Page 27 of These Wicked Desires

“I’ve been putting this off, but Ellis made me realize how badly I need to say it.”

My stomach clenches and I force my hands to relax on my thighs. This could be about anything. There’s no point jumping to conclusions.

Cade shifts on the swing, making it sway side to side a little as he turns to face me. “I know we have history, and not just as friends. And I’ve never denied that I find you attractive and enjoy having sex with you. But …” he pauses and swallows.

I think I'm going to be sick. This conversation could go two different directions, and I’m worried it’s going to go the direction I don’t want it to go. It takes all my self control to not shake Cade and yell at him to just say it already. I turn away, unable to look at him in case he says what I’m scared he’s going to say. I don’t want him to see the hurt that I’m sure I won’t be able to hide from him.

“But it’s changed for me lately. It’s not just … it’s …” He mumbles something under his breath, something that sounds suspiciously like ‘fuck it.’ “Kai,” he says, and waits for me to look at him.

His violet eyes are shimmering, like his magic is close to the surface. My breath catches at the emotions that slip through my shields even though I have them locked down tightly, not wanting to know what he’s feeling.

“I love you, Kai.”

My heart stutters, and in my surprise, I lose my grip on the barrier that keeps everyone's emotions from hounding me constantly. Cade’s nervous, scared even. But the feeling I’m sensing the most is the same one I pick up from Ellis.

Love.

I stare at Cade as I let his words sink in. The nausea in my gut disappears, replaced by the wings of thousands of butterflies. Three words I never thought I’d hear from him. Three words I’ve been terrified to say because, what if he didn’t feel the same? The longer I stare at him, the more the nervous energy from Cade intensifies, and I realize I probably should say something in return. But my words are stuck in my throat that seems to have closed. So instead, I kiss him.

I crash into him, hard enough to make the swing rock back and forth like a ship on a stormy sea. Cade gasps and I slide my tongue into his mouth, brushing it against his. His hands slide into my hair, pulling on the strands and sending electric pleasure through my veins. When I pull away, I drag my fangs along his lower lip, restraining myself from biting hard enough to draw blood.

Cade’s eyes are huge as he looks at me, chest heaving with uneven breaths. “Does that … I take it as …”

I don’t let him finish that sentence. “I love you too, Cade.” The way his eyes light up makes me want to kiss him again. “I think I have for a while now. I’ve just been too scared to admit it to myself.”

Cade frames my face in both of his hands and pulls me against him for another kiss. This one is slow and languid. I let myself feel each of his emotions, amazed that they are coming from him and are directed toward me. It’s surreal to even think I have not only Ellis, but Cade as well.

I have no idea how long we sit on the swing, lazily kissing. We only pull apart when Sterling stomps up the steps. “Where’s Ellis? I feel like she’s missing out.”

Cade and I pull away, but we don’t turn our attention to Sterling. Instead, we stare into each other’s eyes for a moment longer.

Sterling clears his throat. “Do I need to get naked to get your attention?”

“It wouldn’t hurt,” Cade says, slightly out of breath.

I snort, breaking the moment and turning to Sterling. “She’s inside washing her hair. Apparently it was really dirty.”

Sterling raises one silver brow in question but shakes his head. “Well, I have some news. You’re all going to want to hear this.”

When Ellis descends the stairs, it's obvious she didn’t wash her hair. It’s thrown into a messy bun on top of her head, loose curls escaping to fan around her head. If I were to guess, she went upstairs and changed into one of our t-shirts, curled up in bed, and was reading a book.

She glances at Cade and I sitting next to each other, practically glued to each other’s side with Cade’s arm around my shoulders, and she winks at us. I’m just about to scoot over to make room for her, but she turns toward Sterling and plops into his lap instead. I glare at her and she smiles, shimmying her hips seductively as she scoots closer against him. Lucky bastard.

Sterling wraps his arm around her waist almost absentmindedly, and the t-shirt she’s wearing climbs higher up her thighs. I laugh when Sterling’s brow furrows and he sniffs Ellis’s shoulder, scrunching his nose.

“Do you have to wear Kai’s shirt?” he mutters. “You stink.”

I cackle, even as the monster inside of me puffs out his chest knowing our beloved smells like me.

“Oh hush,” she says, elbowing him in the stomach, earning a soft oomph from the shifter. “I’m sure I smell like all of you. There is no way I’ll ever get all of your scents off my skin with how much time I’m stuck with you guys.”

Cade’s laugh rumbles along the side of my body pressed against his and I can’t stop myself from leaning more against him, getting as close as I possibly can. If I can’t cuddle with Ellis, Cade will do just fine.

Sterling clears his throat and we all sober, the atmosphere shifting from playful to serious in the blink of an eye. “I have some news,” he says, shifting Ellis on his lap. “Cole and I have been meeting with wolves we can trust to take our side. We’ve been working on security plans for the day of the challenge as well as after the fact. Noah will have supporters who will not accept the change of leadership easily.”

“They shouldn’t be too big of a problem, though,” Cade chimes in. “I can’t imagine they are very powerful. And with Ellis’s bond, there won’t be anyone strong enough to challenge you.”

“You’re right, but if they band together, they could cause some issues.” He notices Ellis’s sharp inhale and he jiggles her softly. “It won’t be anything we can’t handle, but it will be annoying, and something I’d rather not have to deal with while we have other problems on our plate.”

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