Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Charlie
The Morning After
As the light of day wakes me, my heart begins to pitter-patter when I think about Kip and everything that happened last night.
We bared our souls to each other, talking until neither of us could keep our eyes open anymore.
After I told him about what happened with Jeremy, he told me about his parents dying and being in foster care.
We’ve both gone through traumatic things, but come out the other side.
Although the things we both went through aren’t similar to each other, talking about everything forged our connection deeper than it was before. We know things about the other person that no one else does. I see Kip for who he really is, and he sees me. It’s…freeing.
Nacho lays curled around my head, purring in my ear and nibbling on my hair every now and again.
He’s helping calm my frayed nerves with his furry little cuddles.
I’ve never really been a cat person, always preferring dogs instead, but Nacho is different.
He’s just a cute little guy. And as I lay next to Kip, wondering what’s next, Nacho is helping ease my anxiety.
Kip is lying down on his side facing me. His wavy blond hair is an absolute disaster. His long eyelashes brush against his cheeks, and his mouth is slightly open as he breathes deeply. Kip is ethereal. He looks like I’d imagine an angel would look. Beautiful.
“Like what you see?” Kip’s voice startles a laugh out of me.
“It’s alright, I guess.” I reply nonchalantly.
His eyes flicker open, revealing his unnatural silver gaze. “Mhmm…sure, that’s why you’ve been staring at me.”
“You’ve just got some drool on your chin, that’s all. Right there…” I point to the imaginary saliva.
He flashes a cheeky grin. “You know, it’s okay for you to admit that you like looking at me. We both know I’m a fine specimen. Cream of the crop, and all that.”
I snort. “Oh, okay. Now I’m definitely not going to compliment you. The only thing we both know is that your ego is already too large, and doesn’t need any more padding.”
Quicker than I can process, Kip rolls on top of me, pining me down with his hips. I let out a puff of breath at the sudden weight of his body on mine. Nacho lets out an annoyed mewl, kicking me in the head as he readjusts himself.
“Please feed my ego, Charlie. Please.” Kip pouts.
What a menace. “I will not.”
Kip is able to take my sad thoughts and crush them, turning my mood around with his jovial personality and smile. I’m pretty sure I love him.
Woah.
“Baby, if you don’t give me compliments, how will I know you actually like me?” Kip tries to keep a straight, pouty face, but his lips keep turning up at the corners.
“Who says I like you?” And what I really mean is I don’t just like him, I love him. He has my heart, all of it, including every broken piece.
His head drops down into the crook between my shoulder and neck. “Ouch.”
“Oh fine, fine!” God, this is embarrassing. “You’re very pretty. That’s why I was staring, okay? I was thinking that you look like an angel. But it’s clear to me that you are in fact, a devil.”
Kip kisses my cheek, and then flashes me a smirk. “I thought I was your princess?” He flutters his long lashes.
“Ugh, my god. You are insufferable. I take it back. All the compliments, ever, gone.”
“That’s okay, because I see the way you look at me.
You don’t need to voice it for me to know you’re absolutely obsessed with me.
” Kip presses chaste kisses along my cheeks.
“Your pretty, pale skin turns a lovely shade of pink when you look at me. Your eyes fill with heat. And your cock…well…” He grinds his hips into me.
“I bet it aches with how hard it gets around me.”
“You fucker.” I try to push him off of me, somewhat teasingly, but he only presses against me harder.
“I’m only teasing, baby. You know how I like to get you all worked up for me. You’re too fucking cute.” He bites my bottom lip, hard enough to sting, but not hard enough to draw blood, before rolling off of me and out of bed.
“Hey!” Now it’s my turn to glower. “Sure, you get me all boned up, and now you’re just leaving me hanging?”
The smile on his face and glint in his eyes are pure evil. “Oh, so you admit it, huh?”
I sulk, pushing down my hard on with a palm.
Kip leans down to press a sweet kiss to my lips. “Sorry, sweetheart. You’ll have to save that for later, okay? It’s my first day back at Pump Palace, and if I don’t get going I’m gonna be late.”
I growl. “Fine, but you owe me.”
“God, you’re fucking adorable. It’s like looking at an angry baby kitten. So small, so full of rage, and so fucking cute.”
“You’re literally the worst thing that has ever happened to me.” I grumble, not meaning a single word I say, and we both know it.
“If by worst, you mean best, then yes, that is correct.” Kip tosses me my shirt. “Now let’s get up, I’ll make you coffee to go.”
Pulling on my shirt and jeans, I follow after Kip to his kitchen.
The coffee machine steams and whirs as it brews a cup. “I didn’t know you drank coffee.” I comment.
“I don’t. It tastes like dirt, and I hate the smell. But you like it. And so does Tyson. This is his stuff, so if it sucks, don’t blame me.”
“Oh, great. Thanks for asking before using my coffee for your boyfriend.” I don’t need to see Tyson’s face to hear the sneer in his words as he enters the kitchen. The word ‘boyfriend’ drips with disdain as he says it.
“Good morning, Tyson, it’s nice to see you too.” Kip says with faux cheer, giving me an apologetic look.
“You know, Kip, I actually missed having you around here while you were in prison.” Tyson continues conversationally, pretending I’m not here.
“But I’d rather not have to deal with your boy-toy being in my space.
It’s honestly pretty rude for him to be here, screeching while you two fuck, keeping me up all night, and then having the audacity to drink my coffee. ”
“Oh, fuck off.” I hiss. “And I don’t screech.”
“No baby, you don’t. If anyone here is a screecher, it’s me.” Kip winks at me.
Tyson glares at Kip. “We’ve shared this apartment for years without any issues, Kip. Everything was fine until your little whore came along.”
And in this moment, you could hear a fucking pin drop. One second, Kip is standing near the coffee maker, trying to keep the peace. The next, he’s gripping Tyson by his throat, holding him against the wall.
Kip snarls, his fangs clicking out, and his eyes burning with rage.
“You will not speak about Charlie that way. He is mine. As long as I am living here, he is welcome. If you have an issue with it, maybe you should fucking move out. Because he is going to be here, a lot. All the time, if I had my way. He’d be moved in yesterday if I had the choice. ”
Tyson’s face steadily turns a ruddy red. “This is our apartment, Christopher. Not just yours. I have a say in who comes here, just as much as you do.”
“Fine, then maybe I should move out. I’m very much over this whole ‘friendship’ between us anyway.” Kip spits, releasing Tyson’s throat and letting him slump against the wall as he gasps.
I stare in shock, unable to move. Tyson glares at me, his eyes promising retribution, before turning on his heel and striding off towards his bedroom. The bedroom door slams so hard it rattles the walls.
Kip turns towards me, an apologetic look on his face. “I’m sorry. I never used to get so…angry. Tyson makes me see fucking red, and I won’t stand for him insulting you.”
“He’s a fucking dick. You shouldn’t let him get to you. He’s trying to rile you up.” I smooth my hands against his pecs, trying to soothe him. “I know he’s just jealous. He doesn’t like that you’re spending all your time with me now.”
“Well, maybe he shouldn’t have fucking used me as a blood bag, turned me into a vampire, and generally be a shitty friend.” Kip sighs, turning towards the coffee maker.
It beeps, and he fills up my cup with coffee and vanilla creamer.
“Come on, sweetheart.” Kip says gently, handing me the to-go cup of coffee. “I’ll walk out with you.”