by Eden Fortae
With everything going on in Kya’s head and Antonio holding her hand again, she had forgotten about Christian and Karrina waiting for her. The passenger side door was open, the music playing over the crickets singing. Karrina sat sideways with her bare feet in the grass, her head leaning against the back of the seat going in and out of sleep. Christian was positioned with his back to the car, arms folded, clearly amused.
“I’m so sorry, Christian. I forgot the two of you were out here.”
“No worries. I figured this asshole got a hold of you. Does kid casanova know you’re with his woman, Tony?”
“I love him to death, but if she’s his, she won’t be much longer.”
Automatically, Kya’s insides clenched. Multiple cups of mixed liquor in her system guided those words right between her legs. At the same time, the wheels and gears in her mind started turning again, logic and common sense not wanting to take a backseat to anything else. Not wanting to let her forget the reason why Antonio had been tending to her all day and that there was a motive for everything.
“Good thing you’re related to my woman. Speaking of, I need to get her home. The sooner I get her to bed, the quicker she’ll be able to sleep this off. She wasn’t drinking the water we sent her, was she, Kya?”
“No. She gave it to me.”
Christian shook his head, running a cool hand through what was usually spiked hair. “Fuck. And it’s a long ride back to Brooklyn. What the hell was she thinking?”
“She wasn’t. Go ahead and get her home. I want to talk to Kya for a little bit. I’ll bring her by when we’re done.”
Somehow, she doubted the truthfulness in his words. Not too long ago, he was so sure that she would be willing to go to his place that he made a promise to Anthony without consulting with her first.
After looking her way for some kind of confirmation—that Kya greatly appreciated—Christian carefully maneuvered Karrina into the right position and buckled her in before he pulled off.
Left alone and with a man she had been warned about, Kya twiddled her fingers waiting for Antonio to speak. He went from standing beside her to standing in front of her. Toe to toe, eyes staring into each other.
“Have I changed your mind about me at all?”
“Is that what you were aiming for?”
“Somewhat. I can’t really change what I don’t know.”
“You know exactly how I feel about you. I told you as much the last time we saw each other.”
“And since then, I have been trying to show you the real me.”
Kya chuckled. One of those sudden bursts of laughter that did not contain amusement. “By sending me flowers in a pretty vase or releasing my name to the media? That was you, wasn’t it?” His silence was a dead giveaway and all she needed. “You’ve been trying to show me the real you—a man that cares about himself only and knows no bounds when it comes to something he wants? Can you at least tell me why you did it?”
Again, silence stood between them. He was thinking. Calculating.
“More than one reason. Mostly because the exposure will work in your favor.”
He had a point. So far, she had an interview set up and gained a more significant social media following that would be good for business when she could afford to mass produce more gowns.
“And the other reasons?”
The bout of silence following this question was the final straw. Rolling her eyes, Kya began to walk to Antonio’s truck with intentions of denying him so much as another breath. He caught her by her left shoulder and spun her back to face him.
“I’m trying, Kya.”
“No, you’re still moving around pieces in my life like it’s a game and keeping secrets.”
“Some things are best kept unanswered.”
“Not if you really want the chance you’re asking for. You stood in my face and told me that your initial purpose for seeking me out was to get back at my father. Put yourself in my shoes and tell me with all honesty that you would give me another chance after that and after I refused to answer your questions.”
“Kya—”
“If you’re not going to tell me what I want to know, Antonio, then you might as well stop this right here. You fooled me once. I won’t be a fool for you a second time.”
She started walking off again, and this time, he let her. The disappointment was immediate. She wanted him to tell her the truth. In doing so, tell her that he meant every word of his desire to have another chance. The reluctances to open up said otherwise. He was only willing to say what he thought was needed to have her pliant again. Ignorant of what was really happening. Acceptant and stupid.
At his truck, Kya waited. Frustrated breaths followed one after another, the buzz she worked on all afternoon wholly gone. The only thing that could make her night better now was a soft pillow and soft sheets to snuggle with.
Rather than the quick fix, she was hoping, for now, Antonio repeated the same actions that brought them to that point. Slipped his hand over her hip and around her waist, bringing her back into his chest.
“You don’t understand how hard all of this is for me. It’s a first. I don’t know what I’m doing or how to do it.” He paused long enough to switch their positions. Instead of a warm, hard chest, she was pressed into the cool metal of the truck’s passenger door with a kiss rough enough to bruise her lips. “If it’s going to take for me to tell you my deepest, darkest, and dirtiest secrets to have you back, then we have to do it my way and in my home.”
Of course, it could not be as easy as getting it all out on the table where they stood. He needed to have her on his turf. In his territory where he could dominate the situation and work it to his benefit. Foolish as it may have been, Kya wanted the truth. To finally get peace of mind and an answer as to why he could not or would not let her go. In his responses, she’d find her own reason.
“Let’s go.”
EIGHTEEN
She preferred to ride in silence and found more interest in the bright red brake lights and the lines in the street. That much Antonio could gather from the first five minutes of the drive. The road ahead of them held her attention. Thoughts of what she was doing with him and what was to come once they reached his house, clouded her pretty little head.
Traffic came to a complete stop. Flashes of red and blue lights the reason. Even then, Kya could not be bothered with looking his way. She could feel his eyes searing into her. He knew it. He hated that the worry clearly written within her sweet features was because of him. If only she would look up at him, she’d see the same thing. Apprehension.
The truth. Kya wanted to know the truth and just to keep her from walking away for good, he agreed to give it to her. Ironically, his agreement produced more of a possibility of the same outcome. She was going to hate him. He felt it. Deep in his bones and in the pit of his tainted soul, he knew this was the last time having her close enough to catch the faint scent of soap on her skin.
Close enough to steal a kiss. Close enough to feel the satisfaction that came with knowing he would see her. After tonight, he would be back to watching her from afar and using his family for information.
Seeing Kya with his family did strange things to Antonio. They took her in, and she blended well like she belonged there. Like it was meant to be. More than one relative spoke highly of her on their way out, and although it was mostly the males, it was telling of who Kya was. She helped his mother, conversed with his father, and hooked Anthony enough that the kid thought she was going to be his girlfriend.
The idea of his nephew crushing on her brought a smile to Antonio’s face. He could accept that far more than the reality of another man taking the place he wanted. Taking the position, he would never be able to fill once the truth came out.
“It looks like a car hit the median.”
Instantly, his mind switched to Christian and Karrina.
“Can you see what kind of car it is? The color?”
“I can’t tell the make, but it’
s either white or silver.”
Antonio lifted enough to retrieve his phone from his pocket and scrolled to Christian’s name. Judging by the number of emergency vehicles ahead of them, it was more than just a car colliding with the median.
Christian answered after the second ring, saving Antonio the need to panic. He and Karrina, too, were caught up because of the accident, but now, his little sister was out like a light. Snoring loudly like a grizzly bear.
“I just wanted to make sure you were good. Kya said to let us know you made it home.”
At that, her head snapped in his direction. She waited until he ended the call to verbalize her expression.
“Kya said? Let me guess, your masculinity wouldn’t allow you to tell him that you were concerned?”
He smiled, putting his phone and seat belt back in place. “I won’t allow me to tell anyone I’m concerned.”
The way her nose scrunched and her brows knitted were so cute he wanted to lean toward her and kiss the tension away. “What does that mean?”
“It means that I don’t make it a habit of showing emotion or my feelings.”
Again, she looked confused. “But you did it with your family. I literally saw your bond with Julie and how much you love Anthony. You didn’t seem like you were trying to hide your feelings then.”
“My immediate family is different, and still, I only show it to a certain extent.”
“Why is that?”
And so it began. Questions that were a gateway to hell, unbeknownst to Kya. He sighed deeply, not ready to say goodbye just yet.
“Because I’m not used to it. Growing up, I had to be strong for my mother and sisters. I couldn’t do that if I let my emotions run freely. Even if I wanted to, I don’t know how to be open with what I feel.”
“I can actually relate to that.” She nodded her understanding and went back to window watching. “When my mother was alive I felt like I had to be strong all the time. She was in pain and missing my father. I could tell with every day that passed, how much hope she was losing. Seeing her wither and slowly dying destroyed me, but I couldn’t let her see it. If she had, it would have added worry to her plate and killed her faster. But you,” she turned to him again, “you shouldn’t let that hold you back, now. Imagine how you would have felt if that were Christian and Karrina up there. You shouldn’t leave the people in your life unaware. I mean, you don’t have to write them mushy letters or anything. Just be real about it.”
“Just be real, huh?”
“The best way to be.”
“Wise woman. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“You do that. And wake me up when we get to your place.”
“That punch kicking in, now?”
“Kicking in and kicking my ass. I’m starting to feel like I got punched. I have a hangover headache already, and I drank more than enough water.”
“I’ll wake you when we get there.”
Rather than tapping her lightly or calling her name, Antonio quietly got out the truck, went around to her side, and kissed her lips sweetly. If this was going to be the last time, he wanted to remember her and be remembered by the tenderness she created in him.
Kya’s eyes opened as he pulled away. Innocently, she blinked and surveyed her surroundings. Still, within that state of sleep, she allowed Antonio to lead her into his house and toward the stairs before she came to her senses and stopped him.
“Do we need to go up there to talk?”
“No, but you’re obviously in need of some sleep. We can talk in the morning.”
“No,” she took a step back shaking her head. “If I go up there, you’re going to do something or say more sweet words, my panties are going to melt away, and next thing we know I’ll be waking up to a wonderfully aching vagina. Nope. Not going to happen. We talk, now. Down here. I just need some coffee or something with caffeine in it.”
It took all he had not to smile at the aching vagina part. When he went for the stairs, the plan did not involve sex or an attempt to get anywhere near it. He honestly wanted to get Kya one of his shirts to sleep in and put her up in his bed while he sat beside her and enjoyed the presence of a woman in his bed for the first and last time. For her, he could drop that idea and get right to things.
“I’ll put some coffee on. Make yourself comfortable.”
Part of him anticipated Kya following him to the kitchen. The fact that she didn’t, surprised him a little. Her guard was up. Unnecessarily, but he understood why.
Since such little time was spent home and with his housekeeper, it took Antonio a few minutes to locate everything he needed to ensure the coffee wasn’t too strong or hadn’t lost its flavor.
With two hot mugs in hand, a small container of sugar, and a bottle of creamer tucked beneath each arm, he found Kya in the living room stretched out on the couch with her sandals off. When he rounded the end of the long chair, he noticed her eyes were closed, once again. He backed up cautiously, not wanting to wake her this time.
Several minutes passed without movement. Antonio approached her setting the mugs down. The part of him that wanted Kya to see that he was willing to make things right wanted to wake her for that talk. The selfish bastard dead-set on keeping her wanted to do as he originally planned—watch and relish the peacefulness of her sleep before he lost her.
The bastard won the battle.
A quick run up to a spare room, and he returned with a blanket. Draping it over her, he stole one more kiss. Watching her was the worst decision ever. Within seconds of it, another battle was lost. Suddenly, he was thinking of every trick and trap he could use to keep her with him.
NINETEEN
She called herself resting her eyes, closing them for what she thought would be a few minutes while Antonio prepared coffee. Opening them to different surroundings brought about a feeling of lost time, yet the walls were familiar.
Kya sat up, pushing back the satin sheet and dark comforter to find that not only was she in his bed, but in one of his shirts. Between her eyes, a dull pain throbbed from the mere sight of sunlight sneaking through the side of the closed blinds. Massaging the pressure away, she decided to lay back down just to gather her thoughts.
Her questions were still without answers to quiet them.
Being in his home, in his room, and in that bed, did not feel voluntary.
As Kya placed her head against the pillow, something moved beneath the sheets and against her hip. Initially, she went still, staring at the ceiling wide-eyed. What she felt had to have been the sheet moving when she laid down. That was her reasoning and attempt at a logical explanation until she felt the soft brush against her once more.
With enough force to strip her throat raw, she sprung from the bed bringing the covers with her. In the place of whatever creepy thing her mind associated with the foreign touch, was a small grey and white puppy. As the poor thing shook from the removal of the sheets and probably Kya’s scream, she climbed back onto the bed, scooping the small husky into her arms.
Tiny brown eyes closed as she ran her fingers along the grey patch staining pure white fur that resembled a cute little mask extending from the top of his eyes to the spot between his ears. He looked like a wolf cub, melting her on the spot.
How he got in the bed with her and where he came from mattered less and less as he snuggled against her looking for warmth.
“That didn’t sound like a happy scream, yet I’ve never seen you smile like that.” His voice, forever calm and captivating, demanded Kya’s attention. She looked up instinctively to find Antonio leaning in the doorway. The clothes he wore—a black short-sleeved shirt with light grey sweatpants—oddly caught her off guard. He was dressed down around her before. Hell, his usual attire was considered dressed down, but now, he looked comfortable and still it was sexy.
“This little guy was under the sheets and scared the hell out me. I didn’t know you had a puppy. What’s his name?”
“You tell me what his name is.”
Ag
ain, she looked up with a smile, still stroking the dog’s head. “You’re letting me name him?”
A quick shrug of his shoulder sent a long stray curl into his face, “Why not? He’s yours.”
“Mine?” The grin she harbored could not be contained. Even if she managed to be stone-faced her tone would have given way to her true excitement. All her life Kya wanted a dog. Begged her parents for one every year for Christmas and her birthday but could never get one because of one reason or another. She wanted to jump up and hug him for making an unspoken wish come true, but her excitement dwindled with reality scratching at her neck. “I live in an apartment that doesn’t allow pets, Antonio.”
“Then he can stay here until that situation changes.”
He crossed the room and sat on the side of the bed by her crossed legs. He smelled of manly body wash and that close, looked just as good. Both induced tingles in her core that she had to ignore.
The hand caressing the puppy’s fur ceased movement. Somehow, Kya knew his response was going to be along those lines.
“Is this the part where I ask you to build me a house?”
“It never crossed my mind to even make you that offer. Not when there is more than enough room for you here.”
“Here?” She shook her head. “We went on one official date, shared a few dinners, had sex once, and you’re inviting me to move in?”
His chest jerked with a small bout of chuckles, “Guess you made one hell of an impression because I’ve never let any of the women in my past sit on my couch let alone sleep in my bed.”
“Why?” She shook her head absently. “I know I’ve asked you more than once, but you have never really answered my question. I know for a fact that you could have any woman you want. Why me?”
His shoulder rose and fell with a deep breath, “Isn’t it obvious? I’m obsessed with you.”
