Chapter 30: Caught

SERA

I didn't know who moved first, one moment we were standing, foreheads pressed together, breathing the same air. The next minute, his mouth was on mine and everything else disappeared.

The kiss was nothing like before, no hesitation, no pulling back. Kade kissed me like he'd been starving for it, one hand sliding into my hair, the other pulling me against him. I gasped against his mouth and he took the opportunity, deepening the kiss until my knees got weak.

His wolf was close to the surface. I could feel it, a wildness in the way he held me, something raw under his skin. His eyes were gold when we broke apart for air, and the sound he made in his throat sent a wave of heat through my body.

"Sera," he growled against my lips. A warning, a plea.

I answered by pulling him back to me.

The kiss became hungrier, my fingers threaded through his hair and he made a sound that vibrated through my chest. His hands gripped my waist tightly and I grabbed his shoulders, needing to feel every inch of him against me.

Then his hands were under my shirt.

I couldn't say who started it. His fingers found the bare skin of my waist and fire burst out from where he touched. I arched my body into his and his grip tightened. His eyes were totally gold now, his wolf fighting to stay in check.

"I should stop," he breathed, but his hands didn't move. They slid higher, tracing along my ribs.

"Can you?," I whispered.

He lifted me, my legs wrapped around him as he turned and placed me at the edge of his desk. Papers scattered on the floor and neither of us cared, his mouth found mine again, deeper than before, and now we were at eye level, pressed together with nothing between us, just thin layers of clothing.

My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt without thinking. His breath faltered as I pushed the fabric aside, my palms finding the warm skin of his chest. The muscles beneath my touch tensed as his wolf fought for control.

"Sera.." His voice was rough, strained.

"Shhh," I murmured against his mouth.

He growled, actually growled and the sound made my stomach flip. His mouth left mine, trailing down my jaw to my neck. I tilted my head back, a soft sound escaping my lips. His teeth grazed my skin and the threat of it made my heart pound.

"Kade," I gasped.

He pulled back just enough to look at me. His chest heaving, shirt half unbuttoned, hair completely disheveled, he looked wrecked. Beautiful, dangerous and completely undone.

His hands tightened on my waist and he leaned back in. My fingers traced down his exposed chest, feeling his skin burn underneath my touch. His wolf was howling, I could almost sense it through him, demanding, possessive, wanting everything.

My shirt was sliding up, his fingers touching more skin. I shivered, pulling him closer, and his other hand found the hem of my shirt too, starting to lift it..

The door opened.

Elena stood in the doorway holding the handle, her mouth fell open.

I saw her immediately over Kade's shoulder, her wide eyes taking in everything. Me on his desk, his shirt undone, my shirt pulled up, both of us flushed, breathless and clearly moments away from…

I froze.

Every muscle locked up, my hands stopped moving on his chest, my eyes went wide with horror.

Kade felt me go rigid, he turned his head.

Saw Elena, saw the way she was staring.

He stepped back from the desk so fast he nearly stumbled. His hands dropped from my waist in shock, he ran both hands through his hair, face turning so red.

"Elena.." he started.

She pressed her lips together, clearly struggling to keep a straight face. Then a slow smile spread across her face, warm and completely insufferable.

"I just came to check on you," she said, her voice perfectly calm. "I noticed your light was still on, thought you might need a reminder to go get some sleep." She glanced between us, her smile widening. "Clearly you're doing just fine without my help, goodnight then."

“Wait Elena, it's not…” Kade started.

She closed the door behind her. The silence that followed was thick enough to choke us.

I sat on his desk, my face burning so much that I thought my skin might actually catch fire. Kade stood a few feet away, shirt half open, hair a mess, staring at the closed door like it had personally insulted him.

Then I started laughing.

It just happened. The shift from desperate passion to this Elena's knowing grin, Kade's horrified expression, papers scattered everywhere…it was too much.

Kade looked at me, I was already doubled over, tears forming at the corners of my eyes. His expression changed, the mortification giving way to something lighter.

His lips twitched, then he was laughing too. Quiet at first, then harder, shaking his head and pressing a hand over his face.

"She's never going to let me hear the end of this, gosh," he said.

"Not a chance," I said between laughs.

We stayed like that until the tension dissolved completely, replaced by something warm and easy between us.

Eventually, Kade moved closer. He helped me down from the desk gently, his hands still on my waist. I fixed my shirt, he buttoned his.

We stood there, close and slightly breathless still.

"So," I said.

"So," he repeated.

His eyes met mine, his wolf still near the surface, still wanting.

He said nothing, Just reached out and took my hand. His fingers laced through mine slowly and carefully, like he was still learning how to do this.

I squeezed his hand, he squeezed mine too.

We stood there in the quietness of his study holding hands, and for the first time in a long while, everything felt like it was right.