↳ 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐑 ━ 𝐒𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐋

𝐕𝐈 ー 𝐃𝐈𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓

▣

Sierra wrings her hands while Kaden pulls a shirt over his chiselled torso, unaware of her longing gaze roaming over him without shame. She chews her bottom lip thoughtfully.

"I don't think me staying here is a good idea."

He turns with his hands on his hips. "I can keep an eye on you here."

"So can your brother."

"I don't think he'll come near you after yesterday."

"Well I need clothes and... Stuff. My bag of belongings you kept isn't enough and as much as I'd like to keep borrowing your clothes, I need my own things."

"I like seeing you in my clothes."

She smiles at his innocent tone. "I know you do. Listen I can either go back to my place or we can go shopping. I really don't want to do the first." Not after Amy.

With a serious face he grabs his wallet. "Wait I didn't meanー" Her mouth closes once he slides a gun under the back of his shirt. "Okay then."

□ ■ □

Having spent the majority of the day out of the house, Sierra almost bounces alongside him as they stroll back through the mall. Bags held in one of his hands because he's too stubborn to let her carry them. Even if most of them are light. And even if he's still healing from a gunshot wound.

There's something for Eiza and Diego in one of the many bags. A thank you for saving him and for saving her life too.

"This was nice." She confesses. The growing weight on her shoulders seeming to ease after their day spent together like a normal coupleー if you could even call them that. "I needed this. Thank you." He kisses the top of her head when her arms slip around his right one.

The glances cast in his direction from other women don't go unnoticed by her, but each one goes unnoticed by him. Every single pair of hungry eyes that rake over him from head to toe are completely ignored.

Similarly the looks thrown her way are disregarded, but not by him. One glimpse of her and other men are drawn in until they survey Kaden. Then they immediately turn away and continue walking.

Catching sight of his reflection in a nearby window, he pauses to scan the indigo bruise by the outer corner of his eye. Bottom lip still marked with the small cut. The memories of the argument with his brother only now returning to the front of his mind as he stares at his image with disdain.

Turning to find him no longer by her side, Sierra retraces her steps. With a hand on his jaw she gently guides his attention to her angelic smile.

"It'll be okay." She's not entirely sure of it herself but she can't deny that she hates seeing him like this.

Nodding faintly he takes her small hand in his. She lifts it to kiss the ink and he swears his chest tightens. She's oblivious to the effect she has on him. Already pointing to something in a distant store window and chatting about it. In this moment he realises he needed this too.

Eventually they arrive back at the house. Grayson rises from the couch to speak to his brother, face quickly morphing into a look of indignation when Sierra appears behind him.