Insatiable (The Edge of Darkness, #1)(99)

Kade notices my reflex, instead resting his hand on the door next to my head. “Answer me, Stacey.”

His eyes are so beautiful, light like his father’s. But they’re also troubled and tired. My voice is quiet as I say, “I’m allowed to still care for you.”

Knocked into silence, Kade’s brows knit together.

My phone dings, and I slip away from him. “I’m not the snake you think I am. Despite what you think, I care. Probably more than I should.”

I open the door and walk out, and Kade follows.





36




STACEY

We grab a burger, chips and a drink from a fast-food place. We haven’t spoken in the two hours since we left the hotel. He grabs my hand while we walk through the mall to one of the stores but quickly drops it when he realises his mistake.

I scowl at him when he asks if I want anything while walking past clothes that would take me years to afford.

When Kyle calls me to tell me Nora is going in for her annual scan on her liver, Kade keeps his eyes on me, smoking a cigarette.

I want to go back to the room, alone, and lie in bed. I want to get away from this imbecile who just did about four one-eighties in his mood.

Him and Lu really are twins. Moody bastards.

“Do we need to go anywhere else?”

Kade nods once.

“Where?”

“You’ll see,” is his response.

“I’ve had better conversations with your grandmother,” I say, intentionally shouldering him as we walk. “And that’s saying something.”

We get in another Uber, and Kade’s knee bumps mine. I glance at him, but he’s staring out the window. “Just pull in here.”

My eyes widen when I see where we are. “No.”

“Yes.” He gets out and pulls my door open. “Come on.”

“No.”

He laughs and grabs my hand, yanking me out and thanking the driver. “Stop being a shitebag.”

I point at the sign. “I’m not going on a motorbike!”

Kade ignores me and saunters into the building, fingers wrapped around my wrist lightly. I sit at the reception in a huff, debating whether I should run now or pretend he kidnapped me.

To my horror, he buys one.

Buys. A motorbike. Outright.

Ten minutes later, he walks towards me with two helmets. “Let’s go.”

“Absolutely not.”

“I’ll throw you over my shoulder.”

Disregarding the building terror in my gut, I get up and walk towards the back, through the doors and into the car park, where a black motorbike sits, waiting to end my life.

“Jesus, Kade. No. I’m not going on that huge thing! It will honestly kill me.”

He gives me a look. “Are we still talking about the bike?”

“Shut up.”

The worker chuckles, arms folded and leaning against the wall. “Our most recent model. And most expensive.”

I scowl at Kade. “Stop throwing money around.”

He shakes his head and nods to the death trap. “Get on the bike.”

“No,” I reply, my heart beginning to race as he approaches me, lifting his hand and tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

“Stop that.” I knock his touch away. “I’ll get a ride back to the hotel.”

“You either climb on or I bend you over it.”

He’s serious. The heated look in his eyes is enough to make my pussy instantly wet.

“I’m happy with both. You choose.”

The man behind us clears his throat and dismisses himself.

“What will it be then, Stacey?”

I force a snort. “Neither are realistic.”

“If you think I won’t pull off your little black dress and make it realistic, you’re wrong.”

My inner walls clench on nothing but the image of him doing just that. I swallow hard, the pulse in my neck fluttering, and I try to appear unaffected. I wet my lips with my tongue and note his gaze dropping to my mouth. “There are cameras.”

He smirks. “You better get on the bike then.”

Idiot .

I know for a fact he means it too. If I tell him to bend me over, he will. Why is there a daring part of me that wants him to? We’d get caught and arrested for indecent exposure and public sexual acts, no doubt.

Not that we haven’t fucked in public.

When he sees I’ve given up the argument, he looks amused with himself and goes over to the bike, checking all the buttons or whatever it is that has his attention.

“Where are we going?”

He shrugs. “A drive. Somewhere to pass time.”

“Because you’re hiding from the she-devil?”

Kade glances up at me as he turns on the bike, the roar of the engine making me jump. My insides flip, and I’m not sure if I’m turned on or terrified. Maybe both.

“Exactly. Who are you hiding from?”

“Why do you do what you do?” I ask instead of replying as Kade hands me my helmet. “Like, the bad stuff and the… escorting.”

He rubs the back of his neck before pulling on his helmet, visor up. “The money?”

“Are you asking me or telling me?”