“I understand your emotions perfectly. But you need to let your walls down. You can trust me, Layla. When you are in a loving relationship, it’s okay to cross certain lines. I’m already obsessed with you. I admit I come off temperamental and headstrong, but I understand the boundaries. I would never do anything like that, Layla. Please let me take care of you. I won’t hurt you.”
“I’m just scared.”
“Do you trust me?” He stared at me, giving me his heated gaze.
There was no reason why I shouldn’t. He was the ideal man, something that I’d been searching my whole life for. He was gentle, caring, passionate, and sweet. “Yes.”
“Then give yourself to me. I will be controlling and possessive, but not in a bad way. I know it’s hard for you to share power because you need to be in control at all times, but let’s split it. We’ll pick the areas we can’t live without.”
“What do you mean?”
“For instance, I’m very dominant in the bedroom.” I felt my heart skip at his words. “I like to be in control, completely and utterly. You are mine and you will do as I say. I don’t mean that in a bad way. But if you trust me, I can make the experience beautiful and amazing.” He stared at me, gauging my features. “I know you don’t like to be told what to do in other scenarios, so I’ll never ask you to do anything. We can share the power.”
I leaned close to him. “Just promise me you won’t be like John—ever.”
“I swear on everything that ever meant anything to me, baby. Please don’t’ worry about that. I’ll love you and protect you from everything. You are mine and I want the whole world to know. You will always feel loved and cherished by me. I know you are used to taking care of yourself, but now it’s my job. Please let me do it. Let yourself fall into me. I promise I’ll catch you.”
I took a deep breath
, feeling the ice thaw from around my heart. “Okay.”
He smiled. “Thank you.”
“But there’s something I’m worried about.”
“What?”
“I’m afraid John will hurt you. I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you because of me.”
Kyle grabbed my face. “Don’t worry about that. Nothing will happen to either of us. I promise.”
“Okay,” I whispered.
“So, tomorrow is Saturday
...”
“Yeah?”
“Wanna spin the night? We can have breakfast then walk through the park.”
“That sounds wonderful.”
He smiled. “Good. Now we can actually go on a real date, one that you’re aware of.”
“Well, that means I’m sleeping with you on the first date. That’s pretty skanky.”
“I like skanky,” he said with a twinkle in his eyes.
I wrapped my arm around his waist then snuggled next to him, taking in his scent and his presence. His forehead was pressed to mine and his fingers moved through my hair slowly. The sound of the city disappeared while we held each other. The night passed but no further words were said. I relaxed the longer I lied beside him. Now that I understood how painful it was to be without him, I was never going to let him go.
My hand felt his side, sliding over the grooves of muscles underneath. His back was just as detailed, lines and mounds covering his skin. When I felt his hips, my fingers touched his narrow waist then moved to his thigh. I glanced at his crotch and let my mind wander. When my hand moved back up to his chest, I looked at him. He was staring at me, his eyes bright even in the darkness. His hand remained on my waist but he didn’t explore my body like I explored his. I was always attracted to Kyle, but I never let myself completely fantasize about him. There was a burn between my legs when I thought about him shirtless. When I imagined his cock, wondering about his size, the heat turned into a fire. His lips were my favorite feature. When I looked at them, I wondered how his mouth would feel on mine. The one time he kissed me, I felt weak in the knees. It had been quick and emotional, but it was enough to make me sway on the spot. I’d never been so attracted to someone before. Now that I trusted him and was committed to him, I felt my true desires bubble to the surface.
Kyle’s hand moved to m
y shoulder then rubbed me gently. Now that we were alone in his bedroom, I wondered if something would happen between us. We’d been together for a few months, in a way, but our sexual relationship had never really started. The tension had always been there, but ignored. I wondered if he was as attracted to me as I was to him. I doubted it. He was gorgeous and perfect. There was nothing fascinating or amazing about me.
I sighed quietly, waiting for him to kiss me or make a move, but he never did. If he wasn’t leaning in, there must be a reason. I remained where I was until I felt my eyes close and my mind drift off to sleep.
11
When I woke up the next morning, Kyle wasn’t beside me. I heard the sound of the coffee pot and the stove it the next room. He was moving pans around then turning on the faucet. I sighed then stretched on the bed, loving the feel of his sheets. When I sat up, I looked at his room. It was plain and barren. He had a few dressers and a closet, but there were no paintings or pictures. His living room was far more decorative.
I smoothed out the wrinkles of my dress then walked into the bathroom to freshen up. My makeup was disastrous. It couldn’t be saved so I washed my face and patted it dry with a towel. I l looked through his drawers until I found a toothbrush still in the package. I opened it and brushed my teeth.
When I walked into the living room, Kyle smiled when he spotted me. “Good morning, beautiful.”
Beautiful?
“Morning.”
“I hope you’re hungry.”
I looked at the table and saw the waffles and eggs. “I’m definitely hungry.”
“Good.” He put
down the pan he was holding then wrapped his arm around me, kissing me on the forehead. The touch was gentle and short, and I wanted it to last longer.
“Why didn’t you kiss me last night?” I blurted.
He rubbed his nose against mine, his hand still on my back. “Did you want me to kiss you?”
“Yeah…”
“Then why didn’t you kiss me?”
“I didn’t know if you wanted me to.”
He laughed. “Are we in junior high right now?”
I blushed.
“You strike me as a woman who grabs what she wants. I’m surprised you didn’t go for it.”
“I guess I’m shyer than I thought.”
His hand gripped my back, rubbing me gently. “I know we’re finally together, but I didn’t want to rush anything and scare you off. I’m willing to be patient as long as you want me to be. There’s no hurry. We’ll get there eventually.”
“You’re so sweet, Kyle.”
“Wow. I love it when you’re nice to me. You usually call me an asshole.”
“Because I’m a bitch.”
“Whoa, hold on. Don’t ever call yourself that.”
“I was a total jerk to you, Kyle. I’m sorry for acting that way.”
He cupped my face and gave me a hard expression. “It’s okay. I completely understand why you were so scared. We’re past that. Let’s just forget about it.”
“Okay,” I whispered. “I was so miserable without you. You have no idea how bad I felt.”
“It’s nothing in comparison to my misery,” he said calmly. “I tried so hard to get you, and when I thought I did, you just left me. It broke my heart.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I know.” He kissed my forehead. “Let’s move on.”
“You’re letting me off the hook real easy.”
“Well, I was an ass to you too. I acted like I was sleeping with your best friend so you would come back to me. That was cold.”
I shook my head. “You did the right thing. I hate to imagine what would have happened if you did really date someone else and moved on. It would be too late and I would lose you forever. This was the lesser of two evils.”
“Baby, I’d never be able to move on from you.”
My eyes softened when I looked at him. “Why do you like me so much?”
He shrugged. “I don’t really have an answer. I just do.”
“But you’re a nice guy.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Yeah?”
“I’m just not used to nice guys wanting me.”
“Because most men aren’t nice guys. And I’m not an exception to that.”
“You aren’t?”
“No,” he said. “I’m nice to you because I care about you. Not everyone gets the same treatment.” He turned to the table and pulled out my seat, letting me sit down. We sat together at the table and ate quietly.
“Do you want to go by your place and change first?” he asked.
“Yeah. I don’t want to walk around the park in heels and a dress.”
“I wouldn’t mind watch
ing,” he said with a smile. “Especially from behind.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re lucky I l
o—like you so much.”
“I’m very lucky indeed.”
After we finished breakfast, we went by my apartment so I could get a new outfit.
“You know what you should wear?” he said.
“What?” I asked. “Slutty lingerie?”
“Actually, I was going to say that sporty outfit you wore to the game, but that’s a much better idea. Do that.”
I laughed then walked into my room. I put on a white t-shirt and jean shorts.
Kyle eyed
me in approval. “I like it.”
“It’s just a shirt.”
“But you look hot in it.” His hands went to my hips and he held them there for a moment. I had a V-neck in the front and he looked down, blatantly staring.
“You like what you see?”
His gaze moved to my face, completely absent of embarrassment. “I’ve been thinking about them since I first snuck a glance at the bar.”
“I knew you were looking.”
“I wasn’t trying to hide it,” he said with a smile.
“I knew you were a pervert.”
“I’m definitely a pervert for you. While I respect you and think you’re an amazing, strong woman, I also think you are…damn fine.”
“Me?”
He nodded vigorously.
“But you’re so much hotter than I am.”
He smiled. “You think I’m hot?”
“Duh.”
“I like this new side of you. These compliments are making my day.”
“Well, expect more to come. I definitely think you’re the most amazing man I’ve ever met.”
His eyes widened. His hands remained on my waist and he squeezed me gently. He seemed to be at a loss of words. “That’s…the best compliment I’ve ever gotten.”
“You protected me when you didn’t have to. I feel safe with you. I’ve never felt that way before. For the longest time, I felt like I had to always look over my shoulder, watching my back. I couldn’t trust anyone and everyone, but with you…I feel different.”
“I’ll always protect you,” he whispered. “Thank you for letting me. I know that’s difficult for you.”
I nodded. “It is.”
“This day is just getting better and better.”
I pressed my face against his chest and held him for a moment. Kyle still
ed at my affection then returned the embrace. I knew he was surprised by my neediness and attention. Now that I realized how much he meant to be, I was desperate for him all the time.
He pulled away. “You ready to go to the park?”
I nodded.
Kyle grabbed his backpack and shoved waters and a blanket inside. We left the apartment and walked to Central Park. The sun was shining on the spring day and it was warm. The bees hovered over the flowers and the moisture from the winter season was dissipating. We walked down the path until we found a secluded spot in the shade of a tree. He laid out the blanket and we sat together, looking at the kids playing football in the distance.
“So, what did you do for the past two weeks?” he asked quietly.
I shrugged. “I watched a lot of TV. What did you do?”
“I went to the gym a lot. It gets my frustration out.”
I looked at the grass below my feet, seeing a single dandelion sway in the slight breeze.
“John didn’t bother you, right? It didn’t seem like anyone came by.”
I raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean by that?”
He looked away. “I paid your neighbor to keep an eye on you. I told him to call me every time someone came over. He said no one ever did.”
“So you were still watching out for me this entire time?”
“I walked you home every day. You just didn’t see me.”
I looked at his face, seeing the sadness in his eyes. “You’re so sweet, Kyle.”
He breathed a sigh of relief. “I was afraid you would be mad.”
“Not at all.”
“I didn’t know what else to do. I just couldn’t not know if you were okay. It just drives me insane, keeps me up at night.”
“Well, nothing has happened to me. I think John is gone. I doubt he’ll come back after the brawl you two had.”
“I’d rather be safe than sorry. I want you to get a gun.”
“Absolutely not.”
He glared at me. “This is serious, Layla. I want you to be able to protect yourself.”
“I can. I have a
tazer.”
“That’s only going to work if you catch him off guard. It’s totally legal. All you need is a license.”
“I said no, Kyle.”
He sighed.
“I’m sorry. I don’t believe in gun violence. I refuse to do it.”
“Do you know self-defense?”
“You saw me take out that guy at the bar,” I said with a smile.
“Then why don’t you use it on him?”
“I—I don’t know. I always play the victim when I’m with him. It’s programmed into my brain.”
“Let me teach you a few things.”
“You know how to fight?”
“You saw me almost kick his ass, didn’t you?” he said with a smile.
“I guess you could teach me. I always want to learn new things.”
“Good. Now I have a reason to tackle you and climb on top of you.”
“You don’t need a reason,” I said.
He
looked at me, excitement in his eyes. Kyle leaned close to my face, his breath falling on my skin. His hand moved to my thigh then gripped it, making me feel warm. When he leaned closer to me, his nose touched mine. Kyle made a quiet moaning sound before he moved in.
His lips pressed against mine, sending a shiver down my back. Kyle moved his hand to my waist and slid his hand under my shirt. His palm felt warm against my skin. My breath became uneven as he moved is lips against mine, caressing me and kissing me gently. The burn between my legs returned, making me shake slightly.
Kyle guided me to the blanket then moved on top of me slightly. My desire for him kicked in and I kissed him passionately, running my fingers through his hair and down his back. One hand moved in under his shirt and I felt the grooves of his stomach and his chest. I squeezed my thighs together as I melted at the touch. A moan escaped my lips, feeling the hormones raging. He smiled for a moment while he kissed me, enjoying my appraisal of his body. When he moved further on top of me, I felt his erection against my leg. It felt thick and long. The thought made me shiver again.
Our gentle kisses turned sexual within minutes. He devoured my mouth, breathing heavily, while his hand moved up my shirt. He never grabbed my breasts, bu
t he ran his fingers along my ribs and my stomach. His sexy body made me out of control so I grabbed his hand and moved it under my bra, making him squeeze my tit.
He moaned into my mouth quietly then groped me gently. “You have nice tits,” he said into my mouth.
My hand moved against his erection in his jeans. “You have a nice cock.”
He moaned against
then pressed against me harder.
Sexual thoughts enter
ed my mind and I imagined him lying on top of me, his chest towering over me as he moved inside. My nails dug into his skin harder than I meant to, and I started to pant for him, wanting more than just the distant touch of our bodies. Kyle was the sexist man I’d ever been with and I wanted to take him right there in the park.
Kyle moved his hand away from my breast then trailed down my stomach until it moved into my shorts. His fingers touched the outside of my underwear, exploring. He broke our kiss and looked
around, making sure no one was near. Then he stared into my eyes as he pressed his thumb against my clitoris and rubbed it in a circular motion. He slipped two fingers inside and practically made me scream.
I grabbed his face and pulled his mouth to mine, kissing him again. He tasted sweet, like the syrup we had on our waffles. His fingers moved inside me gently while his thumb worked my clitoris. I gripped onto him tighter while the pleasure pooled into my stomach. It moved down to my center and ignited, making me grab him harshly and pull him toward me.
“Yeah…yeah,” I said into his ear.
He kept moving, making it last as long as possible.
“Kyle…”
“I like it when you say my name.”
“Kyle.”
When the heat between my legs started to dissipate, he pulled his fingers out of my underwear and licked them.
“You taste sweet.”
I moaned again, feeling my head spin.
He cupped my face and kissed me gently. “You’re unbelievably sexy. I thought I was going to come in my underwear like a teenager.”
“Let’s go home,” I said quickly.”
“Why? We just got here.”
I pressed my hand against his erection. “It’s your turn. No one is around, but…that would be hard to hide if someone snuck up on us.”
His eyes became heated. “It can wait. I like spending time with you.”