Free Darkest Caress by Cross Kaylea Page A

is it?” She didn’t want to see anyone right now. Maybe ever.
    “Cade.”
    She groaned in annoyance. Why was he still here? “What do you want?”
    “I forgot my phone.”
    Liv glanced around, spotted it on the ottoman. She snatched it up and stalked to the front door. Flinging it open, she shoved the phone at him just as Daegan’s Porsche pulled out of her driveway.
    “Thanks.”
    She nodded but didn’t look at him, gazing instead after the car. It annoyed her that she even cared he was leaving. What did she care where he went? But when the vehicle turned the corner and disappeared from view, a sharp twinge hit her square in the chest.
    She gasped, pressed a hand there. God, was she going to have a heart attack now?
    “You’d better go in and sit down.”
    She jumped and looked over at Cade. “I’m f—” Another flash of pain almost sent her to her knees. Beneath her palms, her heart pounded frantically. But then the fear was surpassed by a loneliness so sharp it felt like a spike in her chest. Sudden tears burned her eyes. God, she felt gutted . Utterly devastated. Despite her efforts to stop it, her chin quivered. “What’s…happening?”
    “Easy.” Cade gently took her by the elbow, helped her straighten before leading her back into her family room. “It’s because he’s gone,” he explained, seating her on the couch where she immediately curled into a miserable ball. “Once the Heat Cycle begins, both mates suffer when they’re apart.”
    She heard the words but didn’t understand them. “It can’t be true,” she gasped, wiping at the tears flowing down her cheeks. No matter how hard she tried she couldn’t get a grip on herself. “This can’t be real.”
    “I understand how you feel.”
    “I n-never cry,” she choked out. “I h-hate crying.” Her shoulders jerked with fresh sobs, but she was too angry to be embarrassed. “W-will it g-go away?”
    Cade gave her a rueful smile. “Nope. It only ends once mates have bonded.”
    Bonded. It sounded so deep and…permanent. How could this be happening? She didn’t know him. Wasn’t sure she even liked him. “B-but he’s g-gone.” What if he never came back? She doubled over at the thought, crying in earnest.
    Cade laid a solid hand on her shoulder. She flinched, but felt only simple comfort in the contact. No heat or any weird emotional reaction. Nothing like when Daegan touched her. “He won’t go far, trust me. Not when he knows you’re suffering like he is.”
    She met Cade’s bright green eyes. Daegan was hurting like this too?
    “Oh, yeah.”
    She blinked. Could he read her mind?
    He smiled, as though he knew what she was thinking. “I know none of this makes sense to you, but it will.” Cade was so calm. Like he’d planned out this whole speech.
    She tried to glare, but she doubted she pulled it off with the tears coming hard and fast. “Y-you forgot your ph-phone on purpose, d-didn’t you?”
    He grinned, affirming her suspicions. “If it’s any consolation, I’ve known Daegan a long time. He’s the best. You’re lucky to have him as your mate.”
    Lucky? How did any of this make her lucky? “How old are y-you, anyway?” she demanded.
    He stood, equal parts sympathy and amusement in his eyes as he turned to go. “Almost two hundred.”

Chapter Four
     
    After another night of endless sexual torture Daegan walked through his front door, barely keeping his eyes open. He dragged his sorry ass inside to find Cade already seated at the island, drinking coffee.
    His cousin raised one golden brow at him as he stumbled into the sunny kitchen. “Rough night?”
    “Fuck off.”
    Cade laughed and slid an empty mug across the island to him, looking fresh and relaxed after a night of sex with whichever woman he was currently screwing. Daegan never bothered trying to keep track. “Pot’s fresh. Help yourself.”
    Daegan grunted and poured himself a cup, his body perking up at the prospect of some hot caffeine. He