Chapter 13

**Kade**

This may not be high school anymore, but it sure did feel like it. Selina still made my heart beat wildly against my chest. Especially when I was so close to her. And I didn’t know how to control myself. That’s why I had to leave. I needed to calm down. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.
“You know, if I had known you and Selina had history, I’d never have touched her. I’d never take another man’s woman. Especially if they had a child together.” Zane said softly.
Not the time, asshole.
Not the fucking time to clear the air.
“What do you want?”
“Just to let you know the truth. I don’t want it to be tense between us. Giovanni wouldn’t like it.”
I rolled my eyes. “And what is the truth?”
“That Selina and I are just friends. I won’t tread on another man’s territory.”
“A little late for that, don’t you think?”
“I don’t want trouble, Kade. I think you should back off a little. She doesn’t need an overprotective dog nipping at her ankles.”
“You don’t know what she needs.”
“All I’m saying she needs time. She has a sadness deep inside her soul. She won’t tell anyone, but I see it. I know sadness. I know anger. And… I know heartbreak. I know you don’t want to hear it, but it needs to be said. Give her time and she’ll come to you. All you have to do is be there to comfort her when she needs a shoulder to cry on. You can still be her bodyguard, but give her some space. You can’t protect her if she doesn’t trust you.”
“And what do you know about trust?” I hissed under my breath.
“I know a lot more than you think. I see things. Observe. Just trust me when I say I don’t want her.”
“Yeah? I don’t believe you.”
“Trust me, I have no intention of touching her. You have my word.”
“Look, we’re good, okay? I really need time to process all this shit.”
“You want to see Kaden, yes?”
“What do you know about Kaden?”
“I know that little boy acts just like you. Bad temper. Acts impulsively. His love runs deep for his mother. Just like yours runs deep for Selina. You have to remember, she had no one. She was alone in this.”
“But I’m here now. She won’t have to worry about being alone ever again.”
I didn’t hate Zane. Not really. I just didn’t like the idea of him being near Selina.
She was mine.
Always had been.
“She doesn’t hate you. She’s hurting. There’s a difference. Right now, she’s feeling the stab of your betrayal. The past has come back to bite her in the ass.”
“I didn’t…”
“I know, but she doesn’t realize that. All she knows is the man she fell in love with left her when she needed him the most.”
His words hurt, but they were true. Even if it wasn’t my choice to leave, it still happened. I still left her in the dirt without an explanation.
“What do I do? How do I fix this?” I asked.
“Just be there for her when she needs you. Be her friend. Protector. Be the man you were always meant to be.”
“I’m not the same man I used to be. I’ve changed.”
“War changes a man. I get that. Just be patient with her and it’ll work out just fine.”
I gave him a single nod.
He stuck his hand out. “Friends?”
I took his hand and smiled. “Yeah, friends.”
“Now, go back in there and let her know you’re there for her. Let Selina she’s stuck with you and you’re not going anywhere.”
I took a deep breath as I made my way to her room. I stopped at her door with my heart heavy. I knocked three times. When she answered, she widened her eyes and took a step back. I pushed my way into the room. Her shocked expression quickly turned fierce and angry one. She narrowed her eyes. “Yes?”
“We should probably talk.”
“I’m good.”
“Well, I’m not. You listen, I’ll talk.” I wasn’t asking. No permission needed being the father of her son.
“You want to talk? Fine. You can talk while I practice my new routine.”
“You’re not going back to work until your body is completely healed.”
“We’re not… we’re not teenagers anymore.”
I chuckled darkly and cocked my head to the side, caging her against the wall. “You’re right, were not. We’re all grown up, doll.”
“Get the fuck off!” She growled and pounded her fists against my chest.
I couldn’t help but laugh. She was like a ferocious kitten. A cute and vicious kitty ready to draw blood.
“That’s cute, kitten. You think you have a choice.”
“I’ll scream.”
I covered her mouth before she could call for someone. Selina wiggled against me but froze when she felt how hard I was.
“Your fault, sweetheart.” I murmured, nuzzling my nose against her cheek. “I can’t help the way my body reacts when you’re this close to my dick. He really likes you.”
She tensed against me as I rocked my hips. She wanted me. I wanted her. Badly. I felt it. And by the look in her eyes, she felt it too.
The need.
Lust.
Craving me.
Wanted my lips on hers.
But I wouldn’t take her.
Not like this.
As promised, I pulled away and took a step back.
Away from temptation.
“Kiss me.” Two words I’ve longed to hear.
I shook my head and smiled sadly. “I’m sorry, but I can’t. I won’t kiss you until I’ve earned your trust. I’m not the same man you once knew. I won’t take you until I prove to you I’m all in this.”
“It’s just a kiss, Kade.”
To her, it’s just a kiss.
To me, it was more than that.
If I kissed her the way I wanted to, I wouldn’t be able to control my urges.
I’d do more than explore her mouth with my tongue.
I’d want more.
To strip her down and plunge myself deep inside her pussy.
“If I kissed you, I wouldn’t be able to stop. I wouldn’t be able to stop until I ravished every inch of this delicious body. So, no, I can’t kiss you.”
“Please, Kade.”
I took her face in my hands and inched closer. My lips were begging me to close the gap. I fought the urge. “I won’t kiss you until you fully trust me. I want you, but I want you to want me the way I do. I want you to be my family. You. Me. Kaden. A family as one.”