Page 20 of One Kiss

He pulls his jacket off, tossing it onto the bench, and begins to fold up his sleeves.Fuck, Nicki was right.That look is sexy as hell.I can feel my inside begin to warm even though the heater isn’t fixed.I bite my lip and release, “I appreciate this, but you don’t have to.I mean, the landlord is responsible and will be here tomorrow.”I explain, feeling bad but enjoying the view.

“Really, Kendra, it’s not a problem at all.”He walks around the basement, moves a few things, and when he comes back to where I’m standing, he has a rectangular accordion-looking thing in his hand.

“Looks like the landlord stocked up.There are three of them leaning against the wall.”He bends down to flip the switch, and the unit goes silent.“First and foremost, always turn the power off.”he says, “This prevents any loose dirt or dust from getting into the system.”

Ah, so Xander knows a thing about a thing or two.I’m impressed.

*.*.*

XANDER

I pulled the filter from between the return and blower, and it looks like it hasn’t been changed in years.Once I place it to the side, I check to see where the airflow arrow is.To make sure I insert it correctly, the red arrow is pointing toward the blower.

“Would you like to do the honors?”I asked, Kendra, pointing to the switch to power up the unit.She smiles, steps forward, and flips it.

The unit kicks in, “I’d leave the old one here for the landlord to see.It should start to warm up now.”I walk over and take my jacket from the workbench.

Stepping in front of Kendra, I wrap my jacket and arm around her, “Come on, let’s get you warmed up.”We walk up the stairs from the basement, and she says, “My thoughts exactly,” and all the anxiety returns.

“Kendra,” I say, as we reach the top of the stairs, and I turn my back to close the door.

“Xander?”she says, and as I turn to face her, she pushes me back to the door, and her mouth is on mine.

Oh fuck, she tastes like hot cocoa.

Instinctively my hands go to her sides, then up her back.I want more, no, I need more.I’ve been waiting all day to have just one more kiss.

Her hands move down my sides and towards my cock, yes...yes.

She cups me, and I swear I’m going to come.I push her shoulders back and stare into her eyes.

“Kendra, there’s something you should know.”I let out between breaths, feeling the distance between us was killing me inside.

She steps back, “Xander, we are not going to have sex tonight.”She says, “I didn’t mean to put any pressure on you.”She moves close, “but we are going to fool around.”

I lean down, press my lips to hers, then move to her neck and along her jawbone.

I was going to tell you I love you.I think to myself when she steps to the side, taking my hand in hers and leading us to the couch.

She gently pushes me to sit and climbs on top of my lap.Lips on lips, hands roaming, and my cock growing.

“Is this okay?”she whispers in my ear.“More than okay,” I admit and take her mouth again.I’m not sure how much time goes by, but when she lifts herself off my lap and begins to take off her sweatshirt, I stop her.

Not because I don’t want to see, touch, or even feel.It's because I want to tell her how I truly feel about her before we do it, and I don’t have any condoms.I’m not prepared.Even though internally, I’m ready, it just doesn’t feel like the right moment.

“What the fuck?”She yanks the sweatshirt down, her tone so angry, and while she walks away, she says, “Shit, now I can’t even get felt up?”

Once I can move, I walk toward the kitchen, where she’s sitting on the counter with a mug in her hands.

“Maybe I should go,” I don’t know what else to say.Am I leading her on without meaning to?

“Good, get the fuck out,” she says, not even lifting her face to acknowledge I’m in the same room with her.I don’t understand.One minute she is okay with not doing the actual deed.The next, she is furious.

“Kendra, it’s not what you think.This has nothing to do with you.”I try to explain, but she turns her face away, dismissing me as if I mean nothing.Maybe I don’t.Maybe she just needed to get laid.

“This is far from over, that I can promise you,” I tell her and grab my jacket from the floor where she dropped it and walk out.

One kiss was all it took for me to fall in love with her.How did I let this happen?I want to give all of myself to her.I’ve never wanted someone so fucking badly that it hurt.

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