Page 43 of Kane
My fingers hover over the screen for only a second before I type the message…
WILLIAM: Daddy, I need to see you. Right Now. We need to talk…
I hit send before I can overthink it, my heart hammering at a million beats per second. Then I slip the phone back into my bag and keep walking toward his apartment, Twist bouncing gently against my back.
Whatever happens next, I’m done hiding from the truth.
But like one of Brontë’s heroines, I just hope I’m strong enough to hear it.
* * *
I’m pacing my tiny apartment like a caged animal when the knock comes: sharp, commanding, impossible to ignore.
My heart leaps into my throat.
I know it’s him before I even check the peephole.
Kane stands in the hallway, tall and imposing in a dark suit, his expression intense and unreadable. The silver threads in his black hair catch the hallway light. His dark eyes lock onto mine the second I open the door.
For a moment I just stare at him, nerves twisting in my stomach.
Part of me wants to slam the door and hide under the covers with Twist. The smarter, braver part knows I can’t keep running from this conversation…
“Come in,” I say, my voice smaller than I’d like but audible nonetheless.
Kane steps inside without a word, filling the space with his presence. The door clicks shut behind him like a finality. I lead the way to the kitchen table on shaky legs, pulling out a chair and sitting down.
My hands fold tightly in my lap.
Kane doesn’t sit. Instead, he stands at the opposite side of the small wooden table, both palms planted firmly on the surface, leaning forward slightly. The posture makes him look even more powerful, like a king holding court in my tiny apartment.
I open my mouth. Nothing comes out. My carefully rehearsed ultimatum dissolves on my tongue.
I try again, but the words stick…
Kane’s patience snaps. “Spit it out, William,” he growls, voice low and edged. “You messaged me saying we need to talk. Sotalk.”
The frustration in his tone sparks something in me—anger, fear, and that undeniable pull I feel whenever he uses that voice. I slam my hands down on the table, shocking myself with how hard I do it.
“What do youdo, Kane?” I demand, meeting his eyes even though my heart is hammering. “Who are you, really? I can’t keep doing this… letting you spank me, sleep next to you, call you Daddy… how can I do all that when I don’t even know what world you live in? Tell me the truth.Allof it.”
For a second the air goes completely still.
Then Kane slams his fist down on the table hard enough to make me jump. The wood creaks under the impact.
“I am a businessman,” Kane says, each word deliberate and heavy with passion. “I live outside the law because the law doesn’t protect people like me. I come from a family with traditions.Oldtraditions.Bloodtraditions. My brothers built something. I intend to keep it alive and make it stronger. That’s who I am. That’s what I do. And I won’t apologize for it. Not to you and not to anyone else in this damn city.”
Kane’s eyes burn as he speaks…
There’s fire there—raw, unfiltered intensity mixed with something almost vulnerable. The passion in his voice, the way his shoulders tense, the absolute conviction rolling off him… it overwhelms me.
Every rational thought in my head short-circuits.
I shove my chair back and rush around the table. Kane straightens just in time for me to crash into him. Our mouths collide in a kiss so fierce it steals my breath. His hands grip my waist, pulling me flush against his hard body. The kiss is all heat and hunger… teeth, tongue, desperation. I moan into his mouth as he devours me.
Before I can catch my breath, Kane’s fingers are tearing at my clothes. My sweater is yanked over my head. Daddy rips my jeans and briefs down in one rough motion, leaving me completely naked in the middle of my own kitchen. Cool air kisses my skin, making my nipples tighten instantly. Kane’s eyes rake over me with raw possession.
I moan as he takes my nipples between his fingers—firm and commanding—and pulls. I gasp louder, the sharp tug sending sparks straight between my legs.
