Kade felt a pinch in his chest that was simultaneously pleasant and painful.
He really was resigned to it—to the fact that they had to hide their relationship, that Arden wasn’t someone who’d be comfortable showing affection to him in public. He was prepared to endure it all because he didn’t want to make demands on him. He was content to receive whatever Arden was willing to give and not ask for anything more. Not out loud, anyway.
And like Arden said, he was happy enough to just give way to whatever he needed and wanted.
It was unexpected how good it felt to be given something he wanted but couldn’t ask for. It showed that he was really being loved just as much.
At the same time, it hurt to know that he was paying Arden’s sincerity back with deception.
“Kade?” Arden called when the
