Chapter 5
KYRA
What the fuck does he mean by that? He just met me. He can’t actually think that love at first sight is a thing. Right?
I mean, yeah, he is absolutely gorgeous.
His frame more than filled the doorway to the living room; his muscles tested the strength of the fabric of his shirt and flannel.
From what I saw by the light of the bonfire, his hair is as light as Graham’s.
Probably a golden-blonde color, shaved close on the sides with just enough to run your fingers through on top.
Not much more than a couple of messily styled inches.
I wish in this dim light I could make out the color of his eyes.
His gaze never once leaves my face, his eyes dart between my eyes and lips a million times, and I know he’s trying so hard not to kiss me again.
I love that while, yes, he took what he wanted at first, the moment I said stop, he hasn’t laid even a finger tip on my flesh.
My body craves his hands on my flesh, but I know I can’t give in, and how does one crave the touch of a human they just met?
Nothing about this makes any sense to me, and I just wish for once my life could be uncomplicated.
My fiancè hasn’t crossed my mind once since I climbed into Nyx’s SUV, and that should feel wrong.
I should want to go home and see him, not be terrified about how mad he will be when he finds out I’ve been out with my best friend.
The only people I am allowed to see without him present are his group of friends and their significant others.
He knows better than to try to stop Nyx from seeing me, only because he’s secretly terrified of her.
Now she has a whole private security company full of Marines at her back; he's screwed the minute he steps out of line.
Callum clears his throat, and it startles me back into the moment.
To this dimly lit living room, where only the glow from the back deck and the fire gives us enough light to not trip walking into the space.
He turns to face forward on the couch cushion next to mine, but his legs are spread just enough that if I move, our knees will brush.
He isn’t causing the touch, but he isn’t preventing it either.
With one slight touch, my body is alight with a surge of electricity I have never once experienced when touching another human.
My fingers reach up and brush gently across my lips.
I can still feel his kisses there. His lips were lush and soft, the first time I’ve ever kissed a man where I could tell he used lip balm.
He never once forced anything; if I had denied him access, he would have left it at that.
But you didn’t deny him, did you?
“I am sorry if I overstepped, sunshine.” His voice is low and calm.
“No…” I shake my head slowly, not only to say no but also to try to clear my thoughts. “You are so fine.” My palm reaches up and slaps across my forehead with a thunk. “I mean, you’re good. You didn’t overstep.”
Way to go, Kyra. He probably thinks you’re an idiot now.
His chuckle fills the quiet house. It’s a noise that I could get used to hearing, even if I have to make an ass of myself again to hear it.
Looking over my shoulder, I see him leaning back, his body looks relaxed.
Head leaned back, arms stretched along the back side, and he is working the damaged knee back and forth.
Bending and straightening, I can hear a slight pop every time it reaches a specific spot, but it doesn’t seem to cause him pain.
“Does it bother you?” I blurt out. My brain-to-mouth filter is non-existent even though I haven’t even had a drink yet.
“Cal?” I hear Demitri’s voice as the sliding door opens.
“Kyra? Are you guys up to no good?” His words are slurred slightly, so I know he’s been drinking.
I dart up from the couch and head the long way to the kitchen to make it look like I just came from the small powder room Nyx showed me this evening.
“Hey! Demitri, right?“ I plaster on my most innocent smile as I hear Callum walk into the kitchen from the other doorway.
Demitri’s eyes dart from him back to me, and he just shakes his head. “I don’t want to know.” Looking dead at Callum with a finger in his chest, he growls, “I hope you know what you're doing, Little H.“
Demitri heads for the door next to the refrigerator, walks in, and returns moments later with a small cooler.
“If y’all are done playing suck face, help me load this, please.” My cheeks heat at his assumptions.
“Umm, I’m not sure what you are talking about, Dee. I was sitting in the living room. Kyra went to the bathroom and was coming out as you came in.” Callum tries to cover up our moment but fails when Demitri starts laughing.
“Uh huh. I know nothing.” He mimes zipping his lips and drags us back out to the party cooler in tow.