Page 20 of The Holiday Disaster

“Not tired,” I said, flipping the page. As an animal science major on the pre-vet track, I had to take a lot of science classes, so I wanted to get ahead.

Kingsley turned the book to face him as he skimmed through it. I gave him an exasperated look, waiting for a sarcastic comment, but he was paying attention to the book instead of me.

“How did you even get your textbooks when the semester hasn’t started yet?” he asked, finally looking up at me.

I shrugged and flipped the book back to face me. “Everyone knows everyone in the animal science department. I met my professors for next semester and asked them for the textbooks they’ll be using. It’s as simple as that.”

“As simple as that, huh?” Kingsley said as he gave me a look of wonder.

“What?” I shifted under his gaze that seemed to be able to read me inside and out.

“I think you’re amazing.” His chin returned to resting on his hands as he looked at me with a huge smile.

“Really?” I asked with an eyebrow raised. I wasn’t sure if he was teasing me again or not.

“I’m being serious. Not many people would reach out to their professors to get textbooks for a class that hasn’t even begun yet,” he said as he gave a pointed look to the book in question. He paused for a second before continuing, “It’s admirable that you know what you want and go for it. You don’t drift through life like I do.”

My brows furrowed at his words. Those were words I would never use to describe Kingsley Sharp. He was the captain of the football, basketball,andbaseball teams in high school. He didn’t take a single season off and worked hard to win trophies for the school. If he were simply “drifting through life,” he wouldn’t show that much dedication for those teams.

“That’s not true. You give everything you do a hundred and ten percent. You were always the last to leave during practice, and you pushed yourself harder than anyone else. And you care more than anyone I know. You always stayed behind to help train the newbies, even if it meant sacrificing your own free time. And it’s okay if you don’t know what you want to do in the future, you’ll figure it out. That’s what college is for. So don’t forget that you’re amazing as well!”

I was huffing by the time I finished my little speech. Kingsley didn’t say anything for a moment, and I was afraid that I’d said too much. His expression was one of surprise before turning into a grin.

“So you did come to watch our practices. You always told Elliott and me that you wouldn’t be caught dead sitting in the bleachers.”

I rolled my eyes again. Of course that would be the point he would focus on. “I didn’t sit on the bleachers,” I grumbled. There were a couple picnic tables by the trees on the other side of the field. It had become a habit to sit in the shade and read my schoolwork. I would never admit that my eyes would more often than not drift to the beautiful figure that was leading the other players instead of focusing on any homework.

“I didn’t know you paid that much attention to me back then,” Kingsley said as he took hold of my hand. My heating face was the only response to that.

He got up from the chair, and while never letting go of my hand, knelt on the floor in front of me. He reached up to lay his hand on his new favorite place—on my nape—and I automatically leaned down so he could reach. My eyes almost closed in pleasure as his thumb began rhythmically stroking my cheek.

“Thank you for telling me that. The way you see me is beautiful.” The earnestness in his eyes had left me breathless and in a daze. I could stare into those enchanting blues forever.

“You are beautiful,” I whispered, and his smile that followed almost stole the rest of my breaths away.

He gently pulled me down as his eyes continued to stay locked on me. I willingly followed his lead and closed my eyes in anticipation for those soft lips. A groan escaped me when our mouths finally connected, and the gentle peck quickly turned into a fierce battle of our tongues.

I tumbled out of my chair, landing on top of Kingsley. He held me firm on top of him with one hand wrapped tightly around my waist and the other still cuffing my nape. My elbows were on both sides of his head as I held myself up to stare into his eyes.

“Have I told you how sexy you look in my shirt?” He pressed a kiss to my exposed collarbone before meeting my eyes again. “When I woke up this morning to find you only wearing my shirt while on top of me, I almost couldn’t stop myself from taking what I wanted.” His voice was hoarse and thick with what I hoped was lust.

“And what is it you wanted?” I asked, but my words were drowned out by the blood rushing in my ears. My heart wasn’t getting a break this weekend. It had been beating like I was running a marathon whenever I was around Kingsley.

“You,” he said, his voice firm and with fire burning in his blue eyes that had all the blood flowing south.

This was it. The moment I needed to channel all the confidence that I didn’t have. Kingsley had said that I didn’t drift through life, and I went for what I wanted. Well, it was time to finally grab hold of what I’d been yearning for since I could remember instead of always running away.

I gave him what I hoped was a flirtatious smile. “Then take what you want.” My voice came out more raspy than sexy, but Kingsley didn’t seem to notice as his smirk became even wider.

Without waiting for him, I leaned down to take what I desired. I needed a taste of his lips again. My fingers weaved through his soft hair as he did things with this tongue that shouldn’t have been legal with how amazing it felt.

He kept one hand on my nape, holding me so that I couldn’t pull back—not that anything could break me from him right now. His other hand roamed up and down my back before sliding under my shirt. His warmth against my bare skin had me shivering as I gasped against his lips.

My hips ground into his, and the pressure of his hard-on meeting mine brought a new sense of euphoria that I’d never experienced before.

“Ethan, I want—”

“Yes, yes,” I breathed between kisses before he could finish his sentence. It didn’t matter what he was going to ask. I wanted it all. I wanted to experience all of my firsts with him.

---