Pretend I'm Yours (Pretend 1)

And somehow, Nathan is back in prison. I don’t know what he did, but Kade called me a couple of days after his release and said Nathan violated his parole and is back in prison.

I toss my running shoes into my bag and zip it shut. I swing the bag over my shoulder as I hear a knock on my bedroom door.

I grin. Kade.

“Come in.”

Kade opens the door slowly and moves just inside my doorway. He’s dressed in jeans and a buttoned-down shirt.

My smile drops from my face, and I almost drop the bag from my shoulder; the sight of his outfit knocks me so off balance. He’s not coming to see me race.

“I wanted to pop in to wish you luck today. Sorry, I can’t make it to your race today. Work calls.”

I nod and give him a fake smile. But I can’t say thank you. I don’t open my mouth at all, because if I do, I know what’s going to come out. True feelings that I don’t want Kade to know about.

He hesitates in my doorway, before walking over to me, squeezing my body against his, and wrapping his arms around my back. My face buries in his chest. I smell the familiar musk of his aftershave. And I almost tell him to hell with the race and work. I need him to fuck me right now. Against the wall. In the bed. On the floor for all I care. I need his cock.

But he releases me before I have a chance to kiss him. If I had brushed my lips against his, everything would be different.

I didn’t.

So now, Kade is walking away, out of my bedroom.

“Good luck, Larkyn. Text me how the race goes.” And then he’s out my bedroom door as he presses his phone to his ear to take a call. He doesn’t even want me to call him afterward, just text. That’s how much I mean to him.

I thought after Kade punched Nathan, I meant more to him than just a fake relationship where I help him fend off women. Apparently, not. I’m not even sure he thinks he needs me around to fend off women anymore, since we haven’t been out in public in weeks.

I head to my old Toyota Corolla and drive off to the race. It’s five in the morning. I didn’t even ask Kade what he’s doing up this early. But I guess running a billion dollar empire requires Kade to work all hours of the day and night.

As I’m running the race, all I can think about is Kade.

Kade, treating me like a queen.

Kade, being an ass.

Kade, in his sexy suits.

Kade, naked in my bed.

Kade, bossing me around.

Kade, comforting me when I cry.

He’s a distraction. From everything. I should be focused on my pace, form, and where I’m planting my feet.

But I can’t stop.

All I think about is Kade’s grin.

His dimples.

His giant eyes, staring at me lovingly. Like I’m really his. But I’m not.

Shit…

My body crashes into the concrete, as my ankle twists beneath my body.

Fuck.