by Kym Grosso
She gave the door a shove, and it squeaked open. Thank God, Luca and Kade had thought to lock the place when they left. Not that she had too many valuables, but one couldn’t be too careful in the city. Scanning the room, she felt nauseated, taking sight of the dried blood. She dreaded straightening up the mess. The station had offered to pick up crime scene cleaning expenses since the incident had occurred while she was working a case. Not having the emotional strength to pick up even one broken vase, she decided right then and there that she’d hire a service to do it.
Ignoring the overthrown furniture, and bits of glass, Sydney strode down the hallway into the guest room, hauling out the largest travel bag she owned. She emptied her drawers, underwear, sweatpants, and t-shirts spilling into her luggage. Nothing like summing my life up in a suitcase. Instead of folding up clothes that were hanging in her closet, she grabbed them by the hangers and threw them onto the bed. Scooping up several pairs of shoes, she dumped them haphazardly into a duffel bag.
Rifling through her guest room chest, she gathered up any weapons Tristan had left and stowed them with her clothes…including her guns. Sydney’s skin pricked with discomfort being in this condo. Goddamn vampires. If she hadn’t insisted on working this case, nothing would have happened, and she could have gone about life not knowing all the evils that existed in the supernatural world. But she also wouldn’t have known love…desire…ecstasy…Kade.
She gathered a few treasured pictures of her family and friends, and looked around once again to see if there was anything else she wanted to take with her. Deciding that she’d packed enough, she collected her possessions and left her apartment. After making her way down to her car, she carefully laid her hanging clothes flat in the tiny trunk of her convertible and squeezed the large suitcase into the passenger seat. Tight fit, but it would have to work. Silently saying goodbye to her home of seven years, she took off toward the station.
The parking lot buzzed with activity as she parked her car. She checked twice to make sure it was locked, before she padded into the station. Waving hello to her fellow officers, she slumped into her chair and flipped on her laptop. Her plan was to bury herself in her work for the next few hours. She wanted to forget New Orleans for a little while; to forget evil vampires and mages, and most of all, to forget the ache that was burning a hole through her gut from missing Kade.
Hours later, after a mountain of paperwork, she sighed in exhaustion. She was startled as Tony slammed a cheesesteak down on her desk.
“Hey. What’s up? Thought you could use one of these. Now, I know they don’t have these babies down in the Big Easy.” He grinned.
“Oh. My. God.” Her mouth watered as the scent of fried onions and cheese teased her nostrils. She couldn’t wait to tear into it. “Thank you, Tony.”
“Yeah, I have been called a god by certain women. And funny you say so…women do usually like my ten inch…just not a steak sandwich.” He busted out laughing.
Sydney punched him in the arm. “Real nice, Tone. You're a smooth talker, you.” She bit down into the sandwich, letting the grease, soft bread and steak entice her senses. “Okay, Tony. Did I ever tell you how much I love you?” she grinned, wiping her mouth.
“Yeah baby. I know you want it.” He smiled, seeing that she was starting to get back to normal. “Hey, if I knew all you needed was a steak sandwich, I would have fed you last night.” He straightened in his chair, a serious expression washed over his face. “Seriously, Syd. You need something, I’m here. There's no going it alone. We all get pummeled down by this job every now and then. You and I both know it. I don’t know all what happened down there in New Orleans, but this is just a bump in the road. You’re tough. It’ll be all right.”
Sydney avoided the heavy conversation by nodding and stuffing her mouth full of steak and pickles. She wished lifting her spirits was as easy as eating a sandwich…although the cheesesteak was pretty damn good.
“Delivery!” The station secretary dropped a small Fed Ex envelope on her desk. Kade? She ripped open the package only to find a key and a small, engraved card. Tristan. The key and address to the rental property. Shoving away the rising disappointment, she fingered the black shiny key, which was attached to a copper Liberty Bell key chain. Only in Philly, she grinned to herself.
What was she thinking…that Kade would call her? Text her? Send her a card? She was the one who had up and left without saying goodbye…after making love, at that. Waves of guilt flooded her mind. Why did she do that to him? He said he loved her, wanted her to stay. Why wasn’t that enough for her? But he didn’t seem to really understand that she had responsibilities. She did recall him saying that they’d work out the details, but she’d been so freaking impatient as usual. She didn’t even try to talk to him. No, she just panicked, overwhelmed by emotions, and ran back to Philly. Shit. She needed to call him tonight and set things right. In the past twenty-four hours, she may not have cleared her mind entirely, but she knew one thing to be true, Kade was hers. She loved him. With each passing hour, her heart cried out for him as she yearned to be in his arms.
Rubbing the key, she shut down her laptop, deciding she couldn’t wait one more hour to call him. Once she got to her new place, she’d sit down, call him, apologize for leaving, and possibly beg for his forgiveness–okay, only if necessary–and figure out a way to make this work. Maybe she could get a job at the NOLA PD. Myriad thoughts and solutions swirled in her head. Before she lost her nerve, she needed to get out of the station and make the call.
Tapping Tony on the shoulder, not wanting to interrupt his phone call, she mouthed the words “thank you” and waved goodbye. Jumping into her convertible, she pulled the top down, cranked up the radio, and set the GPS to the address on the card. Her heart sang in joy knowing that it wouldn’t be long before she heard the loving tone of Kade’s voice again.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Sydney gasped at the sight of the newly built, Penn’s Landing riverfront condo building. Swanky. She could not believe Tristan would let her live in this place rent-free for a week or so, let alone the couple of months she’d initially planned on. She had a feeling she’d never want to leave, considering the incredible view of the river and city. Why wasn’t Tristan living in this fabulous location? She knew he dabbled in real estate, but had no idea that he owned a place down on the waterfront. She double checked the address before pulling her car into the valet parking.
“Excuse me, Miss,” A bellman approached her car and leaned forward, “but do you need assistance with your luggage?”
Sydney coughed, trying desperately to compose herself, hoping she was in the right place. “Uh…yes. I have some clothing in the trunk, a few bags. My friend, Tristan Livingston, is letting me stay in his condo for a while.”
“Of course, Miss. We’ve been expecting you. I’ll take your keys, park your car, and bring your things to you shortly.” Smiling, he opened her car door, gesturing for her to get out.
She gave him the keys, confidently striding toward the door where another bellman awaited her.
“Hello…I’m Sydney Willows. I….”
“Greetings, Miss Willows. My name is Bernard. Welcome to Riverfront Estates. As Fred indicated, we’ve been expecting you. Please follow me, and I will escort you home.”
Home? Sydney obediently followed Bernard, having no idea where she was going. It dawned on her that Tristan had failed to provide her with the condo number. She didn’t want to appear as if she didn’t belong, so she trusted that she’d figure it out from Bernard eventually. Standing in the elevator, Sydney noticed the numbers went up to forty floors. Nervously playing with the key, she tried to remember which button Bernard had pushed. The elevator was moving, but no numbers were illuminated.
As the elevator settled and the doors slid open, she saw a small foyer that led to a lone set of double doors.
“Your condo, Miss. Do you need me to open the door, or show you about? Your bags will be up in just a little bit via the
service elevator.”
“No thank you. Please, just leave my things in the hallway here. Seeing as this is the only condo on this floor, my things should be okay for a little while. I have a phone call to make, and it's important that I’m not interrupted. Thanks again.” She stepped into the vestibule and reached into her purse.
“Thank you, but please, no tips. This is your home now.” He waved as the elevator doors silently closed.
Finally alone, she blew out a deep breath. My God, this place was unbelievable. She could hardly wait to see the view of the river. Not knowing what floor she was on, she sensed she was up fairly high. She steadied the key, slid it into the lock and quickly opened the deadbolt. Secure door, very nice.
As Sydney clasped her palm around the door handle, she felt it. A warm, tingly sensation ran up her spine. Kade. What is he doing here? After everything she’d been through in the past week, she trusted her instincts enough to know that Kade was behind this door. Taking a deep breath, she tried desperately to gather her thoughts. What can I say to him? Take it easy Sydney…apologize…just pretend he’s on the end of the phone like you were planning. But he wasn’t on the phone in New Orleans. No, he was truly here in Philadelphia. In Tristan’s condo. Shit. Shit. Shit. Breathe, Sydney, breathe. Feeling as if she could use an oxygen mask, she sucked in a deep breath, turned the handle and pushed the door open.
Across the great room, she spied Kade, who gazed at the river, the muscular frame of his silhouette darkly carved against the incandescent moonlight. Sydney’s soul wrenched, begging her to go to him so she could lose herself in his embrace, but he was a dark, lethal predator who she'd wounded. She didn’t have the courage to seek what she needed from him. No, she would approach him cautiously, thoughtfully. She needed to make things right with him.
“Kade, I’m sorry.” Although he said nothing in response, as if he hadn’t heard her, she knew he had. He would make her come to him, and she’d willingly go.
Sydney cautiously approached, walking into an open space. Moonlight shone through the sun lights of the cathedral ceiling, illuminating the entire room. As she passed the kitchen, the black, pearly granite countertops and stainless steel appliances sparkled. She crept slowly toward Kade, noticing the condo was completely void of furniture, save for patio furniture on the enormous, outdoor terrace. A stray thought passed through her mind as she wondered why Tristan would send her to an unfurnished property, a minor issue compared to the menacing, aggravated vampire standing in front of her.
Sydney’s heels clicked softly on the hardwood floors. She extended her fingertips, letting them graze the hard planes of his back. Attraction did not begin to describe the intense desire that grew in her belly.
“Kade, please. What are you doing here?”
Kade silently waited as she came to him, sensing his prey ever closer. He could smell her desire. He fought the urge to ravage her right there on the floor, burying himself within her hot depths. But he needed to teach this stubborn, sexy woman a lesson she would not soon forget. She had run from him, not willing to discuss her emotions, her fears, or their life together. Not acceptable. No, she needed to learn that without a doubt they belonged together…forever. And that he loved her more than life itself, and was willing to do anything to keep her in his life. Not looking back at her, he took a deep breath, steeling himself for the conversation that would change his life.
“Ah, Sydney love, I am here…because this home is my home…our home.” He pivoted around, pulling her toward him, settling her body so that she also faced the river. Grasping her hands, he rested them on the cool terrace railing. The view of the river was magnificent. Lights twinkled from the boats and the bridge spanning the rushing water.
“Your home?” Sydney asked, her voice shaken. “Wait…what do you mean, our home? This is Tristan’s condo. He gave me a key. He's letting me stay here. Did Tristan tell you I was here?”
Snaking his hand around her waist, he pulled her into him so that their sides pressed against each other. At his demanding touch, he felt Sydney straighten, quivering as if electricity had run through her body. Every sensual cell in her body stood wide awake, ready to engage with him.
“Precisely what I meant.” Smiling at her response, Kade continued. “This is our home. I bought this property last night after you so very cleverly left New Orleans.” He turned her body so it was flush with his, hip to hip, their lips mere inches apart. She did not attempt to move away from him, allowing Kade to hold her tightly in his warm, muscular arms. His blue eyes pierced down into her soul as his lips tightened somberly. “You see, Sydney, you did not seem to quite understand what I meant when I said you are mine. I thought we established things in my office that fine day, but it appears you need another lesson.”
“Kade, I…I…I,” she stammered, her words caught in her throat.
“Don’t say a word, not one word.” He lifted a finger to her lips, silencing her excuses. “It’s my turn to talk, your turn to listen. I want to be clear…so very clear…that you never misunderstand me again. You are mine, I am yours. We are bonded. I love you, Sydney, not just this minute, not just today, not just this year, I love you forever. This means the next time you get upset or confused, you do not run out on me. Never again will you do that, understand? We, us…we work on things together from here on out. You lean on me. You share with me. We are one together, no longer on our own. Together and always we shall figure out this world.”
Kade smiled, twirling a strand of her hair with his finger.
“Now, before you say anything or even attempt to protest, I am going to tell you how this is going to work. Since you left me in New Orleans, instead of working together on answers to how we would make our relationship work, I took it upon myself to figure it out for us.”
“But Kade,” Sydney began, still trying to capture control over the situation. Something she was failing at miserably at the moment.
Kade jerked her closer into his body, grinding the hardness of his maleness into her belly. He leaned in close, almost touching her lips with his.
“Shhh. You really have trouble listening, don’t you, woman?”
A small giggle escaped Sydney’s lips, releasing a nervous energy.
Dominating her space, he parted her legs with his thigh. As her feminine scent called to him, he resisted the urge to take her right there and fuck her senseless. But he needed her to accept their future as it would be before he went any further.
“First, your career. I would never ask you to give up your job. You’ve worked hard to get where you are, and I’ll support you in whatever you decide. That being said, I will not let you rush foolishly into supernatural cases again…at least not without me. I took the liberty of speaking with the powers that be, and your police department has graciously agreed to lend you to my security forces as a consultant whenever I see fit. Therefore, you can work here in Philadelphia for months at a time, should you choose to do so, and then we can go back to New Orleans and work down there for however long we need to remain. Your city is close to New York, and I frequently have business there, so this location is advantageous for me as well. We will live in both locations.”
Sydney was about to interrupt, but she chewed her lip instead. Sensing her imminent interruption attempt, Kade raised an eyebrow at her, challenging her to disobey his earlier request to let him finish speaking.
“Secondly, you shall drink a scant amount of my blood…just often enough so that you do not age or become ill. In doing so, we can be together throughout eternity. I am quite sure that I’ll be doing enough worrying about your safety due to the nature of your job. I certainly don’t need to worry about you getting sick from human diseases. Likewise, I’ll drink from you whenever possible, as I want no other woman for my sustenance. I am quite sure that you would agree to this point, given you would not want me with another woman, especially given the erotic, intimate nature of feeding.”
Kade stopped speaking for a minute, drinking in the si
lence of the night. The crux of his argument rested solely upon point number three. He sighed, hoping he would say all the right words so she finally understood how very much she meant to him.
“Third, and most importantly, I love you, Miss Willows. When I asked you to move in with me and stay in New Orleans…let’s just say, I do not take commitment lightly. I told you before that there have been few women in my long lifetime who I have considered a lover, but there has been no woman that I have ever considered a soul mate. Or a wife…until now.” Kade pressed his forehead to Sydney’s. He desired so deeply to make love with her, but he wanted her head clear of the throes of sexual passion so she never doubted his intentions…or her answer.
Tears ran down her face as he withdrew a small, blue and white box from his pocket. “You, Sydney…you came into my life unexpectedly. You are a stubborn woman, infuriating at times. A woman filled with a heart of courage so large…well, what can I say? Even though you feel fear, you continue to fight in the name of justice, giving everything you have…willing to give your life to save others. Blood, sweat, tears. Then there is the soft side of you…my woman…my lover: caring, sexy, beautiful. I am simply enchanted by you. More importantly, I love you. I want to be with you forever. I want you to be my wife. Marry me, Sydney.”
Kade opened the small box, offering his gift to his bride-to-be. An enormous, princess-cut diamond sparkled in the moonlight.
“Yes, I would be honored to become your wife,” Sydney cried.
As Kade slipped the ring on her finger, a tear ran down her face. Feeling guilty for how she’d run out on him, she pulled out of his embrace, but did not release his hands. “Kade, I'm so sorry I left without telling you. I was just so overwhelmed. You have to understand. I never thought I could love someone, let alone as much as I love you. I was scared. Worried about my job and the children’s center. So when you asked me to move…I just panicked. It was wrong, and I am really, really sorry for hurting you. Please forgive me?” she purred.
