Chapter 89. Addictive (18+)

CADE

It used to disgust me—this closeness. The thought of holding someone like this, of allowing another body next to mine.

After everything that happened to Honey, after what Elite did, how could I ever think of letting anyone in again? I kept thinking I didn’t deserve it. That if I got to feel warmth again, it would make me forget what happened. And I never wanted to forget.

So I signed myself up for Elite’s system. The points and the casualness of it all. I told myself I could go through the motions. I could bed anyone. Charm my way through the ranks and maybe get closer to answers.

But I could never go through it. Every time someone reached for me, it was like a switch flipped. The bile would rise. My chest would lock up. It was always just pretending.

Until Arden.

With her, I didn’t need points.

I care so damn much about her.

I don’t want to touch her just to feel something.

I want to touch her because I love her. Because he