Chapter 9
CHAPTER 9
I didn’t expect it to be this way. Yesterday, after his confession, KC and I spent the rest of the day and night together. We talked about everything and nothing and we made love for the first time. All the other times we’d simply fucked or had sex, last night, it was different. He’d told me he wanted me to be his girlfriend and everything it entailed and then made slow, sweet love to me. This morning he’d gotten a phone call and left in a hurry, and I hadn’t heard from him since.
I drift over to the window, hands shoved into the pockets of my oversized hoodie, his hoodie actually, still holding traces of his cologne. Outside, the mountain view spreads out, all majestic and picturesque, the kind of scenery people slap on postcards with 'Wish you were here!' printed on them. But there's no comfort in it now, just an echoing vastness that mirrors the hollow feeling in my chest.
There was something wrong. His face had been scrunched up and he’d hurried out of the house, over to his and peeled off within a few minutes… and I hadn’t heard a thing from him since. And in the short amount of time he’d been gone, I’m already missing him and I’m worried. Worried about what happened. Where had he gone? Was he in some form of trouble?
"Call him. Don't call him." The indecision is maddening. If he was busy, he wouldn’t want me to call. I picked up my phone and checked my text messages. Nothing. "Fine," I say with a resigned sigh, the word surrendering to the thick silence around me. My thumb presses down, initiating the call, and I brace myself for the familiar gravelly tone that might just unravel me a bit more.
The phone rings once, twice, and the tension coils tighter with each echo. It's like waiting for a thunderclap after a flash of lightning—anticipation laced with a dash of dread. I saw his face this morning, heard the tone in his voice. I was just about to hang up when he answered.
“Hey baby girl, sorry for rushing out on you this morning.”
“KC are you okay?”
“Yes. We will talk about the nuances of my job at a later time, but sometimes it’ll be like this morning where I just leave. I’m okay.” KC's voice rumbles through the line, gruff as a bear but oddly soothing, like a weighted blanket for my nerves. “Are you behaving yourself?”
"Who me?" I scoff into the phone, my heart doing this weird jitterbug in my chest. "I'll have you know, I'm the picture of decorum. Been behaving so well, I might just need a cookie."
"Is that right?" There's a smile in his voice, a smirk I can practically see. "Because last time I checked, you had a unique talent for finding trouble. I know I’ve only been gone for a few hours but a few hours with you could lead to any number of disasters."
"Unique talent, huh?" I quip. "I prefer to think of it as adding excitement to life. Keeps things spicy, you know?"
"Spicy," he repeats, and I can hear the fond exasperation, the warmth that doesn't quite hide concern. "Just don't burn down the house or go outside in the cold naked while I'm gone, okay?"
"Scout's honor," I promise, crossing my fingers behind my back because, let's face it, I was never a scout. But he doesn't need to know that. "How long are you going to be gone? I mean, will you be home tonight or…"
“No baby girl, I most definitely will not be home tonight. It’ll likely be a few days… I can’t say for sure. Something’s come up. I need you to know something, no news is good news. Can you repeat that for me?”
“What do you mean? No news is good news?”
“I texted my mom your number. If something were to happen, she’ll get in contact with you. But, no news is good news. If you don’t hear from me, or my mom, just know I am busy at work and I’m fine, okay?”
“Okay?” I can’t keep the question out of my tone. Was it okay? It didn’t feel okay. Was he going into combat? Did we even have combat going on anywhere?
"We've been prepping for months. We’re ready. It’s going to be fine,” KC reassures me.
"Sounds intense," I reply, trying to keep my tone light, but there's a weight in my chest that wasn't there before. "You make it sound like you're headed to the grocery store."
"Comes with the job," he answers, and there's a faint hint of pride in his voice that's hard to miss. He's committed, all right; dedicated to the bone, and I respect him for it. But that doesn't make the reality any less daunting.
I press my lips together, swallowing the lump of emotions that's suddenly lodged in my throat.
"Just, be careful, okay?" The words slip out laced with more emotion than I intended. "I know you're Superman and all, but even he has his kryptonite."
There's a pause, one that stretches long enough for me to hear my own breath hitching. It's filled with everything we're not saying—fears, hopes, the precarious balance we've struck between us. I want to fill it with jokes, with teasing banter that'll bridge the gap, but my tongue feels heavy.
"I'm always careful," he finally breaks the silence, his voice softer now, almost like he's right here with me instead of miles away. "You don't need to worry about me. Besides, now I have someone to come home to."
"Too late for that," I whisper, my gaze drifting to the fading light outside. “You know, I was just thinking."
"About?"
"About how you owe me a trip to the bookstore when you get back. You promised, remember?" It's a deflection, a return to the safety of our playful banter, but also, a promise of things to come, of the future.
"Wouldn't dream of forgetting." There's a smile in his voice now, a warmth that eases some of the tightness in my chest.
Margaret texted me this morning, letting my know KC would be home today and asked me to give him a hug for her. I don’t know how long I sit on the front porch, but the cold has seeped into my bones by the time I hear the familiar rumble of KC’s truck. My heart does a ridiculous little flip at the sound, but I ignore it, shoving my hands deeper into the front pocket of his hoodie as I watch his truck pull up. He’s finally back home. I’m trying to remain cool, calm and collected. Grateful to Margaret for the heads up on his return, even if she did accidentally ruin his surprise. I’ll just sit here and pretend that I’m not excited to see him. Just sit here and…
Nope. The second he shifts into park, I’m up, practically sprinting down the steps.
Big mistake.
The second my foot touches the icy patch at the bottom of the stairs, my world tilts. My stomach lurches as my balance vanishes, and a startled yelp escapes me. But before I can meet the frozen ground, strong arms catch me.
One second, I’m falling, the next, I’m cradled against KC’s chest. His arms tighten around me instinctively, pulling me close, his warmth seeping into my frozen skin. My breath comes fast and uneven as I grip the front of his jacket, trying to steady myself.
“Well, damn, baby girl,” he murmurs, his lips curving in amusement. “You couldn’t wait two more seconds for me to come to you?”
I look up, breath catching at the intensity in his gaze. “You’re here,” I whisper.
KC doesn’t answer. He just lowers his mouth to mine, kissing me slow and deep, right there in the middle of the sidewalk. His lips are warm, firm, teasing at first before turning possessive. He kisses me like he’s making up for lost time, like he wants to erase every hour we’ve been apart.
By the time he pulls back, I’m breathless, my head spinning for reasons that have nothing to do with my near fall.
“Missed me that much, huh?” His voice is husky, teasing.
I manage a smirk. “Not at all. I just enjoy nearly dying on the ice for fun.”
KC chuckles, shaking his head. “And here I thought you’d finally learned how to behave.”
I arch a brow. “Where’s the fun in that?”
He lets out a mock sigh, then tugs me close, pressing his lips to my forehead. “Missed you too, baby girl,” he admits, voice softer now, less teasing.
I close my eyes, letting the moment settle between us, then lean back just enough to meet his gaze. “Are you okay? Did everything go alright?”
KC sighs, his expression shifting. “I can’t tell you much about my work,” he says simply, his tone making it clear he’s not going to elaborate.
I chew on my bottom lip, debating whether to push, but before I can say anything, his gaze flicks down to my legs, his expression darkening. “RJ,” he drawls, his voice dipping into dangerous territory.
Uh-oh.
“What?” I ask, playing innocent.
KC’s gaze drags down to my bare legs, to my ridiculous fuzzy house slippers, then back up to meet my eyes. “Why the hell are you outside in pajamas and slippers?”
I shrug. “It’s not that cold.”
His eyes flash. “Not that cold? Your damn legs are practically blue.” Before I can argue, he hauls me up into his arms with zero effort, cradling me against his chest as he starts marching toward the house.
“KC!” I squeal, wrapping my arms around his neck. “I can walk, you know.”
He snorts. “You sure about that? Because last I checked, you were two seconds away from busting your ass on the ice.”
I huff, but he’s not wrong.
He kicks the front door open, carrying me inside like I weigh nothing. The moment we’re through the threshold, warmth rushes over my frozen limbs, but it’s nothing compared to the heat in KC’s eyes as he sets me down.
His hands stay on my hips, firm and possessive. “You’re freezing,” he murmurs.
“I’m fine,” I say, but my voice wavers when he slides his hands up under the hoodie—his hoodie—and rests them against my bare waist.
“Gotta warm you up,” he murmurs, his lips brushing my temple. “And don’t worry, baby girl, I’ve got more than one way to do it.”
A shiver runs through me, and it has absolutely nothing to do with the cold.
“Promise?” I whisper.
KC’s lips curve into that wicked, knowing smirk that always gets me in trouble. “Oh, I don’t break my promises.”
And just like that, I know I’m in for it. And God help me, I wouldn’t have it any other way.