Stepping closer to her, Victor pointed a fingerangrily at her. "I know you invited Cade there right after I left,"he seethed. "And I know he's living with you now. Fucking hell, you didn'twait at all. You didn't even spare me one thought, did you?"
That last little shred of patience within hersnapped. Maybe it was from the cold brittle air of this terrible Antarctic roomor it was the levy containing all the shit she endured over the past couple ofyears finally bursting free, but it was all coming out now. Stepping forward,she closed the gap between them until she nearly bumped her chest into his.Maritzia watched the brief flash of fear in his eyes come to the surface as hehastily retreated a few steps back. "Oh, I spared you a fucking thought,"she growled. "I beat myself up for days on that trip thinking I must havedone something really wrong in order for you to just leave like that andabandon the ‘chance on us’ we were supposed to be taking. But after Cade showedup, and yes, he just showed up after you posted to the world we had broken upwhile I was asleep. He helped me realize what I had tried to tell you before weeven left—that we are no good for each other, Victor! So, save me the pityparty."
Taking a fortifying breath, she held onto her self-controland lifted her hands at his attempt to talk. "Just…just leave before weboth say something nasty to each other. I wish you well, Victor, I really doand I'm sorry if I made you feel unworthy."
She didn't give him time to reply nor did she lookat his no doubt crestfallen or probably angry face. She didn't care which itwas. She was done being emotionally manipulated by him. She was done not beingenough.
Looking at Cade, she searched his face andwondered if he was jealous. Standing up from the bed, she walked into thebathroom to set her comb on the counter.
"And how exactly did you know I met withhim?" she asked, hating the snide tone in her own voice. A couple of yearsago she would have killed for Cade's jealousy, but not now. Not after dealingwith Victor's never-ending supply of jealousy.
"Somebody saw you two, and of course theywere too happy to report it back to Edwards so he could tell me."
Closing the bathroom door, she avoided looking athim. With every step she took as she made her way around the bed, she felt theweight of his gaze. Sitting back on the edge of the bed with her back facinghim, Maritzia reached for her lotion tucked into the discreet little shelvesmade at the base of the bed.
"Ritz…" Cade said in a ragged breath."Look, I…"
She listened to him search for the right words tosay and she felt herself soften a little bit. Turning around she caught theneed in his eyes and relented.
"I don't want him back," she admittedlyquietly.
Relief and regret showed in his expression as hereached out both arms for her. Gripping her around the waist, Cade pulled hereasily across the cool sheets until her hip bumped up against his legs. Closernow, she faced him and waited with held breath as his hands slid to her hips,settling there comfortably as if that was where they always belonged.
"I know, Sunshine," Cade whisperedhoarsely as he looked down between them. “I guess I just wanted to hear you sayit."
There was an open, raw honesty in his expressionthat made her own walls lower. This wasn't like Victor. Cade was nothing likehim. He wasn't trying to accuse her, he just wanted reassurance. Pulling herlegs up until she was sitting comfortably in front of him, she moved a littlecloser to him. Like a watchful lion, Cade's pupils seemed to dilate at theunspoken meaning behind the movement. Sitting up straighter against theheadboard, his hands around her waist pulled her in closer until their chestsalmost touched.
Averting her gaze from his, Maritzia looked atthe strong lines of his shoulders. Following the strong curve of his pectoralmuscles, she delightfully settled on the tiny disc shape of his nipples. Theylooked soft, she thought. Ignoring the unreasonably strong urge to reach outand touch them she settled her hands on the rise of his shoulders. His skinfelt like burning liquid silk beneath her hands.
Rubbing her thumbs backward and forward sheenjoyed the feel of the hot flesh as she let the words in her heart comeforward. "I want us to be honest with each other."
Leaning in closer to her, Cade made a deepgroaning sound within his chest. "I do, too."
Years of pent-up truth fought within her, at oddswith her mind and heart. For years her practical mind had won against the truthin her heart, doing its best to keep them safe. But she was too tired now to goon. She wanted them to be open and real with one another. No more secrets, nomore forced smiles as her heart broke behind the lie.
Although she forced the words out of her heartand through her mouth, Maritzia could not bring herself to look up at him."Then please tell me how you really feel about me."
Smoothing up from her waist and up her back, Cadecupped his hands around the base of her neck. His thumbs brushing against theunderside of her chin, gently tilting her face upward until their eyes lockedonce more.
Leaning down, Cade's eyes rested on her lips andMaritzia tensed. Her pulse slowed as she watched him come closer. Stayingperfectly still, she closed her eyes as his lips touched hers. It began as agentle brush of dry, closed lips, the pressure slowly increasing until Cademoved his lips against hers, gaining the soft opening of her mouth. Maritzia'shands tightened against his shoulders as she felt the subtle intrusion of histongue. Soft and coaxing, he moved his tongue gently against hers as his handsfell from her face, his arms wrapping around her body until she was flushagainst his chest. Vaguely she could hear the wet sounds of their kiss as thehunger between them increased with each stroke of their tongues. Maritzia letout a little sound at the barely contained pleasure and she felt Cade shudderagainst her.
Pulling his lips away they both breathed,catching their breath. His eyes were like a brand on her skin. There were somany things unsaid just beneath the surface, so much raw need that Maritziafelt herself begin to tremble.
"I'm in love with you," Cade said, hisvoice low and rough. "I've been in love with you ever since we werekids."
Closing her eyes, she was surprised by the painthe words caused her. For years she had imagined those words coming from hislips. Except for nearly three years, she had to watch him say it to another.Pushing back in his hold, she ignored the confusion in his eyes as tears rolleddown from hers. She suddenly needed space, she needed a moment to gatherherself, but Cade's arms around her tightened keeping her against him.
"Ritz-" The question in his rough voicewas apparent but she cut him off.
"Then why did you come back withBethany?" she cried, hating herself for showing this type of weakness. Shetold herself she would never ask him; she would never lower her pride to needto know. Only it hurt too much to hear his claims of love and not know. She hadto know why he chose someone else over her. "You had to know that I lovedyou. You had to know that I waited for you to come back. I never felt like abigger fool in my life when you-"
"Oh baby, please don’t cry." Cadehushed her with a kiss to her lips. Pulling her up and closer until her bottomsat on his lap, he hugged her tighter, burying his head into the crook of herneck. "I was an idiot," he murmured, his voice vibrating against herpulse.
Sniffing, Maritzia looked beyond his head, overthe headboard into the shadows of her bedroom beyond she listened as he spoke."I-I was thinking…I mean, I thought if I admitted how I felt about youback when I was living here everyone would have seen me as some sort ofpervert," he grumbled. "I didn’t want to mess up my family, Ritz. Youand your family mean so much to me and mom."
Maritzia tried to ignore the rapid beating of hisheart pressed against her stomach and opened her mouth to argue. "But whatabout-"
Letting her go just enough so that she could leanback into his arms, Cade gave her a pleading look. "I didn't know you hadwaited for me," he rushed out.
