“Promise?” I asked, lifting my hips and then thrusting them back down, causing his body to jerk.
“Promise.” He pressed his forehead to mine and moved his hands to my hips. “You and me, always.”
I gasped as he lifted me up and yanked me back down, controlling the rhythm. “Always.”
Chapter Twelve
ARIA
A smile curved on my lips as I stared at Cade’s side profile. His attention was focused out the windshield as he drove on the highway, and even though I was sad we were heading home, it didn’t encompass the way I felt after the last twelve hours.
We’d spent the night touching each other and talking. He’d seen the new scars on my stomach, and even though I was afraid of what he’d think, all he did was kiss each one of them and remark about how there wasn’t a fresh one.
Because there wasn’t.
I hadn’t cut since I had what Dr. Bay liked to call my manic episode. It had scared me, more than I liked to admit, and I’d told Cade as much. He’d informed me of everything that had happened between him and Miss Simmons—Willow as he called her—and I hated what he had to do just to keep her quiet. But now that we were here, and nothing stood in our way other than the fact he was still my teacher and coach.
“I can feel you staring at me,” Cade murmured, his brow raised as he glanced at me briefly. “Stop being a creeper.”
“Who? Me?” I pointed at my chest and widened my eyes, acting completely innocent. “I’m not being a creeper.”
His chuckle made goose bumps spread over my skin. “You totally are being a creeper. A hot, sexy creeper, but still a creeper.”
I gasped. “You think I’m hot and sexy.”
He shook his head, his chuckle now moving into full-blown laughter. “I swear, I’ll never get tired of listening to you.” His hand reached over and settled on my thigh over my jeans, his fingertips resting above the scars hidden underneath the denim.
“Good.” I placed my hand over his, moving my fingertip up and down his long fingers. “What’s going to—”
Cade’s cell ringing cut me off, and then his mom’s name flashed on the screen above the center console.
“Shit.” Cade glanced at me, his nose screwing up. “I’m gonna have to answer this, that okay?”
I shrugged. “Fine by me.”
He clicked a button on his steering wheel and cleared his throat. “Hey, Mom.”
“Finally!” Her voice surrounded us through the speakers. “I’ve been calling you for hours.”
“Sorry.” His fingers tapped on the steering wheel, and his other hand gripped my thigh tighter. “I’ve been away at a school event. I’m just driving home now.”
“Ah yes, you said you were at an event. I must have forgotten.” I raised my brows at the way her voice sounded, both bored and interested all at the same time. How the heck did she manage to achieve that? “Anyway, I’m calling to tell you I booked your flights.”
Cade groaned. “I told you I’d book them, Mom. You know I can only come on certain days.”
“I know that. Honestly, Cade, do you think I never listen to you?” she tutted, and I turned to face Cade. I thought my mom was bad, but his…I’d only heard her talk for a couple of minutes, and already I could see how tense Cade was. “Your flight leaves on the Thursday night, and you return Sunday evening. All good, yes?”
“Mom—”
“Good. See you then!”
The line went dead, and Cade slammed his hand on his steering wheel. “Fuck’s sake!” A muscle in his jaw ticked, and he let go of my thigh and moved his hand into his hair. “I swear, the woman is a walking, talking, stress creator. How does she expect me to fly to France on a Thursday evening when I have classes to teach the next day?”
“I’m sure—”
“And all because she’s getting married for a fourth time. Why can’t she just live her life without the whole wedding all over again?”
“Cade.” I waited for him to glance at me, then took his hand in both of mine. “Breathe. I’m sure the principal will let you take the day off. And it’s not like it’s real soon, right?”