Chapter 53 Expensive Lights
Chapter 53 Expensive Lightsp
ARDEN
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The view from our seat was absolutely unreal. Cade and I found ourselves at a hotel half an hour away from Elite, where he had ordered an impressive spread for our dinner.
As I gazed out the window, I could see Elite shimmering from a distance, its bright lights and the tall trees surrounding it making it stand out like a jewel in the night.
Turning back to Cade, I noticed he was silently cutting up the steak.
“You didn’t have to bring me here, you know?” I said<b>, </b>awkwardly pretending to fixate on the massive chandelier above us rather than acknowledging the significance of this <b>night</b><b>. </b>
He gave a small nod and pushed the te of meat toward me. My eyes lit up at the sight, and I immediately seized a piece with my fork.
“I know,” he muttered, crossing his arms over his chest as he watched me devour my food. “But I don’t want to catch my on camera, and I’m guessing you wouldn’t want your first time to be <b>in </b>the Flite mansions.”
I swallowed my bite.
Fair. I couldn’t refute <b>his </b>ims.
Yet the reality hit me all over again–we were going to film ourselves as proof.
Cade must have sensed the hesitation in my eyes, as he slowly turned to me and said, “You don’t have to worry.
“I’m not worried,” I lied under my breath, though I could tell he wasn’t convinced.
“The video won’t circte,” he assured me. “Especially not to Headmaster Winters”
I furrowed my brows in <b>confusion</b>. “What do you mean?”
unit.
“Il erase it before he can retrieve it.” He spoke so casually, but there was an unmistakable conviction in his words that put me at ease. “So just befortable.”
After that, he turned <b>away</b>, but his words settled warmly in my chest igniting <b>a </b><b>small </b>smile that crept across my lips before I could stop it.
“You’re actually… very kind, you know?” I muttered<b>, </b><b>mid</b>–<b>bite</b>.
He froze, wine ss halfway to his lips<b>, </b>and slowly turned to me with a frown. “What are you talking about?”
“I mean..” I <b>hugged </b>my arms around myself, trying to gather my <b>thoughts</b><b>. </b>“Why are you going out of your way to do this?”
His frown softened, but he didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he cast his gaze down to his hands <b>and </b><b>shook </b>his head slightly.
“Because it’s the right thing to do,” he replied <b>vaguely</b><b>. </b>I noticed the flicker of guilt sweep across his features before he shook it off with a breath.
Ok, he must be thinking about his special someone.
His gaze lifted back to mine–
But why did you change your mind?” he asked.
It seemed like you were convinced not to sleep with anyone until you graduated.
I opened my mouth to respond, then closed it again, unsure how to exin the heat that still lingered on my skin from that macht —the way I had clung to him, and low, even now, I felt safer standing in this space with him than <b>I </b>could have <b>ever </b>unagined.
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Chapter 53 Expensive Lights
“I just have a feeling that you can protect me,” I finally answered.
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My response hung awkwardly for a moment. Clearing my throat, I added, “Besides, after this, I wouldn’t be seen as desirable by the other men, especially the True <b>Alphas </b>anymore.”
“For sure, they wouldn’t pester <b>me </b>after you’ve imed my virginity.”
Cade tilted his head at me, an amused glint in his eyes. “I’m <b>not </b>so sure about that,” he whispered, making me wonder if I’d heard him correctly.
“Huh?<b>” </b>
“Nothing.” he muttered quickly, grabbing his water <b>and </b>finishing it in one go.
In that moment, the air between us became charged with tension. He held <b>his </b>gaze on me a moment longer before cing the ss down and stepping closer.
His hand extended toward me, and his voice dropped to a low, inviting tone. “So,” he asked, “do you want to go?”
I looked at his palm. The light from the chandelier caught the veins in his wrist, illuminating the way his fingers flexed ever so slightly, <b>waiting</b>.
I ced my <b>hand </b>in his.
His skin was warm, and his grip was steady.
When he gently pulled me toward our room, I instinctively followed.
The moment we arrived at the hotel room, the reality of <b>the </b>situation felt more tangible than ever.
*Seriously, how do people do <b>this</b>?” I muttered, already feeling awkward.
I had just finished showering, and now I was waiting for Cade to emerge from the bathroom.
A few momentster, he stepped out<b>, </b><b>his </b>upper body bare and only <b>a </b>towel draped over his lower half.
He sat on the edge of the bed, his damp hair falling messily <b>over </b>his forehead, his skin flushed from the hot shower. He radiated an aura of casual confidence, unbothered by the moment.
<i>Of </i>course, he must have done this multiple times before. Meanwhile, I was in a robe that felt paradoxically too thin yet too heavy all
at once.
“I’ll only turn on this light,” he said, reaching toward the bedsidemp. “That way, we won’t be as visible.”
I nodded, <b>though </b>I <b>wasn’t </b>entirely sure if I understood what he meant. The warm amber light flickered on, casting a soft glow across the room.
“Okay,” I murmured.
Cade sat back again, resting <b>his </b>forearms <b>on </b><b>his </b><b>thighs</b><b>, </b>and his gaze drifted over to me,
“Are we live yet?” I asked, trying to make a joke, though it came out breathless and uncertain.
He shook his head. “No. 1 figured <b>you </b>might need more time,”
You figured right,” I replied, biting the inside of my cheek in nervousness.
There was <b>a </b>long pause during which neither of us spoke. Goodness, could this get even <b>more </b>awkward! How do people <b>just </b>start doing these dingst
Then, somewhat awkwardly, I suggested, “Should we start with a.. kiss
Cady looked up slowly and nodded once. “If that’s what you want.”
I stepped closer, hesitant. My bare feet padded softly against the carpet as my hand instinctively reached out, brushing
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Chapter 53 Expensive Lights
against his shoulder before resting lightly on his chest. His <b>skin </b>was warm beneath my palm, firm and solid.
He tilted his head just slightly and leaned forward. When our lips finally met, it was… slow. Slower <b>than </b>I’d anticipated. He kissed me gently, without any pressure or force, seemingly waiting to see if I would <b>pull </b>away.
But I didn’t.
Instead, I leaned in.
My hand slid to the back of his <b>neck</b>, fingers threading into the damp ends of his hair. Cade’s hand found its ce against my waist–not pulling me in, just grounding me where I stood.
His mouth moved over <b>mine </b>again, this time deeper.
Although we had kissed multiple times, there was something different about this moment. Maybe it was because his skin was bare beneath my touch, or because my robe had loosened slightly at the cor, or perhaps I <b>just </b>wanted to forget everything else that didn’t matter right then.
He pulled back first, his breath brushing against my cheek.
<b>“</b>You okay?” he asked, concern heard in his voice.
He had be kinder since the moment I first met him, but I still <b>wasn’t </b>used to receiving this kind of warinth from him. I nodded, my lips tingling. “Yeah.”
It didn’t feel bad at all. In fact, I found myself feeling hot, as if I somehow <b>wanted </b>to rush things along.
No, bad idea, Arden! This was just a transaction.
Still, I wrapped my
arms around his neck and looked deeply into his eyes.
“Alright,” I whispered, a sense of determination rising within me. “Let’s do this.”