One to Love (One to Hold #4) (19 page)

A charge raced through my stomach at his admission. I traced my thumb over his lips in the sketch I held. “Are you trying to warn me away from you?”

I heard him exhale. “I guess. I mean, no? God, Ken, I never expected to be in this position, and now you’re here, so beautiful and amazing...”

We were both quiet on the line.

“I finished my sketch of you. It’s pretty good if I say so myself.”

“I’m sure it is.”

“You can’t be sure it is,” I laughed. “You’ve never seen any of my work.”

“You’re right, but if you pursue your art the way you do everything else, you’re probably a master.”

“Hmm, flattery will get you everywhere.” He laughed, and I continued. “It’s very lifelike. I’m tracing my finger along that sexy line in your chin. Feel it?”

“Yes.”

Lightening flashed outside my window, but it was nothing like the flash that went off between my legs at that single word.

I rolled onto my side, putting the sketch on my coffee table. “It’s going to be stormy tonight.”

“It’s already storming here. You’ll probably be getting it in the next five minutes.”

“Mariska wants us to go to her place Friday night.” Closing my eyes, I imagined him beside me. “She’s actually a really good cook, and she makes the most amazing Turkish coffee.”

“Sounds great. Let’s do it.” The smile in his voice made me smile.

“I’m sorry I pushed you too fast.”

He was quiet a beat. “I’m sorry I left you alone.”

“See you tomorrow?”

“Of course.”

With a goodnight, we disconnected, and I slid my phone on the coffee table next to his sketch. Tracing my finger down the line of his jaw, I closed my eyes, feeling him with me through the night.

* * *

W
hen I arrived in the small boxing room the next morning, he wasn’t there. I was confused, but I started my workout, pulling on my gloves and doing my drills. I was twenty minutes in when I felt his touch on my arm.

Stopping, I dropped my fists, wanting to charge straight into his arms, but I didn’t.

“Now I’m the sweaty mess,” I said, looking down at my body.

He smiled. “Too bad we can’t go for a swim in my living room.”

Frowning, I looked up at him. “Where were you?”

“I thought I’d do the ladies’ locker room before I met you. I think it was the wrong decision.”

That made me laugh. “Because now I need to use it?”

“No way.” He pulled me into a hug. “Because now I smell like toilet cleaner.” He pressed his face against my neck. “You smell like good, clean sweat.”

“Oh!” I tried to pull away, but his arms tightened around my waist.

“I’ve wanted to hold you like this for two days.”

I stopped struggling and wrapped my arms around his neck. It was crazy. We hadn’t really fought. In reality, we’d just had a misunderstanding. Still, being apart for forty-eight hours had felt like forty-eight years. I leaned back and placed my palms on his cheeks.

“I want you to kiss me.”

That sexy grin flashed across his lips just before they covered mine, parting them, his tongue finding mine. In a sweep, I was off my feet and we were right back where we’d left off.

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B
eing apart from Kenny was the most acute, self-inflicted torture I’d ever experienced. In a period of just a few weeks, she’d become the light in my otherwise bleak existence. If the ocean were my living room, she was my sun and moon.

Tuesday, she’d been confused. Wednesday, she was pissed. I was in the pit of hell.

She was completely justified, and it only made me want her even more. If I thought distancing myself from her would give me clarity, I was an idiot. It only clouded my mind and made me think of nothing but having her back in my arms.

I’d close my eyes, and I’d see her deep violet hair. I’d throw an arm over my head, and I’d feel the curve of her breast against my mouth. I’d shove my head under the pillow, and I could see her ass, small and round, her hips perked and waiting for me to slide inside as she made those little noises begging for more.

FUCK!
Yes. Torture.

This morning when she asked me to kiss her in the gym, the floodgates opened and satisfaction filled every crack in my broken insides. I consumed those lips, tasting her sweet mint flavor, dying a little bit because I knew I’d have to tell her everything at some point, and God only knew how that would end.

At the same time, after what I’d seen in her hand, maybe there was hope for me? If she were carrying a secret that big, maybe nothing I might say would send her running? It was impossible to know until we talked.

Last night I was back in heaven, wrapped in her arms. In only three days, I’d missed her like snow in the wintertime or flowers in spring. I sought out every part of her body to cover with my mouth as she twisted in the sheets and laughed, catching my cheeks and kissing me every chance she got. Finally, we slept, happy and satiated.

Tonight we were headed to Mariska’s for dinner. For a moment, I sat in the old rusted-out Ford in front of Kenny’s apartment. Her place was also small, but it was a hundred times nicer than my piece of shit studio, beach living room notwithstanding.

I’d looked at her door and thought about her inside getting ready. Occasionally, she’d hum some song while she did her hair. She was like a little bird..., which stirred old feelings of guilt. I wanted none of that tonight.

Hopping out, I went quickly to the door, but she had it open before I even knocked.

“I thought that was you.” She flew out in a swirl of black and violet.

I caught her in my arms and pulled her close against my chest, covering her small mouth with mine and sweeping my tongue in to find hers. Damn, I could keep her here all night.

Her hair was up in a high ponytail, but the ends hung down to the center of her back. She wore a black leotard-looking top with a deep blue patterned skirt that hung to the ground. I knew she had on some of those giant shoes underneath because her eyes were just at kissing level on me. When she was barefoot, her head rested perfectly in the center of my chest. I couldn’t decide which height I loved more.

“You are very exotic.” I let her twirl under my arm before coming to rest against me. Her skirt swirled and landed around us.

“Thanks,” she laughed, stretching her chin up and kissing my neck. I caught it in my hand, steadying her as I kissed her full on the mouth.

“Umm...” she sighed once I released her. “We’d better go. Mariska hates when I’m late.”

She followed me to the truck, but I stopped before we got in. “We can take your car if you prefer—”

“What! No way—I love your old truck.” She scooted closer under my arm. “It has character.”

“We should give it a name.”

“You’re right!” She bobbed her head, and her hair danced around her shoulders. I couldn’t help a smile. “Henry.”

“Henry Ford?”

“It’s not very original is it.” Her perky nose wrinkled, and I laughed.

“Works for me.”

* * *

M
ariska met us at the door dressed similarly to Kenny. “Welcome! Come in!”

The two hugged and as Kenny went inside, her friend leaned forward, whispering. “I’m reading your future tonight, Mr. Batman.”

“I don’t think Batman uses Mister.”

She laughed, “You’re not really him anyway, so who cares?”

It was true, and I couldn’t help a laugh. She’d been razzing me since the first day she’d tried using sign language on me.

“What’s for dinner?” Kenny called from the kitchen.

“Oh, it’s an old family recipe,” Mariska said, skipping past me into the kitchen. “Sarmale, which is basically stuffed cabbage with pork and sauerkraut and tomatoes.”

Lifting the lid off a Dutch oven, Kenny took a deep breath. Even I caught the savory aroma from where I stood. “It smells delicious.”

“Mmm,” she winked, giving it a stir. “Wait til you taste it!”

Leading us back into her elaborate sitting room, she made us all pull up huge pillows around a small table where a strange-looking copper pot sat. Three water glasses were placed beside three tiny cups on saucers.

“First, the fun part.” Our hostess was clearly excited. “Fortunes!”

“Oh, you know I don’t believe all of that.” Kenny flopped back against the couch.

Mariska’s place was exactly what I’d expected. It was small like Kenny’s apartment, but she had elephants as lamps and all sorts of paraphernalia on the shelves in front of her mountains of books. The books were the only things that outnumbered the trinkets.

I was pretty curious about these fortunes. “How does it work?”

Her eyes sparkled as she hopped forward on her cushion across from me. “First you have your coffee.” She lifted the copper pot and poured the black beverage into each of our cups. “Give it just a few minutes so the grounds settle to the bottom.”

While we waited, Kenny took a bright yellow, candy square off a dish by her cup. It was covered in powdered sugar. “I thought coffee was for after dinner.”

“Don’t be so technical.” Mariska fussed, picking up an orange square and holding it out to me. “Turkish delight?”

“Really?” I took it from her and looked at it closely. I’d only heard about this stuff in a children’s book. It didn’t look at all how I expected.

“Your coffee’s ready,” she said, and I lowered the candy.

Lifting the small cup, I took a hesitant sip. Thick and rich, it was smoky and earthy and had the faintest taste of mushrooms. I’d never had anything like it.

“Mmm,” Mariska said as her eyes slid closed and she licked her lips.

“It’s good,” I agreed, taking another sip.

Kenny ate another candied square before sipping hers. “I need more sugar. It’s too bitter.”

“Baby!” Her friend laughed before finishing off her cup. I followed suit, but she stopped me. “Remember not to drain the cup. It has a lot of grounds at the bottom.”

“That’s how she’s going to tell your future,” Kenny said, leaning into my arm.

I lowered the small cup that was decorated with purple brush strokes and what looked like a blue egg with a black yolk, sunny side up. “What’s that?”

“The Evil Eye,” Kenny whispered ominously.

“It’s a
nazar
.” Mariska held out her hands. “Protects against the evil eye. Hand it over.”

Taking my cup from me, she removed the saucer from underneath and placed it on top. Then she flipped the entire thing and rubbed her palms against the upside down coffee cup. “Let’s see what we have here.”

She was clearly turned on by the spectacle of the entire thing. She removed my small cup and studied the black mess of grounds now sitting on the saucer.

“Hmm...” she stared into the mound. “Interesting.”

I couldn’t help laughing. “What does my future look like Madame Mariska?”

“It appears you are going to take a long sea voyage.” She turned the saucer a few times. “But you have to finish the journey to find what you desire.”

Her green eyes lifted to mine, and she was all mysterious. Resting my elbow on the table, I nodded pretending to be serious. “Wow. That’s some trick.”

She bounced on her pillow grinning widely. “You think so? My grandma taught me how to do it.”

“The only problem is I’d never get on a boat. I don’t know how to swim.”

“What!” Kenny sat up fast. “Slayde! What about the other night in the ocean?”

“I’m not afraid of water, and I’m fine if I can stand in it.”

“Why can’t you swim?” Mariska looked straight into my eyes. She was still being mysterious.

“My mother drowned when I was a little boy.” The silence that fell over the room made me shift uncomfortably. “My dad never took me near water after that.”

“Yet here you are, living by the ocean.” Mariska was still searching.

Kenny slid her small hand into mine. “I’m so sorry.” Her beautiful blue eyes were full of concern.

“Wasn’t trying to be a buzz kill.” I pulled the back of her hand to my lips. “It was a long, long time ago. I’ve had plenty of time to get over it.”

Her smile was tinged with concern. “Still...”

“Your turn!” Mariska called, picking up Kenny’s cup.

She repeated the entire routine again, and then studied her grounds. “Humph. Not what I expected.”

Kenny’s brow clutched together. “That’s not what you want to hear from your fortune-telling bestie!”

Mariska laughed. “No, it just says you’ll have a change... or a discovery that will change your life. It could be anything!”

Kenny was thoughtful a moment. I noticed her glance move to my hand still holding hers and the smallest smile lift her cheek. Before anybody could speak, she hopped up and headed to the kitchen. “Let’s eat. I want some of that stuffed cabbage!”

We spent the rest of the evening talking about work, Rook and Tammy, Pete, who apparently was in love with Mariska. I’d missed that altogether. With stomachs full, we said goodnight and headed back to the truck. I wanted nothing more than to take Kenny home and spend the rest of the night with our bodies tangled together.

“Can you believe those fortunes? Sea voyages, discoveries...”

She was in my arms, and I pulled her up, kissing her head. “I’ll trade you my sea voyage for your discovery.”

Her arms rose to circle my neck. “I’ve already had my discovery. Take me with you on your sea voyage.”

I couldn’t think of anything I liked better. “Deal.”

––––––––

E
xercising regularly had made Slayde’s physique even more defined. Tonight, after our dinner at Mariska’s, it took all the control I could muster not to beg him to remove the thin wife-beater he still wore. I wanted to see everything.

Sitting on my bed facing each other, he’d already removed my skirt and bodysuit. I sat in front of him in my black bra and panties while he ran his fingers up the lines of my stomach. I shivered, touching his stomach through the transparent white tank.

“You have a butterfly,” he said, lightly outlining the insect Carl had inked for me at the top of my ribs.