Page 14 of Christmas Captive

Kade steps forward, his eyes never showing a sign of worry. “Trust me, I’ll be okay.”

My heart squeezes as I balance the reality of the situation with the raw intensity. No man has ever stood up for me like this in my life. I want to jump on him now. I want to make him mine. Forget everything I ever wanted. What Ineed,is a big, strong lumberjack.

Kade, with his eyes locked on Wyatt, his pistol ready to kill, says, “We both know I’m within my rights to shoot. So, you’ve got two choices. You stay, and I put you down without another thought, or you leave, and you keep my girl’s name out of your fuckin’ mouth for good. Your choice.”

Wyatt is frozen. I’m sure the gun gave him some sense of false confidence, but now he’s pale and shaking, like he might piss himself. Also, did Kade just call me ‘his girl?’

Wyatt steps back and Kade opens the front door, shoving him out onto the porch where he lands on his ass with a thud. I’m not sure why I like this a little, but I do. In fact, my heart squeezes as I resist the urge to plan our wedding and the subsequent birth of our children. That would be rushing things, though. I shouldn’t rush things…right?

It’s just so nice to feel seen, validated, cared for.

As Kade picks up the fallen shotgun, Wyatt scurries back to the Corolla like a boy who’s not used to playing with men. I’ve never felt a chapter close more dramatically in my life.

Kade steps back into the house and closes the cabin door, glancing at the frame in need of repair as he makes his way toward me. “You alright, darlin’?” He brushes his calloused hand over my face and down my cheek. “Clearly, I need better fuckin’ security. That bastard got a lot closer than anyone ever should.”

“I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have come here tonight. I brought all this onto you, and now you have to fix your door, and—”

“I’m not worried about the door. I’m worried about you. I’m glad you’re here. He’d have shown up at your place and God knows what he’d have done.”

I’ve never known Wyatt to be like this. Then again, maybe I didn’t know Wyatt all that well at all. I spent two years with him.Two years… and we never had a night like the one Kade and I just had. We never talked about anything real. We never danced in the kitchen.

I blow out a heavy breath, and while in Kade’s arm, my shoulders relax.

“Come on.” He bends down and cradles my frame, carrying me toward the bedroom. “You’ve had a long day. You need to lay down.”

Is this what love looks like?Can it happen this fast? Can a man lick his fingers clean in front of your ex, win an armed standoff, and then carry you to the bedroom… and that be love?

I want it to be love,desperately.

I want Kade to be the one I was destined to bump into all along. I want it to be fate that Wyatt called off the wedding, that I ended up here tonight, but that’s probably the alcohol talking.

I sit on the edge of the bed and stare up at Kade. Part of me knows I should head home. I should get this thought out of my head, leave Rugged Mountain tonight, and head back to San Diego because that’s real life and real life is where I need to be.

He tips his hand under my chin and draws my gaze up toward his. “That was scary. You’re a good girl for handling that the way you did.”

Validation. My clit throbs again.

He pulls back the blankets and guides me down against the pillow before tugging off his jeans and tucking into bed behind me. His big, rough, warm frame cuddles in and I listen to the heavy beat of his heart and the rasp of his breath as I stay his Christmas captive just a bit longer.

Chapter Six

Kade

I hadn’t realized how much I like taking care of someone, but having Jovie here last night showed me that. She’s sweet, innocent, and trusting.Too trusting.

She needs me. I need her. Honestly, though, I’m not sure that’s going to matter this morning now that the alcohol has worn off.

Eggs sizzle in a pan behind me as I whip pancakes together in a stainless-steel bowl, thinking over last night. I hope I didn’t scare the fuck out of her. She could be terrified of me now. Heaven only knows if we can go back to the way things were before Wyatt showed up and ruined the night.

Coffee brews in the machine near the fridge and there’s a cup ready and waiting for Jovie when she wakes up. When I started cooking, I wanted her with me. Now, I think I need her to keep sleeping. The longer she sleeps, the longer she’s mine. As the flurry of thoughts cross my mind, footsteps echo in the hallway.

“Wow. You really went all out.” She smiles and readjusts last night’s clothes into place. “I don’t think I’ve had a proper breakfast like this since I was a kid.”

“Long, cold days call for a big, warm meal. Best way to start things out.” I smile and pour the coffee into the waiting mug, handing it toward her.

She inspects the kitten on the cup and smiles. “I knew you had a thing for pussy.”

I laugh, sliding the eggs onto a plate. “I can’t help myself, I guess.”

---