then sits down on the edge. His hand comes out and he runs the back of his knuckles down my cheek. “No, not sick, babe,” he answers. His eyes are shining with the small amount light that’s coming through my window.
“Do you need some Tylenol?”
“Already had some, found it in the bathroom cabinet.”
“Right,” I mumble, unsure what to say next.
“I can’t sleep because I know you’re here in this house, and I want to be with you.”
My body shivers, yet the longing his words bring out in me has me all hot and bothered. “Kane, please don’t do this,” I beg, needing him to be the one to leave, because I’m not sure I can turn him away this time. I know I act all tough, but the truth is that I do love him—I love him so much it hurts, and right now I need him. I know I do. I just…. I think he deserves more, someone who’s not broken inside—someone who can be happy and wild and free. But that’s me, at least it used to be, and maybe one day I’ll get it back, but for right now? I think keeping to my own company is the best option.
“Please, baby, I don’t want much, I just need to lie here with you. Please, will you just give me that? Let me hold you. I need you, I’m hurting too.”
I bite down on my bottom lip, contemplating his offer. What’s the harm? It would be nice to snuggle with him.
“Okay, “I say, defeated. I turn the blankets down and shuffle over. He slides in and covers us both, and I lie on my side, my back facing his chest. I hold my breath when his arm wraps around my body and brings me in closer to him. He tucks my head under his chin, and it’s not long before he’s fast asleep, his breaths coming out slow and even, and with the warmth of his body surrounding me, it’s not long before I’m fast asleep in his arms.
The smell of bacon wafts into my room. Opening my eyes, I discover Kane’s not in my bed anymore, and I slide my hand over the pillow that still holds the indent of his head, assuring me I hadn’t been dreaming he was here.
The sound of pots and pans clattering comes up the stairs, and I sit up and look around at my old bedroom that I slept in as a child, and smile. I wonder what Kane thought of my pink walls, pillows and colorful cushions scattered everywhere, and the One Direction posters covering my walls.
Hearing more banging around downstairs, I get up and pull on an oversized T-shirt I like to wear to bed, and head on down there.
When I reach the kitchen, I stop in my tracks at the vision before me—Kane, shirtless, dressed only in his denim jeans, standing over a hot stove, cooking. His jeans sit low on his waist, showing that curve at his butt that always makes me want to bite it. His muscled back, with the Blood Brothers Logo tattooed over most of the top of it, flexes with each of his movements. I lean against the doorframe and stare, letting my gaze roam over every inch of him.
He curses a minute later, when oil splatters on his bare chest, and I can’t help but laugh out loud as he steps back and dances on his feet, patting at the spot. His head snaps toward me, and his face shows he’s feeling stressed, so I walk over and look around him into the frying pan. Burnt bacon sits there, along with eggs that are now black. I giggle because turning eggs black is something I didn’t think possible, but quickly cover my mouth and hide my smile when I see a defeated look come onto Kane’s face.
I reach out and wipe away some of the oil that splashed on his chest. “Aww, you tried to make me breakfast, that’s so sweet.” It really was, and not something I ever expected from him.
He switches the stovetop off and turns to face me. “I’m so sorry, babe. I really wanted to do this for you, but I have to admit, I’m not very good at cooking.”
I smile and lean in and kiss his chest. When I look up at him, his eyes are now filled with desire, and I clear my throat and turn toward the stove again. “What are we going to do with this?” I ask, looking back at him.
He smirks. “There’s more in the fridge….”
I raise an eyebrow at him. He wouldn’t. “Are you trying to get me to cook now?”
“Well….” He flashes me a cheeky grin. “If you’re offering….”
He totally was. I decide to play along, though. “Ha! Right! Was this your plan all along?” I ask, grinning to myself as I step past and grab the frypan, then carry it to the bin, where I throw out the burnt bacon and unbelievably black eggs.
He doesn’t reply—actually, it’s dead quiet all of a sudden. When I look over my shoulder, I see why. His eyes glued to my ass and his elbows resting on the bench behind him. His hands are squeezing together so tightly it’s causing his knuckles to whiten. Shit, I only have underwear on. And a G-string at that, now that everything has settled down in that area.
Standing straight, I walk toward the sink, and rinse out the pan then take it to the stove again, trying desperately to ignore his travelling gaze.
As I go to turn the stovetop back on, warmth covers my back, and large arms wrap around me. My breath hitches when his lips start to nibble at my neck. “Fuck, I’ve missed you,” he whispers against my skin, his tone completely sincere.
I squeeze my eyes shut, thinking about how much I’ve missed him too, and then cover his arms with mine. We stand there together like that for a while, warm and comfortable in each other’s arms. It feels so good, so right to be with him here, like this. How can I possibly fight this? Right here, right now? It feels so perfect.
His arms loosen, and he turns me to face him. He cups my face in his rough hands, and his voice is hoarse when he finally speaks. “I love you, Charity, and I’m not letting you go. I know you’re hurting, baby. I… I hurt too.” Tears well in my eyes and I try to look away, but he doesn’t let me, he keeps me focused on him. “It will take time, I know that, but I’ll be here for you, as long as it takes. I’ve just found you and I’m not losing you, so do what you want, say what you want, but I’m not going anywhere without you.”
Tears run down my face now, and I sniffle. My eyes focus on the tattoo on the right side of his chest, a cross. “Look at me, baby,” he whispers when I still won’t meet his gaze. I do, and I melt at the look of love evident in his eyes. “We will make this work, and I promise I’ll do everything I can to make you happy, if it’s the last thing I do. You… want another baby? Whenever you feel ready, I’ll give you one. I don’t care… I mean, I do. Care. A lot. It’s just… as long as I have you. And not sayin’ the thought of being a dad doesn’t scare me to shit, but still, if that’s what you want—now, one day, never—then I’ll gladly give it to you.”
I widen my eyes at his jumbled words. Another baby? With Kane? The thought scares me, but at the same time a flicker of warmth takes seed in my soul. I go to speak, but he kisses me, swallowing my words—a slow panty-dropping kiss that ends all too soon.
When he pulls away, he smiles down at me. “You don’t need to say anything right now, you have a lot goin’ on, so what you’re going to do for me now is go get some fuckin’ pants on, then make me breakfast before I go out of my fuckin’ mind.”
I frown. “Why would you…? Oh.”
“Yeah, oh. You’re fuckin’ all but naked under there, do you know what it feels like to want something you can’t have right there…? And I know it’s too early for you to have sex again, but fuck. Charity, you ever, ever,” he repeats, running his hands down the length of my hair, “wear nothing but panties around me again, then I’m not apologizing for what happens.”
I smirk. “Really?” I tease. Leaning in I kiss his jaw, then run my fingers down his chest.
He stills my hand and pulls back. “Babe, don’t tease me, I’m right on the edge. Now, get that hot as fuck ass upstairs and get changed, I’ll get the coffee started.”
I smile. “Okay, I can do that, for you.”
He kisses me one last time before I step away, looking me in the eye. “Everything’s going to be okay, I promise.”
I nod, then reluctantly turn away and walk back up the stairs—to get my “hot as fuck butt” covered.