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Kane shut his laptop and buried his face in his hands.

Was he Fated to never achieve happiness? Was he cursed or meant to get close but never close enough? It was as if his life was one big deal he couldn’t close. Frustration simmered in every cell.

He was trapped.

The past two weeks with Sierra had been a game-changer. They’d been growing closer, regularly sharing meals or going on simple dates where they could talk and get to know each other. Kane had backed off again, keeping their physical contact to hugs and kisses, giving her plenty of time to feel comfortable before the next step. The woman of his dreams was falling for him. He experienced the knowledge in every gentle touch, every lingering stare, and every delighted laugh.

Brick mentioned he’d noticed little birdies flying around his head when they’d met for a beer. He’d denied and quickly retaliated by saying Brick’s eyes got wide like a cartoon character when Aspen walked in the room, but his friend just laughed.

Kane was happy. Believed he could have it all—success in both his work and love life.

Until that damn deal.

Dread twisted his stomach. Kane was running out of time. After a lengthy meeting with Benny, a deep-dive into other property deals he could tempt Stealth with, and a conference call with Jack and Tim, he’d gotten his final answer.

They were moving forward on the property and Kane was in charge. He’d looked into every alternative, even going as far to see if he could find Sierra another similar place to move, but came up empty. The deal was going to be done. Stealth was just offering him the opportunity first.

If Kane said no, they’d move ahead with someone else, and he’d be cut out of a prospective future. He doubted another job would appear if he tanked this opportunity.

It was time to lean hard on Benny, work his magic, and get the contract signed.

A breath shuddered from his lungs. The landlord was a true asshole. Benny had already said he’d been dragging on renewing the leases, and had used the last six months of funds to go into debt with the maintenance. It was a matter of time before everything blew up.

And Sierra had no idea.

There must be a way to explain to Sierra that he was just a tool Stealth was using. He’d help her with every step, vow to find her another place. She would understand.

She had to.

His mind skipped over the next steps. The engagement party was coming up. He’d tell her afterward, and they’d find a way to deal with the fallout together. He’d be right by her side and though he knew she’d be furious for a while, he’d eventually get her to forgive him. She’d have no choice.

Because he already knew he was in love with Sierra Lourde.

He always had been. Since the morning he woke up and found her gone, a part of his soul had been searching for his missing piece. He’d just have to convince her this betrayal didn’t have to break them.

Kane wouldn’t let it.

Sierra squinted through the windshield and held a death grip on the steering wheel. Dammit, the storm was getting worse and the roads were already flooded. Cars with their headlights slowed down as they navigated giant puddles. Streamers of fog surrounded the landscape, making it even harder to go faster than a crawl. At this point, she’d never be back in Corolla before midnight.

Biting her lip, she made an executive decision to take the next exit and find a hotel. She’d been gone one night already, so Montgomery couldn’t be left alone another night. Aspen had checked on him yesterday for his food and water, but Sierra worried he’d believe he was abandoned again. In just a few short weeks, she admitted the cat had stolen her heart. If she’d known how wonderful having an animal was, she would’ve gotten him sooner.

Then again, Sierra knew Montgomery was special. They were twin souls. No other cat would have been such a perfect fit.

She pulled into the parking lot of a Holiday Inn and let out a sigh of relief. Racing through the rain, she made it to the lobby, grabbed a room, and took the elevator up. Her clothes were soaked and she had nothing to change into, but she could dry them out overnight.

After she got settled, she sat on the bed cross-legged and made the phone call.

“Hey! How was the trip?”

Aspen asked.

“Awesome. We made a deal that’s good for both of us. I already grabbed a few samples to start with, but I think they’ll be a huge seller.”

“I knew it. You’re such a badass businesswoman. Are you home?”

“No, that’s why I’m calling. There’s a big storm and the roads are flooded. I stopped at a hotel for the night but I need you to look in on Montgomery for me again, if that’s okay.”

Her sister groaned.

“Babe, I’m in New York with Brick and Dug. I had to see my new editor and do a local signing at B all the flickers in her gaze.

“I’ve never done it. Had…phone sex.”

Primal satisfaction unfurled. He was glad. The thought of her being with anyone else made him want to roar, even though it was both outdated and chauvinistic. He practically growled the words.

“I’m glad you waited for me.”

She seemed to make her decision.

“What do we do?”

Her usual snappy banter faded under the unknown. Kane was so turned on he felt like an overexcited teen. He dropped his voice in command.

“Drop the towel, Sierra.”

He waited one beat. Two. Three.

The towel fell from her body.

Kane sucked in his breath at her perfect, naked body on display for him. He greedily devoured every generous curve and sloping plane, taking in her tight nipples and the rapid rise and fall of her chest.

“Like this?”

He loved the teasing pitch as she spoke. Her hesitancy seemed to disappear, as if she liked the drool-worthy stare he was giving.

“Oh, yeah. You are everything I ever wanted in a woman. I could spend all night studying that gorgeous body.”

Her brow slowly lifted.

“I hope this isn’t a one woman show.”

Kane grinned.

“I’m here to please, sweetheart. Tell me what you want”

“Shirt. Off.”

She paused. “Slow.”

He obeyed, peeling the tee up over his stomach and taking his time removing it. She licked her lips and damned if he didn’t almost preen at her obvious appreciation. He’d never been so damn happy to work out as he was right now. “Better?”

Her gaze touched every inch of his bared chest.

“Yes. You’re beautiful, Kane.”

His gut squeezed. He wished he could touch her and show his own admiration, but he had to work with the limitations.

“You deserve to be taken care of, even if I’m not there. So I want you to lay back on the pillows and relax. Adjust the camera. I want to see all of you.”

Her rapid breathing showed her obvious excitement. She moved the laptop and stretched back, her beautiful caramel hair spilling over the white pillowcase. Kane groaned at the intoxicating display. Her thighs were slightly parted, giving him a hint of her bare pussy.

“Are you wet?”

She shuddered. “Yes.”

“Show me.”

Her hand coasted over her full breasts, down her stomach, and stopped. “Kane?”

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“Take off your pants.”

A low chuckle escaped. He discarded his jeans, lingering over the snap and taking his time lowering the zipper. Kane didn’t wait for the command to remove his black briefs. He was barely able to hold it together and they hadn’t even gotten to foreplay. This woman tested his control on a regular basis.

He enjoyed her gasp of breath as his cock was freed and already painfully hard.

“This is what you do to me.”

He stroked himself, enjoying her fascinated gaze as he tightened his palms and worked his hand up and down in a slow rhythm.

Kane didn’t have to ask again. She continued coasting her fingers over her mound, parting her legs a few more inches. He gave a vicious curse as she teased her clit, rotating in a clockwise circle, then dipped inside her pussy. Her head arched back and a moan escaped as she got caught up in chasing her pleasure.

“Oh, you’re such a bad girl,”

he said.

“Look at how wet you are. If I was there, I’d spread those thighs wider and press my mouth against your sweet pussy. I’d use my tongue to tease your clit real nice, and no matter how hard you begged, I’d wait until you were going crazy.”

“Kane!”

“Eyes on me, sweetheart.”

Her drunken gaze fastened on the screen, where he stroked a bit harder and faster, matching her pace. He continued with his dirty talk, pushing them both to the edge, until their breath mingled together in pants and the tension cranked to a torturous threshold.

His command was like a whiplash.

“Let yourself go, Sierra. Now. Come for me.”

Her heels dug into the mattress and then she was screaming his name as the orgasm took her. Kane held on for a few more precious moments to enjoy her surrender—the pleasure washing over her in waves, shaking her body.

Then he reached his own orgasm, shouting roughly as he was shoved over the cliff. Her eager gaze only emphasized his gratification as he jerked his hips in brutal satisfaction and spilled himself over sheets that smelled like her.

Boneless, it took him a while to refocus. Sierra was sprawled out on the bed, a smile curving her lips.

“God, is that what we would have done with a long-distance relationship?”

she murmured dreamily.

“I’ve been missing out on a whole new aspect of sex.”

Kane laughed.

“Watching you was hot, but nothing compared to being able to touch and kiss you. Kind of like having cheese and beer instead of caviar and champagne.”

She lifted her head.

“Did you just compare our Face-sexing to food?”

“My brain is mush. It was the best I had.”

Her soft laugh filled him up.

“Well, at least it was creative. Aspen would approve.”

“Please don’t tell your sister about this.”

“Of course not.”

She winced at his stare.

“Well, only if she asks. I don’t want to lie to her ever again.”

“And they say men brag about their sex lives,”

he muttered.

“Do they?”

she asked, obviously interested.

He grunted.

“Only if they don’t care. The moment they get to girlfriend or wife status, we close the vault of info.”

“Wow, I never knew.”

Mischief flickered over her face.

“I guess I’m open game.”

Kane shot up and glared at the screen.

“Hell, no. You’re my damn girlfriend, Sierra. There’s no one else I’d ever want to be with.”

A horrible thought entered his mind.

“Wait—don’t you feel the same? You don’t think you’re still going on blind dates, do you!”

Her languid smile was full of amusement.

“Usually, I don’t like possessive claims on my freedom, but I won’t torture you any longer. No. I only want to be with you, Kane.”

Relief poured through him.

“Exactly what I thought. You’re my girlfriend.”

The word seemed barely enough to contain all the things Sierra was to him. The woman he loved. His soulmate. But she wasn’t ready for such declarations yet. He’d be patient.

“Well, you didn’t officially ask, but yes. I’m your girlfriend.”

“I’m glad you see it my way.”

She giggled and his entire being lit up. He’d do anything to keep things like this, but the threat of the Stealth deal kept shadowing his happiness. Each step he took to earning Sierra’s trust could be blown up once he told her about the store. For now, Kane clung to the hope that every moment spent together was a tightening of their bond. It had to be strong enough to sustain the fallout.

They talked some more and said goodnight. He closed his laptop, cleaned himself up, and headed to the kitchen for a bottle of water.

Then found Mo blocking his progress.

The cat was like a massive orange ghost in the shadows, looming with threat. Damned if Kane didn’t take a step back. Golden eyes glinted with warning. When he first arrived, the cat had stayed away, as if sensing his arch enemy was in the house. Kane figured he’d eventually surface, so he took care of the water and food, and minded his own business.

But now, Kane sensed a confrontation was coming. Trying to compete with being alpha male was his first instinct, but Mo had probably fought even harder than Kane in his ability to survive. Nature was cruel and Mo held the scars. Kane had to be the one to bend.

He held up his hands in surrender.

“I get it. You hate me because you’re afraid I’ll take away Sierra. But I don’t want to do that at all. Because she loves you, Mo. You make her happy. You give her someone safe to love, and she’s not there yet with me.”

The cat squinted. Waited.

“What if I promise never to come in between you? Hell, she’s already picked you over me so you’re the front runner. All I want to do tonight is make sure you’re fed and have what you need. I’m asking that you don’t jump on my head tonight and try to strangle me. Please.”

A swish of the tail. A cock of the head. Was he listening or planning Kane’s murder?

“Sierra will be happy if we get along. No woman wants to see a who’s-dick-is-bigger competition. Okay? Can we have a truce?”

Quiet settled over the house. The clock ticked. Silently, Mo retreated back into the darkness of the kitchen and disappeared.

Kane let out a breath. He grabbed his water and two cat treats, leaving one on the floor by the sunroom, and the other right outside Sierra’s door. Maybe if Mo was feeling generous Kane wouldn’t die of smothering tonight. He didn’t want to shut the door just in case Mo needed him.

Kane changed the sheets and got settled, enjoying being surrounded by Sierra’s sanctuary. He fell asleep easier than he had in a while and had no dreams.

Until something woke him hours later. A sensation of being watched.

His gaze met the glowing gold eyes staring from the pitch black. His heart galloped and he barely stopped himself from jumping up with an unmanly scream.

Mo was here to hurt him.

He refused to whimper. Tightening his body, he prepped for the claws to attack and prayed he could defend himself without hurting Mo.

Seconds passed. He held his breath and waited.

Finally, the glow faded. Kane heard the rustle of sheets as they were rearranged. Then the soft sigh of Mo as he settled.

It took him a while to relax and realize Mo was sleeping next to him and, so far, had spared his life. Eventually, he went back to sleep, a slither of satisfaction curling in his blood. Mo must’ve believed him. It was definitely a first step between them.

Kane slept with a smile on his face.