Page 102 of Torn In Two

Kara knelt in front of me, her knees on the sandy grass growing at the edge of the paved parking lot. She caught my hand and rubbed it briskly. “Tell me three things you see or hear or smell right now.”

My head felt like it weighed a ton. “Why?”

“Someone told me recently it helps calm your nervous system if you focus on what’s right here in front of you instead of whatever’s going on in your head.”

She was right. It was a technique I used with my patients. I drew in a breath that wasn’t nearly as deep as I wanted but better than the choking feeling that had me in its grip. “The sky is more gray than blue. That video Hayley Jade is watching is loud enough I can hear it even outside the car.” I let my gaze settle on Kara’s face.

“One more,” she prompted calmly.

“You’re beautiful.”

She let out a shuddering breath, her gaze dipping to my mouth before dragging back up my face. “Feel better?”

“I feel like I want to kiss you. And I’m so damn scared you’re going to say no.”

She let out a wobbly breath but didn’t turn away. And didn’t say no. “I don’t understand why you’d want that. I’m with Hawk. And Hayden.”

Which was exactly what I’d been telling myself ever since I’d met her.

Except I was selfish enough to not care. To want more, and to ask her if I could have it.

“I still want to kiss you, Kara.” I slid my hand to the side of her face, past her ear, tangling it in the wild mess of her hair. “And I think if you’re honest with yourself, you want to kiss me too.”

She narrowed the gap between us until my mouth hovered over hers, our warm breaths mingling in the cold beach air. I brushed my lips across hers, testing her reaction, buzzing at the feel of electricity when her body connected with mine.

“I don’t want to ruin what you have with them. If kissing you will hurt you, I’ll walk away.” I inhaled the salty smell of her lips.

“I can’t have three men, Gray,” she whispered. But her eyes closed and she tipped her head back, letting me trail my lips up her neck.

I kissed the spot beneath her ear. “You can have whatever you want. All you have to do is tell me yes.”

Her pause was the most agonizing few seconds of my life.

“Yes.”

I pressed my mouth to hers, all gentleness gone as she kissed me back just as hard, wrapping her arms around my neck and hauling me in. I stood, lifting us both from the low fence until her ass was on the edge of the hood and we were a mess of tongues and hands, roaming each other’s backs, stroking hair, brushing over skin. I ran my tongue along the seam of her lips, loving when she opened for me. The kiss seared, engraving itself in my brain, feeling so damn different than any kiss I’d ever had before.

Until I opened my eyes and caught a glimpse of Hayley Jade in the middle of the back seat.

She covered her mouth, giggling behind her hand.

I threw the little girl a wink and pulled her mother tight, wrapping my arms around her, hugging her close. “We have an audience,” I mumbled, smile so wide I couldn’t wipe it off my face.

Kara smiled as well, elbowing me. “I thought you were used to that.”

31

KARA

Grayson’s kisses left my lips tingling. I ran my finger over them absentmindedly, a happy smile pulling at my mouth as I stared out the window. Hayley Jade was still happily occupied in the back seat with my phone and a YouTube video, and Grayson’s hand on my leg was oddly thrilling for such a simple touch.

His thumb stroked my thigh, his hand reassuringly warm through the fabric of my leggings, despite his dip in the freezing ocean.

I didn’t know what this was. Or how on earth I was going to tell Hayden and Hawk. Maybe I wouldn’t. What I had learned from being away from Josiah was that I didn’t owe anyone anything.

There was a connection between Hawk and Hayden and me. But they didn’t own me the way Josiah had. I was free to make my own choices.

Neither had asked me to be their girlfriend. Hawk hadn’t put me on the back of his bike, which I’d been told was the mark of commitment from men from the club.