Chapter 5

FIVE

T he kitchen isn't exactly my style, but it can be redone. In the meantime, I sit at the oak dining table meant for at least twelve people and scroll on the tablet before me. My coffee is cooling in my left hand, and there's a spread big enough for an army across the table since my new chef seems to want to overfeed me. That's fine by me. He'll be cooking for two soon enough anyway.

My eyes catch on a familiar face in the news, and I frown at the fact my alert didn't go off. Navigating to the story, I skim it, glancing at the pictures to see her.

Fallon looks so beautiful, wearing a short red dress and dripping in diamonds. There are multiple selfies of her and her friends at a party. I don't know any of their names, but they must be singers or models. My eyes are only for her, but don't they see it? She stands out in every single picture. No one can even compare. There's one farther down of her heading to her car with a guy in tow, and I smirk as I sip my coffee.

He doesn't matter, none of them do, and they never last. She has a different one each time she's spotted, as if she's making a statement. It doesn't matter because they'll never fully have her or know her. No one will except me.

Fallon needs someone to consume her so she can't ice them out, and that's exactly who I am.

I will never give up on her. She can have her one-night stands because I'm the forever kind. I'm here now, and I'm never letting her go.

I gave her time and space to heal from her messy divorce.

I built my name and my brand to be her equal, and now it's time she knows it. It's time she remembers that promise I made.

Putting the tablet down, I drain my coffee as I stand without sparing a look at my frazzled manager, Elijah, who's working hard farther down the table.

Shrugging into my leather jacket, I glance down at the outfit I carefully picked out—loose black jeans with a chain belt, a white shirt, and my jacket. My black hair is styled perfectly, and I look chic and the completely opposite of her sleek, old-money style and the pretty boys she picks.

I won't be another man to her. I'll be the only man.

I dress like a rock star, and I intend to fuck her like one—dirty, hard, and never-ending.

"Where are you going?" Elijah asks without lifting his eyes from the screen.

"I think it's time to introduce myself to my new neighbor, don't you?" I wink as he turns a confused gaze onto me. "You're always telling me to be friendly."

"Yes, but you never are," he retorts. "That's what's freaking me out. No offense, Kage, but you only care about one person in this world, you?—"

"Yes, and she's next door," I finish for him. "Be a good boy and eat the food. You look tired." I head out, ignoring him as he calls after me.

No one will stand in my way, not my manager and certainly not Fallon. I've been waiting for this day for a year. Three hundred and sixty-five days since I have seen her with my own eyes, smelled her, and touched her. It's been far too long. I don't plan to be apart after today.

Ignoring the workmen who are busy changing the house to my specifications, I head outside and straight to the left to the wall. It will be torn down eventually, but until then, I grasp the top and haul myself over, landing on her property.

Whistling to myself, flower in hand, I head to her front door. My eyes land on the impressive car collection parked to the right. My girl is a collector of fine things, and I'll be one of them soon enough.

I rap my knuckles on the huge door and wait. I expect one of her staff, but instead, she opens the door. Her hair is mussed and loose, and she's in nothing but a silk robe. I almost swallow my tongue. Her dark eyes narrow in annoyance before flaring as she gawks at me, her pretty pink lips parting.

"Hi, sweetheart, it's been too long." Using her stunned shock to my advantage, I step past her, making sure to drag myself along her body despite the big doorway. I almost groan when I inhale her scent. I want to drown in it, but instead, I invade her house. Hers is a little different than mine, done in all beiges, grays, and blacks. It's modern, traditional, beautiful, and also ice cold, just like her.

I love it.

I stop in the kitchen, smirking at the flowers lined up on the windowsill—my flowers. I wondered what she did with them.

"What—" She hurries after me, and I turn. Her eyes are narrowed in anger and her hands are propped on her hips, parting the robe to reveal delicious, pale skin. I cut off her rant by thrusting the flower at her. "Two a day now," I inform her, "since we are meeting again. Trust me, sweetheart, you are going to need some bigger bouquets for how much I plan to see you."

"What the fuck are you doing here, Kage? You can't just barge into my house!" She snatches the flower, throwing it to the side. The fury in her gaze turns me on.

"You remembered my name, good." It makes me insanely happy to know that. I sign it on every card. I know my girl has a tendency to ignore names, so the fact that she memorized mine? Yes, I'm almost gloating.

"It's hard to forget it when these flowers turn up every day and now you. What's your problem?" she hisses .

"I told you . . ." I step closer, and she doesn't back down, even as she tips her head back to meet my gaze. My boots touch her bare toes, and I notice they are fucking cute as shit. She even has a little flower toe ring that makes my cock way too hard. ". . . I'll wait. Well, I'm done waiting. Your husband is an ex, and I gave you a year to get over it."

"Oh wow, thank you, a whole year to get over my husband cheating?—"

I grip her chin, and she freezes, her eyes widening. I'm betting no one manhandles Fallon and lives to tell about it. Shit, her neck would look so good with my bruises. "A year to forget the idiot who let you go—one you never truly loved. I was more than generous."

"You really are insane," she whispers. Hearing those words on her delicious lips makes my heart skip a beat, like she just whispered dirty nothings to me.

"You make me that way," I murmur, dragging my thumb over her plump bottom lip, obsessed with its fullness.

"Ms. Fallon, shall I call security?" a worried voice interrupts.

Her nostrils flare. "No, I can handle this."

"That's right, sweetheart. You can handle me." My hand drifts up, and I wrap a stray lock of her shiny black hair around my thick finger. She slaps it away, but I just grin.

"Get out of my house, Kage," she demands, seeming to remember herself.

"Okay, I just came to see if you needed a plus one to the red-carpet event tonight."

She points at the front door, and I walk by her side. My eyes sweep over her, drinking her in since the pictures I have from online and my PI don't do her justice. "It's for the new movie Friction , right?"

She frowns. "How do you know?"

"I was invited too, mainly because I asked, but I'd rather go as your plus one. It's your night and your songs." I grin as I step closer again, brushing her hair behind her ear, letting the silk run through my rough fingers when I want to fist it. "Let me know. I can be ready in a moment. I'll be waiting. "

"I have a date," she snaps as I turn and step outside.

"Sure, don't worry, sweetheart. I'm just next door if you need me."

"Wait, what?" she calls from the open door.

I feel her gaze on me as I casually hop her wall and wave from my front door.

I hear her door slam and grin.

Game on, sweetheart.

I wait all day. I shave and shower, and I style my hair and debate on my scent before remembering the way her eyes dilated at the awards show, so I go with the same one. I bought it in bulk just in case. I slip into a nontraditional suit. She might want the perfect arm candy, or so she thinks, but deep down, I know she doesn't.

My ice queen wants someone to shake her up. She wants someone to defy her.

The black jacket I have on ends just before my waist, one side higher than the other. Two gold buttons are perfectly placed in the deep V. The other side is longer, hanging down to just above my crotch, and more of the fabric wraps across my chest with a golden buckle at my side. The sleeves are wide but expose my tattooed hands. My slacks are decorated with gold buckles all down the sides and they flare wide. Since I know she's wearing gold, I wanted to match. I don't wear a shirt underneath, adding my flower necklace—the same flower I give her every day.

Now, all I have to do is wait.

Like clockwork, the black car arrives in her driveway where I'm waiting. I watch the door open, and a muscular blond actor climbs out. He wears a cocky smile on his lips as he glances at the house, and he takes a quick picture in front of it.

Rolling my eyes, I walk out of the shadows.

He frowns and steps back as I approach before he blinks, his eyes widening and smile growing. "Holy shit, you're Kage. I'm a big fan, man." He holds his hand out, and I just stare at it with an arched brow until it drops. "Um, are you here for?—"

"Fallon," I finish for him since his voice is irritating. "She changed her mind. She's going with me."

His brow furrows as he glances at the house, and I step into his vision to block it. "She texted me like an hour ago."

"Well, things change. You can go now," I reply, dismissing him.

"I'll just ask her . . ."

I press my hand against his side and push him back.

He stumbles, his cheeks heating in indignation. "Dude, what the hell is your problem?"

Pulling out a wad of cash and a signed autograph, I throw them at him. "There, that will get you some of the fame you clearly want. You can go now." When he continues to stand there, I step closer. "I suggest you take the offer while it's still a nice one. Next time, it will be an order, and you won't like what happens."

"Fuck this, she isn't worth it." He grabs the cash and dives back into his car, taking off.

Grinning, I turn to the house and head up the steps, hitting the doorbell and waiting.

She doesn't keep me waiting long, and when she opens the door, I stare.

Her hair is styled back from her stunning face, her eyes darkened and glittering with gold. Her neck is encircled by a huge gold necklace, and bracelets line her arm while rings adorn her perfectly manicured hands. The dress makes my cock jerk because she looks fucking stunning.

It's a deep, glossy gold, with sleeves sliding down the top of her biceps. The fabric flows like water into a heart-shaped neckline with piles of glistening fabric. There's a deep V between her breasts, leading into a wide band around her waist, and then the dress flares out, cascading down to her feet. The front has a huge slit, showing her long, perfect legs and black heels.

I swear there's a fucking halo behind her head .

She looks like an angel, one I want to do terrible things to. I have the insane urge to mess up a small section of her hair to prove to myself she's real.

"You look utterly perfect, Fallon," I whisper, possessively dragging my gaze down her. "Like a fucking goddess ready to step into our world."

She just stares at me, and I grin. "Kage." She blinks, clearly confused.

I keep one hand in my pocket and offer her my other arm, knowing my eyes are blazing as I stare at my goddess. "Shall we, sweetheart?"

"Where's—" She frowns, clearly trying to remember his name, and settles on saying, "My date?"

"Right before you. The other guy bailed, but I'll gladly be your arm candy for the night."

She frowns in annoyance. "No, I don't like to be outshined."

I take it as a compliment. "Trust me, Fallon, in that dress? No one could outshine you. Now let's go before you're late. I know you despise tardiness."

She's fighting her need to ignore me and her desire to be on time, and eventually, time wins. She barges past me, heading straight to the car I called for us. I hurry to keep up, still smiling, and open her door. Her nostrils flare as I offer her my hand. Grinding her teeth, she lays hers in mine, and I kiss the back of it, my dark eyes on her.

Both of us are caught in the moment, but then she swallows and looks away, climbing into the car. I bend down, making sure her dress is in before carefully shutting the door and walking around to my side.

Her gaze is on me, sweeping across my outfit. "Like it?" I ask, leaning back to show it off.

"It's different," she replies. "Not necessarily bad."

"So sweet, my heart." I wink as I take her hand. She tries to free herself from my grip, yanking on it, so I slide closer, placing our joined hands on her bare thigh.

She stiffens and glares at me, but I just grin.

"Seriously, what's your problem? Do you want fame, money, or an inside story?" she demands .

"I have fame and more than enough money to spoil you for the rest of our lives. I want all your stories, but not to sell. I want to consume them," I tell her as I lean in, inhaling her scent that drives me wild. "I want every part of you I can get, Fallon."

"Why? What is this obsession with me? You met me once, and you're suddenly here. Why?" she asks. My girl has to pick everything apart to understand it. I like that. She can rip me open until she finds the answers.

"Because I can't seem to breathe without you. I have been yours since the very first moment I met you. You own me, and I'm tired of staying away, so I'm not anymore. I'll be here every day, even when you don't want me to. I'm not going anywhere."

"Why? For sex?"

"I want your body, I won't lie, but I want your heart even more. I want your life, your soul . . . I want every inch of you I can get."

She stares for a moment. "People don't talk like that, Kage."

"I say exactly what I mean. Choose to believe it or not, but my actions will prove my words are true." I lean back, my eyes on her as we speed through the city. The dark confines of the car have me imagining all sorts of dirty thoughts, mostly involving her lips.

"I don't understand you. I feel like I should be scared of you," she mutters, but there are no traces of fear in her voice, only confusion.

Gripping her chin, I rub my thumb over her painted lips, memorizing them as she inhales. "You don't have anything to fear from me. Everyone else? Yes, but not you. I would never hurt you. I would rip out my own heart before I did, so just relax, sweetheart, and let's have a good night."

"Why me, Kage?" she asks. "Why me?"

"Why not you, Fallon?" I murmur as I lean in, almost tasting her lips. "Why not you?"