Page 43 of Tempt

“Nope, we haven’t.” Because she possesses some kind of voodoo.

“But in this case why would you want to? This girl sounds amazing.”

“She is,” more than amazing. “I guess I feel on most days like I’ve waited so damn long for it to happen that it can disappear in a second. Like saying what I feel out loud will somehow put a jinx on us and it will fall apart.”

“You can’t let those fears stop you.” Reaching across the table she places her hand over mine and offers a squeeze. “A life filled with what if’s, isn’t a life at all. You have to dream big, and reach for the stars. Fear can be crippling but love can outweigh it all when you have the right person to share it with.”

Love?

It’s strange but I think I’ve loved Kyra form the first broody glance she offered all those years ago inside Sugarland. She said nor did much of anything that made an impression, but it was a feeling. One that sort of flowed around me, stuck into my pores and buried itself in my soul.

I’ve never been the kind to believe in instant love, but it was most definitely an instant connection, like the last piece of a difficult puzzle. Where everything comes together to create the perfect picture.

“I’ve never felt like this before,” I confess. “I think I’ve always known she was special, but now that I finally have the one person I feel like I’ve waited forever for, I don’t want to lose her.”

“Then hold on tight, and make sure she knows just how important she is to you.”

* * *

“What’s this?” I ask pausing at Kyra’s side to look over the contents she has spread out on the countertop.

“Homemade cinnamon rolls,” She says with a smile, before bringing her finger to her mouth and placing it between her lips. My gaze follows her movements and I practically pant when she licks the small droplet of frosting off the tip. “I know your mom said to bring nothing, But I feel like I should.”

Moving my body closer to hers and kissing her bare shoulder I rest my chin on top, still watching her smooth the frosting over the top.

“She’ll appreciate it,” I tell her. “I know my dad will too, he loves Sugarland’s cinnamon rolls.”

We are due at my parents by nine for breakfast. Mike’s shift at the hospital didn’t end until seven and they wanted to give him time to get home, get cleaned up and gather Sarah and Maddi, before heading over.

“I just don’t want to offend your mom.”

I look over at her and see that she is worrying her lip.

“Baby, it's gonna take a lot more than your kick ass baking to piss off my momma. That woman is easy going, happy on the worst days and I can guarantee you that she is a huge fan of you and your magical baking skills.”

“Magical skills?” She asks with a smile and long gone is the worried look she wore only a moment ago.

“Yes,” moving in close I press my lips to hers and immediately taste the sweetness of the frosting on her lips.

“Tastes good,” I tell her and watch as she swipes her finger through the frosting and brings it to my mouth, holding it before my lips. Leaning in, I wrap my mouth around her finger and suck gently.

“It's sweet,” I say suddenly, feeling like the kitchen just got a little smaller and a whole lot warmer. “But you’re sweeter.”

Kyra smiles at me, carefully pulling her finger from my mouth and turning her body to completely face mine.

The way she is looking at me doesn’t make resisting her easy.

I’m seconds from saying, the hell with breakfast and throwing her over my shoulder carrying her off to my bed.

“We should probably get ready.” She says this, but shows no signs of backing away.

“Probably,” again neither of us move. I wish more than anything we could forget about every responsibility, all those relying on us, and any demands outside of our bubble. I’d love nothing more than locking ourselves away for a few days, weeks even, forgetting about the outside world.

It’s crazy how I went so many years without her and now I can’t imagine what it was like without her.

Cupping the side of her face, I pull her face close, lightly brushing my lips over hers. “You’re beautiful,” I whisper, and she closes her eyes, as if taking in my words and allowing them to sink in. “I still can’t believe you are here with me. So many times I wished for moments like these.” She whispers.

“Me too,” I rest my forehead on hers.

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