Page 50 of Kyle
"Insist that your wife has something to eat or drink."
Lifting a hand, he tucked back a thick coil of hair. "I was too busy being bowled over by the scent of you and the declaration of love. Still bowled over. Whenever you're near, my senses scramble."
"Good one." Trapping his hand beneath hers, she closed her eyes briefly. "I never dreamed it would be you. Never knew that I could love someone this much." She inhaled sharply. "Especially not after seeing what my parents went through. Please tell me this is going to work."
He wanted to berate her for even second guessing, but he knew where she was coming from. They belonged to dysfunctional families, where love had never been a sure thing. His father loved his mother and had lost her. That fear was now living inside him.
And it occurred to him suddenly that had been the reason why he had been afraid to go all the way. Too late now, he mused grimly.
"We will work." His eyes were focused on hers as if making a vow. "Because I will not lose you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, just now." His grip had tightened considerably. "You're my first and my last, my only. And I want you to bear that in mind."
"Kyle--"
"Please bear that in mind. I cannot lose you. I don't want to be like him, missing the love of his life. And you're the love of mine. I won't lose you."
She knew that she was going to have to tread carefully here. "You won't." She used a quiet tone to calm the storm she could see brewing. "I promise I'll be here. You won't lose me darling."
His hold loosened, and he had to take a breath. "I'm sorry." He whispered.
"Don't be." Gathering him close, she rocked. "I'm here."
He rested his forehead against hers, drawing strength from the steady warmth between them. For a moment, words were unnecessary; the silence was filled with shared understanding and a quiet determination. In this cocoon of intimacy, the pastseemed to fade away, replaced by hope for everything they might build together.
*****
She invited her brother and his partner over for dinner. One, because she wanted to share the good news with him and two, she knew the only way they could see each other was to be holed up in Matthew's apartment. She wanted to give him another avenue. And discussed it with her husband.
It was weird, simply weird thinking of him that way. But after this morning, she was getting used to it. They loved each other.
The wonder of it will never cease to amaze her. She might be troubled that he was so damned beautiful, but there was no doubt that he was in love with her. And well, if further down the road, he decided he wanted out, she was just going to have to murder him.
Discreetly kill him and dispose of his body in some far away harbor. She told him exactly that and described how she would mutilate his beautiful body by first cutting off his "junk." The way she described it had him feeling sympathy twinges in the same junk and giving her an astounded look.
"You certainly thought this through."
"Yep." She licked peanut butter off the spoon as she eyed him across the counter. She loved looking at him and knowing he was hers.
"I never tagged you for being bloodthirsty."
"I never tagged me for being the jealous wife, but what can you do." She shrugged and recapped the jar. "So, dinner will be the roast beef Mrs. Allen prepared. I was thinking I could rustle up a salad to go with it."
He blinked. "I cannot keep up with you. One minute you're talking about murdering my lying cheating body and taking it apart, starting with my prized jewel and now you're discussing menus. Who the hell are you?"
Grinning at him, she walked around to slide between his thighs. "First, it's my prized jewels and second, I can multi-task." She wrapped her hands around his neck. "And I've never been in love before. Besides which, you're too beautiful for your own good and my peace of mind."
She loved the slight flush rising on his face, which smacked of embarrassment. "I'm not beautiful." He muttered. "And I have eyes only for you."
"You'd better." She warned lightly. Tilting her head, she studied the face he had denied being beautiful. "I'm bat shit crazy about you. It scares the hell out of me, but I'm dealing."
His heart thudded against his ribs. "I might not put it in the same term, but I'm gone all the way. You own my heart." Taking her hand, he placed it over where it thudded unsteadily. "You've got me." His voice thickened. "You have the power to hurt me like no one can. Please don't."
She stared at the stunningly handsome man who was quietly begging her not to mangle his feelings and felt weak at the knees. Leaning into him, she breathed him in.
"Not knowingly. And I ask the same of you."
He wrapped around her and simply held on.
*****
