Page 36 of Catch a King (Five Kings 1)

Rose is an amazing woman. I can tell that by her sharp gaze and quick thinking. It makes me wonder about Billy and the man he was. Two brothers couldn’t be more different and I can see why Rose thinks Slade is more like Axel than Billy. Then again, it’s as if history is repeating itself because if Axel and Billy were so different, it’s not unlikely that gene could run in Sawyer and Slade. Good and bad existing side by side, one balancing the other out. Then again… I address my next question to both of them. “What was Billy like, as a person?”

I note the smile that passes between them and Rose says with a slight tremble to her bottom lip. “He was everything, Millie. Strong, fearless and a man you could hand your problems to and he would make them go away. Dependable, so sexy.” She winks at me as Sawyer groans and says happily, “He was my best friend, lover and soulmate and not a minute passes that I don’t miss him. I long to see him walking through that door and messing up my tidy home inside of a minute. I wish I could scream at him for resting his dirty feet on my couch and tear him off a strip for cussing in front of me. I miss his strong arms and deep thought and I’d kill for one more minute with him to tell him how much I love him and will never stop.”

I must blink away my own tears as hers start to fall and I love the way Sawyer moves across and takes her in his arms. He strokes her hair and kisses her, and my heart flutters when I see how protective he is over her. Now I can see what Billy must have been like and how hard this must be hitting her because I’m starting to realize that when you find true love, it’s the cruelest of things to have it taken from you so quickly.

We spend another hour talking with Rose and by the end of it, I’m in love with her as much as Sawyer. She is kind, witty and loving and yet has a steel edge that cuts when you least expect it. As we say our goodbyes and head outside, I grip Sawyer’s hand hard. “Will she be ok?”

“Yes, Rose is a strong woman and even though this has cut her deep, she’ll survive.”

“She mentioned a man, Buck, I think his name was. Was he her first husband?”

“Yeah, him and Billy were close friends and when mom died, they were there for him and he needed that.”

“I’m sorry, Sawyer, it must have been a difficult time.”

“It was, for all of us, you see Slade was more like mom. You see him and you see my mother. I suppose Billy fell in love with her mystery, her edge and her darkness. Opposites attract and mom hid many secrets of her own, the biggest one being the one that killed her.”

“Drugs.”

Sawyer sighs. “You would never believe how quickly she fell. She was always the light in a room and the world revolved around her. She was a force of nature, and I suppose weak in all the ways that counted. Her addiction grew behind closed doors because I’m guessing the only person who really knew her state of mind was her dealer. Well, Slade made it his business to find out who that was when she died and by all accounts, his life didn’t end well. You see, Slade idolized our mother. He craved her and needed her to keep him on the right path. Much like she needed Billy. But Billy wasn’t strong enough to handle her, and I can see Slade going the same way. They are creatures of extremes and addiction and we all know what Slade’s addiction is.”

“Pain?” He nods. “Sexual extremes borne out of pain. I suppose a shrink would say he uses pain to escape his emotional pain at mom’s passing. It’s the only way he can deal with losing the only person he truly loved because he did. Hard to believe Slade loving anyone really, but he adored her. It doesn’t surprise me he’s involved in something because I’m guessing it’s driven out of revenge for her death.”

“I think you’re wrong about Slade.”

He looks at me sharply. “In what way?”

I remember the look in Avery’s eyes when she spoke about him and the fact he doesn’t like sharing her. I also remember the look in Marina’s eyes when she spoke of him and her distaste when I mentioned Avery.

I look at Sawyer and smile softly. “I’m guessing Marina was right about one thing, pillow talk. Slade may not be the man we see when he lies beside a woman he cares for.”

Sawyer laughs out loud. “Then you had better introduce me to her because Slade has nothing in his heart that is capable of loving a woman.”

“I’m not so sure, Sawyer. You told me how deeply he loved his mom, that tells me he is capable of deep feelings that have caused him to burn. I’m also guessing that a certain girl in the club holds a little piece of his heart in her hand and he does the best job he can in covering that up. I’m thinking that Slade has a great capacity for love and our answer may lie with one woman.”

“Who?”

“Avery.”

Sawyer shakes his head. “I doubt it. He uses her much the same as he does every other poor unfortunate woman who falls in his path. What makes you say that?”

“I don’t know, call it instinct. Maybe you should focus on your brother and I should make a friend in Avery because if anyone knows what’s going on inside your brother’s head, it’s her.”

Sawyer laughs and pulls me into his arms and whispers, “I should watch you.”

He runs his hands around my ass and pulls me in deeper. “Your mind is almost as attractive as your body right now, and that’s turning me on.”

“Then what are you gonna do about that?” I lean forward and whisper huskily and love the fact his eyes deepen with desire and a low growl makes its way from deep inside.

“You’ll see.”

He pulls away and the look he sends me tells me I’m going to like what he is thinking right now and he nods toward the bike. “After you.”

As I slide onto his bike, I feel the heat inside me throbbing against the metal as I anticipate the ultimate pleasure because god help me, this man will be my ruin.

Chapter 30

Sawyer

---