~RYAN'S POV
I CAN'T BELIEVE MY FATHER! First he told me he didn't know Casselba. He feigned ignorance when I brought up her tattoos and he always remained inactive in our mind connection.
Then just when I had finally convinced Casselba to let me take a peek into her head, he strode in; with that rugged swagger that all my female lecture-mates could not stop talking about. He was fucking unbelievable, and I hated it because I actually admired him. I could never hate Caden. He had that calm confident air about him and he had always being a constant in my life.
Always.
The moment his car swerves around into the driveway, I leap across the room from the curtain where I had been peeking for his arrival. I hurry down the flight of the manor.
The huge mahogany double doors slowly open and he glides in, his suit jacket slung over one arm.
After our very awkward mostly-silent meeting in Casselba's office, I had stomped to my car and drove off. Caden drove off also. I had then spent the last six hours waiting for him to finally be tough and come back home. I was furious.
How dare he draw up a contract when he said he didn't know her?
The few hours spent alone did not in any way assuage my anger. I was even more furious. Not to mention his spontaneous entrance dulled the solid boner I had been carrying.
I glare at him as he stands in front of the massive doors.
"I'm sorry, Ryan," he says, just like that.
And just like that, the angry cloud over my head dissipates.
I understood my father. What we were both experiencing was new and wild, and adventurous. Wanting the same woman would never in a million years be on my 'father/son bucket' list.
I walk closer to him.
"Have the both of you met before?"
He tries to avoid my eyes.
"Don't lie to me. We have a mind link remember?"
"Why do you ask?" Caden says.
I give him my most blasé look.
"Are you kidding me?"
He just shrugs.
"Fine. Let's see, you strode in there like you owned the place, then you straight-up offered her a contract. A sex contract!" I growl.
Caden doesn't reply. He goes into his usual silent mode for some seconds and we just hold each other's gazes. I almost think he would walk away when he lowers his head.
"I have been thinking a lot about her, our bizarre dreams and everything, but we actually met in a club I visited.."
"...the Inferno?" I interrupt.
Caden's head whips up.
"I thought you didn't know if we met before?"
"I just wanted to see if you are finally ready to accept our connection. I was in Casselba's head for a few seconds so I saw everything."
"Everything?" Caden questions.
"Yes. Everything she saw with her eyes; the club, the mirror, you in the mask... But that doesn't explain why you just strode in with a prepared contract."
"It's what we all want. We share a mind link remember?"
"Touché! Dad," I mutter. He was feeding me back my own words.
We stay silent again for a while.
"I think we should call her. Set up a date, you know. Get to know each other like normal people. We can't always communicate through our mind. Besides, that way, we can get to know her well. Then maybe we can discuss the details of the contract."
"I understand," Caden says, "Do you want to call her?"
"No. I think you should do it." I reply.
We stand awkwardly then. This is the moment when we're supposed to hug and smile at each other, but we don't. My father and I did not do cuddles.
So I turn around and walk back up the stairs. At the top, I hear the beeping of his phone. He was calling her. Typical Caden Hallow. He didn't waste precious time.
When he saw something he loved, he always did everything to protect it. My mother and I were proof enough, and now, I think we finally found someone to love.