Page 77 of All Our Ghosts

She smiles against my lips for a moment until I pull away. “You want to try that again a little bit more convincingly this time?” Kadence says gently.

I chuckle at her ability to read me so easily. The only other person who could do that was Becca. Her free hand combs through my hair, pushing it back. Something so soft, so intimate that I didn’t think I’d enjoy so much. The feel of her hands on me, tangling in my hair. I still want to cut it, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’d miss it for this exact reason.

Neither of us have spoken about the accident since after Shawn left that day. I don’t want to relive it and it’s something I’m not going to force on her. I’m only going to bring it up when she’s ready for it or asks questions. I won’t force her to relive that nightmare like she did her others.

“I am alright, babe,” I rasp as I release the vice-like grip I have on the steering wheel and tangle my fingers into her hair at the back of her head. “You’re alive,safe. I’m more than alright.”

Kadence presses her forehead to mine, shaking her head. “I am both of those things because of you, Holden.”

“You were in this mess because ofme.”

She pulls back from me. “Is that what you think?” Her brows knit together again, “I chased you, I went after you because I lo-” she cuts herself off and something in my gut wants her to finishthe sentence, “because I wanted to. Because I wantedthis.” Her hand falls from my arm and she presses her palm to my heart.

“You should run for the hills,” I chuckle, “it would be easier.”

Kadence smiles. “I already ran for the hills, Holden,” she presses her lips to mine again, dragging out the kiss before pulling back. “Those hills led me to you.”

I stare at her for a moment, the realization that this woman isn’t going to leave me hit like a sack of bricks. And not in the way that makes me sick or anxious but almost…giddy? I’m a grown man. Grown men don’t get giddy. But if that is the case, why does it feel like a seventy-five-degree sunshiny day every time I look at her? Why does seeing the flecks of gold in her green eyes make me feel like I’m the richest man on earth or the way her laugh makes me feel the same as when I’m flying down an empty highway with nothing but my bike and the feeling of her arms wrapped around me.

I feel my brows furrow gently. That last part is new, and suddenly, everything I knew before feels irrelevant.

“You look like you just saw a ghost,” she laughs, combing her fingers through my hair. “Where did you go just now?”

I chuckle along with her, leaning my head back into her touch as her fingers curl around the back of my head. My eyes search hers for a moment before I dip my head and kiss her. “To a happy place.” I mumble against her mouth.

She pulls back gently and a grin spreads across her features. “If that look is your happy place it makes me a little worried, baby.”

This time I let myself laugh, really laugh. “I promise it was.”

Kadence hums in response. Her tongue darts over her bottom lip and she drags it between her teeth as she watches me for a moment.

“Can we move back into the apartment when we get home?” Her eyes glaze over me for a moment before moving away. “Ijust…I want to have you to myself and I can’t do that with the guys and Blake, as much as I love them, hovering around us all the time and I really think that it’s time. I can walk pretty much on my own and it doesn’t hurt as bad and the doctor–”

I press my lips to hers again, cutting off her cute rambling and earning myself a small gasp at the movement. I cup her face with my left hand turning my body into her before pulling back.

“You don’t ever have to ask to have me to yourself and…” I pause, debating on the stairs being a good idea at all even with her semi-clean bill of health. Other than the few bruised ribs she’s fine to move about on her own, as much as I hate the idea of leaving her side. I watch the light in her eyes fade with my pause before shaking my head. “I think it’s a good idea.”

She smiles again. “Really?”

“Really.” I mirror her. “The clubhouse was never supposed to feel like a prison, Kade. I just worry about the stairs, but you’re better than before, so I think it’s a good idea.”

“As much as I love wearing your clothes, I don’t think I pull off Badass Biker chic,” Kadence laughs, curling into my side as I turn the key to the truck, letting it come to life. “I’m keeping this sweatshirt though.”

“I could have grabbed your clothes!” I laugh heading back to the shop. “I just figured comfy would be better.” I shrug as she looks up at me.

I glance down at her, taking my eyes off the road for a moment to notice the freckles poking out from her cheeks that I hadn’t seen before. I dip my head and kiss her nose before looking back at the road.

Once we get back to the shop, we make our way through the clubhouse, saying our hellos to everyone and giving them the news that everything is fine. Wyatt moves to hug Kadence with a huge sigh of relief before I move in front of him, tossing him awarning look and earning a smack to my ribs from Kadence who moves around me swiftly to hug the prospect.

We gather a few things from the room we’ve been staying in and make our way across the parking lot to the apartment. I help her get settled, watching her every move for any discomfort even though she’s told me about twenty times since the front door shut that she’s fine.

“I’m gonna shower,” she says softly, carefully trying to pull my sweatshirt over her head. It only takes one soft whine for me to jump up and help her, pulling each arm out and helping it over her head as her hands trail along my sides. Kadence stares up at me for a moment, my body coming alive with each gentle touch she grants me. “Do you want to join me?”

I swear my heart stops. Eyes wide. I watch her. “Are you sure?” My hands run down her arms and when she smirks I narrow my eyes. “Are you trying to seduce me, Andrews?”

She raises a brow and tilts her head to the side, my back arching forward slightly at the feel of her index finger trailing along the middle of my chest.

“Is it working?”

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