The Muse and the Fairy Tale (New Hampshire Bears #1) (14 page)

Kyson turned me to face him and kissed me gently. “My dick is telling me how dumb I am to leave, but I need to talk to him.”

“I understand, and I know your dick does too.”

He chuckled. “After practice, you’re all mine.”

“I’ll hold you to it.” I kissed him again before walking him to the door then watched his truck pull away.

Chapter Twenty

Kyson

I hated to leave Meadow. I actually ached for her. My head was spinning. I’d lied to Meadow this morning about seeing Angela in Concord. Every bone in my body knew that had to be the dumbest mistake ever, but I didn’t want to ruin what we have. However, I knew I needed to figure out something fast. I called Angela the moment I left Meadow. I left her a lengthy voicemail calling her a liar and told her if she harassed my girlfriend anymore I’d take out a restraining order against her.

Now onto Kian.

My body and mind were in shock still. Kian kissing a man was something I’d never expected to see. Ever. I didn’t even know he liked men. He’d dated women before. Right?

I rushed into the apartment to find Kian on the couch staring at his hands. He didn’t even acknowledge me as I took off my coat and tie. I sat next to him.

“I didn’t want you to find out.” Kian’s voice was low.

“You didn’t want me seeing you make out with your boyfriend in a Taco Bell parking lot or you didn’t want me to ever find out?”

“Both, I guess.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.” Kian pushed himself up and walked across the living room.

“Talk to me.” I was practically pleading with him.

“I didn’t want you to be ashamed of me, and I definitely didn’t want you mad.” He paced a bit.

“Kian, I could never be ashamed of you. The only reason I’m mad is because you didn’t tell me.” I loved my brother. It didn’t matter if he was gay or straight.

“I didn’t know how to tell you.”

“How about,
hey Kyson, I’m in love; and his name is Stanley
.”

“I can’t lose you, Kyson.” He ignored my attempt of a joke. “You’re all I have.” Kian’s eyes welled, and I saw the hurt in his eyes.

“That’ll never happen. I will never let it happen. You’re the one constant in my life, and you’re my brother. I don’t care about your sexual orientation; I care if you’re happy or not.”

“I’m happy.” His voice cracked. “He’s a great guy, and I love him. He’s…he’s everything.”

“Then there’s nothing else to say.” I stood up and walked over to him, embracing him. “I’m so glad you found someone.”

“Thank you, Kyson.”

I held him for a second longer before I slapped his back and released him. “Now, I need to go get some food.”

“Didn’t you eat?” He followed me into the kitchen.

“Nah, I left Meadow and the food to come talk to you.” I grabbed some lunchmeat from the fridge.

“We didn’t have to talk tonight. I know you’ve not seen Meadow in a couple weeks.”

“Yeah, but…” I stopped.

“But what?”

I finished making my sandwich. However, it didn’t seem appealing anymore.

“Kyson, has something happened with you two?”

“I lied to her.”

“Huh? Why?”

I took a deep breath and told him everything, from talking to Angela, seeing her in Concord, the messages sent to Meadow and everything in between. My heart belonged to Meadow. I knew it, and I couldn’t have Angela ruining it. She wasn’t pregnant, and if she was, it wasn’t mine.

“You should not have lied.” Kian shook his head.

“I know, but I can’t go and tell her the truth now.”

“Yes, you can and should. If you love her as much as you say then you need to fix this. Now.”

“I’d lose her. I love her too much.”

“Kyson, you’ll definitely lose her if she finds out from someone else.” He gave me a pointed look, and I knew he was right.

“But she’ll never know.”

Kian slapped my back. “Keep telling yourself that, because if someone has already messaged her, who says Angela herself won’t show up on Meadow’s front door. You know how she is.”

He was right.
Again.
I needed to be an adult and tell her.

Practice was the slowest ever. I was desperate to go talk to Meadow. All night long, I tried to figure out the best way to tell her all about Angela.

“Where’s focus, Wick?” Coach Long yelled at me.

“I don’t think he said a complete sentence,” Keaton commented behind me.

“Shut up, Jaco,” he barked at him. “Let’s focus, boys.”

Coach was mad. His face was bright red. I could see he didn’t want anything but seriousness today.

We all fell back into line and listened to everything Coach said. Thankfully, time began to fly by. Maybe it was because I was finally focusing on my job and not thinking about telling Meadow about Angela.

Once I was finally off the ice, I rushed to change and headed to Meadow’s house. The guys tried to convince me to stay, but I pretty much pushed past them to get to my truck.

The whole way there, I tried to play out every scenario in my head just as I had last night, but nothing sounded right. When I made it to her driveway, I took a deep breath, counted to ten, and jumped out of the truck.

Meadow greeted me with a big smile and leapt into my arms. She kissed me hard. “I’ve really missed you.”

I chuckled. “Me too.”

“I want to let you know I’m not wearing any underwear, and I hope you know what the underlying meaning to that is.”

She didn’t have to tell me twice. I kicked the front door shut and took her straight to the bedroom. Nothing else was on my mind but her naked body.

I was naked, laying on my stomach, and Meadow was kissing my shoulder blade, slowly running her nails gently up and down my spine. Between practice and sex with Meadow, I was tired, but surprisingly relaxed.

I looked over at her big blue eyes staring at me. I loved having her naked body pressed up against me. It felt right.

“Sorry, I attacked you before you said hello and made it into the house.” She kissed my skin again.

“Hello is so overrated.” I gave her a small smirk.

“I’m beginning to believe you.” She rolled over and stretched her arms over her head. The sheet pulled away from her body and her breast peeked out from the top.

“Tired?”

“Deliciously exhausted,” she hummed. “You?”

“Same.” I turned onto my side.

“Do you want to do anything special?”

I want to tell you about Angela.
“Not really. Do you have something in mind?”

She shrugged. “Harlow and Maxima were going to go with me to shop. I have several signings coming up, and I don’t think yoga pants will cut it.”

“No yoga pants?” I gasped and she giggled.

“I’m as shocked as you.” She turned toward me, curling up in my arms. “I want to stay like this.”

“Me too.” I kissed the top of her head. “But go hang with the girls. I should work out anyway.”

“Okay, but are you going to tell me how it went with Kian.”

“Well, he’s gay. He was worried about telling me, but he shouldn’t have been. He’s my brother. The only thing that matters is that he’s happy and he is. Therefore, I am, too.”

“I’m glad everything is great then.” She played with my hair.

I closed my eyes, enjoying her touch. I knew today wasn’t the right day to tell her about Angela. I would try again some other time.

Chapter Twenty-One

Meadow

I hated shopping, especially with Ms. Perfect, aka Harlow. I’d rather be back at my house having sex with Kyson. Nevertheless, here I was, Harlow rushing around me.

“I just need a dressy, casual outfit.” I tossed my hands in the air to gain her attention.

“There’s no such thing as a dressy, casual event.” She glanced over the blouse she was holding up. “Go with me on this. Tell her, Maxima.”

Maxima shrugged. “I guess.”

“Ladies, come on.” Harlow almost stomped her foot. “We need to show off our assets, in a sexy, but non-whore way, as much as our brains.”

Leave it to Harlow to express it so
eloquently
.

“All right.” I gave in and she began to hand me clothes. A lot of them. I headed into the changing room and began the parade.

I tried on an outfit and then went out to Harlow and Maxima who began to tell what was good, bad, and ugly. I took their advice, blocked out most of what Harlow said, and picked out two outfits.

“I would have gone with the red,” Harlow mumbled.

“I’m happy with these.” I picked up my bags and headed toward the door.

“Let’s grab something to eat,” Harlow suggested, but I shook my head.

“I’m going home and spending it with Kyson.”

“Everything better?” Maxima caught up with me.

“Yes. I think I’m over-thinking our relationship, and I need to take it one day at a time.”

“Good advice, you should use it,” Harlow mocked me.

“I’m leaving now.” I hugged them both and headed to my car.

When I got home I unloaded the bags and turned on my computer. I was almost all the way through my emails when my phone buzzed.

Kian’s out. How about sex in my bed?

I giggled.
Whatever happened to romance, Kyson?

I’ll make sure to have ice cream and chocolate syrup here. I can lick both off those off you. Romanic enough?

He made me laugh loudly, but I was also turned on by the image of his tongue on my skin.

Okay, give me your address
.

After he did, I checked on Puckhead and then packed an overnight bag and drove over to his apartment. I had to admit, at first, I did find it strange Kian and Kyson still lived together, but after knowing more about them and seeing them together, I could understand it. They’re the only family they have left, and it meant a lot to them.

I stepped off the elevator and Kyson was standing in the hallway. “Are you waiting for me?”

“Very much so.” He stood there in his white t-shirt and gray sweatpants. He reached out his hand and I laced our fingers together.

When I strolled into his place, it was easy to tell men lived here. No, there weren’t posters of half-naked women or movies on the wall, but there was minimal furniture, the biggest TV I’ve ever seen, and every game console imaginable. He didn’t even stop to show me around; he led me right into the bedroom.

It was as if I’d walked into IKEA. The room had white walls, but everything was black and gray. It screamed Kyson’s personality. Even the hockey sticks on the wall above the bed, were placed in a distinct pattern.

How do I know he did it? He could have a designer.

“Penny for your thoughts.” He wrapped me up in his strong arms.

“Just checking out the feng-shui.”

“You know, in the book you almost described this room the same way.”

I smiled. “Because I stole it from an IKEA catalog.”

Kyson blushed.

“I’m getting the feeling you saw the same catalog,” I teased him.

“Possibly.” He kissed the side of my neck. “Do you really want to talk about my furniture or gain some new material for our next book?”

“Our?”

“I was the muse.” His lips set my skin aflame. “You wrote the fairy tale.”

“I didn’t start it that way.” I relished his touch.

“I know, but now we’re here.”

He held me tighter, and we were quiet.

“Kyson, why don’t we sit and talk for a while.” As much as I wanted to have sex with him, we need to talk without our tongues in each other’s mouth.

“Are you hungry?”

“Sure.” Typically, I didn’t turn down food.

Kyson took my hand, and we made our way down the hall to the kitchen. Unlike my kitchen, Kyson and Kian actually used theirs. There were clean pans hanging over the island and different mixers and such on the counter.

“Kian cooks most of the time, but I know a thing or two.” Kyson guided me to one of the stools by the island.

“What’s on the menu?”

He held up one finger before opening the fridge and pouring me a pale ale. “This will go good with dinner.”

“Who taught you how to cook?”

“Mom.”

“Really?”

“Oh, yes. She wanted us to be as independent as we could be.”

“Why?”

“Because she was.”

“And you never knew your father?”

He shook his head. “Kian remembers him, obviously because he was older, but I have no memories.”

“How old were you?”

“Two, I think, maybe.” He shrugged. “He never came around.”

“Do you know why he left?” Sure, I was being rude and extremely nosy, but I was curious.

“Kian told me he had a girlfriend on the side and Mom gave him an ultimatum, her or the other chick.”

“Wow.” She was a strong woman.

“Yep. He left a day or two later and that’s it.” He shuffled around the kitchen, and I watched his every move. As if he were on his skates, he moved with ease and gracefulness.

“How did hockey become your first love?”

He smirked while chopping a few veggies and tossing them into the pan on the stove. “Kian skated, and I wanted to be like my big brother, so Mom took me to the ice rink. She taught me, but I saw a bunch of kids playing hockey, and it seemed like fun.”

I giggled thinking of a little Kyson on skates.

“Once I picked up a stick, I was hooked and never looked back.”

“Kian never played?”

“Just with me, but nothing else.” Kyson continued to work around the kitchen. He was stirring, tasting, and adding spices here and there. It was hypnotic.

We didn’t talk, but I could take my eyes off him. Even though he never looked at me, or touched me, I couldn’t help being turned on. His fluid movement caused his biceps and back muscles to ripple through his tight shirt.

He plated the food he’d created, yes, created. There was grilled chicken, asparagus, and broccoli. Vegetables weren’t on my list of favorite foods, but this smelled too delicious to pass it up.

After I ate the first mouth-watering morsel, I turned to Kyson to tell him, but stopped. He was picking at his plate and seemed sad.

“Kyson, what’s wrong?” I rubbed his back gently.

“Thinking,” he simply stated.

“About?”

“Kian.” He dropped his fork and pushed the plate away to rest his arms on the table.

“What about Kian?”

He shook his head and sighed. “Kian gave up his life for me, and I feel like shit because he did.”

“Has he told you that?”

“No, but a brother knows.”

“Kyson, I’m one hundred percent sure he does not feel like he gave up his life for you. He’s your big brother and that’s what siblings do for each other.”

“He couldn’t tell me he was gay.”

“I’m sure it wasn’t easy for him not telling you. Why don’t you talk to him? I’m sure it’ll all be clear to you once he tells you everything.”

He shrugged and went back to his food. I didn’t want to sit in silence and began to talk about my shopping trip with Harlow and Maxima. He listened and chuckled, and I think it helped detour his thoughts from Kian.

When we finished our food, we both cleaned up, did the dishes, and loaded the dishwater. I wiped down the counters as he put up the leftovers.

“Thank you for dinner.” I dried my hands and leaned against the counter.

“You’re welcome.”

“You know this means you’ll have to start cooking for me all the time,” I joked with him.

“If this hockey thing falls through, would you offer me a job as your personal chef?” He moved closer.

“Hhmm…” I tapped my chin. “Would you be willing to cook naked?”

He grinned. “It might be dangerous for my man bits.”

I grabbed my stomach and bent over in laughter. “Man bits?” The tears rolled down my cheeks as the laughter kept coming.

“It isn’t
that
funny, Meadow.” He tried to be stern with me, but the corner of his mouth turned up.

“Yes, it is.” I wiped my cheeks free of the tears. “I’m so going to put in my next book.”

Kyson grabbed my arm and tugged me over to him. “What else is going into the book?” He kissed the side of my neck.

“I’m not telling you.” I ducked out of his embrace.

“Oh Meadow, I do like to chase you.” He stalked closer to me as I backed up more.

I squealed as he lunged for me, and I took off down the hall toward his bedroom. It didn’t take long for Kyson to grab me.

“Put me down before you hurt yourself.” I couldn’t catch my breath as I started laughing again.

“I’m not going to hurt myself.” He stepped into his room with me over his shoulder. He kicked his door closed and gently laid me on the bed. “But I am going down.”

I was going to combust from those few words. He was too damn good at flipping my sex drive switch to the on position. I buried my hands in his soft hair as he kissed and nipped at my lips and neck.

Together, we worked each other out of our clothes. His body seemed bigger than last time. I knew he had worked out, but I didn’t think it could make a difference in a day. I was sure it was because I was just studying him more closely. If I worked out every day for an extended period, I’d lose a half of an ounce, and you wouldn’t see a difference.

Kyson gently sucked and tugged on my nipples. I pushed my chest closer to his mouth because I craved more of him. I needed him. I wanted him. He licked my stomach and all the way down until he reached the one spot that ached the most for him.

I couldn’t form a coherent sentence if God himself told me to. My focus was on Kyson’s tongue between my legs, and the fire in my belly as he worked me over.

“Kyson,” I moaned as he slipped his fingers in and pushed me right off the hill of sexual ecstasy.

When the shaking subsided, Kyson hovered over me and kissed me. I could taste myself on his tongue and the thought of what his tongue had just done sent additional waves of ecstasy through me. We kissed until our lips were numb and swollen.

He spread my legs apart with his knees and positioned himself between them. Instead of entering me, he began playing with my clit with the tip.

“You’re teasing me.”

“Yes.” He continued with the small assault.

“Kyson.” I lifted my hips trying to get him inside me.

“Do you want me, baby?”

“Mmm…” I writhed under him as he slid the tip in and back out. “Kyson.” I was getting frustrated.

He finally got the point and pushed inside of me. I gasped for air as our bodies slapped together. We both were close already; it was no time before both of us were shaking in release.

As he hovered over me, our eyes locked together. I’ve heard of this kind of moment. The moment when the fog you’ve been living in clears and the light at the end of the lifeless tunnel shines bright, leading you to the new beginning of your life. I’ve read about it in books, seen it in movies, but never realized there was any truth in it.

But here I was, staring into Kyson’s eyes, seeing the happiness in them, and I knew right then; I had found my fairy tale and Kyson was it.