Page 43 of Strip Bare

"I'm definitely one of them," he continued and I didn't know what to say, just kind of nodded. "You know, you're gorgeous Leo."

I should have felt flattered, but I mostly felt irritated. We had an exam in a couple of hours and he wanted to waste valuable study time flirting?

"Thanks," I said shortly and he must have taken that sincerely, because the next thing I knew his hand was under my chin and his mouth was covering mine as he moaned against my lips.

I pulled back just as I heard footsteps in the hall. Kit's silhouette filled the doorway, his face like a thundercloud as he glowered at Harley.

Fuck. This was literally the worst thing that could have happened. I pushed away from the breakfast bar without meeting Kit's eyes. "I'm going to go and grab another textbook from my room," I muttered and Harley smiled and nodded. I brushed past Kit and he caught my wrist, watching me with a level of worry that surprised me.

"I'm okay," I said quietly and he let me go before making his way into the kitchen. I hesitated with my foot on the bottom stair before slowly making my way up, listening hard to hear whatever they might say next.

Kit’s voice was pitched low enough that I couldn't make out his words, so I quietly retreated back down the stairs, careful of the one that creaked near the bottom, and listened intently out of sight of the doorway.

"What's your game?"

"I don't know what you mean. I'm here to study."

Kit's laugh was harsher than I'd ever heard from him. "What's your game with Leo? You flirt with him and yet, you watch me.”

I heard footsteps and a scrape of a stool as Harley stood and walked to Kit. "Are you jealous?"

"What?"

"Oh come on, don't play dumb Kit. You can't have actually thought I was into him. Sure, he's nice to look at, but I've seen more personality from a bag of rocks."

"You were using him." Kit's voice was cold and I peeked around the doorframe to see an unnatural fury on his normally bright face. The truth was that I didn't care what Harley thought of me. I didn't want to hook up with him anyway. But did Kit think I did? Was that why he was so pissed?

"Of course. How else was I supposed to get your attention?"

I moved from my place behind the doorway in time to catch Kit around the waist as he lunged at Harley.

"Don't look at him," Kit hissed as Harley stared at me in shock. "Don't think about him, don't fucking say his name." Kit struggled against my hold and I looked down at him, surprised at how worked up he was.

"I think you'd better go," I said calmly to Harley. "Good luck on the exam."

Harley scooped up his bag and textbooks, shooting one last wary glance at Kit before the front door slammed behind him. As soon as he was out of sight, Kit relaxed in my arms.

"I'm sorry."

"What for?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"For what he said about you," Kit said, eyebrows drawing together as his jaw clenched.

"Not a word of it was true, okay? If he can't see how gorgeous you are inside and out then that's his fucking problem and—"

I kissed him.

Worried about me. Kit had been so mad, because he was worried about me. I pulled away, letting him catch his breath as a chuckle escaped my lips. "You're unbelievable."

I stepped away from him and Kit raised his fingers to touch his lips, blue eyes wide as he took me in. "You're not... upset?"

"Why would I be?"

"Because… Harley. I thought you liked him."

"Kit," I said gently, so tired of fighting and pretending. I couldn’t do it anymore. Taking his face in my hands, I looked into his eyes. "I'm in love with you."

His mouth dropped open and I chuckled again, feeling lighter than I had in days—no, weeks. Bryn, Saylor… they had been right. I had to do what felt right, and this was it. Telling him had been the right thing to do.

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