The Path to Finding You

by S M Broad

  “Thank you.” A blush creeps up my neck while warmth spreads in my body. He holds his elbow toward me.

  “Are you ready for dinner?”

  “Yes, I absolutely am.”

  Chapter 24

  I love Saturdays.

  Sometimes, I schedule shoots for early afternoon, but twice a month, I take the whole day off, and today is one of those days. This morning, Kohen and I were lazy in bed - making slow, sweet love before getting up for the ultimate breakfast. Coffee with bacon, eggs, loaded hash browns, and pancakes. He helped me clean the mess in the kitchen, and I thanked him on my knees.

  I giggle silently as I remember his dazed face in the aftermath of my gratitude. I stretch out on the couch, watching Sex and the City reruns on HBO while I snack on some Twizzlers. My phone pings about three-thirty, and I grab it off the coffee table, looking up just as the front door opens to Kohen’s return.

  “Hey, babe.”

  “Hey,” I answer, opening a text from Aayla.

  Aayla: dinner at our house at 4, be there or get tit punched.

  I laugh at the text from my best friend and then frown because ever since Kohen and I got back together, we haven’t spent a whole lot of time with Latham and Aayla.

  Some friend you are.

  “We’re going to dinner at Latham and Aayla’s tonight. I feel awful that we haven’t gone over there in a few weeks.” I say to Kohen as he walks into the living room and takes a drink from the glass of ice water- sweating after his run.

  “Okay, cool.” He crouches down to kiss me as I type out a quick reply to Aayla.

  Me: we’ll be there, no tit punching needed.

  “She said if we didn’t come, she’d tit punch me.”

  “You’ve rubbed off on her.” He laughs at that.

  “That’s bound to happen when you know someone for over half your lives,” I smirk, set my phone down, and go back to my show, watching with rapt attention as Carrie Bradshaw and Mr. Big share a special moment.

  “Hey, Leila?” Kohen’s deep voice makes me glance up from the television.

  “Yeah?”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you too, Kohen.” My face softens as I look at this sweet, caring man of mine.

  “I’m gonna grab a quick shower. I’d invite you to join me, but I think if that happened, we’d be a little late.”

  “Yeah, and then I’d get my tit punched. I love you and that magic dick of yours, but hard pass on that one.”

  He just chuckles at me, leaving the room to clean himself up for dinner with our friends.

  “So, what have you guys been up to?” Aayla asks, picking up two of the plates from the delicious pot roast, garlic mashed potatoes, and sweet cornbread she made for dinner.

  “Nothing, we’ve really just been spending time together.” I hand her the last dish, tucking a hand into the pocket of my jeans. She struggles to bend down to put the glass plate in the dishwasher, so I take it from her and place it in the slot.

  “Ah, thank you.” She pants, worn out from just an everyday chore. My poor bestie, she’s a goddamn champion for carrying these twins with minimal complaining.

  “You’re welcome. I’m sorry we haven’t been by much.”

  “It’s okay. Honestly, we’ve been so busy getting the twins’ room ready anyway. And, I get it, Lei. Latham and I spent a whole bunch of time alone when we first started dating.” She turns with an easy smile on her lips, rubbing her round belly.

  “Oh!” She exclaims suddenly.

  “What is it?” I reach an arm out to support her, ready to holler for Latham if I need to.

  “They’re kicking.” She beams, looking down at her moving stomach. Grabbing my hand, she places it right on the spot where one of the babies is pushing out. I grin, keeping my hand on her belly a little longer to feel every kick and roll.

  “How was your surprise date last week?” Aayla asks, leaning back against the counter. I can’t stop the goofy grin from spreading.

  “It was amazing. We had dinner, and then we walked along Twin Lakes Bridge, just talking.”

  “I cried when he stopped by and told me he had planned the whole thing out for you.”

  “Everything makes you cry.” I say, chuckling when she points at me.

  “You’re not wrong, it’s these damn raging hormones. I swear, one second, I want to stab Latham with a rusty knife, and the next, I want to sit on his face.” We both laugh.

  “That dress you picked out was gorgeous, by the way, you did well. Kohen couldn’t keep his eyes off me.”

  “Naturally, you are a fine dime piece.”

  “You sound like me.”

  “There are worse things in the world.” She shrugs, and we both laugh again just as Kohen and Latham come in from the garage talking about the Impala.

  “What are you ladies gabbing about?” Latham leans himself on the counter as Kohen walks down the hallway without a word. I glance at Aayla, biting into a strawberry.

  “Your wife wants to sit on your face,” I mumble around the fruit in my mouth. Latham’s green eyes widen then crinkle with a grin when he watches Aayla’s tan skin flush bright red with a blush that starts on her chest and flashes all the way up to her ears.

  “I swear, you have such a big mouth.” Aayla glares at me, eyes like lasers, which only has me laughing harder.

  “Oh, you love me.” I touch my lips and blow her a fingertip kiss while she rolls her eyes.

  “All you have to do is ask, love. You know that.” Latham winks, and I swear I hear her panties dampen as she shivers. I laugh again when Aayla shoves a spoon and tub of Cool Whip at me.

  “Stir that.” She shakes her head, pulling a pound cake from a loaf pan on the counter. I salute her sassily.

  “Aye, aye captain!”

  “What’d I miss?” Kohen emerges from the hallway a few minutes later, sitting down next to me on a stool at the breakfast bar.

  “Nothing.” Latham crosses his arms over his chest, watching his wife with a wily grin.

  “Were you just in the bathroom?” Aayla asks Kohen randomly from her spot by the oven as she cuts the cake instead of answering his original question.

  “Yeah, why?” He answers her but looks at me, and I shrug, stirring the container of whipped cream as instructed.

  “Did you use the spray?” She piles the slices onto a plate. “The stuff I got is warm vanilla sugar.”

  “More like warm vanilla shit.” Kohen chuckles with Latham and then starts laughing louder when a nasally snort shoots from my nose. I smile, leaning forward to peck his cheek.

  “Sorry, Aayla, but you know that stuff only makes the smell worse, not better.” Kohen shoves a strawberry into his mouth.

  “Oh, whatever, it does not.” She rolls her eyes, trying to hold in a laugh as she comes over to set the plate down on the counter. She watches us for a minute with a happy grin. “You guys are so cute together.”

  “I think I’ll keep her.” Kohen chuckles with a wink at me as we move to the table to sit and eat our strawberries, whipped cream, and pound cake. We tell stories, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company, just like we always do when we get together.

  Chapter 25

  February flies by in a flash, crashing into March faster than lightning. Kohen and I have only grown closer in the four months we’ve been officially back together. We celebrated Valentine’s Day at an elegant hotel for a weekend away with Latham and Aayla and helped them put the finishing touches on the twins’ nursery last week.

  Aayla’s belly is bigger every time I see her, growing more as she nears her due date. Realizing the babies will be here in just a few short months has me thinking about what Kohen said on New Year’s Eve. The next step in our relationship. Where are we headed?

  Marriage. Babies.

  Kohen and I are pretty well settled, we’ve declared our love, and we have a routine, so it only makes sense that those would be next for us.

  Do I want to marry him? I won’t sa
y no if he asks me, that’s for sure.

  The thoughts roll around my head as I browse tiny baby clothes while shopping with a waddling Aayla on this bright Sunday afternoon. Latham has strict instructions for his wife today, while he takes Hensley out for a daddy-daughter day.

  Relax.

  “Aayla, can I ask you something?” I feel the soft material of a light pink sleeper with a mermaid on it. She turns to me with a smile, sitting down in a luxurious rocking chair to get off her puffy feet.

  “Of course, you can.” She rubs circles on her belly.

  “Before you got pregnant with Hensley, how did you and Latham decide it was the right time?”

  “Well, we just had so much love for each other that we wanted to take it and start a family. Wait!” Her brows shoot skyward. “Are you…?”

  “Oh, no.” Waving my hands around, I calm her.

  “Kohen just said something on New Year’s Eve that has me thinking.”

  “What did he say?”

  “That I’d make a good mom. I told him I didn’t know if I was ready for that step, and he agreed that he wasn’t either. I just…I don’t know, Aayla. Seeing how he is with Hensley and Audra…” I lose my train of thought when I picture Kohen playing with our kids. “It just…”

  “Makes your ovaries ache?” Aayla finishes for me with a light laugh.

  “That’s exactly what happens. Is that how you feel seeing Latham with Hensley?”

  “Oh for sure. There is nothing sexier than seeing the man you love with a baby. It’s even better when it’s the baby the two of you have made out of pure and devoted love.”

  “It’s a huge step, though.”

  “It is, but it’s like Kohen said, there’s absolutely no rush. There’s no rule anywhere that says you must fall in love and immediately get pregnant. In the meantime,” She pushes up from the chestnut brown rocker, shrugging with a cheeky grin. “Have fun practicing.” She wiggles her eyebrows. That shakes a chuckle out of me, cutting the tension of the conversation.

  “We do have a lot of fun with that.” I pick her purse up for her, handing it off. Her face softens.

  “I really am happy you guys found your way back to each other.”

  “I am too.”

  “Now,” She rubs her hands together. “Let’s go get pedicures...and food. I’m starving.”

  “How do you have any room in there?” I gesture to her belly.

  “Beats me.” We link arms and make our way out of the baby store. I’ve never been happier than I am right now with Kohen, but somewhere deep down inside me, it still feels too good to be true.

  “Oh my God, what smells so good?” I call out as I shut the door behind me, dropping all my shopping bags next to my purse on the floor after an exhausting day with Aayla. I shift out of my Docs, kicking them off to the side and walk to the kitchen. The tantalizing scent of marinara hits my nose, making my mouth water.

  “Stop, babe!” Kohen’s voice calls before I can round the corner, making my steps falter. “Wait right there. Close your eyes.”

  I bite my lip to hide my smile and do as he says, shivering when a short minute later, his palms slide up my arms to guide me. The warmth of his hands on me causes goosebumps to prickle my skin.

  “Come with me.” His body pulls me forward as he walks in front of me, leading me into a room I assume is the kitchen. A chair squeaks as he guides me to the seat. “No peeking.”

  “I’m not.” My senses are heightened since I can’t see anything. Every noise registering louder.

  “Okay, you can look now.” I open my eyes and burst out laughing. Kohen is standing there in an apron that says Will Cook for Sex. The red cloth covers his body, but I can see his naked chest under the neck loop and his bare legs sticking out the bottom.

  “What are you wearing?” I cover my mouth, wondering if he’s got boxers on but secretly hoping he doesn’t.

  “What? You don’t like it?” He pouts playfully. Leaning an elbow on the table, I raise a brow and hold my chin in my palm.

  “You got anything on under that?” I ask curiously, sucking in a breath when his eyes darken. He gives me a sly grin before turning to show me his bare, toned ass and muscular back. Warmth pools between my legs as his deep, throaty laugh washes over me.

  “I think dinner can wait.”

  “Fuck, yes, it can.” He agrees, twisting back around, eyes blazing with desire. He yanks me up from my seat and tilts my chin, forcing my eyes to the intense blue irises of his own. Leaning down, he presses his chest against mine with his face so close that I can feel his warm, minty breath tickle the apples of my cheeks. He closes the small space between us and places a wickedly teasing kiss on my lips.

  He pulls the elastic band out of my silky red strands, letting them hang in a mess down my back. He growls into my ear, knocking a sharp gasp from my already parted lips.

  “Do you have any idea how bad I want you right now?”

  “We had sex this morning.” I lean away to look at him, and the heated expression on his face makes my entire body flush, tingling with excitement.

  “It’s never enough. I crave you all the time. See?” He traces a thumb over my bottom lip, pushing his hips against mine so I can feel his desire rather than him using words to tell me.

  “I feel like a fucking horny teenager.” His hand skates down my side, past my hip to the rounded cheek of my ass. Threading his free hand into the ends of my day-worn hair, he tugs just hard enough to bring my attention back to his face. I push his chest, walking him backward until he hits the counter.

  His chest expands, and he grunts roughly, ripping my t-shirt over my head in one fluid motion. His eyes roam over the purple lace bra covering my breasts with fervency as he touches me, his hand sliding lower and lower on my belly until it reaches my black yoga pants to dip inside.

  “Jesus, Leila.” He grinds his teeth when he feels just how turned on I am. I hold onto his shoulders for balance as he works his long, skilled fingers in and out of me. Stepping back, I pull his hand away from me and tuck my thumbs into the band of my yoga pants, pushing them down my legs, along with my cheeky style panties until I’m utterly bare for only him. His eyes roll, hitting the ceiling as he takes a second to compose himself. I grab the loops of the apron, pulling it over his head so I can see him. His erection twitches in front of him, begging for attention.

  Praise Aphrodite.

  Grasping the hair at the nape of my neck, he steals my breath with his kiss. Never breaking our connection, his hands find my hips, spinning to lift me onto the counter with ease. Caressing the curve of my thigh, he lowers his mouth to where I crave him the most, building me higher with only his expert lips until my legs shake.

  “Kohen.” I whimper, tugging his shoulder to bring him up to me. He releases my clit and dives for my mouth, massaging my tongue with his. “God.”

  “Fuck, those sounds you make are sexy.” He growls a deep, animalistic noise that makes my insides quiver like Jell-O. His fingers sink into my sides as he pushes into me with ease. “Feel good, baby?”

  “Yes.” I whimper as he continues his rhythm, thrusting, and grunting until we climax at the same time. Making love is incredible, but sometimes you just need it hard, fast, and rough.

  “Holy shit,” Kohen gasps into my mouth, his body leaning on me for support. “That was fucking hot.”

  “Yeah.” I somehow manage to mumble through a sated, blissful smile.

  Chapter 26

  “Are you really sure you want to do this?” I ask, glancing in the mirror at Kohen’s reflection. “Won’t you be tempted?”

  Tonight, I’m nervous.

  Its karaoke night at Sweetwater and Kohen wants to go with Latham and Aayla. I’m terrified the flow of alcohol will be too much for him, although he assures me, he has absolutely no worries.

  “You’re my only temptation.” He says, watching me with a heated gaze in the doorway of the upstairs bathroom as I swipe a coat of matte red lipstick over my mouth.
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  “Are you sure?” I ask again, blotting the color onto a square of tissue. “We don’t have to go.”

  “Leila.” He pushes off the wall, strolling casually over to stand behind me. “Have I been doing good?” He brushes my strawberry curls onto one shoulder and fixes a hand on my hip, touching the hollow of my neck delicately with the other hand.

  “You’ve been doing amazing.” I grunt when he presses a feather light kiss there. “Not fair. I can’t think straight when you do that.”

  “Good.” Kohen’s heavy snicker vibrates against my skin. “I need you to relax, babe.”

  “Relax. Right, I can do that.” I take a deep breath to steady the drop in my stomach.

  “You’ll keep me in line, right? You’ve got my back?”

  “Yes, of course.” My eyes find his in the mirror again.

  “Then I’m good to go.” He hesitates for a brief moment before pulling something from the pocket of his dark jeans. “I have something to show you.” Kohen brings a round gold coin up, holding in front of my face for me to see. I pull it back and focus on the words.

  6 Month Recovery.

  I gasp, not realizing the date of his milestone was this month already.

  “This is incredible, I’m so proud of you.” I feel the raised words with the tip of my finger, gazing at the token in awe.

  “I wouldn’t have this if it weren't for you, Leila. I don’t think I’d even be alive if not for you.” He hands me the coin. “I want you to have it.”

  “No way, I can’t take this. It’s yours. You worked hard for it.”

  “I don’t need it to know how far I’ve come. All I need is you.” He eyes me in the mirror, watching me watch him as he presses his lips to my skin once more. The touch sends a zing straight to my core, making my thighs clench together with need.

  “Kohen,” I breathe his name like a prayer that makes him groan.

  “If you don’t stop making those noises, I’ll keep you home for myself.” He grips my hips in his big hands, making the desire pulse stronger in my blood.