The Road to You

by Melissa Toppen

  “Mornin’.”

  “Good morning.” I grab a throw blanket from the foot of the bed and wrap it around my shoulders before going to him. It may be hot during the day but the morning air is crisp with the cool breeze coming in off the water.

  He opens his arms for me and I go right to them, breathing in his scent the moment he wraps me in his embrace.

  “You sleep okay?” he murmurs into my hair, turning our bodies so we’re facing the water.

  “I did. You?”

  “Better than I’ve slept in a very long time.”

  I don’t know why but his admission does something funny to my insides. Maybe because I like to think I’m the reason he slept so good. Like maybe somehow I bring him the same semblance of peace that he brings me.

  “Good.” I lean my head back and smile up at him. Within seconds his lips find mine, brushing them in a whisper of a kiss that sends my heart once again galloping full throttle inside my chest.

  “What’s the plan for the day?” I ask when he pulls back and turns his gaze back out to the sea.

  “It’s our last full day here. I thought maybe we could just see where the day takes us.”

  “I like that plan.” I tighten my arms around his middle and squeeze.

  “You hungry?” he asks, his hand trailing lazily through my hair.

  “Starving,” I admit.

  I’m one of those people who’s ready to eat breakfast five minutes after waking up. I’ve always been that way, even when I was really little. Kam used to say I was inhuman – that people need at least an hour to wake up before they eat. I always gently reminded him that just because he needed that long did not mean everyone else did.

  “I spotted a little restaurant on the corner while I was out getting pizza last night. Thought we could swing in there this morning, get some coffee and a muffin before figuring out the day.”

  “Sounds perfect,” I say, before adding, “Can I ask you a question?”

  “Of course.” His hand is still in my hair and I instantly rethink what I’m about to say. If I ask what’s on my mind, I’m sure it will most likely put a damper on this perfect morning, but because I’m me and the queen of word vomit, I ask anyway.

  “What exactly are we doing here?” I lean back slightly just in time to see his expression shift, a shadow passing through his eyes which disappears almost instantly.

  “I don’t really know,” he answers after a long beat.

  “I just mean…” I hesitate. “You know what, never mind.” I step out of his embrace and quickly go back inside the room, going straight to my duffel bag.

  “Elara?” Humor is clear in Kane’s voice and when I flip my gaze up to him, I’m surprised to see he’s smiling. “What are you doing?” He looks at my duffel bag before turning his gaze back to my face.

  “Getting clothes to change into,” I say like it should be obvious.

  “I mean, why are you all the way over there when you should be right here?” He points at the spot directly in front of him.

  “If we’re going to go to breakfast I have to get dressed,” I say, slightly embarrassed that after one incredible day together I’m already pushing him to know where this is going when I’m not entirely sure I know where I want it to go yet.

  “Elara,” he repeats, his smile firmly intact. “Come here.” He once again points to the ground in front of him.

  Letting out a slow exhale, my feet shuffle toward him before my mind has time to process the action. The next thing I know I’m back in his arms, my cheek pressed to his bare chest.

  “I don’t know why I asked that,” I admit, keeping my arms at my sides.

  “I do.” He drops a kiss to the top of my head before tipping my face up to look at him.

  “You do?” I ask..

  “You’re wondering the same thing I am. Is this about Kam or is this about us?” His expression falls serious, his hand snaking around the back of my neck to hold my head firm so I can’t look away. “And the truth is, Elara; at first I worried it was about Kam for me. A way for me to feel closer to him because well, you make me feel closer to him. The night before last, after I kissed you, I realized it had nothing to do with Kam and that made me feel so guilty I couldn’t even look at you afterward.”

  Well I guess that explains him shutting me out.

  “But then yesterday, when you launched yourself at me and kissed me, all I could think was guilt be damned because there was no way I wasn’t going to explore this with you. Whatever this is.” He runs the back of his other hand down my cheek, his thumb skirting against my bottom lip.

  “It isn’t about Kam for me,” I admit, but quickly continue, “I mean, at first it was. But now, I don’t know. Yesterday when I looked at you, you were no longer Kam’s brother. You were Kane. And I liked what I saw.”

  “Then keep your eyes open, babe, because it’s about to get a whole lot better.” His smile once again graces his face just moments before he’s bending down and laying a light kiss to my lips.

  “Guilt be damned,” he mumbles against my mouth before deepening the kiss. His tongue sweeps against mine in the most delicious motion making my knees wobble slightly.

  When he pulls away moments later I’m breathless, captivated, and completely consumed by a man I barely know and yet can’t seem to get enough of. And while there’s still that knot in the pit of my stomach, the one that tells me I shouldn’t be allowed to feel this way, it’s currently being silenced by a pair of incredible dark eyes looking at me in a way I’m quite certain no one has ever looked at me.

  My stomach and my heart flip flop in unison.

  Oh boy.

  It’s been a week since we returned to Milan from Manarola. A week filled with countless heart flips, butterflies galore, and a newly forming tingle that starts at the back of my neck and works its way down to my toes every single time I look at Kane.

  We’ve taken things extremely slow, learning more about each other with each passing day. He kisses me regularly…as in all the time. But our physical relationship has not gone past that. Unless you count spooning, because Kane Thaler is one hell of a spooner.

  Needless to say he upgraded from the couch to the bedroom the day we returned from our three days in Manarola and he’s been there since. There’s something so incredible about him being the last person I see, the last voice I hear, the last touch I feel before I fall asleep. And then I get to wake up and experience every sensation all over again. It’s become my new favorite way to start my day.

  Music’s coming from the apartment as I climb the last staircase, so I pause outside the door to listen.

  James Bay.

  Did I mention he has stellar taste in music too?

  Surprised that he’s already home from the office, given that it’s only four-thirty, I quickly push my way inside, depositing two shopping bags on the floor next to the door before spotting Kane in the kitchen.

  He’s shirtless–of course he is–and barefoot, his suit pants low on his hips doing some really good things for his ass. Not that he needs any help in that department. It’s hot in the small apartment, is what he always says when I ask him why he never has clothes on. I think he walks around like this on purpose because he likes the reaction it gets from me.

  I stand in the doorway of the small kitchen for several seconds watching him stir something in a pot before he finally senses my presence, clearly not hearing my entrance over the music blaring through the small apartment.

  “There she is.” He grins, popping a lid on the pan before peeking into the oven.

  “What are you doing home already?” I ask, giggling when he pulls me into his arms and drops a kiss to my mouth.

  “Wrapped up early. Thought I’d surprise you with dinner.”

  “Now that you mention it, you have yet to wow me with these so called cooking skills you claim to have. About time you put your money where your mouth is.” I pull back and give him a teasing wink.

  “You just wait, Miss
Menton. I’m going to knock your socks off.”

  “I’m not wearing any socks,” I point out, looking down at the flip flops on my feet.

  “Would you rather I say it’ll knock your panties off?” His voice drops low, lips sweeping against mine. “Because that can be arranged.”

  My body instantly gets tight and a slow ache forms in my lower belly. I have to take a few calming breaths to pull myself together. I’ve told myself we need to take things slow, but when he looks at me the way he’s looking at me right now it’s all I can do not to tackle him right here on the kitchen floor. Kane stirs something in me; a desire I’ve never felt toward another person.

  “You talk a big talk, Thaler,” I tease, needing to lighten the mood.

  “I walk a big walk too.” He winks, taking my hand in his before stepping back and twirling me under his arm.

  My head drops back on a laugh when he pulls me back to his chest and starts swaying slowly back and forth to my favorite song on this album, “Move Together”.

  My laughter doesn’t last long. Like the song, Kane’s movements are slow and sultry. His hand grazes slowly down my back, his lips trail up the side of my neck, his hips sway back and forth against me as he effortlessly moves us around the small kitchen.

  All I can do is hold onto him, fearful that if I let go my legs won’t be able to support my weight. That’s what he does to me; he turns my body into mush and my mind even more so.

  “Elara.” His whispered words at the base of my throat send a rush of need through my body.

  Tangling my fingers in his hair, I lift his face to mine before pressing my lips firmly against his. He instantly deepens the kiss, his arms wrapping around my waist as his tongue sweeps through my mouth.

  An involuntary moan slips past my lips and he swallows it whole, pulling me off my feet so the only choice I have is to wrap my legs around his waist, my arms locking around his neck.

  Backing me into the refrigerator, his mouth continues to move against mine. When his fingers slide up my shirt, touching the bare skin of my side, something inside me snaps.

  All I see is Kane.

  All I smell is Kane.

  All I feel is Kane.

  All I want is Kane.

  My hands find the back of his neck as I pull him closer to me, my fingers digging lightly into his flesh as the want coursing through my body starts to take hold. I feel like I can’t get him close enough. I want to feel him everywhere.

  “I want you,” I say against his mouth.

  “Elara,” he groans, pulling back slightly to look at me.

  “I want you,” I repeat with more force. “I want this.”

  I see the conflict behind his dark eyes, the battle he’s trying to hide. But when I lean forward and whisper a small “please” against his lips, uncertainty is instantly replaced with something darker. Hunger. Desire. Need. It’s only seconds before his lips are on mine again and he’s moving with me still in his arms, guiding us through the small apartment with complete ease.

  He pushes his way through the bedroom door, but I’m already too preoccupied to care where we are. The only things that matter are the way his body flexes as he lowers me to my feet and the way his hands skirt up my bare back as he pulls the fabric of my shirt over my head and deposits it on the floor. My bra is next, his fingers against my flesh causing prickles to pepper down my arms as he slides each strap down before tossing it to the side.

  He steps back and looks at me for a long moment, appreciation shining through his dark eyes. Just the sight has my skin blistering from the heat of his gaze. And then he’s moving, slowly lowering himself onto his knees in front of me.

  I’m in complete amazement, watching him unravel me like he’s done it a million times before. His fingers go to the waist band of my jeans, unbuckling and sliding them down my legs in one fluent movement. He kisses the top of each thigh, running his nose along the seam of my panties before slowly standing.

  He kisses me sweetly before guiding me onto the bed, my back coming to rest atop the thick comforter.

  I watch as he stands before me, hear his rapid breathing as he leans forward and slowly removes my last article of clothing.

  My entire body goes rigid as he spreads my legs open, allowing his eyes to trail across my now bare exterior. I don’t shy away from his penetrating stare. Instead I embrace it. Encourage it. I want him to see all of me, have all of me.

  I see the flash of recognition cross his face when his eyes find the tattoo on my hip but it’s gone as quickly as it appeared.

  I hear the buckle of his pants and the rustle of fabric as they fall to the floor, but my gaze remains locked on his face. On the way he’s looking at me–making every part of my body ache with the need for his touch.

  He crawls up the bed, the heat from his body making tiny beads of sweat form along the back of my neck as he settles his weight on top of me.

  He pushes my hair from my face, his lips once again finding mine as he kisses me deeply. I jump slightly when his hand slides between us and settles between my legs. When his fingers push inside of me, all coherent thought seems to leave my body.

  I become greedy, lifting my hips to meet his hand as he pumps his fingers inside of me. The effect his touch has on me, the pleasure causing my body to pool around his hand.

  “Please,” I whimper when he pulls his hand away, leaving me unsatisfied and wanting so much more.

  “Please?” His mouth settles over mine again as he gently pulls my bottom lip into his mouth. “Tell me what you want, Elara,” he whispers against my lips.

  “You. I want you.” My words are pleading, begging even.

  I’ve never had a man’s touch control me the way his does. I feel each flicker of movement across every surface of my body.

  “Please,” I whimper again when he slides his hard length against me, his face hovering inches above mine.

  “Is this what you want?” he asks, grinding down harder.

  “Yes,” I hiss, digging my nails into his shoulders.

  “This?” He continues to tease me, lining himself at my entrance but making no move to do what every part of my body is aching for him to do.

  “Now, Kane,” I practically scream, my frustration mounting

  This seems to snap what little restraint he has left and he immediately plunges inside of me, both of us crying out from the intensity of our bodies coming together. Pulling back, he slams into me again, pulling yet another scream of pleasure from my mouth.

  I try to hold back. The moans and whimpers that seem to keep flowing from my mouth, but I can’t. He’s pulling everything from me, making me feel every ounce of pleasure as he thrusts harder and harder inside of me.

  It takes minutes—or maybe it’s only seconds—before the warmth starts to work its way through my lower belly. Kane senses my heightening desperation and pushes my legs further open, pounding into me so deeply I swear I feel him everywhere.

  “Kane,” I cry, my body so overcome with pleasure I’m not sure how to control myself.

  His mouth finds mine as he swallows my cries of pleasure; the earth seeming to literally fall out from beneath me. My body explodes around him, and I swear I have never felt anything so intense before in my entire life.

  It comes in waves, washing over me, warming every single inch of my body until I can feel the effects to the very tips of my fingers and toes. Kane makes me feel every ounce of my pleasure as he continues to thrust inside of me, pulling every last bit of desire from me that he can. My body is shaking, trembling from the aftermath of what has to be the most incredible orgasm I’ve ever experienced.

  Kane’s movements start to become less controlled, frantic even, and then he lets out a deep groan, pumping inside of me several more times before letting himself go.

  When he stills inside of me, he pulls back slightly and hits me with the most incredible smile, the action doing funny things to my heart. His lips find my cheek first, then my forehead, followed by the tip of
my nose before he finally presses them gently against my own.

  I continue to pulse around him as he sweetly kisses my mouth, his tongue sliding against mine as his hand pushes the tangled mess of hair away from my face.

  There are so many things I need to say, so many things bubbling to the surface that I have to bite back. I want you. I need you. I’m falling so hard and fast that I’m terrified if I let go I’ll go careening out of control.

  Of course I can’t say any of this, certain it would freak him out. Hell, I’m freaked out. How is it after less than three weeks my feelings are already so strong? I can’t explain it, can’t rationalize it, but I also can’t deny the truth.

  I’m falling in love with Kane Thaler…

  ****

  “You have the same tattoo as Kam,” Kane says, his head on my stomach, his fingers tracing the outline of the permanent ink on my hip.

  “I do,” I murmur, my hand lazily playing with his hair.

  We haven’t left the bed in over an hour, at least I haven’t. Kane left briefly to shut off the oven, announcing moments later that I ruined his dinner. When I asked him if he was complaining he grinned and dove back into bed with me. And that’s where we’ve stayed.

  “We didn’t plan it that way,” I continue when he doesn’t reply. “Kam designed it and as soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted it too. I guess it sounds kind of corny, getting the same tattoo as my best friend, but it meant something to him, therefore it meant something to me.”

  “I don’t think that sounds corny at all.” He kisses the tattoo which instantly sends a wave of emotion washing over me. “You have this piece of him. Something that’s permanent. Something that will always be there. Nothing corny about that.”

  Feeling the heavy shift in the room, I instantly divert from talking about Kam.

  “What about you? Do you have any tattoos?” I ask, biting my bottom lip when he looks up at me and hits me with a sultry smile.