Silence.
It was silent. And I was alone.
I took a deep, painful breath, then let it out in a long aching exhale. I got up from my bed and put my hair up in a messy bun, deciding to have a shower. I walked into the hallway and grabbed a towel from the airing cupboard, revelling in its fluffy warmth before padding back towards my room.
Just before I closed the bathroom door I could have sworn I heard a car pull up my drive, but I took no notice, shaking my head and thinking it was my imagination. I placed the towel on the side and reached to turn on the shower but stopped when a gentle tapping resounded from downstairs. I frowned, going completely still and listening again. If it was my aunt she could just let herself in, unless she’d forgotten her keys.
The tapping started again, louder this time and I left the bathroom, trudging down the stairs convinced that she had forgotten her keys. With a sigh, I opened the door only to be greeted by the person I least expected.
Kane stood outside my porch, the rain beating down on him vigorously, his sweatshirt clinging to every muscle and dent on his chest, his hair glistening with raindrops, his eyes dark and deep, boring into mine with such an intensity my knees felt weak.
“Kane,” I breathed, my voice thick with surprise “W—what are you . . . ?” I couldn't finish the sentence. I was too breathless.
He ran his hand through his dripping hair and sighed, a few raindrops falling off his thick red lips.
“I can't . . . we both know that whenever I speak, I just . . . mess it up, so . . .” his voice was low and deep and I revelled in the sound that had been missing from my ears for so long. Too long.
I couldn't speak yet. I could hardly breathe, and my eyes were impossibly wide, greedily drinking in the exquisite sight of a wet Kane Richards. I could almost feel his warmth, and my body was shrieking to be touched by him, my heart hammering in my chest.
I was still speechless and he sighed again, fumbling in his jeans pocket for something whilst muttering a few curses under his breath.
“Just . . . I just, was wondering . . . I know I need to . . . Damn,” he said exasperated at himself. I couldn't help but breathe a laugh at his discomfort. He snapped his head up to look at me, and I saw his face relax and his eyes warm as he listened to my light chuckle before he blinked and seemed to focus again.
“Umm . . . I know that, uh . . .” He sighed and shook his head, thrusting a crumpled, sopping wet card in my hands. I turned it over and read the smudged address on it, frowning in confusion.
“Suranne,” Kane murmured, stepping closer as rain continued to drop from his hair and lips. He brought his shaky hands up to cup my face and a sigh escaped my lips at his touch. My eyes closed briefly, not ever wanting him to leave. His scent, coupled with the steam from the rain, swirled around me and took the breath from my lungs.
“Meet me here,” he breathed gently, his face a few inches from mine. “Please? Just . . . meet me here, tonight.”
I opened my eyes and glanced down at the dripping card but didn't recognise the address. I sighed and closed my eyes again. It seemed that I was always following Kane wherever he wanted me to; I was always going to him.
I knew I always would.
“OK,” I whispered and I heard him breathe out a huge sigh of relief.
“Really?” he asked, his eyes wide with excitement, a lopsided grin on his face.
I nodded and gave a weak smile in return.
“Thank you,” he breathed and closed his eyes before turning away and jogging back to his car. I watched him drive off in disbelief. Now that his presence was gone I couldn't help but feel angry. Angry that I had agreed to see him so quickly and hadn't asked him about Kate. Angry that whenever I was around him my body reacted in crazy and frightening ways.
Angry that, even though I was angry, I was going to meet him, regardless.
I frowned down at the card; he hadn't told me when to meet him, but I smiled when I saw a faded and smudged 9 p.m. written in blue ink on the back.
I took a deep breath and turned around, closing the door.
I really needed that shower.
***
I clasped my hands tightly together as I sat in the back of the taxi; my nerves were taut, stretched as far as they would go. I was frustrated that Kane hadn't given me any details. I didn't know whether to dress casual or smart, so I’d opted for a mixture of both. I was wearing black trousers and a white button down-shirt that reached midthigh, and a thick, black fitted belt at the waist. I put my hair up but left a few strands curled around my shoulder and neck and wore simple hoop earrings and minimal makeup.
I watched the traffic through the window until it became a blurry mixture of colours and as we pulled up to the building, my heart beat wildly in my chest.
The building was . . . Huge.
I wondered if it was a hotel of some sort; if so, it must be one of those really flashy ones with eighteen floors and exquisite furniture.
I paid and thanked the taxi driver, walked into the building, and stood in the foyer uncomfortably. As I busily drank in my surroundings, I heard a throat clearing behind me and turned around to the intoxication of Kane's cologne. It wrapped around me and sank in deeply as I breathed. I let my gaze drift over him and felt my body react instantly. His upper body was leaning against the wall, he was holding a black suit jacket over his shoulder with one hand, and his other was in his dark jeans pocket. He was wearing a crisp white button-down shirt. And was that a black tie hanging loosely around his neck? His hair was neatly spiked at the front and he had his usual stud earring in his ear.
Words seriously couldn't describe how good he looked at that moment in time.
“Hey,” I breathed weakly, my eyes still roaming over his ridiculously magnetic form. Kane gave a warm smile, and pushed himself off the wall, walking slowly towards me. He moved a loose curl that was on my neck behind my ear and focused deeply on my face.
“Hey,” he replied, his eyes bright with contained excitement. “Come with me.”
He grabbed my hand and led me to a large arched doorway with ornate carvings on the arch and around the edges of the doors.
“We've missed dinner, but we can always get some after. But this . . .” he trailed off and pushed open the door. I gasped in response.
It was a hall of some kind, with dimmed lights and jazz music filling the room, played by a band situated on a large stage. The walls were a gentle shade of red and to the right were various round tables, their white linen cloths glowing from the single candles situated in the center of each one. A few people were seated at the tables, laughing and interacting with each other.
But the main event was happening in the middle of the hall. Couples were dancing, seemingly consumed by the soft music that echoed off the walls and trilled into their ears.
I looked up at Kane with an expression of utter disbelief. He gave me the crooked grin and I felt myself shudder in response.
“What is this place?” I asked quietly as my eyes followed the people mingling and swaying on the dance floor.
“The building itself,” Kane started whilst moving me forward with his hand on the small of my back, “is my father’s.” I saw him nod his head to a few people as we walked past. I smiled at them politely.
“And this . . . ” He gestured to the dance floor, “this is the annual ball. It used to be held in November on my dad's request, but when he died, they changed it to the end of April, in remembrance of his death.”
I felt my jaw go slack at his words, shocked and a little bit touched that so many people would attend an event in remembrance of someone. I suppose it made sense, if this was Kane's father’s building. These people must have been his colleagues.
Kane looked down at me and gave me a sad smile. “We used to go every year when my Dad was alive, but when he died, we just . . . couldn't. This is the first time I've been here in three years.” He sighed and shook his head regretfully. “He was a great guy.”
I smile
d up at him warmly and lightly touched his arm. “I wish I could have met him. From the looks of it, he was very popular,” I said, once again looking around at the hall filled with laughter and gentle music.
Kane chuckled and nodded at me. “He was too popular for his own good. He had chicks digging him from left, right, and centre,” he laughed.
“Like father, like son,” I muttered dryly as Kane led me to the middle of the hall. I felt myself grimace as images of him hugging Kate came back to me. Kane sighed and looked down at me.
“Yeah . . . you're right. Like father, like son,” he confirmed and I glared at him, not finding his comment funny, but he just smirked and wrapped his arms around my waist. “Because,” he ducked his head down to whisper in my ear, “although he had women wanting him from every direction, his heart belonged to someone else completely, Suranne. And that someone for me . . . is you.”
He unbuttoned my coat and pushed it off my shoulders and I gazed up at him breathlessly. I saw his eyes darken as my skintight shirt was exposed, and he threw the coat, along with his suit jacket, on the nearest chair, then wrapped his arms tightly around my waist.
My head was spinning from confusion, but as I started to question him, the music died down and the main singer grabbed the mic.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Once again, welcome to the Daniel Richards Thirteenth Annual Ball. We suggest you grab ahold of that one person you love right now and don't let them go throughout the duration of our next song. Hope you enjoy and we wish you a great evening.”
I looked up at Kane and smiled as the song started playing through the large speakers. I watched as his chocolate-brown eyes glimmered in the dimmed lights and candles as he gazed warmly down at me. He held on to me more tightly and kissed my forehead, whispering there, “Listen to the lyrics, Suranne.”
As the introduction to the song wound down, the man standing on the stage started singing deeply into the mic:
“When I . . . Had you, I treated you bad, and wrong, my dear.”
The backup singers harmonised his words, along with the bass player, and I closed my eyes as Kane started to sway us gently to the song, which I recognised.
“And girl, since . . . Since you've went away, don't you know I . . Sit around . . . With my head, hanging down, and I wonder . . . Who's loving you,”
I rested my head against his chest and he placed his chin atop of it as we swayed softly from side to side. I felt lost to the music, completely blocking out the other couples filling the hall around us. My chest constricted painfully as the song carried on:
“I . . . I . . . I . . . I should have never . . . ever . . . ever made you cry, and girl since . . . Since you've been gone, don't you know I . . . sit around, with my head . . . hanging down. And I wonder . . . Who's loving you.
“Life without love, ha . . . It's ooh, so lonely . . . I don't think, I don't think I'm gonna make it. All my life, all my life, yeah, I've been lost to you only . . .
“Come on and take it, girl . . .
Come on and take it girl, because all, All I can do... All I can do, since you've been gone, is cry.” I felt myself laugh softly and looked up at Kane questioningly, to which he smirked as his eyes burned into mine
“Alright, I didn't cry, but I was close,” Kane murmured through his smile and I giggled softly, shaking my head at him as we continued to move gently. The song wove itself back to the chorus and I sighed, staring up at Kane, completely lost in the burning force of his gaze. I watched him take a deep breath and close his eyes before he leaned down and rested his forehead against mine.
And then he opened his eyes.
And it was there.
I felt the pressure in my chest expand as my heart did a double take. I let out a raspy breath as my eyes locked with his.
His eyes blazed and swirled with the one thing I had been desperate for over these past weeks. They blazed with love.
I smiled up at him, and a happy, relieved sob escaped my chest. Kane smiled back and lifted his hand to brush away the tears that now slid down my cheeks.
“Suranne . . . ” he whispered softly, his eyes piercing right through me into the depths of my heart.
“I love you.”
The words pushed me off the edge and I closed my eyes and locked my arms around his neck, my tears sinking into his fresh white shirt. The song wound down to an end as Kane wrapped his arms tightly around my waist and crushed me to him.
“I love you, too,” I choked into his shoulder, feeling his chest rumble as he chuckled into my ear.
***
I sighed contently, leaning back against Kane's chest. We were sitting at one of the tables in the corner of the hall. He had lined two chairs up and propped his back up against one whilst his legs rested on the other and I sat on his lap. The music continued to pulse through the room and the dance floor was crowded. I watched as couples twirled and swayed whilst Kane played with my hair softly.
“Kane?” Throughout all of this, there was one thing that had still been bothering me.
“Mmm?” He brought his head down and pressed his lips to my temple softly. I swallowed heavily, “Why were you hugging Kate in the parking lot today?” I blurted and held my breath, waiting for his answer.
“To say thank you,” he replied simply as he nuzzled my neck and I resisted the urge to moan as his tongue darted out against my skin.
“Why?” I asked breathlessly, my mind becoming incoherent as he continued his assault.
“She forced me to realise the truth, Suranne. If it weren’t for her pushing me to admit that it was only fear stopping me from coming to you, I still wouldn't be here.”
I sighed in relief and melted against his chest as he carried on kissing down my neck. He started slowly brushing his hands along my arms and this time I couldn't contain the shiver that rippled through me at the feel of his touch. Again.
I squirmed against his lap and smirked when I felt a certain something straining against my lower back. Kane groaned and bit my ear lobe.
“You know, I think all of me missed you,” he whispered hoarsely, his words causing desire to shoot through my body.
“I can see that,” I murmured as his hands gripped my hips and pushed me back against him. “Maybe you should take me home.” Kane stopped his movements and I turned around in his lap only to see a frown and a hurt expression on his face.
“You wanna go home?” he asked softly, and I realised that he thought I wanted to go home alone.
I leaned forward and gripped his tie, using it to pull him towards me, “Well of course I wanna go home,” I smirked as confusion crossed his face.
“My aunt’s away and I do believe you've got three weeks to make up for.” I tilted my head and smiled sweetly at him as understanding and lust flashed in his eyes. He grabbed my face and pushed his lips against mine, kissing me passionately before I pulled away.
“Take me home Kane,” I gasped. “Now.”
He grinned and kissed me chastely on the lips.
“Did I tell you that I love you?”
34. A FIRE REIGNITED
Kane
“Damn, Suranne,” I hissed, fighting the urge to close my eyes.
We were in my car; I was driving as quickly as possible without getting us killed. She was leaning over the console kissing my neck, and she had just placed her hand over my crotch.
I needed to get her home. Fast.
I groaned and gripped the steering wheel more tightly as her hand made a small circling motion. If she kept this up I’d be having her in the damn car.
“I need you so bad, Kane,” I heard her whimper and . . . Christ. After three weeks of having no action whatsoever, then suddenly having, well, this, I was seriously about to lose it.
“Jesus,” I muttered, because she couldn’t just say that to me right now. “You can’t say that to me right now, baby. Christ, I’m half tempted to just pull the hell over and put the back seats down.”
She breathed a husky giggl
e right in my ear and I groaned again, pushing my foot down a bit further, because damn, why weren’t we there already?
I breathed a sigh of relief once we reached her drive, but with the state I was in, it came out more like a rough grunt, and Suranne just chuckled in my ear again. I threw open my door and jogged around to her side, opening her door and grabbing her hand, snatching her out of the car. I shut the door and pushed her up against it. Hard.
My mouth instantly connected with her neck and I groaned again, because it had been too long since I last tasted her skin. I carried on licking and nipping her skin lightly as her breathing became labored and choppy. Two can play that game.
Cupping her face in my hands I kissed her with all the feeling I could muster. At a time like this I should really be gentle and soft, doing the whole ‘making love’ thing, but right now, I was too excited for slow and gentle.
I needed to feel her. Now.
She tentatively caressed my tongue with her own, sweeping it silkily around mine, and I reveled in her sweet taste. Everything about her drove me crazy. I pulled away and gazed into her wide gray eyes that shone with fiery lust. Her cheeks were tinted a soft pink and her lips were parted and full and just made me want to kiss her all the damn time. I brushed my lips against hers, softly feeling the intense feelings in my chest bubble and churn, just like they had when I was in the parking lot today and when I was dancing with her tonight.
As the bubble in my chest rose intensely, I felt the unspoken words flashing in my head, twisting around my tongue. It was like there was nothing I could do to stop them. I didn’t want to stop them.
“I love you,” I breathed against her lips, trailing them along her jaw and down the creamy tight skin of her neck and over her collarbone.
“I love you, too,” she gasped, her head thrown back and her heavy breathing pushing her chest against mine. I groaned at hearing her say the words and was shocked how they only turned me on even more.
Kane Richards Must Die Page 17
