Chapter Eight
Kenna opened her apartment door and beamed at Marshall over a week later. Their plans the Sunday before had been canceled when Marshall had to participate in a training exercise. But now it was the following Sunday, her day off, and they were going to attempt to sneak onto the private beach at the Coral Springs condo complex she’d been drooling over for quite a while.
“Hi!” she said happily. He looked good. Really good. She enjoyed gawking at him in his uniform, but Kenna thought she liked this laid-back Marshall even more. He had on what looked like a pair of swim trunks with a white T-shirt emblazoned with a large pineapple. It was whimsical and seemed out of character. Which made her like it even more.
“Hi, back,” he said before stepping into her personal space and reaching for her. Even though this was only their second in-person date, Kenna was more than comfortable with him initiating a kiss. Probably because of the hours and hours they’d spent talking on the phone and via text.
When he leaned down, she didn’t hesitate in the least. She wanted this man.
His lips landed on hers, and Kenna mentally let out a girly squeal.
This kiss was more confident, hungrier, than their first had been. On both their parts.
Kenna eventually forced herself to pull back, when all she really wanted to do was pull him inside her apartment and throw him down on her bed.
They continued to chat every night after she got home from work. What had started as texts to let him know she was home safe, had led to Marshall asking her to call. Every night for the last week, she’d fallen asleep with the memory of his deep voice in her head. She’d even masturbated a time or two while thinking of that rumbly voice saying all sorts of not-so-innocent things.
Marshall licked his lips sensually, and it was all Kenna could do to control herself and not jump him right there. It had been a while since she’d been with a man, and she had a feeling Marshall would be well worth the wait. At least she hoped so. God, if he was bad in bed or had a tiny dick, she might be devastated.
“What are you thinking about so hard?” Marshall asked.
Kenna blushed. There was no way she was going to tell him she was thinking about the size of his cock. “I’m just happy to see you,” she hedged.
He smirked as if he knew she was lying through her teeth. But as the gentleman he’d proved himself to be time and time again, he merely smiled at her. “Same,” he said, lifting a hand and smoothing a piece of hair behind her ear.
Man, she loved when he did that. She loved this man’s hands on her anywhere.
“Come on, let me show you around. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s home.” Kenna gestured behind her and Marshall came in and shut the door. She walked him through the galley kitchen, definitely not pointing out the peeling Formica countertops or the appliances that had probably been there for twenty years.
“I love that I can watch TV while I’m in the kitchen,” she said, playing up the positive aspects of her apartment. “I never miss anything when I’m doing dishes or grabbing my popcorn from the microwave.”
Then she led him into the small living area. “Here’s where I spend a lot of my time. I know the beanbag is a little ridiculous for someone my age, but seriously, it’s the most comfortable thing ever.”
Marshall raised an eyebrow.
“What? You don’t believe me? Go on. Sit in it.”
“It’s okay. I believe you,” Marshall said.
“Nope, now that I’ve seen your skeptical face, you have to.”
“My skeptical face?” he asked with a laugh.
“Yup. Admit it, you looked at it and thought it was ridiculous,” Kenna teased.
“I’m gonna plead the fifth on that one,” Marshall said as he walked toward the ginormous beanbag Kenna had splurged on.
He lowered himself into it and wiggled around until he was comfortable.
“It’s called a Lovesac. I know, I know, the name is horrible, but I did a ton of research and it had amazing reviews. And believe it or not, this isn’t even the biggest one they had. I got the second to largest one, and I probably could’ve gone a bit smaller. There have been plenty of nights that I’ve fallen asleep in that thing, it’s that comfortable. I do have to turn it around and plump it up every now and then, but otherwise it’s perfect.”
“There’s one thing wrong with it,” Marshall said.
Kenna frowned. “What?”
He held out his hand and without thought, Kenna grabbed it.
He immediately yanked her forward, and Kenna let out a yelp as she landed half on top of him in the oversized beanbag.
“You weren’t in here with me,” he said, finishing his thought.
Kenna laughed. “Jeez, Marshall, I thought there was really something wrong!” she accused.
“As far as I’m concerned, I stand by my statement.”
Kenna was plastered against Marshall’s side, the beanbag seeming to smoosh them together even tighter than they’d be if they were in a bed. Her hand rested on his chest and she could feel the thumping of his heart under her fingers. She stared at him as he gazed into her eyes.
“You look amazing,” Marshall said quietly.
“Thanks.” Kenna didn’t think she was wearing anything special. She had on a brightly colored cover-up dress that went down to her knees. It was black with huge purple and yellow hibiscus flowers. It was gaudy, but when she’d seen it in one of the iconic ABC Stores in Waikiki, she couldn’t resist.
“I haven’t seen you in a dress yet,” Marshall told her.
“It’s not really a dress,” Kenna admitted. “Just something to wear over my bathing suit.”
“Please tell me you’re wearing a bikini,” Marshall said with a twinkle in his eye.
Kenna rolled her eyes. “You’re such a guy.”
“Yup, I sure am,” he agreed.
“I don’t own a bikini. I’m fairly confident with how I look, but I’m just more comfortable in a one-piece.”
“You have nothing to worry about,” Marshall reassured her. “Remember, I’ve seen you in nothing but a sports bra and shorts when you jumped on top of me.”
“Don’t remind me,” Kenna groaned, wrinkling her nose. “And I didn’t jump on you.”
Marshall’s hand came up and he brushed the back of his fingers against her cheek before moving his hand to the nape of her neck.
Goose bumps broke out on her arms, and of course he noticed.
“You like when I hold you like this?” he asked.
Kenna nodded. “It’s been a while since anyone’s really touched me. If you grabbed me and hauled me around, I’d hate it. But you touch with me with the perfect mix of assertiveness and gentleness.”
“You don’t like anything I do, all you have to do is say so. Or push me away or something,” Marshall told her. “And I love touching you. I feel as if it’s my reward for getting through the week without seeing you. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve enjoyed talking to you and getting to know you. But I’ve missed this…being with you in person.”
“This is only our second date.” Kenna felt obligated to point out, even though she felt exactly the same way he was describing.