Tear Down These Walls (37 page)

Finally, Teagan pulls away. She looks at him and says, “What do you want
to do?”

“I just wanted to kiss you,” he replies. “We can go to sleep now.”

“Okay,” Teagan squeaks. She looks at him for a second and then rolls
over. Deep down, Teagan knows if she continues to face him, she will just start
kissing him again.  Kellen places his hand gently on her side. “Good
night,” Teagan whispers.

“Night, Beautiful,” Kellen replies.

Teagan closes her eyes, and a small smile crosses her lips before she
falls asleep.

The next morning, Teagan awakens to a brightly lit room. She closes her
eyes for a second and then snaps them back open. Not only is Kellen in bed with
her, but she is also snuggled away in his arms. Their legs are wrapped up in
each other, and he is fast asleep.  Teagan tenses up for a second but then
relaxes. Being that close to Kellen feels really amazing. She brings her nose
to his chest and smells him. He smells so good that she can’t help but quietly
sigh and smile to herself.

She lies there for a while watching him sleep. Suddenly, she realizes she
has to go to the bathroom and slowly pushes away from him. Kellen moans and
reluctantly opens his eyes. Smiling, he says, “Good morning.”

“Hey,” Teagan whispers, pulling away from him more.

Kellen lets her go and rolls onto his back. He yawns and rubs his face
with his hands.  Teagan gets up out of bed. “Where are you running off
to?” Kellen groans with a stretch.

“Bathroom,” Teagan replies. “I am sorry I woke you.”

“It’s fine,” Kellen yawns. He sits up and runs his hand through his hair.
Teagan longingly wants to crawl back into bed and run her fingers through his
hair instead.

She quickly shakes her head. “I will be right back.”

“Okay,” Kellen murmurs, throwing back the covers.

A few minutes later, Teagan returns. “My parents are gone,” she notes.
“They went to work.”

“Oooooo,” Kellen teases. “We’re home alone…in your childhood bedroom.
What kind of shenanigans can we get into?”

“Oh stop,” Teagan laughs.

He stands up and walks over to her. “You have to get out of those pajamas
somehow,” he quips.

Teagan raises an eyebrow, “Oh , I do, do I?”

“Mhmmmm,” Kellen hums, as he grabs her. He pulls her tight against his
body.

“Kellen!” Teagan gasps, stepping back. “You…well you are….”

“Aroused?” He quips back, giving her a devious smile.

“Yes,” Teagan mutters awkwardly.

Laughing, Kellen sighs, “This happens to guys in the morning.”

“Oh,” Teagan replies. “It doesn’t have to do with me.”

“No,” Kellen states.  “It has a lot to do with you. I woke up with
you against my body. That is the best wake-up call a guy could have. This is
just evidence that I am still thinking about it.”

Trying really hard not to smirk, Teagan snaps, “Well, think of something
else!”

“Like what?”

“Dead puppies.”

“Like covered in flies and all gross?”

“Yes,” she replies.

He looks up and to the side. After a second, he smiles. “Nope, still
thinking of you.”

“Stop it,” Teagan laughs.

“Make me,” Kellen chides, winking at her.

“Oh my gosh!” Teagan exclaims. “I’m going to make coffee.” She turns
around and leaves the room. As the coffee is brewing, Kellen finally makes his
way down to the kitchen.  “Thinking of dead puppies yet?” Teagan inquires,
giving him a look.

“Nope,” he laughs. “But I am calmed down now.” Kellen walks over and
gives her a kiss on the lips. “What are the plans today?”

Teagan shrugs, “I have to call and check with Georgia. I know the
rehearsal is at five.”

“She wanted you to help decorate the hall,” Kellen reminds her.

“I’m looking forward to that,” Teagan replies, going to the refrigerator.

“You would,” Kellen chuckles. “You are such a girly girl.”

“Hey,” Teagan snips, turning around. “You seem to be attracted to this girly
girl.”

Crossing his arms, Kellen states, “Yes, I am.”

Teagan blushes and she turns away. Looking through the food, Teagan asks,
“What do you want for breakfast?”

“What can you make?” 

“Anything really,” Teagan replies.

“French toast then,” Kellen states.

She grabs out the eggs and milk. “Sounds good to me. Did you sleep okay?”

“Perfectly well,” Kellen declares. “It was nice to sleep with you in my
arms.”

“Yeah,” Teagan whispers. “It felt good.”

“Well, see now we definitely have to have those sleep overs in my room.”

Laughing, Teagan says, “With the lingerie and strawberries?”

“Hell yeah!” Kellen shouts.

“NO,” Teagan emphasizes. “We would end up having sex.”

“Not necessarily….” Kellen draws out. Teagan spins on her heel and looks
at him, cocking her eyebrow. He shrugs. “It could lead to things other than
sex.”

“Like what?” Teagan asks, trying not to smile.

He scrunches his nose. “Full body massages?”

Teagan rolls her eyes dramatically. “Which would lead to…..”

“Sex,” Kellen finishes.

“See?” Teagan snorts, turning to get the bread.

“Would that be so bad?”

Exasperated, Teagan spins around. “You are the one who keeps telling me
to wait!”

Groaning, Kellen drops his face into his hands. “I know.”

“Well, should we go buy condoms, or should I wait until I am in a
committed relationship with someone else?” Teagan asks hotly.

“I’m so torn,” Kellen exhales. “I care about you - a lot.” Teagan shuts
up quickly and stares at him. He drops his hands. “My life is so complicated. I
don’t have the luxury of dating whoever I want, whenever I want.”

“So,” Teagan whispers, leaning in his direction. “You’re interested in
me? In that way? Dating?”

“Yes, of course!” Kellen exclaims. “But, my life may make you turn and
bolt, and I don’t want to lose you.”

She steps up to him. “Just tell me.”

Kellen grabs her face with his hands. “After this weekend, okay? Give me
this weekend before we cross that hurdle. I want a weekend about just the two
of us.”

“Okay,” Teagan agrees quietly. “But you will tell me when we get back?”

“Yes, I promise,” Kellen replies.

“So…….” She murmurs. “You care about me?”

“Yes,” Kellen whispers back.

Teagan looks up at him. “I care about you too, Kellen. There isn’t
anything that would scare me away.”

He awkwardly laughs. “You say that now.”

“So, everything you have been doing hasn’t been a show for my friends?”

“No,” Kellen replies.

Teagan can’t help but grin, “Well then, that changes things.”

“How?”  

Smirking, Teagan grabs his hand and starts to lead him out of the
kitchen. Kellen asks, “Where are we going?”

“Upstairs,” Teagan quips softly.

“Whoa baby, no, no, no,” Kellen declares. “We aren’t going upstairs.”

Turning around, Teagan asks, “Why?”

“One, we don’t have any sort of protection and two, we should wait. 
First make the decision that you want to be with me after the bomb is dropped.”

“So,” Teagan starts, looking up in his eyes. “If I stripped naked right
now, you wouldn’t do anything?”

Kellen moans. He finally shakes his head. “No, I won’t do anything with
you right now.”

“Ouch,” Teagan mumbles, pulling her hand away from his.

“That doesn’t mean I don’t want to!” Kellen exclaims as he reaches to
grab her hand.  “I’m just doing what is right.” Teagan continues to frown.
Kellen exhales heavily and then grabs her. He pulls Teagan against him,
crushing his lips onto hers. Their kisses instantly turn passionate, and Teagan
whimpers. Everything in her ignites, and she starts to back them up to the
stairs. He follows easily. They stumble their way up. Suddenly, Teagan trips
and falls back. Kellen isn’t quick enough to grab her.

She lands on her back and yells.

“Sorry, sorry,” Kellen stammers. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” Teagan giggles. Grabbing him, she murmurs, “Come here.” Kellen
falls on her, and they lay there on the steps hungrily kissing each other.
Teagan wraps her legs around him, as Kellen runs his hand up her back.

Abruptly, they hear a door slam and a voice yelling, “Teagan, are you
up?”

“Crap! It’s my stepdad!” Teagan gasps.

They quickly stand up, as he comes around the corner. “Hey honey.”

“Hi Jerry,” Teagan stammers awkwardly. “We were just coming back down.”

“I forgot some paperwork. Did you eat breakfast?” he asks.

“No,” Teagan squeaks, coming down the steps. “I was going to make French
toast.”

“There’s a really good diner that opened up a few blocks away if you
don’t want to cook.”

Running her fingers through her hair, Teagan replies, “I don’t mind. I
take after Mom and love to cook.”

“Well, you kids stay out of trouble,” her dad chimes, smiling at them.

“Yup,” Teagan gulps “We will behave ourselves.”

“Okay, have a good day, Sweetie,” Jerry says, leaning over to kiss her on
the cheek.

“Bye!” Teagan exclaims, maybe a little too excitedly.

When the front door slams again, Kellen bursts out laughing. “Oh my god,
it’s been a long time since I almost got busted in a girl’s house by her
parents.”

“Shut up!” Teagan giggles, turning around. “I would have been mortified!”

“I think your stepdad would have been even more mortified,” Kellen laughs
some more. “Wow, all right, note to self: make it all the way to the bedroom.”

She playfully glares at him and then says, “Come on, let’s go make
breakfast.”

Exhaling happily, Kellen grabs her hand and pulls her back to the
kitchen.

*            
*            
*            
*             *

“Did you have fun today hanging with the girls?” Kellen asks, as he
buttons up his shirt.

“Yes, did the guys drill you the whole time out?” Teagan asks.

“Pretty much,” Kellen laughs, “But that’s all right. I haven’t gotten to
talk about it in a long time. It was fun reminiscing.”

“That’s good.” Teagan smiles. She looks in the mirror and puts on the
necklace that Kellen gave her. 

He comes up behind her and smiles. “Well, that’s very pretty.”

“This really wonderful guy got it for me,” Teagan quips, as she turns
around. She kisses him. “It’s my favorite necklace.”

“That’s what I like to hear,” he whispers against her lips before kissing
her again.  She presses up against him. He chuckles and pulls away. “We
need to be at the church in 30 minutes.”

“I know,” she sighs. “I would much rather kiss you than see Dipshit.”

“I would prefer that too, but you need to know what’s going on for
tomorrow,” Kellen says softly. “I will lay him out if need be.”

“If you punch someone in church, does that mean you are going to Hell?”
Teagan asks, trying not to laugh.

Kellen furrows his eyebrows. “I don’t know. I will make sure I drag him
out by his hair and beat him up in the street.”

“I think God is there, too,” Teagan giggles.

“True,” Kellen smirks. He reaches over and grabs his vest, throwing it
on.

“UGH!” Teagan exclaims. “You’re so hot.”

He laughs and says, “You aren’t too bad looking yourself.”

Teagan curtsies in her dress. “Thank you.”

“So, we are doing dinner afterwards?” Kellen asks.

“Yeah, are you hungry?” Teagan asks, putting an earring in.

“Oh god, we ate so many wings,” Kellen states, putting his hand on his
stomach.

Stopping, Teagan looks at him. “Where did you guys go exactly?”

Tilting his head to the side, Kellen spins out of the way. “This little
place the guys took me to. Don’t remember the name really. They had awesome
wings.”

She stares at him for a second, and then realization sets in. Teagan’s
eyes widen.  “The only place to get wings around here is HOOTERS! Did you
guys seriously go to HOOTERS!?”

Scoffing, Kellen says, “
No
! Why in the hell would we go to
Hooters? I mean,
god
, they belittle women, making them prance around in
those tiny outfits.”

“You asshole, you went to Hooters,” Teagan gasps in shock.

Obviously, trying to be cute, Kellen bites his lip. “It wasn’t my idea.”

“You…..are….such….a GUY!” Teagan yells. “God!” She turns away from him
and grabs her shoes to put on.

“Are you mad?” Kellen inquires.

“No,” Teagan snaps. “Of course not. I’m not your keeper. I’m not your
girlfriend. You can do whatever you want.” She puts one heel on and then the
other.

Chuckling, Kellen says, “No, you’re mad at me for going.”

Taking in a deep breath, Teagan turns around. “I can’t possibly be mad at
you.”

“Really?” Kellen quips. “Then what are you?”

“Annoyed,” Teagan mutters, as she walks past him to get her purse.

“This is awesome,” Kellen declares happily. “What exactly are you mad
about? What don’t you like about it?”

Teagan snaps him a look. “You were just reliving your glory days seeing
girls prance around in skimpy outfits, throwing themselves at you. Because, be
honest with me, the waitresses were all over you.”

“Well….yes,” Kellen retorts, “but it’s not like I was reciprocating the
attention.”

“Whatever,” Teagan mumbles, as she roots around in her purse.

 A soft laugh comes from Kellen and he says, “You’re jealous.”

“No I’m not,” Teagan growls, not looking at him.

“You are; just admit it,” Kellen replies, as he walks over to her.
“Teagan, it’s hot that you’re jealous; it means you really like me. I would
much rather get you a Hooters outfit.  You are ten times more beautiful
than the waitresses there and have the most killer curves.  I wouldn’t
even look at them if you were there. Actually, I didn’t even really look at
them that way when I was there anyway.”

“You’re just saying that,” Teagan exhales.

“No, I am telling you the truth,” Kellen states. “Look at me, Teagan.”

She turns and moves her gaze to his eyes. Kellen looks at her softly.
“I’m not interested in anyone else.”

“But, you are interested in me?” Teagan whispers.

“Yes,” Kellen replies. “I have told you that.”

“It’s just hard to wrap my mind around the idea,” Teagan sighs. “For
numerous reasons.”

“Like what?” Kellen asks.

“Well, you pushed me away for so long,” Teagan answers softly. “I got
used to putting my emotions and desires aside.”