Undercover: Book 3 — Chapter 59

One Year Later

I sketched a new design carefully. Making sure to not make one mistake. I jumped when my name was suddenly called and I scowled at the line that was now laying across the shirt. "Claire?" she repeated and a tight smile appeared on my face.

"Yes?" I asked and Valerie Thompson let her eyes skim over my figure.

"If you ever want a raise or a permanent job here you're going to have to start working a lot harder than this,” she told me and I let a tight smile appear on my face. Times like this I regretted ever accepting the internship. I was about six months through it since it took a while for the internship to actually start and now I'm halfway through sophomore year of college and doing something I never imagined in my future. I could only hope this experience could help me get a higher spot with another company or maybe even run my own company one day.

"Thank you for the advice, Mrs. Thompson," I said and she nodded.

"Just bring me back your spring line of clothes by tomorrow. You can go home now,” she said before walking away.

"Thanks," I muttered sarcastically, knowing she was out of earshot. I threw my sketchbook in my bag before moving it on my shoulder. I took the elevator down multiple floors before finally exiting and leaving the building.

I took the long drive to Caiden's apartment and sighed in relief when I arrived. Since Caiden was in his last year of college he graduated last year and now had multiple degrees. I unlocked the apartment with the spare key he gave me and entered. "Caiden?" I called and I heard his voice muffled as he yelled something.

"What?" I asked, walking into the living room where he sat with a black pencil in his mouth as he sketched out something. “What are you doing?" I asked curiously and he removed the pencil from his mouth.

"I'm making a blueprint."

"For what?" I asked and he stared at the paper a little longer before looking at me as I took a seat next to him.

"For my company. What do you think about Anderson's manufacturing?" he asked, holding up his hands as if he was imagining the sign right in front of him.

I cleared my throat. "Uh, that sounds great and all, but how on earth are you going to make that work?" I asked him and he smirked.

"C'mon, baby doll. I can do anything,” he said and I raised an eyebrow. He grabbed my waist and brought me onto his lap. I automatically put my legs on either side and I felt my red lips curve into a smile.

"Oh really?" I asked, turning my head a little to the side and he didn't respond and only brought his lips closer before they were directly on mine. The kiss was sweet and simple as I held onto to his face with my hands, almost worried that he was just going to disappear on me.

"Be mine,” Caiden murmured against my lips and I pulled my head back, dropping my hands.

"What?" I asked not believing I heard him correctly. "I thought we established a long time ago that I am yours."

"Be my girlfriend,” he said and I snorted.

"You don't do relationships," I stated as a fact and he groaned before pushing his lips against my again and quickly pulling back before I could respond to the kiss.

"I love you, Claire,” he said and I just stared at him. Did he just-

Yeah, I think he did?

But-

Yeah, I don't know anymore either.

"What?" I asked, staring at him like I was stupid. I got off his lap and started pacing. I brought one hand up to my forehead and left the other on my hip. “I’m sorry, I think that shot I took from Joe, from the office may have made my head a little foggy. Did you just say you love me?" I asked stopping to look at him and he stood up and walked directly in front of me.

"I don't know how or when it happened but somehow got me to fall in love with you with all of your little charms and that stupid laugh of yours. Every time you stay over and sleep next to me you always end of forcing me to cuddle with you. Sometimes when you're cooking and you think I'm downstairs you start dancing around the kitchen and start singing with a spoon and as amusing as it is I always find myself wanting to tell you that I love you and only you. I don't just simply care for you; I love you. And Claire, you know I never experienced love in my life. Not even the love you give to your family, yet I am almost positive this emotion I am feeling is nothing but absolute love and adoration for you which is why I want you to be mine. Be my girlfriend because I love you," Caiden said, staring at me with a look I've seen many times, yet I never truly understood till now. "Fuck I sound like a sappy ass teenager,” he muttered after me not responding right away.

I couldn't form any words and just stared at him almost not believing this was the Caiden I know.

Yes, the Caiden Anderson said that.

You know the one that hit me as a guy and the one that called me a slut or a whore almost every other the day? The one that hit me in the face with a basketball on purpose when I first met him? The one that tried to break my boyfriend and me up? You know the one that is bipolar and every two minutes can't decide if he actually wants to be with me? You know the one that was an ass about 99.6% of the time? You know the one that got kidnapped as a child and has major trust issues? The one who said he won't ever think of a girl as his equal?

No, this was the same guy who held me as I cried at Eddie's funeral. This was the guy who had started seeing a therapist in the past year to try to get himself better for me. This was the guy who beat the shit out of Leon for even suggesting sex again. This was the guy that beat the shit out of Jax for what he caused Eddie to do. This was the guy who cried in front of me when sharing a part of himself. He was the guy who freaks out over someone laying on his couch. This was the guy who moved me to his bed when I fell asleep. This was the guy who cooked me eggs because I was simply hungry. He did it all for me. That's the man I knew.

"I-I love you too," I said and he turned around, facing me again. He walked forward and grabbed my face before pressing his lips roughly against mine. I kissed back with the same amount of force and smiled when he pushed us back on his couch. “Are you sure it's okay to even to lay on your couch?" I asked, pulling away and he smiled, a real dimple-showing smile.

"I'll let it go for now as long as you're my girlfriend,” he said before pressing his lips against mine again. My heart pounded in my chest from the electricity that followed from the one kiss. Things began to get heated as I shrugged off my jacket. He pulled back and just stared into my eyes, his expression filled with lust as he pushed a piece of my hair out of my face.

"Well, it's a little late for that. I'm already yours,” I whispered and he smirked.

"I love you so fucking much,” he whispered before pressing his lips against my jaw and slowly moving down to my collarbone. Not liking the shirt on me he quickly pulled over my head before quickly pulling away from me.

"What's wrong?" I asked and he just smirked.

"Get ready.” I was confused by the statement, but he moved my legs up so they wrapped around him and he picked me up from the couch. Somewhere along the way, I lost my bra and he lost his shirt.

"I've waited far too long to do this,” he said looking down at me from on the bed and I bit my lip seductively.

"I swear if you pause one more-" I was cut off by his lips slamming onto mine.

"Baby doll,” he groaned when I rolled him over and started kissing down his chest. "That's it,” he muttered before rolling us over once more and well I'm sure anyone could guess where that lead to.