I hold my breath, waiting for his response, the hum of the refrigerator the only sound filling the silence between us.
This is it.
Our moment of truth.
“Wow,” is all he says, his gaze never leaving mine.
I still hold my breath, my face surely turning blue by now.
“That makes me like you even more.”
I peek up at him through my long lashes to see if he’s serious.
He laces his fingers through mine and rests our hands on his lap. “You are strong. Pure. Gorgeous. Everything about you is beautiful.” His deep voice seeps with intensity, his words so honest they’re almost painful.
I exhale my breath and a few fearful tears I was holding in. Relief floods my body, my shoulders releasing their tension.
“You have so much to offer. I never want to take away your light. I only ever want you to shine.” He kisses my forehead, and the relief is so overwhelming, I take his face between my hands and kiss him.
Hard.
I kiss him with no thoughts of ever letting him go again.
I tell him everything—how much I care about him and missed him—with this kiss.
I yank his T-shirt toward me, pulling him on top of me on the couch, but before we can go any further, my brain turns on. “Emma…”
“I’d like to keep this between us, actually.” He pulls at my bottom lip with his teeth, his eyes twinkling.
I weakly slap at him, my body ready for him. “She… she should be home any minute…” More nipping, and I become mush. “Bedroom… bed… now.”
He pulls me up, both hands gripping my ass as he leads us to my room. Crossing the small living room, he pushes my bedroom door open and lays me on the bed. Before he crawls onto me, he does a double take toward my nightstand. “What is that?”
I scramble to throw away the calendar sitting there. “Nothing!”
“Holy shit, you have the Naked Heat calendar on your nightstand.” He snatches it away from me.
“No! That’s Emma’s.” My face is beet red, my entire body on fire from embarrassment.
He flips through it, searching every page like he hasn’t seen one before. Like he’s not in it several times. “Please tell me you drew hearts around my face in here.”
I slap at his shoulder and then slap at the calendar in his hands so it falls to the ground. “Just for that, I’m withholding sex. You can leave.”
He grabs my face and kisses me. “You are too fucking cute.” Kiss. “And adorable.” Kiss. “And unbelievably sexy.” He stops when something falls to our bare feet, tickling us. “What’s this?”
I suck in a breath, attempting to regain my composure.
When he stands back up, he turns a picture of us—the one we took when we first met—and asks, “You kept this? And printed it out?”
I nod, not wanting to embarrass myself further, but I want him to know the truth. To know how much he means to me. “I did. I missed you all this time, but I at least had the picture to keep me company when I was lonely. Which was basically every night. Emma’s not much of a cuddler, so…”
He watches my lips move and sears me with his gaze. “You’re so beautiful, inside and out.” He wraps his strong arms around me, and I kiss him in response, thankful for his words.
For him.
“I don’t need a man to tell me how to look,” I tease as he kisses along my jawline.
“No,” he whispers against my neck, making me tremble. His light stubble against my skin arouses me further. “But I’m going to say it every day to you, for as long as you’ll have me.”
I gulp. “Okay.”
I melt against him just as we hear the front door open. “Kendall?”
I move my mouth to avoid screaming in Sebastian’s ear, but he’s too close so I probably deafen him a little, anyway. “In here! I’m… changing.”
Sebastian pulls at my robe and growls, “Let me help.”
Emma says something else, but I don’t catch it, only able to focus on Sebastian pushing me to lie on my back, his fingers trailing my stomach until he reaches between my legs. My robe falls completely open, and I spread my legs farther for him.
“Fuck,” he whispers. “I knew you were naked under here. Driving me fucking crazy this whole time.” He kisses me intensely before pulling back just an inch. “Next time we have a serious conversation, I’m making you put real clothes on.”
I smile, liking the way he says “next time.” That he wants a future for us.
Because that’s what I want. I want him for the long haul.
He slides his finger inside me, making my head fall back onto the bed with a gasp.
“Love that sound,” he says and places a kiss on my bare chest. “Missed that sound.”
I look down at him, his expression one of determination. I can only whimper, especially when he slides a second finger inside and his thumb moves in circles right above my clit.
The familiar tension builds as he picks up the pace, all the while trailing kisses down my neck to my chest. My body lights on fire, and I pant his name over and over, missing the way it feels on my lips.
“That’s right, baby. Come for me.”
With a few more strokes, I let him take me over the edge, no longer wanting to fight it. Never again will I fight him.
He stays with me, fingers slowing as wave after wave of pleasure rolls through me.
Placing gentle kisses down my chest, Sebastian finally steps away and pulls me up.
Standing on shaky legs, I kiss him, savoring the taste of him. After months of dreaming of his touch, I finally have the real thing, and I want it all.
All of him.
I fumble with his jeans but stop when an idea occurs to me. I smile at his confused expression like I took away his sweet chocolate bar. “I have one last game for you.” I run my finger down my chest, between my breasts, while he watches me take a seat on the edge of the bed.
He nods furiously, waiting for the rules of the game.
I turn serious, wanting him to understand that I’m serious about him. Us. That I’m serious when I turn his words around on him. “Strip for me. Let me see you.”
He gulps and watches me with careful eyes.
I nod in encouragement, to let him know he can always be open with me as well. That we can find comfort in our shared defenses.
We can be each other’s defense.
“No more games,” I emphasize, taking back what I said about this being the last one. “No more lies. Just us.”
He takes my hand in his and lays it over his chest, where I feel his heart beating quickly. “Just us,” he repeats.
My chest swells, and I’m ready to jump in his arms. To rip all his clothes off and leave claw marks on his shoulders.
To mark him as my own.
He places both hands on my shoulders and sets me back on the bed, my hair falling over one shoulder. I scoot up to the headboard like he did the first time he was in my apartment.
He smiles shyly, as though I make him more nervous than if this room was full of women. And that makes my chest swell even more, knowing I have this effect on him. It gives me a strength I’ve never known. To know I have this much power over someone when I’m simply myself.
It’s intoxicating.
As Sebastian removes each article of clothing, tentatively and deliberately, his eyes are trained on mine.
The street noise is a light soundtrack to what’s already been the perfect night. The perfect reunion with a man I met in Vegas and never expected to see again. A perfect man for me who’s undressing now, baring his soul with each toss of his clothing.
The movements speak to me and tell a story of their own.
One of heartbreak. Of betrayal.
And when he stands in only his briefs, one of peace and no more pain.
His eyes widen as I lean over my curled knees, my hair falling over my legs. “You are breathtaking,” he says, gulping again like he’s scared.
T
hat makes two of us.
Because the three words are on the tip of my tongue as he removes his briefs, revealing himself fully to me. With the moonlight casting a glow around him, he’s my angel I never asked for but knew deep down I wanted.
I want to be open and say those words to him, to seal our connection with the magic of those three devastating words.
They’re caught in my throat as he moves over me, nudging my legs open, his warm skin against mine. With one swift yet gentle motion, my body ready and aching for him, he’s inside of me.
The gesture almost enough to pull those words out of me.
He moves the hair out of my eyes as I hold on to his shoulders for strength. “Where’d you go?” he whispers. “Stay with me.”
I fight the urge to roll my eyes in the back of my head from the pleasure mixed with so many other emotions I have for this man. “I’m right here. With you. Always.”
He kisses me as our bodies move together in sync, like we haven’t been apart for several weeks—a lifetime with as many changes as we’ve made to our lives. But our bodies fall back into the rhythm, recognizing each other.
I move my hips up, meeting his every thrust, losing myself in this moment.
We both near the edge, and I fall willingly—greedily, even—with Sebastian by my side, like he’s my life jacket on a sinking ship.
Because my life was a sinking ship before I met him.
“You’re kidding,” he says, laughing quietly as he faces me in bed. “You did not attack her at her wedding.”
I cover my face, burying my head as far into the pillow as I can. “I wish I could say I was kidding, but I did. I pulled her hair and tackled her to the ground. Tore her wedding dress too.”
He chuckles. “And the girl you punched? You have to tell me about that, mostly because I don’t believe you.”
“I did. I punched a girl in the face so hard I broke her nose.” I shrug, trying to downplay how violent I can be when I snap.
He smiles in awe at me and my story like it’s this year’s Oscar winner for Best Picture.
“She called me a slut and wounded my ego, so I wounded her face. Fair, right?” Sebastian continues chuckling, the sound vibrating through my whole body, which is still tingling from his touch. “I wasn’t as bad as my friend in high school, though, not Emma. This girl was more like a friend for a week. She was a cheerleader who jumped into the stands and hurled herself at another girl during a game. They’d exchanged words beforehand, and then she taunted her while we cheered. It didn’t end well.”
“During the game? She just went all apeshit?”
“More like Harley Quinn, but yeah.”
“Well, cheerleaders are supposed to entertain.”
“And she delivered.” I nod at the memory, and the way some people actually cheered her on as she pulled Angela Meonich’s hair. “My parents forbade me from hanging out with her after that, but of course, I did just to spite them. Which led me to egging—yes, egging—someone’s house. We thought they weren’t home, but they were. They called the cops.” I swallow. “It was fun having my dad yell at me the whole time at the station, on the way home, and for a whole year after that.”
“And your friend?”
“We weren’t friends after that. Not because of my parents,” I point out, “but because… well, she wanted me to do meth with her. I was a rebel, but not to that degree.”
He nods in understanding.
“No, I waited to do meth until after high school.” This gives him pause, and I laugh. “Kidding.”
“Oh? Because I was just going to say me too.”
Now he gives me pause, but he follows it up with a laugh of his own. I turn toward the ceiling. “I deserved that.”
We stay up most of the night, talking and laughing like we’ve known each other for years. And the thought of spending every night like this has me smiling from ear to ear as I fall asleep in his warm arms.
Chapter 56
Kendall
“Oh my God.” I cover half my face with my hand. “That’s her. She’s here. She’s fucking working out right now.”
Sebastian looks around like he’s searching for his donut on cheat day. And it warms my heart that he feels so strongly about everything I say, even when he doesn’t know what or whom I’m talking about.
“Samantha Ray! She’s right over there.” I turn my back to where she’s squatting in the corner, the sun from the open garage door beaming down on her. I point behind me so Sebastian can see.
“That’s Samantha? Right there?” He gives her a once-over, her abs visible even from this far away. “I can tell why you’re obsessed with her.”
“Not obsessed. That makes me sound creepy.” I slap his arm as he continues to stare. “And stop checking her out.”
Instead of looking away, he grabs my hand and walks toward Samantha as she racks the barbell back in place and tightens her ponytail like I’ve seen her do many times in her Instagram videos.
Maybe I am creepy.
“We are not going over there.” My panic increases with each step we take toward her.
“Sure we are.”
In three more strides and two seconds away from a panic attack, I’m in the fitness queen’s presence. “Hey, guys,” she greets us like we’ve been friends for a while.
“Hey,” Sebastian starts, still holding my hand while I try to hide behind his large frame. “You’re Samantha Ray, right?”
Chest heaving, she nods.
“Hi,” I pipe up. And inwardly roll my eyes at myself for sounding so meek and childish. Especially when I wave stiffly. “I’m Kendall, and this is Sebastian. We just wanted to say hi, and I’m a big fan, and I’m sorry we bothered you during your workout. We’ll get going now. Just wanted to say hi…” I turn to leave, but Sebastian stops me.
With hands on her hips and abs on display, Samantha giggles. “Kendall?”
“Yeah, Kendall Gray.” I take a deep breath, forcing myself not to ramble anymore. “I’ve commented on just about every one of your posts, and—oh my God, sorry. I’m not a stalker or anything.”
She giggles again, shaking her legs out to keep them moving. “Well, thanks so much for your support, Kendall.” She looks around before turning her attention to us. “Hey, what’re you guys working out today?”
“Legs,” we say in unison.
“My favorite!” She claps and heads back toward the squat rack. “Want to jump in here with me? We could switch off spotting. I’m working out alone today, so I could use the extra hands.”
“We thought you’d never ask!” Sebastian says as he all but shoves me toward her. “We’d love to. Jeez, one hundred and ninety-five pounds? Wow.” He rubs his hands together and then shakes out each leg before turning to me. “We have some work to do.”
“Keep up!” she says before she unracks the weight and walks it back before getting into her squat position.
And just like that, I’m working out with Samantha Ray—my role model. The one woman other than Emma who got me into fitness. The one who made me believe I could make a living out of being an Instagram athlete. And although I’ve had trouble growing a following, I haven’t given up. I’ll get there, one squat at a time.
Throughout the workout, I beat my personal record in just about every exercise, impressing even Sebastian. I can tell by the way he looks at me with awe. With him by my side and Samantha’s encouraging words, I was able to push myself.
Sweat dripping down my whole body and legs growing more and more sore with every rep, I smile, happy to be at the Mecca—Gold’s Gym.
Only person missing is Emma. I asked her to come with us before we left, but she was busy. Although she was just sitting on the couch with a protein bar and didn’t seem to have anywhere to be.
At the end of the workout, Sebastian pulls his hat off to wipe at the sweat on his forehead, then puts it on backward. He challenges Samantha to a backflip contest, believing he can do more in a row than her. I laugh because th
at’s the first thing Sebastian said when I talked about Samantha. He said he’d challenge her to a backflip contest if we ever ran into her.
And of course, he follows through.
She doesn’t hesitate for a second. While they get into position in the open area to the side of the gym covered in turf, I sit back with my camera ready to record the whole thing.
Sebastian flies backward effortlessly, flipping the length of the open area. When he gets to the end, he doesn’t miss a beat before he does a few front flips and ends up in front of me. He holds his hands out for high-fives, face blood red and smirk in place.
Samantha nods, clapping sarcastically at him. “Okay, that was good. But don’t get too cocky just yet.” With a deep breath, she goes into a handstand and walks a few feet on her hands before she goes into a backbend and stands. Without a pause, she turns around and does so many backflips, it looks like she’s in a hamster wheel. After the last one, she goes into the splits and shoots Sebastian and me her own cocky grin. I can’t help but laugh, especially as onlookers give her a round of applause.
“This is rigged!” Sebastian yells, throwing his towel to the ground sarcastically.
On our way out, I take a selfie with Samantha, both of our hair sticking to our necks and foreheads. Nothing cute about it, but I already have it ready to post to my social media before we even make it to our car.
“It was so nice meeting you, Kendall.” She gives me a one-arm hug before she high-fives Sebastian. “And your gym bae.”
“And you’re sure you don’t want to tell us about your secret gym bae?” I try one last time to get any details out of her.
She seals her lips and waves, laughing as she walks backward.
I smile the whole way to my apartment while Sebastian holds my hand over the console. “Perfect morning.”
Strip for Me Page 26
