“I just wish our journey was different.” She doesn’t look me in the eyes, and it guts me that she thinks that.

“It might have been a tough year, Kadence, but it’s been the best one of my life. You gave me Low, gave Z a mom, and made us a family again. We might have lost ourselves along the way, but we’re findin’ those people again, and I don’t think anythin’ could take that away.”

Her eyes shine with unshed tears so I kiss her again, stopping with the mushy shit.

“Let’s go.” I smile, turn back and start the bike. The engine roars to life as Kadence’s fingers dig into my cut and I’m thrown back to the first night I had her on the back of my bike. The Kadence from that night, only slightly resembles the woman now sitting behind me, but I don’t let it get to me. Instead, I focus on giving my wife one hell of a date. Later, I will worry about bringing the sassy, fiery woman back to me.

***

“What do you mean you don’t have me down?” My voice rises and Kadence’s grip in my hand gets tighter.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t have your reservation here, sir.” The young blonde standing in front of me tells me for the second time.

“Well, I called and booked it. So I suggest you find a table for my wife and me. Now,” I grind out as she nods carefully.

“Give me a moment, sir.” She turns and leaves us standing there.

We walked in two minutes ago, after a quick detour to the clubhouse to pick up the pill Brooks left me. I didn’t tell Kadence what I was doing. She waited outside while I raced in to get it. I didn’t ask Brooks when to take it, so instead of calling him, I quickly googled it on my phone. Some people said to take it a few hours before you planned on needing it, so I quickly slipped it down without any water and met Kadence at the front.

“It’s okay, Nix. We don’t have to eat here.” She pulls on my arm, but I don’t give a shit what the waitress is saying. I booked it.

“Yes, we do. I fuckin’ booked it.” I keep my eye on the girl as she moves through the restaurant back to us.

“I’m sorry, sir, but we can’t help you.”

My fist comes down on the front desk causing her to step back.

“Damn it,” I curse, watching a man walk forward.

“I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

“This is bullshit,” I begin, but Kadence steps in between me and the fucking punk.

“Let’s go, baby.”

“Kadence.”

“No, let’s go to the bar. It will be like our first date.”

“You kicked me in the balls our first date, baby,” I remind her, still eyeing off the fucker who thinks he’s tough.

“Well, if you don’t move your ass from here, I’ll kick you again.”

I smirk at her sass. “You sure?”  I look down at her to get a read on what she’s thinking.

“Please, it will be fun,” she responds, so I don’t argue. I take her hand and walk out. The club bar is only a block down on Main, so we decide to walk.

“You always act like this on a date?” she jokes, nestling closer to me under the warmth of my arm.

“Only with girls I like.” I try to be smooth and it gets me an eye roll. My favorite kind.

“You really want to eat here?” I ask again, when we get to the front door.

“Yesss.” She drags it out and pulls me inside.

The bar is busy. The table we sit at every time we come in is occupied, but as soon as Hunter sees us, he clears them out.

“Hunter doesn’t have a date tonight?” Kadence asks, sliding into the booth.

“Don’t give a fuck if Hunter has a date.” I slide in after her. She shakes her head but doesn’t reply.

“So not what I was expecting when I wanted to take you out.” I lean down and run my nose along her hairline.

“I think this place is fine, Nix.”

I nod to Hunter as he brings us both our usual drinks and a menu.

“You hungry?” she asks, looking over the menu. I don’t know why she bothers. She orders the same thing every time we come.

“Starved.” My hand moves down to her thigh and my cock stirs in my jeans. This is what I miss, just being with each other. Comfortable and in the moment.

“You keep groping me and you’ll end up like the first time we met here,” she sasses, and I can’t help but grin.

“You mean in my bed, with your pussy milking my cock?” The hiss of her breath stirs my dick, and I hold in the groan at seeing her nostrils flare. Fuck, this woman has no idea what she does to me.

“No, I meant the scene where you got kneed in the balls.” She smirks when the waitress comes to take our order. I remember that night clearly. The night I fell in love with my wife. I don’t know if it was the knee to my balls, or the way I watched her eyes light up after going on her first ride on the back of my bike. I knew that night, when I held her in my arms, I was going to love her. I knew then it wouldn’t be easy. With a woman like Kadence, you wouldn’t want love to be easy. I knew going in it would be fierce, raw, and by fucking God, this woman has given me everything and then more.

“I fuckin’ love you. Do you know that?”  I stop our playful banter and turn serious on her. “You still ruin me, woman, fuckin’ sittin’ here with your sexy self. I still can’t believe you’re mine, you know that?  You’re fuckin’ mine.”

“Stop it.” She smiles but it’s an awkward one, as if the compliment makes her uncomfortable.

“I know we have a long way to go, baby, fuck I do. But I’m tellin’ you now, your man tells you you’re sexy, you don’t fuckin’ smile like you don’t believe it. You hear me?” The air between us changes, like a switch has been flipped, and her eyes come back to life. And fuck me if it ain’t the most amazing fucking thing I’ve ever seen. “You do that shit again, I’ll fuckin’ bend you over the nearest surface and spank your hot little ass. You hear me?” I watch as her lips quiver at my tone. “Kadence,” I push when she doesn’t answer.

“You wouldn’t dare.” She swallows and I know I have her attention. I twist my body to face her and lean into her space. “Try me.” I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing, or if I’m doing it right, but something in the air tonight tells me this is what she needs. Maybe I’m going about it the wrong way, but I’m at a point where I don’t care. This is not just what Kadence needs, but what I need.

“Let’s dance.” She breaks the moment and moves into me. I know she’s trying to escape our table, but I don’t argue or push with my previous threats, just pull her out and follow her to the dance floor. The music is slow, and normally I wouldn’t dance to this shit, but tonight is about Kadence and with the fuck-up at Moda, I’m not about to deny her.

She turns to face me and slowly begins to move.

“Don’t go all shy on me.” I pull her into me.

“I didn’t think this through,” she complains, but I won’t let her backtrack.

“Just follow my lead,” I tell her and move to face her away with her back to my front.  After two songs, I’m regretting my decision as Kadence’s ass moves faster against me.

“Fuck, baby. Let’s go back.” I groan as my cock throbs even harder. Fuck, I haven’t felt this hard in such a long time.

“What’s wrong?” She turns and looks down at me straining in my jeans.

“All good, baby.” I adjust myself, feeling it grow even more. Jesus, that pill is fucking dangerous.

“You sure you’re okay?” Kadence asks. Her amusement turns into concern when we walk back to the table. I squeeze my eyes shut as my head becomes lost in the fog of my arousal.

“I really need to fuck you,” I admit.

“I’m sure you can wait.” She smirks, patting my leg. My hand covers hers, stopping her from pushing me over the edge.

“I don’t think you get me. If I don’t fuck you soon, this is going to be bad.” I realize no truer words have been spoken as I say them. My heart rate picks up and my whole body tingles. Jesus, I shouldn’t have taken that Viagra.

Taking her hand in mine, I pull her out of the booth and drag her out the door—leaving our food and drinks behind.