“Where do you live?” I ask, not knowing what I’m asking.
Water begins to fill her eyes, and her face darkens before her eyes shut and tears begin to fall.
“Nowhere,” she chokes out.
Mikayla tries to hide her face from me with her hands, but I pull them away before pulling her into my arms.
“Shh,” I coo, trying to comfort her, my hand moving slowly up and down her spine. She’s so tiny, my hand basically covers her entire back. “You aren’t alone,” I tell her, willing her to believe me.
“You don’t do relationships,” she repeats what she said earlier tonight.
“I’m willing to try with you,” I say quietly. “Sweetheart, if that isn’t something you’re interested in, now’s the time to tell me.”
“It’s crazy,” she replies, pulling back, but she doesn’t let me go. Her fingers play with the hair at the nape of my neck.
“What’s crazy?” I ask, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. I kiss her neck, feeling her shiver.
“I’ve done nothing but think about you for three months. And you were so clear about not wanting a relationship,” she says, her brow furrowing as she regards me. “I guess I’m a little confused.”
Well—fuck—I guess I have a story to tell.
Chapter Eighteen
Mikayla
Caine is in my bed. The sexiest man alive is in my bed. I can’t begin to describe how my body feels right now. It still hums and tingles from his touch.
I can’t believe what happened! How did I not die as soon as he walked in the door! I swear to God!
He actually walked into the room because he heard me! I was ang-sterbating, and he walked in! And it was the most amazing sexual experience of my life. Granted, Cody is the only other man I’ve ever been with, but I can hardlycall him a man when you put him next to Caine.
I feel so lost. The moment Caine asked me where I live—nothing else could have cut through the bliss like the reality of my situation. I have no home. I’m aimless at this point, and the fact that Caine has literally taken me in, I’m just… I can’t stay here. I can’t overstay my welcome.
Yet, at the same time, I want to stay. I feel good with him. Why do I trust him? It’s so crazy, but I do. I’m safe with him. And it’s so fucked up, but I feel at home here. I’m also pretty sure he’s purposefully not taken my car into the shop to be looked at, forcing me to stay here. He wants me here. I know it as I know the sun will rise again tomorrow morning. And I know he won’t kick me out. And for some reason, I know he’s completely serious when he says he wants to give whatever this is between us a chance.
“Are you sure you aren’t just frustrated?” I ask needing assurance.
He did say it’s been a while.
Caine pulls me against him, and I cuddle into his side. My head rests on his chest. He’s warm and hard. And his body is even more amazing than I expected. He’s all muscles and ridges and long limbs.
Caine’s chest rumbles as he laughs, and I sit up and scowl at him. “Why is that funny?” I ask with irritation.
“Sweet girl, if I wanted sex, I could get it. I’m not sexually frustrated, I’m Mikayla-strated,” he answers, combing his longfingers through my hair. “I couldn’t think of anyone else but you. I’ve been pissed off for months,” he says with a grin.
“So, it’s nostalgia. The one that got away,” I suggest, sad at the idea.
“Well, that’s true, but no, I don’t think so. You’re honest; you were so damn real when I met you. I mean, I was obviously attracted,” he says, wiggling his brows.
The man has the most wicked grin on his face.
“So, after years of hating women, you meet me and all of a sudden want to date?” I ask skeptically.
I raise a brow, leaning my head on my hand, lying on my side now.
“If you’re asking me to explain it, I can’t,” he says. “When I was younger, hell, when I was your age, I met a woman. She was beautiful and fun. She was what we call a buckle bunny, women who sleep with guys that ride in rodeos. They look for cowboys.”
Caine runs a finger over my brows, down the slope of my nose and over my lips. All I can do is watch him. His blue eyes are hooded, tired, and somber as he looks at me.
