Текст книги "Levitate"
Автор книги: Kaylee Ryan
сообщить о нарушении
Текущая страница: 5 (всего у книги 18 страниц)
AT FIRST, WHEN Bright started pacing the floor checking his phone every ten seconds, I chalked it up to him being smitten with Nicole. After twenty more minutes of pacing, I started to get concerned as well. Two beautiful girls alone at night, my mind started racing with what could have happened to them. I’m not used to worrying about anyone other than Brighton. This is yet another first for me. The look of relief that crossed Bright’s face when I grabbed my keys and told him to get in the truck had my adrenaline pumping. He was genuinely worried. Apparently, over the last three months, any time Nicole said she would call or text, she did. Brighton insisted that this was not normal for her and he was worried about his girl. He said that. “Max, I’m worried about my girl.”
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. I didn’t say anything else and neither did he. He just continued to call her cell every twenty seconds until we reached their apartment.
We pulled in just as they were climbing out of the car. Bright was out of the truck and had Nicole in his arms before the truck stopped. I was right behind him. I had worked up a million different scenarios as to what could have happened and I was relieved to find them both okay. I stalked around to the passenger side and pulled Kensington against me. I wasn’t thinking about getting her into bed, or how good her tight little body felt against mine. The only thing I felt was relief that we found them safe.
Emotions that I’m not used to are stirring and I don’t understand the sudden change. I’ve worked my ass off the last few months. Every spare minute was devoted to the bar and the remodel. I finally see light at the end of the tunnel and try to get back into a normal routine and my world tips on its axis. It’s all too much to handle. I say a quick goodbye to Kensington and walk away. This entire weekend has been weird as fuck. I needed to walk away.
I climb into the truck and wait for Bright to say goodbye. I pull out my phone and program Kensington’s number into my contacts. I can see she went inside already.
Me: Glad you’re okay.
Kensington: Maxton?
Me: Who else would it be?
Kensington: Thanks!
She ignored my question. I want to ask her who else would be texting her from a strange number¸ but I don’t. First of all, I don’t have the right, and second, that’s not me. I don’t care what else she has going on.
Brighton climbs into the truck and leans his head back against the seat. “Fuck!” he roars. I sit there behind the wheel, just waiting to see what his next move will be. “What are we waiting for?” he asks me.
I raise my eyebrows at him, but don’t comment. Instead, I start the truck and pull out of the complex.
“I can’t even… Shit! I just… fuck, that girl she’s got me,” he says.
I know what he’s trying to say. This is new for him; this is not what happens to us. Not what we ever said we wanted. I keep my mouth shut and just drive.
When we pull into the drive, I see Bright place his phone up to his ear. “Hey, babe, we just got home.” He listens to what she’s saying and the corner of his mouth lifts at whatever it is. “Okay, I’ll call you tomorrow.” He ends the call and climbs out of the truck.
Once in the house, he walks straight to the fridge and pulls out two beers. He slides one across the counter to me, then screws off the top of his and tips it back. He doesn’t stop until the bottle is empty.
“She wanted to make sure we were home. She wanted to say thank you for being worried and coming to check on them.” He laughs. “Fuck, man, I was about to lose my fucking mind worrying about her. I don’t even want to think about what could have happened to them.” He reaches in the fridge and grabs another beer. He doesn’t kill this one all at once. Setting his bottle down, he braces his hands on the counter and hangs his head. I stand and wait. If he wants to talk, he will. If he wants to scream and yell, well, he’ll do that too. I let him work it out on his own. I wouldn’t know what to say even if I wanted to. My mind is fucked up with my reaction to Kensington. This entire weekend is fucked… for both of us.
Bright raises his head and looks at me. “Did I see you hugging Kens?” he asks.
What the hell? This is not what I expected to come out of his mouth. “Uh, yeah. I just thought it was the right thing to do. You know, since you were making sure Nicole was okay. That’s what chicks want, right? To feel important?” I try to blow it off. I can tell by the look on his face that he’s not buying it. Damn it. He wasn’t supposed to be paying attention, not when he had his girl in his arms.
“Listen, man, Kensington is beautiful, I get that. From what Nicole has told me, she’s been through a lot. I don’t want to cock block you, but as your friend and as the guy who I’m pretty fucking sure is falling in love with her best friend, can you please not fuck with her? Don’t break her heart. It would make things really awkward.” His voice is pleading.
I shouldn’t be surprised by his words, but I am. “You love her?” I ask him.
“I’m falling hard, man. I’ve gotten to know her the past three months, actually talking and getting to know her, and the past two days of being with her… I think about her all the time. Fuck, look at tonight. How many times have I worried about if a date made it home? None, never, zero, zilch!”
“She’s home safe,” I tell him. I can see he’s getting worked up again.
He peers across the counter at me. “They both are. Something is different with you when you’re with her. Tread lightly, brother.” He picks up his beer and empties the bottle. Throwing both empties in the trash, he mumbles a goodnight and heads off to bed.
ROLLING OVER, I look at my alarm clock, ten o’clock. I’m usually up and moving by now, but it took me forever to fall asleep last night. My cell beeps from its place on my nightstand. I unplug the charger and adjust my eyes to look at the screen.
Facebook notification: Brighton Jones has sent you a friend request.
I slide my finger across the screen and wait for the app to load before clicking confirm. Nicole comes into my room and bounces on the bed, phone in hand. “So, Bright invited us to the movies today. It’s supposed to rain.”
“Why don’t the two of you go?” I know she’s just being nice by including me, but honestly, I’m good with staying in. This weekend has been filled with enough social interactions for me. “I have laundry to catch up on and we need to go to the grocery,” I tell her.
She sticks her lip out as if she’s pouting. “Come on, Kens, he was going to ask Maxton to go as well.”
Hell no! I need a break from sexy Maxton and his multiple personalities. One minute he’s being cocky Max, trying to get me into bed, and then he’s sweet and comforting Max, and let’s not forget flirty, friendly, fun Max. “Really, I have a ton of laundry to do and I just want to chill.”
“Fine! I get it. I got you out two nights in a row. I guess I shouldn’t push my luck.” She stands to leave. “You know, Maxton is probably going to be sad that you decided to stay home.” She turns and quickly walks away.
I chuck a pillow at the door and hear her laugh all the way down the hall. I’m sure Maxton couldn’t care less if I went or not.
An hour later, I’m showered and dressed for the day. I have on yoga pants and a racer back tank top. As I finish blow drying my hair and pulling it into a ponytail, my stomach growls.
I’m in the kitchen toasting a bagel when Nicole walks in. “Brighton just called; he should be here any minute,” she says as she transfers her debit card, Chap Stick, and cell phone into her small wristlet.
“Have a good time. Tell Brighton I said hello.”
There’s a knock on the door. Nicole skips over stops, takes a deep breath, and then opens it. “Hey, babe,” he says as he grabs her by the waist, pulls her close, and kisses her cheek.
I can see her blush from here. Standing to his full height, he looks over her shoulder. “Hey, Kens, you sure you don’t want to join us?” he asks.
I briefly think about spending the day with the two of them and Maxton. I definitely need a break. “No, but thank you. I really do have a ton of laundry I need to catch up on. Besides that, my Kindle is calling my name.”
“Next time then,” he replies. “You ready?” he asks Nicole. She’s looking up at his over six-foot frame and I’m suddenly afraid her face might crack if her smile grows any bigger. Her happiness is infectious and I find myself smiling as they walk out the door.
Deciding I need to tackle my mountain of laundry and get it over with, I head to my room and start sorting out piles. I know Brighton probably thinks laundry is an excuse; I should have shown him my room first.
After my first load is in, I grab my cell, Kindle, and a bottle of water and settle down on the couch. I pull the throw off the back and cover my legs to keep the chill of the air away. Just as I open my Kindle case, my cell beeps with a message alert.
Maxton: Laundry? Really? That’s all you could come up with?
He thinks I’m making up excuses. I didn’t make it up; however, I didn’t necessarily have to do it today either. My closet is still busting with clean clothes. I decide to keep my answer short and sweet.
Me: True story!
He immediately replies.
Maxton: If you say so.
Me: I do. If you could see the piles, you would understand.
I wait for his reply and it never comes. After ten minutes of staring at my phone, I set it down beside me and pick my Kindle back up. As I’m scrolling through my list of books, trying to decide on my next book boyfriend, there is a knock on the door.
Not expecting company, but there are a lot of college kids who live in this building who often need to borrow things, like a cup of sugar. Seriously, that actually happened. We’ve also had a late–night knocker who was drunk off his ass asking if we had any condoms. Nicole felt sorry for him and gave him one. She’s always the Girl Scout, always prepared. She doesn’t sleep around, but says it helps to be ready in case the moment’s right.
I look through the peephole and gasp at what I see. Maxton is standing outside my apartment door. What the hell is he doing here? I quickly scan my body. I’m in my yoga pants and tank, and my hair is in a knot on top of my head. No make-up. I start to panic having him see me like this. He knocks again.
“Kensington,” he says through the door.
Shit! Maybe this is a good thing. I don’t need to add to the chemistry or whatever in the hell it is that sparks between us. Maybe this look will turn him off and get him off my back. Taking a deep breath and slowly releasing it, I open the door.
HOLY… FUCK ME! Kensington finally opens the damn door and the sight of her has me hard as a rock. Just like that, first look and I’m steel. I drop my eyes to her bare feet and bright pink toenails. I slowly scan my way up her legs, those hips, trim waist in that tight tank. I reach her breasts and I swear it takes effort to not swallow my damn tongue. Full. Firm. Mouthwatering. What I wouldn’t give to feel their weight in my hands, to have my mouth on them, savoring her taste.
She clears her throat and reluctantly, I lift my gaze to find her smirking at me. “Maxton.” My name rolls off her tongue. No one calls me Maxton, just Max. My mom is the only one who does and, well, I never talk to her she’s no longer a part of my life. I used to hate being called by my full name for that very reason, but something about the way Kensington says it in her sexy voice. Yeah, I’m good with it.
“Kensi,” I call her by the nickname that just came out last night. “I’m here for the visual,” I tell her.
“Visual?” She tilts her head to the side to study me. “What are you talking about?”
I smile. I knew she wouldn’t be expecting me. “Laundry.”
Her mouth drops open in shock. “You drove over here to make sure I was really doing laundry?” she asks, incredulous.
I step toward her. I’m still standing in the doorway, and that just won’t do. She doesn’t know it yet, but she found herself a laundry buddy. I need to crack her defenses and get her under me. I’m not used to the chase, and it’s fucking with me. This shit needs to happen, soon. “Yes, pretty girl, laundry,” I say, tucking a loose hair behind her ear. I pull my hand away and walk past her to the couch.
“Please, come in,” she says dryly.
“Thanks,” I quip. I can play this game all day long.
I sit down on the couch and reach for her tablet or whatever it is. This gets her moving. She launches herself at me and pulls it out of my hands. I could have fought her, but I don’t want her to kick me out, not yet anyway.
“Hands off the Kindle, buddy.” She glares at me.
I throw my head back and laugh at her. She has the most serious look on her face. Her serious turns into a scowl and I quickly zip up my laughter. “What’s the big deal?” I ask her. My voice is indifferent, but really, I would like to know.
“This is my life. I never leave home without it,” she says, clutching it to her chest. “I love to read; it takes me away.” She barely whispers the last part. Had I not been hanging on every word, I might have missed it.
“So what do you read?” I’m intrigued. I’ve never met anyone like her. Then again, I spend most of my time with chicks who are open to one-night stands and hang out in bars. Kensington is definitely a higher caliber than what I’m used to.
I watch as her neck goes pink and the color travels to her cheeks. Who knew a blush could be sexy? “You’re holding out on me.”
She closes her eyes. “Romance mostly,” she says, eyes still shut.
I can’t control my hand as it cups her cheek. “Open your eyes, Kensi.” I wait until she’s looking at me. “Don’t ever be ashamed of who you are. This,” I say, pointing at her chest where her Kindle is still clutched, “is a part of who you are. Never hide that. There’s nothing wrong with reading.” It’s actually really nice that this is her passion. I’m used to chicks who’s only passion is to seduce every man within a one hundred-mile radius. Women without depth and drive, their only worry is who is in their bed next. Kensington has both and so much more. I fight back a groan at the thought of what else she has. Her tight-ass tank causes her breast to play peek-a-boo as she leans over and sets the Kindle on the table.
Fighting back a groan, I change the subject. “So where is this mountain of laundry?”
She rolls her eyes playfully. “Come on, Mr. I-need-proof, let’s get this over with.” She stands from the couch and heads down the hall. I trail after her, watching the sway of her hips in those pants. We reach what I assume is her bedroom door. She opens the door and waves her arms. “Tada,” she says with dramatic flair.
I chuckle as I survey what’s in front of me. There are three piles sorted on the floor. One pile in particular catches my eye. Bras, barely-there panties, and thongs, this must be the intimates pile. As if my dick wasn’t hard enough already at the sight of her. The chuckle dies on my lips as I stare at that pile of lace. I can’t wait to be the one to peel every piece off her.
“Well?” Her voice breaks my stare of her piles of laundry—of that pile.
“Three loads, really? You turned down an afternoon with me and our best friends for three loads of laundry?”
“Four loads of laundry, smartass. I’ve already got a load in the washer,” she fires back.
I step further into her room, walk around the piles, and sit on her bed. I immediately regret the action as her sweet scent surrounds me. Leaning back to rest my weight on my hands, I touch silk. Kensington is beside me in an instant reaching for this new treasure I’ve just discovered. I’m faster as I tighten my grip around the silk with one hand and catch her hand with the other.
I bring what appears to be a barely there nighty to my face and inhale. The feel of the soft silk against my skin infused with her scent has my dick fighting for release. She reaches for it again with her spare hand. I adjust my hold and wrap my arm around her waist, bringing her to stand between my legs. Her hands go to my shoulders to balance herself against the sudden change in position.
“Is this what you slept in last night?” I ask, my voice gruff.
The blush is back; light pink coats her skin. I watch as she swallows hard and slightly shakes her head yes.
Both of my hands are now on her hips, her tank has ridden up and my fingers gently caress her soft skin. Her chest is rising and falling with each deep breath she takes. I’m encouraged to know that I’m not the only one affected. My hands slowly lift her tank as the soft skin of her belly is exposed. I need to taste her. Leaning forward, I place a soft kiss right above her belly button. Her body quivers under my lips. Gently nipping at her skin with my teeth, I quickly soothe the site with my tongue. “Maxton…” she breathes. The sound my name on her lips, her voice laced with desire, has me ready to blow my load like a fucking fifteen-year-old.
My hands cup her ass cheeks as I bring her body closer to my mouth. It’s my mission to have my lips on every part of her.
I SQUEEZE MY eyes shut at the feel of his lips on my skin. He gently bites and immediately soothes the site with his tongue. My body trembles at the contact. I move my hands to his hair and run my fingers through his thick silk strands. This causes him to change the hold he has on me. His hands grip my ass and I find myself being pulled closer to him, to those lips that are driving me crazy.
The buzzer on the washer sounds, alerting me that my first load is done, and it’s like a bucket of water has been thrown over my head. What in the hell am I doing? I remove my hands from his hair, lay them against his chest, and push myself away from him. He lifts his head to look at me, and the look in his eyes, the rapid rise and fall of his chest, has me almost launching myself back into his arms.
Almost.
The reality of the situation is that Maxton Cooper is the epitome of a sex god and I want nothing more than to let him have his wicked way with me. Want and need are two very different things. I need him and his sinful mouth to stay far away. Guys like Maxton remind me too much of Justin, and his brother. That is not what I need, not at all.
“Kensi?” he whispers my name. His voice is gruff and almost pained?
I take a step back as he reaches out for me. “Duty calls,” I say, then turn and bolt from the room.
I take my time swapping the clothes from the washer to the dryer. I need to put in another load, but I don’t want to go back to my room. I’m not even sure Maxton is still in there, on my bed.
“Kensington.” His deep voice rumbles behind me. I close my eyes and focus on taking deep even breaths. His voice alone has me wanting to throw caution to the wind and drag him back to my bed. My body wants that, wants him. My head is telling me to keep my distance.
Stepping in the room, he stands behind me. I don’t bother turning around; I can feel him. One hand goes to my hip and he laces our fingers together with the other. He tugs me so my back is resting against his firm chest. His lips trace the invisible lines of my neck. Just when I think I can’t take any more, his lips are gone as he whispers in my ear. “I know I should apologize for what happened back there. I should tell you I’ll never touch you like that again.” His teeth graze my ear. “Something you should know about me, I will never apologize for going after what I want.”
I say a silent prayer that he has an iron grip around my waist. Otherwise, I would be in a puddle on the floor. His words make my knees weak and my panties wet.
Maxton shifts to stand in front of me. Bending his knees so we are eye to eye, his hands cradle either side of my face. His thumbs are a soft caress to my cheeks. “I will not apologize for wanting you,” falls from his lips as he leans in. I tense, preparing myself for the kiss that I don’t have the power to fight. I’m shocked when his lips land on my forehead.
The kiss is brief, yet intimate, and just like that, his hands are gone from my face and he’s walking out the door. I fight the urge to yell at him; for what, I’m not sure. I want to yell at him for using his playboy powers on me, and at the same time, I want to yell at him for leaving, for not finishing what he started. Instead, I lean back against the dryer and try to catch my breath. My heart is racing, my palms are sweaty, and the ache between my legs is a craving I’ve never known before. I’ve never felt this kind of chemistry. Just being in the same room as him lights me on fire, but damn if I’m going to fall for his seduction so he can carve out another notch on his bedpost. Not going to happen!
Once I finally get my heart rate to a normal rhythm, I set off to find Maxton. He’s sitting on the couch, remote in hand. “Hey, what are you in the mood for?” he asks.
It takes me a few minutes to realize his question is not his normal sexual come on. I watch as he flips through the channels. His forehead crinkles when he gets to a channel that he has no interest in. “Kensi?”
“Uh, what are you doing?” Stupid question, I know. My head is all over the place right now. It’s usually really easy to know what a player’s intentions are. To get you in bed ASAP and move on to the next conquest. I expect that from Maxton. What I don’t expect is for him to want to sit around in my apartment while I catch up on laundry and watch TV. He’s a constant contradiction. How can I trust anything he says and does when he’s all over the map?
Shrugging, he says, “Keeping you company while you do laundry.”
His response is so… innocent. Not at all what I was expecting. “You don’t have to keep me company, Maxton. I’m sure you have something else you’d rather be doing.” Or someone else maybe.
“I don’t do anything I don’t want to do. I’m good.” He pats the couch next to him.
I sit down on the couch, putting as much distance between us as possible. “I’m not real picky when it comes to movies. Anything is fine.” I see no point in arguing with him. He has obviously made up his mind that he’s hanging out with me today. I can’t wait to hear what Nicole has to say about this.
