12
Kennedy
I woke up the next morning to Nash placing soft kisses over my shoulder.
“Morning,” I whispered, stretching and wincing slightly at the soreness between my legs. My body felt like it had been through a grueling fight.
“Good morning,” Nash murmured, kissing the spot just behind my ear. “How’re you feeling?”
He must’ve caught my wince, so I decided to be completely honest. “Good. Relaxed. A little sore.”
His low chuckle rumbled against my back. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, Nash. I enjoyed it.”
“Good.” His lips trailed up my jaw before brushing my cheek. “Me too.”
His big, warm body pressed into mine, making me feel safe and surprisingly comfortable. I tried to memorize the feeling, of him holding me.
“I’ve got practice at two,” he said, “but we’re still on for dinner after, right? You still want to?”
I rolled over to face him. He looked gorgeous in the soft morning light, which cast a gentle glow over his strong features. His bright-green eyes locked on to mine.
“Okay,” I said, smiling, still not quite believing that he was in my bed.
Nash wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer. He didn’t seem bothered at all by our nakedness under the covers in my small bed, so I tried not to let it affect me either.
“Will you come to me?” he asked, leaning forward and pressing his soft lips to mine.
To his apartment? Yes, of course I would. I’d love to see how the adult Nash Reed lived.
I tried to calm my excitement and responded, “Sure, if you want me to.”
“Yes,” he said, his smile stealing my breath. “I’d love that.”
“Will you cook?” I teased.
“Uh, I’m not very good at that, Kennedy,” he said with a roll of his eyes. “You should know that.”
“I believe you promised me breakfast . . .”
He chuckled. “If you stay the night, I’ll definitely make you the best eggs you’ve ever had.”
I swallowed hard, my stomach doing a little flip. Spend the night? The thought sent a rush of giddiness through me, tangled with a whole new set of nerves.
“I can cook if you want,” I offered, trying to sound casual.
“That I believe. How about you cook, and I help?”
“Deal.”
He pressed a quick kiss to my forehead.
“Speaking of breakfast, I’ve got to get going.”
As if on cue, his stomach grumbled.
“Did Sammy and Keith finally get off the couch?” I asked, remembering the sounds we’d heard from the living room the night before. “I don’t want to be traumatized the second I open that door.”
“I’m not completely sure,” Nash said, snickering, “but I think I heard the front door close a little while ago.”
“Oh, good. Keith probably left. Thank God,” I sighed.
Nash chuckled and gave me another soft kiss on the lips. “We could just stay here,” he suggested with a sexy smirk.
“Oh yeah?” My heart skipped a beat. “What did you have in mind?”
Something flickered in his eyes, and he pulled me flat against him. I recognized the look—the same one from last night.
Lust.
“Oh, I have so many things in mind when it comes to you, Kennedy,” he said, his voice low and seductive. “The things I want to do to you . . .”
I felt him harden against my thigh, heat flooding my core.
“Why don’t you show me tonight, after dinner?” I suggested, leaning into his ear. “You have to get ready for hockey soon.”
“Fuck,” he groaned, clearly aroused and frustrated about having to leave. “I’d like that, but I can still show you some now. It won’t take long.”
I giggled, the promise of more to come making my heart race.
Nash smiled, and then he kissed me again, a slow, teasing kiss. It was the kind of kiss that made your toes curl and your skin burn, but in a good way. A very, very good way . . .
· · ·
Sammy sat at the kitchen table in her fluffy pink robe, her tangled blond hair pulled into a ponytail. A cup of coffee and a half-eaten bagel sat in front of her, while an open bag of bagels rested on the countertop behind her.
“Good morning, Kennedy,” she greeted without looking up from her phone.
“Good morning,” I replied.
“How did it go with Nash last night?” she asked in a teasing tone, causing my whole body to stiffen. “Make any progress?”
What the actual fuck?
I stopped mid-step, stunned. Was she seriously oblivious to the 6'3" man walking right behind me? He was impossible to miss. But then she’d managed to miss both of us last night.
“I’m pretty sure she did,” Nash responded in that deep voice of his, and I didn’t even have to look to know there was a huge grin on his face.
Sammy’s head snapped up so fast it was like she’d been slapped. Her eyes went wide, and her face turned a shade of red I’d never seen on her before.
“Oh my God. You . . . you’re here,” she stuttered. “I didn’t mean . . .” She glanced at me, her expression full of horror, realizing she had just let it slip to Nash that I’d been interested in him long before last night.
I didn’t know what to say or do. Sammy and I just stared at each other, the regret in her eyes clear as day.
I felt utterly mortified, awkward to the point of pain, but Nash didn’t seem fazed at all. He casually walked over to the counter, pulling a bagel from the bag. “May I?” he asked Sammy, holding it up with an amused smirk.
“O-of course,” she stuttered.
“Want one, Kennedy?” Nash asked casually, the amusement clear in his tone. I refused to meet his eyes, knowing I’d only blush harder.
“Sure . . . yeah . . . thanks,” I muttered, trying to sound normal.
Sammy mouthed, Sorry, and I could tell by her expression she truly meant it.
I just nodded and made a beeline for the coffeepot, desperately hoping there was none left so I could busy myself with making more.
Anything to distract myself from the awkwardness radiating through the room. My face had to be beet red.
“Hey,” Nash said softly as I neared him, his hand resting gently on my shoulder, stopping me in my tracks. He turned me to face him, and I felt my heart skip a beat.
“Ken,” he continued, clearly noticing that I was withdrawing.
His hand cupped the side of my face, tilting my head up until I was forced to meet his intense green eyes whether I wanted to or not.
I’d expected him to make some kind of joke, but he didn’t.
Instead, he surprised me by leaning down and pressing his soft lips to mine.
“We’re okay,” he whispered, his eyes locking with mine.
“Okay, Ken? Everything is fine. Don’t run away from me. ”
I just nodded, too stunned to respond. Nash knew me well. Too well. Flight had always been my first instinct in any awkward situations.
“Good.”
He pressed a soft kiss to my forehead then let me go as if nothing had happened, casually picking up his bagel.
I poured two cups of coffee, managing not to spill any despite my trembling hand, and handed one to Nash.
He took it with a typical Nash grin, and I felt a small wave of relief wash over me.
We were okay.
The second the door closed behind Nash, Sammy was on me, apologizing a mile a minute.
“Sammy, it’s fine,” I assured her, trying to calm her down.
And it was. Nash and I were fine. He’d said so, and the goodbye kiss at the door had proven it. Still, it was clear that something between us had shifted overnight. We weren’t just friends anymore, but what exactly we were now I wasn’t entirely sure.
“No, no, no, Kennedy. I’m so sorry. I can’t believe I didn’t see him and opened my big mouth like that. I’m soooo sorry.”
“It’s okay. He was obviously here overnight, and you saw him kiss me goodbye, so you know we’re good.”
Sammy perked right up, her tired eyes suddenly brightening as a slow smile crept across her face. “Did you actually sleep with him?”
I nodded, feeling my cheeks flush red yet again.
“Oh my God!” she squealed. Her chair scraped back as she shot to her feet, and before I could react, she was squeezing the life out of me. “Oh my God. Wow . . . just freaking wow.”
“Ow,” I groaned, laughing as she crushed me.
“Sorry.” She loosened her grip but was still practically vibrating with excitement. “I can’t believe it. Well, actually I can, but still—wow. Just . . . wow. I’m so happy for you!”
“Thanks, I guess,” I said, still feeling a little overwhelmed by her energy.
“Come on.” She gestured toward the table. “Sit. Tell me everything.”
I couldn’t help but giggle as I dropped into the chair across from her. Sammy wasn’t going to let this go anytime soon.
“I’m so sorry, Kennedy,” she said again, guilt flickering in her eyes. “I should’ve made sure he wasn’t there before I said all that.”
“Eh.” I shrugged. “We can call it even.”
“Even?” Her nose wrinkled in confusion, and she looked at me like I had three heads. “What do you mean?”
“Well.” I chuckled, thinking back to last night. “The reason he ended up in my bed in the first place was because of you.”
“Because of me?” Her eyebrows shot up to her hairline. “What do you mean?”
“Someone was a little drunk when she came home last night and decided to bang her new boyfriend on the couch,” I teased.
Sammy’s face drained of all color, and her mouth fell open in shock. For a moment, I wasn’t sure if she was about to throw up or cry.
She groaned dramatically, her face buried in her hands. “Oh my God. Ohhhhhh,” she moaned. “You saw us?” she asked in a barely audible whisper, her voice muffled by her hands.
“We saw you come into the apartment, but we escaped into my room once the clothes started coming off.”
“Oh. My. God.”
“The sound effects, though . . .” I trailed off with a smirk.
“No!” she shrieked, leaping to her feet. Her horrified expression was priceless. “Noooo. Please no. Pleaseeee tell me you did not hear that?”
I couldn’t hold back the laughter anymore.
Sammy looked like she was about to melt into the floor. She put her hands on the counter, letting her head fall forward. “I don’t even know what to say.” She sounded like she was close to tears. “I’m so sorry.”
“Hey.” I got up from the chair. “Sammy, I’m not upset. I mean I’d probably recommend that you use your bedroom from now on, but . . .”
She screamed again and covered her ears with her hands. “Stop! I am soooo embarrassed.”