Page 86 of Reins

“I don’t have my license, so I can’t drive yet. I don’t think cooking and cleaning is enough.” I frown at my hand, shaking my head. “Do your neighbors need help? I can maybe—”

“You don’t owe me anything. I wouldn’t have asked you to be here if I knew I couldn’t take care of you. If you want a job, a car, I have no problem with any of that. But you don’t need to get them for the reasons you think, only if you want them.” His thumb continues the hypnotic effect against my skin.

It’s hard to believe him.

There’s always a transaction.

“Why?” I ask hesitantly. “You didn’t even like me in the beginning when you offered. Why did you do it?”

His touch stills.

“I’ll always be honest with you, Ros.” His warm breath cascades over me, tinged with barley malt. “At first it was just to try and get your help against your brothers. Then, when I saw the fear in your eyes, it was to try and get you safe.” He leans to set his empty beer down and swap it for the jar of sea glass. “Then it was because of what I saw.” His voice is rough, tinged with pain. “And the realization that came with it.”

I drop the pieces in with the rest. He wanted to help me from the beginning? “Even after you knew what my brothers did? You still had faith in me?”

“Was I wrong?” His caramel gaze burns into me. “The truth is branded all over your body, Ros. It’s proof that you aren’t like them. Every time they tried to break you, you stood back up.” He cups my jaw, his own clenching. “That’s why you’re here. Because I saw a ribbon of steel stronger than any other force on earth. You’re a survivor who deserves to thrive.”

How did I get lucky enough to have it be him that found me?

No one else would ever understand.

“I want to learn how to heal on the inside.” I pepper his neck with kisses laced with my salty tears. “Can you make me an appointment with that lady?”

“I’ll call in the morning.”

Chapter 42 - Cade

When I wake, my palm is flattened over the skin of her belly under her shirt while she sleeps peacefully on my arm.

I don’t want to move. It’s taken five days for her to get comfortable enough for this.

It may be just a small win but it’s also been almost a week of more laughs, more kissing, and a lot more honesty.

She’s put a permanent ache in my nuts but I don’t care.

Well, I do. It fucking hurts lying next to her when her fingers rest on my thigh close enough to brush the bulge in my jeans.

I have to wear the damn things or I’d poke my own eye out with as hard as she makes me.

The tease of her taut nipples through the thin fabric of her shirt is killing me too. Each time she inhales, they raise toward me as if they’re begging for me to taste them.

One day I’ll be able to lavish her with all of my pent up attention. I’ll get to taste her until she screams.

Shit. I can feel my dick leaking against the denim.

Rolling away from her, I have to readjust my cock to stand.

“Cade?” Her soft voice carries from the pillow just as I’m about to close the bathroom door.

“Yes, baby?” I glance back to see her sleepy eyes blink in the early light.

“Come back to bed?” She gives me a half-smile as she pats the spot I left.

“I’m just gonna jump in the shower.” I have to or I’ll explode.

One of her blue eyes squint as she covers the other with her palm. “Why do you take two a day? You don’t stink,” she giggles. “I like how you smell.”

“Mmm,” I groan. “I like how you do too, that’s why I have to shower twice a day.” As I toss her a wink and pull the door shut, her mouth opens into an ‘o’ and pink rushes into her cheeks.