“I can do that. Give me a minute.” Cade heads toward the kitchen.
“Is everything okay between you and Jake?”
“Yes. He loves me, and never stopped. Just like me.” Elise watches every move Jake makes while he’s in the kitchen on the phone.
“Here you go, Elise. Jake’s nearly finished on the phone.” Cade passes Elise the ice pack. Then sitting down next to me, he takes my hand and laces our fingers together.
We both seem to need the physical connection to each other after the stress and upset of this morning.
“Daniel has put out a warrant for Tom’s arrest, but so far nobody knows where he is. They found his sister, Grace, unconscious in her house. They think she’ll be okay, but for now she isn’t going to be able to talk to anyone,” Jake says, heading over to us.
“Oh no, I should visit her. She doesn’t have anyone else.”
“Elise, you can’t. Daniel thinks Tom might keep watch at the hospital for you to turn up.”
“Oh, God. This is a mess.” Elise puts her face into her hands.
“Jake, sit with Elise.” I rise from the sofa so Jake can sit down and comfort her.
“We’ll give you some privacy.” I drag Cade with me, toward the kitchen. “We’re going to make some hot chocolate. Would you both like some?”
“That would be great, thanks.” Jake murmurs as Elise sinks into his arms and he holds her comfortingly.
“You’re welcome.”
In the kitchen, I pull Cade out of sight of the front room, tugging him close in a tight embrace. After a few minutes of just staring at each other, Cade leans down and softly kisses my lips. “Move into my bedroom w
ith me, make it our room. I want you close every night.”
“I’d love to move into your bedroom, but do you have enough closet space for me?”
He laughs at me. “We could always knock through to the next room and use that as a walk in closet.”
I push him away from me. “Ha ha, very funny.”
“Yes, there will be enough room. If there isn’t, then leave some stuff in the room you’re using for now.”
“I can do that. Can we move my things after we’ve made our drinks?”
“We can.”
“Then let’s get that hot chocolate made.”
Chapter 18
Cade
This morning, I’m sure as hell not going to leave until Rona is awake.
Last night after having hot chocolate and then dinner with Jake and Elise, I helped Rona move her things into my room, now ‘our room.’ I must have gone into the bathroom a lot last night, just to look at Rona’s things set out in there.
As for her clothes sharing my closet, well, she actually climbed out of bed and opened the closet before climbing back into bed, asking me if I would be able to sleep now.
We didn’t make love last night. I told Rona I just wanted to hold her all night, without sex. I only wish my body wanted the same thing.
“Morning.” She snuggles deeper into my arms and slides her leg between mine. “Mmm, you feel good, especially down here,” she whispers as her hand moves south to the erection I’ve had most of the night.
“Last night was all about you. Just holding you.”