I’ve always known saying goodbye to Golden Cove would be tough.
I knew I’d miss our little group… but I guess I failed to realize just how sad the thought of never seeing my friends again would make me.
Tonight’s been great.
Full of laughter, music, booze, and promises to get together at least once a year.
I’d love nothing more than to believe we’ll keep that promise, but I also know better than to expect our busy schedules to align once we go our separate ways.
It’s past 2:00 a.m., but the party doesn’t look like it’s going to run out of steam anytime soon.
The guys are all drunk from playing beer pong—well, all of them except Kane, who’s been drinking water—and the girls and I have been breaking our backs playing limbo and drinking every time we fail, which is often.
It takes me another forty-five minutes to admit that I’ve reached my limit. I tell the girls to continue without me and head for one of the beach towels laid out in front of the fire.
I’d be lying if I said Kane treating me like a stranger didn’t put a damper on my mood earlier, but I had no intention of letting him ruin my night.
In a way, he did me a favor. Now I know where he stands. From this moment on, I’m done assuming we’re together. He doesn’t want to tell people about us? Fine.
But I won’t sit around waiting for him to grow a pair. As far as I’m concerned, I’m a single woman.
I guide my water bottle to my lips, taking a long sip and watching the guys try to pull off trick shots.
Oh, and remember when I said the guys were drunk?
I was wrong.
Vince and Scar may be drunk, but Cal is wasted. He can barely hold himself up.
I’ve just remembered the weird text he sent me earlier, asking me if I was going to the bonfire, when he notices me sitting alone.
I shoot him a polite smile, expecting him to resume his beer pong game, but he doesn’t, telling the guys something I can’t hear and heading straight for me.
I barely have a chance to register what’s happening before he’s plopping down on the towel next to me.
“Hey, stranger.” Cal gives me a lazy smirk, his breath reeking of alcohol.
Discomfort scampers down my spine. We haven’t really talked since the night I told him we weren’t going to work out. I know it was a hot minute ago, and his flirty demeanor is most likely the result of alcohol, but this feels so awkward I want to put a few hundred miles between us.
“Why are you sitting all by yourself?” He nudges me with his elbow.
“Water break.” I gesture to my water bottle with a forced smile.
“Boring. Who drinks water at a party?” Cal teases, scooting way too close to me.
At first, I play it off like him crowding my personal space doesn’t bother me.
But then he rests his hand on my thigh.
Nope, I can’t.
“On second thought, I’m going to get another drink.” I push to my feet, practically racing to the cooler sitting in the sand a few feet away.
Cal doesn’t take the hint, rising off the towel and following after me. “I’ll come with you.”
Great.
I throw the cooler open under Cal’s scrutiny, begin digging through it, and grab a can at random.
Cal proceeds to get himself another beer, and I can’t seem to keep my concern to myself. “You sure you want another one? You’ve already had a lot. Maybe too much.”
But it’s no use. He’s already twisting the cap off and throwing the beer bottle back.
“On the contrary.” He wipes his mouth with his hand. “I’ve had just enough. Otherwise, I’d never have the guts to tell you this.”
I don’t like the sound of that at all.
“Tell me what?”
He flashes a lopsided smirk as he stumbles closer. “How much I like you.”
Oh, dear Lord.
Don’t tell me I’m going to have to reject this guy twice in one summer.
I cringe. “Cal…”
“I know, I know. You’re not looking to date right now, but summer will be over soon, and I… I just feel like this could be something great, and we haven’t given it a fair shot.”
My gaze darts to the guys gathered around the beer pong table. They’re listening to every word, not even bothering to hide it. I can only see Kane’s back from where I am, but his fists are rolled into tight balls, a clear sign that he’s not happy about what he’s hearing.
“You said it yourself. Summer will be over soon. Why would you tell me this right as we’re about to leave?”
“Because I’d hate myself if I left without at least telling you how I feel. You and I… we have a connection. Now, I’m not saying it would be easy, but Chapel Hill’s not that far from Boone, and I—”
“Stop.” I chew down on my bottom lip. God, I hate that he’s making me say this. I hate that I didn’t just tell him I wasn’t into him instead of making up an excuse about not being ready for a relationship after we went out.
I can understand why he’d think there may be hope for us, but damn is he putting me in an uncomfortable situation.
“I made myself clear before. I’m not looking for anything.”
His voice is packed with frustration. “But why? Why won’t you give me a fucking chance? You’re single, I’m single. We just make sense.”
I open my mouth to argue, but nothing comes out.
“She’s not single.”
Cue the heart attack.
I spin, my jaw dropping when I come face-to-face with the boy who treated me like a secret just a few hours ago.
I meet Kane’s stare, the stern, bone-chilling expression on his face stealing my breath. He’s so pissed I’m surprised he’s not ripping Cal’s head off with his teeth.
I don’t have time to think up a response before Kane presses his chest to my back and wraps an arm around my waist from behind.
He’s holding me so tight you’d think he’s trying to cement our bodies together.
“What the fuck?” Cal screeches, stumbling backward and nearly tripping over thin air.
The corner of Kane’s mouth twitches. “You heard me, fuckhead. She’s not single.”
Speechless, I glance around the beach. The girls have stopped playing limbo, witnessing the scene along with the rest of the group.
I attempt to move out of Kane’s hold, but he makes a noise deep in his throat and holds me tighter as if to say, Don’t even think about it.
“Wait… are you two…” Vince’s voice captures my attention, and I look to my right to see him and Scar closing in on us, shadowed by Shay, Drea, and Jamie.
Cal blinks at us in shock. “How long?”
“Officially? Since the fair,” Kane says matter-of-factly.
I can’t believe this is happening.
I don’t know what was keeping him from telling everyone about us before, but it’s clear his reluctance went flying out the window the moment he saw Cal hitting on me.
Cal’s features twist with anger. “So, what you said? About not being in a good place to date? None of it was true?”
I don’t reply, but my silence speaks volume.
“You’re so full of shit, Hadley.”
Yes, I lied to Cal.
But I only did it so that I wouldn’t hurt his feelings.
Jesus Christ, we only went out once. Why is he making me feel like I cheated on him for ten years?
“You couldn’t just tell me you weren’t interested? You had to fuck my friend behind my back and make me look like a fucking idiot?”
That’s Kane’s snapping point. “Look, man, I get that you’re wasted and all, but disrespect her like that again and I’m going to shove that beer so far up your ass you’ll be choking on glass for a month.”
I have no doubt he means it, but Cal scoffs, calling his bluff.
“You two-faced piece of shit. You’re no better. You knew I liked her, and you went for her anyway.”
Kane releases my waist, stepping between Cal and me. “I went for her anyway? You went on like one date. You’re blowing shit way out of proportion.”
Cal’s bloodshot eyes land on me, and he tumbles closer to Kane, letting out a slurred “I’m just glad Gray’s not here to see what a fucking slut his sister’s become.”
A succession of gasps ricochets around the beach.
And Kane decks Cal in the face so hard I hear something crack.
At first, I think Kane broke Cal’s nose, but then I realize…
That noise came from Kane’s hand.
He was still wearing his rings when he threw that punch, and his fingers absorbed a good portion of the blow. I don’t know if he fractured his hand or if it’s just bruised, but that sounded painful as hell.
Jamie drops to her knees next to her brother. Cal’s lower lip is busted, blood pouring from his mouth and staining his front teeth. Jamie’s eyes flick to mine, and guilt crashes into me like a semitruck.
This is not how I wanted our last night together to go.
“I’m so sorr—” I don’t get a chance to properly apologize before Kane traps my hand in his and drags me away from the bonfire. He doesn’t stop until our friends are all but tiny dots in the distance.
“What the hell are you doing?” I call as we’re charging up the wooden stairs leading to the beach house.
He’s fuming, his jaw and shoulders noticeably tight. It’s as though he’s in some sort of anger trance. Not even two seconds after we’ve reached the top, he makes a beeline for the pool house.
The next thing I know, he’s shoved me inside and followed in after me.
I assess my surroundings. It’s been ages since I was in here. The lights are out, but the space is just bright enough for me to discern two changing rooms, a shower, and a seating area that transforms into a storage bench for pooling equipment. The place is surprisingly big, considering how small it looks from the outside.
“You didn’t deny it,” Kane damn near growls at me the second he slams the door.
“Are you okay?” I reach for his hand, needing to see the damage for myself, but he doesn’t let me inspect his injury.
He flings his arm out of my reach, making it clear that his busted knuckles are the least of his concerns. “He said you were single, and you didn’t fucking deny it.”
My worry morphs into annoyance. “You’re one to talk. You looked right through me earlier. Not very boyfriendly of you.”
He inhales a sharp breath through his nose.
“You’re right, I fucked up. But me fucking up doesn’t mean we’re not together. We are. We’ve been together, and we’re going to fucking stay together. You should know that by now.”
My heart flutters at the confirmation.
“How the hell was I supposed to? We haven’t had the conversation yet. For all I knew, we weren’t exclusive.”
He lets out a dark chuckle, the sound traveling to my core and covering my forearms with goose bumps.
He cocks an eyebrow. “We weren’t exclusive?”
I open my mouth to answer, but my body being pushed against the wall behind me drains the air from my lungs.
Kane anchors me into place, staring me dead in the eyes as he says, “What part of me punching Cal in the fucking face says not exclusive to you?”
I start to talk back, but Kane doesn’t allow it, crushing his lips to mine without a moment’s hesitation.
“What part of me begging on my fucking knees when you weren’t texting me back says we’re not together?”
One of his hands comes up to wrap around my throat, the other diving into my hair and drawing me in for another kiss. A fierce fusion of fire and electricity ignites between our joined lips, and I grip his shirt like he’s a lifeline and my only chance at staying afloat.
“Every part of you is mine, Hadley Queen. Every. Last. Part.”
I let out a yelp when he spins me around like a rag doll, the front of my body hitting the wall with a thud. Kane’s chest comes flush with my back, his growing cock prodding my ass.
He brings his mouth to my ear. “The noises you make when you come…” His free hand snakes beneath my shirt. “…the freckles on your tits…” He takes a handful of my breast inside my bra. “…that drenched little cunt.”
He doesn’t miss a beat, slipping his arm between my body and the wall. His hand slides inside my leggings and underwear in a single move, a deep noise sounding in his throat as he whispers, “All mine.”
He locates my clit almost immediately, the pad of his finger grazing the sensitive nub until I’m arching into his hand.
“We were written in the fucking stars, Hadley. You were born to belong to me.” Kane buries his nose in the crook of my neck, inhaling my scent before squeezing a finger inside me. “And even if you didn’t… I’d still be yours.”
His finger thrusts deeper, and my head falls back, coming to rest on his shoulder.
“Tell me you belong to me.”
I’m still mad at him.
At least, my brain is.
My body, however…
A whimper escapes my mouth. “I belong to you.”
He groans at my obedience. “Body and soul, baby.”
He withdraws his finger completely, ignoring my protests as he drops to his knees.
“Kane.” His name doesn’t sound like the plea it really is, coming out as a question. He’s yanking my leggings and panties down my legs before I can blink.
“Spread those pretty lips for me,” he commands, and I know exactly what set of lips he’s referring to.
Sucking in a gust of air, I reach behind me and spread my ass cheeks and pussy, baring all of myself to him. His hand flies to my lower back, and he pushes me forward, forcing me to cling to the wall as he buries his face in my slit.
His mouth clamps down on my clit, drawing a shrill noise from my lips. My body contorts with pleasure, and I back up without realizing it, shoving my pussy so close to his face I’m scared I’ll suffocate him.
His oxygen levels seem to be the last thing on his mind as he sucks, licks, twirls, and nips at my clit with his teeth. He continues to taste and explore until he has my eyes closing involuntarily.
He pulls away for a short moment, and I hear him undo his zipper. Then he’s back between my thighs, slowly tracing his tongue along my folds, the sensations overwhelming me.
His right hand comes up to wrap around my ponytail, yanking on it and causing my body to arch away from the wall.
My hands abandon my ass cheeks, a decision that earns me a disapproving growl and a low “Did I tell you to let go?”
He clamps down on my clit harder, as if to punish me, and I slap my hands back into place, stretching my pussy for him again. I expect him to resume what he was doing, but he doesn’t, placing torturous kisses everywhere but on my clit.
My moans evolve into desperate pleas, and Kane’s dark laughter ripples against my core.
“What, baby?”
“Don’t stop.”
He doesn’t speak for long seconds, rising off the ground.
No explanation, nothing.
He moves closer, placing his mouth next to my earlobe. “One last thing.”
I hold my breath.
“The next time some loser asks you if you’re single, you better not fucking hesitate.”
Something warm settles between my legs.
Then he’s pushing his cock inside me.
“Kane!” I cry out.
“Fuuuck,” he agrees.
He wasn’t gentle about it.
Didn’t even give me a heads-up before entering me, but it doesn’t stop my clit from pulsating. I gasp when he inches forward, proving me wrong. He wasn’t even all the way in.
I try to adjust to his size, clawing at the wall and shifting around him.
“Hands on your ass, baby,” he orders, and I realize I’ve taken my hands off again.
I oblige, pulling myself open once more.
“Fuck, just like that. I want to see you swallow my cock.”
Another roll of his hips has my breasts connecting with the wall. Next thing I know, he’s fucking me into it without a fuck given about how loud we’re being. There’s something particularly dirty about holding my pussy open as he’s jamming himself inside me.
He retreats momentarily, only to thrust back in at full force. My eyes roll to the back of my head, the sound of my arousal and our bodies connecting filling the pool house.
Kane releases his hold on my ponytail, removing my hands from my ass himself and joining my arms together behind my back. One of his hands wraps around both of my wrists as he thrusts faster.
I gasp when my face meets something cold. I have zero wiggle room, my front flush with the wall while Kane drives his cock inside me over and over.
I’m convinced he couldn’t possibly take me any higher than this until he jerks my back to his chest, lacing one of his arms around my shoulders and over my breasts to keep me in place.
He lets go of my wrists, his free hand slipping toward my pussy. He starts rubbing me in quick, determined circles, reviving an orgasm I thought was long gone.
He’s got me on the edge faster than I thought possible.
My muscles tighten, my walls contracting around him.
“Fuck yes. Come all over this fucking cock.”
His encouragement is what does it.
My body gives in, the world around me disappearing into darkness. Blinding pleasure tears through me like a hurricane, and a primal scream rips from my throat.
“God, Hadley, you’re so… Fuck.” He pumps harder, pinching my clit between two of his fingers.
His hand flies to my throat, squeezing as he thrusts a few more times and finishes inside me.
Hearing is the first of my senses to flood back in, the sound of our labored breathing pervading the pool house.
We stay like this for a few minutes, the weight of reality creeping back in.
Kane doesn’t pull out right away, his lips grazing the side of my neck. He places a handful of kisses up and down my shoulder, the affectionate gesture liquefying my insides.
I flick my head back, catching his lips with mine.
We kiss for long minutes, barely separating long enough to draw air into our lungs. His words return to the forefront of my mind as he’s tracing the curve of my jaw with the tip of his index finger.
We were written in the fucking stars.
And I’ve never been one to believe in fate.
But for him…
I might.
