Page 67 of Silk and Sirens

“I mean you haven’t even noticed how your guard hasn’t been following you the last couple days?”

I frowned. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Hmm,” he mused. “Then you’re ignorant as well as unaware.”

I went to slap him, but he caught my wrist and tugged me until my breasts crushed against his chest.

“Careful, Tempest,” he murmured, the low timbre of his voice wrapping around me like a promise. “Unless you want me to fuck that attitude out of you.”

His threat shouldn’t have made heat curl tight in my belly.

“I thought you weren’t going to fuck me?”

Caden’s lips curved into a slow, dangerous smile. He leaned in closer, his breath brushing my ear, voice dropping even lower. “Keep pushing me, and I might change my mind.” His fingers ghosted along my back, possessive even as his other hand cupped my jaw.

I swallowed hard, the thick, suffocating tension between us wrapping around my throat.

“You hate me, remember?” I whispered, my voice far breathier than I wanted.

Caden’s eyes drop to my lips, and the air crackled, heavy and electric. His thumb brushed the edge of my lower lip, feather-light, sending a jolt straight between my legs.

Then panic seized my lungs.

“Aunt Aeris!” August’s voice rang out as he pulled the door open. “Oscar keeps saying Krakens aren’t real. But they are, aren’t they? I’ve seen them at the park!”

I froze, still wrapped up in Caden’s arms. August’s eyes went wide, staring at us with open curiosity.

“Gus, there you are!” Brooke called, hurrying over to grab his hand. Her gaze flicked to Caden, and her expression shifted from surprise to a very clear Who the fuck is that?

“Hi,” I said quickly, my voice edged with panic. “This isn’t what it⁠—”

“I’m Caden,” he cut in smoothly. “Nice to meet you.”

I glanced at him, his face softened a fraction, but it did nothing to calm the terror clawing up my throat. He shouldn’t be here.

Not in my sister’s house. Not near the kids.

I’d had to keep the two worlds separate. The dangerous woman who played deadly games and the aunt who talked about dinosaurs, kissed scraped knees, and read fairytales about sea monsters and mermaids at bedtime.

“Where’s your gift?” August asked innocently. “It’s Oscar’s birthday, you’re supposed to bring a gift.”

“Gus!” Brooke gasped.

“Erm, we’ll be out in a minute,” I said, trying to give my sister a reassuring smile.

Brooke raised a brow as I reached for the handle and shut Caden and me back inside.

I was never going to hear the end of this.

“Look, just, what do you want?” I hissed, keeping my voice low. “You can’t just show up here.”

Caden’s eyes darkened. “Want to tell me how Selene knew where to find my fucking production facility?”

I went completely still, the blood draining from my face.

“I don’t⁠—”

“We caught a man lurking around the perimeter,” he cut in sharply. “He admitted Blackwater sent him.”