Grayslake: More than Mated: A Bite of Love (Kindle Worlds Novella) (5 page)

10

Cadence

It was dark and I could hear rain beating against the window. Where was I? I tried to push forward, but I had a killer headache.

“Whoa. Don’t move.”

I felt big strong hands press on my shoulders, urging me back on the bed.

“Case?”

“Yeah, you have a nasty scrape on your head. You hit it pretty hard when you fell.”

I reached for my temple. I winced. “Ouch.”

Other than the pain in my head, the rest of me felt fine. I wiggled my fingers and toes to make sure everything worked properly.

“How long was I out?” I asked.

“A few hours.” His brow furrowed. “I was worried, but I didn’t want to call an ambulance.”

“You were worried about me?” I saw how concerned he looked. It was cute and sexy. I held my giggle in, though. This wasn’t a time to be giddy. He looked too serious for that.

“I’ll get another cold washcloth. Hold on.”

He was gone before I had my bearings. It started coming back to me slowly.

Case and I had argued after a pretty amazing make out session on his screened porch. He walked away and then the old man was back, snaking his hands around my neck. I could still smell his breath. It was stale and potent with bourbon. He whispered terrible things in my ear about how I wasn’t going to leave.

I thought he was going to kill me.

I started to shake.

“Hey, hey. You’re all right.” Case returned with the washcloth, but placed it on the table and sat next to me. I didn’t expect him to pull me into his arms. “He’s gone. You’re safe. I promise.”

“But—he—” I couldn’t finish the thought. Tears streamed down my cheeks.

I’d never been close to death before.

“Shh,” Case soothed. He stroked the back of my hair. “It’s over. He’s not coming back.”

I realized I was crying on his bare chest. I sat forward, seeing my tears glisten on the broad planes of his muscles. I touched my tears on his skin.

My eyes lifted to his. I saw them glow with emerald flames.

“Cadence,” he whispered.

I suddenly felt aware of how alive I was. If it weren’t for Case I would be lifeless. I’d have puncture wounds in my neck and would have bled to death in the driveway. Tomorrow wouldn’t exist.

But he saved me.

He challenged the man. He protected me. Every part of me felt a new appreciation for the way the blood pumped through my body. How my lungs inhaled new breaths, one after another. How Case’s skin felt under my fingertips. How his lips tasted. How his voice sounded. It all started with a whisper, and now I didn’t know how any of it would end.

“I think you might need some more rest.” He studied my eyes. “You’ve been through a lot. You can sleep in my bed. I’ll leave.”

I shook my head. “That’s the last thing I want. I almost died.”

My palm rested over his heart and I could feel the certain thump thump as I pressed my hand, absorbing the heat that radiated from him. His eyes closed.

“I almost died once. More than once.” His long lashes lifted. “I know what you’re feeling right now. The need for closeness is almost consuming. But I’m not the guy for that.”

“I’m not afraid to get close to you.”

“You should be.” His fingers tilted my chin upward, holding my gaze.

“Don’t try to push me away now.” I felt the intensity building between us.

The rain beat against the glass. There was a low glow coming from a candle on the dresser. I realized the power must have gone out sometime when I was asleep. I wondered how bad the storm had gotten.

“It’s my fault you were hurt. I’m not in a place where I can give you what you need.”

My chest heaved. What did he know about what I needed? We barely knew each other. But it seemed that ever since Case had moved back to Grayslake we had been pulled together. Tonight was no different.

“This is exactly what I need.” I leaned toward him, brushing my lips over his.

I could feel the growl vibrate through his chest. His hands gripped the back of my head, kissing me deeply and strongly. I moaned when I felt his tongue flick against mine. Damn, he was an amazing kisser. An expert kisser. The kind of kisser I didn’t know existed in this world.

And I had been falling. Falling all along. Aching for him. Wanting him.

His hands coasted over my shoulders and down my sides until he tugged on the hem of my shirt. I readily lifted my arms so he could drag it over my head.

He kissed my shoulder, running his heated tongue over my collar bone.

“You’re beautiful, Cadence.”

I sighed, running my fingers through his dark hair. Each one of his kisses seared into my skin. With a quick flick he unclasped my bra and the straps slid off my arms.

My nipples hardened under his stare. I rubbed the peaks against his chest, watching his stare. The friction of skin against skin drove both of us crazy. His mouth crushed mine with a fiery kiss. I climbed into his lap, wrapping every part of myself around his body.

There was no way to control my breathing, or my heartbeat. I was on fire for this man. The man who had saved me. The mysterious brooder who needed help healing his broken heart. He pulled my bottom lip between his teeth and I felt a rush of electricity race straight to my core. Did he do anything that wasn’t hot?

I gasped when the kisses trailed down my throat. He rocked me back and latched onto my breast, sucking my nipple in his mouth.

“Ohh,” I whimpered, holding onto his neck for dear life. My body writhed and twitched in his arms.

“We should stop,” he growled, taking the other nipple in his mouth as if he owned it.

My hips jerked forward. “Don’t.”

“I don’t want to.” I could hear the anguish in his voice. His kisses led to the V at the base of my throat. “But you’re hurt, and I don’t want that to be how this happens.”

All I could think about was how much I wanted it. I wanted him. I didn’t have the words to convince him I was ok.

He raised his head, and stopped to brush a strand of hair off my shoulder. “I’m not a project you can fix. And I already know you deserve better than that.” He kissed my shoulder. “As much as I want this to happen, as much as my jaguar wants you, the good guy buried in me says I shouldn’t.”

“I never said I wanted to fix you, Case. I want to help you. I want to be your friend.”

Couldn’t he tell I was genuine? I wasn’t the kind of girl who would hurt him. I would never do what she did. I didn’t know how else to show him.

I ran my fingers tenderly along the angles of his jaw.

“Friends do this?” He kissed me roughly until I whimpered for him to release my lips.

I touched my fingers to his mouth. “I do want more than that.” I lowered my eyes.

Whoever he was hung up on, had done a number on him. I didn’t want to be the get-over-her girl. I didn’t want to be his rebound. I wanted a lot more. I’d seen enough shifter love in this town to realize how powerful it was. I wanted a shifter of my own. I wanted love. Amazing sex. Glances that made me melt. A growl in my ear that belonged only to me.

“And tonight it wouldn’t be more than that.” His eyes glowed. “I can’t take advantage of you like that.”

It was as if the words broke the spell.

I wiggled backward. None of what I wanted was going to happen if I slept with Case because he had rescued the damsel in distress. I didn’t want him to see me as weak and helpless. I never wanted him to think he took advantage. All of it made me shudder with hurt.

I reached for my shirt and threaded my arms through the sleeves.

Case kissed my forehead gently. “Get some rest. I’ll drive you home in the morning.”

He rose from the bed, blew out the candle, and closed the door behind him.

11

Case

I leaned against the door. My heart beat out of my chest. I shoved my hands in my pockets. What in the hell was I doing?

Every part of me wanted her. My jag was about to break through my skin. Cadence was everything I needed. Exactly what I needed.

I put my hand on the doorknob. I could turn back around and tell her I’d changed my mind. I wanted her as badly as she wanted me. I wanted the warmth and tenderness of her lips. I wanted to feel the silkiness of her hair and the closeness of her body.

She was possibly the only woman who was ok with the fact that I needed to be put back together. She still wanted me despite everything I had told her. I didn’t scare her away. It didn’t seem like anything scared the girl off.

I was used to head-strong and independent women. Panthers were a force to be reckoned with. Cadence had a different kind of strength. An inner resolve that came from making her own place in a town full of shifters. A stick-to-itiveness that grew over years of making it alone. And she was kind and gentle. Beautiful and soft. She wasn’t a fierce warrior and she never would be, but there were other ways to show fortitude. And that girl had it.

I pressed my forehead against the door. My body ached to be with her. My jaguar wanted to tear through the wooden planks.

I clenched my fists as I let the doorknob slip from my grasp.

I retracted from the door.

Not like this. Not this way.

***

A few hours later Eli and Ronan knocked on the front door. I cracked it and ducked onto the porch. Cadence had eventually fallen asleep. I didn’t want to wake her, nor was I interested in her meeting members of the Tribe.

I couldn’t help but feel as if I had crossed a line with her I wasn’t ready to cross. Bringing more people into my world would only complicate things. The humans in Grayslake might be used to shifter activity, but I wasn’t used to involving them. Couldn’t say I ever would be either.

“Your majesty.” They bowed formally. They were here on official business. I appreciated the respect they always gave me.

“He’s over there.” I pointed to the side of the driveway where a row of overgrown bushes hid Shepherd.

“We’ll take care of it,” Eli assured me.

“I doubt he’ll be missed, but just in case anyone from his clan comes looking for him make sure there are no signs of him.”

“Understood,” Ronan answered.

Although, the bastard had made his mark all over the place. I realized the scratches at the door and around the windows more than likely belonged to him. He had his eye on the place for a while.

I went inside while they disposed of the mountaineer’s body. I had moved the coffee maker to the living room. I made a pot and poured a few cups into mugs from that precious china Cadence liked so much.

I sat on the porch when Eli and Ronan emerged from the forest.

“Coffee?” I offered.

“Thanks.” Eli took a cup and sat next to me.

“What’s the report back home?” I asked. I knew there wasn’t anything dire.

Ronan’s shoulders slumped. “The Nox are still hanging around. I thought they would leave.”

I wasn’t the only one who had to deal with an ex in a small town. Both Ronan and Eli thought their futures were secure with Sloan and Abi. The revolution Dare had started with her army of she-panthers, the Nox, had affected more than we anticipated. And I had forced the Tribe to help them. I never asked permission beforehand, nor forgiveness after. I didn’t need either as their king, but the sliver of humanity in me that kept revealing itself, told me the decisions I made altered their lives.

Eli growled, “It’s like they want us to see them. They don’t even try to hide.”

The coffee was dark, almost bitter-tasting. “They don’t have to anymore,” I reminded them. “We aren’t after them. They are free now.”

“Sloan’s not seeing anyone. I know that much.” Ronan sighed. “I tried to call her yesterday.”

Eli’s gaze was distant. “Abi and Tegan—well you know that’s still strong.”

God, this was turning into a fucking nightmare. I wasn’t hosting a counseling session. I had to get them back to warrior status.

“Forget the Nox.” I almost screamed it over their heads. Didn’t they see they were half the men they should be? “They aren’t your concern anymore.” I continued, “Donovan is going to need reinforcements. Things are heating up in Charleston. I could use you two there.”

It made sense. He needed help, and these two had to get the hell out of that town for a while.

Did I look as bad as they did? They looked like hell. Dark circles under their eyes. Shoulders rounded. They weren’t the same members of the Tribe that I had trained and conditioned. They looked like love-sick fools and that had to change. Immediately.

“If you need us there, just say the word.” Eli looked to me for the official order.

“Go. And when you get there let me know. I’ll call Donovan this morning and check in with him.”

They both stood, stretching their backs and long limbs. They left their half-filled coffee cups on the railing.

“Good to see you both.” I rose next to them. “Thanks for the help.”

“Sure thing.” Ronan hopped from the top step to the sidewalk.

It was as if they each had a sudden spring in their stride. I had given them a new purpose. I didn’t realize how badly they needed it. They didn’t have kitchens to demolish. They had been back home pining away for girls who didn’t want them back. I was a dick for not seeing this sooner.

I watched as their dark figures disappeared behind the trees. They must have parked on the edges of the property and hiked in. I had taught them well.

It was clear now. They needed their king.

I had work to do before they’d get him back completely.

My chest rose with the realization. I better get started.