“Travis’s buddy. I know him through Travis, but he’s been friends with Travis since college.”
“And he was your spy?” Asha asked innocently.
“It wasn’t like that,” Kade answered irritably. “Colter wanted to get out of Colorado until his leg healed. The winters are brutal and he was in a cast, on crutches. Travis found him a place.”
“And that just happened to be across the hall from me? In the same apartment building? Why couldn’t he stay with Travis? Or at least get a nicer place if he’s that rich?” Asha hesitated for a moment before adding, “And how did he meet some woman in such a short length of time?”
Kade grimaced. “The woman was his sister. She’s happily engaged, but she wanted to see Tate and make sure he was feeling all right after the accident. Yeah. Okay. We sort of thought it would be nice to have Tate there to watch out for you. You took off without contacting anyone. You obviously didn’t want me or anyone else you knew around. Tate volunteered and we set up the apartment for him. Yeah…he’s filthy rich, but he’s lived everywhere. What he told you about being Special Forces was true. ”
“I thought he was my friend,” Asha said wistfully, disappointed that Tate had only hung around with her because of Travis and Kade.
“He is your friend. Believe me…if Colter didn’t like you, he’d watch out for you, but he wouldn’t give you the time of day. Tate’s pretty raw. Just like Travis.” Stopping in the middle of the room, Kade eyed her speculatively. “You like him?”
Asha shrugged. “Yeah. I do like him, even though he was only sent on a spying mission by you and Travis.”
“He wasn’t a damn spy. He was just there to help if you needed him. You were alone,” Kade grumbled. “But I still want to kick his ass for approving that car.” After a slight hesitation, Kade asked, “How much do you like him?”
Asha looked up at him, startled. Kade’s voice was radiating jealousy, and his jaw muscles were twitching. In spite of those facts, he looked vulnerable.
“I like him as a friend. He was nice to me. He joked around with me. I haven’t ever really had that before with a friend.” She sighed. “But he’s not you and he never will be.” Asha slid off the bed and went to stand in front of Kade, never breaking eye contact. “When I thought I was going to die, the only thing I really regretted is that I never told you how I felt about you. Maybe I shouldn’t tell you now, but I don’t ever want to feel that way again. I want you to know exactly how I feel with no regrets.”
“Tell me,” Kade said huskily.
“I love you,” Asha said in a low whisper, barely able to get the words out over the lump in her throat. “I know you didn’t ask for it and you probably don’t want it, but it’s there, and I’m tired of trying to bury it. You’re the one I was longing for in that picture I drew of myself, the hunger that I thought would never be satisfied. I think I’ve longed for you my whole life. I just didn’t know it.”
“Tell me you really mean it,” Kade demanded. “But I’m warning you, I’m never f**king letting you go if you do. Oh hell, I’m never letting you go, anyway. But I want you to tell me.”
“I mean it. But I don’t want you to feel obligated because—”
Her words were effectively stopped by his mouth seizing hers, his hands on both sides of her head to keep her still as he devoured her. His kiss was alternately carnal and adoring, demanding and giving, his tongue and lips owning her, yet also giving himself to her. He grasped her ass, picking her up, his lips never breaking contact.
Asha found herself on the bed, Kade having hastily removed her tray of food, making his way to his closet, and returning with several of his ties. He dropped the ties on the bed and began unbuttoning his pajama shirt, baring her br**sts as he came to the last button. “You look sexy as hell in my shirt, but I need you naked,” he rasped, his expression serious and eerily calm.
She watched him, confused, as he looped a tie around her wrist and secured it over her head, repeating it with the other wrist. Too shocked to react when he was binding her, she finally asked in a perplexed voice, “What are you doing?”
“Tying you to the bed,” Kade remarked absently, testing the ties to make sure they were secure.
Asha knew she should be mortified, but the feeling of being naked and at Kade’s mercy made her pu**y flood with heat. His solid, muscular body leaned over her and slipped her panties down her legs sensually, letting them glide along her legs until he pulled them completely off.
Kade had barely said a word since she’d blurted out her feelings for him, and his silence was becoming uncomfortable to her psyche, but his actions were heating her body to dangerous temperatures. “I can see that. Are you going to tell me why?” she questioned nervously. She’d literally put her life in Kade’s hands, but she’d never seen him quite like this.
“I told you. I’m never letting you go.” He stroked errant strands of hair from her face, and nipped at the side of her neck, his mouth finally nuzzling against her ear. “I plan to pleasure you until you’re out of your mind and agree to marry me. I figure that’s the only way I’ll get you to agree.”
Asha trembled as his husky, low whisper vibrated against her ear, his voice a silky, low purr that reminded her of a cat.
“I can’t marry you, Kade,” she informed him sadly.
I’m barren. I can’t marry him. It wouldn’t be fair to him.
“Figured you’d say that. So I guess it’s my job to change your mind. You’ll eventually understand that all I need is you, sweetheart. Because I love you, too. More than anything or anyone on this planet. And you’re going to be mine,” he warned dangerously. “So after I taste you until you’re screaming my name, and f**k you into the most incredible climax you’ve ever had, maybe you’ll agree. If not, I’ll try again.”
Tears trickled down her cheeks, tears of pure joy that Kade loved her, too. “Kade,” she moaned, pulling against the ties that were binding her. “These are your good ties.” She noticed the feeling of silk against her palms.
“Baby, they are very good ties right now,” Kade answered in a wicked voice. “I have a feeling every time I wear one of them from now on my c**k will be hard all day. All I’ll be able to think about is the way you look right now, spread out on my bed, mine to love and satisfy. And so f**king beautiful that I can’t believe you really love me.”