Page 72 of Broken Strings

But since there are no rooftops here, I do the next best thing. I throw my head back and howl into the evening sky.

“I love this woman! I’m so fuckinghappy.”

When I lower my head, she’s grinning and shaking her head. “You are one strange cookie, Caden North.”

I stop in my tracks, tugging her back using the hand I’ve been holding so that we are chest to chest. “But I’myourstrange cookie, right?”

She presses her mouth to mine, softly at first, but with more urgency the longer it goes on, and I’m both pleased and horrified in equal measure to feel my cock stiffen in my pants.

I break the kiss reluctantly, knowing we still have the drive to Cambridge ahead of us, and I want to wish my parents a proper farewell before we set off.

“Come on, Bam. The last one home has to eat a slice of that beef my dad annihilated earlier.”

She’s off before I can even finish, flying through the long grass of the meadow and clearing the low hedgerow to land softly in my parents; landscaped garden with ease. She spares a moment to glance back, finding me hot on her heels, and squeals in surprise.

“Give up, Bam. You’re going to lose.”

And as though my words are the impetus she required, her body surges forward, putting another couple of feet between us as we reach the paved patio, now devoid of my family members.

“I win. Happy eating!”

I reach around her waist, tugging her backwards against my chest to growl in her ear. “There’s only one thing I want to eat right now.”

Dipping my hand lower, I palm her bare pussy through her long skirt, and she swats me away playfully.

“You are the pits, Cade.”

I smile broadly, burying my face in the nape of her neck as I remember this playful banter from our teen years.

Inhaling deeply, I give her the same response now as I used to then. “And you love me all the same.”

She spins in my embrace, her eyes shining in recognition before she palms my cheeks and presses a soft kiss to my waiting lips. “I do. I truly,trulydo.”

We’re still smiling when we walk in the back door, hand in hand once again, to find only my parents sitting around their kitchen table, doing a crossword puzzle together.

“Good evening, you two.” Mum glances up first. She stands and then closes the distance to grasp Summer’s hands in her own.

“Summer, I—I need to apologise for my inconsiderate comments earlier. I truly meant no harm.” Mum’s eyes flicker between the three of us before returning to Summer’s face. She rubs their joined hands together in a comforting gesture.

“I’m so terribly sorry that I hurt you today, Summer. I only hope that you can forgive me.”

My mum’s face is the very picture of sorrow, and Summer bends forward, forgoing words to wrap her arms around my mother, squeezing tightly.

“I know you didn’t, Clary.” They hold one another tight for a couple of beats before both women step back, smiling.

Mum rubs the back of her hand off Summer’s soft cheek. “You know we adore you, and seeing you back here with Caden—well, it’s like a dream come true for us.”

I can feel my face scrunch up in confusion. “A dream come true? That makes fuck all sense, Mum. Surely you don’t mean that you wanted your son and your ward to bump uglies—”

“Caden!” My name is a high-pitched screech as she whips her blonde head, about to waggle her index finger in my face. “Could youpleaseword things with a little more delicacy?”

I roll my eyes and rephrase, stifling a grin as I wind her up even more. “Fine, Mum. Did you want your son and your ward going to Pound Town—”

She throws her arms up in exasperation as Summer covers her face with her palms, and Dad tosses me a wink and a chuckle from behind Mum’s back.

“How’s about rolling in the hay? Knocking boots?”

Rolling her eyes, she shoos me away. “I give up. Come on, Sut. Let’s bid our granddaughter farewell.”

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