He keeps his smile, even though I see he wants to frown.

“Well, I’ll come by and see you tomorrow.”

I kiss him goodbye, and with a heavy heart, I walk up my front steps. When I get to the rickety front door, I turn back and stare at Billy’s car disappearing down the street. I give it a sad smile, and step inside. The first thing I smell is vomit, then I see my mother on the floor, choking on her own sick, her face turning blue as her she struggles to breathe. She’s too high, too floppy, and incapable of stopping her own vomit from choking her. With a sigh, and a slump of my shoulders, I get to work doing what I do best.

Looking after a woman I despise, because she’s all I have.

That’s what I like to call tragic.

PRESENT

It’s dark when I leave the compound, and it’s late. I finished work earlier, but I spent a bit of time with Jackson. Surprisingly, we had a decent conversation. I may have also been avoiding running into Cade. I know he went home hours ago. I also know I was meant to be there hours ago. So, here I am, walking down the dark road on my own. It’s really not safe, but I’m used to it. It’s getting cool, and a light breeze tickles my face. I hear the rumbling sound of a truck coming in my direction, so I step off the road a little further. When the truck stops, I turn to see why. My heart begins to thump, an instant reaction to a strange truck pulling over at this time of the night.

The truck engine stops, so I quickly begin walking again at a more rapid pace. I dig about for my phone just in case I need to run and call someone at the same time. I hear the truck door slam, and a set of heavy boots striding at a rapid pace towards me. I spin around, throwing my hands up. “Back up!”

“What the fuck are you doin’ walkin’ around at night on your own? I thought you had a fuckin’ lift!”

It’s Cade. Of course it is.

“I’m going home,” I say, breathing heavily to try and steady my thumping heart.

“Pardon?” he says, his voice rough.

“You heard me, I’m going home. You can’t just order me over to your house Cade, it doesn’t work like that.”

“Yeah, babe, it fuckin’ does.”

I glare at him. I can just see him in the light.

“No, babe, it fuckin’ doesn’t,” I mock, turning.

“Addison, I’ll toss you in that fuckin’ truck. Don’t make me use force.”

I gape and turn back. “Are you serious? You can’t force me to go with you.”

“It wouldn’t be force if you just accepted you want me as much as I fuckin’ want you.”

“You’ve lost it, you know that?”

“Three seconds to get in the truck.”

“You are insane…”

“Three.”

“Fuck you, Cade.”

“Two.”

“I’m not going with you!”

“One.”

He steps forward, drops his shoulder and lifts me up in one motion. I squeal and pound my fists on his back, but he simply keeps striding towards his truck. He opens the door and throws me in, then, through my squirming, he also manages to buckles me in. Before he closes the door, he leans down close, “Don’t even think about tryin’ to get out, or I’ll tie you to the fuckin’ chair.”

My mouth drops open as he closes the door and walks around the driver’s side, gets in and slams the door. What kind of biker drives a truck anyway? I cross my arms and stare out the window as he pulls onto the highway.

“I’m not fucking you. You’re wasting your time.”

He snorts. “Sugar, my cock is goin’ inside you tonight and you know it. You also know I’m not wasting my time, because you and I both know, you could have fought me off if you really wanted to.”

Damn him.

“You’re a frustrating, intense man, do you hear me?” I say, turning to stare at him.

In the moonlight, his profile looks dazzling. Strong, square jaw. Perfect Roman nose and full lips. He’s divine.

“Yeah, sugar, I’m hearin’ ya.”

My lips twitch and he looks at me from the corner of his eye. He grins, and my heart throbs.

“You’re gonna smile for me tonight, baby. I’ll make sure of it.”

I turn and stare out the window, because what he doesn’t know, is that I’m already smiling.

CHAPTER 9

PRESENT

Cade’s house, is totally not what I expected a man like him to have. The large, pretty white home is quite enchanting. When we get out of the truck and walk inside, I am in awe. It’s massive, with polished wooden floors, white timber walls and some seriously nice furniture. It is, without a doubt, the nicest house I’ve ever seen. I stare around, mouth open, completely lost for words. Cade walks up behind me, sweeps my hair off my neck and trails his lips over the back. I feel my body begin to quake, and I stare down at his hands sliding around my waist.

“The look on your face right now, it makes my heart hurt, sugar.”

I swallow down my emotions and turn to face him. Right now, I don’t want to fight him. Him bringing me here, and pushing me even when I fought him, that tells me that to him, I am so much more than just sex. He’s a hard man; there’s no doubt about that, and being with him wouldn’t be easy. I don’t even know if being with him is something that I should be doing, but right now, in this moment, I’m okay with doing it.

“Saying sweet things doesn’t suit you, biker,” I say in a small voice.