The Fortunates (Unfortunates #2) (15 page)

“Why did you agree to marry me?” he asks, pulling me from meaningless thoughts with a question I’ve never contemplated.

“Why did I agree to marry you?”

“Yes.”

If I’m being honest, I agreed to marry him so he’d let me continue my thing with Oliver. I was raised an Unfortunate; marriage doesn’t have the same effect on me like it does Kade. It’s meaningless. It’s something I never built up in my mind, but he has…and I guess I exploited that.

I am dedicated to him, though. I’ll gladly spend the rest of my life with him and if marriage makes him feel secure then I am all for it. On a deeper level, I agreed to marry him because…well…

“You’re the only thing in this world that is truly mine,” I tell him. “Everything I own now I was given, but you? I worked hard for your affection.”

Without warning, he kisses me.

Hard.

So hard I lose my footing.

Catching me, he takes a powerful step forward and crushes me between the cold, wet tiles and his warm, hard body.

Where I belong.

Chapter Fifteen

Kade

Kade didn’t mean to be rough with her, but he couldn’t help it. His body, his passion, was propelled by a desire he couldn’t ignore. How could he? She was so persistent, so charismatic in her own unique way. He didn’t know how to describe it. She’s had confidence, but not the predatory arrogance of a Fortunate. She knew fear, but didn’t let it paralyse her Unfortunate mind. She was refreshingly different, but familiar at the same time.

Nine raked her hands through his wet hair and squeezed as much as she could in her fists. She wanted more, but he was stuck in a persistent train of thought. What did he hear circulating while she was locked in her cell? What did they call her? It was right on the tip of his tongue. A word so similar to—a Misfortunate. That’s what they called her.

Much to his amusement, some believed touching Nine brought bad luck. They saw her as a bad omen—a promise of death for anyone that crossed her path. To some she was cursed—and in a way he guessed she was. She was cursed with him and as long as there was breath in his body, nothing could stop the pain he’d rain down on those who hurt her.

His Unfortunate…

His Fortunate…

His Misfortunate…

Kade was pulled from his thoughts by the feel of her hands. They were everywhere and nowhere all at once. Did that make sense? Probably not. Wherever her hands were, they felt good. Her touch transported him to another dimension—an alternate reality populated only by them.

Nine’s soft body melted against his as he slipped his thigh between her legs. A gush of air rushed from her mouth and into Kade’s as his thigh slipped firmly into place. She was warm, the air was warm, and although it was the middle of the day, all he wanted to do was crawl into bed with her and stay there until other duties called for his attention.

Sighing, Nine ended his crushing kiss. She raked her teeth over his bottom lip and then soothed it with a soft graze. As she pressed her forehead to his, he became lost in her hooded, violet eyes. So lost that he was afraid he’d never find his way out. Lucky for him, he didn’t have to. Nine’s beautiful, plump lips parted, demanding his attention. Her divided mouth exposed a straight, white set of teeth and the tip of her wet, pink tongue. He made a tight noise in his chest. His mind was made up. That’s exactly where he would start today’s sexual escapade.

Nine slid her hands down his neck and over his chest. She touched him longingly—confidently—and he swore he could feel the rapid pulse of her heart in the tips of her fingers as she moved them over each muscly ridge of his abdominals.

“What do you want, Anna?” he asked, taking note of her subtle flinch.

He didn’t mean any disrespect. She was Nine, sure, but that was a system name. She had to get used to her real name. Her “human” name.

“The usual,” she said, swallowing hard. “War…peace…
you
.”

“In that order?”

Her irises flashed with a fire he’d never seen before. All of those brought her extreme pleasure.

Because they were selfless.

She was selfless.

“In any order you want.”

God help m—
Kade’s stomach clenched and his breath hitched as the palms of her warm, soft hands caressed the tip of his hard cock. He planted his hands on the wall beside her head and groaned before he closed his eyes. Images of her danced behind his eyelids, like they always did, relentlessly teasing and taunting him.

“Do you have any plans today?” she asked, sliding her hands up and down his shaft.

Her touch was gentle. A tormenting tease that scrambled his brain.

Kade shook his head and opened his eyes. “Not until dinner.”

Her violet eyes glistened as she fought a smile. “You might want to push that back a little. Just in case.”

Just in case? Dinner was seven hours away from now. How much stamina did she think he had? He could go four hours tops—five if cuddling counted too. The only way he’d make seven was if a nap was included.

Kade laughed under his breath and cupped her face in his hands. “You’re ambitious.”

“A little.”

God, she was young. Her skin was smooth and full, her eyes bright and innocent. It almost felt wrong to want her the way he did. Constantly, he had to remind himself that while he was twenty-five she was only eighteen. And while Nine certainly had the body of a blessed woman, she had the expectations and the naivety of a child.

Eighteen.

Eight. Teen.

The number sounded so small in his head and he wondered how a girl as young as Nine had the capacity to care about anyone other than herself. If another Unfortunate was in her shoes, would they risk everything they had? Or would they be soothed by their newfound luxuries? These were pointless questions, but Kade genuinely wanted to know.

“Kiss me,” he whispered and the corner of her lips twitched.

The twitch on her lips pulled her mouth into a smirk. “On the mouth?”

His cock jerked as Nine dragged her thumb over its swollen, eager head. Swallowing hard, he cleared his throat. “For starters. If you play your cards right—”

“If I play my cards right?” She laughed, squeezing his shaft in her fist. “I’m not the one who has to play their cards right, Master Kade.”

He leaned in. “Is that so?”

“Mmhm.”

Nine moved her hand slowly, squeezing and pulling, pushing and relaxing, building him up to a point of no return. His heart pummelled his ribs, pounding faster than ever, and he revelled in it. Being with her was the only time he felt alive. It was the only time he felt remotely human.

Sighing, Kade pressed his lips to hers. It lacked the relentless fire of the first kiss, but it was filled with passion. It was overflowing with love. Why? Because it was important that she knew how much he valued her, how much he respected her body and her mind, and that he was thankful she’d let someone like him inside her. Some saw sex as the opening of legs and nothing more. He used to, but now he revered it as the opening of a soul. It was the one place two could truly become one. It’s where passion was born and life was created. In retrospect, it was the most sacred place on Earth.

And she wanted to share it with him.

Only him.

Kade tensed his thigh and pushed it harder against her core as their tongues caressed each other. In response, Nine gasped into his mouth and rolled her hips against him, wanting more friction, seeking more pleasure. Who was he not to give it to her? Who was he not to give her anything she desired? She wanted war? He’d bring down the Heavens. She wanted peace? He would paddle her out into the middle of the ocean and read her a book. She wanted him? He’d give her everything he had until there was nothing left to give. He would sacrifice everything because she’d given him a glimpse of a world he longed for—breathed life into the humanity he thought he’d lost. That was worth more than control, more than power, and more than gems. Peace on earth was worth more than prejudice, more than the separation of social classes. Once upon a time he thought the purpose of life was to be powerful. He thought that in order to live a fulfilling life, he had to build a legacy no one could forget. That wasn’t true. The deeper he fell into love, the more he realised the purpose of life was to live. Some butterflies live for two weeks, but in those two weeks they live a lifetime. Kade had been on this earth for twenty-five years and what had he achieved besides crushing his own happiness? Nothing. Then along came a beautiful butterfly who showed him a life worth living.

∞ Nine ∞

In one heartbeat he’s kissing me sensually and in the next, his teeth are against my collarbone, his hands gripping my hips as he presses his thigh harder between my legs. I love being intimate with him—not because he shows me pleasures I’ve never known, but because it’s the closest two human beings can be.

And I want that.

More than anything.

“Nine…” He sighs my name into the nape of my neck, sending a sharp flurry of tingles down my spine.

In a show of fireworks, they clash with the sensations emanating from the pit of my belly. Every hard press of his thigh stokes the fire that threatens to consume me. He kisses my chest, my breast, my flat tummy, and the inside of my thigh. I rest against the wall, allowing him to explore me any way he wants. He takes the quest seriously too. The tip of each finger at the back of my thigh dances elegantly, coaxing me to lift it high enough for him to hook it over his shoulder. My breath hitches as he presses his lips to the inside of my thigh and smooths the palm of his hand over my backside, pulling my hips away from the wall.

I close my eyes and listen to the sounds of the water as it crashes against the tiles. Kaden brushes his jaw along my inner thigh and his warm breath blows across my skin. He leaves me in suspense and I savour the moment, letting my brain roll and swirl without a care. It’s nice to feel so complacent since I spent most of the morning stressed and worried. I’m alive and healthy. These are the things that should matter the most.

My breath hitches in my throat as Kaden pushes his tongue against that teeny, tiny magic spot. Forget prejudice. Forget war. This is where it’s at.

Sighing, I drop my head back against the tiles. The strokes of his tongue aren’t assaulting or relentless, not like I was expecting. They’re sensual and slow.

Firm and precise.

I slide my fingers into his hair and massage his scalp. Soon, the sounds of the shower are drowned out by the pulsating beat of my heart in my ears. Despite the alcohol swirling in my blood that desperately tries to distract me from the pleasure Kade brings to life inside of my body, I moan. He presses harder and licks a little faster, building up the ball of chaos in the pit of my tummy. It has been so long since he’s kissed me between my legs. I still remember the first time he did. I was so nervous, so worried we’d be caught, and that took away from the experience a little, but not today. Today I revel in it.

Unashamed.

I gently rotate my hips to feel more of tongue, more of his lips. Kade groans and a rush of air shoots out of my mouth. The thought of him on his knees in front of me coupled with the sounds of him enjoying the act of pleasing me is too much for me to bear. It fast-tracks my build up.

“Oh…” I barely have time to catch my breath as my legs tremble uncontrollably and my stomach ties itself into euphoric knots.

The more my legs shake, the faster he licks me. It takes one violent shudder from me to send him from careful and gentle to viciously starved. I tighten my fingers in his hair and pull, wanting him closer. My breath leaves my body in heavy pants and my thighs inch closer together.

Then it hits me, like an unexpected crack of thunder before the rain. I cry out, my toes curl, and my legs fall out from underneath me. Somehow he holds me up, pressing me hard against the wall without much effort. He doesn’t stop licking or sucking. Not until my moans of pleasure bubble into light giggles. I release his hair and slide my hands over my cheeks to hide my blush.

Satisfied with himself, Kade plants a quick kiss on my thigh and slides my leg from his shoulder. I push off the wall as he stands up, levelling my face with his chest. I hope that wasn’t too uncomfortable for him. I don’t know how he does these things with our height difference, but somehow he makes it work.

Kaden slips his hands against my hips and tugs me forward, pulling me into the hot jets. I close my eyes as water sprays against his shoulder and covers my face in a gentle mist. He runs his soft hand over my body and slips it between my legs, washing the slipperiness left by his mouth away. When he’s done, he reaches around me and I open my eyes. He cranes his neck and I place my hands on his biceps as he lowers his face to mine.

“You should eat,” he states, his stare flicking to my lips and back.

“So should you.” I lean in for a kiss and he follows, only to pause a centimetre out.

He shuts off the shower and I frown as he pulls back, fighting a playful smile. My heart soars. I love it when he allows himself to feel human, even if it’s brief.