Page 102 of Beautifully Ruined

“But this isn’t home.”

“It’sahome.” He takes my hand, striding down the hall.

The apartment door he stops at is the second one along, and he uses another key to open it.

He turns on the light and tugs me inside, before finally giving me the coat.

I pull it on, hugging it tight, half expecting people to pop up and scream, “Surprise.”

No one does and to calm down, I look around, taking it in from the neutral furniture to the big TV to him.

This isn’t being lived in, and for a brief moment, I wonder if he expects me to move here.

But I dismiss the thought.

Cade hasn’t shown any interest in me moving out. And I don’t think he’s the kind of person to go and pick furniture for me, especially as I have my own.

This is like a starter kit, a staged place.

I look at him. “What is this?”

He shrugs, rubs a hand along the back of his neck. “Mine. I bought it.”

“Not for you. It’s a few steps down from your place. What is it? A one bedroom?”

“I got it for Jack, okay? Basic furniture, for him to rent from me, but he’s not there yet. I’m not giving him a heavily discounted place and putting the money in an account for him. Not until he gets his shit together. But since we were near, I figured…” He shrugs again. “Why not use it?”

“Can I have a shower? I don’t suppose you outfitted it with clothes for me?”

He turns and pins me with a stare. “No. I didn’t fill it with clothes for you. At my place, I’ll do that.”

“Shower?”

He relents. Slightly.

“Right there.” He points to a door next to the kitchen area. “But after you get clean, leave off the shoes stockings and coat.”

“You want me naked?” My body starts to heat again.

“I might want to keep you naked until we go, and I might want to claim you again. Once is never enough, and I’m not sure you got the lesson I’m teaching you.”

My smile keeps trying to push through as I go up to him and kiss him, pressing against his suit, letting the heat of him penetrate my flesh.

“Is that a threat, Cade?”

“Maybe.”

“Because if it is, I should let you know it’s not a very good one.”

He bites my lower lip softly. “It isn’t?”

“No. Because to me, Cade, that sounds like a dream come true.”

Chapter Nineteen

CADE

I don’t thinkI’ve ever met a woman as perfect as Vi.