26
KAYLA
“Didyouhear?Someone paid $1000 for your signed copy.”
“Really?” Bodi’s voice sounds surprised from the other room.
“Uh-huh.” I look into the mirror of Bodi’s bathroom, brushing my teeth with my dress still on. My cheeks are a little flushed from the two glasses of champagne I had, and I smile at my reflection with a joyous stream surging through my veins. I don’t know when I made the switch from the guestroom to the master, but I know my toothbrush has been laying here for weeks and he’s never asked me to put it back. So I never did. My clothes are still in the guestroom, but I haven’t considered moving them because the sneaker freak doesn’t even have space.
I’ve been walking around like the damn Cheshire Cat for a while now, and I know it’s because every morning I wake up with Bodi’s arms around my stomach and his nose buried in the crook of my neck. My smile belongs to him. He owns it in every way because he’s the one responsible for it.
My lashes lift to the mirror, catching how Bodi enters the bathroom with his dress shirt pulled out of his pants, his hands are tucked into his pockets. He lets his back fall against the doorpost, raking his intense gaze over every inch of my body. There is a lazy look in the green of his eyes, a glint of lust illuminating them with the dim light of his bedroom against his back. It’s darkening the features of his face, making me squirm a little inside as I keep brushing.
“What are you smiling about?” His voice is husky, sultry, and the sound vibrates my pussy alive. I spit out the foaming toothpaste, keeping my eyes locked with his as I wash out my mouth.
“Nothing.”
He moves forward, putting his chest against my back. His arms circle my waist while he brushes my neck with his lips. It tickles my skin in a tempting way and a deep breath flies from my lips while I wipe my mouth. The warmth of his body feels like a protective cape, hiding me from the storms life can throw at us, and when his mouth completely connects with the skin underneath my neck, I shut my eyes. Reveling in his touch as much as I can. His moves are deliberate. Affectionate. There is no rush, as if he’s doing his best to postpone what I can see flashing in his eyes, dragging this out as long as he can.
“Thank you.” His whisper makes me shudder against his body.
“What for?”
“For making tonight a success.” He tenderly bites me. “Getting my dad there.” His lips part in an open-mouthed kiss. “Being you.”
I swallow at how he emphasizes the word into my skin and his head lifts to look at me. Our eyes lock, and he squeezes me tightly against him. The green in his eyes is lighter, glittering with something I can only describe as determination. It’s laced with sincerity, igniting a flutter inside of me.
When I stay quiet, he moves one of his hands up, placing it on top of my pounding heart.
He holds it still, feeling how it beats against his palm until a smile graces his face.
“You’re a pure soul, Kayla Lockheart. The purest there is, and no one will ever shine as bright as you. You’re camping out in my dark world, bringing light into the darkness.” A lingering peck is pushed against my cheek before he gently twists me so I can face him. He holds my face, tilting it a little to align our eyes.
“Thank you for lighting up my world.” My mouth slightly opens, wanting to say anything, but I’m lost for words. He leans in, kissing me with tenderness. His lips softly move over mine, the tip of his tongue licking my seam. I can still feel the hunger that’s always there, but he’s holding back, like he wants it to be different this time. As if he wants to show me an emotion he can’t speak out loud. Kissing Bodi has always been the highlight of my day, but this time, his kisses are different. I want to freeze time and engrave them into my brain, letting them fuel me for the rest of my life. To comfort me on a rainy day. To spark my good mood.
His hand slowly moves underneath the slit of my silk dress, feeling so much better than the touch of the soft fabric on my thighs, making me moan. With his mouth never leaving mine, he keeps up his slow pace of kisses as he pushes the fabric over my hips until he reaches my waist. He lifts me with ease, putting me down at the sink.
With the tips of my fingers, I brush through his five o’clock shadow.
He wanted to shave it off for tonight, but then I told him I loved how gruff he looked with it. How it made him even more sexy combined with his tux, and he just gave me a wolfish grin. I forgot to voice the appreciation for listening to me, but now that I feel the hairs pricking against my palm, I can’t help smiling.
“I’m so glad you listened to me,” I tell him.
He moves his lips flush with my ears and my eyes roll to the back of my head.
“Anything to please my girl.”
The way he calls me that doesn’t go unnoticed, and I take his face in my hands, forcing him to look at me.
Our eyes have a silent conversation for I don’t know how long. The world stops spinning when I look into his eyes, searching for the lie in his words. Specks of gold are dancing through his gaze with the same happiness I feel tucked deep inside of me, and I swallow to push away the lump forming in the back of my throat. I want to freak out. I want to tell him he can’t say shit like that without knowing exactly what it will lead to. But it seems like every single day I become more speechless around him. Like I’d rather shut up and keep living in my endless dream than face the hardship that life will eventually give us. I know it’s inevitable. I know one day life will catch up with us, throwing all our insecurities and fears in our faces. In my face. But right now, I don’t have the guts to speak up and ruin the moment.
Like a selfish coward, I bring his lips to mine, kissing him with as much tenderness as he’s been doing for the last five minutes. I’m giving him my answer, a kiss representing every new word.
I want to be yours.
I want you to be mine.
I want to stay with you.
I’m falling for you.
Please tell me you’re falling too.