Nine
My damp hair sticks to my skin. The room is dark, the only light is provided by the screen on his desk. It lit up minutes ago, but Kade has made no move to check it out. I don’t expect him to, I suppose. He’s breathing heavily into the nape of my neck and the arm he has draped over me is almost crushing my ribs. He sleeps like a baby, but I can’t. I’m feeling too…overwhelmed to sleep. After we had sex, Kade took me to the bathroom and we showered. Neither of us spoke…instead, we enjoyed the silence. He washed me from head to toe, allowing me to rest my body against his. It was strange…I didn’t know if we were silent because he simply didn’t want to discuss what happened or if we were happy just being together. In bed, he pulled me into him, wrapping his arms tightly around me. Soon after, he fell asleep. He didn’t say anything about tonight, but he didn’t have to. I felt it…I felt how much he cares for me. Kade is dark, he’s difficult, and he’s cold…but it’s only to protect who he is at his core and I want him…in more ways than I already have. I close my eyes. Stop. He is a Fortunate. You suffer because of him. I will myself to stop thinking about him, but the harder I try, the harder he forces his way in. He’s demanding and aggressive, but he cares about me. He cares about how much water I drink when I’m only allowed to have two cups a day. He cares about the food I ingest when I’m only allowed the sludge and stale bread. He wants me to be comfortable, to shower regularly and to sleep in a large bed with blankets that keep me warm...and I don’t know if it’s because he wants me to look nice when I represent him and his house at parties...or if he actually cares about my well-being. Could he care? Can Fortunates actually feel compassion for another life? The others might not, but Kade does.
I lay for a little longer until the annoying urge to pee begins to nag at me. With a sigh, I roll out from underneath Kade’s arm. He barely twitches an eyebrow. I guess he’s a heavy sleeper. Naked, I slip out from underneath the blanket and immediately the cold air sticks to my skin, propelling me to move quicker. Using only the light from his computer, I tip-toe as fast as I can all the way to the toilet. After I go and flush, I step back into the main room. Kade still hasn’t moved from his spot, even after the toilet fills itself with water again. I wish I could sleep half as well as him. I’m such a light sleeper even the sound of a chirping cricket in the distance can wake me up. Now that I think about it, I can’t sleep when there’s light, either. I need to it be dark and silent in order to sleep well. I cross the room on the tips of my feet all of the way over to his computer. Surely, there’s a switch somewhere that can turn this screen off? Paying no attention to what’s on the screen, I run my fingers around the glass frame, looking for an obvious button.
Nothing.
I lean closer and that’s when the words on the screen catch my attention. It’s a message, from his dad about the mine and Unfortunates. None of my business. I straighten my spine and turn away from the screen. I want to ignore it, I really do, but I can’t. Dammit! I turn back to the computer. What does the mine have to do with Unfortunates? My index finger twitches toward the screen, but I pull it back, jamming it between my legs. I shouldn’t do this. Kade will hate me if he ever finds out, but god, I need to know what’s going on. I need to know!
I tap the message in the bottom left corner and it opens up.
Kaden,
It turns out our mine situation is a hell of a lot more complicated than I thought. I saw the videos. Those collapses are no freak accident! What have you done? If word gets out about this, we are screwed! I never should have trusted you with such an important position. Unfortunates we presumed dead are living in one of our mines? They’ve had YEARS to establish themselves. They’ve killed Fortunates and Moderators and have kept the Unfortunates for themselves. DO NOT send out anymore Unfortunates. I don’t want their numbers to increase. Our only option is to blow the mine sky high. That is your last job before I give the position to your brother. Clean up your mess, find a good cover story and never speak of this again.
And Kade, for your sake, you’d want to hope you had nothing to do with this.
M. Sario.
At the bottom, there’s a small map of the mines. It’s not far from here, just across the lake, over the fence and on the other side of the small mountain. You could make it there in a day, or two, depending on circumstances. Holy. Shit. Unfortunates have sought refuge in one of the Sario mines and are killing any Fortunate or Moderator that enters? How badass is that? I can’t help the smile that spreads across my lips. This is ground breaking…a rebellion? Fighting for freedom? Excitement bubbles in my chest and I close the message. Unfortunately, it disappears off the screen all together.
“Crap.” I curse under my breath. How do I get it back? “Oh no, no, no…”
I swallow hard and let out an exhale. It’s okay…if it’s gone, that means Kade can’t read it either. I’d rather it not exist than lie open for him to see that I’ve read it. Abandoning operation ‘turn off the computer’ I rush back to bed and climb in. I definitely can’t sleep now. I could live with them…I could go to the mine and truly be free. I could fight for something—or die for something. As the thought passes, I feel his arms circle me and pull me back in, squeezing me hard against his body.
“You’re cold,” he mutters sleepily, then wraps a leg around mine, completely pinning me against him. His skin is warm and I lie perfectly still as I let it engulf me. I stare directly ahead at the wall. There’s one small problem to my running away idea…him. I don’t think I can leave him. After everything he’s done, I owe him my life. The thought of disappointing him leaves an empty feeling in the pit of my stomach. I’ve become one of ‘those’ Unfortunates. The ones that get caught up in the Fortunate spell…the ones that truly believe their Fortunate would die for them. Only, I’m certain mine would. There’s a good chance he’s setting me up for the murder of his father. Why can’t he just kill him, why does he need my help? What if we get caught? He can easily turn the entire situation on me. I shift, trying to pull myself out of Kade’s grip, but he won’t allow it. He holds on tight, so tight I’m certain he’ll crush every bone in my body if I pull any harder.
“Sleep,” he orders, his voice husky and tired. I stop moving and slump into him, letting him pull me even closer.
There’s no way I’m going to be able to sleep, not now. I have to warn everyone. I have to tell the Unfortunates that they’re going to blow the mine, don’t I? Surely, there’s some kind of Unfortunate code. But how am I going to get away from Kade long enough to run? Do I even want to run? Then it hit me, THIRTEEN! I can tell her, she’d love a chance to get away from here, from Vince, and she could warn the Unfortunates in the mine at the same time and they can all flee together, wherever the land takes them before it stops. Excitement bubbles to the surface once again. I can save Thirteen and she can save the Unfortunates in the mine. It’s a win-win. I’m not going to lie…a part of me is happy I get to stay here with Kade. As long as I have him, I think I’m safe.
∞
I’m not sure how long I lie awake for or if I’ve dozed off occasionally, but the second the outside light filters in through the curtains, the door opens. I peer through semi-closed eyelids and watch as Vince leans against the door frame. On the very tip of his index finger, hangs a small silver key. He had a key to this room the whole time? “Well, isn’t this sweet.”
I feel Kade’s body tighten as he lifts his head to peer over my shoulder.
“Cuddling? Elizabeth told me that wasn’t your thing, Kaden.” Vince draws the mug he holds in his hands to his lips and takes one self-satisfied sip. “She’ll be thrilled to know it just isn’t your thing when you’re with her.”
Kade releases me and I shift on the bed, looking anywhere but at Vince. “The Unfortunate and I had a long night.” He clears his throat and kicks back the blankets. “Besides, I smoked a lot. I take no responsibility for my actions.”
I frown. Unfortunate? I was Nine, Baby, and Sweetheart last night. Shielding my hurt, I keep what fabric I can to hide my body from Vince. I don’t want him to see me naked ever again.
“I’m finished with her, anyway.” He tosses me my dress and the cold, mean look in his eye really hurts my feelings. “Have breakfast, then help Portia in the kitchen. I’ll summon you when I need you again.”
I stare at him—or glare. I’m not sure.
“Did you hear me? Go.”
I grit my teeth. Asshole. I didn’t expect him to declare feelings for me this morning. I expected he wouldn’t want to talk about it and I expected he wouldn’t treat me any differently in front of other Fortunates, but I didn’t expect this.
“Yes, Master Kade,” I say, slipping my dress on over my head and climbing out of bed. I straighten the fabric and storm towards the door without a glance over my shoulder. I don’t look at Vince as I pass him. Instead, I march into the hallway with an ache in my jaw from clenching my teeth so hard. My eyes begin to burn and tear just like the time the kitchen hands were dicing onions in the kitchen and it wafted into my room, only this time, my chest aches.
∞ Kade ∞
Running a hand over his face, Kade crossed the room to his wardrobe and pulled out a black sweater. He threw it on even though it didn’t go well with his sweatpants. It’s official. I’m a giant asshole.
That wasn’t how he wanted the morning to go. He’d imagined buttered toast and berries while they lay in bed. He cringed at the thought. Maybe it was a good idea I sent her away. Imagine being caught like that instead of ‘snuggling.’ Snuggling was easy to play off, especially since Vince saw Kade smoking last night, but breakfast in bed? There was no way out of that one.
“That looked awfully romantic,” Vince teased, passing the threshold of the door and entering the room.
Worry settled in the pit of Kade’s stomach. Was there anything lying around that could tip Vince off on what really happened here last night? It wasn’t romantic—drugs and first time sex? Kade wasn’t a romantic guy, even he knew that, and last night could have been—should have been—a lot better for Nine.
“There’s nothing romantic about sex. You, of all people, should know that.” Kade kept his eyes busy and focused on the floor as he strolled around the room before dropping into his chair behind the desk. “What do you want, anyway?”
“I thought I’d see if you wanted to have breakfast together.”
He smirked and took another sip of his coffee. Kade wondered if the same smirk Vince was using now was the same one he used on Nine the night he’d taken her to the Black House and she begged them to stop.
“Having breakfast with you is the last thing I want to do,” he retorted, crossing his arms.
Vince lowered his mug. “You still mad about what happened with your Unfortunate at my birthday party? Come on, Kaden. I was drunk. It was all fun and games.”
“For you!” Kade snapped, making Vince flinch. He quickly realised yelling wasn’t the best thing to do when you’re trying to sound indifferent. “It was fun for you.”
The truth was, Kade was anything but indifferent. He thought about that night almost every night since then—Nine undoubtedly did, too. From the second he saw her naked, panicked, and crying on the table, he imagined peeling Vince from his own skin and throwing him on an ant nest. It was one thing to order an Unfortunate around, but it was something else entirely to take one from someone without permission. Though Nine didn’t have parents, she was still someone’s little girl. And if she had no one else around to protect her, then he would… and that thought sprouted not from the fact he had developed feelings for his Unfortunate. He hadn’t. Nine was his property, a gift for his twenty-fifth birthday. That’s all.
“Suit yourself,” Vince said with a shrug as he stuffed one of his hands into the pocket of his black slacks. “You know, you should try being less intense. You’d have more friends.”
Kade sighed. “You finished?”
“No, not really. I can go on and on, if you want.”
Despite the slow morning he knew he had, he wasn’t about to waste time listening to Vince give him tips on how to be ‘warmer.’ “Nope, get out.”
His lips curled into a wicked grin as he took a step back. “See you ‘round, brother.”
He whirled on his heel and strolled casually from the room—as if he owned it. It wasn’t surprising. Vince had spent his whole life walking around the manor like he owned it. Kade let him be. It didn’t bother him as long as Vince stayed out of his room and away from his things. It was hard being raised by Fortunates who weren’t his parents. Most of the time, the heads of the household lived in Freeport City and only come out to the suburbs when there’s a party or to visit with their children. The city was what kept this world alive. Or so the Fortunates on the outside were told. Those who weren’t directly involved with the city were on a ‘need to know basis.’ No one spoke about it and the schools didn’t teach it. Kade had always wondered what was so secretive about the city. Why couldn’t outsiders go in? Why could you only drive cars inside the city? What were they hiding? The questions circulating around his head had plagued him since he was a little boy. In a way, he was just like Nine, filled with curiosity, only he was smart enough not to voice it.
With Vince gone, Kade could breathe easier. It put him on edge to see his brother this morning. He couldn’t help but wonder if he knew of their plans to kill Michael tonight. It was impossible for him to know, of course, but seeing Vince so early and so smug set him on high alert. He ran his hand over his face, clearing away leftover sleep. It was slightly chilly this morning—much colder than it had been the past few mornings. As he shut his eyes, he was unable to avoid the onslaught of images in his head. Her perfect breasts…so perky and firm. Instantly, he felt his balls tighten and he opened his eyes. He was not about to reflect on the images of last night. He’d never thought about the sex the morning after—hell, he’d never thought about the sex the second he drained himself—and he wasn’t about to start now. No. It’s a normal, physical response to stress, Kade thought. When you’re stressed, you fuck. When you fuck, you’re not stressed. That was how it worked. For some odd reason, though, the belief didn’t strengthen in his stomach…because his body didn’t believe it. He could feel it in the way his blood rushed whenever he thought of her, of last night. He was stressed, sure, but he knew deep down he was looking for an excuse to call her back in here.
Kade sat back in his chair with a heavy exhale. He couldn’t stomach seeing Nine, not after he’d sent her away. She glared at him. Her jaw was taut and her fists clenched…not that he blamed her. He shook his head. She is an Unfortunate. A slave. A separate class entirely. He needed to remember that or he was going to fuck everything up. Nine or no Nine, Kade needed to stick to his plan. He needed to make it into the city.
∞
Kade spent the morning lounging around his room, fighting the urge to summon Nine and explain himself. He decided she was better off holding some kind of bitter hatred towards him. Who knows, maybe it’d even come in handy and keep her alive. After lunch, he went to a small meeting in the Miller Manor to discuss produce. They were having trouble with a few of their trucks. Apparently, their haul of apples this season was tremendous and they needed bigger vehicles. Being a lover of apples as well as berries, Kade offered one of his unused hauling trucks. It was much too big and expensive to use on apples, but Kade figured it wouldn’t hurt to piss off his father one last time before he killed him. He almost smiled.
When he got back from the meeting, it was late—seven maybe. Kade had stayed at the Millers’ as long as he could. He wanted something, anything he could use as an excuse so he didn’t have to come back to his own house. The whole time at the Millers’, Elizabeth ignored him. He found it amusing as he sat across the room from her and watched as she tried (and failed) to stop her eyes from flicking to him. She was still pissed about what happened at the Black House after he killed the Unfortunate. It’d be a very, very long time before she spoke to him again. The last time Elizabeth ignored Kade, it lasted four months.
Kade was kind of happy she wasn’t talking to him. The less stress the better and that was the only thing Elizabeth dealt in.
He pulled off his jacket and tossed it onto his bed. He was sore all over from his shoulder blades down to his calves. He didn’t often sit down for long periods of time, but when he did his body really felt it. And it sucked. As he loosened his deep navy tie, Portia passed by his door.
“Portia!” Her name flew out of his mouth before his brain had a chance to register it.
“Yes, Master Kade?” She stood in front of his door with her hands held firmly behind her back. How hard is it for Nine to do that? It’s not rocket science. Keep your mouth shut, hold your hands behind your back, and address me properly.
“Nine, where is she?”
A small, black curl fell onto her forehead. “She’s in her room, sir.”
He inhaled and pulled on his tie. As it slipped off, he tossed it onto the bed. “Send her up.”
It was his cock talking, not his brain, but he did nothing to silence it. It’d been a long day and it wouldn’t hurt to indulge in his gift…of course, he was going to have to seduce said gift into doing anything. Kade knew she wasn’t going to be impressed with him, not in the slightest.
“Yes, Master Kade,” she said and her white tunic flicked out behind her as she whirled on her heel and hurried off.
To take the edge off, Kade waltzed over to his desk and poured himself a small glass of whiskey. Instead of sipping at it, Kade flicked it with his wrist and watched as the honey coloured liquid swirled in the glass. As he sipped at it and the cool, smooth liquid rolled down his throat, he closed his eyes. The whiskey tickled his lips and the aroma wafted up his nostrils. Before Nine showed up, the smell of whiskey was his favourite scent. He didn’t even want to admit to himself what it was now. Lowering his glass, Kade sauntered around his desk and dropped into his chair. Barely three minutes later, Nine strolled into his room and shut the door behind her. She’d changed from her blue and white dress. The one she wore now was a light pink and tied up on the shoulder. Kade noticed immediately that she looked different—fiercer, less naïve. He liked it.
She eyed him at his computer, looking suspiciously tense, and he took note of it. “You all right, Nine?”
Her features narrow. Beautiful, but stupid. “I’m Nine again, am I?”
She folded her arms—another forbidden gesture in the presence of a Fortunate, another thing she isn’t going to care about when he called her out for it.
“We’re alone,” he stated obviously. “So, yes, you’re Nine again.”
She surged forward, hurt glistening in her eyes. “You didn’t have to send me away,” she proclaimed as she stepped around the corner of his desk, stopping once her hips bumped into the wood.
“Vince was here. I most certainly had to.”
She frowned. “You don’t care that you hurt my feelings?”
Kade didn’t like the tone in her voice—the demanding, the authority. Her tiny body jumped as he slammed his palms down on the smooth wood. An itchy burn crepitated over the surface and he pushed himself to his feet. “You forget your place, Unfortunate!” Nine’s face fell as regret leaked over her features, but it did nothing to deter his anger. “You have no claim on me. I don’t owe you anything.”
He glanced at the clock on the bottom left corner of his screen. His father would be returning to his room to prepare for dinner any minute now. How one man changed his clothes so often in a day was beyond him. He softened his tone. “If we want to kill Michael, we have to act now. If we pull this off…then I owe you something, but don’t think for a second that I answer to you. You are the one who refers to Fortunates as Master, Ma’am, or Miss, and you are the one who was born beneath everyone else.” His tongue kept moving, spitting out words he didn’t want to say, but knew she needed to hear. “What I take from you is what you owe me. What I give to you in return is a gift.”
Her stare dropped to the table as she absorbed his words. To his surprise, she was being extremely placid. Perhaps he’d hurt her too much for her to want to fight back.
“I can’t save you from this world,” he muttered, dragging the tip of his index finger along the desk. “Even though I offered you freedom, you know it doesn’t exist, right?”
She nodded and a strand of her long, auburn hair fell into her face.
“I’m skating on thin ice,” he continued. “Just like you. Beyond Fortunate and Unfortunate we can never be anything else.”
“But do you want to be?” she asked, her voice small and hesitant.
“What?”
“Not being allowed to do something means nothing to me. Rules and regulations, that’s not what I want to hear.” She cleared her throat nervously, her cheeks flushing a light pink. “Last night was beyond being a Fortunate and Unfortunate. You cared…you held me and made sure I was comfortable. If we could, would you want to be more than what we are?”
Kade huffed. He tried to let her down easy, he did, but she was basically begging for him to tear her heart right out of her chest. He was aware how much he meant to her…over the past few weeks, since he saved her, he saw the way she regarded him and how it had changed from scared and curious to excited and adoring. In her eyes, he was her protector—her saviour. No longer had he held the title of her tormentor. That changed the second she ground her hips into his and made him come in his pants. Her attitude was so like a Fortunate that every sliver of power he gave her, she absorbed like water to a sponge and wanted more.
Stuck, he didn’t know how to answer her question. He was clearly her hope…she relied on him now and he was certain he’d become the centre of her universe…but what happened when the sun dies out? Slowly, the Earth would die. If he destroyed Nine’s hope…would she wither away and die? He didn’t want that.
“It’s not fair to ask me such a question. Why would I admit something that might never be possible? Misleading you wouldn’t be fair.”
Yet another statement that didn’t make sense.
“I just want to know, Kade. I want to know if I’m the only one who is affected by all of this.”
She wasn’t. “I can keep you forever, Nine, but I can’t feel anything for you. In life, I value power and control, not love and companionship,”
“And once you kill your father and we move into the city, then what?”
That was a question he hadn’t pondered. Once he murdered his father, then what?
“Our window is shrinking.” He was done with the conversation. He didn’t need Nine in his head right before he took his father’s life. With a swift nod, Nine wiped the palms of her hands down the front of her dress. “So I distract your father and you kill him?”
“As simple as that.”
Abruptly, she turned on her heel and headed for the door. There was a slump in her shoulders and it made him feel like shit. He knew he shouldn’t drag her into his problems…but she was the only person he trusted. She was the only person he wanted to share his problems with.
“Nine…” Shit. He swallowed air as her name fell from his lips and she stopped as he bit his tongue.
He wanted to tell her to sit this one out and wait for him to come back. After all, she was an innocent that he was using to make his job that little bit easier. Glancing over her shoulder, her violet eyes looked hopeful. She wanted out and he didn’t blame her. However, if he showed her compassion and let her out now, it would go against everything he’d just said.
“Remember, keep your touches light and move on the tips of your toes.”
Her hopeful stare fell, the pretty violet shade seemingly more cloudy than clear. Fuck. That wasn’t what he wanted to say at all.
“And no kissing,” she added. “Got it.”
She left then, and he would follow shortly. The no kissing rule was a rash decision he made when the thought of her supple, moist lips pressing against his father’s entered his mind. Kade didn’t want his father to experience something so heavenly before his death. He knew his rule made it harder on Nine. To seduce someone into incoherence without touching them was a skill not many had and not many could master. This night, he knew his plan would either work…Or fail. And god help them if it failed.
∞ Nine ∞
Who does he think he is? Asshole. I make my way down the stairs and I see him move along the hallway out of the corner of my eye. From my own observation, I know Michael sleeps in a room on the lower level by one of the main sitting rooms. I don’t know why he chooses to sleep on the lower floor, but it seems he wants to be as close to the front exit as he possibly can. Movement in this end of the manor is low at this time of night. Most guests are either outside and waiting for dinner or in their rooms dressing. According to Kade, Michael will be in his room any minute now for a wardrobe change. I approach his room, my hands shaking as I reach for the door handle. I slip inside.
His room is massive, much bigger than any other room in the house, and everything is an eerie shade of white. From the bed to the drapes—to the rugs and couches. All I see is white.
Kade snorts as he enters the room behind me and closes the door. I peer over my shoulder as he pulls a long, thin blade from his inside pocket.
“You’re not going to kill him quick? With a gun or something?”
Kade cocks an eyebrow and, god dammit, my heart skips a beat. “Do you want to get caught? A knife is the better, more silent option.”
Oh, right. Guns go bang.
“I’m lucky I didn’t get you to kill him on your own. You’d probably do it in a room full of people while blowing a whistle.”
I roll my eyes. I’m not that hopeless. “Go hide somewhere while I do my thing.”
I finger the knot on my shoulder and, rather aggressively, Kade steps forward. I pause in my movements. He’s looking at me like he did earlier…like he wants to say something, but his brain is refusing to let him. Instead of talking, he frowns.
“What’s your thing?”
Who’s the curious one now? I shrug with a smirk. “Get naked and be sexy, you know, the usual.”
His full lips purse and I’m not going to lie, seeing him try to bite back his small amount of jealousy is kind of sexy. That being said, can you even be jealous of something you claim to not care about? Who knows? I’m onto you, Mr. Sario. He swats at my fingers, knocking them away from the knot on my shoulder. “You’ll keep the dress on. Use your words and your movements. I told you, seduction isn’t about being sexual, it’s about being confident.”
He leans in close, so close I can smell mint and whiskey on his breath. “Be confident.”
I drop my stare from his dark, coal eyes to his gorgeous mouth and watch as he flicks his tongue along his bottom lip.
“Be confident,” I repeat in a whisper. “Right.”
Then, something snaps inside of me, something primal and real. I throw myself forward before wrapping my arms around Kade’s neck and crushing my lips to his. He groans deep in his chest. It’s a groan so powerful it vibrates through my entire body and my blood ignites as he rakes his fingers through my hair, pulling harder when they snag on small tangles. The pain on my scalp causes my core to overheat and threaten to explode. He dips low and grabs my thighs and I squeak against his mouth as he pulls my legs out from underneath me and wraps them around his hips.
“I want to fuck you right now,” he pants, making me feel light-headed.
“Do it, please, do it.” Words fall unashamedly from my lips, sounding more like a runner out of breath than the sexy purr I was aiming for.
All day I’ve thought about him, about having him again. He’s addicting, from the scent of his skin right down to the taste. I need it. I needed it yesterday. He surges forward until I’m falling backwards. I land on the soft, white bed with a bounce and in the next heartbeat, Kade is draping his body over mine like a blanket of pure sex and promising orgasms. As his tongue plunges deep into my mouth, until my brain is spinning in my skull, he reaches his hand between us, fiddling quickly with his zipper. Then, he pulls away, leaving me panting and breathless, and I feel his bare, hot erection press against my opening. My body buzzes as excitement crackles through me—from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.
“Are you sore?” he asks with a clear twitch in his lips.
Cocky bastard. I nod. “A little.”
“Good.”
Kade enters me in one rough thrust and I grip his jacket while he fucks me, hard. I bite my lip as pain and pleasure assault my body. This is wrong. His father will be here any second now, but we’re too consumed in passion and hormones to care. Passion…something forbidden for me to share with my Fortunate and yet he gives it to me like I deserve it, like it’s for my own pleasure, not his.
“We have to stop,” I moan, lifting my hips to meet his thrusts. “We’re gonna get caught.”
He doesn’t slow down his strokes, if anything, they pick up in speed—a desperate attempt to feel more of me before it’s over. The harder he pushes, the tighter my organs coil and the harder his belt buckle rubs against my sensitive spot.
“I know,” he states through clenched teeth. “I will—”
He rolls his hips, forcing his big length as deep as my body will take it and holy shit it feels good. With a resigned groan, he slows his pace. No! I tighten my legs around his hips.
“No, wait,” I beg as something sinister begins to burn in my belly. I squeeze my eyes shut. I need this. “Not yet. Don't stop!”
“Nine,” he warns, pumping harder again. “Come on, baby.”
Kade hooks his arm under one of my legs and pushes it higher. Somehow, he moves even deeper.
“Oh god,” I chant as my release closes in on me, causing my toes to curl and my inner muscles to tighten around him. This is all so fucked up, but too good to stop. And then it happens, it crashes into me with tremendous force and I grit my teeth as ecstasy wreaks havoc on my body. My legs spasm, my chest heaves and my blood burns like never before. As the waves of my orgasm begin to slow, Kade pulls out, dropping his head on my chest.
“Wait,” I protest. “What’s wrong?”
I release his jacket as he shudders, then straightens his posture.
“A mess right now would be a bad idea,” he states, forcing his semi-hard penis back into his pants and zipping it up.
“The second we’re done here, get your ass to my room and wait for me.”
“Yes, Master Kade,” I say, breathlessly, as I sit up and push my dress back over my knees.
As I open my mouth to thank him, or say something equally as stupid, the handle to the door rattles. I fist the blanket while Kade whips around, pulling the knife from his pocket. It's beautiful and thin, carved specifically for throat slitting. It’s kind of disturbing, really.
“Well, I’m glad that didn’t fall out of your pocket and into my eye!” I hiss under my breath.
“Now’s not the time,” he bites back. “You got your orgasm and your eyes are fine. You’re welcome.”
The handle rattles again and Kade inches closer. This is it. We’re going to get busted. There’s not enough time for Kade to hide in the bathroom before the door opens. I suck in a breath. This is it.
The door begins to open and I see his bare hand as it grips the metal handle. I squint as my heart crashes painfully into my ribs.
“Dad!” I hear a voice shout in the distance and the door stops. Vince.
I see only Michael’s hand and a small glimpse of the sleeve of his jacket before he closes the door marginally.
“Go!” I whisper to Kade. “Make yourself invisible.”
He sends a glance over his shoulder—a warning glance that sends chills through my stomach and states clearly, ‘Don’t fuck this up.’ I shake my head. ‘I won’t,’ and Kade disappears. I slide from the bed and lean against the cold, slim metal post at the foot of the mattress. I hope he doesn’t invite Vince in…that’d ruin everything. The low murmur of conversation is quick and brief. I don’t hear a word of it, then the door opens and Michael steps inside. Nausea swirls in my tummy as he does a double take, letting his eyes rake over me. Michael kicks his door shut behind him and stuffs his hands into his jacket pockets.
“There better be a good explanation,” he says, his voice thick with warning and promise.
“Uh…” I swallow hard and rub my fingers over my palms behind my back. “Yes, sir, there is.”
I hate the way my voice shakes and I hate the way my lips tremble. I’ve never been terrified of Michael, but in this moment, I most certainly am. He stalks closer, his movements purposefully intimidating.
“Spit it out, Unfortunate. Why are you in my room?”
Every movement he makes is calculated—like a wolf—and the cold gleam in his eye reinforces my thought.
“I’ve come to see you,” I tell him, forcing confidence into my tone.
“That much is obvious. You’re in my room.”
Confidence, I remind myself. Confidence is sexy—according to Kade. I’m not sure how sound his advice is…confidence may be sexy, but being an Unfortunate and all, I can’t really do much with it. Confidence is a killer in my case. Literally.
“Perhaps you don’t understand,” I say, pushing off his bed. “I’m here to see you.”
I lock my stare with his and assess his body language. His broad shoulders are squared and tense. I barely see his dark irises between his suspicious slits and he tightens his jaw on and off in some kind of irregular rhythm.
“You’re barking up the wrong tree, Unfortunate.”
“Am I?” I counter, closing the distance between us on the tips of my toes and with a seductive sway in my hips. “You’re not the slightest bit curious to see what I have that makes your son so obsessed?”
I say it loud enough for Kade to hear and I almost smile at the thought of his scowling expression. I’m going to pay for that later.
“Kaden has always been the clingier one of the two, so don’t put any stock into his words and actions, foolish girl. You have what every woman has.”
What Kade has for me is much more than clinginess. He might not admit it, but I can feel it. I smirk and reach out for him. “Do I?” His entire body tightens as I run the very tips of my fingers over his shoulder.
His brows pull in. I love toying with his mind. It’s thrilling…excitement crackles through my body, heating me from the inside out. I circle him, taking note of the way his shoulders relax into my touch.
Gotcha.
“Wouldn’t you like to see for yourself?” I ask as I come to stand in front of him once more.
For a moment, he ponders the idea and I wait patiently as his wolfish stare roams me again, from head to toe. Then he surges forward and grips my hips. I gasp, more in shock than anything else as he yanks me up, wrapping my thighs around his body. Michael is strong-ish looking, but not like his sons, and as he holds me in his arms, I’m slightly worried he’s going to hurt his back, but his face betrays no sign of strain and his movements are strong and fluid as he carries me across the room to his desk. Rather harshly, he drops me against the white-painted wood. The cool surface freezes my bare ass and it is anything but arousing. Now that I think about it, I’m pretty sure the swirl of uneasiness in my belly is disgust. I don’t want to do this. Surely, I’ve distracted him enough? He lowers his mouth to mine and stops as he inhales my breath. I simper and it feels fake—in a painfully obvious way—as his nose twitches and he picks up the scent his son left on me. “Have you been drinking whiskey, Love?”
If only he knew. “It’s forbidden, I would never,” I reply, squeezing him with my legs and pulling him closer. His back was to the bathroom. He’ll never see Kade come from there.
Michael’s cold hand presses against my outer thigh and I fight the urge to shudder as he drags his freakishly soft skin up mine. “I think you’ve been naughty…” he murmurs, our lips almost touching.
Where the hell is Kade? He’s supposed to stop this. I swallow hard, letting my gaze flick to his lips briefly. I really don’t want to kiss him.
“Make no mistake, I have been.”
Michael’s fat, wet tongue slips out to moisten his lips and I can tell he’s contemplating moistening mine, too. Fuck, I hope not. I’m sure I’ll gag. There’s also the fact that if he kisses me, Kade will, or more than likely, kill me, too. Why would he want to kiss someone who made out with his dad?
Michael roughly tugs at my dress, pulling it up over my hips and desperately, I try to push it down. “Wait!” I want to call out for Kade, but I don’t want to give away his position.
“There’s no waiting now, honey. I want in.”
His hand snaps to my throat and he steals my air as he grips my windpipe with all his might. Oh, hell. What have I gotten myself into? Is it just me, or do I always put myself in unnecessary situations? So much for my survival instinct.
Then, as if Kade heard my panicked thoughts, Michael’s eyes widen and I glance at his throat. Sure enough, Kade’s shiny thin blade digs into his father’s neck.
“What the fuck is this?” Michael spits at me, but all I can do is pull back from him as he unwraps his fingers from my neck. I gasp for air and rub my throat as I watch the blade sink into his throat, making its own slit to slide into. Blood sprays my face as the metal is pulled quickly across his flesh. I watch in shock as Michael gurgles and drops to his knees. The red liquid pours from the slice in his neck and covers his light grey suit and light blue tie. The acid in my stomach burns as it churns and bile threatens my throat. I cover my mouth with my hand. Now’s not the time to throw up. Now we need to clean and hide the body…but before that, and more importantly, WHY DID KADE TAKE SO DAMN LONG?
“God!” I hiss, pushing my dress down and sliding off the table. “How long were you going to let that go on for?”
He points the knife in my direction. Blood stains its sharp edge and the tips of Kade’s fingers, but it doesn’t scare me. “You’re mad at me? You’re not the slightest bit curious to see what I have that makes your son so obsessed?” he teases, aggressively mimicking me.
“Oh, please.” I gently swat his knife out of my face. “I was just playing along with your game. I didn’t mean any of it.”
With a resigned sigh, he slips the knife back into his pocket and produces a white handkerchief. “Here,” he says, handing it to me. “You have blood on your face.”
I reach out for it. My hands are trembling, shaking like never before and Kade pulls the clean sliver of fabric back. “You’re shaking.” Somehow, his statement sounds like a demand, so I drop my hands and he steps closer, extending his ever steady limb towards my face.
Gently, he dabs at Michael’s blood that paints my skin. I wonder how I look to him…blood spattered face and sex hair—nothing like the perfect picture of sophistication he always wants me to be, I bet.
“We did it,” I mutter, watching his face. I don’t know what I expect him to do…cry? Maybe.
He just killed his own father…without saying a word to him. He’s dead—gone—never to be seen or heard again. To my surprise, Kade’s lips twitch. “Yes, we did.”
I peek down at Michael’s dead body. There’s no life in his eyes…if death is a sad thing, why aren’t I crying? I’m shaking, but I think it’s more leftover adrenaline than anything else. I look back at Kade. He’s watching me, his eyes burning intensely, and suddenly I become hyper aware of his fingers dragging up my inner thigh. Instantly, my throat dries and I begin to pulse in rhythms only he can compose. We still have things we need to finish, but I’m certain right here, right now is not a good time. If we’re caught, however, this might be the very last time I ever see him or get to feel him. Fuck it. I rush forward as he tosses his handkerchief and grips my face. Kade’s dark, volcanic eyes flick between mine and I know he’s thinking of something to say. A thank you, maybe? Whatever it is, I nod my head in recognition. He doesn’t have to say a thing. He never has. His actions give away more than his words ever could.
He crushes his mouth to mine in a powerful kiss that steals my breath and pushes me back against the table. I let my legs fall apart as his fingers reach the apex of my thighs, but he doesn’t touch me there, instead, he moves to my ass and he spreads his hands along both my cheeks and squeezes, possessively. I gasp as he thrusts his hips and hard length against me, the eagerness in his moves shooting lightning bolts through my body. He wants to do this now? His kiss spins my hormones into a feral swirl of naughty, naughty thoughts. Maybe this is what he needs to cope with what he did. Kade feverishly drags his mouth from my lips and across my cheek before stopping at my ear. He breathes harshly through his nose and I hear him play with his zipper. Excitement—indecent excitement—courses through me—and whispers in a thick, husky tone, “Sit back, pull your knees up.”
Kade’s lips buzz over my cheekbone and down to my mouth. Doing what he says, I slowly bring my knees up. He wastes no time, one second I’m empty and the next he’s in me, flicking his hips with deft purpose. He shudders and groans as I shuffle forward and grip his arms to secure myself against him. God, he feels so good—different than earlier, different than the first time we had sex. The way he moves with wild abandon, like this is the only thing he wants, fills me with a pleasure I’ve never felt. He just killed a man—he just killed his father—and yet, being inside of me was his first priority. We could be caught any time now, but he doesn’t care. He drives into me, his tongue fiercely rubbing against mine, and he pants into my mouth, his arousing groans being lost somewhere at the back of my throat, vibrating my entire body. I fall back against the wood, stopping myself with my elbows. Far off in the distance, I hear things fall from the desk. Kade glances down at my swollen lips with the perfect smirk. Ragged breaths fall from my mouth and I chew the inside of my cheek to trap the wild noises that so desperately claw their way up my throat. Unlike me, Kade doesn’t care if he’s heard and his deep, lustful noises make me crazy. He pulls at the knot on my shoulder and yanks it down, exposing my breasts. He watches them bounce as he fucks me hard, harder than ever before, and there’s a blaze in his eyes. My head spins as he digs his fingers into my hips, pulling me further onto him with each thrust. His movements are primal—raw—and the simper on his lips exposes the predator he really is. I forget it often, but Kade is every bit the lion his family crest suggests. He controls, kills, and fucks as he sees fit.
I clench my jaw as my body grips every inch of his thrusting cock. I push off my elbows and grab his ass, forcing him in deeper.
“More?” he rasps.
“Yes,” I pant, digging my fingers into his toned butt cheeks. “More.”
He thrusts even deeper, ramming into me with a force so brutal I’m surprised it feels as good as it does. The pace is wild, rapid, and my body jerks under the powerful rocking motions of his hips. Through the tightened fabric on his arms, I see his biceps compress and he holds me tighter, pushing down so I’m anchored to the bench. Heat coils in my stomach as his face glazes over and pure lust glows in his eyes. Then, Kade groans, low and gruff, and with one final thrust his warmth spills inside me. He clenches my hips as he slows the pace.
Wow.
He lowers his body onto mine as I breathe through parted lips. Slowly, I reach up and run my fingers through his damp hair. When my pant turns calm…I know.
How?
Dread tears through me like a devastating flood.
I just know.
I swallow hard, suddenly blinking back tears. From day one, I’ve been attracted to him. Since the night he saved me, I’ve trusted no one but him. From the night I let him have me…he’s all I think about. I want no one but him. I helped him kill…let’s not beat around the bush, I took a life…for him. For love. I wanted to please him, to do whatever he wanted. I wanted him to trust me like I trust him. I want him to love me…like I love him.
I know. I know, for a fact, I’m absolutely, one hundred percent, head over heels in love with Kade Sario, my Fortunate. In love.
Oh no.