CHAPTER 8

Asha

Before I could reply, Kade appeared from her behind, his eyes red and piercing. His gaze landed on Caroline before moving to mine.

"Can someone tell me what's going on here," he asked, his voice husky."

"Ask your little chic." Caroline smirked, her eyes rolled as she made her way to the door.

I stood there. I opened my mouth to talk but said nothing. Though I had much to say and ask, I could not.

Kade's words still rang in my heart.

"I don't want anyone but you in this bed."

He hadn't said I love you. But it was the closest thing to it. And that terrified me more than I could admit.

He lay behind me that night, his breath warm against my shoulder, arms wrapped around my waist like he was afraid I'd disappear. The silence between us wasn't cold. It pulsed. Like a heartbeat. Like something neither of us wanted to break.

I didn't sleep.

Not really.

My mind played loops of Caroline's voice—sharp, sugar-laced insults, calling me replaceable. But Kade's hands, the way he touched me like I was the only thing anchoring him to this world, screamed the opposite.

And yet… I still didn't know what I was to him.

The next evening, he handed me a black silk gown.

"Wear this, we are going out for a party," he said, stepping behind me. "No underwear."

I arched a brow at him through the mirror.

"No panties?" I asked.

He smirked, brushing my hair over my shoulder before sliding the zipper up with slow, deliberate fingers.

"Trust me."

Those two words should've been simple. But the way he said them made my stomach tighten. Every nerve in my body wanted to believe him.

The car smelled like leather and desire with a light music playing underground. I kept my gaze on Kade as he drove the car, my mind full of unasked questions.

He didn't speak much. Just rested his hand on my thigh, fingers itching under the slit of my dress. My body felt like it was being wound tight before we had even arrived at the party. 

"Kade," I said softly as I watched his jaw tense.

He didn't respond.

Didn't look at me.

But his hand inched higher, making me flinched at his touch.

~~~~~

The party was some kind of exclusive dinner for investors—clean-cut men with tight smiles, perfectly groomed women who looked like they'd been trained to purr approval.

And then there was me.

No title. No introduction. Just a girl in black silk on the arm of a man who owned the room.

They stared. Whispers followed us like perfume.

"Who is she?"

"New one?"

"Cute, but temporary."

I didn't react. I didn't have to.

Kade leaned in low beside me, hand still placed innocently on my lower back.

"You hear them?"

I nodded slightly.

He grinned, but his eyes showed no sign of happiness. "Don't listen to them."

The dinner was torture in the prettiest way.

Long polished table. Crystal glasses. Heavy conversation I couldn't keep up with about mergers, overseas deals, and projections. That was expected of them though.

And Kade—stoic, commanding, effortlessly charming shined throughout the room with his contagious smile.

Everything was going fine until I felt a strange movement. It was Kade. His hand had slid under the table.

I froze. Unsure of what was going on. Before I could ask him anything, his fingers found the inside of my thigh. Then higher until it got to my pussy.

My breath caught, but he kept talking to the man across from him about asset portfolios like nothing was happening.

But I was unraveling.

My breathing grew shallow. My nails bit into the edge of my chair.

I tried to shift, to close my legs.

He didn't let me.

His fingers traced, circled, teased, before inserting it into my pussy. I bit the inside of my cheek so hard I tasted blood. But he didn't stop, instead he kept stroking and thrusting in and out without making it obvious. Then it occured to me, this was the reason why he said no underwear. 

I wanted to moan.

Cry.

Beg.

Instead, I gripped my wine glass and pretended to sip as my world shrank to the pressure of his hand between my legs.

The lady next to me inquired gently, "You okay?"

I nodded, eyes burning.

Kade didn't look at me. But he leaned closer and murmured, "Don"t say anything. Take it."

And I did.

I let him push me right to the edge, helpless under his control while everyone else laughed, toasted, talked.

By the time dessert arrived, my whole body trembled under the table. 

He pulled his hand away. Like nothing had happened.

I blinked, desperate for breath. For orgasms. For anything.

Then he turned to me, finally locking eyes. His thumb brushed my lips.

"You're mine, Asha."

Outside, I attempted to gather myself as the valet brought the car. The breeze chilled my flushed skin and the city lights sparkled.

Kade leaned beside me, fingers brushing mine.

"Still think you're just a fantasy?"

I looked up. "You didn't introduce me tonight."

He didn't blink. "That doesn't matter."

"But I do?"

"Yes," he said simply.

I wanted to ask what that meant. But something in his eyes stopped me.

The car ride back was a blur of silence and need.

He pulled me into his lap before the doors even closed, mouth crashing into mine like he'd been starving all night.

I melted. Whimpered. Grabbed his tie and yanked him closer.

His hands roamed like he already knew the map of my body. Every curve. Every soft gasp.

"I hate how much I want you," he growled.

I didn't say it, but I felt the same.

~~~~~~

Back at the penthouse, he didn't waste time.

He lifted me onto the kitchen island, shoved the hem of my dress up to my waist, and buried his face between my thighs.

I cried out as his tongue played in and out of my pussy. He ate me like hadn't just finished eating. Hungrily, possessive like I'm his favorite food addiction.

All the tension from earlier exploded into stars behind my eyes as I grabbed his hair, allowing the pleasure to sink in.

He didn't stop. Instead, he grabbed my legs firmly, grounding me down in a place. 

My legs shook around his shoulders, hands gripping the marble as I lost myself in the rhythm of his mouth.

By the time he stood, I was limp and raw.

He kissed me like I was the only thing left in the world, giving me a taste of myself. God, it taste so good.

"Don't ever let them make you feel small," he said against my mouth.

I nodded, too breathless to reply.

I stayed again that night 

Wrapped in his sheets, I stared at the ceiling as his arm draped over my stomach.

Was I falling?

Or already gone? I can't say anymore 

~~~~

The next morning, he was on a call when I slipped into his office to leave a note.

That's when I saw it.

A folder. This time around it was wide open.

Careless. Forgotten. Left open like a ghost waiting to be seen.

The name written neatly in blue ink: Caroline Voss 

My heart dropped. My eyes scanning the file.

There were photos. Notes. Dates.

Trips.

Memories.

My stomach turned.

I didn't touch it. Didn't even breathe near it.

But when I stepped out of the office, Ezra was there.

Leaning against the hallway wall, arms crossed.

"You peeped," he said.

I didn't deny it.

"She was important," I said, voice low.

He nodded once. "More than you know."

I stopped, hands clenched, heart racing in my chest.

He pushed off the wall, walking closer.

"Don't fall for him, Asha. Whatever you do. Don't fall."

I swallowed hard. "What if it is too late?"

He sighed, brushing past me. "Then just try not to break."

That afternoon, I left the penthouse in a car Kade sent.

Back to my world.

Back to normal.

I tried not to overthink.

Tried to remind myself this was still his world, not mine.

But then my p

hone buzzed.

1 New Notification

I opened it.

And froze.

It was a photo of me and kade at the party last night.

His hand on my back. My face turned up to him, smiling.

And the caption:

Kade Renner's mysterious woman—who is she?

My heart stopped.