He audibly swallowed. “He’s in the back, by the fire pit.”
He barely finished getting the words out before Colt was already prowling through the crowd toward the back doors. We’d been here enough when Patrick’s older sister had parties that we knew exactly where to go.
Rannon and I followed and I could hear everyone whispering about the fight they knew was coming. As we made our way across the large backyard, my eyes instantly picked out Jax sitting with his other football friends. He was laughing at something, as though nothing had happened earlier in the night. He even had another girl plastered to his side.
My anger boiled over.
Taking a deep breath, I tried my best to control it before I found myself pushing Colt out of the way, and taking matters into my own hands.
One of Jax’s friends noticed us first, his eyes going comically wide. He slapped Jax’s arms, saying something to him that had Jax’s head snapping up to us. There was nowhere for him to run, but I knew without a doubt that’s exactly what the coward wanted to do.
Colt stopped in front of him. I couldn’t see his face, but from the look on Jax’s I knew it must have been terrifying. A smirk lifted my lips.
“Get up,” Colt said.
Jax raised both hands, as if he could really calm Colt down at this point. “Look, Colt, I’m really sorry. It was an accident.”
“Get. Up.”
Jax was shaking his head now, not moving, proving he was the cowardly piece of shit I knew he was.
“I apologized to her right away. I didn’t mean it.”
Other people around him had started to inch away nervously.
“Get the fuck up, now!” Colt’s bellow rang through the night. Jax’s nervous gaze swung to me.
I let my smirk slowly widen.
It wasn’t until three in the morning that I was finally able to crawl back into bed. Having someone there waiting for me was a strange thing. Having Chloe specifically waiting for me was even stranger. It had a new feeling of happiness settling in my stomach.
I pulled her close to me, breathing in her scent. God she smelled like heaven.
“Kyle?” She murmured in a sleepy voice. The sound had my body instantly reacting. Chloe all soft and sleepy might be the best thing I’ve ever heard.
“I’m here, sweetheart,” I said, burying my face into her thick hair.
She turned, rolling to face me, her warm hand reaching up to touch my face.
“You’re cold,” she whispered.
I didn’t reply. Instead I took her in. She was a mess. Her hair now free and tangled across my pillow, her make-up smudged. Her eyes were puffy from crying, and her cheek was still a bit red and swollen.
She was beautiful.
Her thumb was stroking my cheek slowly as her brows furrowed into an adorable frown.
“What did you do to him?” She asked.
I smiled, loving how quick her mind worked. “Nothing,” I answered honestly. Turning my head slightly, I kissed her palm softly, flicking out my tongue to lick at the pulse at her wrist.
I heard her breath hitch, causing my blood to quicken.
“Kyle?”
“Hmm?” I said, reaching up to trace her collarbone with my index finger.
“Are you going to kiss me?” She asked.
I looked up into her eyes. “Do you want me to kiss you?” I asked, matching her volume.
“Yes,” she said on a breath.
I leaned in slowly, keeping my eyes on hers. Stopping just short of her lips, I paused there, absorbing the delicious tension between us. I wanted her so much it hurt.
Moving, I tilted my head, kissing her lightly on her forehead. “Go back to sleep, Chloe,” I said.
She sighed. I wrapped my arm around her pulled her against my chest, so her head was pillowed against me.
As much as I wanted her, it wouldn’t be tonight. Tonight she would heal. I would keep her safe and comfort her.
Tomorrow would start something new between us. When she was ready. When she was stronger.
“Goodnight, Kyle,” she whispered.
I kissed the top of her head. “Goodnight.”
21
Chloe
I was wonderfully warm when my eyes blinked open to find my arms and legs wrapped around a sleeping Kyle. Laying still for a moment, I soaked up the feeling of being like this with him. It was the first time I’d slept in a bed with a guy, and the fact that it was Kyle who I was with made it all the more special.
I didn’t know what the morning was going to bring. Kyle had been sweet with me, and I’d thought I’d recognized a difference in him when he’d looked at me, something that told me maybe he liked me more than just as his sister’s best friend and his friend’s sister. But then he hadn’t kissed me when I’d all but begged him to, so I was completely lost.
Would he push me away again now that I was no longer in trouble? It was entirely possible. Actually, probably was likely more accurate, knowing Kyle. Sighing, I snuggled in, figuring I might as well soak it up while I can.
There was no doubt in my mind that I had feelings for Kyle. Jax had been a waste of time - literally. I felt my cheek, still shocked that he’d hit me. I didn’t know what to think about it. The forgiving side of me wanted to believe it had just been a mistake and Jax wasn’t really a bad guy. The cynical side wondered if I’d really known him at all, and maybe last night was a glimpse at his true colors.
Either way, we were done. I’d been stupid for even trying with him when I’d known all along it wasn’t Jax who I really wanted.
I tilted my face up to look at the person I did want. Kyle was gorgeous even in his sleep. His face was relaxed for once, those deep, too perceptive eyes not taking in everything and making those around him nervous. Or was it just me? I doubted it. Kyle Briggs was intimidating to men and women alike.
That mouth that rarely smiled was slightly open as he breathed slowly and evenly in sleep. I wanted to feel them against mine so badly. Just looking at them had a buzzing feeling spreading up my body, warming me further.
I’d never felt so desperately attracted to someone like this. The man wasn’t event awake and he was affecting me more than Jax did when he actually touched me.
It would probably be creepy if he woke up to see me watching him, right? Deciding that was a firm yes, I started to look around the room now that I could see it clearly.
Kyle’s room was exactly what I’d expect. Simple, male, and organized. Kyle didn’t come off as the kind of guy who liked to live in a mess. There were a few clothes strewn about, but other than that, it seemed tidy.
The walls were a warm grey, his furniture all dark. A desk sat in one corner, filled with school books.
Suddenly I heard my phone buzzing, but I had no idea where it was coming from. I sat up, careful not to wake him, and looked around. I was still in my dress, which meant I’d had it tucked in my bra, but it wasn’t there anymore.
“It’s on the nightstand,” Kyle said, his voice hoarse with sleep.
I looked back at him, surprised to see him looking at me, his eyes open and unreadable.
“You left it in my car and I brought it in,” he explained.
I just nodded, not knowing what to say or how to react. I’d never had to deal with “the next morning” situation. Not that we’d done anything other than sleep together, but even that was more than I was used to.
The nightstand was on his side of the bed, so I stretched out across him to reach it, hearing him suck in a breath when our chests mashed together.
I paused, looking down at him, his eyes heated as he stared back at me. His hands lifted to grip my hips, holding me in place.
My phone started buzzing again, but I couldn’t seem to make myself move. He raised both brows at me, his lips twitching. “Are you going to get that?”
“I don’t think I can,” I admitted.
He chuckled, turning his head and reaching out an arm to grab the phone, while I stayed frozen.
“It’s not him, is it?” I asked.
Kyle scowled, looking at me. “If that piece of shit tries calling you, he’s going to regret it.”
I faintly remembered Kyle getting into bed after I’d been asleep, his body cold and smelling like the outdoors. He’d gone back out to see Jax. I also recalled him saying he hadn’t done anything. Had he been lying?
“You promised not to leave me,” I said.
His face transformed to a regretful one. Raising his free hand, he stroked back my hair, tucking it behind my ear. “I’m sorry,” he said, and I could see he meant it. “But that guy needed to know there was no way we were going to let what happened slide.”
“We?”
He nodded.
I grimaced. “Is Colt in jail?”
His lips lifted slightly. “No, Chloe. No one went to jail.”
“That’s good at least,” I muttered. “Who was it then?” I asked, now that the phone had stopped again.
His eyes shined with amusement. “My sister.”
I felt my cheeks heat. “Shit. I guess I should go tell her what happened.”
I started to push off him, finally finding the ability to move, but his hand stilled me.
“Not yet,” he said. “First, let’s get you cleaned up and dressed in something other than evening wear.”
I looked down at my dress and figured he had a point. How bad would it look, coming out of Kyle’s room looking as rough as I did? The clothes I’d worn over last night were in Cat’s room though. Before I could point this out, Kyle dropped my phone beside us, gripping my hips in both hands and setting me to the side as he sat up.
“There’s a bathroom through that door,” he said, nodding to an open doorway. “I’ll find you something to put on.”
“Won’t it look bad if I’m wearing your clothing?”
His expression darkened. “Do you care?”
“Uh...not really, I guess.”
“Then go hop in the shower,” he said, swatting my butt lightly as I went to get up. I yelped looking back to see a grin spread across his face that had my own lips lifting in answer.
Playful Kyle? Amazing.
Hurrying into the washroom, I threw up a quick thank you to the universe for his room having an ensuite. Stripping out of my ruined dress with a sense of regret, I put the water to as hot as I could stand and got it, letting the spray of water sooth and refresh me.
I was determined not to dwell on last night. It could have been so much worse than it had been. I shuddered. The “could have” is what threatened to bring me down. But I just had to remind myself that it wasn’t. Kyle had been there. I was safe now.
Turning, I closed my eyes as I tilted my head back to wash the gallons of hairspray that Cat had used out of my hair. Because of this, I didn’t see or hear Kyle until he stood behind me.
At the brush of his chest to my back, I gasped spinning to see him standing unabashedly before me.
Naked.
Kyle Briggs was naked in front of me.
Shit.
I was naked in front him.
Instantly my hands went to cover both areas, my arm banding over my chest to little effect.
His hands reached out to grab my arm, missing the area it hid, and tugged on it gently. I realized then that I was holding my breath, it lodged in my throat.
Kyle stepped closer so that both of us were under the cascading water.
“Don’t hide yourself, Chloe,” he said, that voice of his causing goose bumps to rise along my skin. My reaction didn’t go unnoticed by him.
He tugged again, and I finally gave in, still hesitantly, lowering my arm. He sucked in a breath as he openly stared at my rising and falling breasts.
Oh good, I was breathing again.
“You’re so beautiful.” His hand reached out to run a finger across my collarbone and down, gliding between my breasts. “But you are real,” he said so softly, I almost suspected it was more to himself than me.
His eyes raked down the rest of me, and I found myself shaking. Not from being cold, but from the mere presence of the man before me. I wanted Kyle Briggs.
I wanted him like the heroines in my novels wanted the hero. All those feelings of feeling connected to the other person, and an intangible pull was true. I wanted his hands everywhere on me, and mine on him.
As he looked at me, I did the same, letting my eyes sweep over the lean muscles of his arms and stomach, down to the dark trail of hair that led to his groin.
My mouth nearly dropped opened to see him standing long and thick, his arousal straining toward me. I’d never seen a naked penis before. Well, in real life. I’d always thought I’d be grossed out by one, but I wasn’t.
Instead, I actually found him appealing there. Just looking at it had me clenching my thighs together, a needy feeling sweeping up my body.
“Chloe,” Kyle said.
“Yeah?” I said absently, my eyes still glued to him.
“Chloe,” he said again, a note of amusement in his voice. I felt his finger on my chin a second before he forced my head up so our eyes met. My cheeks flamed at being caught ogling him blatantly.
“Sweetheart, if you keep staring at me like that, you’re going to make it hard for me to be a gentleman.”
What if I didn’t want him to be a gentleman? I swallowed against the dryness in my mouth, my eyes glancing back down at him even as he kept my face in place.
“I’m not sure I want you to be,” I admitted.
His eyes darkened with desire, the look just about making me climax from that alone. I clenched my thighs again, the feeling there getting unbearable. I needed him to do something - anything - to relieve it.
“Have you ever been with a guy?” He asked, making the blush on my cheeks darken.
Was it that obvious? I mean, sure I’d fooled around, and I even touched Jax there, but I’d never gone further. We’d kept our clothes on the whole time, so it had never felt this real - this personal.
I shook my head once. “Does that make you not want me now?” I asked, voicing my fear.
He growled, stepping closer so that my nipples brushed his chest. The sensation shot right down to where I ached, causing a soft moan to escape my lips.
“If you keep making noises like that, I’ll never stop wanting you,” he said, rubbing his thumb across my bottom lip. His face grew serious.
“Are you going to kiss me now?” I whispered.
“Do you want me to kiss you?”
I leaned in, brushing my lips against his, too lightly to be considered a kiss. But his breath still hitched, making me feel proud that I’d elicited such a reaction from someone like him. I could feel his arousal against my stomach, and I knew he was just as affected as I was by all this.
I bit my lower lip to stop from smiling when I answered. “No.”
He pulled his head back. “No?”
I couldn’t stop from smiling. His lips slowly turned up too, as he shook his head.
“Have I ever told you how insane those dimples make me?”
That only made my smile widen. “These ones?”
Desire lit his dark eyes as he leaned in, kissing one and then the other, before returning to hover over my lips. Finally he brushed his against mine, once softly, then another a bit harder. He pulled back to look in my eyes, something passing between us there amongst the rising steam and steady beat of the water.
When he leaned in again I knew his control was gone. His lips were firm on mine as I opened up to him, moaning as his tongue swept in to meet mine. He moved slowly, his lips soft yet demanding, his tongue plunging in, and retreating when I needed it. His hands glided across my wet skin to my lower back, pulling me closer until we were plastered together. And yet it still wasn’t close enough.
I slid my hands up his arms, hooking them around his neck. The kiss was nothing like any
of the ones I’d shared with Jax. Kyle was the kind of kisser where it was obvious he was in no hurry. This wasn’t some step to rush on to the next. No, Kyle kissed like it was the most important thing, the only thing he needed.
It created a slow burn in the pit of my stomach, igniting that same feeling that had been increasingly driving me mad since he’d entered the shower.
“Kyle, I need...” What did I need? I wasn’t sure, but as his lips moved down my neck and further still to kiss along the tops of each breast, the need only grew. I moaned loudly, a mixture of pleasure and torment.
“Shhh,” he said, looking up at me through his lashes. “I’ll take care of you.”
And I knew he would. That was the thing. I knew he would take care of me in all things.
His mouth was suddenly latched around one nipple, pulling it into the warm confines of his mouth, and the sensation seemed to zap from there, straight down to my core. My eyes crossed as I moaned loudly, gripping his hair.
A dark chuckle rolled across my skin as he released that nipple to show the next one the same attention. Was it possible to climax just from this? Because I was starting to think that’s exactly what was about to happen.
Except he started to move lower now, leaving my breasts and forcing me to release his hair. I sucked in a breath when I saw where he meant to go, my cheeks bursting into flames.
“Put your leg over me so it rests on my shoulder,” he instructed.
Do what now? But that would open me up to him...I didn’t move, my nerves and modesty getting the better of me.
“Chloe,” he said in a warning voice, looking up at me with lust hazed eyes. “Trust me, sweetheart.”
I blew out a slow breath before nodding, then did as he asked.
The first swipe of his tongue made my knees tremble. By the time my world shattered, and that need that had been clawing at me was finally appeased, my legs couldn’t hold me at all. Kyle wrapped a firm arm around my waist, keeping me up as he stood.
There was no smug look on his face, just more desire as he searched mine with those old soul eyes.
Deciding Love (Bloomfield #3) Page 14
