Layla

by E. L. Todd

  No one said anything.

  They left the restaurant, and we sat their quietly.

  I didn’t know what I felt. I was embarrassed and angry at the same time.

  “So…” Ethan twirled his fork around. “You guys want to get drinks instead?”

  I smiled. “I could definitely go for something hard.”

  “Let’s go,” Kyle said as he stood up. We left the restaurant then went to the bar a few feet away. It was crowded on a Saturday night and we managed to get a table near the back. We all sat down and the waitress took our orders. I leaned back in my chair, not in the mood for conversation.

  Kyle kept his arm around me and rubbed my shoulder. When he pressed his nose against mine and looked into my eyes, I started to melt. He seemed to chase away my anger and depression. “You look beautiful tonight,” he whispered.

  “Thank you.”

  He kissed my forehead then my cheek.

  “Wow,” Ethan said.

  Kyle turned to him. “What?”

  “I never thought I’d see the day my little brother falls in love.”

  Kyle rolled his eyes but didn’t respond to the comment.

  “Leave him alone,” Sadie said. “It’s cute.”

  Ethan shrugged. “I’m just not used to it. He’s tried talking me out of getting married so many times, and now he’s in a relationship with a girl who he kisses on the forehead. I see the way he looks at her. He’s totally hooked.”

  I felt my cheeks redden as I listened to his brother. I never felt like a guy was hooked on me. I never even had someone kiss me on the forehead. It was hard to believe.

  Ethan stared at Kyle, a smirk on his face. “It’s payback time, Brother.”

  Kyle sighed. “Bring it.”

  “You’re really only going to sleep with one girl for the rest of your life?” Ethan asked as he drank from his glass.

  Kyle shrugged. “It doesn’t sound so bad.”

  “And we aren’t getting married,” I said. “We are just dating.”

  Ethan laughed. “Just dating—yeah right. My brother is never going to let you go. He has the same look in his eyes as he does for his baseball card collection. Believe me, when something is his, it stays his. You don’t have a choice, Layla.”

  I smiled. “You actually hit the nail right on the head.”

  “I know my brother pretty well,” Ethan said. “I wondered if this day would ever come. Now we just got to get Scott off the market.”

  “One Benedict at a time,” Kyle said.

  Sadie leaned forward. “Thanks for helping my brother out when he was going through a hard time. I’m glad he had someone.”

  “Yeah, of course,” I said. I already liked her. She reminded me of Jared. They were both easy going and understanding. They were so opposite of the Benedicts, who were controlling, emotional, and temperamental.

  Ethan looked at me. “I’m sorry my sister is being a bitch. I know this isn’t an excuse, but her pregnancy hormones are really throwing her off. When I visited the house, I brought her a vase as a housewarming gift and she cried for an hour.”

  Kyle laughed. “And when I got her a cutting board, she hugged me and thanked for another hour.”

  I laughed despite the seriousness of the situation.

  “She’ll come around,” Ethan said. “And Jared will talk some sense into her. She’s really not confrontational like that.”

  “I completely understand,” I said. “I know it’s hard.”

  Kyle grabbed my hand. “But nothing she says will change us. Don’t worry about that.”

  I smiled. “Thank you.” I turned to Sadie. “How’s the wedding plans?”

  “Good,” she said with a sigh. “It’s a lot of work. I just want to get married.”

  “Me too,” Ethan said.

  “Are you staying in the city?’ I asked.

  “Yeah,” Ethan answered. “We’re staying at the townhouse my sister used to live in. We’re saving money to buy a place outside the city so we can have our kids.”

  “You guys are gonna have kids?” Kyle asked.

  “Obviously…” Ethan shook his head. “What’d you think we were going to do?”

  “I meant you’re having kids soon, smartass?” Kyle said.

  Sadie shrugged. “We haven’t decided, but in the next year or two.”

  “Wow,” Kyle said. “I’m going to have too many nieces and nephews to keep track.”

  “I wish I had nieces and nephews,” I blurted.

  Kyle looked at me. “You will.”

  I met his gaze and saw the confidence in his eyes. I couldn’t believe how sweet he was.

  “My brother is totally whipped,” Ethan said. “It’s official.”

  “Fuck you,” Kyle said. “You’re a million times worse than I am. I don’t follow Layla to bars and keep an eye on her like a psychopath.”

  I laughed. “You’re just as bad.”

  Ethan nodded. “I like her.”

  Kyle glared at me. “I’ve never done that.”

  “You argued with me for fifteen minutes about me walking home alone,” I said.

  “It sounds like you guys are even,” Sadie said. “It’s a tie. You’re both pussy-whipped.”

  Ethan looked at her. “I do love your pussy.”

  Kyle cringed. “Let’s tone it down just a little.”

  “I’ve seen you stick your tongue down too many throats to count, and I’ve seen you fuck two girls in the bathroom.”

  Kyle looked uncomfortable and avoided my gaze.

  “Well, why were you watching?” I said. “That’s pretty weird.”

  Sadie chuckled and Ethan looked at her.

  Ethan turned to Kyle. “Keep this one around. She’s cool.”

  “Noted,” Kyle said. “Why do you think I picked her to begin with?”

  “Because she’s good in bed,” Ethan answered.

  “I haven’t slept with her,” Kyle said calmly.

  “Let’s just talk about sex life, or lack thereof, to everyone,” I said sarcastically.

  “Wait. You’re dating a girl you haven’t slept with?” Ethan said. “Yowza. Layla must be the one.”

  I looked at Kyle but he still didn’t look at me.

  “Back off,” Sadie said. “You’re embarrassing him.”

  “Good,” Ethan said. “I can’t count all the times he humiliated me.”

  “I love her,” Kyle blurted. “I admit it. I don’t care what you think.”

  I turned to him, my jaw dropping.

  Ethan stared at us. “Judging by the pure look of shock on her face, this is the first time you said it?”

  Kyle nodded.

  I stared at him, unsure what to say. The noise level in the car increased as we sat together in awkward silence. When I thought about my feelings for Kyle, I knew I didn’t just care about him or like him. He was someone I trusted in a way I never trusted anyone else. He made me feel safe and strong at the same time. And he treated me so well, putting up with all my bullshit when I didn’t deserve it. I was devastated when Jared rejected me because he was such a good catch, but I never expected Kyle to be the greatest catch of all. “I love you too.”

  Kyle turned to me, looking into my eyes. He didn’t say anything for a moment but the emotion was in his eyes. I saw how much my words moved him, making his heart squeeze. He cupped my face and kissed me gently, disregarding his brother sitting across from us. His lips parted mine and he breathed into my mouth, making me feel warm and tingly. When he pulled away, he rubbed his nose against mine. “I’ve never said that to anyone before.”

  “I figured.”

  Kyle stood up. “We’re leaving.”

  “Uh, bye,” Ethan said. “It was nice meeting you?”

  We were already out the door.

  13

  When we got back to his apartment, he moved into the living room and looked at me. “I’m really sorry about my sister. I can’t say that enough.”

  “It’s not your faul
t.” I placed my hands on his shoulders and rubbed him gently. His lips looked kissable and his skin delicious. I pressed my lips against his neck and showered him with kisses. He sighed as he enjoyed the touch, but then he stepped back.

  “I hate to do this, but could you tell me what happened with Jared, exactly?”

  I stared at him. “What does it matter? I didn’t sleep with him.”

  “I just defended you in front of my whole family. I’m on your side. I just want to understand why Elisa is so upset. It doesn’t change anything between us. That’s not why I’m asking.”

  I moved to the couch and sat down. “I met him at a bar. We started talking and I gave him my number. When we went on our first date, I was very forward with him. I tried to sleep with him but he rejected me, saying he was in love with Elisa. From then on, we were just friends. When I said goodbye to him at the airport, we shared a small kiss. That’s the last time I saw him.” I watched his face, waiting for a reaction. “That’s it.”

  He sat next to me and nodded. “You don’t strike me as the kind of girl who goes to bed on the first date.”

  “That’s because I’m not.”

  “Then why were you trying to sleep with him?”

  I shrugged. “I was depressed. He seemed like a good guy. After John, I wanted someone who could make me feel safe, feel whole. When Jared wasn’t that guy, I realized I needed to put myself back together on my own.”

  “Which was why you were totally blind to my obvious charms?”

  I smiled. “I guess.”

  “Now that we’ve become serious, I admit I’m a little…jealous that you and Jared ever had any type of relationship, but I don’t see why my sister is so upset. It seems like your time together was pretty innocent. You were both upset and relied on each other for support.”

  “That’s exactly what it was.”

  He nodded.

  “Then why did you want to know?”

  “I’d rather have all the facts.”

  I leaned back in my chair. “With the exception of the Elisa fiasco, I really liked your family, especially your niece and nephew.”

  He smiled. “There’s normally not that much drama, I swear.”

  “I believe you. Your brother likes to pick on you though.”

  “That’s an understatement,” he said with a laugh. “But I had it coming. I’ve been an asshole a few times.”

  “And I like Sadie a lot.”

  “I do too. I was shocked that my brother landed her.”

  “Well, that was mean.”

  “Ethan will say the same thing about you.”

  “So, what are we going to do about Elisa?”

  “I don’t know,” he said with a sigh. “Let’s give her some time to come around. Jared will talk some sense into her.”

  “And what if he doesn’t?”

  “What do you mean?’ he asked.

  “What if she hates me forever, Kyle? And she doesn’t want us around her kids?”

  “If she hates you forever, it won’t change our relationship. And I’m seeing those kids whether she likes it or not. They don’t have grandparents or their real father. They are getting their uncle no matter what.”

  I nodded.

  “But my sister will come around, so don’t worry about it. If Jared can’t pull her head out of her ass, I know Ethan can. If you didn’t notice, those two are fraternal twins. He lived with her for years and took care of her. They are closer than best friends or siblings. There are no words to describe their relationship.”

  “That gives me peace of mind.”

  He moved closer to me then placed his arm around my shoulder. “You want to watch a movie?”

  “Not really.”

  “Are you hungry?”

  I was, but not that hungry. “No.”

  “Want to go for a run?”

  “Are you kidding me right now?”

  Kyle smiled. “I don’t want to do any of those things either.”

  “I was hoping not.” I moved to his lap then straddled him, running my fingers through his hair. He hips moved up slightly as I leaned toward him then he placed his hands on my thighs, rubbing me gently. When I leaned toward him, my lips just touching his, he took a deep breath, winded.

  I sealed my mouth overs his, sharing my body with him. His hands moved to my shoulders and squeezed me gently. His fingers dug into my muscle slightly while he parted my lips. Within seconds, his erection formed and pressed against my thigh. He turned me over and pinned me to the couch, moving on top of me.

  Kyle grabbed my hands and pinned them above my head, still kissing me. I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him closer to me. I felt my heart accelerate in my chest, beating sporadically as my longing for him came forth. Now that we were in the moment, there was no doubt in my mind. I wanted Kyle in a way I didn’t want anyone else. When I thought about the night we met, I wished I hadn’t rejected him. I wished I had just given him a chance instead of pushing him away.

  Kyle broke our kiss then rubbed his nose against mine before he kissed me again. His fingers squeezed mine and he rocked into me, his erection pushing against my hip. I tried to move my hands but he wouldn’t let me. For a moment, the fear settled. It was too similar to what John did to me, grabbing and holding me still.

  He sensed my fear and broke our kiss, looking down at me.

  When I looked into his face, I realized there was no reason to be afraid. I trusted him more than anyone, and I loved him in a way I loved no one else. He was everything I wanted in another person. I couldn’t believe that someone so amazing had fallen in love with me.

  “Do you want me to let you go?” he whispered.

  I leaned up and kissed him, silently answering his question.

  Now he kissed me harder, totally dominating my body and my mind. He released my hands then grabbed me, carrying me into his bedroom. When he laid me on the bed, he pulled my clothes away, leaving me naked on the bed. He took a moment to stare at my breasts. He leaned over and kissed each one, sucking the nipples before he placed his kisses everywhere. His lips trailed to my stomach. He licked my belly button ring then moved back to my neck.

  Excited, I unbuttoned his jeans and pulled away his clothes. When he was naked on top of me, I kissed his chest and pulled his hips toward me, not wanting to wait a second longer. The sex with John was mediocre. I didn’t hate it, but it didn’t get me off either. I had a feeling it would be different with Kyle.

  He opened his nightstand and pulled out a condom.

  I took it from him then ripped it open. He watched me with excitement on his face. His dick twitched while he patiently waited for me to get the latex onto his erect cock. I pinched the tip then rolled it down to the base. He breathed heavily as he watched me.

  When I was done, I looked up at him.

  Kyle stayed above me and stared into my eyes. “Thanks for giving me a chance.”

  “I love you,” I blurted.

  “And I you.”

  He separated my legs wider then placed the tip at my entrance. I waited in anticipation for him to fill me completely. When he finally moved his hips and slowly made the plunge, I gripped his back and moaned.

  Kyle moved until he was completely inside then he remained still. He cupped my face and kissed me gently, making the wait even more unbearable. I gripped his back and he started to move inside me slowly. He raised himself up on his arms and leaned over me, pinning me down with his weight. The feel of him stretching me with every stroke made me gasp and shake.

  Before we even started, I felt the tender explosion between my legs. I became wetter, my body expanding and tightening at the same time. Kyle felt it too because a loud moan escaped his lips. The burn between my legs felt like an out of control forest fire. It felt so good that I bit my lip then screamed.

  Kyle watched my face, seeing me crumble underneath him. He wrapped his fingers around my neck and moved faster, slamming his bed into the wall. His breathing was rampant and deep, and the
sweat dripped down his chest. When he grunted, final thrusts moving inside me, I knew he had his moment.

  I kissed his chest and ran my nails down his back, giving him the greatest pleasure possible. He released his grip on my neck then kissed my chest and neck before he pulled out of me. Kyle lied beside me and spooned me from behind, his face buried in my neck.

  “That was amazing,” I whispered.

  He kissed my neck. “I’ll last longer next time. I haven’t had sex in a long time.”

  “I enjoyed it anyway. I haven’t cum like that—ever.”

  He leaned on his arm then looked down at me. “What do you mean?”

  “I’ve never had an orgasm during sex.”

  His face was stoic. “Are you serious?”

  I nodded.

  “They didn’t know what they were doing?”

  “No, it was fine. I just never got off.”

  “Have you ever been in love before?”

  I thought I loved John but I don’t think I ever did. Besides him, there was no one in my life that was serious. “No.”

  “That’s why. I feel the same way.”

  “It was so good. I want to have sex all the time.”

  “You got it,” he said with a laugh. “You’re my kind of woman.”

  “Thanks for being so understanding about Jared. I know that must be awkward on a certain level.”

  He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer. “Thanks for being so understanding of my previous lifestyle.”

  “Everything is different now, Kyle. It doesn’t matter anymore.”

  “You’re right,” he whispered. “I’m glad you finally decided to trust me completely. You’ve changed so much since we met. I know that was hard for you, but I’m glad you overcame it.”

  “That’s because of you, Kyle.”

  “You’re still a little annoying sometimes, but it’s a nice improvement.”

  I hit him lightly on the arm. “You’re annoying too.”

  “Me? No, I’m too hot to be annoying.”

  I laughed. “All my compliments are going to your head.”

  “And I like them there.” He grabbed my hand and held it tightly within his own. “Goodnight, baby. I can’t wait until tomorrow.”

  “What’s tomorrow?”

  “Another day with you.”