Page 80 of Waiting Forever
“Wait.” Kensi skips to me. She plants a gentle kiss on my lips, her turquoise eyes swimming with excitement and desire. “Thank you for tonight. I love it already. All of it.”
My heart feels like it’s swelling in my chest, my lung shrinking to make room. I almost tell her I love her right then. Because I do. I fucking love every single thing about her. Who thanks a guy for a night she hasn’t even experienced, already saying she loves it? Kensi, that’s who.
But if I confess my love for her, we will never make it out of this closet or this house. With a strength I didn’t know I possessed, I cup her cheeks in a gentle hold and rub my thumb over her bottom lip. Touching any other part of her is too much of a temptation. “You are the sweetest, sexiest, most unbelievable woman I’ve ever known. You are also the most tempting woman in the world to me, and if I act on my urges and strip you naked, you won’t get to enjoy the surprises I’ve prepared for you. Surprises you deserve.” I kiss her nose.
She wraps her arms around my neck. “I have everything I could ever wish for right here.”
Killing me.
“But,” she adds and unhooks her arms, stepping back. “I will respect your wishes, especially because I love surprises, even though all I want to do is strip you naked, too.”
That’s it. I can’t have two body parts—my heart and my dick—swelling at the same time and resist her. I close my eyes and try not to breathe in her intoxicating scent. My muscles tense to a painful degree as I force myself out of the closet. “I’m doing this for our own good. I’ll meet you at the car.”
She giggles, the soft sound following across the bedroom.
In the hallway, I take several deep breaths and try to calm down. Is this what love does to a person? Keeps you in a constant state of arousal and reverence? I worship that woman. There is nothing I wouldn’t do or sacrifice to make her happy. I want her forever, and I want our parents to understand that. I want their approval, but I fear the moment they learn about us, they’ll agree Kensi deserves better.
For the first time in my life, I wish I could change my past, and I’m terrified about my future.
31
Kensington
WITH NATHAN’S HAND over my eyes, he guides me into the condo. A delicious scent greets my nose, familiar spices that remind me of home.
“What is that, Nathan?” I inhale deep breaths. “I know it. I think.”
He stops and angles my body. I have no idea which way I’m facing, only that the sun is to my right because it’s brighter on that side.
“Are you ready for the surprise part of our celebration?” Nathan asks with excitement, his left hand resting on my hip.
“Yes. I’m dying.” I practically jump.
Nathan uncovers my eyes and lowers his hand to my other hip. “Happy early birthday, baby.”
I blink until my vision clears. Balloons float above two silver trays with lids, the strings tied to the vase of colorful roses. A blue Tiffany box sits next to them.
My heart slides up my throat with a gasp. “You did this for me?” Tears fill my eyes.
“This weekend will be busy with the move and then it’s Halloween and then your birthday. It’s a lot at once, especially if you want to do something special for the holiday. I don’t want your birthday to get lost in the mix. I want to celebrate you, and only you for your twenty-first. This seemed like the best way to do it. I hope you don’t mind that it’s early?”
Overwhelmed and utterly smitten, I turn and wrap my arms around him, kissing his lips over and over again as tears spill down my cheeks. “I love it. I love it so much. Thank you, thank you, thank you,” I murmur between quick pecks.
Nathan laughs and scoops me up, swinging me around once before setting me onto my feet. He kisses my lips tenderly and brushes his nose with mine. “I’m glad you like it.”
“Love. I love it, Nathan.”I love you.I keep that to myself, afraid saying it might ruin the moment.
He takes my hand and tugs me toward the kitchen. “The smell you asked about earlier is this.” He lifts the lid to one of the trays, revealing chicken fajitas with beans, rice, cheese, and spices I could sniff out anywhere.
“Are these from Catalina’s Tex Mex?” It’s my favorite restaurant in Dallas.
Nathan’s smile is infectious. “I love how excited you are over fajitas. Yes. They are. I had my mom—well, her assistant—bring them to me. She flew here this afternoon to get the papers for my mom to close on her condo and picked the food up on her way to the airport. I can’t believe it’s still hot.”
The chicken and onions are smoking on the skillet, though I don’t know how. “I can’t believe this, Nathan. I just can’t.” I swallow a surge of emotions and pick up a piece of chicken, popping it into my mouth. I moan. “Oh, God. I’ve missed these.”
Nathan’s eyes sparkle with pride and adoration. He loves when I enjoy my food. “Sit.” He pulls out one of the stools for me. “Eat. I’ll pour us some drinks.” He rounds the counter and goes to the fridge while I unwrap a tortilla from its paper and load it up with a bit of everything.
Nathan sets down a pitcher filled with ice, mint leaves, sugar cane sticks, and limes.
