Kova stared at me for a long moment, and I realized I’d probably confirmed his suspicion about bulimia earlier.
"I'll go shopping tomorrow."
Grabbing his cell phone, he swiped the screen with his thumb and said, "What do you want to eat? I will order whatever you want."
I studied Kova and focused on the fact his simple question made my heart race. I didn't want to worry him, and I wasn't all that hungry, so I decided to take a different approach.
While I originally didn't want him here, I was secretly happy he’d pushed his way in and I felt I should show him that. I was a mess of contradictions as always when it came to Kova, but he was just as bad as me. He knew he should just go home, yet here he was. We were drawn to each other in the most inexplicable way. Our chemistry was so powerful that our bodies ached to be with each other. We fought our feelings only to fall deeper with each passing breath. We made no sense at all yet we made perfect sense to each other, because there was no such thing as immoral or wrong when you were with the right person.
I walked up to Kova, took his cell phone out of his hand and placed it on the counter, then I wrapped my arms around his back and hugged him. Stepping closer until our bodies were flush together, I laid my head upon his chest. He stood still, probably surprised because it took him a moment to return the hug.
"What are you doing?" he asked quietly.
"Just hugging you."
"I know. But why? You never just hug me."
I laughed as he tightened his arms around me. The warmth of his body made me sigh. I could feel his heart beating and how it sped up the longer I held on to him.
"Unless we're alone, I've never really had the opportunity to hug you when I wanted to." Kova stayed silent. I figured I’d caught him off guard with my answer. I nestled my face into his chest. "Thank you."
"For what?" he responded, his voice hoarse.
I looked up, my chin resting on his firm chest. I answered honestly, my voice soft. "For always taking care of me and being there, even when I don't want you to be. I know it might seem like I'm ungrateful, but I'm not. I've just been really hurt the last couple of months and I'm trying to deal with it and work through my emotions. I really do appreciate everything you do to help me. I’m lucky to have a coach like you."
There was a flash of emotion in Kova's eyes. He swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing. "I would do anything for you, Adrianna. I hope you know that." He clenched his eyes shut like he couldn't believe it himself. "Anything."
I swallowed hard, nodding, as we stared into each other's eyes for a long moment. I believed him.
Even though it hurt the back of my calf, I applied pressure to my good leg and elevated on the tips of my toes to reach him. I brought one hand to the front of his chest as the other skimmed up the back of his neck. I slipped his hat around so the brim was facing backward. My heart raced as he loosened his hug and his hands roamed down my back to softly cup my hips. I drew in a little gasp, fighting how much I loved being in his arms and appreciating how hard he was trying to be good. I wanted to give him a little kiss, but I couldn't reach him. Even on my toes he still had quite a few inches on me.
But he knew what to do. Kova always knew what I wanted. Slowly and hesitantly, I pressed my chest to his and he leaned his head down to close the distance, giving me his lips. I didn't kiss him with tongue, though, I kissed him with my heart and let him feel my emotion, my lips sealed together. I kissed him softly.
I pulled back and kissed him the same way again, our tongues never touching but our lips separating a little. My mouth pressed harder into his and I felt a sizzle of electricity through my body. Kova's hands slid over my butt and just when I thought he was going to stop, his hands slid to the backs of my bare thighs. All I wore was a thin, jersey knit spaghetti strap pajama dress. Sometimes I liked to let my body breathe after all the hours I spent in a leotard, especially after the week I'd had with Coach Elena.
Wide hands spread out, his fingers all over me, Kova slipped his hands beneath my dress, but I pulled back. I didn't want him to know I wasn't wearing panties, or to get the wrong idea. I’d only wanted to show him I appreciated him with a little kiss.
I stared at his mouth, my index finger running over his full lips that I loved so much. Kova dropped a light kiss to my forehead, then stepped back. I took note of his facial expression. His green eyes were soft, and the warmth in his touch settled the rattling in my bones.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
Kova glanced away and ran a hand over his stubbled jaw. "No one has ever just hugged me like that."
My forehead bunched together. That couldn't be. He'd been with Katja for a long time. I was sure she had.
"Really? Not even your wife? She doesn't hug you just to hug you?"
"No."
"What about a kiss?"
"Not like that. Very rarely, and it is usually me who has to initiate it."
I stared at him for a bit.
"So," he said, "how about dinner…"
I sighed dramatically and rolled my eyes, a smile pulling at my lips. "I'm not that hungry."