Cloud Riders(19)

Cassie understood by his lack of commitment that she was just company and a bit of fun. She needed to snap out of the fantasy she had of them being a couple and realise that he would never want more than friendship. What he offered her was more than she had ever had. She had to stop being selfish by wanting more.





Sleeping Beauty


Cassie had been on the farm for a couple of months and Kayden had just put her out to it.

‘Is she asleep, Kayden?’

He nodded. ‘Yes, our sleeping beauty will be out until we get back. I hate doing this to her, Jason.’

Jason shook his head. ‘Then tell her about us and see if she will join us. Rules are rules. Unless she joins us it has to be this way, bro.’

‘Yeah, I know. I need to talk to Zoren. She has powers that could really help us up there.’

‘In that case stop procrastinating and sort it out. You’re the boss and a female on our team is not an issue for us, dude—but it is for you. I have known you for centuries, man and never seen you so twisted up about a female. You shocked the shit out of me when you never moved her on. You could have rid yourself of her that first night. Shit, you could have left her for the car behind us to pick her up that first day but you saw her, even then. You really saw her, hey?’

‘Give it a rest, Jase. Yes, yes and yes to it all. My problem is whether she’ll handle taking orders from me. You know how I get when the mission takes me over.’

‘Yeah, we know. You can become a real prick if we stuff up but we get it and understand. You have a big responsibility up there and it drains you guiding us through it. But if she’s meant to be one of us, she’ll get it as we do.’

Kayden laughed. ‘You don’t have to be quite so Goddamned honest.’

‘Just keeping it real, dude. Hey! The guys are pulling up,’ Jason said, watching out the window. ‘We better get out of here unless you want them finding out about your sleeping beauty before you’re ready to bring her out of the closet. I can’t imagine with a mission in progress that you feel like explaining your new secret weapon.’

‘Good point. Not in the mood to clash with the boys tonight,’ Kayden said, getting up, kissing Cassie on the cheek and smoothing her hair back. ‘Sleep tight, little one.’

Jason chuckled. ‘Crikey, you have it bad, man. Have you slept with her yet?’

‘Jase, I’m not going there with you.’

‘So, I take that as a big fat no. You’re losing your touch and your balls, man.’

Kayden pushed the stirring shit out the room. Jason laughed so hard Kayden had to cover his goddamned mouth. ‘You could wake her. Quit your shit, Jase! I mean it.’

Jason put his hands up. ‘I give, okay? Cool it, dude.’

Woody, Conor and Ethan had already started getting the horses ready when Kayden and Jason reached the barn.

‘What’s on, boss?’ Conor asked Kayden.

Kayden looked around at his men. Woody, Jason, Conor and Jason’s brother, Ethan had been riding with him for as long as he could remember. They were a good, steady bunch who knew him like the backs of their hands. He roughly scraped his fingers through his hair, wondering if he could really join up a female. How would she add to the mix when none of them including himself could stand a female being around for longer than a few months? Yet here he was, considering the crazy notion. Cassie was different though and he wanted them to get to know her first. Yet every minute he had with her was precious and to share her was not easy for him to cope with. Even the night she spent in town with Jason nearly did him in.

He had been a hair’s breadth away from marching into town, throwing her over his shoulder and bringing her home when he’d heard Jason’s car in the distance. He grinned at how jealous he’d became, yelling at her like it was her fault any guy would want to be around her. Due to having such little self-esteem she had no idea how truly adorable she was. He’d felt like a real heel when she came to him and apologised. Apologise for what? Being the most beautiful woman on the frigging planet? Yeah right! Wait until this lot see her. He sighed deeply and felt sure he would lose her if he didn’t make her his by then. He groaned deeply, knowing just how badly he wanted to.

He eyed Jason as they hounded him as to why the boss never partied with the stars or stayed out late after a mission anymore. How long Jase could keep his mouth shut was also an issue. Kayden had to admit though he was impressed with his loyalty.

‘Boss, you in there?’ Conor asked, waving a hand in front of Kayden’s eyes. The action and look of concern snapped Kayden out of his thoughts and back into reality.