Page 38 of Silk and Sirens

He was the one that’d helped me try and talk to Mira when we found her.

He was the one that mourned her almost as much as I did when she refused to come home.

“What do you mean it isn’t enough?”

Fletcher had been on edge since Bradley interrupted us. He usually disappeared at the first sign things might turn, and sometimes I wouldn’t see him again for weeks. Months, if it got bad enough. He survived because he knew when to disappear until the dust settled. But when it really mattered, like when I lost Mira, he was there.

“You know I love you, but …” His eyes darted over my shoulder, brows pulling together before he stiffened. “Uh … hey … I think that guy’s watching us.”

I turned, frozen as my gaze met his. Caden sat across the room, tucked in a corner behind a table.

Shit. He wasn’t supposed to be here. Not yet.

Caden didn’t move, his eyes flicking to Fletcher in a silent challenge before returning to me.

“Don’t worry, he’s a friend,” I lied, keeping my expression neutral as I slowly rose to my feet. I couldn’t afford Caden’s focus shifting, especially not to Fletcher. I needed to keep it on me. “See you around, Fletch.”

“Red …” he whispered, but I was already moving.

Caden lounged back, his eyes sharp even as his face was its usual stoic. He didn’t move when I sat beside him, accidentally knocking the table as I pressed my thigh against his.

“Prince,” I greeted with a strained smile. “It’s starting to feel like you’re stalking me.”

Bradley turning up was one thing, but Caden could become a serious problem. I was expecting Caden to track me down sooner rather than later, but not now. Not here.

Detective Kane was supposed to give me a warning.

Frustration simmered, because I thought I was being careful. Especially when it came to risking Fletcher.

“I thought I told you to stay out of trouble.”

“But it’s so much more fun,” I said lightly, hoping he’d forget Fletcher’s existence if I could distract him long enough. “Is that the reason you’ve interrupted my date?”

“I wouldn’t call that a date,” he said, his voice dropping an octave.

“You’re right. I don’t date.” Caden’s eyes darkened as I leaned forward, closing the space between us until I straddled his legs, leaving him nothing else to focus on but me. “I only fuck.”

He finally smirked, revealing a single dimple in his cheek before it disappeared.

“Why are you here?” I asked, hoping Fletcher had enough time to sneak out. “I doubt it’s to come watch me flirt with random men.” I threaded my fingers through his thick hair, leaning so close our lips almost touched. “And we both know you don’t want me.” A pause. “Or do you?” I teased.

“You’re playing a dangerous fucking game,” he said quietly, his breath brushing my ear when he turned his head. “Maybe I should just take you out back, fuck you against the wall … let the cold pierce your spine and take your breath away, let the brick scratch your skin.”

My brain took a second to react, heat rolling through me at his unexpected words. It took a lot to get a reaction out of Caden, and each one felt like a small victory. But this … this was different. He’d never engaged with my flirting before.

“You like a little pain with your sex, right? Or maybe I’ll just bend you over, right here, right now, so everyone can watch you take my cock like the bad girl you are.” Caden’s grip tightened slightly on my thighs, just enough to hold me in place. “Maybe that’s what you want,” he continued with a deep growl. “For me to break you. Make you lose this game you’re so determined to play.”

Holy shit.

“Speechless? Now that’s a first.” One hand came up to the back of my neck, large enough to nearly encircle my throat. “Now … Want to tell me why Peckham Crowns? They can barely string a fucking sentence together.”

Ah, that’s why he’s here.

I licked along my bottom lip, Caden’s eyes tracing the movement. “You seem confident in that accusation.” I was acutely aware of how close he was, the heat from his chest seeping into mine. But he didn’t pull back, if anything, he seemed to pull me closer. “If all you wanted was another kiss,” I said, my voice rougher than I intended, “you could’ve just asked.”

His jaw tightened, the muscle feathering beneath his skin. But there was something else there too. Just a flicker of desire.

Or maybe I was delusional.