Housebound with the Blackridge Heirs novel Chapter 68

**Change Begins With You — Jayden Collins**

**Chapter 68**

**Maya**

Even before Caden took a single step toward me, I could sense the storm brewing within him, the tension crackling in the air like electricity.

He was furious. But it wasn’t the kind of fury that erupted in loud shouts or wild gestures. No, it was far more dangerous than that.

He moved with a kind of quiet intensity, like a tempest restrained within a fragile human form, the silence around him thickening with every breath he took, as if the very walls of the house might shatter if he dared to speak.

The moment my figure emerged in the doorway, his piercing gaze locked onto mine, and I felt an unsettling shiver run down my spine. The wolf within him was barely contained, its presence shimmering through his striking blue eyes, the shape of his shift pressing insistently against the boundaries of his control.

“Caden?” I breathed, my voice barely above a whisper, laced with uncertainty.

He remained silent, his focus unwavering.

Instead, he advanced toward me, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm, his jaw clenched so tightly that I could see the muscles twitching beneath his skin. A surge of heat coursed through me, sharp and bewildering, even as my stomach plummeted with unease.

He looked as if he wanted to tear the very fabric of the world apart.

He looked as if he wanted to tear me apart.

Yet, there was no fear in my heart—only a strange thrill that danced along my skin.

His hand closed around my wrist—not with aggression, but with a firm grip that conveyed both strength and restraint. He pulled me toward the staircase, his movements fluid and predatory, yet he never yanked or hurt me. Each step was charged with a wild energy, a trembling tension that vibrated between us.

“Caden, wait—” I protested, but my words were swallowed by the air around us.

He continued his ascent, each stride purposeful and deliberate, guiding me along as if I were the prey he had chosen to claim.

When we reached the hallway, he halted abruptly, pivoting to confront me with an intensity that stole my breath away.

“What,” he demanded, his voice low and trembling with barely contained emotion, “was that between you and Tylon?”

My breath caught in my throat, panic rising.

“I… I don’t know,” I stammered, my heart racing.

“Bullshit.” His chest expanded sharply with the force of his words. “I saw the way you looked at him.”

His accusation struck a nerve, shattering something within me.

“You can be angry with me, but don’t treat me like a child,” I shot back, yanking my wrist free from his grasp.

“Maya.” His voice dropped an octave, heavy with emotion. “I’m angry because I don’t want to lose you. And I’m angry because I can’t trust myself to think clearly when it comes to you.”

Those words halted me in my tracks.

He stepped closer, invading my space and pinning me against the wall without any physical contact, his breath mingling with mine, his fists clenched at his sides as if he were battling an inner turmoil.

“I’m angry,” he murmured, his voice raw, “because the very thought of someone else touching you drives me insane.”

Something reckless stirred within me, igniting a fire that felt both exhilarating and dangerous.

“Then stop holding yourself back,” I whispered, my voice trembling with urgency.

His eyes widened, just a fraction, but it was enough to embolden me.

In a rush of courage, I seized his shirt, yanking him down to me, and pressed my lips against his with a fervor that surprised even myself.

The sound that escaped him—a mix of a growl and a groan—set every nerve in my body ablaze. His hands slammed against the wall beside my head, as if he were struggling not to crush me under the weight of his response.

I kissed him harder, pouring all my desperation, anger, fear, and longing into that one moment.

And just like that, he broke.

Caden crushed his mouth against mine, his hands gripping my hips and pulling me against him with such urgency that I gasped. His fingers slid from my waist to my thighs, squeezing as if he couldn’t decide whether to worship me or consume me whole.

“Don’t ever,” he growled against my lips, “run away from me.”

“I didn’t—”

But he silenced me with another kiss, one that was hot, desperate, and possessive.

Then, in one swift motion, he lifted me, one hand cradling my thighs, the other spanning my back as he carried me straight into his room. My legs instinctively wrapped around him, my heart racing as if it might burst from my chest.

He kicked the door shut behind us and pressed me against it, kissing me with a hunger that felt primal and unrestrained.

“Caden,” I gasped, my senses overwhelmed.

“Tell me,” he murmured against my lips, “tell me you’re sure.”

With trembling hands, I cupped his face, feeling the warmth radiate from him.

“Yes,” I half-moaned, half-pleaded. “Yes, Caden, I want you.”

In that instant, his restraint shattered.

He trailed his mouth down my neck, kissing and biting softly, sucking until my knees felt weak, even though he was holding me up. With a swift motion, he tugged my shirt over my head, tossing it aside carelessly.

His gaze darkened as he took in my bare skin.

“You’re mine,” he said, his voice low and filled with a raw intensity. “Do you hear me?”

A shiver coursed through me.

“Yes.”

He kissed me again, deep and slow, the heat between us escalating as his hands roamed over my waist, down my stomach, gripping my hips as if he were memorizing every inch of me.

He laid me back on the bed, following me down, his body covering mine. His mouth traveled from my lips to my jaw, to the side of my throat, and then to the top of my chest, leaving a trail of warmth in his wake.

My fingers tangled in his hair as he kissed lower, his hands sliding under my shorts, tugging them off slowly and reverently until I lay exposed beneath him. His breath hitched as he gazed at me, something reverent cutting through the anger that had consumed him moments before.

“Beautiful,” he whispered, his voice filled with awe. “You’re so beautiful.”

I pulled him down, kissing him again as my body instinctively arched to meet his.

“Caden… please.”

His breath shuddered, and he quickly shed the rest of his clothes, coming back over me, the heat radiating from him making my skin tingle. His hand slipped between my thighs, gently guiding them apart, checking and preparing me for what was to come.

“Maya,” he whispered, his voice breaking with emotion. “Tell me again you want this.”

“I want you,” I breathed, my heart racing. “Only you.”

And I meant it with every fiber of my being.

His mouth crashed onto mine in one last, trembling kiss before he pushed into me.

A sharp, overwhelming hiss escaped my lips, but he held my hips steady, his forehead resting against mine as he allowed me the time to adjust.

“Tell me if it hurts,” he murmured, his voice rough with restraint.

It stung as he pressed deeper, but it didn’t hurt in a way that made me want to pull away.

It felt like everything inside me was finally falling into place.

I shook my head, managing to whisper, “You’re… you’re perfect.”

He nodded, drawing in a deep breath, and then he began to move, slow and deep. Each thrust was deliberate and possessive, his hands gripping my hips, my thighs, my waist as if he feared I might vanish.

“Mine,” he whispered against my mouth. “You’re mine, Maya.”

The sensation of him inside me was heavenly, a perfect fit that filled me with just the right stretch, as if I had been made for him alone.

I wrapped my legs around his waist, and the angle made me gasp his name again, every stroke hitting exactly where I needed it.

His pace quickened, shifting from controlled to ravenous, and his breaths turned ragged against my cheek.

The kisses he pressed along my jaw became messy and desperate, as if he were losing the same battle I was, and I clung to him, needing him closer.

“Caden—” I choked out, unsure if I was begging him to stop or pleading for more.

“You… love me?”

He held my gaze unwaveringly, his sincerity palpable.

“I love you,” he repeated, his voice thick with emotion. “More than is probably healthy. More than I know how to admit half the time. And when you touched me last night, there was no anger left. There was only you.”

Tears stung the backs of my eyes as I blinked hard, overwhelmed by the truth of his words. I had longed to tell him this for so long, and now that he had finally voiced it, something deep within me felt complete.

“I love you too, Caden,” I said, my voice trembling. “I’ve loved you for so long now.”

That smile—the one that had captured my heart from the very first moment I stumbled through those doors—graced his beautiful face again, and the Caden I knew was looking back at me.

“You do?” he asked, his tone adorably incredulous, like a child seeking reassurance about a looming storm. “You love me?”

I nodded, a smile breaking across my face. “I do, Caden. Only you.” A twist of discomfort flared within me at those last two words, ‘only you,’ but I pushed it aside; this moment was too precious to taint.

“But no more shutting me out, Caden. We’re fully mated now. For my sake or not, please. It hurts,” I whispered, my heart aching with the truth of my words.

He dropped his forehead to mine, the warmth of him grounding me.

“You’re right,” he conceded, his voice heavy with regret. “I shouldn’t have done that. I was trying to protect you, but I did it wrong. I’m sorry.”

His apology loosened the tension in my chest.

“And I shouldn’t have pushed you,” I admitted softly, guilt washing over me. “Or tried to prove anything.”

He brushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his touch gentle.

“You don’t need to prove anything,” he said, his voice steady. “You are mine because you choose me. Not because of the bond. Not because of last night. Only because you choose me.”

He pulled me into his lap gently, every movement careful and deliberate. His arms wrapped around me from behind, warm and solid, as his lips brushed against the top of my shoulder.

I let out a shaky breath, feeling the weight of everything we had just shared.

“Are you hurting?” he asked again, concern lacing his voice.

“It’s not bad,” I replied, my heart fluttering. “Just… new.”

He nodded against my neck, his breath warm and soothing.

“I’ll be more gentle next time,” he murmured, the promise hanging between us like a fragile thread.

Heat flooded my cheeks at the implication.

“How soon will be next time?” I squeaked, my voice barely above a whisper.

His laughter was soft and low, vibrating against my back in a way that sent warmth flooding through me.

“There will be a thousand next times,” he said, his voice rich with sincerity. “Anywhere, anytime.”

The ache in my chest transformed into something warm and deep, filling the spaces that had felt empty for so long.

“I survived,” I pointed out playfully, a teasing glint in my eyes. “Looks like you’re not so strong after all.”

He threw his head back with a laugh, and the sound melted me into a puddle of warmth.

“I really felt you,” I whispered, my voice soft and vulnerable. “The bond. Everything.”

“Good,” he murmured as his laughter faded, his expression turning serious. “That means it worked. You’re anchored to me now. I’m anchored to you.”

I leaned my head back against his shoulder, letting myself breathe in the moment.

His warmth seeped through my skin, reaching the parts of me that had always felt cold and distant.

“I love you, Maya,” he mumbled against my hair, and I nestled deeper into his embrace, feeling safe and cherished.

“I love you too,” I replied, my heart swelling with the truth of my feelings.

I closed my eyes, allowing myself to drift back into sleep. But just as I was about to surrender to the comforting embrace of slumber, two long, sorrowful howls echoed from different directions outside.

Something about them felt hauntingly familiar, yet I chose to let it go, focusing instead on the warmth of Caden beside me.