Page 33 of Gunner
Chapter 14
Sadie
As much as I wantedto try being intimate with Kade tonight, exhaustion crept up on me while we were watching a movie after dinner. I tried to hide my yawn, and he kissed me on the top of my head with a chuckle, “You ready for bed?”
I nodded shyly, and he stood from the couch, offering me his strong hand. I stood in front of him, and with a quickness I wasn’t prepared for, he lifted me into his arms and carried me into the bedroom. He placed me on the bed and kneeled in front of me.
“I’m going to take Bear outside before I lock up and join you.”
I leaned over and kissed him softly on the lips, the feeling of his beard against my face a comfort. Kade gripped the back of my head and pulled my forehead to his as he stared into my eyes. I could feel his love deep in my soul, filling the damaged parts of me that I never wanted anyone to see.
“Hurry back,” I whispered, and he smiled before walking out of the bedroom.
I changed into one of Kade’s T-shirts that he left at the house and crawled under the comforter to warm up. The house was drafty during the winter, and as much as I wanted to upgrade to something better for Jacob and me, I couldn’t pass up the low rent and safe neighborhood. My landlady lived in Memphis with her grandson, so any repairs had to be done cheaply.
Kade, Dalton, and Uncle Mick helped with minor repairs, but it would take more than my landlady was willing to spend to get the house to perfection. I could hear Bear and Kade return from their quick walk, and a moment later, Bear bounded into the bed. I laughed as he burrowed under my arm, lifting it into the air to pet him.
Kade walked in and sighed as he shook his head. “Damn, Bear. You took my idea.”
I lifted the covers and winked. “I’ve got two arms. Come on in.”
He pulled his T-shirt off, showing the corded muscle and indentions of his abs, and I clenched my legs together to ease the building ache in my core. As he pushed his pants down, revealing his black boxer briefs and muscled legs. The v from his hips, leading to his manhood, was tempting, and I fought the whimper threatening to push past my lips. His body was sculpted from marble, showing every sinuous muscle flex and strain as he climbed into bed next to me.
He laid his head on the pillow, and I turned off the lamp beside the bed before rolling back to face him. He lifted his arm, and I slid my body next to his before placing my head on his chest and wrapping my arm across his waist.
Kade sighed contently and whispered, “I love you, Sadie.”
I kissed over his heart and replied, “I love you, Kade.”
Sleep used to be my enemy, but with Kade’s arm securely wrapped around me, I found sleep easier to achieve. My dreams used to haunt me, dragging me back into the dirty house with those vile men who took without remorse and hurt without regret. My dreams no longer chased me, instead, offering me hope for a future I never thought possible.
I woke with Kade’s warm body nestled against my back, and I could feel his hardness pressed against the crack of my ass. His breathing indicated he was still asleep, and I didn’t want to wake him, but Mother Nature called. Slowly, I slide out from under his arm, and Bear raises his head from the foot of the bed.
Grabbing my cell phone from the nightstand, I opened the bedroom door, and Bear jumped down to follow me. Closing the door behind me, I walked into the bathroom and made quick work of my morning routine. Bear waited by the sliding back door for me to let him out, and when I opened the door, the cold air rushed in, chilling my naked legs.
I close the door as he ran into the fenced backyard and went to work on making a pot of coffee. I usually woke up at four every morning and the extra four hours of sleep was refreshing. Bear pawed at the glass door, and I let him inside. He rubbed his cold fur against my leg, and I rubbed his head before putting his bowl of food on the floor.
After pouring myself a cup of coffee, I went into the living room and stoked the embers in the fireplace before placing a few pieces of fresh wood onto the pile. The flame licked at the wood as I sat on the hearth in front and sipped my coffee in the silence. It was never quiet at the house, and I missed Jacob. He wasn’t my son, but I had raised him since he was a baby. At almost eleven years old, he was growing up so fast, and the worry of a lonely future seeped into my mind.
A noise drew my attention as Kade walked into the living room wearing his jeans low on his hips. His bare feet moved him in front of me, and I slid to the side so he could sit in front of the fire with me.
