bChapter 108/bb: /bbXavier /bbPOV /b

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    The second I step through the front door, I iknow/ii. /i

    I don’t need to see how her cheeks are flushed or how Cade’s arm is slung low around her waist as his fingerszily trace circles along her hip like he’s still riding the aftershock. I don’t need to clock the way her head tips back against his shoulder, her eyes half–lidded and dazed as she lies in his arms under a nket, or how Cade doesn’t even pretend to look smug–just sated.

    I feel it.

    It’s in the air, and in the silence settling around the room that’s thicker than it should ollibe. /li/ol

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    La looks up when the door clicks behind me, and that’s all the confirmation I need. Her lips part like she’s about to speak–maybe offer some half–lie or casual brush–off- but she doesn’t get the chance as Cade hums into her neck, distracting her. He doesn’t move or flinch when he bes aware of me. He just lets his hand drift slightly higher up her ribs like he knows exactly what I’m thinking.

    And he’s not wrong.

    I arch a slow and deliberate brow and drop my keys in the bowl by the door. My boots

    thud against the floor with a little more weight than usual as I go to pass them. It’s not because of anger, and certainly not because of jealousy.

    It is, however, in anticipation.

    “I’m assuming you didn’t leave any of this morning’s pancakes for me,” I say to Cade, my voice low and even.

    Cade’s grin curves, aszy as sin, as he says, “It’s not my fault you’rete.”

    I flick my gaze to her and ask earnestly, “You good?”

    She nods as her breath catches just slightly, before she answers, “Yeah.”

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    Chapter 108: Xavier POV

    And it’s not the word that does me in–it’s how she says it. Like she’s still trying to remember how to breathe after whatever happened right before I arrived.

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    I turn away before I do something unwise and head for the kitchen without another word. If I stay there any longer, I will forget the whole ‘iwe’re /iitaking /iithis /iislow/ii‘ /ipart of the n and start something Cade just finished.

    But after a few minutes, she follows. Of course, she follows.

    And when she does, I make damn sure the tension Cade just unraveled for her doesn’t

    get a chance to settle.

    She opens the fridge and starts pulling out ingredients, reaching for things with more

    focus than necessary, probably hoping it’ll distract her from how obvious she still looks.

    I lean one hip against the kitchen ind and ask, “You cooking or just rearranging the fridge’s shelves?”

    “I’m feeding you ungrateful boys,” she mutters as she carries an armful of vegetables to

    the counter beside the stovetop.

    I hum before saying, “That’s funny. You didn’t look very ihungry /ia few minutes ago.‘

    “”

    Her head jerks up at my insinuation, and her eyes narrow, but she doesn’t say anything as her cheeks turn an enticing pink.

    I push off the counter and crowd in behind her. It’s not enough to touch her, but it’s enough to feel the heat building in the space between us. “You always get that flushed when you’re about to chop vegetables?” I ask, my voice just above a whisper, as I dip my head beside hers.

    She spins her head toward me, but doesn’t move back or away from the gap she finds herself in that I’ve created between my body and the counter.

    iGod/i, ishe’s /iibrave/ii. /i

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    …

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    Chapter 108: Xavier POV

    “Are you always this nosy when you walk inte?” she counters, but her voice wavers- just a little.

    I let the silence between us sit for a second, not answering her. But then I do step closer. And this time, I do touch.

    I ce my hand over hers as she reaches for the knife that’s lying on the counter in front of her, my palm wrapping over her fingers, and guiding her grip, causing her to

    freeze.

    “That’s not how you hold it,” I murmur. “You’ll cut yourself.”

    She swallows, but doesn’t blink, and doesn’t even try to breathe.

    I ease the knife from her hand, setting it aside, then slide a bowl of potatoes toward her. “Try peeling those instead. It’s safer.”

    Her hand trembles as she picks up the peeler, making me smile victoriously.

    We fall into a rhythm, if you can even really call it that.

    I crowd her space every chance I get by brushing my hand over her lower back when I reach past her. Or let my arm press against hers as I stir the sauce she had just started. I speak softly, slowly, always ijust /iclose enough for my breath to touch her skin.

    But still, she doesn’t pull away. Not once.

    She does, however, bite her lip once when I lean in behind her to reach for the salt. And she does let out a shaky breath when my hand settles on the edge of the counter right beside her hip.

    And when she turns to say something, I slide a teaspoon into her hand with a small scoop of sauce. “Here,” I murmur. “Tell me if it needs more heat.”

    Her gaze flicks to mine–quick, and sharp–and I hold it.

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    Chapter 108: Xavier POV

    She then licks the spoon clean without breaking eye contact with me, and it takes everything in me not to lose it right then and there.

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    Cade bounds down the stairs and strolls through the living room and dining room to the

    kitchen just as I reach for the pepper a little whileter.

    He pauses next to the ind, takes one look at La’s flushed cheeks and the space–orck thereof–between us, and lets out a low whistle.

    “Well,” he says, his voice smug, “Looks like dinner’s going to be a spicy affair.”

    La groans at his ridiculous pun, and I don’t even blink, as by now I’m ustomed to his outrageous mutterings.

    However, I do smirk and toss the pepper into the pot like I didn’t just spend thest thirty minutes edging her closer to whatever line she’s pretending not to want to cross.

    But she will.

    Especially when I’m the one standing on the other side.

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