Chapter 14

**Selina**


Idiot!
What the hell was I thinking?

I mentally kicked myself in the ass. What got into me? I know. My damn body betrayed me. It always did when Kade was too close to me. He says he wants to earn my trust. I’m not sure how I feel about that. Not when he betrayed me before. Just seconds ago, I begged for him to kiss me. And he also says he wants to be a family.
Him.
Me.
Kaden.
A family together.
I needed to talk to someone that I could confide in.
Giovanni was out of the question.
Maybe Rose?
I shook my head.
No.
She’d just tell Giovanni everything.
As soon as Kade confessed, he said he would give me the space and wait for me. Then, left the room. Hot and cold. That pretty much sums up the sexy bastard. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but maybe I need to talk to his friend, Frankie. If anyone knows him, it’s him. But can I trust him to keep what I have to tell him a secret?
I guess there’s only one way to find out.
I stepped out of my room only to run into Luca.
“Easy there, you’re still healing.” He warned.
“Luca, have you seen Frankie?”
“Not since last night. I think he had some business to attend to. You need something?”
“I… I just wanted to talk to him.” I muttered.
“This have to do with Kade?”
I chewed on the inside of my cheek. “No. Yes. I don’t know.”
“Kade loves you. He went crazy when he found out you were dancing.”
“That’s not his choice.”
“Listen, I shouldn’t be telling you this, but I love you like my own niece. Kade is hurting like you are. You two have so much bad blood. Kade hates that you’re stripping. He’s… he’ll be ready to kill if he sees a man touch you. Maybe you should go back to waitressing.”
“I love dancing. You know that.”
“I know, but we don’t need a bloodbath. Giovanni wouldn’t stop Kade either. Not when…”
“Not when what?”
“Not after what happened to you. If you had died, he would go crazy. Just promise me one thing.”
“What?”
“Don’t give in to Kade so easily. Make the boy work for it.”
“Oh, he’s gonna work for my trust. Believe me, he’s gonna work for it. Starting right now.”
He winked. “Atta girl. I better go. Beth is waiting for me.”
I hugged Luca and whispered. “I’m glad you found me that night. Thank you for giving me a family. Thank you for everything.”
I’m grateful I trusted Luca and Giovanni when I first came to the city. They took me in. cared for me. Gave me the one thing I thought I lost. A home. A family. A reason to live. And for that, I’m so thankful for.
When I made it to the kitchen, I swear my heart stopped. Kade was sitting with my son. Our son. I know I should be angry, but dammit, seeing them together makes my heart flutter. I stood in the doorway and silently watched as they interacted.
“Mommy says I shouldn’t eat sweets before dinner.” Kaden says.
“Well, she sounds like she takes real good care of you, little man.”
“How come our name is alike?” Kaden asks.
“I… maybe that’s something you should ask your mother. I don’t know…”
“Mommy! Come sit with us. This is my new friend.”
I met Kade’s shocked expression and laughed. Big bad Kade is actually scared?
“Selina…” Kade breathed out. “I wasn’t…”
“It’s okay, I was just coming to look for you. Kaden, go find Rose and Giovanni. I need to speak to your new friend.”
“Ok.”
When I was sure that Kaden was out of earshot, I made my way over to him and stood behind him. I placed my hands on his shoulders and leaned down to whisper in his ear. “You know, that was kind of hot seeing you have a soft spot for Kaden. Has the badass military man finally cracked?”
“Selina…”
“Tell me, are you serious about wanting a fresh start with me?”
“You know I am.”
“Good.” I said as I massaged his shoulders. “I think you and I should talk in private.”
“I’m still not gonna kiss you until you fully trust me.”
“I said talk, not fuck.”
“Christ Selina, is this some kind of power trip?”
“No, but it can be if you want it to be. What do you say… want a dance from me, big boy?”
“Selina, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
The perks of being an exotic dancer is knowing what makes a man tick. All the weak spots. Just a simple touch and I can have them at my mercy. I let my fingers dance down his chest and blew on his ear. “Don’t tell me this doesn’t turn you on, Kade.”
“Fuck me, you know this turns me on.”
“Want to see my new dance routine, big boy?”
“Only if it’s a dance only for my eyes. I don’t think I’d like it if you danced for anyone else besides me. In fact, I would kill the man and make an example of him.”
I circled Kade and straddled him, grinding my hips against his cock. His breath hitched as my lips brushed his neck and slowly kissed downward. I didn’t lie to him. This was a new routine. Something that I was working on for a new hire. Kade didn’t have to know that. It was fun baiting him. Teasing him. Getting him worked up was the highlight of my day.
“What if I wanted to dance for Zane?” I know I’m treading on dangerous ground. He’s already let me know he hates Zane near me. Hates the fact I’m friends with the man.
“You think you’re smart, don’t ya?” Kade growls and before I know it, I’ve lost all the control. He’s got me on my back. His breath hot on my neck.
“I don’t think I’m smart, I know I am.”
“That’s cute, you really don’t think I haven’t talked to Zane. That I didn’t make it clear that you are mine. You see, we came to an agreement. We’re friends, the same as you and him.”
“Liar! You…”
“Hate him?” He laughs. “Quite the opposite. He said that if he knew we had history that he would have never would have gotten as close as he did. Now that he knows you’re mine, he will only be a friend. Only a damn friend. I’ll let you be friends with him on one condition.”
“You can’t do that! This isn’t high school.”
“You’re right, it’s not. We’re adults with a child together. High school is the past. This is the present, baby and now I’ve found you, I’m never letting go. I’ll stay true to my words. I won’t kiss you, fuck you until I’ve earned your trust. That’s why we’re starting over. Clean slate.”
“It’s not that simple.” I whispered.
“It’s not. I’ll let you be friends with him on one condition. That you go back to waitressing and quit stripping. I don’t want the mother of my child belittling herself like that. I won’t allow it.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Then I’ll beat everyone’s ass that looks at you. Let’s just say, I’m a lot like Giovanni with Rose. I’m a very possessive man when it comes to his woman.”
“I’m not your woman.”
“No, but you did give birth to my son. That makes you mine.”
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before I uttered two words. Two words that I knew would gut him. “You left.”
“And I told you, I’ve regretted it every day. It’s only been you, Selina. Every day I’ve only thought of you. You’re the first thing I think of when I wake up and the last face I see when I got to sleep. My love for you has only gotten stronger.”
“Kade, I can’t…”
“What, say you love me too? Don’t worry, I’ll earn your trust and steal your heart once again.” Kade nodded to the door. “You can scream all you want, but it won’t do you any good. Nobody will come to your rescue. Not when they know this is all I’ve ever wanted. Alone with the woman I never fell out of love with.”
I couldn’t move.
Breathe.
React.
I felt the same way.
I never fell out of love with him.
And that’s why I was so angry with myself.