My Beautiful (The Beautiful Series) (14 page)

I realized that I’d been losing myself in endless deep thoughts more and more lately. I felt like every time I took two steps forward, I would be faced with a new hurdle, forcing me to take one step backward. Although I was still making progress, it was very draining.

Kyle sat down next to me and watched me carefully. After a few minutes had passed, he finally broke the silence. “So, how did it go?”

“Good,” I said, still staring at the food in front of me.

“Good?” he asked.

I turned to meet his stare. His eyes were full of questions.

I gave a small smile. “Yes.”

“Yes?” He raised one eyebrow. “Are you going back to being monosyllabic again? I thought we were past that,” he teased delicately.

I was overwhelmed, confused, and emotional. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be. I just feel like my mind has been on overdrive lately. I’ve been taking so many steps toward getting closure, but I don’t feel like I’m getting anywhere. I’m just at a standstill,” I huffed, exasperated.

I felt guilty. So many people in other life-altering situations dealt with their circumstances day in and day out, and I was complaining about moving forward with my life. I needed to embrace life and be thankful, not feel alone and defeated.

Kyle took my hand in his, reading my thoughts. It seemed like it had been so long since I felt his touch, and I wrapped my fingers around his.

“Lily, you are getting there. You just have to give yourself some credit. This is a lot for anyone to process. It’s not going to happen overnight.”

“I know…I just wish it would.”

My stomach growled, and we both laughed.

“I guess it’s time to eat now. Speaking of, I thought you were working, not making breakfast?” I asked.

Leaning back in his chair, Kyle tilted his head and grinned in that sexy way of his. “You should know by now that a man has to eat first. The only thing that is missing is an apple pie, but I don’t know how to make one.” He grabbed his plate and piled on a ridiculously large amount of eggs along with bacon and a few strawberries.

“You’re right. I should have definitely known that.” I chuckled. “And I could so go for an apple pie right now. I haven’t made one in a long time.” I filled my plate with a third of what Kyle had on his. I was hungry but not that hungry.

I took a bite of the eggs and moaned. They tasted so good. Food could always make a girl feel better.
The only thing better would be a bowl…no, make that a bucket of ice cream.

Kyle laughed. “Good, aren’t they?” He paused. “And what’s this about making an apple pie? Are you holding out on me?”

I nodded and took another bite. The eggs with just a bit of cheese on top were so tasty. I swallowed, trying to stifle my laugh from the way he referenced the pie. He was surely a man who loved his desserts.

“Yes,” I answered as he gave me a stare down with his adorable eyes. “Okay, okay.” I laughed. “I will make you an apple pie. We’ll need to go to the store and pick up a few things, and we might as well get other groceries while we are there.”

Kyle nodded in agreement. “Sounds good to me. Besides maybe ham sandwiches, I think we are about out of the food Damon bought.”

I chuckled. “That’s Damon. He wants to help in any way he can.”

Kyle smiled lovingly. “You seem to be very fond of him. Were you two the closest out of all your cousins?”

“Yes. Damon and I are the closest in age, but I think it was more than that. We would sometimes just sit back and, you know, talk. I could always tell him anything. He never judged me or tried to fix my problems.”

I smiled, thinking about all the wonderful memories I shared with Damon. He was so fun to be around, and he was always very kind. After seeing him now, three years later, I thought about how he had lost some of his baby face. It didn’t seem possible that one could change so much in that amount of time, but he had. Looking at him and Jason over the past few days had made our time apart seem like forever.

Kyle pulled me out of my thoughts. “He adores and misses you. I can tell he wants to be there for you, but I think he fears hurting your feelings or pushing you away.”

My heart constricted. I had missed all of the emotions that Kyle had seemed to pick up on. That thought hurt.

“I miss him, too,” I replied softly. “Besides Annie and me, I thought Damon and I would always be the closest. I never imagined that we would lose contact like we have, but so many things have changed since then.”

With his plate completely cleared, Kyle set down his fork. He turned his chair slightly, so he was facing me. With his legs on each side of my chair, his eyes bore into mine with sincerity. “It doesn’t have to change, Lily. That is the good thing about family and friends. You can pick up right where you left off and not miss a beat.” He took my hand in his. “Maybe you should try to reach out to him.”

My eyes widened slightly, not from fear but apprehension.

Kyle squeezed my hand. “The only way it would be awkward is if you two let it be that way. Put aside your hesitations and let the old Damon and Lily talk. You’ll find out that you both might have changed, but your friendship is still there.”

I smiled in complete adoration of this sexy, kind, sweet man before me. I was so completely smitten with him. I hoped to someday lift him up as he did for me.

I stood out of my chair, and Kyle’s eyes broadened in surprise as I moved to straddle his hips. His hands automatically wrapped around my waist, welcoming me, as he enclosed me in his loving embrace.

Warmth flooded my body as I ran my hands down each side of his jaw. Then, I slowly ran them back up his face to cup his cheeks hand, and I placed soft kisses on each one.

“You are so sweet to me.” I kissed his lips fondly and leaned back to look into his eyes. “What did I ever do to deserve you?”

“You are very deserving, Lily.”

He closed his eyes as my fingers made their way through his hair and back down his face again. I’d missed waking up in his arms this morning, and I wanted to touch him and feel his body against mine.

Electricity hummed all around us. I felt the pull from deep within, the yearning to make love with him. When Kyle opened his eyes, they were dark, sexy, and dangerous.

“I need to touch you,” I breathed.

When I shifted my behind back, my body brushed over his erection, and his breath caught. I braced my feet firmly on the ground, and I lifted my hips slightly. I grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it up and over his head. I placed my palms on his chest, reveling in his warmth. His chest rose and fell deeply. His breathing increased with each stroke of my hand on his bare skin, his eyes never leaving mine. I traced a path from his right shoulder, down to his heart, and back up to his opposing shoulder.

Kyle’s hands tightened around my waist as his lips parted. I steadied myself as I closed the distance between us. I kissed his lower lip and then repeated the motion. Then, I gently sucked on it as I pulled back before releasing it slowly.

Kyle groaned from deep within his throat. A tingle vibrated down my spine all the way to my toes. My body trembled in response as I continued rubbing my sex along his hard erection. Kyle’s hand moved from my waist to grip my nape. He tilted my head to the side and exposed my neck.

My heart leaped in anticipation. I was ready to feel his hands ravishing me all over my body. Our labored breathing were the only sounds in the air.

I felt his breath on my skin right before his lips barely touched me, and then he firmly kissed my throat. I closed my eyes on a moan as I absorbed every feeling he ignited within me. My body was completely captivated. I was utterly lost in this man, his touch, and the sensations he evoked in me.

Another side of me would take over when I was this close to him. I loved our meaningful conversations, but when I could feel his warm skin against mine with his tender, passionate touches, my desire for him consumed all other thoughts. Our attraction was unstoppable. Intimacy was part of how we connected and expressed our love for one another. It was a switch from mind to body and soul.

His lips closed on my throat, tenderly kissing in a different spot each time. “Always so beautiful.” He kissed my jaw delicately. He took his time as he caressed my skin with his lips. As he pulled away, he met my gaze with an intense stare. “You are kindhearted and caring yet so resilient and courageous. I am in awe of you.”

Even with blood thrumming in my ears, his words had a way of unraveling me. I loved him more than anything, more than anyone. He was mine, and I was his.

In that moment, I promised myself that I would make it through all this heartache in my life and come out on the other side in one piece. I would tightly close the doors to my inner fears, and then Kyle and I could move forward and work on being partners in a relationship.

We had a lot to learn about each other. Just like in the fairy-tale books that I wrote, I believed that love could conquer anything that life had in store. The good times always overpowered the bad. No one said it would be perfect or always pretty, but it would be mine.

I wrapped my fingers in his hair and tugged gently to bring him closer. “You give me the strength to want more out of life,” I whispered.

His lips crushed mine, kissing me hard, with his own primitive need. I matched his fervor step for step. I poured all my raw emotions into the kiss, giving him everything I had, while muscles low in my belly tightened.

Kyle shifted back and had my shirt off in a nanosecond. Drinking me in, he lingered on my naked breasts. His eyes conveyed so much more than lust. As always, they were filled with love. My heart pounded forcefully in my chest as he leaned forward and placed a soft kiss above my heart.

“Let’s go,” he murmured.

He gripped my waist and stood to his feet while I automatically wrapped my legs around his hips.

I shrieked, “Where are we going?” Laughing, I enclosed my arms around his neck and pushed my naked chest against his.

His lips parted as he inhaled deeply, and his eyes were still dark with need. Kyle shook his head and swallowed as he quickened his strides. “We are going to make it to your bedroom, and then I’m going to make love to my girl,” he promised, his voice husky.

Desire swept through every bone in my body. “Hurry.” I shivered, thinking of all the ways I wanted Kyle to make love to me.

***

The trip to the grocery store had taken much longer than I had expected. I should have accounted for Kyle’s very lengthy list. For the most part, we both ate similar healthy foods and only a few snacks. One weakness we both shared was a love for Oreos.
Although, who doesn’t love Oreos?
I, for one, could knock out half a package in one sitting.

I was very thankful that we hadn’t run into anyone I knew. I had enough emotions coursing through me, and I didn’t need any other memories to be brought up.

I was looking forward to dinner with my family tonight. I wanted to spend more time reconnecting with them while I was in town. I was also excited to see Meg and A.J. tonight. Our families had always been close, so it would be nice to catch up with them.

After getting home and putting away the groceries, I headed up to my room to change into more comfortable clothes before we headed out for the barbeque. I put on a pair of white linen capris, and just as I was pulling on a baby blue tank top, Kyle peeked his head into the bedroom.

“Decided to change?” he asked as I started to walk toward him.

He braced one hand on the door frame and leaned against it. His pants were hanging on his hips, and his white T-shirt made his eyes stand out. He looked drop-dead gorgeous. The light from the hall window illuminated him in all the right places. Desire bloomed once again in my belly.

“Yep,” I answered. I envisioned the lovely firm ass he was sporting underneath those jeans. “Turn around,” I said indifferently, gesturing with my hand.

Kyle eyed me with question but slowly turned anyway.

Oh my.
My lips parted.
That is one fine ass.
My hands had a mind of their own, and they reached out to him.
Just one touch.

He chuckled, looking over his shoulder. “You had me turn around to grab my ass?” He was clearly amused as he raised one eyebrow. “I feel violated,” he added mischievously.

I nodded in agreement, completely lost in my dreamy thoughts. I sighed as I reveled in the feel of how toned he was.

He laughed again. “Do you want me to strip for you?” he asked, his voice dripping with sexiness.

“Please do.”

“What have I created?” Kyle laughed and shook his head. “You want more?”

Yes, please.
I opened my mouth to speak, but he beat me to it.

The feral look in his eyes returned. “Don’t answer that, or we won’t leave this bedroom for the rest of the night.” He grabbed my hand and tugged. “Let’s go before I change my mind.”

“Wait!” I cried. “I need my hoodie!”

Kyle didn’t falter in his steps. “I’ll keep you warm, beautiful.”

We walked down the stairs to the garage. I doubled my steps, trying to keep up with his larger ones.

“What about my family?” I laughed.

“They’ll be fine, or you can use my sweatshirt.”

I rolled my eyes at his bossiness as I decided that I would pick my areas of attack. This one wasn’t worth the battle, and I knew we would be late if I started in on him.