Chapter 13: Such a Sweet Thing

SLOAN

Kade and I are sitting on the couch, and it feels like we’re just waiting for the inevitable. Soon, Archie is calling again, so I decide to just answer.

“Hello?”

“Sloan…,” he whines, and I put him on speaker because I want Kade to know what’s going on.

“What, Archie? I’ve said all I need to say.”

“That’s it then? The last five years meant nothing?”

“I don’t know, did they?”

“Sloan, I love you! You’re endgame; the perfect wife,” Archie says sweetly.

“That doesn’t make sense. Why were you kissing a bimbo in the bar tonight?”

“Because I’m sowing my wild oats so when I do propose to you, I can be sure I’ll be faithful,” he says matter-of-factly like that makes it okay.

“What the hell, Archie?”

“What?”

“You make no fucking sense. I’m so annoyed right now. You didn’t need wild oats, you could have just paid attention to me. I was waiting for you.”

“Sloan, you are the woman I’ll have for the rest of my life. I was just taking a sampling.”

“What the fuck?” Kade yelps and looks at me apologetically almost immediately.

“Oh, yeah, your friend. Tell me it’s not the same; it seems he’s with you right now,” Archie says.

“He is, but he’s actually my friend. We eat food and watch movies together, we laugh and play games, and he cares about my career.”

“What are you telling me?”

“That I’ve realized we aren’t even friends. We’re nothing to each other, so you should just move on with what’s her name.”

“Jolene.”

“Seriously? What the hell?”

“Sloan, think here, my parents are billionaires. All I need you to do is play along a little longer; they like you.”

“What the fuck, Archie?”

“They won’t make me VP unless I marry a suitable woman. You just have to play along with me for a few months, and then…”

~I can’t listen to any more of this shit.~

I hang up on him and burst into tears. The realization that I meant nothing to him hits me like a tidal wave, and I can’t control myself.

Kade envelops me in his embrace and pulls me onto his lap, holding me tightly. He presses small kisses to my head; I know they are for comfort, but I can’t stop thinking about his lips on my body.

He’s holding me so tightly, so comfortably, and I can feel his hard, chiseled chest pressed against me.

“Sloan, are you okay?” he asks quietly.

“I will be. Thanks, Kade.”

“Want to talk about it?”

I laugh. “I need a drink.”

Kade gives me a wink, settles me back on the couch, and walks into my kitchen before climbing onto the counter.

“Let’s see what you’ve got here. A box of wine. Wow, Sloan, is this where bad alcohol goes to die?”

“Yes, but even that’s better than nothing.”

He pours me a glass and then joins me back on the couch. “So, spill it,” he says.

“Wow, right at it with you, huh?”

“Yes, I want to know how you’re feeling.”

“Okay, full truth and honesty… I feel like an idiot.”

“No, Sloan.”

“Wait. It’s just, right now, at this moment, I’ve realized Archie and I aren’t even friends anymore. There was hardly anything between us but the bottom line is that I was a trophy.”

“You can’t blame yourself for his flaws.”

“I don’t.”

“Are you sure?”

“It’s not my fault he was awful, I didn’t raise him. I guess it’s my fault I let him trick me, but he’s the tricky asshole, not me.”

“Sloan, you are so powerful.”

I can feel my face gravitating toward his. “You inspired me, made me see the truth.” Our faces get even closer until our noses are touching.

“Sloan, I need you to tell me to stop.”

“I won’t.”

“Please.”

“Sing me the song,” I say…and he does.

I move my mouth closer and ghost my lips over his.

“Sloan.”

“Keep singing…”

As he sings another line, our lips touch slightly every time his move. “Sloan.”

“Show me…”

“Damn.”

He wraps my face in his hands and crashes his lips into mine. His hands slide into my hair, and he tilts his head, deepening the kiss.

~Whoa, I’ve never felt anything like this.~ It feels like my whole body is lit up like a Christmas tree. Everything in the world makes sense somehow. ~Kade is my everything~.

When he pulls away, he’s still singing.

“Kade.”

“Sloan.”

“Don’t leave.”

“I have no intention of doing that.”

I rest my head on his lap, and he starts to stroke my hair.

“This whole thing is, like, really fucked up, yeah?” I ask.

“Yeah, Sloan, I’m so sorry.”

“It’s like I’ve been single forever.”

“What do you mean?”

“Who knows when this started? When did I become nothing more than endgame?”

“What do you mean?”

“He barely kissed me at all last year, and I convinced myself it was okay because he was stressed. I’m so dumb.”

“Stop it, please. Don’t let him define you.”

“How would you define me?”

“Sloan…”

“I know I’m putting you on the spot. Tell me five things, and I’ll tell you five about you.”

“Fine. Ready?”

“Yes.”

“Gorgeous, smart, creative, funny, and sexy.”

“Kade?”

“Your turn.”

“Handsome, funny, understanding, talented, sexpot.”

He laughs. “Sloan!”

“Deal with it, you’re hot.”

“What does this all mean now?”

“I don’t know, Kade. Is that okay?”

“It is. I think I’d probably be more scared if you were like, ‘you’re my boyfriend now’.”

“What I know is…” I hesitate a little.

“What, Sloan?”

“I want you to stay with me tonight... Please?”

“In your bed?”

“Yes, you’d be the first to ever join me,” I explain because I don’t want him to think I’m just putting him in Archie’s spot.

“Sloan.”

“Kade.”

“I just want to give you the space you need.”

“I appreciate it but, right now, I don’t need space. You can sleep with me without ~sleeping with me~, right?”

He laughs. “I’m pretty sure I can control myself.”

“Then, please, stay with me. I don’t want you to go.”

“Okay, Sloan.”

I lead Kade into my bedroom and slowly strip out of my dress.

“Sloan!” he gasps.

“Avert your eyes if you must, but I don’t mind if you see me like this.”

Kade’s heated gaze meets my eyes while he unbuttons his shirt.

He slides his shirt and jacket off, revealing his sculpted chest. He has some tattoos on his ribs, and there is a huge lion tattoo on his right shoulder that covers almost his whole chest.

“Wow, Kade, you are…”

He slips his pants down his legs before he jumps into my bed, smiling suggestively. “Sloan, you’re perfect.”

“How do you know?”

“I have eyes.”

“But you haven’t seen all of me yet.”

“Tease.”

“Am I? Have you tried?”

“Sloan.”

“Kade, I’m sorry, but honestly, what I need right now is for you to ravage me, claim my body, and make me yours.”

“Sloan, ~baby~…”

“Mmm, say it again.”

His lips crash into mine, and he kisses me deeply. “Sloan,” he gasps and keeps kissing me with a breathy intensity.

“Kade, please.”

A low, rumbling growl comes from his throat, and I feel like I’ve finally released him. He spreads his large hands over my body, caressing my skin with an almost bruising intensity

“Sloan, I don’t know how much longer I can stop myself.”

“I don’t want you to stop.”

He keeps kissing me deeply. Our tongues explore and connect. I can feel his hard, muscular chest against my skin, and it gives me goosebumps.

I can’t believe I’ve gone so long without this, but maybe it’s just Kade that is making this so good.

He breaks the kiss, panting, and rolls to my side, wrapping me in his arms. “Sloan, I can’t, not yet. You mean more to me than this.”

As much as I want him, I know he’s right. I’m not sure how I’m going to feel tomorrow. I have a lot to process.

“Crap, Marlene is coming tomorrow,” I squeak.

“What?”

“Sorry, I was just thinking, my boss is coming to see the venue tomorrow.”

I pull back a little so I can look at his face. “I know that came out of nowhere, I was just thinking that you’re right and that I have a lot to process. Then, I thought about tomorrow.”

“But Kade, thank you for being strong for me and for not letting me lose myself to my emotions.”

“Sloan, it’s incredibly difficult to be this close to you and hold back, but when things happen between us, I don’t want you to question why. I want you to be sure of how I feel about you.”