Walk Off

Chapter 3

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Celia

This had to be a dream, or really more like a nightmare.

Her very worst nightmare.

Kyle was there. At the wedding.

She still couldn’t believe it was true and the image of him standing in front of her ran through her mind on repeat.

What was he doing there?

He looked the same but different. The blond hair he’d had as a young man was darker and a lot shaggier than it used to be. Plus, now he had facial hair. Not a full beard, but just a little scruff that made him look better than ever.

Cassidy burst through the doors of the room she’d run into to hide. “I’m so sorry, Cel. I had no idea that he was Benji’s friend Kyle from college. He never gave me a last name and I just had him pass the info straight to the wedding planner.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“What can I do?” Cassidy knelt in front of where she was sitting, her gorgeous white ball gown taking up all the space between them.

“Nothing, go back and enjoy your reception.”

Cassidy tilted her head and glared at her. “The fact that you think that I’d leave you alone even for one second, means you’ve lost your mind. The man you love is out in that room right now.” She pointed behind her. “And I, for one, want to know what you’re going to do about it?”

She shook her head repeatedly. “I have no fucking idea.”

“I do.” They both turned at the new voice.

Ruby.

One of only three people who knew that Kyle Dulanay was Jasmine’s father.

Bile rose in her throat but she pushed it down. She was so ashamed of what she’d done all those years ago, but nothing could change the past.

She’d broken up with Kyle never telling him she was pregnant with his child.

Horrible was not a strong enough word for the kind of person she was.

“Cass,” Ruby said, “why don’t you go back out and enjoy your night? I’ll take it from here.”

Cassidy stood, giving Celia a quick hug. “It’s going to be okay.”

Celia wasn’t sure if she believed her, but she gave her a small smile anyway. “Go, get out of here.”

Cassidy left and Ruby took her place, squatting in front of her. “Talk to me.”

“Did you see him?” Ruby had never met Kyle but she absolutely knew who he was.

“I did. I even talked to him.”

Celia’s mouth fell open. “You what?”

“Dallas pulled him outside after you ran out and he and I officially met. I gotta say, Cel, he seemed a little broken after watching you run away. He thought you were afraid of him.”

“I am afraid of him!” She stood and paced the room. “What am I going to do, Ruby? If he finds out about Jasmine, he’s going to take her from me.” She turned and stared at her sister. “I can’t lose my kid.”

“I know why you did what you did and I can even understand it. But it’s gone on too long. If he’s the guy you always say he is, then he won’t take Jasmine from you. He might hate you forever, but that’s a chance you’re going to have to take. It’s time that Kyle got to know his daughter.” She took a step toward her. “And don’t you think Jasmine deserves a dad?”

She swallowed back the tears that were falling. She knew Ruby was right, and Jasmine did deserve a father, especially one like Kyle. Celia had no doubt he’d be an amazing dad.

She’d robbed him of that.

At the time, the reasons had seemed valid, but now, looking back, she saw how selfish and wrong she’d been. She should have told him and let him make the decision himself.

“Come on,” Ruby said, holding out a hand. “You don’t have to tell him tonight, but you need to at least talk to him.”

Celia took her sister’s hand and followed her out of the room, through the reception, and outside to where Dallas and Kyle stood talking.

“Dallas, let’s go get a drink,” Ruby said, giving Celia’s hand one last squeeze and then leaving her completely alone with the man she once loved.

The man she still loved.

He looked good too. Better than he had at twenty-one. Back then, he’d been growing into his adult body. He’d had muscles but they weren’t fully developed. Even in a suit, she could see he’d filled out over the years. The one thing that hadn”t changed were his eyes. Those soft brown eyes that always seemed to be able to look directly into her soul.

“Celia,” he said again softly, just like on the dance floor.

“Um, hi, Kyle.” Jesus, just saying his name out loud took her back in time.

He shifted from foot to foot, making her acutely aware that he was also nervous. “It’s really good to see you.”

“You look good,” she said, completely unsure what to say to him.

He gave her a little smile. “Is that why you ran away? Because I look good?”

This was the Kyle she knew. Humorous and not afraid to address the elephant in the room. She couldn”t help but laugh. “You hit the nail on the head.”

He visibly relaxed. “Would it be weird if I ran now? Because this is so weird. Why is it weird?”

“I have no idea.” That was a complete lie. She knew why it was weird for her. For him? She had no clue.

“I had no idea you’d be here but I can’t say I’m sad to see you.” He shook his head. “It’s the opposite. I’ve wanted to see you again for eight years.”

Now, that was something she’d never thought he’d say. Not after the way she’d broken up with him. “Why?” It was the only question that ran through her mind.

“I never stopped thinking of you.” He stepped closer. “You were in my heart so deep, and nothing I did, nothing I tried, would let me forget you.”

Her breath caught. What was he saying? There was no way this man had pined for her for all these years. She’d seen pictures of him out with other women. Lots of other women. “That’s not true.”

He stepped even closer. “It is true. I thought of you all the time, wondering what you were up to, but mainly wondering, over and over again, why you broke up with me.”

She was going to hyperventilate. This couldn”t be happening. Kyle Dulanay was standing in front of her telling her he’d never gotten over her. When the same was completely true for her. “I don’t know what to say to that.” She couldn’t look away from him as he continued to move closer until he was directly in front of her, his breath mixing with hers, his brown eyes burning into hers.

“You don’t have to say anything. I just needed to tell you.” His gaze held hers. “I never thought I’d get the chance to tell you, and seeing you again, I just knew I had to get it out or I’d regret it for another eight years.”

She swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. “I hated breaking up with you.” Shit, shit, shit. Why had she said that?

He reached out, his fingers grazing hers. “Then why did you?”

Her heart was going to beat right out of her chest any second. She couldn’t tell him why, not yet. This was not the place to tell him about Jasmine and what she’d done.

“Celia,” he whispered her name, his lips so close to her skin that goosebumps covered her skin. “Tell me to stop. Tell me you don’t want this.”

She couldn’t because it was all she’d dreamed of for the last eight years. She’d never stopped wanting him and having him right in front of her, so close, was torture.

The best fucking kind.

“Kiss me.” She couldn’t even believe the words came from her mouth. But they might have been the first real honest thing she’d said in her life.

His eyes went darker, more intense, and his breathing sped up. “You drive me fucking crazy.” He hauled her against his body, and when his lips touched hers, it was like coming home. This was the only place she’d ever wanted to be. In Kyle’s arms with his mouth on hers.

She clung to him like a lifeline and let him devour her mouth. She knew these lips, knew what he tasted like and how he moved. She’d not forgotten a single thing about him.

“You taste the same,” he murmured against her lips when the kiss eased up. His lips trailed along her chin, her body shivering at each and every touch. “How is it possible that you taste the same?”

She moaned and clung to him tighter. “So do you.”

His lips hovered over hers, ready to devour her once again but when a door slammed somewhere nearby, they jumped apart.

She cleared her throat and looked behind them. A few guests had come outside but were still far enough away from them.

“We shouldn”t have done that.” She rubbed her arms with her hands to try and calm herself down.

Kyle went from calm to angry. “That’s bullshit and you know it. You wanted that kiss as much as I did.”

She nodded because there was no denying it. “You’re right, but that still doesn”t mean we should have done it.” She looked around again as she steadied her breath. “I should get back inside.”

As she turned to leave, Kyle grabbed her hand. “Celia, wait. You can’t just leave. We need to talk.”

She scoffed. “Talk? It sure seemed like you had something else in mind to do with your mouth than talk just a minute ago.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t have kissed you, but I couldn”t seem to stop myself. I meant what I said, I’ve never stopped thinking about you.”

“You should have.” She shook her head and tried like hell to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. “I’m not a good person. Kyle. You should forget about me and move on.” She brushed his hand from her arm and, as fast as her legs would take her, walked off.

Her lips still burned from where he had been and her body was on fire from just a few touches from his hands. But it didn’t matter. It couldn’t matter. He was going to hate her once he found out what she did. It was better to keep her distance.

She was going to tell him, but not tonight. After the wedding, before he left town, she’d get in touch with him and tell him the horrible, awful thing she’d done. After that, she knew her life would never be the same, but Ruby was right. Jasmine deserved to know her father.

“Hey,” Zara said as soon as she walked in the door to the ballroom. She and Hannah were both there, both waiting to make sure she was okay.

“Is everything okay?” Hannah asked.

“Not really,” she choked out a laugh. “My life is going to blow up in my face in less than a day.”

“Edwin said that’s Kyle Dulanay,” Hannah said. “Do you know him?”

She nodded. These were her friends and she’d hidden the truth from them long enough. “We dated a long time ago.” She hung her head, biting down on her bottom lip. “He’s Jasmine”s father.” She swallowed but kept going. “He doesn’t know about her.”

“Well, hell,” Zara said. “That is a twist I didn’t see coming.”

“What can we do?” Hannah asked.

“Nothing. There’s nothing anyone can do. I think I’m just going to go home and spend some time with Jasmine.”

“Babe,” Zara said, “I love you, but Jasmine is fast asleep by now, and going home to be alone and sulk is the last thing you need. What you need is to get drunk and have some fun.”

“She’s right,” Hannah said. “I don’t have any clue how you’re feeling, but I assume you plan to tell him the truth and that’s weighing on you. For tonight, for just one more night, let it go. It will still be there tomorrow and we will help you deal with it.”

What they were proposing sounded great to her. To forget about it for one more night. She just wasn’t sure it was possible. “I guess if I’m going to do this, I’m going to need a drink.”

“That’s my girl,” Zara said. “And to go with that drink, I think maybe a hot guy to dance with.”

“I’m not so sure about that.” There was only one hot guy she wanted and her lips were still tingling from his kiss.

Her life was a freaking episode of Jerry Springer. She’d never even seen that old show but she’d heard many people talk about it and how ridiculous it was. She was pretty sure she was the perfect candidate.

She grabbed a beer from the bar and then Zara dragged her out onto the dance floor. All her friends were out there and they danced and sang and laughed. That is until a slow song came on.

She was walking off the dance floor when a good-looking guy approached her. His name was Rick. She’d met him briefly during dinner. “I was hoping I could have this dance.” He held out his hand.

“Yeah, that sounds good.” She set her beer on a nearby table and took Rick’s hand. He was a nice guy who Benji knew, and of course, he played soccer. But, when he wrapped one arm around her back, she got none of the zing she’d had just looking at Kyle.

She was doomed to always crave his touch and only his touch.

“Are you having fun?” Rick asked as they swayed to the music.

“Yeah, it’s been a great night.” That was both the truth and also a lie. The wedding and marriage of her friend were the great parts. Seeing Kyle again was less than stellar.

Although, that wasn’t really true either. As much as she was fearful of what would happen when she told him about Jasmine, she’d wanted to see him again for so long. He was the only guy who ever made her feel special.

Not that there had been any other guys.

She was embarrassed to say that Kyle Dulanay was the only guy she’d ever had sex with.

It had been so long that she might as well be a virgin.

She’d attempted to date the last couple of years but none of the guys interested her. She’d go out with them a few times, but as soon as they kissed her, she’d end things. Their kisses were not what she wanted.

They weren’t Kyle’s kisses.

His sweet and tender, but also urgent and possessive kisses, were all she wanted to remember.

“Excuse me,” a voice said from behind her. A voice she heard in her dreams every night. “Do you mind if I cut in?”

“Um.” Rick looked at her to see if she cared. “I guess that’s fine.” He loosened his grip around her waist and stepped back. “Thanks for the partial dance.”

Kyle took his place, standing in front of her and pulling her close, as he wrapped his arm around her body. His beautiful brown eyes were full of something that looked a lot like jealousy. “Are you trying to make me jealous? Because it fucking worked.”

She looked around at the people near them. No one was paying them any attention but it still wasn’t the place to make a scene. “How can there be jealousy when we haven’t seen each other for eight years?” She spoke softly so that no one overheard them.

“You’re telling me you’d be okay if I asked some other woman to dance? If I held her close and whispered in her ear.” As he spoke, he pulled her even closer until their bodies were touching and his mouth lowered to her ear, his lips grazing the shell.

A shiver ran through her. “Yes.” God, when had she become such a proficient liar?

Probably the day she’d broken up with him with heinous lies and then hid his baby from him. And she’d been lying ever since.

“Really.” The word was drawn out and seductive in her ear. “And if I ran my hand up her side and then back down before palming her ass, you’d have no problem with it?” His hands took the path of his words, but just before he reached her butt, he stopped.

She whimpered at the lack of his touch against her ass.

He laughed deeply. “You can lie to yourself but you can’t lie to me.” He pressed his lips against the underside of her ear. “Your body is giving you away.”

Oh God, she’d missed his touch so much that just these small touches were lighting her on fire. “Kyle, you have to stop.” There was no power behind her words because she, most definitely, did not want him to stop.

“Are you in a relationship? Dating anyone?” He lifted his head and his eyes held hope. So much hope that she’d say no and give in to what he was asking.

This was her chance. She could lie and say she was. Tell him that she had a boyfriend. Make this all stop. It was the easy way out.

She didn’t seem to want easy.

She only wanted him.

“No.” She shook her head once. “There’s no one.”

His eyes darkened and he leaned in closer, his lips so close to hers. “There’s no one for me either.” Of course, she knew that. She’d followed his career and his personal life through the years. She’d seen him with women but not in a couple of years. He mostly stayed out of the limelight except for when it came to baseball.

“It doesn’t matter,” she said. “This can’t happen.”

“Tell me why,” he pleaded as his fingers branded her hip through her dress, her body so desperately wanting to give in.

“It’s been too long, we don’t even know each other.” That was the only excuse she could come up with. It was also lame, and also a lie. She might not know everything about him but he was still the guy she’d fallen in love with. She knew that much.

“I know you, Cel. I know that if I kiss you, you’ll moan the softest, sweetest little moan that makes my dick hard. I know that if I take this sexy fucking dress off and take your nipple into my mouth, you’ll squirm and writh beneath me because of how sensitive your nipples are.” His lips grazed her cheek. “Are they still that sensitive? Do you still like them sucked?”

She was breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling at a rapid pace against his. She wanted what he was offering, but she also knew it couldn’t, wouldn”t, go anywhere. Not after she told him the truth of what she’d done. Maybe, though, she could take this night as her last and final night with him. Have one last hurrah and then completely move on.

“They...are.” She faltered just a little at the admission because, after her pregnancy, they”d gotten even more sensitive. Not that anyone but herself had touched them.

He groaned, pressing his body harder into hers, as they continued some semblance of dancing. She felt his dick, hard and long, pressed up against her body. “Come back to my room with me.” He lifted his head, searching her eyes. “Please?”

In the end, it was the please that did it. The desperation and need in that one word put her over the edge. She’d never been able to deny him, mostly, because she’d always wanted the same things.

This was no different.

She nodded, and then before she knew what was happening, he’d grabbed her hand and she was following him through the throngs of people and out into the hallway. The elevators were right there, and as luck would have it, one was open. He pulled them inside, hitting the button for his floor harder than needed.

As soon as the doors closed, he had her pushed back against the wall, his lips devouring hers. She held onto him, never wanting to let go as he kissed and kissed and kissed her until the doors opened.

“Hurry,” he said, as he grabbed her hand and practically ran down the hallway. She didn’t try and stop him or even slow him down. She wanted everything he wanted, and she wanted it now. It had been too long since she’d done something this reckless and selfish.

She wanted Kyle, even if it could only be for tonight.

She’d worry about tomorrow when it came.