Nina

Even though a cool shower sounds nice, my body is exhausted. I need the warm water to sooth my muscles that are worn after cleaning. This place was a mess, the guy who lived here after Niki was filthy!

Throwing on a pair of sleep shorts and a tank, I pad out to the front room. Kyle is just putting the finishing touches on our little picnic.

“I didn’t think of bringing blankets, but I did buy you some new sheets.” He fluffs out the top one, laying it over the mattress. “Just a little stiff.”

“That’s good,” I giggle. “I’m not sure how big that hot water tank is, but I don’t think I used it all up.” I wink, tying my hair up and sitting down on the couch.

“I just need to rinse off.” Kyle pushes himself off the floor. “I’ll be…” He stands, his eyes raking over my body before they land on my chest. “Quick. I’ll be quick.”

Looking down, I notice I forgot a bra, and I’m apparently on high alert. “I-I…I can change.” I stand, my face heating from his stare.

“No.” He shakes his head as he walks over to me and bends down. “You are so beautiful. Never hide.” He lifts my chin, claiming my lips as his. Soft and tender and over way too soon. “I promise, quick.”

“Mmm-hmm.” I nod my head slowly, eyes still closed.

“Everything is ready. Just get comfortable over there.” He grabs his towel out of the bag and a pair of shorts he brought in from his truck.

Leaning back on the couch, I take it all in. Today has been a breakthrough. No more comparisons. Kyle has shown me time and time again that he is nothing like Brandon.

Every move, every kind deed isn’t just a choice. It’s his nature, everything that he has learned from his family.

Family…

A thought crosses my mind as I stare across the room. A small box sits in the corner with a few cleaning supplies.

Tip-toeing down the hall, I hear the water still running. Not sure how much time I have, I run and grab the box and dump everything out, then put the box beside the bed. Standing back, I take it in.

Not right.

I bend down and try to lift the air mattress, but it’s too awkward. Flopping it back down I get down on all fours and push it till it hits the front of the couch. Then I throw one box on one side and hurry to my bedroom where I know there is another one. I dump out its contents and put it on the other side of the mattress.

I study the scene again.

Almost.

Flipping open the cooler, I get out the sub and sides. Everything was to be split, but instead of bringing plates he brought plastic ware so we could share. Yanking the blanket, my makeshift curtain, down from the window, I toss it over the bed, laying the food on top.

Running to the kitchen I fill two cups up with tea and set one on each box. Spinning in circles, I look for what I need next, the final touch, and my eyes land on my bag in the corner. Hurrying over, I pull out a pen and the sketchbook I keep on me at all times. Yanking out a page, I write:

 

K.

You are always the brightest part of my day.

xoxo

N.

 

Quickly rolling it up, I reach for the band in my hair and secure the note. I place it by the tea on his box.

Perfect!

“What’s this?” Kyle comes walking in before I can get into place.

I spin around. “Holy…” My jaw drops at the vision before me. Kyle looks great with clothes on, but Kyle without a shirt? I’m pretty sure I have drool leaking from the side of my mouth. It’s summer for Pete’s sake. Why haven’t I seen him without a shirt before now?

“You like what you see?” He comes over to wrap his arms around me, but the closer he gets the further I back away. “Hey, come back here.”

“You are…I don’t even know what to say.” I stop, letting him come to me. “Can I touch you?”

“Maybe later, but first…” He reaches out. “Hug time.”

I nod. “That sounds like a plan.”

As soon as our bodies connect, I know that I need more than the occasional kiss. I need him. All of him.

“Nina?” He speaks into my hair.

“What?”

“This?” He turns me around. My back to his front, he holds me close. “You remembered?”

“Well, I know this isn’t your house and I don’t have rocking chairs, obviously, but I wanted to show you that…” I trail off, opting to let the note say it all.

Walking around me, he sits down on the bed. He holds his hand out for me to follow and I do, climbing in beside him.

Reaching over, he takes a swig of his tea before he grabs the note, unrolls it and reads.

“Kyle, I just wanted—”

“Shhhh.” He lays the note down and crashes his lips to mine.

He rolls me over, pushing the sandwich to the side and kisses me, wild and consuming. I never want these kisses to end. Moving between my legs and on top of me, his mouth lowers back to mine.

Nipping.

I feel his teeth scrape my bottom lip.

Licking.

His tongue traces the seam of my mouth.

I can’t help the moan that escapes as my mouth falls open, inviting him in. Needing more. The way he hardens against me, I can tell he feels the same.

He pushes my tank up. Skin on skin. The only barrier now is his shorts and mine, and knowing this turns me on even more. I lift myself to meet his movement, loving the friction.

My body pleads for a release, just from moving together in rhythm with our mouths. He whispers, “just this,” against my lips. I shake my head and move my hands, rubbing his back as I lower them to his ass, wrap my legs around him and pull him down, my hips meeting his.

“I need you now. I just want to feel you.”

Stopping, he looks me in the eyes, searching for approval, not wanting to take advantage of hormones going crazy. Knowing he’s trying to hold back, to make sure I’m ready, only makes me want him more.

Working his way down, his eyes never leave mine. I raise my head to watch his descent. Collarbone, then lower. His mouth finds one nipple, taking it in and swirling his tongue over it, before switching to the other nipple. Back and forth. Sucking, pleasuring, in a way that is caring, pure adoration. My head falls back; the sensation is too much and my body arches up to his mouth. His hands drag down my sides, holding me in place, but his firm touch is gentle and I know I’m safe with him.

His lips move lower, lighting fires in their wake. Reaching my navel, swirling, dipping, his tongue dances on my skin.

I lean up once more and find his eyes on mine again, his smile teasing as he licks his way back up. My hips buck in reflex, wanting more. He presses a kiss to my chest, right in between my breasts, before his mouth heads south again, this time bringing my shorts down.

His hands on me, his mouth. Our bodies pressed together like he was made for me and I for him.

The wetness of his mouth, the air hitting damp skin causes me to shiver from a million sensations I’ve never experienced, never knew what I was missing. From that first swipe of his tongue up my center, I nearly see stars.

Pausing, he looks up once again, a handsome yet wicked smile on his face as his finger finds my core, hovering right there. Watching, waiting. Making sure. My heart melts as I nod in approval. One finger, sliding in and out, teasing me. Then two, and my eyes close as my hands find his hair, the pleasure all-consuming.

Using fingers, mouth, tongue, he’s everywhere. His free hand finds my nipples once more while he devours me.

A few more licks, swipes and a twist of the hand. It doesn’t take long before a tidal wave of pleasure crashes through me, and he laps it up greedily, the hum of his approval against my center. My body slowly comes down as he takes my legs in his hands, pulling me to him, and places gentle kisses on my thighs before he works his way up.

Once he settles between my legs, I open my eyes and find him staring at me. Both our breathing is heavy, no words are spoken.

He’s still hard, and I want to return the favor. I want to show him the same pleasure he just showed me. I reach my hand toward the waist of his shorts, and he pulls back. I look at him confused.

He shakes his head. “It’s not about me.”

“But…” I reach for him again. “Please, Kyle. Just let me...”

He brings my hand to his lips and kisses it, before squeezing my palm against his and placing our joined hands above our heads. He leans in close and takes my lips once more in a whisper of a kiss.

“We have plenty of time. This was about you.”

“I want you to feel pleasure, too.”

“Nina, that gave me more than you can imagine.”

He sits back on his heels and I sit up as well, bringing my knees to my chest, feeling exposed.

As if sensing my doubt, he pulls me to him. “We don’t have to rush it. This was incredible. You were incredible.”

I nod, unable to say any words, fearing my voice may tremble.

“But I may need another shower.” He kisses me before climbing off the mattress. His confession makes me smile.

Lying back down, I pull the sheet over me. The tears that threaten to fall aren’t because I feel rejected. Just the opposite, they’re because I felt wanted. Feel wanted. And knowing what it’s like to release my body to someone who wanted nothing but me. To bring me pleasure. It’s a feeling I want more of.

Kyle is healing me. One touch at a time.

Kyle

“This sandwich is amazing.” Nina tries to cover her mouth, but it’s no use. She’s pretty damn hungry.

“I can tell.”

“I mean it’s really good….” The sauce drips down her hand. “What kind of spread is this?” She runs her tongue along the edge and I can’t help but groan.

“What?”

“If you keep eating the sandwich like that?” I grab her wrist and bring it to my lips to lick the sauce that drips down. “I won’t be able to contain myself.” I lick my lips.

“It’s just...the best.” She shovels it in, wadding up the wax paper to throw into our makeshift trashcan. “You know what? I could get used to this,” she says, falling back on the bed.

Setting my sandwich down on my box, I brush the crumbs off the blanket and lay down, facing her.

“You look tired.” I reach over, brushing a few strands of hair off her face.

“I am,” she confesses. “Had a little bit of a workout, so to speak.” She brings the sheet up over her mouth to hide her smile.

“Don’t.” I pull it back down, leaning in for a little kiss. “Everything about you is beautiful. Please don’t hide it.”

“I just feel like this is twice that I—”

“This is twice that I felt like I should give you something that you needed.” I reach over to pull her in close.

“What about you?” She tucks her head in the crook of my neck. Her hand traces words on my chest. What? I’m not sure.

“When you are ready, I have no doubt that it will be something explosive.” I bend down to kiss the top of her head. “You will be worth the wait.”

“I hope I don’t disappoint you.” She looks up at me through her lashes. Not wanting to miss the moment, I lean back to gaze into those emerald jewels.

“There is no way. Right now? I could do this forever,” I say as her fingers continue to write. “I’m trying to make out what you’re spelling.”

H.

O? No…A.

“I didn’t even realize I was doing it, but yeah. I guess I am.”

P.

P.

Y.

“Happy.”

“Yeah. It’s been forever since I felt that way and you…bring that out in me.” She falls on her back with the biggest grin.

“Here let me.” I lift up her tank, displaying a perfect canvas.

“No way, Kyle. There is no freakin’ way I can handle all that again.”

“No.” I can’t help but laugh at her reaction. “My turn to write something.”

S.

P.

E.

C.

I.

A.

L.

“Can you spell it out again?” She closes her eyes, taking it all in.

“Any guesses?” I draw it out one more time, just to feel her skin under my fingertips.

“Oh sorry…I got lost in your magical touch. Special. It just felt too good to answer.”

“My turn.”

“Give me your hand,” she says. “Palm up.”

Doing as she requests, I wait for the word, but this time she draws a heart and closes it back up.

“You have mine.”

I bring my hand to my chest. “Then I will cherish it.”

We lie quietly for a few minutes until I break the silence.

“Meet my parents,” I blurt out.

“Say what?” She has a frantic look on her face, making me think everything I thought we were working for may not be what it seems.

“You don’t have to. I just have this birthday party I have to go to next weekend and I don’t want to go alone.”

“Oh! So, it’s not like an official meet the parents kind of thing.” She rolls over to face me now. Her eyebrows are scrunched up and she’s worrying her bottom lip.

“If it is, would it be so bad?”

Please say no.

“Actually, No. I would love to,” she says, but her face is still etched with worry.

“They are totally fine. Plus, my stepbrother and his family will be there. It’s my niece’s second birthday.”

“It’s not them. I mean it is, but…Kyle, I haven’t ever ‘met the parents’ before.” She scoots in closer. “What if they don’t like me? What would that mean? Kyle, you can’t date someone your parents hate.”

“I happen to adore you and I know for a fact that my mom just wants me to be happy. To experience a fraction of what she has not just with my dad, but with her second husband.”

“What should I wear? Can you help me figure out something to bring? Do you even bring something to a birthday party? What about a present? Do I help you or get my own gift? I don’t know what to do.”

I can’t help it. She’s so freaking adorable when she’s nervous. I try not to laugh, but holding it in is just making my body tremble.

She smacks my chest. “It’s not funny.”

“They will love you.”

“I hope so.” She rolls me onto my back.

“Don’t even think about it. I’m all showered out,” I warn.

“No showers necessary.” She winks as she sits up, pulls her tank over her head and lays back down. My dick instantly hardens.

“I think you underestimated yourself.”

She lays half on me, an arm thrown over my chest, her leg intertwined with mine. “I just wanted to feel you.”

“Shit. You saying stuff like that makes you even harder to resist.”

“Will you please stay? Sleep with me, just like this?” she leans down, kissing my chest. Just one soft little peck.

“Always.”

There is nowhere else I would rather be.