Seducing Kaden (The Kennedy Boys Book 6)

by Siobhan Davis

  “She must’ve had her hands full when you were all little. You’re so close in age.”

  He shrugs, holding my hand more tightly. “She wasn’t around much growing up. She traveled a lot for business, and Dad was the main parent.” He makes a noise, and it sounds bitter. “And he isn’t even my dad.” Kade had previously explained the situation, and I know it’s all still raw for him, especially now they’ve discovered Kyler also isn’t James’s son.

  “He’s your dad in all the ways that matter,” I quietly supply, believing whole-heartedly that the blood flowing through your veins doesn’t automatically qualify anyone for parenthood. How you interact with and care for your children is the only important thing. Letting them know they are loved, listening to them, helping them understand their fears and concerns, encouraging and fostering independence, and guiding them as they make their own way in this world. Or, at least, those are the things I believe are important. The things I was largely denied during my own youth.

  Anyone can make a baby, but that doesn’t mean they are a parent in the ways that count.

  Look at my own mother.

  His chest heaves, and my heart aches for him. “I know you’re right, and I was just coming to terms with it when the latest bombshell was dropped, and now I’m fucking furious all over again.” He shakes his head. “I’m so worried about Kyler and …” He trails off, pulling me to a halt and enfolding me in his arms. “We’re not going to do this. Not this weekend. This weekend is about you and me.”

  I rub my hands up and down his arms. “I don’t mind. If you need to talk about it, then talk.” He kisses the tip of my nose, and it’s a sweet gesture. “I’m always here if you need to get stuff off your chest.”

  He kisses me softly, and I find myself falling deeper and deeper with every glide of his lips. When we stop kissing, I let my head rest naturally against his chest, while his arms hold me close. “I know that, and you’re the only one I’ve spoken to about it, besides my brothers.”

  “You will deal with it, in your own time, and things will work themselves out.” I try to reassure him. “I know I haven’t met your family, but I can tell you’re all close, and I know how much family means to you. It will right itself in time.”

  “I hope you’re right, because things are pretty messed up with my family, and my parents are on the verge of divorce, and everyone is struggling to deal with this stuff.” He presses a kiss to the top of my head. “I hate feeling like life is spiraling out of control, but that’s what it feels like at the minute.”

  I squeeze him tighter, wishing I could remove his uncertainty and his pain. “At least you have your brothers, and they have you. Take comfort in that fact.”

  I had no one growing up, and, at times, I felt like the loneliest girl in the universe.

  “I know, and we’re lucky we have each other. I may want to throttle them on occasions, but I know they’ve always got my back, like they know I’ve always got theirs.”

  I leave him on the beach a couple of minutes later to head back to the house to grab a tie for my hair. The wind keeps tossing it all over my face, and it’s driving me freaking insane, but I don’t want to cut our walk short because I can’t see over the hair hat I’m wearing.

  When I return a couple of minutes later, I spot Kaden talking to two girls a bit farther along the beach. I hang back, not sure who they are or what he might have told them about why he’s here. I sneak sly glances at them, hating how my chest flutters at the sight of the girls’ obvious flirting. Not that I can blame them. Kaden is hot, and a great guy, and I’m guessing he’s never short of offers. An ugly, twisty sensation floods my belly, accelerating as I watch the pretty blonde put her hand on Kaden’s arm, moving in closer to him. He reacts immediately, removing her hand and taking a step back. Glancing over his shoulder, he spots me, and his body locks up.

  I look away, tightness slicing across my chest as a sense of helplessness overtakes me. I don’t know why I do it, because Kade hasn’t done anything wrong, but I retrace my steps, making my way back to the house, running the last few yards when I hear the pounding of his feet chasing after me.

  “Eva! Wait!” he calls as I dart into the house. A few sneaky tears are rolling down my face, and I swipe at them, angry and confused. Kade catches up to me, snagging me at the waist and lifting me up into his arms.

  “Put me down, Kaden.” I’m horrified when my voice shudders. It’s like I’ve returned to my teenage self, and I don’t understand the conflicting emotions running riot throughout me.

  “Not until you listen to me. Nothing happened.”

  My arms go around his neck of their own accord. “I know it didn’t. That’s not why I’m upset.”

  He plonks down on the couch, keeping a firm hold of me so I can’t escape. I wriggle in his lap, resting my head on his shoulder and sighing. “I’m being stupid. Ignore me.”

  He smooths a hand up and down my back. “Leann and I go way back,” he starts explaining. “Her family owns the house three doors down, and we spent a lot of summers hanging out with them. She has four younger sisters, I had six younger brothers, so you can imagine how messy it got when we were teens. I fooled around with her a few times, but it was always casual, it meant nothing to either of us, and I haven’t been with her in years. I told her I was here alone to study, and she took that up the wrong way.”

  He nudges my head up, studying my eyes. “When she hit on me, I told her straight up I had a girlfriend, and she backed off. It’s not what it looked like, I swear.” It’s sweet that he looks worried, and I hate that I’m acting like a lovesick teenager.

  “Did you sleep with her?” The words are out before I can stop them, and I want to punt kick myself in my lady parts. What the hell has gotten into me?

  He tries to stifle his amused smile, but he fails. “You’re adorable when you’re jealous.” I scowl at him, and he laughs. “And, no, I never had sex with Leann.”

  Relief floods me, and I’m back to questioning my sanity. “God, Kade. I’m so sorry. This is embarrassing, and you have every right to talk to whomever you want without me getting jealous.”

  “I like that you’re jealous,” he admits, rubbing his thumb against my bottom lip. “It shows you care.”

  “It shows how crazy and immature I am.” I shake my head, and then his words properly sink in. “Do you doubt I care about you?”

  He shrugs, trying to look unaffected when he speaks, but I see the truth and the vulnerability behind the words and his gaze. “Not really, but I’m wondering why and how long it’ll take you to wise up and realize you don’t need me in your life.”

  Part of me is fucking furious that he thinks that, but another, bigger part of me understands it. I cup his face. “Trust me, Kaden, when I say I need you, more than you could ever realize, and you have no idea how much happiness you bring into my life.”

  “You mean that?” he whispers, and, for the first time, his youth and his vulnerability shine through.

  “Yes. I don’t know what this is or where it’s going, but right here, right now, you are the most important person in my life, and I care about you. Deeply.” I suspect my feelings run way deeper, but I’m not prepared to admit that to myself, let alone him, but the incident on the beach has raised the ugly truth to the surface, and I’m not sure I can contain it any longer.

  My presence in Kaden’s life stops him from leading a normal existence.

  Stops him from being with girls his own age, girls who are available and come without baggage, and, for the first time, what we’re doing feels completely selfish and very wrong.

  I try to shake those thoughts aside and enjoy the rest of the weekend, because I want this one weekend to feel carefree, to enjoy being with a wonderful guy who rocks my world, but that dose of reality has done a real number on me, and I don’t know what to do with all these confusing emotions. Or, I do, but I’
m not ready to accept it yet, so I try my best to push them aside and cherish the rest of my time with Kaden.

  We head to his golf course Sunday morning, and, thankfully, the driving range is very quiet. I’ve never hit a golf ball before in my life, and I’m sure I’m about to embarrass myself. Kade is remarkably patient as he explains the basics of golf to me, praising my swing and calling me a natural despite how many times I actually fail to even connect the club with the ball. But he’s a great teacher, and soon I’m even managing to hit a few shots.

  We eat a delicious lunch in the clubhouse before heading back to the house to pack up our stuff. I shoot a lingering look at the gorgeous property as we pull away in the taxi, my heart heavy with the acknowledgment that I most likely won’t ever be here again.

  “Do you regret coming away with me?” he asks as we wait in the departures lounge a while later, waiting for our flight to be called.

  Looking around quickly, I lace my hand in his and nuzzle his side. “Not at all. I had a great time.”

  He scrutinizes my face. “Don’t lie to me, Eva.” His Adam’s apple jumps in his throat. “You haven’t been yourself since I ran into Leann on the beach.”

  I guess I wasn’t so successful at hiding the turmoil inside my head, and I figure I owe him some honesty. “You should be with someone like Leann, Kade. Someone who is free to love you the way you deserve to be loved.”

  A muscle spasms in his jaw. “I don’t want to be with Leann. I don’t fucking love her. I love you.”

  Shock splays across my face, and he misunderstands my reaction, pulling away from me and shoving his hands in his pockets. He leans his head against the high glass window, avoiding making eye contact with me.

  “Kade.” I cautiously approach him. “You can’t love me,” I whisper softly. “I’m not a free agent.” I wish I was, and I wish I could tell him I love him too, because I’m fairly certain that’s what I’m feeling.

  “You can get a divorce,” he murmurs, looking sheepishly at me.

  This isn’t the first time he’s brought this up, and it pains me to see the subtle hope in his eyes. “I can’t.” I shake my head, and a blanket of sadness covers me.

  “I see.” He grits his teeth, his jaw clenching, and all hope dies in his eyes.

  A flash of red in the corner of my eye briefly captures my attention, and I glance over Kade’s shoulder. Everything turns to ice inside me as I instantly recognize the woman in the expensive red coat and the tall dark-haired man standing beside her.

  “Oh my God,” I rasp, quickly turning my back to them.

  “What?” Kade is alerted to my panicked tone, placing his hand on my shoulder.

  I fling his hand off. “Don’t touch me!” I back away from him. “And you need to stay away from me,” I whisper-add. “I’ve just spotted a colleague of my husband’s and his wife.”

  Kade emits a string of colorful expletives. “Did they see you?”

  “I don’t think so … I don’t know.”

  “Okay. Stay calm,” he whispers from a couple feet away. He’s staring out the window, making it look like he’s not talking to me. “I’ll leave and wait by the plane. I’ll have a member of staff call you when the pilot is ready for takeoff, and she’ll escort you inside.”

  I subtly nod. “Thank you.”

  When Kaden leaves, I walk to the farthest side of the room, doing my best to make myself inconspicuous. When the commercial flight to Boston is called and the man and his wife leave, I release the breath I’d been holding, but the tight knots in my stomach and in my chest remain, and they are still there when we land in New York an hour later.

  We were both quiet on the flight back, and I’m guessing Kade’s rethinking everything the same way I am.

  Setting out on Friday, I had high hopes for this weekend, but as I return to my house, to my marital bed, I force myself to face some hard facts.

  Staring this affair with Kaden was selfish and dangerous. Kaden doesn’t need to be saddled with someone like me, and the longer I prolong this affair, the more I risk ruining his life.

  He deserves to find a good woman who is free to love him.

  A woman who doesn’t selfishly take what she wants, knowing it can lead to nowhere but trouble.

  A woman who doesn’t place the only man she’s ever loved in harm’s way.

  As the saying goes, if you love someone, you should set them free.

  And as I break Kaden’s heart the following week, telling him we can’t do this anymore, lying and saying the relationship has run its course, I hope I’m strong enough to do the right thing—to let him live his life without me holding him back.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Present Day

  Kaden

  “Are you sure about this, Eva?” I ask her one final time, stretching above her on the bed and holding my naked body still.

  “Yes.” She maneuvers herself underneath me, reaching around and tracing a hand up and down my spine. Pleasurable shivers course through me. “Make love to me, Kade.”

  All my restraint is gone, and I, carefully, press my body to hers, planting my mouth against her tempting lips. I take my time, worshiping her mouth, before snaking a trail of kisses along her jaw, her neck, and down lower. I taste every inch of her silky, smooth skin, reveling in all the breathy little moans she emits as I flick my tongue against the hardened peaks of her nipples, gently sucking her ample breasts into my mouth. My body urges me to go faster, but I deliberately hold myself back. One, she’s hurting, and I want to be as gentle with her as possible, and two, this is the first time in almost two years that I’ve had the woman I love underneath me, and I intend to savor every second of it.

  I tease her supple flesh with my tongue and my hands as I move lower and lower. Nudging her legs apart at the thighs, I blow across her hot flesh, and she trembles. Slowly, I insert two fingers inside her, moving gently in and out.

  “Faster, Kade,” she murmurs, arching her back and writhing on the bed.

  I pump my fingers faster, and my cock strains with unadulterated desire as my patience dies and pure need takes control. I suck on her clit, persistently lapping at that sensitive bundle of nerves while continuing to tease her pussy with my fingers. When she explodes on my face, she is screaming and crying out my name, and I can’t wait a minute longer. I soak up every last cry, every whimper, and then I’m reaching for my nightstand, grabbing a condom and rolling it on.

  Eva stares up at me, and I love that I’ve put that flushed, sated look on her face. “My God,” she moans. “You are too damn good at that.”

  I send her an arrogant grin as I line my cock up to her entrance. “There is no such thing as too good when it comes to sex.” I rub my hard cock up and down her slit, teasing both of us.

  “Kade.” Her voice contains a mix of pleading and warning.

  I peer into her eyes, pinning her with a serious look. “Are you still okay with this?”

  Her answer is a sharp slap to my butt. “If you back out now, I will scream from the top of my lungs in frustration.”

  Grinning, I push inside her, very slowly, inch by inch, and she gasps. “I won’t ever leave you frustrated. That’s just not my style.” I lean down, capturing her mouth in a searing hot kiss. “I love you,” I whisper, nuzzling the sensitive spot just under her ear. “I love you so much.”

  “Kade!” She groans as I start moving quicker, in and out, pistoning my hips and pushing all the way to the hilt. “I love you too.”

  And those are the last words spoken for a very long time.

  “I’ll have to leave soon,” Eva says, drawing circles on my bare chest as she snuggles in closer to my side. “But I don’t know how I can. I never want to leave this bed. Leave you.”

  “Then don’t.” The words fly out of my mouth, even if we both know the way it has to be.

  She sits up
, flattening her palms on my chest and staring at me for so long I wonder if she’s in a bit of a daze. Biting her lip in that sexy way of hers, she leans in closer to me. “I want to say yes, Kade, and I’d give everything up to run away with you, but I can’t be that selfish. Your brother is right. I can’t take you away from your family and everything that’s important to you here. I just can’t do it.”

  I sit upright, pulling her into my lap and wrapping my arms around her waist. We’re both still naked, and strategically aligned in the best way, but I force all greedy sexual thoughts aside and focus on the words coming out of my mouth. “We talked about this before. I’m not asking you to make decisions for me, just like I’m not asking to make the decision for you. I’ve already thought about this, Eva, and you mean more to me than anyone or anything in this world. I want to do this because I can’t live my life without you in it, and that’s our only choice right now. But I’m hoping it won’t always be like that. That we’ll have more options in the future.”

  “And what if we don’t? Are you happy to never see your family again?”

  Maybe I’m more of a glass-half-full kinda guy, but I don’t see that happening. I’m confident I’ll find a way to make this work, that this will only be temporary, but I don’t want to articulate that, because the reality is I don’t know how this is going to end. And I’ve already considered all scenarios. As fucking horrible as it is to think I may not ever see my family again, I’m prepared for that.

  Eva means that much to me.

  “I wouldn’t be happy, no, but I’m prepared to accept that,” I reply coolly. “If it means I get to have you, then it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.”

  She looks torn. Tears pool in her eyes, but I can’t tell if they’re happy or sad ones. “I can’t ask you to sacrifice everything for me.”

  I shake my head, touching her face. “You haven’t asked me. I’m telling you that’s what I’m prepared to do for you. You need to consider whether you’re prepared to do that for me.” I press a kiss to the back of her hand. “All you have to decide is whether you can leave everything behind and run away with me. If you are prepared to face the consequences of that decision for you personally. Feeling guilty about my decision has no bearing on yours, or it shouldn’t, and vice versa.”