17. Chapter 17
Chapter 17
Kai
M y back was slightly uncomfortable from being in one position for so long. I needed to get up, not only because of the discomfort but because I had to take a piss. But combing my fingers through Kora’s hair and feeling her breath light on my skin, was the most relaxed I’d been in a while, and I didn’t want to bother her. Not yet.
Part of me couldn’t believe that I, Kai Lawson, was lucky enough to be here with her. Kora was a small-town girl and was so well-loved in this town that she adored. She grew up around family and extended family and had friends that went back years.
I couldn’t picture what that would be like. Since my mother left, and we were left with our father, a loving family was something I only experienced in books and on television. My goal was to make sure the twins didn’t realize what they missed out on. It seemed to have worked. They were both doing well and living their lives to the fullest. Once I found Orlinda Valley, I immediately fell in love with the openness, and now here was Kora. Everything seemed to be fitting into place.
I continued to comb my fingers lightly through her hair as she slept steadily with her head on my chest. She was a natural beauty, both inside and out, and had a light about her that brightened every place she was. Whether it was at the pub hanging with friends, taking care of her animals on her farm, or enjoying nature on the river, her eyes shone with excitement. Even when she was pissed and hot on the side of the road, with no phone service, a flat tire, and a vocabulary colorful enough that a sailor would have been embarrassed, she was a natural beauty.
Her students were lucky to have a teacher as wonderful as she was. If she had been my teacher, I’m sure I would have had my first crush.
A moan broke through my thoughts, and Kora kissed my chest lightly.
“Mmm.” The warmth of her lips seared into my skin and caused my heart to beat a little faster. “Well, sleeping beauty. Did you have a nice nap?” I placed a soft kiss on her head.
“Yes,” she said in a sleepy, relaxed voice. She pushed up on her arm.
I grabbed the chance to roll over and push myself up and kissed her lightly on the lips before standing. “Excuse the view. I’ve got to pee.”
She laughed. “Don’t worry. The view is amazing.”
When I came back to the living area with shorts on, she was up and dressed.
“I guess we need to be heading back up the river,” Kora said.
Yeah, we needed to go if we wanted to get off the river before it got dark, but I needed to feel her against me again. I sat on the couch and pulled her onto my lap. “I agree, but first I want to say thank you.”
“For what?” she asked as she wrapped one arm around my neck and her other hand caressed my face.
I closed my eyes briefly. I loved the feel of her hand touching me. I opened my eyes, and her face was filled with a beautiful glow. Never had I imagined I could be with someone as wonderful and beautiful as Kora. “Are you real?” I asked.
“What?” Her face became a question. “Of course I’m real.”
“Good. Because a part of me was afraid you were a dream, and if you were, I’d hope I’d never wake up.”
“Kai, why would you say something like that? You’re an amazing, thoughtful man. I’m sure you’ve had better women than me in your life.”
That made me chuckle, and I shook my head. I’d never had anyone like her. “Nope. Sorry to disappoint you, but you are unique. There’s no one like you.” My lips met hers and I kissed her deeply, almost desperately.
My heart beat wildly, and I held her tighter. I was almost scared to let her go, like if she slipped from my grasp, I may never get to hold her again.
It was overwhelming. I needed to understand these feelings which churned in my gut and caused my heart to falter at her touch. I was caught off guard at how quickly they developed. It was so surprising, so unexpected.
Our faces stayed inches from each other when we broke the kiss, but I couldn’t take my eyes off hers. A huge part of me wanted to carry her back into my room and stay with her the rest of the night and into tomorrow. Hide away from the world. Just the two of us.
But I couldn’t. We needed to get going. “Kayaks are waiting. We might need to race back to your place to beat the dark.”
“That wouldn’t be fair. I know the current’s light, but it’s harder than it looks paddling against it.”
The trip up the river was relatively easy. At least Kora didn’t complain any, and I enjoyed paddling behind her, watching her work. Watching her body move with the oar. Pure perfection. Pure beauty. Pure . . .
I pulled my eyes from her quickly and adjusted my hard-on. Don’t think it. Get your thoughts together.
We finally pulled the kayaks onto land and loaded them into the back of Matilda. I climbed behind the wheel and pulled Kora across the seat next to me. She placed her hand on my thigh as I drove back up the grassy gravel path.
“That was a wonderful day, Kai. Thank you so much.”
“Why are you thanking me? You invited me and treated me. Many times, I might add.”
The glow that had been a permanent fixture on Kora’s face turned scarlet.
“God, you’re adorable when you blush.” I kissed her briefly, trying to keep my eyes on the windy path. Between her hand on my leg and the hotness of her blush, blood was gathering again in my shorts. Maybe I could get a tour of her bedroom.
“Shit,” I said under my breath. So much for that tour.
“What’s wrong?” Kora asked as she followed my gaze.
We weren’t alone. As soon as we pulled up and got out, we were greeted by three goats, Tonya, Kaye, and Charles. “I think you have company.”
“I’m sure they’re here to check on me and seeing us together will make their day.” The smile Kora gave me was filled with mischief.
She kissed me and curled her fingers into the hair at the nape of my neck, and that’s all it took. I wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. “Dammit, woman. I’m not going to be able to get out of the truck any time soon.”
“Really?” Her gaze smoldered into mine, and she rubbed her hand lightly up and down on my crotch. “Mmm. You’re right. Feels like someone’s worked up.” She gave me a slight squeeze.
A grunt escaped from deep within my gut. “So unfair. Now you really need to give me a minute.” I squeezed my eyes shut and whispered under my breath all the grossest things I could think of.
“What are you doing?” Kora asked. She sounded appalled.
“Trying to calm my thoughts and think of the most disgusting things I can. I can’t stay in the truck all night. I need to get out and say hi.”
Kora laughed and climbed out.
My mental disgust game seemed to do the trick. I resituated my junk just in time to meet Kora and go see the guests while everyone was still standing there.
“Well, we heard y’all spent the day together.” Tonya greeted us with a smile.
“How? We intentionally avoided all the book club hangouts today,” Kora answered while squeezing her aunt in a hug.
Kaye playfully swatted Kora’s arm as she, too, wrapped her in a hug. “If you really wanted to keep your date secret, you wouldn’t have drug this handsome man all around town.” Kaye put her arm around Kai’s shoulder.
“Hey now, don’t steal Kora’s man and leave me all alone,” Charles said as he joined the group.
Kaye laughed and hugged Charles. “Don’t you worry handsome. These eyes are only interested in you.” She gave him a quick kiss.
Charles’s billowing laugh echoed around the pasture. “Good to know beautiful. Hey there, Kai.” He turned to me and shook my hand with a cobra-like grip. “It’s great to see you again. I’ve been by the salon and checked out your work, but you haven’t been there. I’ve heard you’ve been busy with our Kora, and I guess the rumors were right.” He pulled Kora into a squeeze.
“Charles, I can’t breathe,” she whispered.
“You’re fine, baby girl.” He patted her on the back. “Gotta watch out for this one, Kai. She’s a wild one. I think we need to tell you some stories about high school Kora that are so entertaining.” He squeezed Kora to his side, and a blush crept across her face.
“Don’t you dare.” She pointed a finger at him.
“Your dad expects me to keep an eye on you. He’ll be interested in finding out all about this fine young man who is taking up his daughter’s day.”
Kora rolled her eyes and turned toward me. “Charles and my dad have been friends since the dinosaurs roamed the earth.”
“Not quite that long. But almost,” Charles bellowed as he released Kora.
I met Charles before, but we didn’t talk much. He and Kaye made a cute couple, and he adored Kora. At least we had something in common. How could I not like him?
We all sat on Kora’s patio, and they did exactly what Charles said they would. They told lots of great stories of high school Kora and college Kora. I laughed so hard my side was hurting. I also learned that Kora had a killer gaze and didn’t like that I was amused by all the stories. Luckily, gazes couldn’t really kill, or I would have been dead on the ground a couple times.
This was what I always pictured family and extended family to be like. Joking and laughing together and sharing memories of the past as if it was just yesterday. I hoped Kora realized how lucky she was to have these people in her life.
“I don’t know about y’all, but I’m hungry and I don’t think anyone has planned dinner.” Tonya grabbed her phone and started dialing. “I’m going to order pizza. Is everyone good with pepperoni and mushroom?”
“Please order one with pepperoni only,” Kaye said. “You know I can’t stand mushrooms, T.”
“Kaye, hon, I still have hopes that you’ll grow up one day,” Tonya said. She winked and ordered the pizzas.
“While we wait, do you want to help me settle in the animals for the night? These goats will only go to bed if they get fed.” Kora stood, and Percy’s head popped up.
The goats had been lying around like a bunch of dogs the entire time we were talking. Percy at Kora’s feet, Baby Goat next to Tonya, and Jackson off on his own munching on the grass.
“Of course.” I followed Kora, and the goats fell into step behind us.
“You were quiet,” she said as she wrapped her arm around my waist and leaned her head on my shoulder. I could really get used to this.
I kissed the top of her head and let go of her to open the gate. The goats bounded ahead.
I chuckled. They were so entertaining. “I was just taking it all in. I loved the stories.” I pulled her to a stop and turned her toward me.
The light breeze blew strands of her hair around her face, and I brushed it back into a ponytail. “This is all exactly what I pictured a family would be.” I placed a light kiss on the tip of her nose. Her eyes were closed when I pulled away, and I just watched her. Took her in.
It was twilight, and the sun fell behind the hills in the distance. There was little light, but the moon was full, giving me just enough light to see all her perfect features.
Her eyes fluttered open, and she tilted her head to the side. “This is why I came back here after college. This is home to me. Everything about it. I’m lucky; I know that. But things have become even better recently.”
She wrapped her arms around my neck and weaved her fingers into my hair, sending chills down my spine. The feeling of her touch seemed to always have that effect on me. I held her face. “Things have become much better recently,” I agreed with her.
Her dark brown eyes smiled. Our eye color was as opposite as our upbringing, but we seemed to both want the same things: family, friends, and love. But they were all easier for her to express since she’d experienced the positive side of all those things. Our lips touched, and she pulled me closer to her. We might have grown up differently, but when we were together, none of that mattered. I moaned her name as the kiss intensified.
“Baa.” My thigh was rammed by a hard head.
“Ouch.” I broke away.
Baby Goat jumped up, his front hooves on my thigh. “Baa.”
I released Kora and patted Baby Goat’s head. “I think someone wants to eat.”
Kora’s laugh rang like a bell. “Yeah, they won’t leave us alone until they’re fed.” She walked off at a quick pace and patted her thigh. “Come on, goats.”
They hopped and skipped after her, bleating their excitement.