Kade (22 page)

Chapter Forty Eight

NIKKI

I open my eyes and groan. My head is pounding, and my mouth is extremely dry. I hear a masculine chuckle and I freeze. Oh, hell. What have I done now? I reluctantly turn my head and see Kade lying next to me, staring at me intently.

“So are you going to tell him, or am I?” he rumbles.

“Huh?” I say, pulling the sheet higher.

“Ryder. Are you going to tell him, or am I?” he repeats.

“Tell Ryder what?” I ask, confused. Kade looks slightly disappointed.

“I never thought you would be that kind of woman,” he says gruffly.

“What kind of woman?” I ask, scrunching up my nose. What the hell is he raving on about now?

“The kind that would cheat and not own up to it,” Kade says.

I gasp. “Fuck you, Kade! I would never cheat. Ryder and I aren’t together. We haven’t been for some time now! So get your facts straight before you fucking judge me!” I yell. I jump out of bed, dropping the sheet and trying to find my clothes.

“I didn’t know,” is all he says. I just grunt, and shove my clothes back on as quickly as I can.

Before I can make it out of the room, Kade grabs my arm. “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to piss you off. Just the thought of you with another man has been driving me insane!”

“Whatever, Kade,” I brush him off and continue to get my shit.

“Not whatever, Nikki. I thought you were still with Ryder, it was wrong of me to try to get you into bed, thinking you were still with him, and then my comments afterwards…”

I don’t say anything, just grunt again.

“Nikki, please talk to me,” he says softly.

“What, Kade, what the fuck do we have to talk about?” I hiss at him.

“I’m sorry I didn’t believe you about Ashley,” he says sincerely. I say nothing.

“I’m sorry for not putting you first,” he says, taking my chin in his fingers so I have no option but to look at him.

“I love you, Nikki, I want to try again. We can make this work. I want to have kids with you, grow old with you. I want you with me forever,” he says in a gentle voice.

My throat clogs up, and I don’t know what to say. Tears start to trail down my cheeks.

Kade suddenly drops to his knee. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a box, flipping it open. Inside is the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen.

“Nikki, I love you, please take me back, please marry me.” I look into Kade’s eyes, and notice he is tearing up. I have so many thoughts going through my head right now.

No, yes, no, yes. I love Kade, I want to be with him, but can I get over the past?

“Yes.”

With that, Kade puts the ring on my finger, then picks me up and spins me around. “God, Nikki, thank you! I swear I will make you the happiest woman in the world.”

He better.

******

We spend the rest of the morning making love, just curled up together. When we decide to finally leave the room we go straight over to my parents to tell them the news.

Before getting out of the car, Kade smirks at me. I frown. “What did you do?”

He just smiles as we get out. He comes over to me and gives me a light kiss before we head to the front door. Before we can knock, the door swings open. My mum and dad are both standing there, with huge smiles on their faces. Before I can ask them what’s going on, mum cuts in.

“So, did you do it? Did she say yes? Was the sex smoking hot afterwards?” Mum is jumping up and down clapping.

“Honey, why don’t you let them in and talk before you start?” dad says, chuckling.

We walk into the house and head into the sitting area. “Well, come on, tell us.”

I look at Kade and he has a huge grin on his face. “I asked your parents last week if I could marry you, your mum even came with me to pick out a ring.”

“Shut up, no need to explain, I want to know. Did she say yes?” mum demands.

Kade nods and holds up my hand. Mum lets out a screech and starts crying, hugging me tight.

When mum lets me go, dad comes over, and gives me a tight hug. “He’s a good one, Nikki. You’ll be happy together, like your mum and I.”

We spend the rest of the day just chatting, eating, and mum demands to know a date. I just shake my head. God, I love this crazy family.

Our next stop is home, where James is waiting for us to give him the news. He comes and gives me a hug. “You were always part of this family. Glad you both got your head out of your asses and made up.” I laugh. We can’t tell Layla and Chase yet, they're away on their honeymoon. Layla’s parents are watching baby Cole. I can’t wait until they get back so I impatiently call Layla’s cell and just leave her a message. I know she'll be over the moon; she’s wanted me to get back with Kade from the start.

******

That night, lying in bed, Kade and I are talking. “I need to know this, otherwise it’s going to eat at me.” I frown and look up at him. “Did you and Ryder sleep together?” he asks hesitantly, almost like he doesn’t really want to know the answer.

I was expecting him to ask me this eventually, so I answer him. “No, it never happened. I think he knew I wasn’t ready. I have to admit, I did try, but he always stopped it. I don’t really think he wanted to, either. All we ever did was make out.”

He sighs with relief. “What about you?”

When he hesitates, my heart feels like it’s stopped. Was Kade with someone else? I know it might be a possibility, but I’m not sure how I would handle it. I was dating Ryder, after all, so it wouldn’t be fair of me to react. But I would still get upset, I know I would. You can’t help how you feel sometimes, logic doesn’t control emotions. Kade finally answers, pulling me from my musings.

“No, I didn’t. But I’m not going to lie, I did try once. We went back to her place, when she started to… do stuff, I stopped it and left. It didn’t feel right, and I couldn’t stop thinking about you. No other woman affects me like you do, Nikki. No other woman will make do now. It has to be you, only you. I’m going to spend the rest of my life proving to you that I am worthy of you, and showing you just how much I love and adore you. We are going to be so happy together, Nikki. I know we have a lot of work to do, but I am going to make sure that we work out. I will never take you for granted, and always be appreciative of everything you do.” I nod, thankful that we both really kept true to each other, even though we weren’t together.

I lay my head on his chest. “I love you, Kade.”

“I love you too, beautiful,” he whispers back.

We both fall asleep intertwined.

Epilogue

Six years later

I watch Kade as he chases our two little girls around the backyard with a water gun. The man never grows up, I swear. And I love that about him. There's never a dull moment in the Steele residence, that’s for sure. I stifle a grin when our four year old daughter, Grace, jumps on Kade’s back and yells for her little sister, Ava, to make a quick escape. Ava is one year younger than Grace, and Grace is so protective of her it’s adorable. Both our girls have my auburn hair, but they have their father’s blue eyes. They're both going to be heart breakers, there's no doubt about that. Kade jokes that only a real man could handle living with three fiery red heads.

Kade and I got married just six months after he proposed. He tried to get me to walk down the aisle sooner than that, but I told him I needed time to plan the wedding. We have both worked hard on our relationship, and I'm happy to say that we both made it, and we are now happier than ever. Ashley came and apologized to me, and told me her side to the story. We do see her every now and then. She's hooked up with one of Ryder’s band mates, they are a great match. I think she's changed a lot, grown up. Ashley and Kade are friends again, but it’s more of a passing acquaintance. Kade has never made the mistake of putting anyone before me again.

James is no longer Mr. Secretive, and he told all of us what he was up to all of those times he was missing in action. When his secret came out, Layla lost it when she found out everyone knew but her. She was seriously pissed at all of us, and it took us a week or so of her famous silent treatment before she came around. In the end, James sat down with her and they had a long chat. Though, in typical Layla style, she still brings it up now and again.

When I hear Kade yell out “Let’s get mummy!” I’m pulled out of my reminiscing. I quickly bolt inside and lock the door. Seconds later Kade sends Grace to the door, and of course I have to open it. The man still plays dirty. I open the door and Grace and Ava run inside, while Kade grabs me and throws me over his shoulder. He jogs with me towards our pool, and I know exactly what he's going to do, so I start pummeling his back with my fists.

“Kade!” I scream, but it’s too late. He throws me into the pool, fully dressed, and then runs inside to hide with the kids.

Looks like it’s time for revenge.

Coming soon

Ryder

Ryder Crawford is going places. His band ‘Morning Alliance,’ has just gotten signed, and are now touring with one of the most popular bands in the world. When he meets Lexi Raine, the timing couldn’t have been worse. But like they say, love finds you when you aren’t looking for it. The stunning blonde manages to turn his world upside down, through the fierce connection they share. When Ryder is given the choice between the past and present, he is forced to choose between his career, and a woman he has felt something for like no other. Will he make the right choice? Or spend the rest of his life living with regret?

Lexi is all alone in the world, besides her best friend and partner in crime Tee. After traveling around the world, drifting from place to place, she tries to settle down in Perth, the place she grew up in. When she meets Ryder, he seems almost too good to be true. What happens when she finds out that when things seem too good to be true, they usually are?

Coming Soon

James

James Steele leads a complicated life, a life that makes it hard to get close to people. James’ secrets caused him to lose the woman of his dreams, Sasha Crawford. James has now moved on with Tatiana, a lovely woman whom he works with, someone who understands his reasons for secrecy. When Sasha comes back into the picture James will have to make a decision. Will he stay with Tatiana, a woman he has grown to care for? Or step up with explanations for Sasha, the woman he can’t seem to stop wanting?

Sasha, a foolish romantic, had thought she had found the love of her life in the sexy James Steele. That was, until she saw him in the arms of another woman. Heartbroken and betrayed, Sasha now had a new take on romance, using dating and men as a way to get over the pain of losing James. When their paths cross again and James now has a new woman, how will she react? Will she let go of all the hurt and anger, and move on? Demand answers? Or lay her cards down, and fight to win back the man that was once her everything.

Coming Soon

Derek

Rylie Sullivan hasn’t had an easy life. She is broken, so broken she doesn’t think she will ever be fixed. When she meets Derek, he barges into her life and tries to break down the walls she has so carefully construed to keep what’s left of her safe. When Rylie’s past mixes with her present, will Derek stand by her and help her survive? Or will he bail for the next pretty thing?

Derek Tremaine has had it easy. Coming from a wealthy family and blessed with good looks, Derek has breezed through life. After years of one night stands, and a few half ass attempts at relationships, Derek has almost given up on ever finding the woman for him. When he sees Rylie however, he can’t help but be drawn to her. Rylie is different, more so than any other person Derek has met. Rylie’s beauty- her tattoos, piercings and beautiful blonde dreads drew him in, but it’s her sweet, kind nature that makes him want to stay around and protect her. Winning Rylie’s heart will be his greatest challenge yet, but Derek knows the reward will be more than worth it.

Which is why Derek has no intentions of letting her go.

Savor You

by Emily Snow

Kylie Wolfe and bassist Wyatt McRae have been bad for each other for the last several years, but it’s impossible for them to end their toxic push and pull. Not when their attraction is constantly fueled by lust and proximity—she’s her older brother’s Lucas’s assistant and Wyatt is his best friend and band mate.

So when Your Toxic Sequel makes a move to record a new album in Nashville, Kylie decides to make the latest break with Wyatt official by getting the hell out of town. She’ll spend a week in New Orleans. A week to immerse herself in the Mardi Gras scene. One week to not think about the last time she was in New Orleans, seven years ago with Wyatt. Seven days where she won’t have to see Wyatt every day just to fall ridiculously in love with him all over again—where, if she wants to, she can have a normal, no-strings attached fling that won’t end in heartbreak.

Too bad Wyatt ruins everything by showing up, as gorgeous and demanding and awful for her as ever.

Wyatt refuses to let Kylie give up on him. Not without reminding her why they both fell so far and hard in the first place. Not without making her savor the good memories and what could be their last chance with each other.

Note: This is a spinoff from the Devoured series