Page 83 of These Wicked Desires

Downstairs, Cade waits for me with the keys to the Hummer and a big cup of coffee. If it weren’t for him waking me up at this ungodly hour, I’d kiss him for the coffee. Instead, I grab it out of his hand, glaring the entire time.

He chuckles, and opens the front door. “After you, m’lady.”

“Fuck off.”

In the Hummer, I take the first sip of the steaming black liquid and exhale. In all honesty, Cade makes the best coffee. Which is weird because he hates the stuff. He remains quiet as we drive to … wherever we’re going, and I appreciate it while I wait for the caffeine to kick in.

It’s obvious we’re heading into the city and a little flutter of excitement hits me. I haven’t been to the city for a while. Not counting the few times we made trips for various purposes while all the shit was going down.

When he pulls the Hummer to a curb and stops, I look at him in question. “This is Allie’s place.”

“Yes it is,” is all he says.

Bewildered, I stare at him. “Am I supposed to get out?”

But before he can answer, Allie pops out of the lobby with a cup of coffee and climbs into the back. “Here ya go, El.” She hands me the cup over the console and winks.

“Oh, I love you. Will you marry me?” I inhale the steam, smiling.

She snorts. “I don’t think I can take a mage, a vampire, and a wolf. Sorry.”

“So, what’s going on?” I ask her, now thinking she has something to do with this.

“I have no idea. Cade texted me and told me to be ready and have a coffee for you.”

I look at him, and find I can’t keep mad any longer. Sure he woke me up, but he made sure I had two coffees. His smile as he pulls away from the curb tells me he knows he won.

“Okay prince charming, what is this surprise?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise.”

I slump in the seat, grumbling under my breath, and drink my coffee. Fine, I’ll pout in silence and drink my coffee while I wait.

When he pulls into a small parking lot next to an empty building and gets out, I turn around to look at Allie.

“How much do you trust him?” she asks. “He could be plotting to kill us and hide our bodies.”

I nod. “Be on your guard.”

We climb out and let Cade lead us around to the front of the building. My eyebrows raise to my hairline when he pulls a key out of his pocket and unlocks the door. He holds it open for us, but sighs when we look at him suspiciously and he enters first.

“Seriously, you two are too much to handle.” He stops in the middle of the room, and turns to face us. “Well, what do you think?”

I look around at the empty space. Cheap linoleum floors that desperately need an upgrade. Walls that used to be painted white but have faded to a dingy yellow. Fluorescent lights above hum and flicker, casting weird lighting over the entire space. A door in the back leads to something I’m too scared to investigate.

“Umm, it’s … nice?” I say, ending my statement in more of a question than a certainty.

“I’m sure if you added a plant to the corner it would really liven the space up,” Allie offers.

Cade shakes his head. “Imagine new floors. Fresh paint. Updated electricity. Maybe a few blue workout mats, some punching bags, mirrors. Now what do you think?”

I stare at him, mouth hanging open. He can’t possibly be thinking what I think he’s thinking. “Cade …” I whisper, taking a step toward him.

“It’s officially yours,” he says, digging in his pocket and pulling out a second key. He tosses it to Allie who lets its sail past her head, her expression a mirror of my own.

“Cade,” I whisper again, looking around the room, imagining all the things he said.

He closes the distance between us and takes my hands. “Make your dream come true, Ellis. Open your gym for women. Provide them with an opportunity to learn how to defend themselves.”

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