𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐒 ━━ SARAH CAMERON

45

KADEN KNEW HE WAS stalling when he still didn't come up with a plan to get rid of Ward Cameron once and for all a week after what transpired between him and Sarah in her bedroom.

It didn't help that he was having second thoughts. With a loud groan, he dropped his forehead on the table in front of him, his eyes closed. No, he thought. I can't be thinking like that right now. Not after everything. He let out a sigh, feeling the strong urge to punch something.

This was everything he wanted to avoid; letting feelings get in his way. He knew he should have avoided Sarah, he knew this would lead to the inner conflict he was currently experiencing. But he couldn't help himself. She was impossible to ignore.

"Kaden?" Ward's voice filled his ears making him bite back a string of curses and tell him to fuck off. It was his house after all. "What are you doing? Are you alright?"

"Fine," he mumbled gruffly without looking at him, keeping his position. He didn't feel like moving to see his face. "Did you need something?"

"I just wanted to invite you to join us tonight," Ward said and this time, Kaden looked up. He sat straight and raised a brow at the older man. "You want me to what now?"

"A party," Ward tucked his hands in his pockets. "There will be a lot of people from work so-"

"I'm not coming."

"You have to," Ward insisted. "Look, Kaden, two special people will be present and I want everyone who works for me to be there. Do you understand me?"

"Fine." He was not in a mood to argue. All he wanted to do was leave this godforsaken office and head straight to that one room upstairs.

"Good," Ward clasped his hands together in front of him. "I will see you tonight." He eyed his current outfit which was a black shirt. Kaden had never bothered to look professional while he came to work and Ward never really paid attention. "And wear a suit, please."

"Sure," Kaden muttered. He didn't really have a suit, he'd need to go shop for one. The thought of doing that made him want to get drunk instead. Later, he promised himself internally.

Ward hummed, giving him a brief nod before leaving the office. He waited until he could no longer hear Ward's footsteps then he stood up. He hated what he was feeling; this uncontrollable urge to go see Sarah, knowing she was right there. He felt like he should do so. He had never experienced such a thing before.

It didn't help that he hadn't seen her all week since he was busy refurnishing his house. While the fire had spread everywhere, destroying everything in its path, the damage wasn't bad to the point where they would have to move out of the house completely. Kaden had spent a lot of money to get his house back together and he was successful in doing so. Blake, however refused to go back there. He said he was not ready after what happened and Kaden understood. He couldn't blame him. That was a pretty traumatising accident. Blake could've lost his life after all.

Sarah would get disappointed when she'd go at John B's place in order to see Kaden only to find that he wasn't there. She went there several times last week but he was never present. She didn't even see him at work as he hadn't come at all last week. For a brief moment, the thought that he was avoiding her crossed her mind because he did say all he ever had was mindless flings. She couldn't find the courage to call him or text him, thinking she was unwanted.

So when she saw the door to her room being pushed open and Kaden stepped in, she rose up from her bed in surprise. "You're here," she stated dumbly.

"I am," he pushed the door closed behind him. "How are you—"

"What's your deal?" Sarah cut off his question by one of her own. She stood near her bed, a good distance between them as her eyes stayed fixed on him. "You don't call, you don't text," she began listing and watched as the look of confusion that had overtaken Kaden's feature slowly dissolved. "You aren't around— not even in John B's house where you're supposedly staying. And funnily enough, this has never happened before because you're always around. So, I have to ask. Did what happened between us. . ." She trailed off, hoping he got the point.

"No," Kaden spoke. "I didn't— Nothing has changed." He reassured, ignoring how skeptical she still looked. "I've just been busy."

"Ignoring me for an entire week?" She scoffed, her insecurities going all over the place. "Clearly."

"I haven't been ignoring you." He leaned his back against the closed door. "I've just been really busy dealing with my house. You know, the one that your ex burnt. And also, Blake's been having nightmares about the fire. Some sort of trauma shit. I'm looking for a therapist or something for him but apparently Outer Banks lacks that."

"Oh."

His lips twitched at her dumbfounded expression. "Yeah, oh." He couldn't help but mimic.

"I can help. I know a couple of good therapists."

"Do you?"

Sarah rolled her eyes, "you could've texted."

"So could you."

"I didn't want to come off as. . ." She dug her mind for the right word, "clingy."

"That's never gonna happen." He walked towards her bed and sat down while she stood and stared at him, watching his every movement carefully. "Your dad's hosting a party tonight. He said it's important that I come."

"It's one of those kinda parties." She informed, her lips pulling up. "Super boring. Everyone dress up nicely and have long as hell conversations with people. Will you come?"

He shrugged, "depends."

"On?"

"Will I be seeing you in a pretty dress?" He asked, his eyes holding a sort of emotion that made her feel hot in all the right places. "One that I'll be able to take off later."

Her cheeks involuntarily turned red at his words. She wasn't sure she liked how easily he could have that effect on her, but at the same time she knew she didn't hate it. "I. . ." she swallowed thickly, clearing her throat. "Uh—"

Kaden bit his lower lip to fight off a smile. "I love it when you get all flushed like that." He reached out and wrapped his hand around her wrist, pulling her to him. She gasped at the unexpected action as she landed right on his lap. Her face was mere inches from his when he ducked his head a little so his lips were touching hers. "It's the hottest thing ever."

"Is it?" She whispered against his lips, placing her hands on either side of his face. Kaden hummed, one of his hand going to the back of her head, his fingers getting lost in the strands while the other settled on her hips. Then he took her bottom lip in between his teeth and tugged on it. Sarah felt her heartbeat sped up even more at his action and she couldn't help but close her eyes at the sensation.

However, Sarah couldn't take it anymore as she kissed him properly, taking control. Kaden groaned into the kiss as he pulled her closer, her legs on either side of his. She was straddling him. Her tongue slid inside his mouth, stroking his. The kiss was dirty, it came with several promises.

He couldn't help the sound that escaped him when she moved on his lap, grounding herself against him. His grip tightened on her hips but he didn't stop her. It felt too good. Sarah's hands went to his hair and played with them as she moved again and again desperate for more. She had never felt this needy before, neither had he.

After a few more seconds, he forced her to hold still. He broke the kiss, dropped his head to the crook of her neck and attempted to control his breathing. "S—"

"Sarah."

They both froze at the sound of Wheezie's voice just outside her door. Before either of them could react, the door was being pushed open rather abruptly. "Sar—" the youngest Cameron cut herself off, her jaw dropping when her eyes fell on the other person in the room. "Kaden?"