Текст книги "Repentance: The Story of Kace Haywood"

Автор книги: Meghan Quinn

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Текущая страница: 8 (всего у книги 20 страниц)

“Of course. Did it work?”

I wiped my hands on my napkin and then leaned back in my chair. “What do you think?”

“I think if I ran my hands up your jeans, I would be very happy with what I found.”

She pushed her chest toward me, displaying her breasts next to her plate and gripping my thigh under the table. The feel of her hand was like an electric shock, kick-starting my body. It felt fucking good.

“Don’t start something you can’t finish,” I warned.

“I always finish.” She winked, pulling away.

After I paid and finished my water, I stood up and waited for Lyla to stand as well, but she just sat in her chair and looked up at me.

“What’s going on?” I asked, wondering why she didn’t move. “Did you want dessert or something?”

“So romantic,” she teased and held out her hand.

“What?” I asked, looking down at it.

“Part of going on a date is holding hands, Kace. Go on, take my hand. It won’t hurt.”

Little did she know the hand-holding we’d done earlier had done a number on my soul. Walking around the French Quarter with her hand in mine was most definitely going to hurt because I knew damn well I was going to want more of it after tonight.

“Go on,” she encouraged.

Taking a deep breath, I grasped her hand, giving in to her little demand. Her hand fit perfectly in mine and once again, our fingers intertwined. Our palms connected and the warmth of her hand ran up my arm and straight to my heart, slowly melting a little part of the black soul I’d developed.

“Where to now?” I asked, leading her out the door and onto the cobblestone streets of the Quarter. “Do I take you home?”

“What kind of date would that be?” she asked, insulted that I’d even suggested the idea. “Let’s go shopping.”

I groaned. “Shopping?”

“Haven’t you ever gone into the touristy shops around here? They have the best items.”

“I try to avoid any place crawling with tourists,” I replied as she pressed her side against mine. I felt comforted. It was an odd sensation.

“It’ll be fun. Come on.”

Her enthusiasm and light spirit was contagious, so I allowed for her to pull me down the crowded streets and into the heart of the Quarter, where drinking in public was encouraged and street entertainers performed for the masses.

“I love it here,” Lyla said, looking around. “Where else would you find such eccentric people?”

“Eccentric is a nice way of putting it,” I said as I eyed a lady who was wearing a dress made of bottle caps, her nips barely covered.

“You’ve lived here your whole life. You can’t tell me you don’t love it.”

I did love living in New Orleans. Growing up here had been a teenage boy’s dream. There was always something to do, something to see, somewhere to get into trouble. I’d learned how to fight here, learned about the French culture, about jazz and zydeco music. I’d made friendships here, but my love for the city had died a little the day it turned its back on me.

I’d been a hometown hero, the guy who got free drinks at bars when I walked in, the guy who was stopped on the street for a handshake for representing New Orleans, but that all changed the minute the media found out about my alleged steroid use.

Steroid use. Just the term made me cringe. Never in my life had I taken the easy way out. I’d worked my ass off to get everything I’d earned, and one lapse in judgment had put a black mark on my name.

Tension started to roll through me, and Lyla instantly picked up on it.

“I’m sorry. I’m sure you probably have some sour feelings about this city after everything that happened.”

“You could say that,” I responded, gripping her hand tighter, trying to find solace in her touch.

“Have you ever thought about clearing your name?”

“Let’s not ruin the night by talking about that.”

Lyla’s shoulders deflated from my rejection. I knew she wanted to know more, that she wanted to help, but it was pointless opening that wound. That was in the past. It was over. No use trying to relive it. I’d moved on, or at least I’d convinced myself I had.

“Let’s go in here,” Lyla said, dragging me toward Toulouse Royale, a typical souvenir shop.

The shop was well maintained and had a large variety of shirts, Cajun hot sauces, beads, and of course, make-your-own-beignet kits stocked on multiple shelves. There were stuffed alligators everywhere, and the back wall was covered with burlesque masks.

“Oh, let’s look at the masks.”

The masks were on display at the back. They weren’t as nice as the Jett Girl masks I used to order for the girls, but they came close. They were intricate and nicely made, considering we were in a souvenir shop. I was impressed.

“What do you think?” Lyla said, putting on a grey and yellow lace mask.

“I think you look hot,” I admitted, loving the mask on her.

“Is that flattery?”

“Take it how you want it.” I smirked, leaning against a pillar with my arms crossed. “Try on that green one with the feathers.” I nodded toward one that had caught my attention. I knew the color was going to make her eyes stand out.

“This one?” she asked, pulling it off the wall.

“Yes, that one.”

A large smile lit up her beautiful face right before she put the mask on, taking her time to make sure it was in place before she showed me.

With all the drama and flair I would expect her to use, she turned slowly and showed me what she looked like in the mask. My heart beat faster as her green eyes lit up behind the mask. She looked beyond sexy.

“Come here,” I said, looping fingers through her belt loop and pulling her into my personal space.

My heart wavered with my mind as I tried to decide what to do with this woman who’d made it her mission to constantly stay present in my life. I wanted her more than anyone before, but the dark part of me knew I didn’t deserve her, knew if she actually understood who I was, the real man, she would want nothing to do with me.

But I was a selfish prick, and even though I knew we wouldn’t work out, maybe just for tonight I could give in, I could have another small taste of Lyla.

I pulled her in close and rested my hands on her hips. She looked up at me, searching my eyes, wondering what I was doing by pulling her in, in such an intimate way. I had no clue what I had planned with her being this close, but what I did know was that the way she rested her hands on my chest and the way she lightly nibbled lips when she looked up at me was my undoing.

Slowly, I lifted her chin and brought her perfect lips to mine. I kissed her lightly, then pulled away quicker than she wanted and touched the mask, letting the feathers run between my fingers.

“You look fucking sexy in this. It will be taken home tonight.”

“Are you getting it for me?” she asked, a little shocked.

“Yeah. Isn’t that what guys do for girls on dates? They buy them things.”

“My, my, my, Kace Haywood, you’re a regular charmer.”

“What can I say?” I said, shrugging.

I started toward the register, but she stopped me. “Wait, I need to get you something.”

“I don’t need anything,” I answered honestly.

“But I want to. How about some hot sauce?”

“Nah, that’s just novelty crap.”

“Beignet kit?”

“Rather go to Café du Monde,” I replied, liking this little game.

“Magnet?”

“No fridge to put it on, and to hell if I’ll be sharing my magnet with Diego and Blane.”

She looked around the store and then her eyes lit up. “Oh, I know.”

I cringed when she walked over to the graphic T-shirts. I was very much a plain T-shirt kind of guy. I didn’t think much about my style, and I never wore novelty shirts, especially of the city I was born and raised in, but by the way Lyla’s face lit up, I knew that rule would be changing quickly.

“Lyla, not a T-shirt,” I said, hoping to avoid the thoughts that were running through her mind.

“Yes, a T-shirt. Oh, these are great. Let’s see, shall I get you a classic NOLA shirt? Maybe a fleur-de-lis? Maybe an alligator rowing a… wait.” She squatted to reach a stack of shirts on a lower shelf. “You’re a medium, right?”

“Large, sweetheart. Man’s got muscles,” I replied, making her snort.

“How could I forget,” she said sarcastically. “All right, this is perfect. I’m getting it.”

“Let me see it.” I reached for her arm, but she snuck past me and practically ran to the register. She pulled money out of her wallet and asked about the return policy, telling the cashier she needed to write “no return allowed” on the receipt.

I shook my head at her ridiculousness and thought about how, in one short evening, Lyla had been able to lift the dark cloud that’d been hanging over my life temporarily. She had a way of making me forget everything that had happened to me in the past and possibly look forward to the future. It was confusing, but damn if I didn’t like it.

“I don’t need a bag, but thank you.” She turned to me. “Once you purchase the mask, we can get you changed into your new shirt.”

“Why do I feel like taking you out is going to come back and bite me in the ass?”

“Don’t worry,” she whispered in my ear. “What I have planned for you next will make up for it.”

My pulse skipped a beat as she rubbed her soft body against mine. Was the date over? I wouldn’t mind too much if that meant I was able to go back to her place and slip under her covers with her, and possibly worship that perfect body of hers.

I paid for her mask, all the while the cashier giggled about the shirt I was about to put on, making me wonder what kind of shirts they sold in this shop that could be that bad.

Taking my bag, I took Lyla’s hand in mine, and we left the store. Outside, I turned her so she was facing me and pressed her up against the side of the building.

“Do I get my shirt now?” I asked, eye-fucking her to my best ability.

“Are you going to wear it?” she asked, fluttering her eyelashes at me.

“You think your pretty eyes are going to convince me?”

“I was hoping they would,” she said, running her hand up my stomach, making my nerve endings jump in anticipation of what was to come.

“I think that might just work.”

“Yay!” She stood on her toes and kissed my jaw. Warmth spread over me from her touch, something I was starting to grow fond of. “You’re going to love it.”

From the bag, she pulled a folded black shirt and shook it out.  On it were two animated nipple tassels perfectly placed for a man of my size.

“You’re kidding, right?” I asked, tickled.

“Nope, this is just for you, big guy. Now put it on.”

She yanked on the hem of my shirt and started pulling it over my head.

“Whoa, hold up,” I said while I tried to slow her down, but she had the thing almost over my head, ready to come off.

Not being able to fight her off, I removed my shirt, and I was standing in the middle of the French Quarter bare-chested. Weirdly, it wasn’t a strange occurrence at all.

Standing there, I watched Lyla take in the contours and caves of my chest with heat in her eyes, heat that immediately started to turn me on. She was taking her sweet-ass time perusing my body and honestly, I didn’t give two fucks that she did. Stare all you want, I thought.

Clearing my throat to gather her attention, I held out my hand. “Are you going to give me that?”

“Uh, yeah.” She handed it over. She held my other shirt as I put on the nipple-tasseled garb. The sleeves were a little tight and the bottom was slightly loose because of my narrow waist, but that was a given with regular shirts like these. They always fit me in a weird way.

After staring down at the tassels, I looked up to see Lyla covering her mouth and laughing. The sound of it was intoxicating. It melted my cold, dark heart on the spot.

“This funny to you?” I asked, holding out my arms.

She nodded and pulled a bonus item from the bag.

“Buy a shirt, get a free hat,” she said. She popped the back of the hat out so she could place it on my head. It was a black trucker’s hat, and on the front was an animated crawfish holding up its claw. To one side, it said, “Suck this.”

Novelty to the extreme.

She adjusted the size of the hat and placed it on my head, cocking it to the side just slightly.

“Can’t have you looking like a total dweeb.” She winked. She stepped back and took a look at me. “Even with that ridiculous hat and shirt on, you’re still hot as fuck.”

“That’s good to know.” I grinned, enjoying the candid compliment. “Are we headed back to your place now?” I asked, a little too eager.

“No, I have something else in mind.”

“Kitten’s Castle?” I teased as she linked my hand with hers and led me down the street.

She glared at me. “No, not Kitten’s Castle.”

We walked hand-in-hand, enjoying the blustery night and the sounds of zydeco music being played on the corner of Toulouse and Royale.

“Hey, suck this!” a drunk man said while grabbing his crotch and walking by us, referring to the stupid crawfish on my hat.

I gave him a thumbs-up and kept walking. Fucking idiots.

“Got to love the atmosphere,” Lyla said.

“And the tacky hats you get for free.”

“It’s a very nice-looking crawfish, plus it has meaning, Kace.”

“How do you figure?” I asked, adjusting the hat.

“Uh, hello. Our first date was eating crawfish.”

It didn’t escape me that she’d used the term “first date.” Instead of correcting her that this would be our only date, I let the comment slide because frankly, I was having a good time, and I didn’t want to spoil that, even if this night was a onetime thing for me. If I was only going to be with her in a “boyfriend” capacity for one night, I wanted to remember it as a good time.

“Here we are,” Lyla said, stopping and letting the awkward moment slide away.

I scanned the street and saw we were standing outside a building that was smartly lit up on the inside. A sign hanging over it said Trashy Diva.

“Where are we?” I asked, wondering what Lyla was up to.

“You’ll see.” She smiled, pulling me inside.

I didn’t have to walk too far into the store to realize Lyla had brought me to a lingerie store. Chandeliers lit up the small space. Light bounced off the white walls and racks of dresses were lined up in the front of the store, but that wasn’t what caught my attention. What had a light sheen of sweat breaking out over my skin were the small pieces of fabric in the back.

“Help me pick something out,” Lyla suggested with an evil glint.

“Hey, Lyla,” a clerk called to her. “Looking for anything in particular?”

“Hey, Tammy. I am. I’m looking for something green or something that would look pretty with green.”

Tammy tapped her chin with a pen and then said, “I’ve got a couple of ideas. Shall I set you up in a room?”

“Please. Can I have a corner room, please? I want this guy to be able to sit comfortably while I try things on.”

Tammy gave me the once-over and hid a snicker the minute her eyes landed on my shirt.

Rolling my eyes, I said, “It’s the only kind of lingerie I will wear.”

Tammy out-right laughed. “Well, it’s very becoming on you.”

I liked Tammy.

While she and Lyla talked, I went to the back, where a gold chair was tucked in the corner. I took a seat and waited patiently as Tammy pulled a couple of items for Lyla. I wasn’t going to lie; I was actually pretty damn thrilled about this portion of the date.

Once Lyla was behind a curtain, I stared down at the tassels on my shirt, wondering who the hell had printed such a thing. Apparently there were zero standards when it came to shirt-making.

“Are you ready?” Lyla called from behind the curtain.

I looked around to see if anyone else was in the store. In the midst of looking at my shirt, I missed the fact that Tammy had put up a sign in the store front that had a clock on it, making me assume she’d taken off for a quick break, leaving Lyla and I alone.

Excitement boiled inside of me. “Yeah,” I answered.

Lyla whipped open the curtain and strutted toward me, taking my fucking breath right from my lungs.

Standing before me, she was wearing the mask I’d just bought her with a piece of lingerie that should have been illegal. It was a green top that came to just below her hips, it was skin tight, and it was fucking see-through. She’d neglected to wear a bra, displaying her hardened nipples to perfection. A black thong was wrapped around her hips, making me silently beg for her to turn around.

She stood in front of me with zero shame. “If only I had on some strappy heels, it would be the perfect the outfit.”

“Fuck the heels,” I rasped, taking her entire body in. I shifted in my seat, but it did nothing for the raging hard-on I was sporting.

“Do you like?” she asked, as if she couldn’t tell.

Linking our hands together, I pulled her down on my lap so she was straddling me and said in a husky tone, “You tell me. Do you think I like it?”

“Hmm, not sure. Let me see.” Her hips started to rock back and forth on my lap, creating a mind-numbing friction. “It seems you might like it.”

“Don’t start something you can’t finish,” I reminded her as my hands fell to her hips, forcing her to press down harder.

“I thought we went over this at dinner. I always finish, Kace.”

Her hands ran up my chest and wrapped around my neck. She pulled her body in closer to mine and nipped at my jaw. I felt the feathers of her mask run along my face, turning me on even more.

I slowly moved up to her rib cage, where I rested for a short period of time, allowing for her heart rate to pick up from my touch. She became breathless as my hands moved up even farther until the pads of my thumbs just barely grazed the underside of her breasts.

A light moan escaped her, and her hips started to move faster across my lap.

I whispered in her ear, “Are you dry-humping me right now?”

“Yes, I have no shame when it comes to you,” she answered breathlessly.

And I had no control when it came to this gorgeous woman sitting on my lap. “Get your clothes, we’re leaving,” I commanded her gruffly.

“I have a robe I can borrow. No time for clothes,” she answered.

Reluctantly, she retreated to the dressing room as I rested my elbows on my knees. I ran my hands through my hair, wondering what the hell I was thinking. This woman was tearing me apart and all in one night.

I kept reminding myself this was going to be a onetime thing. Once I fucked her out of my system, I would go back to the dark hole where I belonged, but just this night I would live without worry, without self-hatred, without the thought of the kind of monster I was. For one night, I was going to be the free-spirited man I’d once been.

The man I’d been before taking someone’s life.

Chapter Fourteen

My present…

The trip from the lingerie store to Lyla’s apartment seemed to take forever when in fact I knew it had only been a short few minutes. But with the way she was rubbing up against me, nibbling on my ear, sticking her hand down the back of my pants, she had me panting and wishing I could just take her down one of the dark alleys of the Quarter.

The rickety steps of Lyla’s building creaked in distress as we ran up them to get to her apartment. I watched with impatience as she fumbled for her keys.

“Need help?” I asked, desperation in my voice.

“I got it.” She winked.

I pressed my front against her back as she worked the locks on her door, tasting the skin below her ear. She was intoxicating; her smell, the velvet texture of her skin, everything about her was like a dream, and I was getting so fucking lost in it.

The creak of her door broke my lips from her neck, and without giving her a chance to move, I picked her up and took her inside.

I had time for one quick glance around. The walls were made of cracked plaster, her floors were wood that dipped with every step you took, and the temperature of her apartment was stifling from the warm but windy night we were having.

“Bedroom?” I asked, looking into her beautiful green eyes, not quite remembering my way around.

“Second door down the hall.”

I found the room easily. I pushed her door open and was greeted with a large bed that took up all the space in the room. There was a small dresser to one side that I wasn’t sure if she could actually open the drawers to. Even though her bed took up all the space in her room, she had the softest looking sheets, and a thick comforter invited me to lay down.

I placed Lyla on the bed and looked down at her as I grabbed the back of my T-shirt and pulled, giving her a little show. Her eyes lit up with elation as she pushed her robe to the side and tossed her clothes to the limited amount of floor space between her wall and the bed.

Laid out on her bed, Lyla showed off her delectable body as she leaned back on her elbows and waited for me to make the next move. Her nipples were puckered from excitement. Her breasts were prominently on display from the lingerie, and her flat, toned stomach showed me just how much she trained for her job at Kitten’s Castle.

The thought of other men seeing what I got to see made an animalistic and possessive thought pass through me. I didn’t want anyone seeing her like this. No one besides me should have the pleasure of seeing her naked.

“Are you just going to stand there?” Lyla asked, taking in my physique.

I gripped the back of my neck and contemplated my next move. If I did this, if I spent the night worshipping every inch of her, I would be setting myself up for sheer disappointment when it was over, because I knew what Lyla and I had was never going anywhere beyond tonight. But could I really walk away? Could I honestly grab my shirt and walk out her front door with her looking so damned sexy and tempting?

Looking at her glistening pink lips and such yearning in her eyes, I knew then and there I was going to be screwed. I needed her.

“Scoot back.” I motioned for her to move deeper on the bed.

She obliged, giving me room to lean down on one knee and stretch out over her. I placed both of my hands on either side of her head, and her eyes flickered across my chest, watching my muscles flex with my motions. She acted tough most of the time, but I saw the weakness I brought out of her, and like the sick fuck I was, I enjoyed it. I liked seeing I could bring such a strong woman down a peg, that I had an effect on her.

Carefully, I lowered my head until I was mere inches from her face and spoke softly to her, revealing a little part of my soul. “What are you doing to me?” I asked, wondering why I was voicing my worries.

Her hand ran up my chest, then to my neck, and finally cupped my cheek. Her thumb brushed the scruff on my jaw and her eyes softened as she pulled my head down to hers. Very lightly, she nipped at my lips, and I slowly let her open my mouth with her tongue, igniting a flame inside me that’d been burned out for a while.

I went down on my elbows so my body weight was more evenly distributed on top of her and gripped her face while I kissed her back with the same kind of passion she was giving me. Her lips glided perfectly across mine. Slowly, I felt her fingertips work their way under the back of my jeans, looking to tease me.

The heat of her touch sent a blaze of fire through my veins, igniting my desire for her, my need for more, my need to be deep inside her.

I dipped my tongue farther into her mouth, matching her thrusts. A moan escaped her throat. Her hips pressed against mine, begging for more, wanting me to move lower, to pay attention to the rest of her body, but I was too lost in her kiss. I was enjoying her mouth way too damn much to move away.

“Kace…,” she said breathlessly. “Touch me.”

“I am,” I said gruffly as my mouth went back to hers. There was something to say about making out with a gorgeous woman. Yes, fucking was the end result, but getting their way of mouth was how I fucking rolled.

Wanting to keep her satisfied, I lightly stroked her hair, then moved down her side, where I played with the side of her breast by lightly stroking it with my thumb. Through the sheer fabric of her lingerie, I could feel the heat pouring off her, a light sheen of sweat starting to cover her delectable body. That’s when I realized I needed her naked, completely and utterly naked.

Reluctantly, I tore my lips away from hers, causing an unpleasant protest to erupt. I chuckled from the look of displeasure on her face but then grabbed the bottom of her lingerie as I straddled her lap and started to bring it up and over her head. She sat up and raised her arms, making it easier for me to take it off. I tossed it aside. To my shock, she still wore a sheer bra underneath the lingerie set. At the lingerie store, I never would have guessed she was wearing one.

I rolled off her lap, hooked her thong with my fingers, and easily took it off.

I kneeled to the side, observing Lyla as she rested on the bed with her hair fanned out and her legs slightly bent and crossed at the ankles. If she was trying to seduce me, she didn’t have to give it much thought because I was hard as a fucking rock.

While staring at her, I undid my belt slowly, tossed it to the side, and then undid my jeans. I didn’t take them off because I wanted her to do that for me, but I did leave them open, showing off just enough of my happy trail to entice her.

She licked her lips and reached out to me. I accepted her gesture and entwined our fingers. I lay down next to her, putting our clasped hands above her head. I stroked her stomach, reveling in the feel of her skin. Her muscles twitched under my touch, and her breathing picked up while I explored every inch of her.

I swirled my finger around her belly button and danced low on her pelvic bone but pulled away quickly, torturing her. My hand then went up to her chest where I moved my fingers very slowly through the prominent cleavage on display.

She twisted under me, begging for me to touch her more, to touch her where she wanted, but I was taking my sweet-ass time. Tonight was going to be on my terms.

I lowered my head to her neck and she leaned to the side so I had better access to run my tongue along her pulse. I would never get enough of how she tasted. It was sweet like honey and maybe a little bit of spice. It was unique—everything about her was fucking unique—and that was why she’d captured me so quickly.

Instead of using my fingers, I spread the palm of my hand against her and ran it up the front of her stomach, stopping below her breasts. She rolled to one end, trying to force me to go higher, but I didn’t let her win. I kept myself still and continued to nibble on her neck, all the while knowing I was driving her crazy.

“Please, Kace,” she moaned, her legs now moving, her hips lifting in the air. If she was as turned on as I was, I knew she had to be soaking wet. I wanted to see if she was, but I knew if I ventured down to her pussy, I was never going to be able to leave.

 I pressed the side of my finger against the underside of her breast, causing her to push down enough that her breast fully rested on my finger. If I hadn’t been so lost in the moment, I might have laughed from the desperation she was displaying.

“Touch me, Kace. Don’t make me ask again,” she demanded, trying to top me from the bottom. Little did she know she wasn’t getting anywhere with her little commands.

“Every time you ask for something, you will have to wait even longer.” I nuzzled her ear.

“You can’t do that,” she complained.

“I can do whatever the fuck I want,” I replied. “I could fucking leave right now if I wanted,” I threatened, knowing damn well there was no way in hell I was going to follow through. I was almost positive I wanted this more than she did.

“Don’t go,” she said with a touch of sadness.

I rubbed my hand up against her breast, cupped her face, and said, “I’m not going anywhere, baby.” Even though it was a lie, it eased the worried look on her face. “Why me?” I asked, needing to know what the draw was, what she saw in me. If anything, I needed to know that maybe someone saw me for who I wished I could be—a strong, confident man—not who I actually was.

Sadly though, I wasn’t that man. Instead, I was eaten alive every day by a set of demons that wouldn’t leave me alone, no matter how hard I tried to ignore them.

Lyla’s patience was wearing thin. I saw the tension that was starting to coil inside of her ease a fraction. She shifted underneath me and placed one hand on my chest, right above my heart. The other caressed my jaw gently.

“There is so much about you that attracts me, Kace. It’s hard not to be drawn to you. It’s not just because you’re devastatingly handsome, but it’s the heart I see in you. You might not think you show it, but you have a giant heart. You care about the girls, you care about Jett, and you care about this community even though they turned their back on you during the lowest point in your life. You’re strong, you’re sure of yourself, and you know what you want. You’re sexy as hell, and even though you’re fighting an inner battle, you still have a spark in your eye that I see occasionally when you get excited about things like the community center or helping others. You’re a good person, and you’ve made it incredibly hard on me, not giving me a chance.”

My breath escaped my lungs from her words. How could she see me so differently? When I looked in the mirror every morning, I saw a murderer, a coward, a detached and broken man. How could she think such positive things about me? How could she see me in such a shining light when I knew the way she described me was so off-base?

I shook my head and started to retreat from her, but she gripped my shoulders before I could pull away.

“Stay with me, Kace. Please don’t leave. Live this moment with me. Even if it’s just this moment, live it with me. Be with me for this piece of time.”

Her eyes watered as she stared up at me, begging me to stay. I’d told myself I would give her this night, and even though her words shook me to my core, I knew I had to stay, if not for her than for myself. I wanted to be selfish one more time.

I pressed my hand against her cheek and wiped away a stray tear. Leaning down, I brushed a soft kiss against her forehead, lingering my lips while I breathed in her sweet scent, a scent that immediately calmed my raging heart and eased my soul.

Slowly, I moved my lips down her cheeks to her jaw, kissing her all along the way, taking my time as I relished in the soft feel of her skin against my mouth.