Tiffany
Sitting at The Black Shakers, I couldn’t stop thinking about the conversation I’d earlier with Val and Kyle. The ear plugs I’d worn to block out the noise helped me get lost in my head.
England. Am I ready to go back?
I missed Mum and Dad more each day, but all the unfinished business I’d left behind worried me. With no notice, I’d left my job and the few friends I’d had. Before coming here, I hid and cried myself to sleep for weeks. Losing my boyfriend the way I did, and then our baby, shattered me. So, I’d come to the States without telling anyone except my parents.
No sooner had I stepped off the plane than a new chapter began for me. Kyle’s chapter. I didn’t want the pages of my old life to bend what I had with him now. Perfection. Every day we spent together, our relationship deepened. Kyle had promised he wouldn’t give up, and he hadn’t. Not yet, anyway, and with each day that passed, the feeling that he wouldn’t ever, grew.
Last night, cuddling together with our bodies entwined as a haze of warmth surrounded us—the best! No man had ever treated me as good as Kyle, and for that, he deserved my heart and soul.
And to come with me to England. Besides, facing my family and the old neighborhood would be much easier with him by my side.
A hand touched my backside, startling me off the stool I had been sitting on for at least an hour. Seeing Kyle, I took out the ear plugs.
“It’s just me, beautiful. Are you okay? You look sad. Do you want to head back home?”
I shook my head. “I’m fine.” Fine? I lied. “Just thinking about going back home.”
“If you aren’t ready, we can wait. It doesn’t have to be right now.”
“No, the timing is good. I’ve been gone long enough. I need to make amends with Mum and Dad.” His fingers danced against my back, beneath the edge of my top, skin on skin. The small gesture made him even more desirable.
“Do you think you can handle a little dancing? I’ll hold you close.”
“I’m a better dancer than you, Kyle.”
“Like you would know,” he teased while helping me the rest of the way off the stool. “Come on, just one dance?”
“With you, one won’t be enough.” When did I turn into a romantic?
Smiling with pride, he held my hand and guided me to the dance floor of the club I’d been working at for months. At first, it felt weird not to be working, to be any old customer. Tyler had informed me and Kyle that I wasn’t allowed back at work for at least four weeks. The loud music and long hours of standing would be too hard on me. He had a point, but I needed money, or I would soon. Staying with K had kept all my expenses at bay, other than the rent on my studio. We’d have to talk about that soon. If I let go of my studio, I expected to pay rent and split the other bills with him.
“Tiffany, I don’t know what you’re thinking about, but stop. Let’s just dance and have a good time, yeah?”
My nagging thoughts were about to ruin our night out as, surprised by my courage, I blurted out, “Do you still want me to move in with you?”
He stepped back to get a better look at me. “What? Yeah, I was serious. Why are you asking?”
“If you want me to move in with you, I expect to pay my part.” Laughing, he started kissing my lips—trying to distract me, I’m sure—but it didn’t work. “Kyle, please. I’m being serious right now.”
“Call me old school if you want, but no, I won’t let you pay. I can afford to take care of all your needs, Tiff. I’ll feed you and keep you warm. End of discussion. Now, dance with me, beautiful.” His lips melded to mine, and as he started swaying side to side, I couldn’t help but follow him. Although it infuriated me, his charming ways were irresistible.
We danced, our bodies glued together. His touchy hands roamed under my shirt and tickled the skin at the waist. Giggling, I let him take the lead, and he impressed me. His moves were smooth, sexy, and testing our limits. I craved him, and knew I could say the same of him. He needed me as much, the tension between us soaring higher than the sky. My words didn’t do justice to what we were; I had never experienced anything like us. Our thing had changed, evolved and transformed into something serious and, hopefully, permanent. Getting lost in my thoughts again, I forced my mind back to the present, to the dance floor. I had a bloody sexy man dancing with me, and my focus needed to stay on him.
I swayed my hips, rocking them toward his, and wrapped my arms around his neck. I’d not noticed it, but the ink on the skin of his neck made him appear so rebellious. Kyle was a gorgeous man who wore his story engraved on his body. I found it extra hot. His dark brown hair was pulled back and added to the five o’clock shadow he had going on. He was sexy enough to make all the college girls turn around, but because of what a gentleman he was, he didn’t even pay attention to them. Only me… all night long, as he had all day.
“You have moves, K,” I yelled over the music.
“I told you so.” Laughing, he pulled me closer.
We were so close, but I wasn’t sure we were dancing at that point anymore. Our hips moved in sync, and our eyes were lost in each other’s. My face burned with the heat between the two of us as I blushed under his love-filled stare.
“I think we should head home. My head is pounding.”
He furrowed his brow. “Really?”
Chuckling, I hid my face against his chest. “No, I just need an excuse to get the hell out of here… and go home with you.”
“You don’t need an excuse for that. You just need to ask.” Leaning toward me, he kissed my forehead. “Ready now?”
I nodded. While the club was like a second home to me, tonight, I wanted to be elsewhere with the man I loved.
We said bye to our friends and were on our way within two minutes. Once outside, I didn’t get too far ahead because he didn’t let me. Kyle pulled my hand, and our bodies crashed together as he said, “Come here for a second.”
His lips found mine while he pushed me into the cold brick wall of the building and pressed against me. This was something new, something I didn’t expect from Kyle. To be so demonstrative, making out in the public eye like we were behind closed doors, wasn’t like him. It was exhilarating. My heart rate continued accelerating with no limit, going faster the more he kissed me. His hands held me in place by my hips while I gripped his shirt in my fingers and held onto him like I was going to crumble. Running low on oxygen and the will to stop him, I had to push away before passing out.
“Kyle, please.”
Heavy breathing. My fingers hurt from not letting go. The feel of his lips on my forehead mixed with his breath, and I could tell he had pushed his limits as well.
“We’ve got to get out of here, beautiful, because now, I’m pushing my luck. Getting arrested for indecent exposure would really ruin the night.”
“Then get me home, babe.”