Page 23 of Tempest

“Maybe I am,” Kasen admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. She met my gaze, a challenge in her eyes despite the softness of her tone. “Maybe I want to see if you care.”

Her words hit me like a sucker punch. Of course, I cared. How could she not know? Hadn’t I expressed that I wanted her to be mine? The urge to grab her, to show her exactly how much I cared, was almost overwhelming. But I held back, fighting for control.

My expression softened for a moment, a flicker of vulnerability breaking through my hardened exterior. I saw Kasen’s eyes widen, catching a brief glimpse behind my walls. But I couldn’t let it linger. I couldn’t be weak, not now. “You know I do,” I growled, my voice rough with emotion I couldn’t fully contain. “But this isn’t the way.”

The words hung between us, heavy with implication. I watched Kasen’s face, saw the conflict in her eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, movement caught my attention.

The punk kid who’d dared to think he could take Kasen out, shifted uncomfortably. “Uh, I think I should…” he mumbled, backing away.

I didn’t even spare him a glance. My eyes were locked on Kasen as the kid retreated, the sound of his footsteps fading into the night.

“Yeah, get your ass out of my compound,” I said. “And don’t even think of ever coming back.”

Silence fell, thick and charged. Only the sound of his bike could be heard as he started it up and sped away. The air between me and Kasen buzzed like a livewire, with all the things we’d left unsaid for too long. I wanted to reach out, to touch her, but I held myself back. This moment felt precarious, like one wrong move could shatter everything.

Kasen’s eyes searched mine, and I wondered what she saw there. Did she see the storm of emotions I was barely keeping in check? The jealousy, the anger, the fear… and underneath it all, the raw, undeniable need for her? Every time I thought we were starting to sort things out, she pulled this shit.

I couldn’t take it anymore. The distance between us felt like a physical ache. Without thinking, I reached out, my hand brushing against Kasen’s arm. The touch was electric, sending a jolt through my body. I struggled to keep my voice steady as I confessed, “I can’t stand seeing you with anyone else.”

The words came out raw, honest in a way I rarely allowed myself to be. My fingers tightened slightly on her arm, a gesture both possessive and tender. I watched Kasen’s face, searching for her reaction, my heart pounding so hard I was sure she could hear it.

Kasen’s eyes widened, and I saw the moment her defenses began to crumble. She swallowed hard, her gaze locked with mine. The silence stretched between us, taut as a wire. I could feel the heat of her skin beneath my fingers, could smell the faint scent of her perfume on the night air.

“Then what do you want, Tempest?” Kasen finally asked, her voice a mix of challenge and hope. The words hung in the air, heavy with possibility. “After that first night… you haven’t tried to get that close again. What am I supposed to think?”

“I didn’t try to get…” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I followed you like a damn dog, tracking your every fucking move. It’s not like you didn’t see me.”

My mind raced. I wanted her safe. I wanted her by my side. I wanted to erase the memory of every other man who’d ever touched her. But most of all, I wanted her to understand what she meant to me, even if I couldn’t find the words to express it.

I took a deep breath, the cool night air filling my lungs. The decision crystallized in my mind with sudden clarity. I steeled myself for what came next.

“I want you with me, now and forever,” I declared. The words came out as a command, leaving no room for argument. My eyes bored into hers, challenging her to deny the electric current always sparking between us. “What the hell did you think I meant when I told you that first night that there was no going back?”

She opened and closed her mouth a few times. “You never came after me. I only said I needed to slow things down. Not put the brakes on entirely!”

“Jesus, Kasen.” I had to remember I wasn’t dealing with a thirty- or forty-year-old woman. Even at twenty-five, she was more immature than most women her age. Thanks largely to her dad, who babied all his girls.

Kasen’s breath hitched. I watched the emotions play across her face -- surprise, uncertainty, desire. Her teeth worried at her lower lip as she hesitated, the weight of the decision visibly pressing down on her shoulders. When I’d told her before there would be no going back, I’d thought for sure she understood. Had all this fucked-up shit happened because we hadn’t clearly communicated with one another?

I fought the urge to shake her, to demand an immediate answer. My nails dug into my palms, the familiar anger bubbling just beneath the surface, but I forced it down. This was too important to let my temper rule.

Kasen’s gaze searched mine, and I let her see everything -- my desire, my fear, my determination. I’d never been so exposed, so vulnerable. It took every ounce of control not to look away.

Finally, her expression softened. “Okay,” she agreed, her voice steady despite the tremor I felt in her arm. “Let’s date and get to know one another better. Not as Tempest, Sergeant-at-Arms, and Kasen, daughter of Tank, but just… us. And I’m not ready to tell my dad just yet. Unless you want to do the honors?”

Relief flooded through me, followed quickly by a surge of possessive triumph. I nodded sharply, already planning our next move. Together. It was more than I’d dared hope for, but now that I had it, I’d be damned if I’d let anyone take it away.

The tension in my shoulders eased slightly, but my mind was already racing ahead. “Fuck, no, I don’t want to tell Tank. Do I look like I have a death wish? Pack light. We need to move fast.”

“Pack? Where are we…”

I held up a hand. “Not telling you. But I think we need out of here for at least a few days while we figure shit out.”

Kasen nodded, her eyes wide with a mix of excitement and apprehension. As she disappeared into the house, I pulled out my phone quickly calling Viking. When the call connected, I didn’t even give him a chance to speak.

“Viking, I’m taking Kasen out of town. Need you to cover the jobs assigned to me.”

“What the hell, Tempest? We’ve got --”

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