Im glad youre safe Bethany, and that youre here. With me.
Bret
We can get through this, together. We can get through anything together.
His hands were tight on mine, squeezing more firmly as he leaned closer. I swallowed heavily, unsure how to proceed. I had never dealt with anything like this before. Bret, we need to talk.
You had a rough time out there.
We all did.
Sometimes things happen I frowned at him, my eyebrows drawing tightly together. Had Jenna talked to him, or had he picked up on a strange vibe from Cade and I? Either way, it seemed as if he was determined not to hear what I had to say, or to rationalize it away.
Did you speak to Jenna?
Jenna? No why?
I hedged, uncertain how to proceed. He must have picked up on something between Cade and I; or perhaps Cade had said something after Id fallen asleep. Bret theres something we need to talk about. Did Cade
His hands tightened on mine, he leaned closer. We dont have to talk about him. When people are frightened, or stressed, they do things that they normally wouldnt do.
Bret
Its ok Bethany; things will go back to normal now. Or at least as normal as they can be under the circumstances.
I didnt know what to say to him, I could barely breathe through the anguish clenching my chest. I had known Bret most of my life, he was a good person. He was a wonderful person. It was me that was awful, and wrong and hurtful. I clasped both of his hands tightly in mine. I knew what had to be done, but maybe it didnt have to be done right now. It was obvious that he didnt want it to be right now, obvious that he was clinging to the hope that we would be fine. There wasnt much that I could give him, but I could give him that at least. Couldnt I?
Movement caught my attention. My eyes snapped toward the doorway, widening slightly as I spotted Cade. I didnt know long he had been standing there, but if he hadnt moved I never would have noticed him. It seemed as if he was a part of the shadows, he blended seamlessly in with the darkness. I watched him for a long moment, amazed and slightly unnerved by the way the shadows embraced him so completely.
I pulled back, unable to stop myself as Bret leaned forward to kiss me again. Pain flashed through his eyes, his hands clenched upon mine as he sat back on his heels. I couldnt look at either of them as I untangled my hands from Brets grasp and rose slowly. My back protested the movement as I stretched my cramped muscles, but it felt good to move again.
I blinked against the harsh flare of light as Cade flipped the switch. Anger flashed across Brets features when he spotted Cade leaning in the doorway. What do you want? Bret demanded.
Apparently Bret had decided to take all of his anger out on Cade, instead of me. Cade lifted a dark eyebrow; wry amusement flitted over his handsome features. Under the amusement though was a seething mass of tension and anger. This was a situation that
was going to have to be resolved, soon, or it was going to get ugly. It never should have gotten to this point to begin with.
And it was entirely my fault.
You know what I want, or at least who, Cade drawled.
My mouth dropped, my hands clenched tightly on my arms as I stared at him in utter disbelief. I couldnt believe he had just said that. Son of a bitch! Bret snarled.
I seized hold of Brets arm as he took an angry step forward. He looked about ready to beat the crap out of Cade, but Cade remained standing nonchalantly in the doorway. He didnt appear at all fazed by Brets anger though Bret was a good thirty pounds heavier, and two inches taller. I just thought that all the cards should be on the table, so there is no confusion about what my intentions are. I could only stand there and continue to gape at Cade as his gaze burned over me. I know what I want, and now you do too.
Bret was shaking in my grip, his hands fisted at his sides. I was trembling from the effects of Cades sizzling look, and from the words he had just uttered. I was frightened, heartbroken, and torn. Dont do this now, I managed to whisper. Bret didnt relax in my grasp, but his gaze did come slowly toward me. The betrayal and anger in his eyes made me want to cry. Bret, Im sorry, I really am. I didnt mean for this to happen, I never meant to hurt you, its the last thing in the world I ever
I gasped in surprise as he knocked my hand aside and jerked his arm from my gasp. Cades casual demeanor vanished as he came away from the door. Anger darkened his features; his eyes were ice cold with fury. My heart leapt into my throat, I darted in between them, throwing up my hands to halt Cades approach.
You want to take this out on someone then take it out on me! Cade snarled. His rage was so volatile, so intense, that it caused the hair on the nape of my neck to stand up. It didnt matter if Bret was bigger; in that moment I was certain that Cade might just kill him. Not her, me .
Before I knew what Cade intended he seized hold of my hand with surprising tenderness, considering the enraged look on his face, and began to rub it. Its fine, Im fine, I managed to stammer out. His eyes came slowly toward me; they crinkled at the edges as his gaze softened slightly. My hand clenched around his, I could not stop the immediate physical and emotional reaction that surged through me.