Page 22 of Insatiable

By the time she hangs up, my hair is nearly dry, and my nerves are ready to explode at the thought of Kade being at the studio. I rub moisturiser over all the dark tattoos on my body – most are on my arms, but there are a few on my legs and torso.

Some of them Kade designed for me. They were supposed to be matching. I refuse to cover them up like he did.

I leave the bathroom, quickly making sure the door is locked before getting dressed and sorting my dance bag. I pack my Pleasers and fishnet tights to wear with my bodysuit.

The last time Kade saw me dressed like this, dancing with fire for a competition I never got to participate in, I ended up bouncing over his cock on the studio floor until three in the morning.

Once I make sure the coast is clear, I run down the stairs as quickly and as quietly as possible, managing to escape the mansion before Chris can tackle me into a room.

I’ve never come across someone so messed up, not even when I spoke to Tobias Mitchell on the phone.

My son deserves better, he’d told me.You ruined him.

I mean, he was half right – Kade did deserve better, but I definitely didn’t ruin him. He seems to be happier than ever with his alcohol, drugs and fucking everything around him. He never partied like this before, but now it seems to be all he does.

He seems happy.

So no, I didn’t ruin him. But I did earn a spot on his block list.

I thank the Uber driver that drops me off at the dance studio and climb out of the car. The coldness of the night bites into my skin as I hurry down the steps into the building – then nearly scream out profanities when I slam into something.

Or someone.

His dark brows knit together as he glares down at me, his blue eyes so intense I struggle to look at them.

“Um, sorry,” I mutter as Kade leans down to grab my dance bag, tucking it back onto my shoulder. The hallway is narrow, cool, but having him so close is making the place feel like an inferno. “Is Dez here too?”

He nods once, pulling the cigarette from behind his ear, then eases past me, heading for the exit.

Back to the silent treatment, I guess.

“Where are you going?”

He raises the lighter and cigarette above his head as he makes his way to the stairs.

I glance at my phone screen to check the time and quickly say, “Um, my class doesn’t start for an hour. Do you want me to go to another hall? I need to warm up and run through my routine.”

Kade turns to face me, still walking backwards. He honestly couldn’t look more unbothered as he shrugs. “I’ve seen you dance plenty of times.”

My cheeks heat at the fact he’s speaking to me, even though it means nothing. He spoke to me that night at the manor. I mean, it wasn’t exactly apositiveconversation, but it was the first time he’d broken a breath towards me in two years, even if it was only to insult me.

“My music will be loud,” I add. “Very loud.”

Another shrug. I might slap him if he shrugs again.

“I like loud music.”

I stare at his powerful, well-built back as he takes two stairs at a time before I head in. I give Dez a half-smile when he ducks down from the ceiling.

“Alrighty, Rhodes.”

“Hi, Desmond.”

He chuckles. “Don’t start that shit.” He waves a screwdriver at me. “I told that prick my real name in confidence and she told everyone.”

“Tylar would take offence at being called a prick.”

He leans his elbows on the top of the stepladder. “Then she’s the biggest prick of all pricks. And you make sure to tell her that.”

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