“How do you know?” he asked.
She grabbed his good hand, leaning over the divider between the two seats, and met his gaze. “I just do. I trust my instincts. Always have. And you might be an arrogant ass and an occasional jerk, but you’re not a rapist!”
“Tell it to the judge,” he muttered.
She still held his hand as she moved in closer. “I would if I could.”
And he’d let her.
Because nobody had automatically believed him before. Nobody stood up for him without question. His father’s words, when he’d found out about the date rape accusation, were, It doesn’t matter, son. I’ll take care of you.
Which was all well and good, except it had mattered to Kade. He’d been innocent and wanted to prove it, not throw money at the situation to make it go away. Ironically, all he’d done was make Kade feel more alone.
Not Lexie. She made him feel good about himself for the first time in a long time. He wanted more. Without hesitation, he closed the distance between them and pressed his mouth against hers. She startled, jerking in surprise, before almost immediately giving in, her lips softening against his. He breathed her in, both her warm breath and her intoxicating belief in him.
He ran his tongue over her lips. Though he was confined by the wide armrests between them and his own injury, he was every bit engaged. Just ask his body. Painkillers had no effect on his cock, because it was hard and ready to go.
He wanted to lift his hand and cup the back of her neck, pull her closer, kiss her harder, but he was hindered by the need to keep his bad hand away from the furniture and any pressure against it. Instead he made good use of his tongue, delving deep into her mouth and tasting her sweetness.
“Mmm,” he murmured against her mouth because she was incredibly sweet, her flavor making him even more light-headed than before.
“Kade.” She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “We shouldn’t.”
“Can’t think of a reason why not.” Other than the dizziness circling his brain, but she didn’t know about that.
“I work for you, for one thing. And you’re hurting. Your defenses are down. Something tells me you might agree with me come morning and regret this.”
“Never.” It was the last thought he had before he passed out cold, dreaming of a blue-eyed, brown-haired angel who came to his rescue.
* * *
Kade woke up with a blistering headache and throbbing in his hand. He waited for the awareness of the pain to settle before he rolled to a sitting position. He hung his spinning head, bracing his good hand on his thigh.
How had he gotten into bed? The last thing he remembered was chewing on a Twizzler, then … confiding in and kissing Lexie.
“Fuck!”
“You’re up.” Derek strode into his bedroom, his hair a mess, wearing a pair of track pants and a tee shirt, looking like he’d spent the night.
“What are you doing here?” Kade asked.
“Aww. You don’t remember me tucking you into bed last night? I’m hurt.” Derek smirked at his own joke.
“No, I don’t.”
He sat down on the end of the mattress. “Lexie called. Asked me to come help move your passed-out ass into bed. She had to get home, so I stayed in case you needed something.”
Kade shot him a grateful look. “Thanks, man.”
“Not a problem. Are you hurting?”
“Badly, but I’m not taking anything stronger than ibuprofen.”
Derek narrowed his gaze. “Why suffer if you don’t have to?”
Kade didn’t often spill his guts with a clear head, but when he did it was to this man. “Because apparently I talk too much when I’m drugged.”
“Ouch.” Derek winced.