Beautiful Dreams (The Beautiful Series)

by Rae, Alicia

  Changing the subject, I wanted to know how Kyle felt about making such an important business decision yesterday. We had yet to talk about it between the two of us. I repositioned myself on his thighs, so I was straddling him. Then, I lifted my arms, entwining my fingers in his hair.

  “So, I couldn’t help but listen to the three of you talk about yesterday’s meeting. You seemed very content with the offer.”

  “Yes.” Kyle nodded thoughtfully while closing his eyes at the contact of my hands stroking his head. After a beat, he opened his eyes again, looking at me. “The owner even accepted quite less than I was willing to pay for such a great location.”

  “Jason and Damon are happy with the offer, too?” I asked, wanting reassurance for such a big step.

  “More than happy, Lily,” Kyle reiterated kindly. “I even covered the down payment, so they can focus on the expenses of relocating here to Lake Tahoe.”

  “That was nice,” I said. I wondered about the amount needed for a down payment on a purchase like that. I asked it out loud before I thought it through, “How much is that?”

  “Fifty thousand plus closing costs,” Kyle answered nonchalantly.

  My eyes bulged out of their sockets. “Fifty thousand?” I gaped at him. “That’s a lot of money to risk!” I shrieked.

  Kyle lifted a brow at me. “Actually, it was a steal for the building we walked away with,” he countered with a grin. “Your future husband is an excellent negotiator, so you would do well to remember that.”

  I rolled my eyes dramatically at him while my heart warmed at the word husband. Yes, my sexy rough and tough alpha was definitely used to getting his way, considering I was here in Lake Tahoe with a ring on my finger in less than eight weeks of being together.

  Kyle’s eyes darkened with heat as his hands gripped my waist and yanked me closer. “I don’t know where those thoughts are taking you, beautiful girl, and I’m not sure if I like them or not,” he said, his tone turning husky.

  “Oh, I think you’ll love them,” I teased.

  Looking at me, his eyes glowed with anticipation for me to elaborate.

  “I was just thinking about how I needed to add hot, sexy businessman to your list of qualities.”

  The corner of his mouth lifted into a grin. “You’re right. I do like your wandering thoughts.”

  I continued on, playfully ignoring him, “Yet, I was pondering on your overbearing side that always seems to be lingering around, not too far away.”

  Kyle let out a throaty growl as he placed his hands on either side of my face, tugging me toward him. “Oh, don’t fool yourself, Lily. You love that part of me, too,” he teased in a low voice.

  Then, he ran kisses along the side of my jaw. Distracted, I closed my eyes to absorb every inch of his touch as I moaned.

  “Maybe a little,” I chortled before pointing to my lips. “But first, I need to be reminded with some sweet kisses.”

  “Now that, I can do,” he said.

  He released the most gorgeous smile I had ever seen. It stirred something deep within my soul, something I never wanted to be without. I knew losing him would be my new biggest, darkest fear.

  Not wanting him to see the abrupt change in my thoughts, I kissed him. I pressed my tongue into his mouth, forcing his lips to part, as he emitted a rumble through his throat. His hands moved to my hair to firmly crush my mouth against his even harder.

  I slightly pulled back as I gently bit his lip. He responded by groaning and thrusting his tongue back into my awaiting mouth. My insides burned with need as his hands caressed up and down my body. His fervor seemed to mirror my own.

  “Christ, Lily,” he breathed against my lips before dropping his forehead against mine. “If we were alone right now, I’d bury myself deep inside you and make love to you for hours.”

  I blushed while considering that either of my cousins could walk past a window and see us, plain as day. In the next moment, a breeze passed, making me shudder.

  “Would you like to go inside?” Kyle asked attentively.

  “Yes,” I answered. “Our warm, cozy bed actually sounds quite wonderful right now.”

  Kyle slightly bent forward and kissed my cheek. “It does,” he said with a loving smile. Then, he kissed me once before rising with me still on his lap. His hands held me as I slid down the length of his body to my feet. “The sooner we get there, the faster I get to feel your heavenly body snuggled against mine,” he finally finished.

  The fire pit was only a small flame now, so we left it to burn out on its own. Kyle and I strode up to the house, hand in hand, with me casually resting my head on his shoulder. As we made our way into the house, it was quiet. We ambled through the living room and turned off the lights as we continued on to our bedroom.

  Kyle and I changed into our pajamas, and then we sauntered over to the bed. My muscles were beginning to ache from our adventurous day on the trails. I pulled the sheets over us just before Kyle tugged me against his chest with me facing him.

  He stroked my hair back off my face tenderly. “Did you have fun today?”

  I nestled in closer to him, laying my arm over his side. “Yes, thank you,” I answered quietly. “It was great to spend the day with my cousins since they are leaving tomorrow.”

  “I had a great time with them, too. I’m glad they came to visit you.”

  I nodded in agreement. “I can’t wait to see what next year brings,” I murmured into the darkness.

  “Only good things, Lily,” he replied quietly, kissing me affectionately, “only good things.”

  Sunday morning, I woke up, feeling aches and pains that I could have done without. Dang, riding sure had a way of wearing me out. I certainly did not have the body of a teenager anymore.

  My feet felt like they were roasting under the covers, and I lifted my head to see the cause. I smiled sweetly when I saw Harley lying across the end of the bed, once again snoring. I was beginning to think this was going to be a new routine.

  Wiggling my way to the right, I tried to nuzzle with Kyle, who was still fast asleep. He awoke from my movements, glancing at my struggled efforts, and I laughed.

  “Problems this morning?” Kyle teased with a gruff voice.

  “Yes,” I heaved, still trying to work my way near him. “Harley seems to think I’m his pillow.”

  “I see that.” Kyle chuckled. He wrapped his arm around my back and yanked me flush against his body as Harley snorted out a protest. “He must be forgetting that you are my pillow,” he said playfully.

  “Oh, I am, am I?” I raised my eyebrows and lifted my hand to caress his morning stubble. I loved the way the hair scratched along my skin. “I think you are too heavy to lie on me.”

  “Nah,” Kyle countered. He lowered himself, nestling his head back and forth across my breasts. “I just need to lie on your softer zones,” he said in a tone that was growing husky.

  Only he could find a way to make that sound sexy. After Kyle settled, I asked, “Found a good spot?”

  “Yep,” he said.

  I knew he was stifling a smile. My hands found their way into his soft hair. On the second stroke, he groaned in pleasure. I noticed that he loved it whenever I touched him, no matter if it was his back or chest or head.

  We lay in bed, wordlessly reveling in one another’s company. Since Kyle and I had no plans, we could simply be lazy all day for once. It was a nice change of pace after the last three weeks of packing, relocating, and unpacking. I hoped I wouldn’t move again anytime in the near future.

  Kyle turned on his stomach to face me while bracing his weight on his forearm pressed into the mattress. “Anything you want to do today?”

  I shook my head. “Nope. I want to stay in my PJs all day, watch movies, and spend all of our time together before we go back to the daily grind tomorrow. Sound good?”

  “Having you to myself all day is way better than good, beautiful.” Kyle grinned. His eyes glowed with a sense of satisfaction.

  A soft
smile filled my expression at his endearment. I loved that he felt the same way. Sometimes, I just needed a little downtime to regroup, and I intended to do just that over the next twelve hours.

  “How about a nice warm bath to start out our lazy Sunday?” Kyle asked. He bent forward to kiss my chin and then my cheek before pulling back to gaze at me as he awaited my answer.

  “Mmm, that sounds heavenly,” I replied while lifting my hands to cradle his face.

  He was simply too far away, and I wanted his lips on mine. A deep groan left his throat right before his mouth connected with mine. This kiss was soft and full of longing. It had only been a few days since we last made love, yet it felt like many more.

  Kyle made the first move to draw back. His eyes were hot, and it sent my desire for him into a tailspin. My arousal effectively increased my pulse, pumping it feverishly throughout me.

  “If you keep kissing me like that, we’ll never make it to the Jacuzzi,” he warned. His tone was choppy and uneven.

  I could hear the longing blended with his words.

  “We can’t have that now, can we?” I teased, pretending not to be affected by him.

  Kyle released a sinful grin. “Nope,” he stated. His arms swooped around my body, and he rose to his knees, lifting me with ease from the bed. He carried me into the bathroom. “The sooner I romance you with my charms, the faster I can make sweet love to you.”

  I chuckled at his nonsense, but I decided not to interrupt his thoughtful attempt at hearts and flowers—especially when he was working so hard on opening up to me and strengthening our connection beyond intimacy. As much as I loved sex, I craved a deeper bond with him.

  Kyle set me on my feet, walked over to the tub, and turned on the water. He turned his head from side to side in search of something.

  Curiosity got the better of me. “What are you looking for?”

  “We need bubbles,” he said while continuing to glance around. “And I don’t think I have any.”

  I covered my chuckle with my hand. “You don’t.”

  When he spun to face me with a perplexed expression in his eyes, I answered his unspoken question. “Last time, I used your shampoo,” I admitted bashfully, hoping he would not be upset.

  “My Calvin Klein shampoo?” Kyle asked with surprise. “No wonder why it smelled so familiar.” He smirked as he went to the shower stall and grabbed the bottle. Then, he returned to the tub and squirted more shampoo than what was necessary.

  I shrugged my shoulders while stifling my laughter. “I had to improvise.”

  He strode over to me with slow, deliberate steps. The look in his eyes made my heart skip a beat.

  “I can’t wait to come home from work tomorrow and see what you have planned for me next,” he said, pausing a mere inch in front of me.

  “Oh, there are tons of possibilities,” I replied while raking my hands up and down his firm, sculpted chest.

  “I, for one, am hoping you’ll wear a hot nightgown from the many you have in the closet.” His tone was now raw and throaty.

  A delicious tingle went up my spine. He slowly lifted his hands to the bottom of my shirt and removed it with one rapid motion. I briefly wondered how we had come back to not being able to keep our hands off each other. For myself, I could only blame it on two days of Kyle withdrawal.

  “I might be able to work with that request,” I said, removing his shirt and tossing it onto the floor next to mine.

  He unleashed a wicked smile, and then he discarded my panties. “I will be looking forward to it,” he said on a whisper.

  I snuck my fingers into the hem of his briefs and tugged them down. He gracefully stepped out of them, and then he grabbed my hand and led me to the Jacuzzi filled with water. He shut off the faucets, and we entered the tub. I let out a content sigh as my toes dipped beneath the surface of the water.

  He flipped a black switch, and the jets powered to life. I sat on the left end, so one would blow against my back. Kyle took a seat at the opposite end, so he could have one, too. Lowering himself, he tipped his head back to rest along the edge of the acrylic tub. Steam began to fill the air around us, creating a soothing atmosphere. The tension in my muscles immediately started to ease from the heat of the water.

  “This is amazing,” I said, mimicking his position and closing my eyes. “I might give up showers and bathe in here daily.”

  I heard Kyle’s chuckle over the roaring of the jets.

  “Definitely,” he said in agreement. “When I was about five or six, my dad remodeled the master bathroom for my mom, and he installed one of these. He completed it the week before her fortieth birthday while she was away on a women’s retreat.”

  When he paused, I opened my eyes and slightly shifted, so I could see him.

  “She talked about how much she loved that tub for nearly a month. One winter, my brother and I decided to put on our swim trunks, and we made it our new pool,” he said with fondness. “We were obviously suffering from withdrawals of swimming in the lake.”

  My eyes glowed with adoration as I smiled. “I bet.”

  Kyle nodded, sitting up to look at me. He grinned mischievously, and I knew the rest of his story would be quite interesting. He reached for my feet under the water, placed them on his lap, and began caressing the bottoms in a soothing circular motion.

  “We thought it was a good excuse anyway until Mom came home early to find us in her tub with a boatload of water on the floor.”

  I laughed. “Oh man, I bet you guys got in trouble.”

  Kyle chortled. “Yep, big time—and so did Dad because he was supposed to be watching us, not football,” he said warmheartedly. “At first, Ryan and I were just goofing off with the jets and Mom’s bubble bath. We were seeing how high we could get the bubbles to rise while we splashed around. I got out first to find towels to wipe off the ledge around the tub and tile floors, and then I slipped. Ryan laughed at me, so I made a joke out of it by running and sliding throughout the room. Next thing I knew, we had added more water to the floor, so we could slide better.” The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk. “That was when Mom came home, and let’s just say, she was not very happy with us. We got grounded for two weeks—no TV, no video games, nothing, except for homework. Not to mention, we were banned from her Jacuzzi.”

  I snickered quietly. “Did she make you guys clean up the mess?”

  “Yes.” Kyle smiled as his hands moved up to rub my calves. “And we had to do dishes for the whole two weeks.”

  “That sounds rough,” I teased.

  “It was,” he agreed.

  Then, he lightly tightened his grip around the lower portion of my legs and yanked me to him until I was sitting on his lap. His hands gathered around my waist, holding me in place.

  “I’m still traumatized from all those dishes. I think you should make me feel better,” he said playfully.

  I lifted my wet hands from the water and gently stroked from his temples all the way back through his soft hair. My heart expanded at his thoughtful gesture of letting me in just a little more today.

  One day at a time, I told myself.

  “I might be able to offer some comfort,” I breathed, lowering my lips closer to his.

  Kyle dropped his hands to cup my behind, lifting me up to greet his reverent mouth. His lips closed over mine with a heated kiss, and it took my breath away. Our tongues thrashed with each other as my need for him washed over me. His hands grasped my ass possessively as he swayed my hips forward and back to brush his hard erection along my center. The sensation stirred a warm buzz in my abdomen.

  He moved to playfully lick the side of my neck before sealing his mouth over mine with a hot kiss while rocking the tip of his length right against my clit. I groaned as my sex throbbed for more contact.

  He tilted his head, and as we were eye-to-eye, his gaze penetrated me while he rubbed along me once more. Intense electrical currents coursed through me, and I gasped in pleasure.

  A suggestive rum
ble left his throat, and I could tell he was urging me to come. I held back, biting my lip, not wanting to give it up so soon, because the exquisite feeling building in my core felt too good.

  “Let go, Lily,” he said in a raw tone as he thrust his hips up into me once more.

  I teetered over the edge of reason, crying out through my orgasm. He spread my thighs wide apart. The act made me feel open and exposed. My heart pounded in my chest, and my lips parted as I waited for him to fill me. My inner walls tingled with anticipation.

  He sank into me slowly, and the muscles in his jaw flexed. Once he was completely seated, an uncontrollable quiver raked through my body at the fullness I felt. And just like that, the pressure in my sex started building again. He moved with precision, and I rose and fell to match his rhythm. Neither of us was in a rush. I just wanted to revel in the feeling of being here with him, like this.

  He nuzzled my neck, breathing heavily. “This is my favorite place, buried inside you, where it’s just you and me,” he said, emphasizing each phrase with a deliberate, deep upward thrust.

  I groaned, and he responded with a husky hum of approval that came from the back of his throat. As my eyes landed back on his, I felt stripped bare. The love in his eyes sent me spiraling outward in ecstasy with him following right behind me.

  We watched two movies back-to-back while snuggled up together on the couch. Kyle was lying on his stomach in between my legs with his cheek resting on my belly as he was facing the TV. I made a vow to spend every possible Sunday just like this.

  Kyle muted the TV as the credits scrolled down the screen. I gently laid my hands on his head and began running my fingers through his hair. My beautiful diamond reflected off the light streaming in from the window. As I stared at my ring, I thought about Kyle’s proposal. My stomach fluttered with butterflies, not from reservations or nervousness but out of happiness.

  A month, tops. I can’t wait much longer than that, he had said to me on the morning he gave me my engagement ring.

  That gave me until the end of August. The last day of the month entered my mind. It was a day that held heartfelt memories for me.