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His hand reaches up to part the collar of my shirt, where a small blemish sits proudly on my collarbone. “Because I knew I’d see evidence of me on you, and it drives me insane.”
I keep the glass between us as a barrier.
“Because you’re the only woman to give herself to me like you did, and I can’t walk away from what you have to offer.”
“And what am I offering?” My head tilts, and his eyes twinkle sexily.
“Just you.” He gives me an ironic laugh, as though something has just occurred to him. “And that's the biggest compliment I could receive. You give everything, and you expect nothing but this.” He tugs me towards the edge of the seat and rubs my knee softly. “This is all I need. You and the peace you bring with that gorgeous smile. ”
My lips tempt to quirk, but I hold it back. “So what does that mean for me? I still work for you, Cain?”
“I know. We just need to be careful and see where this leads.” It’s early days. I'm not expecting a declaration of love, but I do deserve respect and the security of knowing my life won’t alter because his feelings do.
“And if it doesn’t lead anywhere?” I scoff. “Will you ignore me again or push me to resign?”
Cain holds my gaze, and the firm set of his brows and the shine of sincerity in his eyes keep me hooked. “No, Lauren. If you want to get a contract drawn up, I will, but I’d like to think we are mature enough to deal with this our own way.”
My eyebrow lifts in the air. He was anything but mature the other day.
“I think we’ve already agreed I was a prick,” he huffs playfully.
“A massive cacti,” I whisper, trying to avoid his eyes.
He leans in, infiltrating my space, forcing me to acknowledge him. “The biggest.” His fingers pinch my chin, and he brushes his lips over mine. Soft, gentle, and everything I need him to be to make me relent and give in. “Are you ready for dinner?”
Nodding, I slip down, help him prepare the rest of the meal, and set some places at the bar when we decide to eat there. Cain serves garlic butter chicken and pours us another drink as I slide the vegetables towards him to plate up. I’m still hesitant, but Amberley was right when she said I wouldn’t be going home. Now I'm here, with him, I don’t want to leave. “You said some things are going on?” I cut into the food, and he nods.
“It’s a shit show. It's going to get ugly, and I didn’t want to pull you into my life when I’m expecting it to get nasty.”
“Does it have something to do with how upset Kat was? I heard her mention something to Perry the other night.” I don’t like to pry, but with Henrik already controlling one part of my life, I don’t want to set myself up for failure in another. I need to know what I’m about to walk into.
“Yes, her father was a business partner with mine. The business was already established when Royce came on board. Over several years, he syphoned hundreds of thousands of pounds from my father.” His cutlery sits untouched on either side of his plate. “He lied, cheated, and pulled the company from under my father’s nose, leaving him broke, and then he moved in on my mother.”
“Was he prosecuted?” I gape, seeing how utterly enraged he is by this.
“No.” Cain huffs out a disgusted laugh. “He moved into my family home, took over my father's life as though it had always been that way, and my father took his life. I was a teenager.”
I sit back, completely appalled and heartbroken for this man. This certainly wasn’t in the article Amberley showed me. This is so unexpected compared to the explanation I had assumed he would spout to win me back over. “I’m so sorry.”
“I’ve spent years gathering information, educating myself, and doing everything to work against him and take it all back.” Hard eyes move back to mine. “I plan to ruin him, Lauren. I won’t stop until he is as penniless as my father was. I can’t stop.” I swallow at the vehemence in his tone. I desperately search Cain’s eyes for something more than the burn of hatred for his stepfather. I was too trusting with Martin's family. Cain is on another level. Allowing this man access to my life and agreeing to a relationship is one of the most terrifying things I've done. Henrik is still a threat to my family. Cain is a threat to my heart. “This is the side of me I expect you not to like. It’s the only side I know,” he confesses bleakly. This is the side he said his father would hate.
“It’s not,” I say quietly. I know it’s not. I need to believe that for my own sanity. The Cain I’ve come to know is as brutally passionate as he is proudly ruthless. Those are two things I can’t afford to take on, but I can’t bring myself to say no to him.
“Apparently, I have another side,” he muses, turning to me. “A side I have reserved for one other person.” He winks, and a slow blush creeps up my neck and helps my heart pump faster.
Self-preservation has me changing the subject. “Are you close to getting it all back?”
“The closest I’ve ever been. The reason I’m telling you this is because I trust you. At least I hope I can?” He levels me with a heavy stare. “Lauren, I want you in my corner.”
It’s a tense few seconds where I mentally roll off every reason why I should cut and run, and only one reason has me wanting to say yes.
It’s staring at me with bright blue eyes.
“You can trust me,” I pledge.
“It will get ugly. If you’re with me, I need to know you can deal wit—”
“Cain, you can trust me,” I affirm.
