Vow of Surrender

Chapter Twenty-Five

Caedance groaned as the hangover headache thundered in her skull. She couldn't remember how much she had to drink the night before or what she'd said or done. Or how she had gotten home. Wasn't she at a dinner?

Shit . . . now she remembered. She'd gone to dinner at Adam's parents' house and he'd showed up with another woman.

"I'm such an idiot."

She turned over on the bed and realized she was naked. Butt naked. Her memories rushed back and she vaguely remembered inviting Koda back to her place after the dinner. Why was he her weakness? Why did she always go running back to him in between relationships? Sure, he was good in bed and hot as hell but they weren't compatible. Two Doms couldn't be together when neither was willing to submit to the other.

"Oh, shit. Please tell me we didn't . . ."

Rather than try and piece things together from memory, she wrapped herself in the sheet and got up. She opened her door and poked her head into the hall. She didn't see Koda, but she could hear something in her kitchen. She signed then made the walk of shame down the hall and through the living room. She could see her clothes laying all over the floor.

Sure enough, Koda stood at her stove cooking what smelled like bacon. There was a plate of corn bread already on the counter. His hair was wet like he'd showered.

"You gonna keep staring at my ass or come talk to me?"

She rolled her eyes. "It smells good in here."

Caedance shuffled over to the stove and looked at what he was doing. Oddly enough, she wasn't embarrassed to be around him in nothing but a sheet. He'd seen everything there was to see, and as her previous mentor she trusted him in ways she could never trust anyone. Escept maybe Adam.

"How you feeling?" he asked.

"Like shit run over twice."

"Here, drink this." He handed her a cup of something hot. "My momma swears by it."

Without hesitation, she took a sip. Immediately her stomach felt ten times better and her headache eased up a bit. Her grandmother used to give this to her when she had any malady.

It was scary how easy it was for him to get her into sub space. She was a dom through and through, but something about Dakota Drake made her obey without question. she wondered if it was like that with Adam in regards to her.

"Koda . . . last night . . . did we?"

"I think I lost count. We barely made it through the door before you rode me like a bronco at a saloon. Then I had you bent over the kitchen table, and by the time we made it to your bedroom, we were both spent."

Her stomach turned, and it wasn't the hangover this time. Why had she done it? Oh, because Adam had moved on and she hadn't handled it well.

Koda chuckled. "Caedance, I'm messing with you. You took your clothes off in the doorway and passed out on the floor. I tucked you in your bed and slept on the couch."

She smacked his shoulder, and he laughed probably because he'd forgotten how hard she could hit.

"You asshole! Why did you play me like that?"

"I'm sorry You're just so fun to mess with."

Caedance sighed as she finished the weird but tasty concoction he'd given her. "If I hadn't passed out . . . would you have slept with me?"

He stopped stirring the eggs and looked at her. "No. I came home with you to make sure you were okay. I wouldn't do that to my brother. That ditz he had on his arm won't be around long because she isn't you. He'll come to his senses."

"Are you sure about that? He was so hurt the other night. I shouldn't have said what I did about breaking him in."

"You're just guarded. You thought if you said it you might believe it."

He took two plates out of her cabinet then loaded them up. He also had butter and honey for the cornbread. She left the room to slip into some clothes and came back in a t-shirt and cotton shorts. The drink made her feel so much better, and she had an appetite now.

"I think you should tell my brother about Luke," Koda said.

"I did."

"Did you? Or did you give him the censored version?"

She took a bite of eggs before answering. "Why dredge up all that garbage? It's been a year."

"Because he needs to understand why you're so scared of letting him in."

Tears stung her eyes. "The last time I gave everything to a man, he betrayed me in the worst way. I can't just shut that off."

"No one blames you. Believe me, I was as shocked and disgusted as you were. Luke was my friend too."

Caedance often forgot about that. After Koda and she had been training for some time, he introduced her to Luke. Luke had expressed having no luck finding a Dom who he vibed with, and they had clicked within five minutes of talking in one of the private booths at Scorched Earth.

Hw moved in six months after they got together. At first, everything was great. Almost too good to be true. But as business picked up and she worked longer hours, he was left alone more and more and he got lazier and lazier, not to mention shadier.

"I know in my heart Adam is different. But I thought the same about Luke."

"Hey. I know I jumped the gun there. He had me fooled. But I've known my brother longer than I've known Luke. Adam has always treated his women right. He puts others first in every aspect. He took care of me and our sister as kids. Sure, he has a temper but he would never raise a hand against you. Only for you."

"My heart knows that, but I can't get that image of him and that woman out of my head."

"Please, I bet my left nut he hasn't slept with her. In fact, I'm so confident I would bet both nuts."

That had her laughing. Koda was a good friend. Even though he had a reputation, he wasn't primal all the time. He was sweet under his intense exterior.

Then an idea came to her. A completely wild and stupid idea. But she needed to make a grand gesture.