FOR THE NEXT THREE WEEKS, our bodies are incapable of staying apart. We fuck and love our way through the early hours of the morning where we only get up to pee or to eat our food, brought by Gemma and left outside the door. The rest of our existence is played out on the king sized bed in the room without caring about anything or anyone in the world.

The breaking news came the day after Kade arrived that night.

The Madison County Massacre.

Eight out of twenty-one people who has been killed are well-known personalities in both media and business industry. But the shock and grief of the masses soon halted when multiple boxes filled of images and documents were dropped anonymously in front of City Halls that prove their years of involvement in illegal acts and sexual trafficking of children. It resulted to massive protests and public condemnation that the President himself had to give an urgent statement.

I had fears that the police will track down and arrest Kade but he assures me that they will never find out. Last week, I brought up the topic about my mother and asked Kade what he had plan to do with her. Everybody had to pay for their sins, and I had prepared myself to grieve for the woman who gave birth to me. But when he told me that he will let the government do their damn job for once, I couldn't help but feel relieved. Yesterday, the results came out and she was sentenced to twelve years of imprisonment. Last night, I told Kade that I would like to visit her before she got transferred and I'm glad when he agreed to bring me to her this weekend.

Today, I'm not surprised when I wake up sore all over. I am careful not to roll onto my back, afraid it will be tender but when I sit up, I wince, tender in other, more intimate places.

Kade is gone. His pillow is cold. And on the nightstand is a fresh bouquet of orange tulips, and a note telling me he hopes I'm feeling better and to come find him downstairs.

I roll my eyes. I can just imagine his smug face as he wrote this. He knew just how sore I would be after what he did last night. But then I remember how he held me. How gentle he was when I scratched bloody lines down his chest. Then again, maybe he deserved that considering what he's done to my skin.

I get up and walk into the bathroom to look at the mark. Several angry red marks on my neck down to the swell of my breasts. Turning my back to the mirror, I crane my neck to see the reflection and gasp. There are a lot in my back too. Sighing, I leave it alone, took a shower before wrapping a towel around myself and walk back into the bedroom. Then dress in a pair of shorts and loose-fitting top.

Grabbing my phone from the nightstand, I exit the room and head downstairs. There's some indistinct chatter coming from the kitchen and my curiosity peaked.

"This is a bad idea. I can't believe I let you talk me into this," a man grumbled.

Someone chuckle. A woman.

My steps falter a little.

Aside from Gemma, Silas and Vince, I haven't met anyone else since I arrived. I know there are also few helpers who clean the house but I rarely see them and they mostly stay in the background.

"I don't care. I have grandfather's permission." was her reply.

I walk into the kitchen to find two people sitting on the counter. I stilled.

The man is tall, like Kade, with chesnut man-bun, light brown skin, sparkling blue eyes and an easy smile. Despite being similar in height, this man was more of a pretty boy and Kade rougher, rugged features and radiates a strange, collected calmness that's incredibly menacing.

"Oh I take it back. It's good that we came." he said as he straighten from his seat and grins at me.

I feel my face flush and look away, embarrassed.

"Right." The woman answered in deadpan and my gaze snaps to her. She threw a cool glance over her toned shoulder and raised one eyebrow.

She's extremely pretty, with cool, almost translucent skin, endless legs and curves that went on forever. I figured standing next to her made me look like a poor excuse for a teenager. She had short, blonde hair cut in a stylish cut, and her eyes were the color of ocean, a little slanted and inviting, while mine were light green and wide. She oozed sex appeal—I barely looked legal.

She place down her drink and walked a few steps towards me. "I'm Valerie."

We shook hands, Valerie applying enough force to break a bone or two in my fingers as she scanned me like I was a contagious disease. It didn't get pass me that she just mentioned her name and not who she was in Kade's life.

"Pleasure," I lied, a toothy smile frozen on my face. "I'm Ayla."

"So I've heard." She dropped my hand like it was made of shards of glass before crossing her arms over her chest.

"I'm Declan. The best friend." The man stepped forward and offer his hand, grinning. It seems genuine so I smile back.

"So you're the one," his eyes glittered in amusement.

"I'm sorry?"

"The one who has my brother tied up in knots," he says. "I'm happy to finally meet you."

My heart skips a beat.

Then I watch as his eyes widen as he took in my appearance. "Oh fuck me. Kade really mauled you, doesn't he?"

It took me two seconds to realize what he meant before I scrambled to move my hair and try to hide the marks in my neck. I feel my cheeks burn in embarrassment and I don't have to lift my head to see Valerie glaring down at me.

I'm about to excuse myself when the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. A flush covers my skin from my cheeks all the way down my chest underneath my clothes. Something familiar races down my spine and I feel it over my skin, and straight into my insides.

I turn my head to see Kade standing in the entrance of the side door. I sucked in a breath. I don't think they notice, but his presence filled the kitchen, consuming oxygen, awareness...space.

He had his phone against his ear and I watch as his possessive gaze sweeps over my face and stops on my parted lips.

My entire body reacted: nipples hardened, mouth parted. I tried to stop it, but I couldn't

ignore the connection.

It's only been a few hours. Damn it.

"Got it." He said before ending the call.

Declan and Valerie swung their heads towards him, finally noticing his presence.

"Kade," Declan says warmly then puts his arm around my shoulder and pulls me close. "I finally met your girl."

I swallowed hard.

His gaze holds mine then settles on the arm Declan has around my shoulder. If looks could kill Declan would be toast. But he meets his best friend's gaze without fear.

I stilled, watching him move closer. He wore a black shirt with its sleeves rolled up to his elbows that showcased his tattoos and hard veins in his forearms, tailored jeans and matching dark shoes. His dark blonde hair, impossibly thick and ridiculously touchable, slicked back casually.

His face is perfectly composed but I can tell there is something savage brewing underneath. His hot stare finds mine and the look he gives me is one of pure ownership. Kade stops when we're only few inches apart and gently pulls me away from Declan's hold.

The latter smirks at him.

Kade smells musky and fresh like a hint of cologne and soap. It's heady and intoxicating that I can't help but lean in.

He reaches a hand for me and grips a stray hair strands between his fingers and takes his sweet time to tuck it behind my ear.

Bending over, he whispers in the words to my ear, "Still sore?"

Oh, God.

I couldn't stop a blush from forming at my thoughts. Images flashed in my mind of us on the bed, in the home bar, on this kitchen counter. Yep. I bobbed my head in a nod.

His left eye twitches, but he remains as immovable as a rock. "Hmmm."

Then he drapes a possessive hand around my waist before facing the other people in the room. I tried not to dwell too much on Valerie's cool gaze. At least Declan is smiling.

"I already called the staff to prepare your room. You'll stay in Lincoln." Kade said.

Valerie's forehead wrinkled into a frown, as she kept her eyes trained on Kade. "Not gonna happen."

My lips purse. She's staying? Sorry, who is she again?

Kade's body tensed.

"Valerie." he said in warning.

"You have more than a dozen rooms here, I don't need to stay in your hotel. I'm sure she wouldn't mind, right?"

Her gaze turn to me as she asked and my body immediately stilled. There was a angry hum of my blood buzzed in my ears and I pressed my lips between my teeth, trying not to launch at this woman like a cornered animal.

What in the ever living hell is her problem?

"I told her you wouldn't like it, man." Declan holds up his hands in mock surrender. "Your sister is damn stubborn."

My eyes widen.

"Foster," Valerie corrects him, "Foster Sister."

She was looking at me as she says it, as if taunting me not to mistake their relationship. A thorn twisted in my heart, jealousy filling my chest.

Kade's shoulders turn rigid as he says in a monotone tone, "I don't have time for this."

"So am I." She answered haughtily before brushing pass us. "I'll be in the west wing."

Even after she disappeared, I can still feel the suffocating tension in the air.

"I need to tell you something before I go." Declan said after a moment. The playful expression from earlier completely disappears.

"I'll make coffee." I said in a light tone, trying to dissipate the tension and pull away from Kade's hold.

"I'll meet you in my office." I heard him tell Declan and the latter stepped out of the kitchen without another word.

I went to the sink and reached for the mug before looking down at the espresso machine. I barely get to figure out how to use it when suddenly I was picked up and sat on top of the counter. Squealing, I hold on to his shoulders with both hands. "W-what are you doing, Kade?"

He pulled my legs apart and settles himself between them before pressing his body against mine. The bulge on his front is unmistakable and I held my breath. He stared at me intently for a few heartbeats. His eyes is searching for something. I didn't know what it was, but I wanted him to find it in them. My stare dropped to his lips and I gulped. I could almost taste them.

"She's no one." his voice was smooth and casual.

"I didn't ask." I bit out, hoping I sounded just as calm as he was.

He reaches a finger and traces it along my lower lip. "So how come you're pouting?"

My brows furrow. "I wasn't."

"Liar," He flattens his thumb on my lower lip. "You wear your heart on your sleeve, Butterfly."

I swear my heart jumped out of its cavities at Kade's husky, low words.

"Was I too rough last night?" he asked under his breath.

A shiver rolled down my spine, sending electricity to the rest of my body and exploding in my lower stomach.

Kade pressed his lips to mine, kissing me slow and long—teasing this time—before moving away and watching me through narrowed predator eyes.

I nodded. My mouth seem unable to form any words at the moment. He ducked his head down again for another kiss, and sucked on my tongue hungrily. I'm in that phase where there's no air and no other thoughts but him and his lips. His firm, yet soft lips.

His body crashes into mine, pulling me to grind into his erection, all his hard lines mould into my soft curves. My hands find refuge on both his sides and I moan into his mouth. His callused thumb dragged from my neck to my collarbone and before I knew it, he kneaded my right breast through my clothes while sucking on my tongue.

Kade suddenly breaks away, breathing harshly, and grunts against the corner of my mouth.

"I'll take you out this evening."

My lips part, unable to breathe properly, let alone speak.

He drops a gentle kiss on my nose. "I have a meeting I need to attend today. I'll have Silas drive you to the place. Okay?"

My chest flutters with excitement. "Okay."