Pure Temptation (Priceless)

“Hey.”

“I don’t think so.” I push her back into Jason’s office and kick the door closed behind us before I make a grab for her. I turn her, pressing her against the door, and flip the lock into place.

“What?”

“You’ve been crying.” I can see a small trace of redness under her eyes. She tried to put some sort of makeup over it, but I can tell. I think most anyone else would miss it, but not me. I notice everything when it comes to my Addilyn. Always have and always will.

“It’s nothing.”

“You being upset is not nothing to me.” I place my hands flat on the door, caging her in to make it clear we’re not going anywhere. “We’re not leaving until you tell me what has you so upset.” Her brows pull together. Her eyes narrow on me in a glare, making her look like an angry kitten. “Addilyn, please sweetheart.” I soften my tone. Something tells me that bulldozing my way into this one isn’t the way forward.

Her eyes start to fill with tears, her body relaxing. I watch as she lets the walls start to come back down.

“There’s my girl. Don’t hide from me. Never from me.”

“Kane,” she whimpers, wrapping herself around me. I lift her into my arms, carrying her over to the couch Jason has in his office. I run my hands up and down her back, reassuring her that I’m not going anywhere. “I’m scared.”

“You tell me what you’re scared of, and I promise I’ll fix it, but I’ve got to know what it is.” She lifts her head, her hazel eyes meeting mine. Even when she’s crying, she’s still fucking beautiful. So much so that it makes my chest ache. I hate that something is scaring her, but fuck, do I love that she’s showing me this vulnerable side of her. No more hiding or trying to be tough.

“You.” I stare into her eyes.

Maybe she should be scared of me and the things I’d do to have her. I don’t think I could let her go. I know I can’t. “Give me a chance. I’ll be good to you. Don’t ask me to back off. I don’t know if I can.” She licks her lips.

“I’m scared you’ll break my heart, Kane.”

“You should be scared I’m going to lock you in a room and never let you out and keep you all to myself.” Her lips twitch. “I’m not teasing you, Addilyn.”

“If you wanted me so bad, then why did it take you so long to do something about it? Was it because you didn’t think I was good enough? Did it piss you off that you wanted me? Did you not want people to know? I think—”

I snap.

She’s done lost her mind. Then again, maybe so have I.

14

Addilyn

“Kane!” I gasp.

Before I know what’s happening, he has me pinned to the sofa, One hand holding my wrists together above my head as the other yanks my shorts down my legs. My whole body explodes with desire.

Never in a million years would I have thought I’d want to be manhandled, but with Kane it’s different. I crave it. Hell, I need it, and I think he knows that. It’s not about domination really. It's taking care of me and giving me what I need, and somehow, this man always knows what I need.

“Two months,” he growls, the sound making my nipples harden and my sex grow wet. The intensity in his eyes has my breath catching. “Biding my time. Trying to get you used to me and not spook you.”

“Spook me?”

“Two fucking months.” He grabs my panties and pulls. They rip, no match for Kane’s strength. “Watching you behind that bar, knowing that every man that laid eyes on you wanted what I claimed as mine from the moment I saw you.”

“The moment you saw me?”

“All that fire in your eyes. Always so damn strong and sweet too.” I watch as he undoes his belt and the button of his jeans next, never letting go of my hands pinned above my head. “I wanted that sweetness, but what I wanted more was that girl hiding behind all those walls and strength. That girl has belonged to me from the start. She’s always been mine, and not even you will take her from me.”

“Kane.” I whisper his name. He sees me, the real me.

And he’s right. Months ago, that would have scared the hell out of me. The fact that he saw past it all—the pink hair and smiles that could quickly turn serious to put anyone in their place that I thought was trying to get too close to me.

“How could you think I didn’t want you, Addilyn? You’re the only thing I’ve ever really wanted in my entire life. The one thing I’d do anything to have even if it wasn't the right thing to do.” Tears spill down my cheeks at his confession.