Page 12 of Loving Leila
“You all right there, gorgeous? You look like you’re ready to collapse.”
Just for a moment, I allow myself to relax into his embrace. We were always close, and I’ve missed him, almost but not quite as much as Kyle. I rest my aching head on his shoulder and sigh. Still feeling emotional, I will the tears away.
When things ended, I didn’t only lose Kyle. I lost all these guys too. Well, except Jake, the one the team calls Phantom, who wasn’t yet with them. Their absence left a gaping hole in my life, and I’m determined not to let them go a second time. I just don’t know how I’ll achieve that since their “bro code” means everything to them.
I hear Kyle come back down the hall, and I attempt to step back, but Ace tightens his arms around me.
“Give me another minute here.” I hear something in his voice I can’t identify. “I’ve missed you, girl. And I gotta tell ya, that was a shitty moment when I saw you go down back there on that floating tub. Scared the crap outta me.”
Circling his waist, I hang on to him and valiantly battle back the tears again. Damn, just scoop my heart out with a spoon, why don’t you? From behind me, someone clears their throat, and I swear I hear Kevin chuckle. But when he lets me go seconds later, there’s no hint of humor on his face.
“All right you bunch of reprobates, it’s time for us to rock 'n’ roll outta here. Miss Leila needs to rest, and somewhere out there’s a burger with my name on it,” Ace says.
One by one, the guys come over and hug me, telling me how glad they are I’m okay and how much they’ve missed me. Jake is the only one I don’t know since I only met him for the first time on the ship. But even he bends to give me a hug.
“It’s been an honor and a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you from the guys. Hopefully, I get to see you again. Take care, yeah?”
I’m so surprised by his comment all I can do is nod. Then Guy’s back and hauls me in for another hug. He places a tender kiss on the top of my head.
“Missed you, care bear.”
There’s no stopping the tears this time. All I manage to say is, “I missed you too.” Emotions are like a tight band around my chest, and I can’t seem to draw a deep breath. Another quick kiss on the head and he’s gone. The rest of the team follow him out the door.
I watch them leave through a hazy film, desperately trying to stop the droplets from falling until they’re all gone. When my door closes with a firm click, I can no longer hold back the flood. Wrapping my arms around my waist, a sob breaks loose. I startle violently when another pair of arms wrap around me and pull me against a hard body. Through the tears, I look up into Kyle’s model-gorgeous face. I thought he’d left with the others.
I stiffen, and he pulls me a little closer, resting his chin on the top of my head, and he says, “Don’t, sweetness. Let me hold you for a minute.”
It’s the last thing I should do, but right now I’m not strong enough to turn away. As we stand like that, a wave of emotion takes me under, and I surrender to it. Years of pain, loss, and grief come pouring out, and it’s not pretty. My head hurts, my nose is blocked, and my chest burns, but the tears keep coming.
Finally, I lay lethargically in his arms, an occasional hiccup wracking my body. I have no idea at what point Kyle took a seat on the sofa, but he rises gracefully as if I weigh nothing and carries me down the hall to my bedroom.
He pulls the covers back, lowering me gently before making his way to the other side. I guess his intent and know I should ask him to leave. But I’m not ready for this to end. I’m under no illusions – it will end. Please just not yet. Just a little longer. A final chance to store memories.
Kyle climbs into the bed beside me and urges me over onto my side. He slips an arm under me and wraps the other around my waist, drawing me tight against him. The tiny kiss he places below my ear has my nipples tightening and my core aching.
“Sleep, sweetness. You’ll feel better for it.”
I’m too exhausted to argue, so I don’t. I simply close my eyes and absorb the scent and feel of him enveloping me. For the first time since the nightmare on the ship started, I feel safe. I always did with Kyle.
Caught up in the memories of our time together, I drift into sleep.
Chapter 11
Kyle
I’m in purgatory.
Leila soft and warm in my arms isn’t something I thought I’d get to experience ever again. Yet here we are. And it feels like punishment. I’d give almost anything to be able to sink into her tight, wet heat and lose myself in her. But she’s not mine anymore. I lost that right a long time ago.
I recite football plays, baseball scores, anything to will this hard-on away. The last thing I want is for Leila to think I’m trying to get into her pants. I mean, come on. I’d have to be halfway to dead not to want her. And even then, I’m not sure I wouldn’t want her still.
But she’s been through enough in the last two days.
For the second time in twenty-four hours, I find myself at peace with the world as I lay beside her. It isn’t long before I follow her into sleep, although for how long I don’t know before a soft chirp signals an incoming message. Shit, I should probably have put my phone on silent.
Leila moves restlessly against me, and I have to bite back a groan as her tight, little ass rubs against my erection. I’m about to slip out of the bed when she sighs and rolls toward me. She burrows her nose into my neck; her arm settles on my chest. I can’t help myself as I sink my fingers into the long, burnished copper strands of her hair and wrap the soft tresses around my hand.
When next I become aware, I find Leila staring up at me, her eyes roving over my face. Without thought, I tilt my head down and nibble on her soft bottom lip. Her sharp inhale has air flowing over my own lips, and I tilt my head to kiss her. For the barest moment in time, she hesitates before she opens to me.
