Page 24 of Rough Start

“I don’t either, to be truthful,” he likewise admitted.

“Then what’s the problem?” she questioned with a hint of a giggle. Clearly, she expected them to resume because she stepped against him, her hips tucking into his again.

“Eli, don’t,” he said as strongly as he could. Taking hold of her hips and gently pushing her away, the hurt look returned to her eyes.

“You don’t want…”

“I want everything!” he interrupted. “I want you. All of you. I want you naked on that bed underneath me until neither of us can walk straight.” He laughed and ran a hand over his face as Eliana blushed furiously. “Not like this. Not a frantic fuck at two in the morning with your dad in the other room.”

“It wouldn’t be…”

“It would,” he interrupted. “You have to trust me on this. It doesn’t feel like it right now, but tomorrow it would, and I can’t have that. You’d resent me for it, and I’d hate myself. We’re better than that.”

“Then… how?” she asked, and he allowed himself to pull her into his arms. He pressed his forehead against hers and she relaxed into him.

“We’ll find the right time,” he assured her as he rubbed her back. “We’ll go slowly. Take our time. Without fear of someone walking in or either of us getting hurt. The next day we’ll be more in love than ever and neither of us will have any regrets.”

“That sounds perfect.” She bit her lip, and Kye pressed his thumb into her chin until she released it. He kissed her more gently this time, and she sighed contentedly. “I don’t want you to go tonight…”

“I won’t,” he agreed.

“Just hold me?” He nodded, and they stood for a moment with their arms wrapped around each other until their burning passions that had nearly incinerated them cooled into a warm affection neither of them had felt before.

Kye could tell she was getting sleepy by the way she rocked in place. He grinned as he bent and scooped her up. She giggled as he carried her to the bed and teasingly dropped her before jumping on top of her. She was shrieking into his chest while he tickled her sides and stomach.

Rolling onto his back, she leaned over him, her long hair creating a curtain. He cupped her face, and she gave him a long kiss. Eliana nestled her head on his chest, and he kicked his shoes off before she pulled her thick comforter over them. His thumb was rubbing slow circles on her shoulder when he felt her breathing change. Glancing down, he saw she had already begun to fall asleep.

Kye settled himself farther under the blankets, sure to keep Eliana as still as possible. She opened her eyes momentarily to look up at him, and they exchanged soft smiles. It felt perfect having her wrapped around him like this, and she felt the same about having him in her arms. Soon the room was filled with the sounds of their soft breathing, neither of them remembering a time when they slept so well.

* * *

When Eliana opened her eyes the next morning, she could still smell his cologne on her pillow even though Kye was nowhere to be seen. Sitting up, she looked around her room groggily and saw the Post-It note on her mirror. The wooden floor was cold under her feet, so after she retrieved it she dove back under the covers.

Good Morning. Left before your dad could wake up. I love you. A small arrow indicated she should turn it over. P.S. You snore. Eliana burst into laughter and set the note on her end table before stretching her arms overhead and flopping back onto her pillows. Closing her eyes, she conjured the memory of the night before. Though it hadn’t ended the way she’d hoped, she couldn’t deny how perfect it felt. She could feel his strong hands and how his rough callouses had felt on her legs, hair, and breasts. And his mouth? God, the things his tongue could do.

Covering her face with a pillow, she let out a shriek of embarrassed delight. She’d so willingly pulled him into her bed like a cat in heat. Did that make her ‘easy’? Rolling over onto her stomach, she grabbed her phone and waited for it to power on.

No, she concluded. ‘Easy’ would mean any guy could come into my bed. I just want Kye. Thinking about her momentary embarrassment, how he’d now seen her topless, she was grateful he had stopped them. While she had, and still did, want to have sex with him, if they’d rushed into it the way they almost had, she definitely would have woken up with regrets. If possible, she felt she loved Kye even more now for the restraint and tenderness he’d treated her with.

I do not snore, she typed and sent off to him. She’d only just gotten dressed when she heard his reply come in.

I was teasing. You don’t snore. But you do drool…

Kye! I do not! She screamed while she typed and sent her reply. Unable to keep herself from laughing, she pulled on a pair of warm socks. I wish you hadn’t left so early.

I’m sorry. I wish I could have stayed, but if your dad had caught us it would have ruined the moment.

I agree, she concluded. I agree with everything you said last night. Thanks for everything. I don’t regret anything we did or anything we didn’t do.

It wasn’t easy. You know I want you, but I want you the right way.

I do too. And I want it to be soon.

Eager much? He teased.

Don’t expect me to be embarrassed about that. I’m a woman who knows what I want, and I’m not afraid to go after it anymore.

One of the many reasons I love you. We’ll make it soon. Very Soon.