“You said you couldn’t access the photographs you have of them,” he murmured. “What did you mean by that?”
My eyes slid away to study his headboard. My words were barely audible. “It’s complicated.”
He waited a beat, then guessed, “Your uncle?”
Damn.
He was too astute for his own good. (And certainly too astute formygood.)
“He wasn’t a nice man.” I forced out the words in a torrent, eager to get this over with. “He was very controlling, in all aspects of my life, until I left at fifteen. He wanted me under his thumb financially, physically, emotionally. And he’d use any tools at his disposal to make that happen. Including holding my memories of my dead parents hostage.”
Cade’s jaw tightened. “Physically?”
Of course he’d fixate on that part. “Cade?—”
“He beat you? That fucking bastardbeatyou? The man who was supposed to be your guardian?”
Sometimes.
When I wasn’t cooperative.
When I embarrassed him.
When I pushed back.
I didn’t tell that to Cade. His expression was like thunder already. I wasn’t about to make it worse.
“He mostly just restricted where I went,” I said instead. “What I did. Who I saw.”
“That’s no better.”
“Cade—”
“What else did that fucker do to you?”
“That’s really all there is to it,” I lied, blowing out a breath. “All right? It’s not something I want to talk about. Not ever, but especially not tonight, which has been as close to perfect as I can ever remember. Is it too much to ask that we don’t ruin it by talking about the man who singlehandedly destroyed my childhood?”
I’d gone tense as I spoke — my jaw locking tight, my hands curling into fists, my head turning away to create as much space as I could manage without physically tearing myself from his arms. Cade’s hands were unbearably tender as he turned my face back to his, so I could no longer escape him.
“I doubt very much that’s all there is to it, beautiful,” he said softly. His gaze was brimming with understanding and sympathy instead of the rage that I’d seen there only moments before. “But since you’re here in my arms, and you just admitted you think this night has been perfect, I won’t push.”
“I saidcloseto perfect,” I corrected, just to be obstinate.
“Yeah.” He was smiling as he kissed me. “I’m choosing to see that as a challenge.”
His hands began to move down my body as he deepened the kiss. I was already astride him, but I pressed closer. As close as I could get. My nipples hardened as my bare breasts dragged against his chest. I could feel his cock swelling between us, its length heavy and thick against my stomach. Despite the four orgasms I’d already had tonight, I was suddenly eager for another.
Until his phone started buzzing on the bedside table.
“Christ,” Cade groaned. “Not now…”
His hands splayed across my naked hips and he moved me sideways, off his body. I made a breathy sound of protest as I hit the mattress. He chuckled, tweaking my hardened nipple playfully.
“Sorry, beautiful. That’s my work phone. I’m off duty tonight. It wouldn’t be ringing if it weren’t an emergency.”
I sat up abruptly. “What sort of emergency?”
“Could be anything. Home invasion, carjacking, mugging, DUI…” His brows were pulled into a furrow as his eyes raced across the illuminated phone screen. The look on his face morphed from annoyed to alert.