Page 66 of Damaged & Deadly

I don’t have the same optimistic faith she does—clearly falling in love completely changed her worldly perspective—but I do cling to her confidence.

Jumping to her feet, she grins down at me cunningly, reminiscent of the old Hadley. “Come on, Red. Prove to me those fighting skills haven’t gotten rusty.”

I laugh as I get to my feet. “Please. Jon’s been teaching me some moves. I bet I could even give you a run for your money.”

She cocks a brow, smirking. “Wanna bet?”

We spend the rest of the afternoon sparring with one another and chatting, and Hadley repeatedly proves that even though she no longer needs to rely on her agility and strength, she hasn’t slacked off since we last went at it. However, I give as good as I get, even getting a few surprise shots in.

By the time we climb down from the roof, the sun is low in the sky, and I feel better than I have in a long time. I hadn’t realized how much I missed not having someone to talk to. When Hadley had been a part of my life—albeit her presence was infrequent and short—we connected in a way I never have with anyone else. Even though neither of us opened up about our lives and kept huge secrets from one another, we just clicked, and the fact that we so effortlessly fell back into that easy friendship today demonstrates how strong that bond is. It’s the type where you don’t have to see or talk to someone for days or weeks, but whenever you do, you just pick up right where you left off. No hard feelings or snarky comments. Just pure and simple friendship.

It’s dark, and the lights are on inside the house by the time we pull up at the curb.

“Where’s Evie?” I ask when I enter the living room and find her absent.

“She was exhausted after today,” Cain explains, pulling me into his arms and pressing a kiss to my temple.

“How did she get on?”

“She did well. Even though it was bittersweet, I think it did her good to be around us all.”

I run my fingers through his hair, brushing the strands back from his forehead. “And you? Did it do you good?”

He smiles, and it’s one of the most carefree smiles I’ve seen on his face in a long time. “Yeah, it really did.”

I grin, melting further into him. Perhaps everything will work out okay after all. He pulls me in tighter against him. “How about you? What did you girls get up to?”

Hadley and I share a look, smirking. “Oh, you know. Did each other's hair and painted our nails.”

Beck and Cain both snort. “So basically, you spent the day fighting one another,” Cain smartly deduces.

“Yeah, something like that.”

I curl up on Cain’s lap, listening as the guys talk around me, catching up and teasing one another. If it wasn’t for the fact that Oliver never once looks my way, and he deliberately ensures his skin doesn’t touch mine when I shift on Cain’s lap, then I’d say today was a pretty perfect day. But I guess close to perfect is pretty good for Black Creek standards.

Chapter 25

After Hadley and Beck leave, with a promise to return with the others as soon as Evie is up to it, Oliver makes some excuse to head to the clubhouse, leaving just Cain and me.

“I can’t believe you know Hadley,” he says when we’re alone in the living room.

“I know. Small world.”

He nuzzles his face in the crook of my neck as he pulls me in tighter against him, his thoughts clearly elsewhere as his teeth skim over my skin, making me shiver.

“I’ve missed you,” he murmurs in my ear, his voice low and husky.

“I’ve been right here.” I tilt my head to the side, giving him better access as he bites and sucks along my neck.

“I know. You’ve been incredible. I couldn’t have done any of this without you.”

I want to argue that I haven’t really done much, but he grabs my earlobe between his teeth and the sting of pain eradicates any thoughts I may have had as I writhe in his lap.

“Fucking hell, Red,” he growls, his erection digging into my ass. “I need you so bad I can’t even think straight.”

His hand slides down to undo the button of my jeans before he pushes his fingers into my panties, finding me already soaked and ready for him. He groans in approval before shoving three thick fingers into my pussy, causing me to gasp.

His other hand claps over my mouth. “You’ve gotta be quiet for me, baby. Can you do that?”

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