ariel

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Enjoy 🤍.

"I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you." - Paulo Coelho

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Chapter 61
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I had just finished dressing when I heard a knock at the door. I froze. Even though Kade said he would be here, it could be Chivo or one of his men for all I know.

I picked up my phone, and texted Kade. When he confirmed it was him, my shoulders fell with relief.

I was the only one in the house. Ryland was out with his friends, and dad and Teresa were out of town.

When I told him about Susie's offer, there wasn't an ounce of shock in his reaction. He had already took it. There was nothing I could do, but congratulate him at that point. I assumed that's why him and Teresa left to celebrate.

When I opened the door, the wind could've knocked me off my feet. But, when I felt Kade get closer, the cold was no longer the subject. His warmth clouded me once he placed his hands on my cheeks.

I didn't have time to close the door before his lips were on mine. I couldn't stop the laughter from spilling when his cold hands tickled my skin.

I longed for his lips once-more when he peered back at me in confusion. "Your hands are like icesickles," I explained.

When I grabbed them, I was taken aback at the sight of his knuckles. They were bruised up.

My thumb trailed across them softly. "What happened? Was there a fight?"

His expression tried to console my concern. "I hit Angelo. Well, again." His chuckle made me roll my eyes.

"That's not funny, Kade. Sit, I'll get ice." Before he argued, I shoved him onto the sofa with a soft push. "Don't move."

"Yes ma'am," he grinned up at me. "But, I'm fine, sweetheart." While he spoke, I went and grabbed a frozen pack of peas. I sat on the sofa next to him before pulling his hand onto my lap.

"What happened?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Nothing crazy. He came in talking shit. I warned him. He didn't listen. So, I beat his ass, again. Simple."

I was light with my touch. I didn't have to look to know he was already staring at me. I felt his heavy hand drop on mine. I couldn't stop my body from melting into mush as he tipped my chin up.

"You curled your hair," he pointed out, his fingers twirling the strands. Raven had taught me. That wasn't the only change I'd made tonight.

I was actually wearing something outside of my normal wardrobe. It was a cute sweater and blue jeans that hugged me in the right places. Raven and Maggie had convinced me to try something that still fit my comfort zone. And, I felt amazing.

A small smile feathered my lips though it was hard to concentrate as Kade's fingers danced across my skin. "Do you like it?"

I leaned into his touch. "I love it. I love anything you're in, sweetheart. You're stunning. And, I love..." His words ceased in a heartbeat. My eyes fluttered open as I waited for him to fix his mistake, but he didn't. I could see the ache, the hesitation, the fear in his eyes.

I felt vacant as he released me. His sigh was heavy before he spoke. "Can I use your shower? I stopped by my house to get something to change into. We still have a while before the movie starts."

I nodded, but my throat was as dry as the Sahara desert. I could feel my heart thumping so hard in my chest, I almost felt the need to check my pulse.

He stood, his eyes never reaching mine. He looked as if he wanted to say something else. I could see the wheels turning in his head, but he shook the train away and left to my bathroom.

I love...

Did he want to say that he loved me? Of course he did. Why else would he trip over himself afterwards?

His actions had more than proved that he did. But, there was nothing like hearing it. I hadn't even told him I loved him. I think that I was just as scared of those three words as he was.

Love scared me. I loved to read about it, watch it blossom, hell even hear about it. But, this time it was personal. Loving Kade didn't scare me. It was more of the opposite. Losing him scared the hell out of me.

It was easy to love. To lose yourself to one another. But what would one do when the other person just stopped? How could one carry on after experiencing such a thing of the heart?

The people who were supposed to love me more than anything couldn't even do that. The woman that carried me for nine months, the woman who fed me from her breast, the woman who watched my first breath didn't love me. If a mothers love couldn't be unconditional, how could anyone's?

Kade had been let down by every single person he loved. Sometimes I considered myself lucky that I still had Ryland and my dad. Even Teresa. Kade had no one for years. Even when his brother was here, Kade still never had the same love of a parent. He was never taught to love properly, so I knew he would be cautious of the feeling.

I hoped he didn't feel pressured about it. The three words meant no more than our actions. I understood more than anyone the fear of loving. But, every time I was around Kade, I found that fear growing smaller and smaller.

Somehow, I'd gotten to my bedroom. I wasn't sure how much time had passed when I heard the water turn off. I stared down at my socks as I waited for him to get ready.

I grabbed my phone when I heard a notification. It was a text from Raven.

Raven: Bitch.

Me: Such a lovely greeting.

Raven: I. Caught. Them.

My eyebrow raised at her text. If I were right, and I hoped I wasn't, it was about Maggie and Luke. I guess I was taking too long to answer for Ravens liking. My fingers had hovered above the screen before her contact picture pulled up. I accepted the call, put it on speaker, and placed it in front of me.

I couldn't get a word out before Raven began speaking in a rush. I waited for a moment of silence before saying, "Raven, calm down and say that again because I didn't catch a word."

I heard her heavy sigh through the phone. "I can't stay calm! I witnessed Luke and Maggie swap tongues." I looked up as I heard the door open to the bathroom. Kade stepped out, only sporting a towel around his waist. His v-line teased my eyes.

"Kimberly!" Raven exclaimed. "Did you hear me?"

Kade's head jerked in my direction at her voice. A flirtatious smile danced across his lips as he winked at me before turning around to put his shirt on.

I rolled my eyes and pretended that him breathing didn't bother me. "Yes. Where did you see it?"

"Levi and I saw them together at the arcade last night. I was going to tell you right away but Levi, well ..." she trailed off, and I already knew what she meant. "Anyway, they were there last night. We weren't even supposed to be at the arcade, but..." her words were a foreign language as I felt my bed dip. Before I could gather it, Kades' lips were on me.

I felt my breath catch in my throat as he trailed soft kisses across every inch of my face. I tried to kiss him, but before I could catch his lips, he averted his attention to my neck. The gentle kisses were so small, I wasn't too sure if it were real.

"Don't be rude, sweetheart," he teased into my ear before leaving a small kiss there as well. "Keep talking to her."

"Sorry, I got distracted, but anyway, I didn't want to sabotage Maggie so I didn't get out the car. It was so hard not to, though. They were arguing from what I could tell, she smacks the guy into heavens doors then he grabs her and they make out," she groaned. "Why do you think she didn't tell us?"

His kisses became more possessive as they lingered on the tender skin of my neck. "Answer her, baby." I couldn't stop the small moan from growing across my lips.

"Kimberly?" Raven's voice tugged me into reality.

I sighed. "Maybe she just wanted to keep it private. Or, it's just a fling? Did she kiss him back?" My fingers tangled into his soft locks, gently tugging as the pleasure fragmented into every bone in my body.

"If she didn't want to kiss him, he would've been underground by now. But, no, I don't even know how long they made out. The girl didn't come up for air for so damn long, I thought she was Ariel or something!"

Kade had left my neck, and made his way down now. His body hovered above mine, almost making me feel like a speck under his large frame.

I felt my body shake with anticipation as he looked up at me with uncertainty. I hoped the desperation in my eyes would be enough to reassure him, but just in case, I nodded my head. I wasn't sure what he was planning to do exactly, but as long as he kept making me feel like this, I never wanted him to stop.

Kade stared at me for another moment before lifting my sweater to give him enough access to my chest. I could feel my stomach warming with anticipation as he stared down at my breasts, my stomach, then back up at me.

His eyes were warm with admiration. "You're a masterpiece, sweetheart," he mumbled before he leaned back down to my breasts.

He kissed the surface of them, his hands cupping one while his lips trailed a path to my jeans. My body reacted immediately to his touch, pleading for more of what he was giving.

I hadn't even realized Raven was still on the line until I heard her speak agains "I'm going to let you go babe. I think Levi's back. I wasn't supposed to tell you about Maggie and Luke, but I couldn't keep it to myself."

I nodded as if she could see me. "We'll talk about it later. Love you, bye." Quickly, I hung up the phone with a shaky hand. Meanwhile, my eyes were on Kade. I felt my body arch into his direction as his mouth teased and toyed with my breasts that were now freed from my bra. His hand caressed one while his lips were on the other.

I hadn't even realized his name slipped out of my mouth until it were too late. The pleasure was unmeasured to any other.

I didn't have the strength to hesitate when his fingers undid the button of my jeans with one swift motion. When Kade came back up for air, his hand stroked the hairs from my face.

"Kimberly," he said my name as more of a question than anything else. "Are you okay?"

I opened my eyes that I weren't aware had closed. His were wrenched with concern, but there was no reason to be. I didn't want to stop.

"I am," my hand snaked around his neck. "Baby-" he began before I shut him up. "I am. Don't stop. Please." To prove my point, I pulled him to me until he had no choice but to kiss me.

This kiss was different from the others. It was possessive. Hungry. I loved every bit of it. Neither of us moved until his hand swept past my panties.

***

My smile never left. It continued to linger on my face ever since Kade had wrapped me into his chest.

"Are you-"

I raised myself to look at him. "If you ask me if I'm okay one more time, I'm going to smack you, Kade."

His eyes twinkled with humor. "Oh, I know you are. The whole neighborhood knows that by now."

I tried to feign annoyance but it failed when he pulled me closer. It might have been because of the heat of the moment, but Kade wouldn't agree to let us go all the way tonight. He wouldn't even let me touch him. He told me that he only cared for my pleasure, and that was enough. It made my heart churn because he delivered more than pleasure tonight. His mouth, his hands, him. It was more than enough.

"I guess we missed the movie," he stated, entrapping my fingers in his.

I nodded with a lingering smile. "What a shame."

I would much rather spent the night like this anyway. I didn't have an ounce of regret in my bones.

I propped my head on my hand. "Kade?"

"Mhm?"

"You told me there was a surprise. What is it?" I had forgotten about it as soon as he walked through the door.

I felt his chest rise and fall with his laughter. It was an angelic sound to my ears every time I heard it.

We both raised up in my bed to look at one another. "You never forget anything, huh?"

I shook my head. "Nope. Now, tell me."

Kade sighed as if he were unsure of his own words for a moment. "Well...every December, I go to Grandma Jacky's for a couple of days. Since she's older, and shouldn't be traveling too much, I go there. I was talking to her about it the other night and..." I was shocked at his fearful expression. "I asked her if I could bring you. If your dad will allow it."

I tried to stop myself from bouncing off the bed. I wasn't too sure why he would even consider that I would say no. I was sure that my dad would say yes, but either way, my answer was a confirmed hell yes.

My smile was huge. "Of course I will. I think my dad will let me. He trusts the both of us enough I'm sure. I would love to come."Kade looked as if a huge weight was lifted off his chest.

"Do you think grandma Jacky will be okay with me staying?" I asked.

He chuckled, "She said that she was going to ask me to bring you anyway. Not ask, demand. The damn woman cursed me out when I said that you might say no."

I laughed. I'd only met her once back at Thanksgiving, but that woman was one not to be reckoned with for sure. I couldn't wait to see her again.

"Besides, we're not going to be staying in her house. There's a little piece of property she had built for me when I needed to get away. We'll be staying there." His eyes gleamed with mischief at the thought of us being alone. The thought pleased me more than I could describe.

My head tilted as another thought passed. "Why did you think I wouldn't want to come with you?"

Like before, I saw his chest move as he inhaled. Except this time, it was a sharp breath. One full with so much uncertainty.

"I..." was all he could muster before his head fell. I watched him closely for anything I could decipher into an answer.

"I don't know." For some reason, his response was agonizing for the both of us.

The room was silent. I contemplated turning off the light, and trying again tomorrow. There was no rush.

I wasn't too sure how much time passed between this and that. Neither one of us made a move until I began to ready for the lamp.

"Actually yes I do," he said in a voice so small, so scared. "Yes, I do." This time, his words were sure and firm.

Before I had time to question it, Kade pulled me away from the light, and placed himself on top of me. The sudden move had my eyes wide with confusion.

"Kimberly."

"Kade?"

"I'm not sure if what the hell I'm about to say to you makes any sense, but I'm going to say it," he stated. "Please just listen."

I nodded. I didn't care what he said as he long as he said it.

His breath was shaky as he stared into my eyes. I could feel both of our hearts pounding against one another's.

"I spoke to Aunt Caylee a couple of days ago. It was the night after we got Pyper. I called her because I felt like my heart was going to fucking explode. Seeing you happy makes me so happy. Being with you makes me so fucking happy. God, even your voice could make me fall to my knees. And, that scared the shit out of me. I was so scared that I was going to wake up and it all be a cruel joke. I was scared the universe was playing some sick joke on me and that you weren't real." His hands released mine and for a moment, I was afraid he was going to walk away.

"My aunt came over, and sat with me until I calmed down. But, this time...thus time I wasn't angry. I was scared. She told me that nothing was wrong with me. She told me that she thinks I love you. Love." He sighed, chuckling. "Goddamn it, that word. That painful fucking word. Every time I saw it, or even heard about it, I felt my blood boil with anger. Because I was robbed of the opportunity to understand it. To process it. To experience it. And, the first time that I actually had it, it was taken away from me." His voice dipped over the last statement before he continued.

"She made me write down everything I like about you. About us. I wrote until the pen was out of ink. By the time I was finished, I felt...so peaceful. For the first time in a long time, the world went quiet. My mind went quiet. All of those things I wrote, all of the things I've done, I've said, I feel. It made me realize something."

He paused to hold his forehead to mine. The simple gesture was so small but so subtle.

"I love you, Kimberly. With every fucking ounce of power in my body. I don't feel the need to shy away from that word anymore. If anything, I want to run toward it. I don't feel angry about the robbed opportunity anymore. Because without it, I think, I wouldn't know of what not to do. I wouldn't be able to appreciate every breath, every laugh, every moment with you. I feel grateful that I've been able to give it and will continue to give it to you. You've taught me to love. To accept love. To appreciate and grow it. I'm in love with you, Kimberly. I'm so incredibly in love with you."

I'm in love with you.

I haven't even realized tears were spilling from my eyes until I felt his lips against my cheek. My body was trembling against his, too shocked to pronounce anything close to words.

"Please say something," his words leaked desperation. "Anything."

There were so many things to say. So many things to do. But, physically, all I could say was the truth. The most naked, beautiful, and raw truth I have ever admitted aloud.

My lips lifted into the largest of smiles as I uttered the most truthful thing I'd ever said, "I love you, Kade."


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