The Enemy - Kelsey Clayton Page 0,50

myself against the door and muster up the courage. Once I've got a handle on my fear, I run out into the storm. Shingles from the roof are scattered across the backyard, even some landing in the pool. The trees all look like they're going to snap. It's a mess out here.

I reach the table and grab my necklace. As I go to run back, however, Cade's eyes widen.

“Watch out!”

My head turns to see what he's talking about, and I see an umbrella from one of the tables flying toward me. I don't have time to react before it smacks me in the head and knocks me to the ground.

“Lennon!” Cade screams, but I can barely hear him over the roar of the storm.

I try to get up, but everything is blurry. Cade runs out into the yard and pulls me off the ground. The two of us rush back inside, and he slams the door shut behind us.

“Are you all right?” he pants.

I wince at the pain. “I think so? It really hurts.”

He comes over and grabs my chin, forcing me to look up at him. “Len, you're bleeding.” He lifts me up and sits me on top of the table. “Stay here. I'll get stuff to clean it.”

I'm stunned into silence, mainly because I've never seen this side of him—the side that actually gives a shit about me. I thought I saw hints of it in Malibu, but since we got back, he's been nothing but cruel. And still, I crave him.

Cade comes back with the first aid kit and immediately gets to work on my head. I hiss as he cleans it out and covers it with antiseptic.

“And you called me a baby,” he teases.

I kick him in the leg. “Shut up. It really hurts.”

“I bet it does. I told you not to go out there.” He covers the cut with a bandage and pushes the kit to the side. “There. Good as new.”

I lightly feel where it is and crinkle up my nose. “I probably look real cute now.”

He laughs. “You look like you fought an umbrella and lost.”

“Fantastic.”

I look down at my lap and let out a long exhale, suddenly feeling self-conscious. Cade must notice the quick change in mood because he takes pity on me.

“Hey, I was kidding.” He puts a hand on my cheek. “I don't know anyone else who could make battle wounds look that good.”

I raise my eyes to meet his. “You're just saying that.”

Gently, he rubs his thumb back and forth. “I'm not. You and I both know you're gorgeous.”

There it is again, that closeness paired with a look in his eyes that renders me defenseless. I want him. I want him more than I want to breathe. My heart pounds inside my chest as he starts to lean in, but deep down, I know this is a bad idea.

“Cade,” I whisper. “We shouldn't.”

He doesn’t look away from my lips. “I just need to...I just...let me....”

His sentence goes unfinished as the gap between us closes and his mouth covers my own.

16

CADE

Her lips are soft as they move with mine. I force them apart and lick into her mouth, loving how sweet she tastes. My free hand snakes around to her lower back, and I pull her closer. She brings her arms up to my neck. My cock is spurred to life as I realize this table is the perfect height for sex, but fuck if this isn't the time for all that.

Lennon's tongue fights for dominance—a fight she never had a chance at winning. I suck her bottom lip into my mouth and pull. The reaction I get out of her is exactly what I wanted, and she becomes putty in my hands. I slide my touch from her cheek down to her chest. Her breast fits perfectly inside my hand, and she arches her back, pushing herself further into my hold.

Her phone starts to ring, and she jerks away quickly. She covers her mouth with one hand, as if what just happened finally processed in her mind. To be honest, I'm feeling the same way. She grabs her phone and brings it to her ear, but her eyes don't leave me.

“Hey Dad,” she breathes. “Okay, I'll tell him. Thanks.”

I run my fingers through my hair to try and ground myself as she hangs up.

“He said that there is a way to reset the generators, and that the instructions are on the side panel.”

Nodding slowly, I take a step back.