Chapter 6
Iheard you were out dancing with a real pretty girl last night,” Clark says, slapping me on the shoulder as he passes me in the garage.
Sometimes I forget Jefferson is a small-enough town that it’s impossible to do much of anything without other people seeing and gossiping about it. I didn’t actually see Kid last night, but it doesn’t mean he didn’t hear about me and Kira. I’ve been out enough times with the boys for Kid’s friends to know who I am.
When I had Kira in my arms, the world suddenly felt right. I could finally envision a future that involved happiness instead of a gray existence and going through the motions. Kissing her was a beacon of hope for my soul.
And fuck if finally pressing my lips to hers didn’t knock me sideways with raw magnetic lust. Kissing Kira was like being hit by lightning. I never wanted the kiss to end, and as sure as I know anything, I know there is no version of my future that doesn’t include Kira. For the first time – just from one kiss – I know Kira is the woman I want to spend my life with.
I laugh and shake my head, knowing there’s truth to what Clark said. Since coming to Jefferson, I’ve worked hard to be honorable and fulfill my promise to Slade. But when my lips met Kira’s…there was nothing honorable about what I wanted from her. I wanted her in my bed, her heavy tits swinging above my face as she rode my cock.
Kid joins the teasing. “Next thing you know, this Romeo will be married and living happily ever after with his princess!”
I shrug as if I don’t care about a comment he expects me to deny, but the truth is…I do want a family. And I want it with Kira. I came out of the Army not feeling anything about anyone and without a purpose, but now? My purpose will be to devote every day of the rest of my life to making Kira the happiest woman possible. I will do anything for her.
“Maybe one day,” I say, being intentionally vague. “You should talk, Clark. If anyone here needs a wife, it’s you. I don’t know how you get by on pizza delivery and greasy diner food.”
“Hey, now,” Clark warns, though he and Roman are laughing. “If I ever find a woman who does more than lip service to believing in family and wanting one and not looking at me like a sugar daddy because I own property, then we’ll talk. Until then, I’m not interested in even fucking around with random women. They’re too much trouble.”
“What about your new tenant? Didn’t you say she was a looker?” I ask, stooping under the hood of Kira’s car and checking my work. I haven’t only fixed the oil leak in her engine, I’ve completed a full check-up of her car and ensured everything is in perfect condition.
“She may be a looker, but that doesn’t mean I think about her that way. Like I said: I’m not looking to get married. If I never settle down, that’s fine by me.”
Roman opens his mouth to say something but closes it and strokes his beard, which is by far the better option. The man can’t shut up about how happy Marsha makes him. He’s a walking advertisement for the joys of marriage, but I know that unless you want that or you stumble upon the perfect woman, no amount of convincing can make a man who’s indifferent to love suddenly want to settle down.
As I stand there, watching Roman and Clark return to work, my thoughts drift back to Kira.
I take a deep breath and exhale slowly, trying to come to grips with my feelings. Slade would be furious if he knew that I dared to kiss Kira.
Then again, Slade made me promise to look after Kira, and what better way to do that than to love her? I keep working, wanting to finish Kira’s car so I can return it to her and see her again.
I give the wrench one last turn and then stand up to look at the work I’ve done on Kira’s car. “That’s finished.” I lower the hood of her car and put away my tools, making sure to keep my area tidy.
Walking over to the office, I wipe my hands with a rag. “Hey, Mack.”
“Wes. What can I do for you?” Mack closes a printed parts catalog and puts it on the corner of the desk. “Veronica left early, so I can’t leave up here.”
“It’s nothing urgent,” I say, pushing the rag in the back pocket of my Levi’s. “Wanted to let you know I finished up Kira’s car. Here’s a list of what I used. If you want to charge me for garage space while I did this, I’m not going to gripe about that.”
Mack puts up a hand and stops me. “Parts is fine. It’s clear she means something to you, and we take care of our own. I’ll do an invoice, and you can pay me from your next check.”
“I appreciate it, Mack. Thank you.” I extend my hand to him, and we shake. “Now that I’m finished, I’m going to return her car. I’ll pick up my bike later.”
Mack chuckles and raises an eyebrow at me. “You’re not coming back to pick it up tonight?”
Not if this goes the way I hope it does. “Don’t know yet. She and I need to talk some things through. If we’re on the same page, I’m not leaving her tonight.”
“Well, then, don’t let me stop you,” Mack says, reaching for the parts catalog again. “I hope it works out like you want it to. She must be some woman to have you like this after such a short time.”
“Yeah, she’s special. I’ve known her for years, but she has grown into an amazing woman. I can’t imagine life without her.”
* * *
I driveKira’s car to her apartment, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum. When I press the buzzer for her apartment, my nerves are ready to explode.
“Hello?” Kira’s voice crackles over the intercom.
“Kira. It’s Wes. I have your car for you.”
The moment of silence before she speaks again is deafening. “I’ll be right there.”
I stare at Kira when she opens the door, and I know without a doubt that my feelings are true. Her blonde hair falls in soft waves around her face, and her eyes are wide with surprise.
“Wes,” she says.
I can hear the longing in her voice and see the wild desire in her eyes. I want to gather her into my arms and never let her out of my sight again. “I wanted to see you. I also needed to return your car to you. I fixed the oil leak and gave it a thorough check-up. You’ll be good for a while.”
“Thank you so much,” Kira gushes, her fingers lingering on mine as I return her keys. “I swear I’ll pay you back. Honestly.”
“Kira, that’s not necessary. I meant it when I said I would do this for you. This is the smallest thing I could do.” A powerful urge to be the man she relies on makes my body quake. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep her safe and happy. I don’t want her to question my commitment to being a man she can rely on. I need her to understand I want to be the man she turns to, now and forever.
Kira”s cheeks flush, and she bites her bottom lip, making my heart race faster. “Is…are we okay? After last night?” she asks, tilting her head to the side. The late afternoon light lights up her blonde hair, making her look like the angel she is.
I close the distance between us and tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Everything”s perfect,” I whisper. “I wouldn’t change anything about last night, except for me needing to get some sleep because I had to work this morning.”
Kira’s smile lights up her face and fills me with joy. Without another word, I lean in and kiss her. It”s not like the slow and tentative kiss we shared last night. This kiss is passionate and urgent, fueled by a frenzy of desire. Kira whimpers, her arms wrapped around my neck as she kisses me back with an intensity that makes the caveman in me want to throw her over my shoulder and make love to her until we’re both exhausted and starving.
I break the kiss and pull back slightly, gazing into her eyes. “Kira,” I say, my voice husky with emotion. “I can”t stop thinking about you. I know your dad would kill me if he were still here, but you’re impossible to resist. What I”m feeling might seem wrong, given our age difference, but I can”t imagine my life without you. Could you take a chance on a grizzled old man like me?”
Kira looks up at me with tears in her eyes. “Oh, Wes. You”re not old,” she says softly, reaching up to caress my jaw. “Yes, I will give you a chance if you want to take a chance on me.”
“Kira, there”s no chance involved in how I feel about you. Believe me when I say this.” I reach up to put my hands on her jaw and hold her head so she can see how serious I am. “I”ve seen the world and met more people than I can remember, but you are singular. Even if I never saw you again, you would be burned into the core of who I am.”
Kira”s pretty lips form an O as I pull her into a bear hug. “I never want to see the back of you, either. I couldn’t live without you.”
I hungrily claim her mouth, my cock stiffening with primal need as she presses her curvy body against mine. She places her hands on my back and pulls me against her body. This time, I don’t bother to keep my cock from pressing into her stomach – I want her to know exactly what she does to me.
“I want to be with you, too, Wes.” Kira”s blue eyes lock onto mine.
My heart is sealed with my love for her. Nothing and no one on earth will ever take Kira from me, and I pity any motherfucker who wants to try.
Not even Slade could keep me away from his daughter now.