Chapter 5

Kandace is quiet as her breaths begin to even out, and I worry she regrets everything that just happened. I wanted her to know it was me because I felt like I was violating her by keeping it a secret, but I also didn't want this moment to end.

Her hands stroke my head as I nuzzle her chest, something we both seem to draw pleasure from. I never could have imagined who she was in this role, but now that I've seen and felt it, I feel like I can't live without it.

Slowly, she gets up and hands me a bottle of cool water before walking into the bathroom. I assume she's going to shower, so when the water doesn't turn on right away, I take the chance to follow her.

"Kandace," I ask with a soft knock. She's standing in front of the mirror, her head bowed with a letter in her hand.

She turns, handing the paper to me.

Kandace and Cameron,

There comes a time in our lives when we have all had to decide who we are going to be. The two of you have helped us make those difficult decisions, time and time again.

We are grateful for you, and we want to make it clear who both of you are to us. You are so much more than mafia doctors. You are our friends, our family, and we are not ones to stand on the sidelines when we see our family struggling.

It is clear that there is chemistry between the two of you, and we hope we did not break your trust by encouraging you to explore that. We want you to know that you have our blessing to be together, but we hope you know you have never needed it. We also want you both to know that we value your practices but would always choose for you to be our family first if you ever needed to step away.

So, take the vacation we have given you both and decide what you want to do going forward. We believe you can be our doctor and our psychiatrist while also being people we love and who love each other. Do you?

Alexi and Boris Mikhaus

I can see Kandace is processing, and based on who I just found out she is, I think it's safe to assume she needs some control right now.

Getting on my knees at her feet, I look up at her.

"What can I do?" I ask gently.

She looks down at me, her fingers sliding through my hair. Her red lipstick is smudged all over her face, her blue eyes shining as she takes me in.

"What do you want here, Cameron?"

Not pup. Cameron. The scene is over, and now I have to find out if we are too. Before we even had the chance to begin.

"I want you, Kandace. I want the Devil and the therapist. I want the woman who loves so hard that she keeps everyone at bay in order to try to hide from something she doesn't believe she deserves. I want to make you happy. I want to hold you when you cry. But most of all, more than anything. I just want you ."

She takes a deep breath, and I close my eyes, waiting to hear the rejection I know is coming.

"I think…No. I know, I want you too."

She smiles down at me, making me scramble to my feet, pressing a kiss to her lips. Her arms go around my neck as I back her up and place her on the counter where I can deepen the kiss.

"We're doing this?" I ask.

She releases the cutest giggle I have ever heard in my life and nods. "We are."