Primals (Reverse Harem 1)

In the midst of the memories and the feelings that come rushing back with them, a realization dawns on me – I can’t bear to lose Kyle. How is it I’ve never known this before?

“Hey,” Kyle says as he comes out of the bathroom, wiping his hands on the hem of his shirt. “Why so serious all of a sudden?”

I set my cup down on the table and gaze into his eyes. “What were you going to tell me?”

He falls silent.

“You said you were going to tell me something important, remember?” I remind him. “When we were in Africa?”

“Yeah.” He sits down, scratching the back of his head. “So much has happened since then.”

“True,” I agree. “But some things haven’t changed, have they?”

He leans forward, elbows on his knees. Clasping his hands, he takes a deep breath. “Actually, things have changed. They have for a while now.”

“What do you mean?” I ask him, swinging my legs over so that I’m sitting on the edge of the bed, right in front of him.

He wrings his hands. “You are my best friend, Clarissa, the best I’ve ever had. And I’m happy. And for a time, I was content with that. But I haven’t been for a while now.”

He lifts his head, eyes as blue as the sky outside meeting mine.

“I started thinking of spending the rest of my life with you, of every waking and sleeping moment with you. I started wanting more of you, all of you.”

I hold my breath, a lump forming in my throat.

“I love you, Clarissa,” he confesses, reaching for my hand. “When those other...men arrived, I got so scared. I thought I was going to lose you because clearly, they all want the same thing I do – you. And they’re smarter and more good-looking and...”

“Kyle.” I squeeze his hand, unable to bear hearing him put himself down.

“And then I found out what you were,” he continues. “And I thought ‘I don’t deserve this woman. She doesn’t belong with me.’”

“What?”

“But I didn’t mind. I was prepared to lose you if it was for the best, if it meant you’d be safe and happy.”

I stare at him, eyes wide and jaw dropping.

Kyle thought that?

He places his other hand over mine. “All I want, Clarissa, is for you to be happy.”

I stare at his hands, falling silent as my heart seemingly halts. Fresh tears prick my eyes.

“Clarissa?” Kyle asks.

I look back into his eyes with tear-filled ones, chuckling.

Kyle’s eyebrows furrow. “You haven’t gone mad, have you?”

I laugh, wiping my tears with the back of my hand.

“No, silly. It’s just that I was thinking the same thing.”

He gives me a puzzled look. “You were thinking of leaving me with Sebastian and Theo and...?”

“No.” I shake my head as I let out another chuckle. “I was prepared to lose you, too.”

“You were?”