Page 12 of Bound By Fate
“Looks like you get the award for best gift,” Dryerson said, coming up behind me and causing me to jump. His hands instantly went to that special spot on my neck, and I settled.
One touch. That was all it took. That was just not right.
Blowing out a deep breath, I responded, “Not goin’ for an award. Just wanted to make her happy.”
“And you hit the nail on the head with that one. That girl is on cloud nine and not expected to come down any time soon.” Dryerson’s words brushed my ear, so he must’ve been bending down a bit because he was much taller than me. I could feel him, as if his hands were caressing every inch of my body.
“Good. That’s what I want for her. A life full of joy.”
Ensley pulled me away from Dryerson and wrapped me in her arms. “You’ll find happiness and joy too, Katie. I swear it.”
I felt the tears begin to form in my eyes, and the pain of those words rolled through my brain. She didn’t understand, and thank God she never would. Pushing back the wetness with everything in me, I enjoyed my sister's embrace. She didn’t know, but I needed it more than I cared to admit. Inside I was cracking.
Whatever I could do in this life to make Ensley and Remy’s better, I would in a heartbeat. My sister’s arms were exactly what I needed. As she pulled away, she brushed the hair away from my face. “Swear it, Katie. Swear that you’ll grab happiness with both hands and hold onto it.”
The words were so low, I knew no one around us heard, but I couldn’t answer her. I couldn’t promise something like that. It was too monumental. Holding myself together took every bit of strength I had left.
Instead, I pulled her into my arms again and squeezed her with everything I had.
“Can I steal her for a bit?” Dryerson asked, pulling us out of our moment and crushing Ensley’s desire for answers.
Unfortunately, I didn’t know which one was worse. My sister or him wanting a moment ‘to talk’. The way I burned up on the inside just from his words, it had to be him. All him.
“Actually, I’m going to go,” I told both of them, looking for some way out of this mess. Talking to either of them had their issues, and I’d held it together, kind of, during this party. I didn’t need to push my luck. It wasn’t very good as is.
Dryerson grabbed my hand, and instantly I tried to pull away, but he didn’t allow it. Instead, he said to Ensley, “I’ll bring her back to ya in a sec,” then began to tug me along through the crowd of people.
“Dryerson!” I yelled, getting nowhere. This man was incessant and didn’t respond. And to make matters worse, none of the people we went by or ran into stopped him. Not that I expected them to, but there was a sliver of hope there.
With a huff and a roll of my eyes, I decided not to fight. It would only make this take longer than it needed to be. Better just to get it out in the open. Whatever ‘it’ was…
He led me down the hall and directly into the room where I used to stay and closed the door. I began to look around but was halted as my back was pressed to door. Dryerson’s body was against mine, his heat stirring this primal need inside me.
His lips came down on mine, and only then did he let go of my hand to place it in the curve of my neck and shoulder. That darn sweet spot … he knew me too well.
Thoughts slipped from my head as I let the pleasure and joy of Dryerson’s touch take me away, following him on this ride.
Dryerson’s lips were so soft yet demanding. The taste of him exploded, my eyes closed, and I was lost. Totally lost in him. My fingers threaded through his long blond hair. It was so thick, and I gripped it hard, not letting him move from me.
In that moment, I thought I’d die if he left my lips. It was how bad I wanted him. How much I wanted to be right where I was. This man could take me to a place where nothing else mattered, and it was only him and me. No worries. No thoughts, just us. A place I loved living, but didn’t deserve to.
With one of his hands on my neck, his other rubbed up and down my back in this soothing motion, making me want to melt in a puddle on the floor.
He had this intense effect on me, which was why I didn’t want to be alone with him—he could undo me. He was undoing me. From a kiss.
Katie!An inner voice started screaming in my head. I ignored it, but it didn’t stop putting everything in focus.
I was kissing Dryerson in a room, with a bed.
Using my fingers, I gripped his hair and pulled him back away from my lips, which was very difficult, but some part of my brain had kicked in.
We were both breathing hard.
“Katie, don’t pull away,” he said low.
Tears formed in my eyes, and I placed my forehead on his chest, listening to our breaths evening out. I wouldn’t cry. No, I couldn’t cry.
I inhaled him.
