Ben
Just like I checked my watch to see how long I could get Dalton to listen to me ramble, I’m doing the same to Kylie. She’s made it through dinner without flinching. I’m impressed. Now as we step outside I wonder how much longer she’ll allow this good time to go on. I get that she likes me, but it’s clear she doesn’t want to.
“The rain stopped.” I turn my palm toward the sky and smile. Her hair got wet when we walked to the café and now it has a little curl to it. Not her normal polished look, but sweet, and it suits her. “You can stop glaring at the clouds.”
We stroll back toward Bachelor Tower, and she’s tighter to my side than before. Her earthy perfume wafts through the night breeze. I’m not running for the hills; I’m thinking about how we can run to my bed.
“I wasn’t upset with the clouds; I was disappointed in the weatherman. You’d think he’d at least try to keep us well informed. No umbrella. No raincoat. I should charge him for making my hair frizzy.”
“I like your hair like that. The curls are fun.”
“Fun? I had it blown out this morning. That was a waste of time and money.”
He whistles. “That’s a lot of emotion for a little rain. You don’t have a list of weathermen you’re out to get, do you?”
Kylie slams on the brakes, spins to me, and plants a hand on my chest. If she didn’t look so pissed, I’d find this very sexy. Actually it’s still very sexy. “Why would you ask that?”
“No reason,” I reply, tossing my hands up. “It’s a joke. You know what those are? They make people laugh.”
“I forgot I’m out with Funny Man.” She waves her hand dismissively and shakes her head. “Forget I said anything.”
“I can’t.” Some men might be put off by her attitude, but I see her attitude as a challenge—and I always enjoy a challenge. I’m fully capable of rocking Debbie Downer’s world. “Everything you say stays with me. I know you feel the same but aren’t ready to admit it yet.”
“It’s a real burden for me.” She quickens her pace. “I’ll find a way to make it through.”
I lengthen my stride to keep up. “You must have been an absolute peach as a child.”
She comes to a halt. “Am I some kind of joke to you? Did you ask me out to fuck with me? You think you’re so funny, but guess what? I’m not laughing with you.”
“No, you’re not.” There’s a vulnerability in her eyes that tightens my chest with regret. I glide up to catch her pace and put a hand on her back. “But you could be if you let yourself. I’m here because I want to be here.”
She tenses beneath my hand. Her eyes fix on my face for a moment, and I wonder why I shouldn’t press her against the closest wall and kiss her. She wants me, it’s written all over her face. “Please don’t touch me.”
Yeow. I let my hand fall. I smile. I know I shouldn’t but I can’t help it. She’s so prickly it’s cute. “This is going to make the goodnight kiss I plan to give you pretty awkward.”
Her eyes widen then narrow. “Not awkward because there is no chance in hell it’ll happen.”
See, that’s what makes her fun. I crack my knuckles. “You’re right. You should kiss me first.”
She rolls her eyes. “You’re delusional.”
“I prefer to call it confident. Let me walk you to your door, and we’ll see what happens.”
Her eyes light with interest. She likes a challenge as much as I do. “Fine. Give it your best shot.” She’s sure I can’t sway her. That smug smile will be my downfall.
“I’ll tell you a story.” I begin in a hushed voice and bend my arm so she can loop hers in. When she does I know I’ve got a shot. “When I was thirteen I was in love with this girl, Tanya Witterham. She was my oldest sister’s best friend. For years I would follow them around like a puppy. If she looked thirsty, I’d bring her a drink. If she needed help with her college math, I’d help her.” I give her a sideways glance. “I was very smart.”
“How is this supposed to—?”
I squeeze her arm with mine. “One afternoon I came home to find Tanya sitting on my porch. No one else was home. She was crying. Sitting there waiting for my sister. At first I wanted to get out of there as quick as possible. My sisters did their share of crying over the years, and I wasn’t always good at making them feel better. When I finally plucked up the courage, I asked her what was wrong and reluctantly she told me. Apparently her boyfriend had gotten drunk and they fought. He pushed her around and grabbed her arm really tight, and it scared her. She had a bruise. I remember looking at that bruise and wondering how a guy could ever treat a girl like Tanya that way.”
“Bastard.”
“Yeah. Well, I gathered my thirteen-year-old guts up and marched down to campus.” We’re at the front door of Bachelor Tower now and I can see she’s fully engaged. “I tracked that jerk down and took two good swings at him before he kicked my ass. He gave me a black eye and a fat lip.” I point to a tiny scar over my eyebrow. “Three stitches right here.”
Her face shows shock, but I can see her expression softening. “Oh my God. Why would you fight a grown man for some girl who probably barely paid attention to you?”
“Because it was the right thing to do. I’d do it again tomorrow if I had to. I loved her. Maybe I was too young to know what that meant. But I’d do it again.”
We’re at the elevator, and I can feel her eyes fixed on me.
“What happened when you went home?”
“Tanya was still there. My four sisters were home. They saw me dragging my butt up the walkway and when they heard what happened, they were so angry. They told me I was crazy and stupid. But Tonya noticed me then. My sisters grabbed their softball bats and smashed the hell out of that guy’s car. Tanya stayed with me and cleaned up my cuts. Gave me some ice.”
“Did she kiss you?” Kylie asked. I can practically see the wheels turning in her head.
“No. She was nice. Thanked me. Told me I was brave. But she didn’t kiss me.”
We’re at her door now; she hasn’t taken her key card out or even made a move for it. She’s just looking at me like she’s trying to sort out a hard clue on a crossword puzzle. The way her brow creases and one side of her mouth twists up has me half hard for her. I can’t imagine what the jungle of her mind entails, but I have no problem conjuring up what that beautiful body looks like.
“She should have kissed you. Even just on the cheek. You earned it.”
“She said as much to me several years later, but it was too late. Some opportunities only come once.” I place my arm on the wall and lean over Kylie.
She licks her bottom lip. “Well, goodnight, Ben.”
But she doesn’t open the door behind her. I lean a little closer. “I don’t know what held her back that day.”
Kylie opens her mouth, and I expect a snarky retort, but when she answers her voice is husky. “She was probably smart enough to know just because something might feel good, it doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.”
“Is that why you won’t kiss me, Kylie? How could one kiss be that bad?” I smirk because I know what it’ll do to her. “Unless you’re afraid you might forget you don’t like me.”
She slides a hand up my chest and cups the back of my neck. It’s not necessary to tug my face down to hers, I bring my lips straight to hers. Her breath is hot on my mouth. “I’m too smart to forget that.”
Our lips collide with force and passion. She’s out to prove something, but as all of my blood heads south to my cock, I really don’t care what her motivation is. I pull her against me, not caring if she feels what she does to me.
There’s a change in her kiss, a shift in her touch. Passion replaces intention, and I feel her lose control. Every inch of me craves every inch of her. We could push this door open and fuck until the sun comes up. That’s the promise in her kiss.
Who knows, if I’m good enough I could be her next thing. The guy she fucks but doesn’t really care about. If that was all I wanted I would open that door. I want all the passion she’s giving me but wrapped up in something that matters. I refuse to share her with some fucking pilot. I decide right then and there that she will be mine.
I raise my head and release her.
For a moment the only sound in the hallway is our ragged breathing. She’s confused, and I want to hug her, but she’s not ready for that yet either. Somehow that kind of support would be more intimate to her than what we just did. “I don’t want to say I told you so, but I told you so. I’m essentially irresistible.”
She whips open the door behind her. “Fuck you.”
I smile right through having the door slammed in my face. What did Jonny say? I rattle her?
Yep, she’s rattled all right.
I whistle as I make my way back to my apartment.