Page 29 of Claiming His Property

I try to scream, but a rough hand presses over my mouth, stifling my cry.

I’m about to panic, but then I recognize the scent.

Cade.

“It’s just me, angel,” he whispers. “Don’t make too much noise. Your dad is asleep in his room.”

What is he doing here? My heart is racing from the jolt of the scare, and adrenaline is coursing through my body from the fright, but he slowly slips his hand from my mouth and wraps me in his arms. I don’t know how to react or what’s happening, so my body remains tense.

I hate feeling like this around him. I should feel warm and happy in his embrace. Instead, I feel as though Cade is an intruder in my home–in my bedroom, which is my sacred space only meant for me.

There may have been a point where I would have been happy to invite him into it, but that time is not now. Right now, having him here feels wrong.

“What the hell, Cade?” I hiss. “You can’t just sneak in here while I’m sleeping! You can’t knock on the window? You can’t call?”

“Okay, I did knock on the window,” he replies, a tiny smirk on his face. I’m trying to ignore just how handsome he is. “But you sleep like a rock, you know that? And I lost my phone and I don’t have your number memorized, okay? Now can we just go outside and talk before we wake up your dad, please?”

What he’s saying is making sense, but I’m also still pouty and upset, so I glare back at him for a moment until he asks again.

“Please, angel?”

“Fine,” I reply. “I’m giving you two minutes. And don’t call me angel. You’ve got a lot of explaining to do.”

“Fair enough,” he says as he easily slips out the window and outside.

He holds out his arms to help me. I desperately want to refuse and manage on my own, but it’s too high and I don’t want to stumble and make an ass out of myself, so I let him take me by the waist with his huge hands and lower me to the ground.

I hate the fact that I like being manhandled by him too. I’m supposed to be angry with him. I’m supposed to hate him. This man lied to me. He seduced my aunt and is marrying her and moving to California with her. I don’t even know why I’m talking to her or why he’s here to talk to me.

This whole thing is one huge clusterfuck.

I walk quickly away from him over to the trees where Daddy won’t hear us, then turn to face him.

“Well, I guess some congratulations are in order.”

He frowns. “Congratulations?”

“On your engagement.”

His frown deepens and he cocks his head to the side. “Engagement? To who?”

“Don’t play dumb with me, Cade. Just tell me what you want so we can get this over with. Your two minutes are ticking down. You’re probably down to a minute and a half now.”

Cade shakes his head, confused. “Wait, what are you talking about, Sky? Engaged to who?”

“My aunt, asshole!” I blurt out. “Don’t play dumb with me. I know all about it! She told me how you have been trying to seduce her and my daddy just told me this evening how you two are engaged and moving to California tomorrow!”

“Oh, Christ…” Cade groans, putting his hands to his head. “I was hoping I could get to you before she did.”

“You know, you really made me believe you loved me, Cade,” I cry, feeling the tears fall from my eyes once again. “I let you be my first, and this whole time you were just using me for my aunt’s money–”

Cade rushes in and wraps his arms around me. I struggle against him, but he is much too strong. It’s hopeless. It’s like fighting against iron chains.

“Don’t say that, Sky! Don’t say that!” he says, his voice soft and low, contrasting his immense strength. “I do love you. I love you with all my heart. Everything your aunt has said to you–to your father–is all bullshit!”

“Don’t lie to me!” I cry.

“I’m not, Sky! I would never lie to you, my sweet little angel.”

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