by S Kline
“That’s where you belong, babe.” Fuck. I did a mental eye roll at the pussy shit spewing from my lips.
She raises a brow and stares at me questioningly but my hands pull her lips back to mine. I need this kiss to fucking breathe. What happened to that wall I’d erected around my heart? I didn’t get to make contact with her lips this time though. She presses against my chest with her warm hands, and I lean back, squeezing my eyes shut against the desperate want coursing through me.
“That’s not happening again, Troy.” I open my eyes to see her head shaking sadly at me.
“Why, Kace? There is no way you don’t know how badly I fucking want you.”
“For now.” The words slip sadly from her lips and she isn’t meeting my gaze, again.
“What the hell does that mean?” The edge to my voice surprises me. It’s a tone I never thought I would direct toward Kaci.
“You want me for now, Troy, but I know how you are. It will be someone else you want tomorrow.” She places a soft hand on my forearm in a reassuring gesture that pisses me off.
How could she even think that? Did she think I treated every woman the way I treat her? A sarcastic laugh tumbles from my lips.
“All I’ve ever wanted is you, Kace.” What the fuck, Troy? Stop giving her the ammo to destroy you, asshole.
“Me,” she nods solemnly, stroking my arm in slow, sure movements, “and Addie.”
Shit! That’s what this is about. I swallow thickly and tighten my grip around the steering wheel. “I wouldn’t have touched her if I could have had you.” Shut the fuck up douchebag! “Ever, Kace you have to know that.”
She scoffs at me. “You’ve always chosen Addie, and that’s okay Troy. I get it. She’s beautiful.” She pulls her hands away, clenching them together in her lap. I can feel the absence of her touch in the most intense way.
“You’re beautiful. Addie is easy.” That’s just fact. Addie may be attractive, but in comparison to Kaci? There really is no competition there.
“I really don’t want to talk about this anymore.” She stares at her hands as she twines her fingers together.
“Too damn bad, I do.” I’ve started saying it and now I want to get it all out there.
“Just drop it, Troy, please.” She leans her head against the window, much the same as she had the last time she was in my car. Right before I kissed her. Right before I put her in danger.
I shift back to face the road and pull back onto the street. How much pain can this girl put my heart through before she fucking destroys me? How much will I let her?
***
The room is small, more like a closet as opposed to an actual room. The floor is covered in a sickly green colored carpet, and the white walls have yellow tobacco stains. A single, full-sized bed covered in a blue quilt is the only redeemable thing in this shitty room. Redeemable because there is only one, whether she likes it or not Kaci will be sleeping pulled up against me tonight. I watch as she drops her pricy luggage bag to the floor at her feet on an exaggerated sigh. The blankness of earlier completely gone, as if it had never happened.
“You have got to be kidding me.” Kaci stares open mouthed at the bed in front of us.
“What’s wrong, Kace? Can’t resist me?” I set my bag down, and watch as she turns to face me, fire blazing in her blue eyes.
“I seem to be doing fine so far.” The smirk on her face is full of confidence, resolute.
That wipes the grin off my face. It is so fucking true it hurts. “Then there shouldn’t be a problem. You can clean up in the bathroom. I’m going to bed.”
I kick off my shoes and slide my jeans down my thighs. When I look up Kaci is staring at me with wide eyes and parted lips. When her eyes move up enough to lock with mine she jerks into motion and takes off into the bathroom.
I eye her bag still on the floor and my grin is back. I wonder what made her forget that? I pick it up and walk to the door. I tap my knuckles against it. Kaci opens the door only enough for her to peek through it at me.
“Forget something, babe?” I hold the bag up so she can see it clutched in my grasp.
Her hand reaches out, and she snatches the bag from my grip. “Quit calling me, babe.”
The words are rushed from her lips right before she slams the door in my face. My smile grows wide. No way is she as unaffected as she acts like she is, and I am dying, almost desperate to see just how affected she is. Game on, babe.
I walk over and stretch out on the lumpy old mattress. My arms cross under my head, and I purposefully leave the light on. I want to see her look at me like that again. I want to watch her gaze roam over my body with that kind of female appreciation. It is a look, that from Kaci, I would get off on until the day I fucking died.
She seems to take her time. Maybe she’s trying to ensure I’m asleep before she steps out. It almost works. I am just starting to drift off when the door creaks open, and she steps out in a pair of tiny fucking shorts that are practically concealed by a t-shirt that hangs to the top of her thighs. She is playing with the devil, and it shows in the slight tenting of my dick through my boxers. I quickly shift under the comforter so she doesn’t get all freaked out and refuse to sleep next to me.
“Hit the light, babe.” I mumble sleepily into the room.
“I’ll never be your, babe, Troy.” Fuck, why does she have to sound so sure of that? So determined?
I ignore her, and close my eyes. If it is the last thing I ever do I have to change that. Kaci has to be mine. I feel the bed dip slightly, the blankets shifting as she climbs in next to me. I laugh into the darkness as she tries to keep her body as close to the edge of the mattress as possible.
“I won’t do anything you don’t want me to, Kace. You don’t have to stay so far away from me. I would actually sleep better if you were closer. After the chaos earlier I need to know you’re safe.” It is shitty of me to use her fear to get what I want, but I am so fucking selfish, so desperate for her touch.
She shifts a little closer, and I shamelessly use her movements to pull her body snug against mine. I wrap my arms around her little waist. I want to groan in pleasure at the way her warm body fits tightly, perfectly against mine.
“You smell so fucking good.” I make a show of breathing her into me, loving when she shivers in my embrace.
“Go to sleep, Troy.” The words come out on a shaky breath which makes me grin into the darkness.
“Yes ma’am.” I kiss the top of her head softly, and give in to the exhaustion, letting sleep pull me under.
Chapter Ten
Ten Years Earlier…
Troy
I stare through the mud I am wiping from my twelve year old face at Dylan’s goofy grin. It has become something of a daily competition to see who can pelt who in the face with a mud ball first. This round goes to Dylan.
I laugh and throw the pile of mud that is in my hands at the ground. It splatters up on my jeans, over my sneakers.
I shove Dylan and he falls to his ass in the muddy ground, which makes me laugh harder. I am doubled over in laughter when he comes to his feet and tackles me backwards. I fall with an umph, followed by bigger bouts of laughter. The summer sun should have been enough to dry the ground from last night’s rainfall, but this specific area was shaded from the brutal heat leaving mud puddles the size of Texas at our disposal.
I shove Dylan away from me and stand up to be met with Ethan’s amused stare seconds before a mud ball comes flying through the air and pelts him in the side of the head, knocking the grin off his face. Ethan’s glare shoots to where Dylan sits on the ground with that same goofy grin on his face. All three of us are now covered in muddy goo, and I can almost hear Deirdre’s disapproval already.
“Thanks, jackass I was coming to tell you my cousin is here.” Ethan wipes at his face, brown eyes narrowed on Dylan.
“Ethan Ardon Quinn! Watch your mouth!” Dierdre’s voice rings out causing all three of us to stare toward the front of the house.
> My breath catches in my chest, my head spinning. I watch in rapt fascination as a girl with dark hair and deep blue eyes, dressed in a light pink, frilly dress walks toward us. I feel Dylan land a punch to my arm, but I can’t move my gaze away from the angel in front of me.
“Dude, put your tongue back in your mouth before Ethan punches you again.” Dylan whispers, only loud enough for me to hear.
Addie, Ethan’s sister is three years older than us. Over the summer she’d started to grow tits. So when she stepped outside in her two piece swimsuit last week I couldn’t keep my gaze off of her chest.
Ethan had punched me in the jaw, split my lip, when he saw where my eyes were locked. This was so much better somehow. This girl didn’t have big tits, not like Addie, but she was somehow even more beautiful in her simple dress.
I blink rapidly, and put on a cool façade as she finally reaches us. I can hear Dylan’s chuckle next to me, but I ignore him.
“Kaci,” Ethan wraps an arm loosely around her small shoulders, pulling her into his side. “This is Dylan.” He waves a hand toward Dylan, who is still grinning like a moron, and I try like Hell to look away from her, but I just can’t. Especially when Kaci’s deep blue gaze moves to mine and her cheeks burn red. “And this dipshit is, Troy.”
Thanks, Ethan! I narrow my gaze at him, but he isn’t looking at me. Ethan seems to still be wrapped up in deciding how he can best get Dylan back for the mud ball, his gaze roaming over the ground around us.
“Nice to meet you both.” Kaci’s angelic voice worms its way into my soul and wraps around my heart.
I just nod, unable to say anything. Deirdre yells again, and Ethan tugs her behind him, back toward the house. Kaci goes inside with Ethan so she can help Deirdre with dinner, and I watch her until she disappears inside.
“What the hell is your problem, dude?” Dylan’s voice draws my gaze away from the now closed door.
“I’m going to fucking marry that girl, D.”
My best friend in the whole world laughs in my face, but it doesn’t keep the words from embedding themselves into my brain.
***
Present Day….
Troy
I shift to roll onto my side, but I’m hindered by a weight on my arm. Memories of last night quickly work their way into my sleep clogged brain. I know I have the biggest fucking grin on my face as I run my hand up and down Kaci’s smooth arm. She’s wrapped herself around me in her sleep, one leg is thrown over my thigh, and her head is nestled against my chest.
I lay a soft kiss to the top of her head. Never in a million fucking years would I have ever believed I would have this moment with this girl. I dreamed of it, wished for it, prayed for it, but never thought it would actually happen. I never allowed myself to even hope that I would get to wake up next to Kaci Quinn.
Now I lay here, surrounded by her unique flowery scent, and I want to be swallowed alive by her. She lets out a soft moan and I have to bite back the groan that wants to roll from my lips. I want her to moan, but I want to be the cause of it. My cock jerks in affirmation of my thoughts. At least we are on the same fucking page. I take advantage of my current position and run my free hand down to her hip, squeezing around her hip bone slightly.
A little whimper leaves her lips, her leg rising higher on my thigh, the silky feel of her skin doing crazy things to me. I look down and can’t help lifting her chin up to place a kiss to her soft lips.
Unfortunately that’s all it takes to put a stop to this moment. Her eyes snap open and she jumps out of my arms, causing the quilt to fly off of my body which leaves my erection on display. Her eyes are glued to my rigid member and her mouth is slack wide in shock.
“God, Troy! How can any woman stand to have that inside of her?” The words stutter from her lips, and I can see the minute she realizes she’s said them out loud, because her cheeks burn bright in that way I love.
I laugh so fucking loud, I can feel tears form in my eyes, and I have to clutch at my sides to dull the pain in my ribs. “Get over here, babe and I’ll show you.”
Blue eyes tighten at me and I grin mischievously. “You’re disgusting.”
My grin grows bigger. “So you’ve said.”
“And quit calling me, babe.”
“Why? Afraid you might start liking it?”
She says nothing, just stands and tosses the blanket back over my lap before she heads into the bathroom. I can’t believe she didn’t say anything about the kiss that time.
“And stop kissing me!” She yells through the bathroom door making my whole body shake with my laughter, again.
By the time she comes out, dressed in jeans and a lacy top, freshly showered, I have my dick semi-controlled. Which basically means it isn’t controlled at all, because as soon as I catch sight of her, long hair hanging in wet chunks down her shoulders, and the whole room smelling of her flowery scent, it was back at attention.
I shake my head, running a hand roughly through the short strands of my hair. I have too much riding on this trip to have my mind centered on sex. I need to focus on what needs to be done today, not what my dick wants to do. I mentally run through the latest NBA roster with my eyes squeezed shut until I can safely stand without a raging hard on.
It works. I don’t want to risk needing a second go of it, so I leave my eyes shut, using my hands to lead my way safely to the bathroom door. I mutter a curse as my knee bangs against a hard corner of what I assume is the TV stand. I must have drawn Kaci’s attention at this point because her laugh erupts around me.
“What are you doing?” Her words are choppy as she speaks through her laughter.
“I can’t look at you.” And there goes my heart speaking without thought from my mind again. What is it about this girl?
“Why?” Her soft voice is even, and the words reach me just as I grip the handle of the door.
I don’t answer. I just shake my head and turn the knob. I open my eyes as the steam leftover from her shower takes my breath away. The mirrors are fogged and I’m drowning in that flowery scent now.
It must be her shampoo, or her lotion maybe? Whatever it is it has officially become my favorite smell. I rush through my shower. Not because I want to hurry, which I do, but because the water is pelting down on my like shards of ice. My balls are shriveled up so tight right now, because Kaci must have used all of the hot water.
I jump out, shivers dancing over my skin. Fuck! My teeth chatter together, and the towel hanging on the rack is barely big enough to wrap fully around my bicep. Hmm….I could find us someplace better to stay, somewhere with towels, but I really don’t want to. Anywhere else will probably have two beds available. The cold showers and barely there towels are worth the sacrifice if it means I sleep next to Kaci.
I pull on my jeans and t-shirt quickly, the warmth sinking into my skin instantly. I brush my teeth, run my fingers through my hair, and step out. I leave my duffle bag in the bathroom, but I have my nine millimeter secured in its usual place at my side.
Kaci still hasn’t asked me about the gun. I can only assume that’s because she’s so used to her dad having one strapped to him. It is like God designed the perfect woman for me. He made her attractive to draw my attention, he made her understanding of my fucked up life, and then he made her unattainable to me.
Kaci is sitting on the edge of the mattress with her head down in her hands. “What is the plan for today?” Her voice is hesitant as if she isn’t sure she should ask.
Normally the men kept business strictly between the men, but Kaci deserves to know. She is stuck with me after all. Plus, Ronan wants her to be more involved.
“I need to call Dylan, make sure the run the other night went smoothly. Then we are heading out. Delvin Kennedy has a cabin just a few miles from here.” I bend down to shove my feet into my sneakers as I speak.
“Who’s Delvin Kennedy?” She glances up at me, her features lit with curiosity.
“He’s the man who killed my mother.” My fist clenches
at my side with the words, but I pull in a deep breath and force myself to relax.
Kaci’s lips pop open in an O shape, a look I can’t explain surfaces in her eyes. She doesn’t say anything else so I pick my phone up from the bedside table and scroll over to Dylan’s name. The relief that courses through me at his voice on the other end of the line is unexplainable.
“What’s up, man?” A laugh mingles through his greeting.
“Everything run smoothly?”
He hesitates, but only for a second as the TV flicks on behind me. “Are you talking business around, Kace?”
“Yeah.” My tone is stern leaving no room for further questions on the subject.
“Okay…” He draws the word out slowly before he speaks again. “You know Marcus has been over here. He’s been bitching about her being away with you.”
“He can get the fuck over it.” I fucking hate Marcus. She let Marcus get closer to her, and she pushed me farther away. That is all the ammo I need to hate the guy.
“Yeah that’s what I told him. Anyway the run went pretty smooth. Ronan said he will take care of the guy who told him about the ambush.”
I exhale a relieved breath. These guys are like my brothers, and I can’t imagine losing one of them. “Good.”
“There is something else you should know.” The dread lacing his voice has my shoulders tensing, my jaw clenching.
“What?” I squeeze the words out around my clenched jaw, feeling Kaci’s eyes drill into my back at the sudden change in my demeanor.
“It’s Addie, man. She is telling everyone about the baby. I wouldn’t be surprised if you hear from Ardon soon.”
“Damn it!” I drill my fist into the wall beside me. “The fuck is her deal, D?”
“I don’t know man.” He exhales.
“Thanks for filling me in. I’ll see you later.”
I hang up and turn around to see a very upset looking Kaci. Had she heard?
“What was that about, Troy?” Her fingers drum over her crossed arms.
“It was nothing for you to worry about, princess.” My body is tense, my teeth grinding together.