Save me and I'll save you.
"Brendon." I reach for his skin. "Can I?"
He nods.
I trace the lines of the ink. "When?"
"Before I left. Walker did it."
"Yeah?"
"Told me he'd kick my ass if I fucked this up."
A sob rises up in my throat. "He meant it?"
"I think so. Pretty sure Dean and Ryan will join him."
My heart warms. The guys look out for me. They support me. I do have people who love me. Who want me to be okay. None of them can replace Grandma, but it helps, knowing I have support.
"I mean it, Kay. I know you'll always feel a little broken. And I'll always worry I don't deserve you. But I want to be there, by your side, to help you through every ugly moment. And I want you by mine."
A tear rolls down my cheek. "I want that too."
He cups my cheek with his palm. Wipes a tear with my thumb. "Those happy or sad?"
"Both."
"I love you. I have for a long time. And I will for longer."
I nod. "I love you too."
He wraps his arms around me and he kisses me like he can't get enough of my lips.
Like he can't get enough of me.
God, he tastes good.
I don't come up for air until I'm dizzy.
With love and lust and the comfort of knowing he's by my side.
For everything.
Forever.
Epilogue
Brendon
Kaylee steps out of the humanities building with stars in her eyes. She stretches her arms over her head as she lets out a soft yawn.
Her lips spread into a smile as her eyes catch mine. Her movements get faster. The exhaustion fades from her expression.
I move toward her. Meet her at the halfway point of the sidewalk.
She jumps into my arms and squeezes me tightly. "I thought you had to work."
"I finished early." I soak up the feeling of her body against mine. She's so warm and soft. And she's mine.
All mine.
Fuck, it's still hard to believe.
I set her down on the concrete, but I keep my arms around her.
Her green eyes fill with affection as she looks up at me. "I missed you."
"I missed you." I bring one hand to the back of her head, undo her ponytail, and run my fingers through her hair. "How was it?"
She smiles. "Easy peasy."
"Easy?"
"Relatively speaking."
She's been locked in her studying cave for the last two weeks. It's been torture. But it's worth it for the look on her face.
I cup the back of her head. "Straight As?"
"I think so. But we'll see." She slides her arm around my waist and rests her head on my chest. "Tell me we're going straight to your place."
"My place? What would we do there?" I play dumb.
"Brendon Kane, this is not the time to be a tease."
"There go my plans for the afternoon."
Kay laughs so hard she shakes. "Okay. You can tease. But not until we're at your place."
"I'm not following."
"You are too." She slides her hand under my t-shirt and presses her palm against my stomach.
"I have a surprise for you."
"Yeah?" Her voice lifts. "Something, ahem..."
I chuckle. "No. After."
"After." She looks up at me. "I like after."
"Me too."
Kaylee giggles as she steps into the house. She surveys the living room like she hasn't seen it in weeks. I guess she hasn't. I'm not sure she's done anything but work, sleep, and study for the last two weeks.
"It's so much cleaner without Em here." She runs her fingers over the spotless dining table. "Almost freakishly clean."
"And your room?"
"Good point." She takes my hand and follows me to the stairs. "I miss this place."
"I miss you here." Nearly every night, I fall asleep wishing she was in my bed. But I made her mom a promise, that Kaylee would live with Emma until she graduated from college.
Today was Kaylee's last final. The last day of freshman year. That leaves three years to go.
Fuck, three years until I have her around twenty-four seven.
If I'm lucky, she'll graduate early.
No, I'm lucky either way.
I whisper in her ear. "Go to my room, strip, and sit on the bed."
She stops short. "Strip to what?"
"I want you naked on my bed."
Her tongue slides over her lips.
"I want you coming on my face until you can't take it anymore."
Her pupils dilate. She nods and takes a shaky step forward.
I watch her climb the stairs and move down the hallway. She's practically bouncing. She wants me that badly.
Fuck knows I want her... I'm not sure I have words for how much I want her.
It's been two weeks since I've watched Kay come.
That's two weeks too long.
I wait until I can't stand it anymore, then I make my way to my bedroom.
She's sitting on the black sheets. Naked. Her legs spread. Her palms on her thighs. Her gaze on the mirror opposite her.
My balls tighten.
Fuck.
I need to be inside her now.
But this first.
My voice drops to that demanding tone. "You want to watch as you come on my face, angel?"
She nods.
I don't have any fucking patience today.
I move right to the bed. Sit next to her, pull her into my lap, and bring my lips to hers.
She kisses back hard and hungry.
I let my hands roam her body. It feels like it's been months since I've touched her.
She groans against my mouth as I toy with her breasts. As I drag my hand down her stomach.
Slowly, I lower her onto her back. I pull her to the edge of the bed, spread her legs, and kneel between them.
Her back arches as I dig my fingers into her thighs.
Fuck, I love the sight of her.
I push her knees apart as I drag my lips up her inner thigh. I go higher and higher, until she's squirming against my hands.
Then I move to her other leg and do it again.
Her groan is half agony, half ecstasy.
I do it again.
Again.
I do it until she's shaking. Until she's groaning my name like it's a curse. Like I'm evil.
I am.
But she fucking loves it.
Once I've tortured her thoroughly, I bring my mouth to her cunt.
Relief drips from her sigh.
That feels so fucking good.
And she tastes so fucking good.
I take my time licking her up and down. I do it slowly, mercilessly slowly.
I wind her up again.
I bring her right to the edge.
She squirms against my hands. She bucks her hips. She tugs at my hair.
"Please," she breathes.
But I don't relent.
I do it again.
"Please." Her hand knots in my hair. Her groans run together. Please, sigh, please, sigh, please.
I kiss on her inner thigh. "You watching, angel?"
"No. I..."
"Watch."
She presses herself onto her elbows. Her pupils dilate as her gaze goes to the mirror.