Page 131 of Silk and Sirens

“But still, despite everything I tried, it wasn’t enough. Ruth didn’t want help, so Caden went looking for trouble.”

The music paused, and Caden’s silhouette turned towards the puppy. He gently stroked his head before his fingers returned to the keys and picked up the melody once more.

“Everything I’ve ever done,” Alexander whispered, almost to himself, “was to make sure he wouldn’t be shaped by Ruth’s illness … or his grandfather’s choices. I’m so proud that despite his mother, despite me failing him as a father, he became the man he needed to be.”

“He doesn’t blame you, you know,” I whispered, my gaze still fixed on Caden. “For her leaving.”

Alexander gave a small, weary smile. “Maybe. But that doesn’t make me a good man, or a good father.”

He turned to face me fully then, and for a moment I was struck by how similar their eyes were. The same icy blue. The same piercing intensity.

“I really am sorry for what happened to you, and you should be proud with the woman you’ve become despite everything. But, just so you understand, I do not approve of you with my son.”

My lips thinned. “You’re shit at apologies.”

“Indeed.” Alexander stared, and then after a moment gave me a single nod of his head. “I don’t care about your influence, your connections or anything else. If you so much as hurt my son, I’ll destroy you myself.”

“I really should have killed you,” I said, smiling sweetly.

Alexander’s expression remained severe, which I assumed was his default setting. “Why didn’t you?”

“Why what?”

“Kill me. Let’s not pretend like you couldn’t.” He didn’t sound offended by the possibility. If anything, he sounded mildly irritated by it. “You had the opportunity. More than once, I suspect. You had your reasons, yet I don’t understand why you chose not to.”

My smile strained as I turned my attention back to the piano. Caden sat on the bench, completely unaware of the conversation taking place about him.

I wasn’t sure when it had started, but Caden had begun to affect me. My actions, and even my choices. I could have argued that I hadn’t wanted to cross that final line, or, maybe, there was just a small part of me that wanted to be selfish and refuse to break the one person that made me feel … real.

“Because it would have hurt him.”

Chapter 54

Aeris

My back was pressed to something solid, an arm curling around to press a huge palm against my lower abdomen. I stiffened, unable to stop the reaction even as my stomach clenched. My eyes snapped open, taking a moment to recognise the room with its navy blues and dark woods.

I was in Caden’s room.

Which meant this heavy arm was his.

My pulse was still trying to claw its way out of my skin when I looked down and saw Caden’s tattooed arm wrapped possessively around my waist, holding me tight against his chest. I focused on the steady rise and fall of his breathing, letting the rhythm calm me, using the solid heat of his body to slowly thaw the cold, hollow pit that had taken root deep in my gut.

I’d never woken up next to a man before. I’d always left in the dead of the night, when the men were either passed out and snoring or so distracted I could slip out without a commotion. I was always put into vulnerable positions, would put myself at risk because I had no choice, and sleeping next to someone would leave me entirely helpless. But now …

“You’re thinking too hard,” came Caden’s deep rumble.

His fingers brushed lower until he cupped my pussy, his lips pressing softly against the curve where my neck met my shoulder. That earlier panic disappeared beneath a wave of heat, of this being Caden and not some random man I was forced to pleasure.

Pushing at his arm, he immediately released me, his eyes guarded as I sat up and he rolled fully onto his back. He watched me with that intense, unreadable stare like he was waiting for me to break.

Which was amusing, because I was already broken.

“Morning,” I whispered.

His lips quivered as though trying to keep back a smile. “Morning.”

Caden really was one of the most handsome men I’d ever seen.