Page 50 of Reviving Kendall

“Bath,” I answer without thinking on it. Not only have I not had one in forever, but I know that it’ll help loosen some of the muscles in my body right now. Plus, I don’t think I’ve got the stamina to stand for even that long. I can’t remember the last time I ate anything and I’m feeling dizzy.

While he runs the water, it gives me a second to ponder on the fact that all of them have kissed me or shown me some kind of affection in front of the others today. It’s not like I’m complaining, I just don’t understand how it’s changed so fast. Exhausted just from standing, I scoot up on the counter. If any of them would talk to me without holding back or being straight alpha dick, it would be Lucas.

“What’s changed, Lucas?” I ask while I still have the nerve to.

Watching me over his shoulder, he asks, “With what?”

I motion between us, “With this. With all of you. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you guys being here, because I’d probably still be sitting where you found me if you weren’t. I’m just really confused. Only a month ago, Mav refused to even consider any of you guys being with me, because of my circumstances, not having money and such. I heard you guys out on the back porch of the cabin. I didn’t mean to, but it was eye opening, to say the least. What I’m trying to say is I’m ok with us just being friends. I don’t want you to feel like you have to be anything more out of pity or anything.”

“Is that what you honestly think?” he asks standing and turning to face me. “You think that we want to be with you because we feel sorry for you?”

I shrug, and that’s all that it takes. He is in front of me in less time than it takes to blink, “You are wrong, baby.” His lips capture mine and all I can do is grab fistfuls of his shirt and hang on for dear life.

We’re both breathing hard when he pulls away, “There have been other girls in my life, but I can now honestly say that I didn’t love them in any way. I know that now, because I can’t ever see myself being with anyone else. You had me from that first look that you gave me in the restaurant. You had me when you stood up to T and Mav the way that you did, and the way that you’re so gentle and patient with Goose. You had me then, and you have me now. You’re down right now and I’ll be here to pick you back up every step of the way if you’ll let me.”

Tears are running down my face and I feel bad for leaning my face into his shoulder and getting his shirt wet, but I can’t help it. I need to be closer. Staying there for a minute or so before pulling away, I lock eyes with him as I unbutton the top one to his dress shirt. He doesn’t stop me, so I make slow work of the rest of them. When I get to the last one, he stands like a sexy fucking statue as I slip the hem from his pants where it’s still tucked in. Working my way up his abs, I push the sides of the collar over his shoulders. The white material drifts to the floor as he shrugs the rest of the way out of it and I make quick work of his undershirt.

As it hits the floor on top of the other, I’m left with wide eyes and a small fire in my belly. Lucas’ tattoos run all the way from his wrists to his shoulders. There are empty places like he’s trying to save room for more. The only one that I can see on his chest is way below leading into the top of his pants. What really gets me, are the silver bars running through both of his nipples. Who would have ever thought that my sweet Lucas would willingly want so much pain. In the past few months, I’ve surprisingly only managed to see Mav without his shirt on, and that was in the dark. Looking at Lucas now is intense. He’s a happy medium between Goose and Mav in the muscle department, with a broad chest and shoulders and tapered waist. I finally fully understand the phrase ‘washboard abs.’

I can’t stop myself from reaching out to touch him. As my hands roam his body, he leans in to my touch and closes his eyes. Curiosity wins out over logic as I lean down to see what those bars feel like against my tongue. Doing this gives me a clear view of the tub between his arm and side, “Lucas!”

He must hear the panic in my voice and realizes what I’m talking about, because he jerks around and shuts off the water, right as it’s only centimeters from spilling over the edge.

“Fuck that was close,” he sputters.

The look on his face is priceless, and it starts me on one of those laughing binges. You know, the semi-psychotic stomach grabbing laughs that you can’t stop even when you try.

There’s a knock at the door and Goose sticks his head in, “Heard some yelling. Everything ok in here?” I watch as his eyes roam over a half-naked Lucas up to his elbow in bath water trying to unplug the drain over to me still sitting on the counter. I haven’t moved since Lucas left, so my legs are open far enough for him to fit between them. Which, in turn, hikes my dress up to my upper thighs. His face turns pink as he realizes what he almost walked in on.

Of course, all I can do is laugh like a fucking crazy person as I try to spit out, “Lucas is making us an indoor swimming pool.”

Replugging the drain, he turns around and flicks the water off his fingers at me, “I turned on the bath, got distracted and had to rescue us from drowning.”

Goose’s eyes light up and I know that look. It means he’s about to hit us with a movie quote, “It's interesting. The young lady slipped so suddenly, and you still had time to remove your jacket and your shoes.”

“Hey! I actually know this one,” I say excitedly. “Titanic?”

He winks at me, “You got it babe. I’m gonna head back in here so you guys can ummm...yeah I’m going back in here.”

That reaction causes my laughter to give way to curiosity again, “Hey Lucas, why don’t you and Goose get jealous like the others do?”

He comes to stand between my knees again, “It’s not because we care any less if that’s what you’re thinking.”

Shaking my head, I say, “No, I know you don’t. It’s just, well, take Mav’s rage at the cabin and that was just because he saw me kissing Teagan. Does it not bother you watching me kiss them?”

“I can’t speak for Goose, but for me, when I see them with you, all I see is you guys making each other happy. I know you both have enough room in here for me too,” he answers touching his chest. “And as long as we’re all happy then it shouldn’t matter how many of us you’re with.”

“You’re pretty fucking awesome, you know,” I say leaning in to him.

He kisses the corner of my mouth, “I guess that’s why we make such a good team, huh? Now, come on. We didn’t almost drown just for your water to get cold.”

He helps me down from the counter, but I’m still dizzy. I lean on him for support, “I think I need to eat something.”

“Well, come on, baby. They’ll be back with the pizza soon and we’ll get some food in your system, even though we’re already shit at this boyfriend thing. We should be feeding you something healthier since it’s been so long since you ate,” he says beating himself up.

I successfully close the conversation with a kiss, “Thank you for everything you’ve done, and just for being here.”

He presses a kiss against my forehead, “Anytime.”

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