Page 10 of Claiming His Property

He looks at me, and I see he’s thinking he did something wrong, so I quickly take his hand in mine.

“I’ve never done this before, Cade.” The expression on his face shifts, and my heart sinks. “I’m only eighteen. I don’t know how old you are, but I’m sure you’ve had a million girls, and if you don’t want to do this with me anymore, I totally get it, but I thought you should know.”

Cade just stares back at me for a moment, and a sense of dread fills me.

He’s going to laugh.

He’s going to bail.

But to my surprise, he leans in and kisses me delicately on the forehead, like my husband of twenty years.

“First, I’m twenty-nine. And second, are you joking?”

“J-joking?” I stammer. “No, I’m really a virgin–”

“And you think that make me not want you anymore?” Cade laughs and shakes his head. “Sky, that only makes me want you more.”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously.” He nods. “I would be the only man to ever have you, Sky. And that’s the biggest turn-on in the world.”

Oh God, I’m blushing again.

Not only is Cade so sexy, but he’s also beyond charming and makes me feel safe in a way that only one other man has ever made me feel: my daddy.

I reach between my legs and pull my sweats and panties down and spread my legs, but he stops me.

“No.” He shakes his head.

“Why not?” I ask.

“Sky, if I’m going to take your virginity, it’s not going to be in the back of my dingy truck. It’s going to be somewhere nice, somewhere special.”

He gently pulls my panties back up and brushes my cheek with the back of his hand.

“You’re not just saying that to get out of this awkward situation, right?”

Cade smiles with his eyes, leans in, and gives me the most passionate kiss he’s given me all night. I’m so taken by it I could melt away happily into him and never come back. When he finally pulls away and looks back at me, I know he’s being completely truthful with me.

“There’s one thing you should know about me, Sky. And that’s that I would never lie to you.”

4

SKYLAR

I barely slept a wink after what happened last night with Cade. What a complex man–like a delicious multi-layered cake.

I did not expect him to react the way he did when I told him I’d never had sex before. I also didn’t expect him to be such a gentleman about it and promise me we’d do it in a better place at a better time so it could be something special for me.

I’m sure a lot of guys would have pushed me to do it right then and there, just so they could get some. But not Cade. He didn’t even pressure me to pleasure him or return the favor in any way. We just lay there, side by side in the back of his truck, until I eventually fell asleep in his arms.

Luckily, he had to get up early for work and I managed to sneak back into the house before Dad went off for work. Despite me being eighteen, he still has this habit of checking in on me before he leaves “just to make sure I’m okay.” Part of me wishes he would quit, but at the same time, I know how sweet it is. And with Momma having passed, I know that one day he won’t be there here anymore either, so I should appreciate him while I’ve got him.

I should have my mind on my first day of work at the tattoo parlor, but all I can think about as I step through the doors of Dark Forrest Tattoo is Cade.

Misty, my main contact at the shop, spots me as I enter and gives me a big friendly wave from her station. We already know each other pretty well. She was the one who looked over my portfolio and interviewed me several times and ultimately made the decision to take me on as an apprentice. I basically owe her everything.

She’s one of those girls my aunt would hate–covered in tattoos, sleeves on both arms, a big dragon piece on her neck, three small stamps under her left eye, piercings all over, a few big pieces on her back, and one huge one on her left side that still isn’t finished. She has several on each leg and I’m sure a few I haven’t even seen as well. I’d actually love for her and Beatrice to meet. Misty is not afraid to speak her mind and would never put up with my aunt’s shit.

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