WE’RE ALL EXHAUSTED AS WE make it up the stairs and into the apartment I share with Saylor. It’s nearing midnight, the cleanup taking hours even with all the help.
Saylor unlocks the front door while I follow in behind her with Rhett’s hand planted firmly at my lower back. He insisted on walking us up, wanting to see us in safely, and after the bizarre feeling I had today I’m beyond grateful that he did.
I’ve never had that before, someone to genuinely care for me. And knowing Rhett does warms my heart unlike anything else ever has. Even something so small as to walk us up to our apartment, it doesn’t matter. He cares, and he isn’t afraid to show it.
“Either of you want a drink?” Saylor asks as she opens the refrigerator door, her red hair illuminated by the bright light.
“No, thank you,” I reply.
“Nah, I’m good,” Rhett responds next. “Gonna head out, just wanted another couple minutes with my girl.” He smirks that devilish smirk down at me, the one that has one side of his full lips tipping up higher than the other.
My heart sighs in my chest.
“Gimme those lips, angel.”
And before I can utter a word or make a move, Rhett’s sliding a tattooed hand into my hair, pulling me close, and devouring my lips. Stealing my heart. Invading my soul.
Lighting me up from the inside out.
I’ve never felt anything like the way Rhett kisses me. Wholly and completely. Like he’d rather be doing nothing else but this. Like he can’t get enough, like I’m all he needs.
I could spend forever kissing him, I know I could.
I hope I can.
He growls, I moan, then all too soon Rhett’s lifting his lips from mine, taking my breath and my heart with him.
“Lock up behind me, angel. And keep that phone on you. Wanna hear your voice before I fall asleep tonight.”
Unable to speak, still breathless from that kiss, I just nod.
He smirks, knowing his effect on me. “Good.” Dropping another peck to my lips, he only lingers a second before pulling back. Looking over my head, he addresses his sister. “Night, Say,” he says with a chin lift.
“Later, big brother.”
Closing the door behind him, I lean my forehead to the wood to regroup after that kiss. And to hide the giant grin and heated blush covering my face.
“Lawd,” I hear Saylor exclaim behind me. Turning from the door, I see her planted on the couch, red hair piled high in a messy bun on her head, while she fans herself. “I don’t know about you, but I damn sure need more than this bottle of water after that one.”
“God, Saylor…” I say on an exasperated chuckle, shaking my head. “Boundaries.”
“What? It isn’t like I’m asking for details or anything, because yuck, he’s my brother. I’m just sayin’, the fire between you two is scorching hot, and I need this water after being witness!”
Taking a sip of said bottle, she then rolls it along her forehead with a “whew.”
“And not to be gross since he is my big bro and all, but if that’s what it’s like for y’all just kissing, I can’t imagine what it must be like in the bedroom. Get it, girl!”
I can feel the heat on my cheeks burning even brighter and for a whole new reason now. Biting my bottom lip, I walk over to the fridge to grab that drink I declined just moments ago. Trying to hide from Saylor and her prying eyes. Because one look at my face and I know she’ll know.
“Wait a minute.” Saylor’s eyes bug out of her head, catching on despite my best efforts at hiding my bright red face. “You mean to tell me you two haven’t…”
I’m still blushing fiercely; I know I am. This conversation unexpected and a bit awkward to be having with my boyfriend’s sister.
“Well I’ll be,” she drawls quietly. Shocked. “Not even…anything?” Her tone utter disbelief.
“Saylor!” I exclaim, uncomfortable because I’ve never had anyone to talk to about these things. And because this is Rhett’s sister. She may be my best friend, but she’s his flesh and blood. “We’ve…done a little. But no, not…that.”
“What? I don’t need details, like I said before; but come on, it’s him! I’d have expected he’d have made his move by now. I mean, don’t get me wrong; I know he’s a good man. But it’s been a couple weeks now since y’all became an item. Add on the two weeks before that when he was pining over you. That’s a whole month of zilch, zip, nada for him.”
My heart starts racing with worry. She’s right; it has been a month since I moved to Sunvale. Could he really have not slept with anyone this whole time considering his reputation?
“Hey.” Saylor’s soft words slow my hurried thoughts. “I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that Rhett hasn’t even looked, let alone touched, a female since he saw you waiting tables at the bar on your first day. So don’t let that pretty little head of yours start conjuring up ideas and images and thoughts that aren’t true. He is a good man, Kennedy. Under all those tattoos and that macho bullshit is a heart of gold, and there isn’t a devious bone in his body.”
She’s right; I know she is. He’s shown me time and again what kind of man he is, hasn’t he? Good and true. Forward, but always truthful and real with me. Telling me like it is and never afraid to show me what he wants. And what he wants is…me.
Plopping down on the couch next to Saylor, I worry my hands in my lap. “I know you’re right, but it’s hard to tell my heart that because in all my life I’ve never had anyone. I’m always waiting for the other shoe to drop. Or to find out this isn’t real. As much as I want to believe in everything, my heart just won’t let me let go of the past.”
“Well you have people now, Kennedy. Not just Rhett either. You have me and Gus. Nash, too. All of us. But my brother, yeah, he’s definitely in your corner.” She nudges me with her shoulder and chuckles. “But I’m serious when I tell you he’s crazy about you, would do anything for you. And clearly that even means waiting on sleeping with you until you’re ready.”
I shrug. “It isn’t that I don’t want to…be with him like that. It’s just that my whole life, since I was old enough to share my body with someone else, that’s all I’ve ever been good for. That’s all I’ve ever been wanted for. And my foolish heart fell for trick after trick through the years. Thinking it was more than it was. Thinking the time had come when I finally found someone to care. Thinking that if I gave it up, shared myself in that way, that they really would stay. But they never did, Say. They never did, and I let so many of them have me,” I admit, ashamed.
“Oh, honey…” She wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me in for a side hug.
“So as much as my heart and body call out to him—want him—I’m doing the only thing I can do to hold on to the last bits of my heart before letting him have it all. I’m doing all I can to make sure this time it’s different, that it lasts. And that’s by waiting.”
We’re both quiet for a few minutes, thinking over everything I just shared.
“I hope you don’t think any less of me,” I break quietly. From our talks before, Saylor knew enough to know the men weren’t lacking in my life. But I never came right out and said it, and now I’m worrying that I did and she’ll think differently of me.
“Kennedy James, you stop that right now.” Saylor turns to say to me, voice stern with fire in her eyes. “I could never think anything bad about you. Not ever. You’re sweet and kind with a heart of gold. Beautiful inside and out. It isn’t your fault that the men in your life used your vulnerability against you. That’s all on their small dicks for brains, you hear me? So get those thoughts out of your head and hug me, girl.”
Giggling softly through tears in my eyes, I lean in and hug her just as tightly as she’s hugging me. “Thank you, Saylor. You’re the greatest friend I’ve ever had.”
“Damn straight I am. Ain’t nobody better.” She pulls back and winks. Always full of sass.
Bounding off the couch, she heads back for the refrigerator. “Now after that talk, I say it’s time for some ice cream. What do ya say, chick? I’m feeling some Cherry Garcia.”
Wiping under my eyes, I nod my head. “Who could ever say no to ice cream?”
“Pfft. Nobody I want to know, that’s for sure.”