Chapter One
“I need you to help her, Kade. She’s dying inside, and there’s nothing I can do to bring her out of it,” Steven Clark said.
Kade Edwards looked over at his long-term partner and pain in the ass. He’d been with Steven for three years, and they’d been friends before that. Even after all this time together Steven could still piss him off. Their relationship was solid—apart from one little problem. Steven wasn’t a submissive, and Kade needed one in his life. Also, they’d both agreed that they missed a woman. Before either of them had taken the next step with each other, they’d both enjoyed women. Kade had never lied to Steven about his need for a female in their lives, and neither had Steven.
However, getting a woman to agree to be their third was a lot more difficult than Kade had anticipated. Last year he’d seen Gavin achieve that with his lover and woman. He’d also seen plenty of couples around Creek Valley achieve it. Kade really hoped to find the woman for them.
Holly Walker was not that woman. She worked for Steven in the offices at the ranch, but she was a timid little thing. A big woman as well, her hips and tits were large, but she did have a tiny waist. She also wore big, baggy clothing. Kade couldn’t recall a time when he’d seen her in anything but jeans, and not that snug fit either. And a sweater. Even in summer she wore a bloody sweater.
Holly was known around Creek Valley to those who paid attention as being the main care-giver to her siblings. Her mother was a whore who slept around with anyone who’d have her, and her father drank. In fact, both parents drank, and neither of them were responsible for the other children they’d brought into the world.
He was not looking for a timid woman.
“No, it’s not happening. I’m not dealing with her, Steven. I can’t even believe you hired her. Does the girl own anything other than a fucking sweater?” he asked.
“Don’t be mean. Holly is a lovely girl, and she needs a firm hand. Her parents are useless. You know this. She has to handle her younger brothers and sisters,” Steven said, arguing his point.
“What about the eldest brother? He works on my ranch, and I know he helps Holly. I’ve seen them leaving together.”
“John helps her, but I’m not talking about helping her in that way. Holly needs a dominant man, Kade. She needs to have someone take away all responsibility and to simply take care of her.”
Kade shook his head. He wasn’t going to let this one slide. There was no way he was going to let Steven convince him on this matter.
“I said no. I want a woman who can take our passion. Not a woman who wears a sweater at all times of the year and also looks afraid of her own shadow. It’s not going to happen.”
Steven stormed up to him, poked him in the chest, and started ranting. “For a man who doesn’t want anything to do with her you’ve taken into account her dress sense and the fact she leaves with her brother. What else have you looked at?” Steven asked.
“Her hips and tits are too large. We don’t want a woman like that, and you can’t convince me we do.”
“I think you need to take a long hard think about what you’re saying. If you don’t want her then why the hell are you always looking at her?”
Taking a step back, Kade looked at his lover.
“I’m asking you to take your time with her. She’s wound so tight, and she’s submissive. If you don’t take this opportunity then I know someone else will, and they may not treat her with the respect she deserves.”
A knock at the door interrupted them from their conversation. Kade took a seat on the sofa along the far wall.
“Come in,” Steven said.
Holly stood in the doorway. Kade tensed as he took in her face. There were bruises around her left eye.
“I’m here, Sir,” she said, looking down at the floor.
“What the hell happened to you?” Steven grabbed her chin, turning her face this way and that.
“Nothing, I fell down the stairs. Nothing happened. Is there anything you need me to do immediately?”
Kade stared at her bruised eye, and anger consumed him. The only way those marks could appear on her face was if she’d walked into a fist, not down the stairs.
“Come here,” Kade said.
Her glance went to him then to Steven.
“Go to him.” Steven guided her over to where Kade sat. Looking at her bowed head and shaking body, Kade’s heart broke. He saw the responsibility resting inside her. John, her brother, held himself in the same kind of way. On Holly it made her look broken and scared.
Standing up, Kade was struck by how small she was. She only came to his chest, and her brown hair was wound up in a ponytail. The length was short and when it was down would probably only rest mid-way down her back.