Page 36 of Waiting Forever
Her cheery mood gives me hope. Keeping things playful, I wave the tongs at her. “Watch it. I’m armed and dangerous.”
She snort-laughs and turns for the table, her long red hair like a waterfall of silk down her back. I can’t help it; I stare. Her legs are long and lean. Her ass is round and lifted, the perfect size for her build and height. She opens the package of hot dogs and lines up a few on a plate. Her stomach flexes with her movements and her hair falls around her body. She straightens from her slightly bent position and drags the thick strands over one shoulder, giving me a side view of her chest. Tiny white triangles cover each small, round, incredibly perky breast.
All my life, I’ve been drawn to girls with curvy bodies, not that I’ve ever turned down a woman with less. Kensington is the opposite of my usual taste, and still so damn attractive to me. Maybe it’s because I know her so well and what I know I like. A lot. It doesn’t hurt that she’s the fucking prettiest girl I’ve ever known.
Even when she was young, she was a beauty with those bright-turquoise eyes and long, black lashes. I remember her wanting big boobs when she was in middle school. She was so insecure about her body. She never filled out like she wished, but she doesn’t seem insecure about her figure anymore. Those days are long gone. She grew into the perfect version of herself. I can’t imagine her body any other way than how it is. I also can’t imagine her with anyone but me, and that’s a problem. Hell, I used to tell her I’d protect her from pricks like me.
Now, here I am as both—the guy who wants her and the guy who’s charged to protect her. Not that I wouldn’t anyway. She’s just never been mine to care for, and now she is, but not in the way I fantasize her to be.
“Nathan?” Her sweet voice cuts through my thoughts.
I blink. She’s standing in front of me, holding up the plate of hot dogs. “I think the grill is ready.”
“Thanks.” With the tongs, I place the dogs on the rack. Low flames dance beneath.
Kensi shifts to my side. “What were you thinking about?”
“You. Us. The way we were when we were younger.”
“Really?” Hope and surprise ring in her tone. “I didn’t think you remembered.”
“It’s my past. Of course I remember.” I try not to stare at her slim, tan torso or breasts, but it’s hard when she’s so close.
“It’s just you checked out of my life so easily and for so long, I wondered if you were trying to forget.”
Forgether? Yes. “I got busy with college and stuff.”
“How long have you been with Harper?”
I draw in a deep breath and inhale her marshmallow and flower scent. Man, I love that smell. “A few months.”Orseven.“Do you like her?” She puffs out a breath and shakes her head. “Dumb question. Of course, you like her, but I mean, do you love her?”
I bark out a laugh. “No. Harper’s…complicated.”
“So she’s not the one?”
“Which one is that?” I cock a brow at her.
“You know, the one you’ll marry.”
“I’m too young to get married.”
“Not really. My mom was your age when she met my dad. They got married a year later.”
I turn the hot dogs on the rack. “Times were different then.”
“I don’t know. If I met the right person and fell in love, I could see myself marrying him.” She clasps her hands behind her back, inadvertently drawing my gaze to her tits.
Bless the cool breeze because she’s nipping. Blood rushes to my dick. I force away my gaze. “I wouldn’t allow it.”
“What?” she squeaks. “Like you have a say.”
“As a matter of fact, I do. I’ve been charged to watch over you, which includes keeping you from making stupid decisions like getting married.” I beam with a cocky grin, enjoying this more than I should.
She faces me and plants her hands on her tiny hips. “First of all, it wouldn’t happen overnight, therefore it wouldn’t be stupid. Second, I could keep the relationship a secret from you, and third, if I were to elope, you wouldn’t be able to stop me.”
I hold back the laughter building in my chest and bend to her ear. “You think I’d let you out of my sight long enough to do any of those things?”
Her breath hitches at my sudden nearness. She holds still as if afraid to move away. Or maybe she doesn’t want to.
