Victoria
“Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down your long hair!” Kade whisper yells from down in the yard.
I giggle as I walk over to the railing of the deck.
“Your such a nerd!” I whisper yell back looking down at him
“ So? You're going to make me use the stairs?” He whisper yells back.
“Get your ass up here!” I laugh walking back to the porch swing.
He soon appears at the edge of the deck. He's got a 6 pack of my favorite beer and a bag of his homegrown weed for me in his hands.
“How could you climb my hair if your hands are full?” I ask shaking my head as he takes a seat next to me.
“Ha, I guess I would of had to get creative.” He laughs cracking open two beers handing me one.
We sit in silence, enjoying the cold beer, sharing a joint while we watch the stars.
“So, today was, eventful” he comments passing me the joint.
“That's one way to put it.” I say before hitting it.
“Are you ok? Keith didn't get under your skin, did he?" Concern lacing his voice.
“Keith's a little b***h. Ive delt with him forever. He doesn't bother me. I just wish he would go away. Since the day I met him Ive regretted it. He's always caused me so many problems."
"Yeah I never liked the guy either. Even back in high school he was a little punk. Luke and I used to say he was adopted."
"I always thought the same thing! So
are you going to tell me what he said that made Jude punch him?”
“You know I won't lie to you. I don't necessarily want to tell you what he said though.”
“That bad??”
“He deserved more than that punch to the face.”
“Kade, just tell me”
“Alright, cliff notes??”
“Sure.”
“He basically said it's time for you to accept he's your husband now.”
“Well that's not news. He told me that was what was going to happen if Luke was ever out of the way, at our wedding! Those words actually left his mouth at the reception of our wedding.”
“He mentioned by force if needed”
Kade looks down, his fist clenching so tight.
“Yeah, I've heard that too.”
I place my hand over his fist, feeling it relax under my touch. I'm still fairly confident that Kade doesn't know what happened the night I met Keith, but I know Jude does.
“I'll kill him before he can even share the same air as you.” Kade vows, intertwining our fingers.
“I know. You're my knight in shining armor.” I confess to him, laying my head on his shoulder.
He really has been my hero this past year. Even when I didn't want his help. He was there, silently waiting for me to cave and accept it. He even goes out of his way everyday to physically check on me and the kids. That started when I stubbornly told him over the phone everything was fine. Even though my bathtub was overflowing because Callie had stood on the faucet and broke it and the water wouldn't turn off. He only found out because Nikki, that trader, texted him asking for help. Kade of course came right over and had it fixed so fast. It was so hot to watch him fix it too. Mmmm those jeans. He just has this calm controlled air about him. You just know it's going to be OK because Kade is handling it. It's addicting in the best way. Unfortunately I'm not looking for a man to take care of me. I need to take care of myself. I need to rediscover myself. Maybe Someday, but I can't expect him to wait for that. I know he'll try, but I don't know how long it'll be before I'm ready for anything serious. Though it is very appealing. Tempting as f**k. That's what Kade is, pure temptation. He would take care of me in all the ways and make it seem easy. Gracefully stepping in and taking it all on, just for me. For just me he'd take on every aspect of my life, the kids, the kitchen, the food truck, the house, all the baggage I carry. I know he'd take it with that handsome smirk and no regrets. And honestly it's just scary as s**t to me. So I resist. I made myself a promise, many years ago in one of the darkest times of my marriage. I won't break it. That promise got me through so much bullshit. Luke was as awful as he was wonderful. I loved him with all my heart, no matter how many times he ripped it out and danced on it. I won't do another relationship, I won't give another man that power over me. No, I don't think Kade is that type of man, I didn't think he would hurt me. But a promise is a promise and I need to find me, I didn't even know who I am besides Luke's widow. Do you know what it's like when someone asks you about your favorite things or what you like to do and the only responses you can come up with are your husbands answers. When you realize you don't have a favorite movie or a favorite food, you just watch and eat what your husband watches and eats. Luke taught me many things, and honestly most of it was against my will at the time. But since he's been gone, I'm glad he taught me how to install a new bathroom faucet and how to install shocks on the Mustang. But I need to get to know me. For a long time I didn't even feel like my own person. I think that's more heartbreaking than anything else that I've been through. I never lied to Kade or led him on. He knows a relationship isn't going to happen, I didn't even give him a speck of hope that someday I would be ready. I made it perfectly clear that we could not be more than what we are. Doesn't mean I can't take full advantage of his willingness to f**k my brains out, or thank him for all his help in special toe curling ways.
Kade chuckles into his beer bottle before finishing it off.
Looking down at me as he sets the bottle on the table, “oh yeah? Does the nobel Knight get a kiss from the fair maiden?"
“Don't be stupid.” I whisper before putting my lips to his.
Kade immediately responds to my kiss, his finger twist into my hair as his deepens the kiss. Kissing Kade is like being struck by lightning. I feel the electricity shoot through my whole body from his lips. Every nerve is awakened. Everywhere his hands touch is set on fire.
Kade picked me up, holding me tight to his body so our kiss is never broken and headed inside, taking us to my bed.
He throws me on the mattress and strips himself completely naked. I giggle as he stares at me. He always does this.
"Beautiful" he whispers, before grabbing my ankles and dragging me to the edge of the bed. I sit up and meet his lips as he leans down and grabs the rope of my robe. He yanks it hard and my robe falls open. I learned quickly not to bother with sexy underwear for him. He just rips it off and destroys it. He always replaced them though. I just decided what's the point. My legs and stomach have beautiful works of art on them. Kade is an amazing artist and he did all of my tattoos. Well except one. Luke was covered in tattoos but never allowed me to get one. He said it would ruin my soft skin. So a few months after he died I asked Kade to give me a tattoo. Of course he agreed and began drawing one up for me. Once he started we couldnt stop. Their beautiful though and I love every single one. Also just for the record, my skin is still just as soft.