Playing Wild: Tainted Love, #1

By Violet Rae

Cade
After six years, I've returned to my hometown - and to Lanie, the woman I left behind. I'm pretty sure she still hates me for the way I left - no note, no goodbye - just there one day and gone the next. But there are reasons I had to leave, why I had no choice but to let her go. The scars of my past run deep, and I know that a man like me can never truly be worthy of the love of a woman as sweet and pure as Lanie.

Lanie
When Cade left, I was devastated. I've tried to forget him, to move on with my life and forget the feel of his mouth on mine, his hands on my body. But now he's back, bringing with him all the feelings I've tried so hard to bury. Will the past continue to keep us apart, or can we find the courage to move on with our lives? Together?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Violet Rae
• Release date: May 31, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201416126

Book preview

Chapter One

Cade

I park the Porsche and cut the engine. My eyes wander to the familiar house, and I grimace as memories bombard me. It’s been years—too many and not enough. The pain is still there, burning like acid in my stomach and cancer in my brain.

I’ve never been religious. Praying never kept me safe from the abuse I suffered at my father's hands. Every Sunday morning, he would drag me to the church, so he could repent his sins before we returned to our shitty life.

Fucking hypocrite.

A movement captures my gaze, and there she is, walking down the path toward her car. Her long, blonde hair is swept up in a ponytail, exposing the sweep of her neck and jaw. Her deep blue eyes and pretty lips are seared into my brain, and my cock springs to life as I remember those lips on mine. Our first kiss had nearly become our first time together, and the heat of those memories still has the power to bring me to my knees.

My eyes travel up her long legs to her exquisite ass in her skinny jeans. Just looking at her from a distance gets me hard, and I’m already imagining the things I’d like to do to her—with her. Things I should’ve done a long time ago . . .

She’s always had this effect on me. She just never knew it.

Until one night six years ago when I made the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make. I left everything behind that night—including my heart—without saying goodbye or even leaving a note.

I’ve stayed away, giving her time to grow up and the chance to make her own choices—even if those choices no longer include me.

I’ve spent six years running away—but you can’t run away from yourself. I couldn’t tell her back then—she deserved so much more than I could give her. She was too young, and I was too fucked up. Maybe I still am.

She’s the reason I’m back here—and the reason I left in the first place. When I heard the news, I threw a few things into a bag and drove for two days straight to get here. She’s lost her grandmother, her last living relative. Her grandparents raised her after the death of her parents in a car wreck, and now Lanie thinks she’s all alone in the world. She’s not. She has me.

It won’t be easy—I’m sure she hates me for leaving. But I’m back now. Back to claim what’s mine.

Chapter Two

Cade

She’s as beautiful as I remember. The worn picture I’ve been carrying in my wallet for the last six years doesn’t do her justice. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve removed that photo, the hours I’ve spent gazing at it. I took it the last night we were together. We were at the lake, and the sun was setting, hitting her from behind and making a golden halo of her blonde hair. She looked like my own personal angel.

She still does, with her long, silky hair, rounded curves, and flashing blue eyes. A flush of color paints her cheeks and her chest rises and falls as she glares at me. There’s the feisty spirit I remember so well.

I need to take things slow, approach this situation carefully. She has every right not to trust me after the way I left.

I’m sorry about your grandma, I say softly, holding her wounded gaze.

My feelings for Gloria Manson are . . . were . . . complicated. She was a good person, but with the benefit of hindsight, she made a questionable decision—as did I.

My father was buried in this cemetery, but I had no desire to pay my respects. I had none to pay. The man was an abusive alcoholic. Drinking killed him, and I can’t pretend to be sorry. No power on earth could’ve dragged me back here for my father’s funeral, but I had to come back when I heard about Gloria. I couldn’t stand the thought of Lanie dealing with this alone.

Why did you leave? Lanie demands, getting straight to the point.

I take a step closer, and her fresh womanly scent wraps around me. It makes me hard enough to poke a hole in the church wall behind me, although I know somewhere infinitely softer and warmer I’d like to sink my aching cock. It’s . . . complicated.

Wow, that’s all I get after six years? she demands, vibrating with anger. Do you have any idea how it felt when you walked out of my life without a word? Didn’t I at least deserve to know you were still alive? You were my best friend!

The word friend slides down my spine like ice. She’s right. We were friends. But I wanted so much more than friendship from her, which is why I left.

I wish I could go back to that night six years ago and give it a different ending.

Yeah. Right. Who am I trying to kid? I had nothing to offer her back then. Nothing but a shitload of baggage and dead-end prospects.

But that’s not true anymore. There’s a chance I could be worthy of her now. The nineteen-year-old kid who left here certainly wasn’t. But I’m not him anymore. I’ve made something of my life and the only thing missing, the only person missing, is Lanie.

Lanie

I climb into the car and make the familiar drive across town. It’s not far, and twenty minutes later, I park up, scoop up the bouquets from the passenger seat, and make my way to the rear of the church where the cemetery is. This place has so many bittersweet memories. Everyone I’ve ever loved is buried here—my parents, my beloved grandpa, and most recently, my grandma. The sheer number of mourners at her funeral a week ago was a fitting testament to the woman she was.

Like my parents, Gloria Manson was here one minute and gone the next, courtesy of a massive stroke. I’m grateful it was quick for her, and she didn’t suffer. So now I’m alone in the world—an orphan.

My mouth lifts in a bitter little smile. I once thought I’d have the man I loved by my side to help me through this kind of grief. I was such a fool to believe Cade would stick around because of me. There were too many traumatic memories for him here, memories even I couldn’t heal.

I kneel next to the graves—my parents and grandparents are buried next to one another. I clear some weeds from their graves before laying the flowers against the headstones. I place my hand against the loose earth where they buried Grandma as if I’ll somehow feel her warmth and love radiating through the soil. Grief envelops me in its cruel grip, and I allow my tears to fall.

It always killed me to see you cry, Lanie.

My head snaps up at the familiar timber of that voice. Shock and disbelief slide through my veins as my eyes focus on the man in front of me.

Cade?

My voice breaks as his name escapes my lips. I’m not sure whether to throw myself into his arms or slap his annoyingly handsome face.

He looks amazing. Broad shoulders, narrow waist, all bristling masculinity in a designer button-up shirt and jeans—a far cry from the scruffy kid I met with the split lip and bruises. Looks like someone is doing well for themselves.

Feeling at a disadvantage, I rise to my feet, brushing the grass from my jeans with shaking hands. He's even taller than I remember and towers over me despite the three-inch heels on my boots.

His dark-brown hair is neatly styled—a far cry from the scruffy look I remember. My fingers itch as I recall what it was like to run my fingers through it and how his mouth felt on mine. I clench my teeth and school my features to hide my weakness.

I was nine when we met, and Cade was twelve. Our friendship may have looked odd from the outside, but we were inseparable back then. But six years ago, he up and left without a word. I haven’t seen or heard from him since.

Until now.

His sudden appearance has me on the back foot, and I glare at him. What are you doing here?

I needed to see you, Lanie.

Lanie

I take a step back from Cade, putting some distance between us. I need to think, and I can’t do that with him standing so close, addling my senses.

You can’t show up here after all this time and expect everything to be okay, I say angrily, crossing my arms over my chest.

I didn’t expect that, Cade admits.

"Then why did

Reviews for Playing Wild

[Debbie DiFiore · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Just sex and a little bit of story. He waited for six years and was celibate to come and get her. Then all they do is have sex. they are both virgins and they have an HEA. I liked that his Mom remembered him. It could have been a great story but the raunchy sex stuff just put me off. Plus its a short story and only took fifteen minutes to read.