My Beautiful (The Beautiful Series) (33 page)

My kiss was urgent and hot. I shifted my pelvis forward, taking him deeper inside me. We both groaned together as his hips thrust forward again and again, taking what was his. He claimed me, giving me a sense of belonging that I desperately craved. His vow of love flowed through every stroke, reminding and reassuring me that everything would be okay.

I ran my hands up his day-old stubble, feeling it beneath my palms, before I guided him back to my mouth. My thighs clenched around his waist as sparks launched from the center of my core. He pounded into me with the raw power of his hips, intensifying every sensation that pulled from my center. As if reading my mind, he penetrated deep, aiming for my sensitive spot. He triggered my release and only let himself go after I moaned out in pure satisfaction.

I drew in a swift breath and placed my nose against his throat. All the tension and uncertainties effectively left my body. Kyle tugged me into his side, and I let out a content sigh, snuggling in closer to his warmth.

“I love you, Lily.” He kissed my hair so softly. “Nothing will ever change that. I’ll always be here for you.”

“I don’t know what I would do without you,” I said quietly, leaning further into his body. The fact that I no longer knew the alternative to that very thought frightened me.

“You’ll never have to find out,” he promised.

Her loving smile was so bright and full of life. Her laughter filled and silenced a room full of people. She had this palpable energy about her that just pulled me in, and I had to be near her.

Today, she had the look of
young love
, as my mother would say.

Her eyes were glowing, and she was talking a mile a minute.

The only part I never heard was his name.

I tried to access more memories, but they faded as if they were running in the opposite direction. I tried to focus and pull them closer, but they evaded me every time. Instead, my thoughts jumped forward as I fought hard against the most heavily feared one.

Her hand was cold.

And still.

I cried out, begging and pleading for her to answer me. Life could not be so cruel to take her away from me.

I needed her. She needed me.

Pain radiated from every nerve in my body, feeling like I had been electrocuted and hit by a bus and beaten all at once.

I didn’t care. I just wanted Annie.

Every time I called her name, only a deathly silence loomed the air. I could feel her slipping farther and farther away from me. My heart filled with such heaviness and heartache that it hurt to simply breathe. I cried uncontrollably, hating the world for how unkind it was.

Strong arms cradled my body, trying to soothe and calm me. I dropped my head against his bare chest and sobbed. It hurt so damn much. Nothing would ever take the ache away. It would always be with me.

“Lily…” Kyle’s voice cracked. “Seeing you hurting so much tears me up inside.”

I cried harder, not wanting to inflict my troubles on him, but I needed the comfort at the same time. I inhaled sharply, desperately trying to take air into my starved lungs. Each breath was harder than the last. I felt like I was being swallowed.

I barely noticed Kyle sitting upright with me in his lap. His gentle hands stroked down the length of my hair and made their way down my back again and again, trying to ease.

“Breathe, Lily. Just breathe.”

Closing my eyes, I tried to take a deep breath. I felt like someone was choking the air out of me.

Kyle cupped my cheeks and pulled my face to his as he repeated his words. “Breathe, Lily. Just breathe.”

With tears streaming down my face, I nodded. I opened my eyes and took in his worried expression in the early morning light. His fingertips brushed my tears away before he laid a soft, caring kiss on each cheek. I collapsed against him and buried my face against the planes of his chest. I didn’t know how I would make it through this day with my heart intact.

It felt like an eternity had passed by the time I lifted my tear-stained face. My breathing had steadied, but it did nothing to replace the heavy ache from the missing pieces of my heart. I looked up at Kyle, almost immediately drowning in those brownish-green eyes.

“I’m sorry,” I breathed. I felt terrible for constantly dragging him down with me.

“You have nothing to be sorry for, Lily. I meant what I said about being here for you and that means every step of the way.” He kissed my forehead. “Are you hungry or thirsty?”

“Starving actually,” I responded sheepishly. “Think Damon was nice enough to stock the kitchen twice?”

“I hope so,” Kyle answered on a laugh.

We headed down to the kitchen and found it was fully stocked with tons and tons of food. Either Damon had been extremely hungry when he shopped, or we were going to have a huge neighborhood party. I looked through all the food, and I pulled out eggs, sausage, and bread. French toast was calling my name, and I quickly got to work.

Kyle fried sausage and eggs in a pan while I mixed some eggs and milk with cinnamon in preparation for the French toast. Afterward, I set the table and then poured orange juice and milk into our glasses.

“So, are we having a party here? Or is Damon under the misunderstanding that we’re moving in?” Kyle asked as he rotated the sausage.

“That’s what I was wondering,” I replied. After dipping each piece of bread into the mixture, I placed them on the griddle. “He definitely went overboard.”

“Or he went into the grocery store completely hungry, and his stomach spoke for him.” He laughed.

I joined in his laughter, pondering if he could read my thoughts. “That was one of my guesses, too.”

“Are you going to call them today?”

I flipped the French toast as I decided on what my plans actually were now that I was here. “I think so,” I answered honestly. “I want to go through Annie’s room first, and then I’ll call them.”

In slow motion, Kyle’s entire body turned to face me. His eyes were wide with concern, but I was quickly distracted by his pajama pants hanging low on his hips and his bare feet. He waited to speak until I met his eyes once again.

“Are you sure you’re ready for that?”

I sighed heavily. Envisioning his hard physique underneath his bottoms was a much better way to escape reality, but I reluctantly pulled myself back to the conversation at hand.

“No, but I won’t ever be ready…so yes, I’m going to do it today.”

Kyle reached back and turned off the burner where he was cooking the sausage and eggs. I raised my eyebrow until I noticed that they were done cooking. He stepped forward and pulled me into his embrace.

“Are you sure? There’s no rush.” His voice was hesitant and nervous.

“Yes.” I sighed again, exasperated. “You’ve seen what being here does to me, Kyle. I need to sort out Annie’s room so I can be finished, so I can move on. I can’t keep doing this to myself.”

Kyle opened his mouth to speak, but then he paused. Frowning, he grabbed the spatula out of my hand and flipped the French toast before turning back to meet my stare. When his right dimple appeared, I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Couldn’t let our breakfast burn.” He released that boyish grin of his. It faded all too quickly. He shook his head and sighed. “Okay, I see what you mean. Let’s finish this together, so we can move forward.”

“Move forward,” I agreed. Rising to my toes, I kissed him, hard, until we both pulled back, panting. “I can’t wait to move forward.” I gave him a sexy smirk.

“Me, too, beautiful.” Kyle let out a gorgeous smile and then kissed me again.

I melted against him as his hands caressed my cheeks.

Abruptly, he pulled back. “Shit! Flip the toast!”

I quickly picked up the spatula and turned over the slices of bread. Thankfully, it had not burned. Seeing that it was ready, I turned off the burner and placed each piece on a dish.

“Damn, woman.” He pulled me flush against his chest. “Only you can distract a man from food,” he said, his voice deep.

Random images of him taking me against the table filled my mind. I had no doubt that he would do just that if I let him. Needing a diversion from wanting to ravage his naked body, I playfully poked him in the stomach. Dramatically, he grunted and clutched his abdomen. I laughed and used his crouching position to my advantage to slip away. I ran to the far side of the kitchen table.

“Brave, very brave.” His eyes darkened with a look that promised retribution. “There is only so far you can run, beautiful.”

Kyle stalked closer, and I clenched my hands at my sides. My eyes darted around as I frantically thought of a way to sidetrack him.

I picked up his plate and outstretched my hand. “Food!” I blurted and then bit my lip in thought. “Ready to eat? Before it gets cold?” I added innocently.

“Beautiful and dangerous.” He let out a rough chuckle.

I thought I was off the hook, but then he tilted his head to the side with a dark, wicked look flaring in his eyes.

Shit.
I took a slight step back until my back hit the wall. The muscles in Kyle’s jaw jumped in response. My pulse hammered in response to the challenge, anticipation, and thrill. I loved that look.

“Got you,” Kyle drawled, bumping into my chest. His eyes were keen and hot.

I looked up at him and parted my lips, knowing I had been caught. “Mercy?” I pleaded, stifling my laugh.

He slowly shook his head once. Wordlessly, his hand reached out, grabbed the plate in my hand, and stretched back to set it on the edge of the table. Anticipation hummed in my veins. His intensity and proximity had my every nerve ending pulsating hard throughout my body. I parted my lips to protest.

Bending, Kyle gripped the back of my thighs and tossed me over his shoulder in one swift move. I squealed, laughing at his audacity, but I loved it.

I couldn’t give in that easily though. “What about breakfast?”

“Later.” He headed toward the stairs.

“Aren’t you hungry?” I tried again.

“Oh, I’m hungry…but not for food.” His hand came down on my bottom. “Have to teach my woman a lesson.”

Oh, that sounds wonderful.
A delicious tremor made its way down my spine, and I shivered.

While taking the stairs two at a time, Kyle let out a husky chuckle. Laughter poured out of me while I tried to brace myself against each bounce. It gave me the excuse to feel his lovely ass beneath my palms.

Entering my bedroom, he headed straight for the bed and tossed me on it lightly. What started out as playful and rough turned warm and sweet. We wanted to savor the moment. Our bodies could not seem to get close enough. Each touch made me greedy for more.

I didn’t understand how I could have such deep feelings for someone I knew for such a short time. It seemed unreal and even risky, but my reservations didn’t change what I felt for Kyle. He had come into my life with his intensity and overbearing ways, and it only made me love him more. The way he truly cared for me proved how much he loved and adored me.

And I felt the same for him.

We still had challenges to face ahead of us, but I knew we would hold strong and beat them together. Couples stood united just as my parents had in all the years of their marriage. Sure, they fought, but it only made them learn and grow together, never apart.

***

By the time we made it back downstairs, our breakfast was cold. We heated our food in the microwave and made our way over to the table. Kyle sliced an apple for each of us, and side by side, we ate quietly.

Although we did not have jet lag, there was something to be said about road trips. They seemed to make me just as tired. Add making love into the mix, and I was convinced I needed a relaxing couch-and-movie kind of day.

“Hello?” Jason yelled after opening the door.

I jumped six feet out of my seat.

“You lovebirds out of bed yet?” he called out.

Before Kyle or I could answer, Jason rounded the corner into the kitchen.

“Oh, thank God!” Jason smiled. “You’re both dressed. Damon spilled the beans and told us you guys we coming back.”

I nearly choked on my apple slice, and Kyle started laughing. I knew his silent thoughts followed mine. If Jason had shown up fifteen minutes ago, I would have been absolutely horrified.

Luckily, Jason was oblivious to our unspoken conversation. He pulled me up out of my chair and squeezed me tight in his bear hug.

As with most of his hugs, I couldn’t breathe. “Jason!” I rasped. “Can’t. Breathe.”

“Sorry, squirt!” Jason let go abruptly. His eyes danced with happiness as he ruffled my hair. “Just happy to see you again.” He turned to Kyle. “You better be taking good care of her, man, or I’ll be givin’ you a good ass whoopin’.”

Kyle’s eyebrows rose. “Oh, I am. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves there.”

Jason chuckled and brought his attention back to me. “So, how long are you back for, Lily?” He swung his arm around me. “We have a busy weekend. I hope you can stay for it.”

“Uh, I’m not sure.” I shrugged, and then I remembered all of the food. “Does that have anything to do with all the food in the pantry?”