Page 49 of Kyle
"I could smell the brew all the way upstairs."
She walked into the room and instead of veering off to get coffee, she came towards him. Forcing himself not to turn around, he closed his eyes as she came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"You're the most contrary and annoying man I've ever known. Even more than my grandfather."
"Happy to be of service."
"Please turn around."
Hesitating briefly, he did just that and what he saw on her face had his heart slamming against his ribs.
"You left abruptly."
"I needed coffee."
"Nobody needs coffee that much." She lifted her hands to cup his face. "You left before I could tell you how I feel."
He wondered if he was heading towards a heart attack. "And how do you feel?"
"I love you, you moron. I've fallen in love with you and that's something we're both going to have to deal with. Yes, I said those words to you and about you in the past, because I was shielding myself from being attracted to you." She smiled when he stared at her narrowly.
"You cannot be in the dark of how you look. You're a beautiful man and I'm a woman. The entire female staff sighs whenever you walk in a room and comment when you walk back out. I never wanted to fall into that trap. So, I taunted you and said things."
She shook her head. "Life is so bloody funny. You were the last person I would ever see myself with. And I wasn't looking in that direction." Tears moistened her eyes.
"Yes, I thought you were shallow, but over the past two weeks, I've learned differently. You've become my best friend. Not only my lover and the man I want to spend the rest of my life with, but someone I can talk to for ages. Before you, there was only my brother."
"God." She sniffed as the tears rolled down her cheeks. "I hate tears." She smiled through them when he bent his head and kissed her wet cheeks.
"If you continue doing that, I'm going to flood you."
"I don't mind." He whispered shakily. "I thought it was only sex to you, and I was terrified that you were going to laugh at me."
"How could you think that?"
"Because you're the smartest woman I've ever known. You speak your mind and never gave a damn about the consequences. I've seen you in meetings and your confidence is astounding."
Her expression softened, a mixture of amusement and sincerity flickering across her features. She searched his eyes for any hint of doubt, wanting him to understand the gravity of her confession. It felt as though the air between them had shifted, charged with honesty, vulnerability, and the promise of a future built on something real.
"Tell me again." He urged.
"I love you." This time the tears came unchecked. "Oh God! I love you so damn much."
He took her mouth with his, the kiss taking on a madness that swept them away.
*****
"At some point, we really should get up and get something to eat." She murmured halfheartedly as she lay sprawled over his chest.
"Hmm." His hand was trailing up and down her back as he tried to get his breath back. "How about in the next century?"
"We really cannot live on sex alone."
"Says who? It's almost one in the afternoon and we're doing just fine."
Lifting her head, she rolled her eyes at him. "You got some coffee in you, I didn't."
"You were the one who came in looking all dewy and sexy wearing just a t-shirt and nothing else. What was I supposed to do?"
