Paradise in Progress

20. Chapter Twenty

Chapter twenty

Tristan

The golden glow of a new day spills in from the open shutters that line Kennedy’s windows. Her gorgeous, naked body is tangled up in my legs as her head rests against my bare chest. For the past few minutes, I’ve been lying here like a creep as I watch the rise and fall of her chest as her soft snores fill the room. She’s breathtaking, which isn’t anything new for me to discover, but there’s something different about seeing her sleeping. Kennedy’s features are softened, and the worry lines have smoothed away, as she’s completely unguarded.

I knew her body was perfect. It’s evident in her outfits how hard she works to keep her physique, like everything else in her life, but seeing her naked…it was even better than I had imagined. Over the years, I’ve thought about Kennedy beneath me as I worshiped her body, and I’ve had my fair share of cold showers. Her passion in the office is sexy as fuck and turns me on in a way I never could have imagined. But getting a real glimpse of her, all of her, was better than any fantasy. The smattering of freckles across her creamy skin is perfect. Hell, even the tiny scar on the inside of her knee adds to her charm.

For so long, I’ve wanted to push her into telling me what I’ve done in my past to cause such pain in her eyes. I never could have imagined the truths she spilled last night. My privilege is clearly showing, because it never dawned on me how desperate she was to fit in. To find her place in a completely different world than what she grew up in. I’ve always had most of everything handed to me. I’ve never had to walk into a room where people didn’t know who I was. I’ve had the privilege of being a Nelson and, selfishly, I never realized the full extent of the meaning behind my name.

Then, there I was, constantly shitting on everything Kennedy worked so damn hard for. I would’ve hated me too—the pretentious golden boy who won everything and everyone.

Last night, I would’ve gladly gotten on my knees and begged for her forgiveness, but then sweet Kennedy uttered those three words.

Crawl to me.

And holy fuck. That was the hottest thing anyone has ever demanded from me. It wasn’t just the weight of those words; it was who said them. Her sexuality oozed from her, and I would have crawled the island just to see her eyes heat with the same desire that coursed through my body. Her innocence caught my attention, but it was her confidence that drew me to her.

Kennedy Reed is an anomaly. She never backs down from a challenge. Instead, she stands toe-to-toe with whomever is making her feel small. Her shoulders square up as if she’s preparing for battle. Her looks are definitely captivating, all that thick copper hair, but it’s her mind that makes her shine brighter than anyone else.

My cell phone ringing breaks the stillness in the quiet room, causing Kennedy to wake. She moves her head until her sleepy, green eyes snap to my face. I’m waiting for the moment when she freaks out about the two of us lying in bed together. But it never comes. Instead, a sheepish smile spreads across her face as a slight blush creeps over her freckled cheeks.

“Morning, Firecracker.”

She snuggles in closer and turns her head away from me before mumbling against my chest. “Morning, Golden Boy.”

Ignoring my phone, I take time to properly wish her good morning. Slipping two fingers underneath her chin, I tilt her face up to mine. Her head shakes as she hastily covers her mouth with the hand that was resting on my thigh.

“Uh-uh,” she mumbles. “Morning breath.”

“Jesus, Kennedy.” I roll my eyes. “I was eating your pussy like a goddamn delicacy last night. Do you think I give a fuck about your morning breath?”

Her eyes widen with a flash of desire at the reminder. Taking advantage of her state of shock, I remove her hand and lean forward until my lips touch hers. Thick, swollen, and bruised from the night before. Heat swirls through my veins at our connection.

I hope Kennedy doesn’t plan on letting me go, because there’s no way in hell I’m letting her slip past me again.

She melts into my side as she deepens our kiss, fully embracing the connection. Trailing my fingers up her bare back, goosebumps erupt in my perusal, waking something else up beneath the sheets.

The blaring sound of my phone ringing again startles us. Kennedy jumps apart as if we are two teenagers being caught by their parents. Internally groaning, I reach over blindly and feel around until my fingers hit the cool surface of my phone. Bringing it to my face, ‘Dad’ flashes across the sheet .

It’s like a bucket of cold water splashes over us as Kennedy rolls out of my hold.

“Take it,” she says. Her legs escape the sheets as she slips from the bed. “I’ve got to get ready for work anyway.”

I know she’s right and we both need to get ready for work, but after last night, I wanted to steal a few more moments before she freaks out. There’s no doubt in my mind that Kennedy is going to have a mental spiral where she completely panics over her sleeping with her “enemy.”

Dragging my thumb across the answer button, I bring the phone to my ear as I scoot higher up the bed, the white sheet pooling around my waist. “Yeah?”

“About time you answered,” Dad barks on the other end, stern and impatient, like he always is with me. Now I’m really glad I ignored his call earlier. “Are you sleeping through my calls? Just because you’re at a tropical resort doesn’t mean you’re on vacation.”

I adjust my position on the bed, the slightest bit self-conscious about being naked while speaking to my father. The sheets rustle against my legs, the cool fabric contrasting the warmth of my skin—which is heating by the second. The urge to snap back with a sarcastic comment has me biting my tongue.

“Of course, sir.” Scrubbing a hand down my face, the rough texture of my trimmed beard meets my palm. My dad has a knack for making me feel like a kid again every time we talk.

His voice drones in my ear, going on about my responsibilities in the company, how deadlines are suggested, and that he’s extremely frustrated the building plans haven’t been approved yet. Once again, he’s threatening to fire Kennedy and, once again, I’m reassuring him that they will be approved by the end of the week. Kennedy is doing the best she can, given the circumstances, and there’s no way in hell I’m letting him fire her over something out of her control. Not when I’ve had a front-row seat to witness how hard she’s fighting for our company.

I should be taking this call seriously—it’s one of Dad’s biggest complaints, my lack of dedication, but my mind is elsewhere. Through the open bathroom doorway, I catch a glimpse of Kennedy’s bare back as the sound of the shower echoes softly in the background. She moves with a casual grace as steam billows around her. The sight of her flawless skin brings me back to last night—the arousal in her emerald eyes, the daring light in them when she told me to submit to her, and the way her moans filled my ears. Everything about Kennedy Reed is sexy. She exudes confidence that would make lesser men crumble at her feet.

The memory of her breathless laugh, her satiated smile, and the way her eyes danced in the dimly lit room makes my pulse quicken.

Fuck, this woman.

Waking up with her snuggled into my chest, her red hair cascading over the white sheets, and our legs tangled together felt like an alternate reality. One I never wanted to wake from.

Too bad life doesn’t work that way.

Squealing from the bathroom interrupts my daydream. I jolt upright, ready to burst into the bathroom, when she comes sprinting into the bedroom, completely naked, her phone clutched to her chest. A brimming smile spreads across her face, causing her freckles to dance.

“Babe! The plans got approved!” she shouts, eyes wide with excitement, but it’s the term of endearment that has my eyes widening .

I almost missed it. Almost. One word caused my brain to short circuit, but as soon as it caught up, the weight of it hit me. Did she mean to say it? The way the word rolled off her tongue, all casual and sure, she might as well have called me “hers.” And I know to most, it’s not a big deal, but to me, it felt like everything.

Realization of what she just called me flashes across her face as she bites down on her lip, uneasiness marring her features. It’s as if she didn’t mean for the word to slip. But her features quickly change. With a quirk of an eyebrow, a sly grin tips the corner of her lips, Kennedy gives me a small shrug as if to say ‘yeah, I just called you babe. What are you going to do about it?’

I can’t help but grin, her energy infectious. My dad’s irritated voice in my ear breaks the silence. “What the hell was that?”

I quickly cover the phone with my hand, muffling our sounds as she dances around, still buzzing from the news. “Uh—nothing, just…the plans. She just got the email. They’re approved,” I explain, trying to keep my voice steady as she bounces around, completely carefree and very much unclothed.

I never want to go a day without seeing her like this.

If only there was a way to freeze time.

Informing my dad that I will call him back later, I end our call and toss the phone haphazardly on the bed as I continue to watch her.

I'm paralyzed in this spot—unable to take my eyes off her. Barefoot, red hair messy from yesterday’s curls, naked as the day she was born, she’s twirling, dancing, laughing—so full of happiness it’s impossible not to smile.

I lean against the headboard, arms crossed over my chest, watching her with this stupid grin on my face .

God, she’s beautiful.

I’ve never seen her like this, and it does something to me, makes that slow-burning attraction flare into a full-blown inferno. Every step, every spin, it’s like she’s putting on a show for me.

Only, I know she isn’t. It’s almost as if she’s forgotten I’m here and this is the real Kennedy. No walls, no guards, just her.

Her hips sway and I’m gone. It’s all I can do not to reach out, grab her, and worship every inch of her flawless body, but I’m perfectly content to just watch. I know how happy she was to land the lead on this project and how worried she was about losing it, especially with my dad threatening her.

Then it happens. Her foot catches on a shoe, and in slow motion, she’s flailing, arms windmilling as she goes down. I’m already moving, heart in my throat, ready to catch her, help her, do something—but before I can even get to her, I hear it.

Laughter. Her laughter is bright and loud as she sprawls on the floor, totally unbothered by the fall.

I pause, torn between concern and amusement, until her eyes find mine, twinkling with mischief. “I’m fine,” she says, still laughing, and I can’t help but laugh too, shaking my head. Of course she is. That’s her, always full of surprises. The chemistry between us is electric—I can feel it buzzing in the air—and now I’m standing over her, rock hard at the sight of her naked below me, holding out my hand to help her up. There’s no use in playing it coy by trying to hide how badly I want her, not with my dick standing at full attention.

“You sure you’re okay?” I ask, my voice a little rough, the words coming out huskier than I intended. Her hand slides into mine, warm and soft, and when she’s back on her feet, we’re standing too close. Too close not to kiss, but just far enough to keep the tension simmering between us.

“Never better,” she says with a wicked smile, her gaze lingering on mine. And damn, I want her.