Chapter 14

FOURTEEN

D espite her original protests, Fallon disembarks her jet wearing my hoodie. I spy the cameras from a distance and smile, knowing they will capture it. After all, they got me coming out of the hotel wearing it. Soon, the whole world will know I'm Fallon's, and I couldn't be happier.

"Don't tell me you need a ride too," she calls as she heads to her car that's idling a few feet away.

"Well, we do live next door to each other." I hurry over and open her door before the driver can. She rolls her eyes but gets in, and I slide in next to her, taking her hand. She doesn't even fight me, and I consider that a win. Things have started to change between us. She's opening up and letting me in. Fallon still has so many secrets and layers, but I can't wait to peel each one back.

Like tonight on the plane, I realized there is something in Fallon's past, something that haunts her, and I won't stop until I free her of that ghost.

Besides, she wanted to get to know me earlier. No matter how she rationalizes it, she wanted to get to know me, and that's a good sign. Honestly, I would wait forever for Fallon, but knowing she's softening toward me makes me feel like a superhero.

"What are you going to do with your new hotel?" she asks as we drive into the city.

"Eh, it's a good investment. In fact, I'm considering buying one in every city around the world so when you travel, you have a safe place to stay."

She turns and gapes at me. "Sometimes I can't tell if you're being serious or not," she responds.

"I'm deadly serious." I frown. Does she think I wouldn't? I'd do much, much more for my girl. "Where do you go often? I'll start there first." When she just stares, I smile. "Don't worry, I'll get a list from your management."

"They won't give it to you," she mumbles.

"Sure, sweetheart," I scoff. My phone buzzes, and I pull it out with one hand, refusing to lose the hold I have on her.

Elijah: I think I found it. Want me to proceed?

Kage: Give them anything they want and have it shipped to my girl's address.

Elijah: Understood. Are you back now? The label is mad you canceled those interviews.

Kage: Then schedule more to make up for it.

"Problem?" Fallon asks.

"Just my manager." I hold out my phone. "You want to see?"

"What? No," she scoffs, pushing my phone away.

"Baby, I have nothing to hide from you. Look through my entire phone if you want. I can tell you what you'll find—way too many pictures of you and me stalking your socials, but not much else. In fact . . ." I load up the settings, and when she turns to me, I scan her face and then grin. "There, now you can unlock it with facial recognition too. What's mine is yours."

"You didn't!" She gapes, so I turn my phone and watch her mouth drop open as it unlocks with her face. "What the fuck, Kage?"

"What's your schedule like this week? I don't want to intrude?—"

She laughs. "Really?"

"On any important meetings or anything, but I want to know when I can see you again," I finish, ignoring her joke .

She looks away, and I watch her profile. "I'll let you know," is all she says, and I know that's Fallon's way of trying to push me away.

I let her because it won't last. If she thinks she can get rid of me that easily, then she's more delusional than I am.

Fallon is mine, and she's never getting away from me.

I was right. Fallon is trying to avoid me.

Luckily, I was dressed up today so I don't bother changing. I need to look the part to be at her side. My black leather jacket hangs to my feet, and underneath, I wear cinched black pants with a sheer, loose shirt. I know it looks good on me, and I dressed in hopes of seeing her. I guess I was feeling lucky, and I was right to.

It didn't take long to find the restaurant, and I spent time searching the guy she is going on a date with—a foolish attempt to stop the rumors about us online. I've given her time this week, but I'm over it now. Instead, I focus on the man she is meeting. It seems he's some kind of actor with a famous daddy no doubt buying all his roles. He's a pretty boy but nowhere near the caliber of my girl, and he knows it.

I make sure to park around back, and then I rap on the metal fire door. Eventually, a confused waiter opens it. When he spots me, his eyes widen. Good, he knows who I am, so this will work well. I hand over a wad of cash. "I need your help."

"Sure, sure, uh, can I have an autograph?" he asks, taking the money.

"You can, but help me first." I know my smile is evil, but I don't care.

I follow him inside, and after explaining what I want, I hide behind the bar in the fancy restaurant, watching as he goes to take their order. Their table isn't too far away, and she looks really fucking good tonight, but then again, when doesn't she? When the waiter comes back and starts making the drinks, he nods at one of the glass tumblers as he turns away to grab my girl's drink. Grinning, I pull the crushed pills from my pocket and dump them in the glass, and then I stir it as he loads them onto a tray with a wink and heads back to their table.

I wait with a wicked grin as her date takes the glass without looking at the waiter and downs most of it nervously. I'd be nervous too with such a beauty looking at me, and it was just like I was expecting.

The waiter comes back to my side, and I slide over the autograph I promised. "What did you give him? Do I need an ambulance?"

"No, but maybe a plumber." I smirk, watching them chat and drink.

That's right, drink it all.

There's enough in there to take down an elephant, never mind a rich boy.

I wait impatiently, and not too long later, her date pales, stopping mid-sentence. He suddenly jumps to his feet, stuttering something to a confused looking Fallon before he grabs his ass and stumbles through the restaurant to the hallway at the back. I can't help but grin, and then I push away from the bar and make my way to my girl.

She turns and sees me heading her way, her mouth dropping open. I push my coat back at my hips to show off our matching outfits and let her get a good look at her man.

Her pupils dilate, desire filling her gaze, and when I reach her, I lean down and kiss her lips possessively. "Sorry I'm late, sweetheart. I had to find the restaurant." I head around the table and sit where he was, draping the napkin over my lap as I recline back in my seat.

She stares at me in shock. "Um, that's my date's seat."

"Yes, and he's sitting right here. Have you ordered food yet? I'm starving." I drop my eyes to her body and watch her cheeks heat.

"He'll be back any minute. You better go, Kage," she snaps, shaking off her stupor.

I take the wine glass my new friend brings and sip it as I point at everything he touched. "You can remove his setting. I'll need a new one." When it's gone, I meet her eyes and see her glaring, ice frosting her gaze. "He won't be coming back anytime soon, sweetheart, trust me."

"What did you do?" she snaps .

Fuck, I love it when she gets that look in her eyes. Wrapping my foot around her chair under the table, I drag her closer as she yelps. When she's at my side, I lean in so my coat blocks us, grab her hand, and press it to my hard dick.

"Keep looking at me like that and we are going to be leaving before you get your meal, sweetheart."

She snatches her hand back, looking away from me. "I'm looking at you in anger. How are you hard?" she hisses.

"I love your anger, it's fucking beautiful, but I'm hard anytime you look at me," I admit, whispering in her ear. "If you wanted a date, beautiful, then you should have said so. I do like a challenge, so thank you. I was getting a little bored this week."

"Seriously, Kage, what did you do?" she asks, not backing down, her eyes meeting mine boldly. Her icy gaze makes me shudder with desire. I love my soft, needy girl, but I love my hard, icy girl just as much.

"I gave him something to keep him busy all night. He didn't deserve to be here at your side."

She stands abruptly, ready to storm away, so I grab her hand and pull her down onto my lap, holding her there with one arm while I open the menu with the other, propping my chin on her shoulder.

"Kage," she snaps, elbowing me.

I kiss her shoulder. "Stop making a scene, sweetheart, or I'll bend you over my knee for daring to look this beautiful for another man," I warn as she stiffens. "We both know I will, so behave."

"You wouldn't dare," she murmurs.

"Do you want to bet?" I whisper huskily. I know every eye in the restaurant is on us, including the staff and the cameras pressed against the glass outside, trying to get the scoop. "Keep trying and we'll find out."

There's a moment of silence. "Can I at least sit in my chair?"

"No, I like you where you are. You can't run from me now. I'll be your chair, sweetheart. What do you want, steak? No, pasta?" I murmur, still scanning the menu. I'll give it to the idiot, he picked a good place. The food here is supposed to be excellent. No doubt he wanted to show off, but I bet he had to drop his daddy's name just to get in. I only had to show my face.

"Kage, you are being ridiculous. I'm allowed to date. You don't get to show up and do something to my date then hold me hostage," she begins, wiggling to get free, and I groan.

"Keep moving like that and I'm going to make a mess before we even get to dessert."

"You're fucking insane," she snaps as she stiffens.

My waiter friend chooses that moment to turn up, grinning. "Ready to order?"

"Where is my date?" she asks.

"Oh, uh, the gentleman you came in with is . . . indisposed in the bathroom right now. Mr. Kage said he was your date." The waiter grins. Good boy, I'm going to give him a big tip. "What can I get you to eat? The chef said he would make anything you like."

"Then one of everything, please. My girl can't decide." I snap the menu shut and hand it over. "And please make sure to send some water to that poor man. I bet it's going to be a long, long night."

When the waiter leaves, Fallon turns in my arms, her eyes narrowed. "Did you feed him laxatives?"

"More than even models take." I smirk. "I hope you're hungry."

She continues to stare into my eyes. "How didn't I see it before?" she whispers.

"What, sweetheart?"

"The devil in your gaze," she whispers, and my lips tip up in a grin. "I'm never getting away from you, am I?"

"Glad you noticed. It's only taken a year." I kiss her cheek. "Now, if you behave, you can sit on your seat, but if you try to leave, I'm going to bend you over this table, flip your skirt up, and spank your ass red, and we both know I will." I watch her swallow nervously, even as her eyes flare. My girl likes me taking control when everyone else would back down to her. "Are you going to be a good girl, sweetheart?"

"Yes," she whispers, but I arch my brow, her nostrils flaring as she takes a deep breath. "I'll be a good girl. "

Kissing her cheek again, I remove my arm. She stands, brushing her hair back and sinking into her chair, making me grin. She watches me with a new look in her eye, a considering one. It seems she's finally taking me seriously.

Good.

"So how has your week been, sweetheart?"