Page 116 of Midnights
I nearly choke, but I'm going to choose to ignore that, or we're both in trouble. “I don’t know, Kane, you might just have a poet’s soul under all that broody intimidation.”
He lets out a loud breath, like he’s already regretting saying anything. “Or maybe I was just standing in the rain like an idiot and got caught up in the moment.”
“Oh no, don’t backtrack now,” I tease, nudging his arm. “You were practically two seconds away from writing a sonnet about the storm.”
He narrows his eyes, but his lips twitch. “Aye, well, don’t let it go to yer head, Princess.”
I can’t stop the grin from forming, “Too late.”
For a fleeting moment, he’s not just the cocky, infuriating man who kisses like he owns the air I breathe. He’s thoughtful, charming… maybe even a little funny.
But perfect or not, he’s also a man. With a penis. A very nice one, probably. Not that I’m going to think about that.
Kane equalsfriend zonefor life.
I fold my arms over my chest and let out a slow breath, trying to steady the mess of emotions swirling around trying to break free. I need to remember the rules I’ve set for myself, even if this storm, and this man, seem hellbent on washing them away.
Chapter 19
CHAOS
Kane
I’m not going to make it.
This woman has me completely fucked.
First, I wanted to wring her neck for sneaking out in the middle of a goddam night, making my heart nearly stop when I thought of something happening to her. Then, when I found her, the relief hit me so hard it knocked the fucking air out of my lungs. And I’m still trying to pretend that didn’t happen.
And of course, she couldn’t just leave it at that. No, she had to call me out for accusing her of sneaking out. And the worst part was, she was right. I’ll give her that.
Then, she had me standing in the rain with my eyes closed,feelingthe goddamn forest, like some lovesick fool.
And the worst fucking part is that it worked.
For the first time in years, I felt something. It was quiet, and peaceful even.But it wasn’t the storm that unraveled me, it was her.
My hands curl into fists at my sides, fighting the urge to taste her again. She’s under my skin, twisting me up in ways I can’t explain, and I don’t like it. No matter how much I tell myself to back off, she keeps pulling me back in.
She’s looking at me now like she’s peeling back layers and dismantling walls I’ve spent years building. And it’s fucking unnerving.
She’s a lot of things. But the one thing she isn't? Mine.
And that makes her completely off-limits. I can’t let her in any deeper than she already is.
Vulnerability so fleeting I almost miss it, flashes across her face. Just as fast, she buries it, slamming the door shut with that guarded mask she wearslike armor. And it should be enough of a warning of exactly why I need to stay the hell away.
Because she’s a master at keeping people out. And I can’t afford to get tangled up in whatever she’s hiding.
“Time to go back inside,” I say, trying to put distance between us.
“Are you just saying that so you can get out of the rain?”
My cock twitches, but the moment’s passed, and I force my body to settle.
“No,” I pause, watching her expression. It softens a fraction before I add, “It's late, and you’ve been out in the cold for a while.”
Her mouth parts, and I can see the spark of defiance flaring in her eyes, and the battle lines forming in her mind. She’s seconds from arguing, I can feel it.
