Page 42 of Barefoot Chaos
Like flashes of a movie reel, I saw glimpses of what happened last night run through my mind. Staring at the wall, I was both confused, horrified, and embarrassed. I gasped as that same hand traveled south, distracting me from my trip down memory lane. It stroked over my stomach, skated around Mt. Pleasant, and traced down my thigh.
"Kai!" Oh God, I'd have to apologize to him as soon as possible. I couldn't believe he saw me like that. I had no recollection of what happened after I almost fell a second time. A second time! Dear God, who the hell was that last night?
"Mmhmm," Kai groaned into my ear from behind me, his voice gravelly with sleep.
I ignored my throbbing head and turned in his arms. I needed to get this out before he kept feeling me up. "Kai?"
His eyes opened, showing me bright green irises. I brought my hand up to his face, finding his beard scruffy in the best way. The kind of scratchy that has a girl thinking of other places she wanted that beard. "Good morning," he whispered.
"Hi!" I cleared my throat, searching for better words. I wanted to leave inarticulate, drunk Hessa a distant memory. "I-I know I was a total mess last night and I'm so sorry. I'm not sure what all happened but it was inexcusable. Thank you for taking care of me."
He smiled, rubbing his hand along my arm, tracing his finger over my collarbone. "You were actually hilarious, but I am concerned still about your rash. Looks like the Benadryl knocked it out."
I looked down at my chest, confused. "Rash?"
"When I got your coat off, you were covered in a nasty rash. Have you worn that coat before?"
"I wore it once last winter, but with clothes on underneath." I blushed, remembering how I'd been naked the whole time.
Kai's smile got bigger. "Yeah, I really liked that. Maybe next time, don't use a wool coat.""
I huffed out a laugh. "There won't be a next time! I think I embarrassed myself enough."
His smile turned into a pout. "Will you at least wear the heels again? I really like the idea of you in the heels. And nothing else." He thrust his hips into mine, reminding me of our naked states.
"Does this mean you forgive me and we're good?"
"Depends. Does this mean you want a relationship with me? You agree that we'd be good together?" He wasn't going to let me off the hook easily, which I understood. I did brush him off pretty hardcore last time.
I wanted to be as honest with him as I could. "Absolutely. I'm still scared, but I'm willing to give you my best try."
The words had barely left my lips before he rolled on top of me, lips pressed to mine, sealing the deal. Then he pulled back, trapping my hands above my head, pressing my wrists into the soft mattress.
"Just so we're clear, nothing happened last night. I gave you Benadryl and put you to bed. I know you've been hesitant to take this further, but I've been clear from the beginning. You mean everything to me, Ono. I respect you and value you. I'll never take your trust in me for granted. And I'll never just walk away from you."
Having no words to respond, I lifted my head and kissed him instead, hoping it conveyed all I felt for this man.
He broke the kiss again, not yet done though he was breathing heavy. "There's a word in my culture called Ku'uipo. It means sweetheart. But it's stronger than the English equivalent of girlfriend. It means lover, best friend, the one you want by your side for a lifetime." He paused to search my eyes. "You're my Ku'uipo, Hessa."
There wasn't much more my wine marinated brain could handle. I had no witty reply, just tears as I realized how lucky I was to be in this man's life. He even kissed those away before moving down my body, waking up every part of me with lips, tongue, and teeth.
And when he filled me, bringing me over the edge, it wasn't his name I cried out. It was Ku'uipo.
16
Hessa
I discovered morning sex was the best cure for a hangover. It was sweet. It was slow. And it blasted through the remaining fuzz in my head. As we lay wrapped around each other in post-coital bliss, I listed out all the ways to say how I felt about him. Together, we came up with quite a few.
I was head over heels for Kai. Enamored. Boy crazy. Crushin' on him. Lovesick. Infatuated. Sweet on him. Basically, all the words and phrases that circled around what I was actually feeling for him: in love. I wasn't ready to say it yet. I wanted more time to just be together. The words would come later when I was absolutely certain. When I said it to him, I would mean it to the depths of my soul. I didn't take those three little words lightly. When I said it, it would be forever.
Saturday melted into Sunday. We drove to my house to pick up papers I needed to grade, along with some actual clothes. I couldn't keep wearing one of Kai's t-shirts with no undies. He said it was too distracting, but secretly, I think he loved the easy access. I struck a compromise by putting on a matching bra and lacy thong set Bailey had picked out for me at Nordstrom. If I couldn't be naked, I'd at least be in something better than worn out granny panties.
Kai had to run down to the garage to pick up his VW van. He'd had some repairs done to it and from the way he went on about it, I was excited to see it. He was my beach hippie, through and through. I was learning to love that about him, rather than equate it with something negative.
While he went to the garage, I sent a group text to the Beach Squad letting them know where I stood with Kai. I heard back instantaneous congratulations, along with several pleas for details on the sex. Those girls made me laugh.
I even updated my Instabook profile to 'In a Relationship'. Then I grabbed my laptop and formatted some fliers advertising my upcoming fundraiser concert. Esa got back to me saying she'd talked to the powers-that-be at Pacific City and she had the courtyard booked next month and several stores had already promised to pitch in.
