“That will help,” I made my way toward her and saw her falter slightly when she read my posture. “You’ll have to do your part, study on your own, and use the workbooks.”
“I will, I swear. We have a few deaf renters come in once in a while…” she subtly smiled in an effort to hide her anticipation as I drew closer. “I can’t wait to be able to talk to them. Oh, and I can sign to Ella next week!”
“It takes time to master this language like any other and there’s slang to learn too.”
“Okay.”
I could feel the rattle in her posture as I slipped in behind her and leaned in a whisper. “It could take you months to be conversational.”
“Bring it on,” she said as her skin heated beneath my fingertips.
“After.” I pulled the peeler from her hands and set it on the counter.
“After.” She repeated, leaning against me and slipping her hand between us to brush it over my ready cock.
“After.” Turning her in my arms, I covered her mouth with my own.
* * *
Koti
After turned into a couple of hours of rough exploration by my nutty professor. The man was a God in the sack and though some days were filled with the painful effects of his aftermath, I couldn’t stop myself from my new addiction. He was a thorough lover with endless imagination. I smiled as I waited outside my front door playing with Disco. Ian demanded that we conduct class just as he would anywhere else and had been adamant about treating me as he would any other student. Restless with anticipation, I waited the five minutes he asked for to ready himself for our first class.
When I walked into the house, I saw he had rearranged the furniture putting his dry erase board where my coffee table usually sat.
“It’s getting hot out—”
My sentence was cut short by Ian’s stomping on the hardwood floor and the shake of his head.
I took his cue and zipped it. He pointed to the couch as he stood next to the board that read “My name is Ian.”
Once seated, he waved at me in greeting and I waved back. I could see a repressed grin lay idle on his lips before he wiped it away and replaced it with what I assumed was his teacher mask. He lifted his hands and signed.
Confused, I shrugged. He looked at me expectantly and signed again.
I gave him wide eyes.
Ten minutes later, we were in a lock of wills. He kept placing his hand to his chest, then crossing closed pointer and middle fingers on each hand before rapidly spelling out a word. I’d been working on that word the whole time because it was all of the language I knew but his fingers were moving so fast from letter to letter I couldn’t read it. The last letter was an N. I was sure of it. A light bulb went off and I jumped in my seat excitedly with an “Oh, damn, how did I not get that!?”
Ian stomped his foot again and shook his head, eyes narrowed.
He signed the same phrase, this time slower so I could follow.
My name is Ian.
This time I lifted my own hands repeating his movements.
My name is Koti.
He nodded and made a quick sign, which I assumed was the word good or yes.
Over the next hour, we remained in silent conversation as I stayed puzzled half the time before I began to catch on. By the time class was over I’d learned to introduce myself and ask, “How are you?” Also a few basic signs, how, who, why, when and where.
“That was pretty good,” he said as he erased the board.
“That was incredible! You learned sign language this way?”
“Yes, my teacher was a deaf woman named Billy, and she was incredible.”
“It seems impossible to learn this way, but it’s really kind of amazing.”
“She could read lips and talk, but speaking was forbidden in her classroom.”
Excited, I jumped on him, he laughed at my unexpected enthusiasm and caught me easily, gripping my ass and holding me close to him. “I love it!”
“Really?”
“Yes, so much. I can’t wait for more. Do we have to stop today?”
“Yes. It’s easy to forget the signs. I want you to practice them all night and all morning. It may seem trivial to you, but you’ll understand why later. Okay?”
“Is this like the Karate Kid, where you make me wax on, wax off and then show me some kick-ass moves?”
Ian chuckled. “Something like that.”
“Well, I’ll make you proud, sensei.”
His eyes shone with something that resembled adoration and my heart warmed with the hope of it. “I suspect you will, puffer fish.”
Our matching grins disappeared as he leaned in and took my lips, kissing me with a lazy and seductive tongue.
“About what I said the other night while I was smashed.”
I gave him a side-eye. “You actually remember that?”
He winced. “Some of it?”
I shook my head. “No more. No more fighting, no more misconception, no more judging, speculating, worrying, none of it. I’m having a great time and so are you. That’s all we need to know. Let’s move on already.”
He let out a breath of relief. “Music to my ears.”
“Same here. Let’s leave it at the egg comes first and have some more fun.”
“What if I said the chicken came first?”
“Well then, I would have to burden you with coming up with proof, professor.”
“I have no proof.”
“Then we can debate about it during our swim like adults.”
“Swim?”
“Let’s go swimming and after,” I waggled my brows, “we can after.”
“Aren’t you hurting?”
“I’m good. Actually, I’m great. I’m growing into a huge fan of sex after years of being on team abstinence. Also, sex between us requires little communication which, if we’re honest, we seem to suck at.”
“Good point,” he said, smiling down at me. “But I think we’re getting better.”
“Agreed,” I said, as he let me on my feet.
“I’ll get my suit on.”
I took his hand and moved toward the front door. “That won’t be necessary, professor.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Koti
Anxious, I checked the roast in the oven for the second time in ten minutes. Any second, Ella would be walking through the door and I wanted more than anything for her to like me. Even if Ian and I didn’t have a future, some part of me hoped for a lasting friendship. I lost everything when I left New York and severed ties with everyone I thought was close to me, but Ian and I were a different kind of close. He understood me like no one else in my life ever had, including Jasmine. He knew me intimately and touched me in ways I needed. He knew my secrets, my fears and asked me constantly what my hopes were, to which I had no reply. I never thought past getting through my days when I arrived on the island. And now it seemed I had a whole different life in front of me. I didn’t tell him my hopes because the truth was I wasn’t sure. For the first time in my life, it wasn’t mapped out, which was both amazing and a bit terrifying. But I had learned I didn’t need big dreams and accomplishments to matter. And his question was more geared toward my happiness, I knew it without him telling me. So, when it came to hopes, I would let them evolve just like I had when I set foot in St. Thomas. And maybe before he left, I would have something to share. Even when our time ended, I hoped to remain a part of his life, even if it meant I would have to witness him living it with someone else.
His friendship was a rare gift when it came to acceptance. While a part of me knew I was in love with him, a larger part of me knew that for some reason, when I was six-years-old I was gifted with a best friend who later turned into a soulmate. We spent the first month together at odds, but the last few weeks had been some of the most blissful days of my entire life. When I knocked off work, I raced home without a clue as to where our night would lead. It was different from the predictability I learned to count on every day, but o
ddly the new routine felt just as safe because of Ian.
And the fact that I had never been in love played a large part of the reason for my happiness. I tried not to dwell on it due to the impending heartbreak, but the truth was I had never experienced the constant pounding heart, desire, the elation, the need, the torturous want, the playful comfort. All of that, from the time I was in my teens, was stripped from my life by my ambitious schedule and the aftermath of trying to keep up with it. There had been boyfriends, a few of them memorable but never had I ever felt such an attraction to a man. I’d never in my life been inspired the way I was by Ian. His ability to make me feel everything with a single look was unparalleled by any before him.
I was weeks away from thirty years old and had just found my first love.
And my soulmate.
But not my forever.
The front door opened as I lit a candle, and Ian and Ella appeared. I waved my hello frantically and Ella rushed to my side. We both hesitated briefly before we hugged.
I took my time signing my greeting.
I’m so happy you are here.
She began frantically signing as her father corrected her while talking. He made a fist with one hand and slid spaced fingers over it toward him.
“Slow, Ella. She’s only been doing this for two weeks.”
She turned back to me and signed with the letter S rubbing her chest.
Sorry.
I signed back.
It’s okay.
She spoke then. “We can practice more while I’m here.”
“I would love that.”
“Can I see the puppy?”
“Of course.” I moved to the bedroom where I had locked Disco in so I could mop the floors and jumped out of my skin when Ella shrieked. Ian had told me Ella was unbelievably loud at times. I shook my head at my foolish reaction and Ian gave a wink. “It’s okay, beautiful. She startles me too at times.”
“You aren’t allowed to talk when you know she can’t hear you. It’s disrespectful.”
“I can’t call you beautiful in front of her.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“Right. It’s bad manners. You must have a good teacher.”
“He’s the best.” I managed to sign that part and Ella caught it.
“Who is the best?”
“Your dad, for teaching me.”
She lifted her hands. I’ll be a better teacher.
“I bet.”
I poked her shoulder to get her attention as she fawned over the dog. Do you like… I took my time spelling out pot roast because I had no idea what the sign was. I was only halfway through the letters when she nodded.
“You knew what I was signing?”
She nodded again. “Of course.”
“Wow. I hope I get that sharp with the language.”
“You will,” Ian assured.
We sat at the table as Ian and Ella went back and forth signing while talking at the same time so I could understand their conversation. I felt oddly emotional as I watched their interaction. It was like watching the most important part of Ian in those moments with his daughter. Their love was palpable, their relationship completely unique. They were close, as close as two people could be within the boundaries of a parent/child relationship. Although close with my own father, we never talked so candidly. Ian had told me that deaf people don’t often beat around the bush and can sometimes come off as brash or rude, but most were just naturally and brutally honest. Since my classes with Ian started, I’d been learning a little about the deaf culture and it had only piqued my curiosity.
“You are such an asshole, Daddy,” Ella said, leaving me with wide eyes to gauge his reaction. Ian didn’t seem offended in the least which made me laugh. They both looked at me with matching grins.
“What?” Ella asked.
“You just called your dad an asshole. And while I agree, I’m surprised you get away with it.”
“Not nice,” Ian scolded me before he looked at Ella. “Do you want to tell the story?”
Ella nodded. “If I speak funny, tell me, okay?”
“You sound perfect.” I signed the word good.
“Don’t lie, Koti, that doesn’t help me grow.”
I sat shocked but then nodded. “Okay, you sound pretty damn good for someone who’s never heard a single sound.”
She immediately turned to Ian. “I like her.”
“Me too,” he said, his eyes darkening as he looked over at me. I felt the blush creep up my cheeks.
Ella picked up on the chemistry. “You two are more than friends. When are you going to break it to me?”
I choked on a sip of water as Ian shook his head and spoke. “Tell the story, brat.”
“Okay fine.” Ella turned to me. “He wanted dad to be my first sign. He spent a long time trying his best to make me do it.”
I stuck my thumb to my forehead the rest of my fingers pointing up at the ceiling and then pulled it away a half inch.
“Close, you don’t have to touch your forehead with your thumb, but yes, that’s the sign for dad.”
I nodded.
“From what Daddy says, I wasn’t good at lifting my thumb up to reach my forehead and instead of having my finger straight out… I’ll show you.” She took my hand and closed my thumb and pointer in a circle while leaving the other fingers open and spaced apart.
“This is the sign for asshole, isn’t it?”
Ella laughed so loudly next to me I fought myself to keep from jumping in my seat.
“Yes. I’ve been calling him an asshole since I was little, and he got used to it.”
“It was the only time I was ever happy she couldn’t talk,” Ian said with an embarrassed shake of his head.
“But you made sure I knew how to say it,” Ella said with a giggle.
“Yes, I did.” He was a proud dad, it leaked out of his every pore. I briefly wondered what it would be like to raise another human being. I never imagined it for myself, but Ian had done it. And from what I could tell, he’d done it well.
“So, are we sleeping here?”
“Yes, Grandma’s house is rented for the rest of the summer,” Ian answered. I tried to concentrate on his signing as he spoke. They were both too fast. Ian noticed my frown before he slowed down, which earned him a smile from me.
I loved his patience, the way he cared for me and those around him. He may have wanted to be selfish, but that was one thing Ian wasn’t. And because I couldn’t handle another second of watching him without expressing exactly what I loved about him, I excused myself and cleared the dishes. Ian spoke up.
“Ella’s got dish duty. That’s a rule.”
At your house. I managed to sign. “She’s on vacation.”
Ian’s jaw ticked and I did damage control. “Just for tonight.”
He nodded and gave her a pointed look. “Wipe the table. And don’t forget your manners.”
She nodded before she turned to me. “Thank you so much for dinner”
“You are most welcome.”
She then tilted her head at Ian. “Sir, may I be excused?”
“Yes, brat.”
Ella joined me at the sink. “Marines,” she cooed in what she thought was a whisper. Her father slashed his hand through the air and I gave her big eyes and brought her to me in a protective hold while she giggled.
Ian narrowed his eyes at me as he made his way toward his bedroom. “Don’t encourage her.”
Ella helped with the dishes anyway and we made small talk as she told me about the camp in Washington D.C. She planned to go to college there, but they had an early entrance program that she hoped to get into for her last two years of high school. I was sure that Ian had a future somewhere in D.C. In an attempt to mask the sting that threatened I told her of my common love for the Outlander books. She squealed in excitement and agreed to join our book club during her stay.
Minutes later, Ian returned with a brand-new iPad with a bow on top.
Ella sq
uealed with delight.
“I wanted you to have it while you were here. I loaded it with age-appropriate books. Do not even think about downloading that smut I caught you with last month.”
“Yes, sir! Thank you, Daddy!” She wrapped her arms around him tight as he hugged her with his whole being. Something about that had my emotion spilling over. I couldn’t get over the appeal of the several sides of Ian Kemp and I loved every single one of them.
Jesus, Koti, get a grip.
Excusing myself for the second time, I grabbed my book and made my way onto the porch. Lighting candles, I turned on my music, Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” and sank into my sanctuary. Minutes later, I looked up to see Ian on the porch staring at me with confusion.
“What are you doing?”
“Uh, reading?”
“Do you feel out of place?”
I sat up. “Not at all. I just wanted to give you time alone with her.”
“Okay.”
“I shouldn’t… we shouldn’t give her the wrong impression. We discussed this.”
He glanced at the front door. “I know, I just thought tonight you would hang out with us.”
“Ian Kemp, are you pouting?”
“I might be.”
“Get your ass in there and spend time with your kid.”
“Fine. But are you coming to the beach tomorrow?”
“Sure.”
“And tonight, when she goes to bed, I’m going to sneak into your room and lick—”
“You will do no such thing. There will be no licking of anything.”
“We’ll see about that.”
“I’m locking my door.”
“Don’t threaten me or every door in this house will be without locks within the hour.”
“Behave yourself.” I shooed him away as he glanced back at me from the front door.
“Koti, I don’t mind you spending time with us.”
But I mind, Ian, I’m falling for both of you.
“She already suspects foul play. Do you want to be the one to explain friends with benefits to her?”
“No.”
“There you go.”
“But that doesn’t mean I can’t discreetly lick things.”
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