We Shall Rise (19 page)

“I lost because you’re an idiot,” the cowboy shouted.

“Kaden, let’s just go,” Julian pleaded. “We don’t need trouble.”

“I haven’t done anything wrong. I’m just playing. If cowboy doesn’t like the way I play, he should find another table.”

“Listen to your boyfriend and leave,” the cowboy mocked.

The cowboy was really starting to irritate Kaden now. “Look, dude, this is your last warning. I’m not usually this generous, but I’m giving you one last chance to fuck off before I throw you out. Either sit your greasy ass down and play another hand or shut up so I can play.”

Kaden turned to face the dealer, but his sharp periphery vision caught sight of the cowboy’s fist before it met his cheek. Humans were too slow. Using his quick reflexes, Kaden caught the man’s fist with his hand and squeezed tight breaking the man’s knuckles. The man cried out in agony as security approached. Kaden let go and stood up grabbing his remaining chips.

“Well little brother, now I’m ready to go.”

The two sped out the hotel before security could catch up to them. Outside they could hear a rather loud and poor rendition of Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” which was the song the famed Bellagio fountains were currently dancing to. There was a large crowd watching the fountains and the Celine wannabe. As they got closer, they spotted the singer standing on the railing in four inch suede blue Manolo Blahnik’s. An eerie feeling settled in the pit of Kaden’s stomach as he looked up and caught the waves of golden hair flowing in the breeze.

“You’ve got to be kidding me. You brought her?” Kaden asked Julian.

“Aunt Cori was determined to come with me. I couldn’t say no.”

They watched as the song ended waiting for the crowd to throw stuff at her, but to their surprise everyone cheered vociferously for her. Corinne bowed, jumped off the railing and marched over to them.

“I just love that song. Maybe I should sing another?”

Both boys simultaneously yelled out “no.” Corinne looked a bit insulted, but Julian quickly added, “I think we should leave. Now that we found Kaden, it’s best we move on.”

“I just don’t want to hear you sing ever again,” Kaden added.

Corinne punched him hard busting his lip. “Hey, you got your right hand back. Should I call Fi-Fi?”

Kaden ignored the remark. It was safer that way.

They followed Corinne as they walked down Las Vegas Boulevard. Kaden stopped at the New York New York casino and hailed a taxi. He directed the taxi to take them to a nearby strip club.

This was the stereotypical club that reeked of smoke, stale beer and horny unattractive humans vying for the attention of silicone enhanced strippers. Corinne frowned as two women danced suggestively in front of Kaden and Julian peddling their fake assets. Neither brother seemed particularly interested in the silicone twins although the eager women continued to flaunt and flirt.

“Not my idea of a good time,” Corinne complained.

“Then leave,” Kaden snapped. “I didn’t ask you to come.”

“You know, Kaden, I get why you’re upset but get over it. You’ve crossed the line of sympathetic to just pathetic. Stop being such a coward. You want the girl? Go get her. Stop hiding in the shadows while someone else takes what you want.”

“Aunt Cori’s right,” Julian added. “You’re acting unworthy of her.”

Kaden was stunned to hear that comment from Julian. “You’ve been telling me from day one that I was not worthy of her and now you’re acting as if I should be with her. I thought you wanted her.”

“If only I were so blessed. She would make the ideal mate, but unfortunately for me, she is not my mate, she’s yours. I cannot ignore the bond you share and neither can you. It is true I don’t think you are worthy of her, but you need to learn to become worthy. We don’t get to pick our mates. Bad luck for Reysa, but she drew the short straw and got you.”

Kaden should have been insulted by Julian’s words, but he felt the same way. Reysa deserved so much more than he could give yet she was the one for him. She was the one created for him to love. And he did love her. There was no point in denying it any longer. These two days without her had been hell.

“You need to go to her, Kaden. Apologize for being you and ask for a second chance. Earn her, deserve her. Give her a reason to choose you other than the bond you share.”

“Why are you helping me when you hate me?”

“I’m doing this for her. As someone who cares about her, the best thing I can do is help you to be worthy of her otherwise you’ll just hurt her like all your other victims. She’s the one you can’t afford to break.”

“I want to fix things with her. I also want to fix things with you, Jules.”

Julian turned away, unable to face his brother. There was a time Julian would have relished the opportunity to have a real relationship with Kaden. They had been so close once. Julian had idolized his big brother. Kaden had meant everything to him. He was not only his brother, but his best friend as well. The strain of their broken family had severed their bond.

Their father had clearly favored Julian. His disdain for his elder son so obvious. Julian never understood why. Daughton would say that Kaden was a curse, a blight on the family, but Julian would defend him. Daughton promised him that, one day, he would see Kaden for what he was and he would remember his father’s warning. Julian regretted not heeding that advice. As they grew older, Kaden set out to destroy everything that mattered to him. Julian could forgive almost all of it, but he would never forgive Kaden for taking Helena away.

Helena may have manipulated both of them, but Julian had loved her. Kaden should have stayed away. Julian knew he wasn’t being totally fair to Kaden about Helena. She used her succubus powers to seduce Kaden, but Kaden had flirted with her a number of times, setting the game in motion. Kaden wanted to hurt him and that’s the part he couldn’t forgive.

Julian had been one of Kaden’s biggest supporters, yet his brother turned on him time and time again. Julian would forgive and would stand by him only to be hurt by Kaden once again. Their father was not right about much, as Julian learned recently, but he was right about Kaden. Had Julian listened years ago, he could have avoided so much pain.

Julian faced Kaden. For a moment he was tempted to give in, but he would not be his brother’s victim ever again. “We can’t be fixed. It’s too late. The best I can offer is toleration. I will put up with you for the sake of our mother, and for the sake of Reysa, but I can’t be your brother in any meaningful way.”

Kaden expected that response, but a little part of him hoped for a miracle. He could not blame Julian for the way he felt. Kaden knew he deserved it. You couldn't undo a century of causing pain with a few empty apologies, but Kaden refused to give up on them. Not only would he earn Reysa’s love, he would earn his brother’s as well.

“I understand Jules, but I’m not giving up on us. One day I will convince you of how sorry I am for the mess I’ve made of our relationship.”

“That’s just it, Kaden. I do believe you’re sorry. You’re always sorry, but as soon as I give in you’ll turn around and destroy me again.”

“I’ve changed, brother. I wouldn’t hurt you.”

“That’s a chance I just can’t take. Not again.” Julian walked out of the club leaving Kaden with Corinne. She had been very quiet during the exchange, which was unusual for her. Corinne didn’t know the meaning of quiet. She always had an opinion and was always willing to express it whether it was welcomed or not.

“Come on, Aunt Cori, I know you’re dying to say something.”

Corinne sat up flipping her golden hair to one side. “Well, I do have a few thoughts. Don’t get mad, but I saw something like this on Oprah.” Kaden turned to leave. “Just hear me out for a minute, please.”

Kaden reluctantly sat back down. “There comes a time when words are not enough. You need to show Julian that he can count on you. That you can be the big brother he still so desperately wants but can’t admit to needing. He’s protecting himself as he should until you can show that he doesn’t need protection from you. This will take time. You have a lot to make up for, but you're worthy of forgiveness; you’re worthy of love. As soon as you believe it, others will open themselves up to you. At least you’re taking the right step with Jules. I’m proud of you for trying to undo the wrongs of the past.”

“Who the hell are you and where is my Aunt Cori?” Kaden laughed as he embraced her.

“Maybe I’m finally growing up too.”

“Just an hour ago you were belting out a Celine Dion song while standing on a railing wearing four inch heels at the Bellagio. You haven’t grown up that much.”

Corinne elbowed him in the ribs. “There’s nothing wrong with having a little fun once in a while.”

“True. Seriously though, what about you? How are you going to fix your relationship mess?”

“I have a little bit more growing up to do before I can fix my problems.”

Kaden hated to see that saddened look in Corinne’s eyes again. “If he can’t forgive you, then he doesn’t deserve you. As someone wise once told me, you need to forgive yourself first.”

Corinne nodded in agreement. “Who would have thought we could have such a deep conversation in the midst of human women shaking their plastic ginormous boobs in our faces. Well, I suggest we leave now otherwise, I’m going to work the pole. I’ve always been tempted. At least mine are real.”

Horrified, Kaden shouted, “Let’s go!” and sped out the club knocking over several tables and chairs. Corinne casually stood up taking one last look at that tempting pole. “Maybe another time.”

III

As soon as Reysa opened the front door of her home, she sensed him. Her body stirred, awaking from a two day slumber. Every ounce of her had missed him. Finally, she felt like she was coming back to life.

She wasn’t sure what to expect from him. There was so much anger when he left before, but now she was just so thrilled to finally be seeing him again. The last thing she wanted was another fight. Too much time wasted already. She eased open her bedroom door and saw him sitting on her bed, waiting for her. Her heart skipped a beat from anticipation.

Kaden knew he missed her, but seeing her now looking so sexy and desirable in the black leather dress that highlighted her luscious curves heightened the ache of longing that had haunted him these past two days. So often he had dreamt of tasting that tantalizing skin, soft as silk.

He came here to apologize, to offer her words of regret for his actions, but no words would form. His fangs elongated as his body grew painfully hard. He could wait no longer. He needed her now. He vaulted from the bed pressing her back against the door.

He could feel the tension in her body. He scented her need for him. Her desire matching his. He gently petted her cheek as he whispered in her ear, “I have to know.”

“H-have to know what?” Reysa struggled to ask. His simple touch was driving her to a heavenly madness.

“How delicious you taste.” Kaden’s body was glowing from the fire building up inside of him. He took a deep breath to temper the flames. He feared he might burn her with the intensity of his need. His desire was a burgeoning inferno that could only be extinguished by the joining of their flesh.

He placed his hands on the top of her dress. The heat instantly melting the straps. He slid his hands slowly down from her shoulders to her breasts to the secret pleasure waiting below melting the leather until all that was left were its ashes at her feet. “I’ll buy you another,” he promised.

Reysa was so close to an orgasm as her body smoldered from the heat of his touch. “Now I taste,” he warned as he worked his tongue from her jaw down to the valley between her breasts. “Chocolate. My favorite flavor."

Using that delectable tongue, he took her darkened nipple in his mouth sucking so hard her legs collapsed. He used his left had to keep her upright as he feasted from one breast to the other. He finally pulled away. The loss of that tongue eliciting a mournful groan from Reysa.

“Mousse. My favorite dessert."

Kaden dropped to his knees. Using his fangs, he sliced the straps of Reysa’s thong. Her perfect body was finally fully revealed to him. He licked his lips in anticipation as he spread her legs wider and tasted the treat he had craved the moment he saw her. “Caramel, my favorite topping.”

Reysa’s eyes nearly exploded from their sockets as Kaden feasted on her. Her knees buckled and she would have collapsed from the ecstasy, but Kaden caught her, easing her to the floor. His tongue never left her mound as he continued to savor the richness of her unique flavor. Reysa exploded several more times before Kaden finally eased back. He looked at her with such reverie that she had to fight back the tears that wanted to fall.

“Ditch the clothes, Kaden,” Reysa demanded as she tried to gather her composure.

He loved the forcefulness of her tone. He loved her strength. She was like no other woman he had ever known.

He stood up and began to disrobe.

“Slowly.” Reysa demanded. “I want to see every ounce of you.” Kaden obliged even though the strain of his engorged flesh nearly killed him.

Reysa watched as he peeled away his shirt displaying his divinely sculpted chest. She licked her lips wanting so desperately to trace them along his chest. Maybe the striptease was a bad idea. The anticipation was overwhelming.