Page 88 of King of Malice

CHAPTER SIX

Cadence

I waketo bright sunlight filtering in through the windows of the bedroom. Reaching behind me, I press my hand to empty sheets. Zane is gone. Lifting my head, the view out the bank of windows instantly makes me smile. The river babbles away as the sun sparkles off the blue water.

Man, I could get used to this.

I stretch, my shirt falling back down my torso. Zane had pushed it up my chest when we came back to bed, and that’s where it stayed.

The orgasm in the shower had been fantastic, but the one in the middle of the night…it was unreal. I never imagined sex could feel like that.

I hear the clatter of metal coming from the kitchen and then the smell of coffee hits my nose.

It pushes me out of bed, and into the bathroom where my toothbrush sits in a little holder.

I brush my teeth and use the bathroom to freshen up before I step out into the kitchen.

Zane stands at the stove, putting bacon in a pan. He’s shirtless with a pair of low-slung sweatpants barely hanging onto his hips.

“Brave,” I say with a small laugh.

He looks back at me, a sexy smile playing on his lips. “What’s that?”

“Cooking bacon shirtless.”

He joins me in the laughter. “I like a little danger with my breakfast.”

I wrinkle my nose, as he leans to the right and grabs a mug from the cabinet.

“Coffee?” he asks, holding up the mug.

“Yes, please,” I murmur, stepping forward.

He pours out some from the pot on the counter. “Milk? Sugar?”

“Black,” I answer reaching out my hands.

“Really? You sure you weren’t in the armed forces?”

I take the mug from his hand, taking a big swig of the dark brew. I’m not much for breakfast, but I can’t live without my cup of coffee. “I’m sure.”

“How did you find black coffee then?”

I shrug as I turn away. I know it’s tough that he can’t even ask me about coffee without me tensing up. But it’s a sensitive subject.

Every bit of food was a resource in most of the placements I was put in.

Most foster homes didn’t feed me breakfast. Or dinner. Lunch came at school when I had it.

Coffee, however, came in a giant can and it was one of the few things I just got to have. Somedays I survived on only caffeine to keep me going.

Even milk and sugar were frequently rationed unless it was powdered. “Coffee is perfect all on its own.”

He cocks his head, studying me. I don’t like it.

Zane can learn how to play my body like a fiddle. But my mind? No thank you.

“Most people add loads of cream and sugar to dull the actual taste. Black coffee is usually an acquired taste.”