Somehow, their fingers stayed entwined. Kurt began to stroke her palm with his thumb, and the smile she’d tacked on faltered. What had happened a few minutes ago had shaken her up more than she wanted to let on. That much was obvious.
All day, he’d been fighting the urge to take her in his arms and kiss her. Now he realized what an idiot he was. How could he think about drawing someone as wonderful as Kelsey into a relationship when he was part Jekyll and part Hyde? What did he think he was going to do…make crazy love to her, then send her packing before he fell asleep, just in case? How could he expect her to be okay with that? And what could happen if she was, and they tried it anyway?
“I guess now is good a time as any to bring up last night.” Her tone was soft, unaccusing.
“Because you have a clearer idea of what you’d be getting yourself into?” He dropped her hand and started pacing again.
“Because I like you,” she said, dropping the package of peas on the side table and tucking her hands under her thighs. “But like most things that are worthwhile, a relationship—if that’s what this could be—seems complicated in the middle of what is probably that most important thing I’ve ever done. It is, you know, this thing we’re doing with the dogs. And I don’t know if what we have is a crush or something that could be real, but I don’t want to mess anything up. On top of all that, not only are you really good looking, but you’re amazing with the dogs, so it’s quite possible I’m not thinking clearly to start with.” She stopped and bit her lip. After a few seconds of silence, she shrugged her shoulders. “I’m ranting, aren’t I? It’s not like me to be this open, so maybe I’m still in a bit of shock, but I want you to know that all this, you included, is important me. When it’s over, I don’t want any regrets.”
Kurt pressed his eyes closed a second and let out a slow breath. Couldn’t she be coy and skirt the truth and make it easier to shut her out? Hell, he wouldn’t be nearly as attracted to her if she could.
He sat beside her a second time and pulled her in for a soft kiss before either of them had time to think about it. But the thing about her lips was that a quick taste would never be enough. The kiss deepened and a flame of want ripped through him, sending a surge of fresh energy into his tired limbs. He pulled away long enough to offer a husky “No regrets.” Rather than reconnecting with her lips, he found her neck and lost all thought.
He was damn close to climbing on top of her when several dogs jumped up in their crates and started to bark simultaneously. Abandoning the couch, Kurt headed for the nearest front window, being sure to keep to the side and out of view. Kelsey followed close behind him. Outside, an owl hooted loudly, and several of the dogs barked again. From where he stood, the yard looked dark and empty.
“Think it was the owl?” Kelsey asked after the dogs quieted down and nothing else happened.
“Possibly.”
After another half minute of silence passed, he headed for the front porch. The late-September night was cool, and an easy breeze flitted over his skin as he crossed over to the top stair. The neighborhood seemed calm and benign. From so far away that it was barely audible, he heard a car alarm going off. Maybe that had been what stirred up the dogs, not the owl. Over at Ida’s, a few lamps lit the lower floor. Across the street in the rehab, one upstairs bedroom light was on. No cars were parked out front, and Kurt wondered if the construction crew had left the light on accidentally.
“I’m worried that you won’t let yourself get any sleep tonight, and you really need it. Should I stay? We can take turns keeping watch, if that would help.”
Tugging her by her closest belt loop, Kurt drew her in for another long kiss. “If you stay, neither of us will get any sleep.” His blood pulsed so hot through his veins that it seemed to have an acidic tinge. “And after what happened in the kitchen, I think we both know you joining me in a bed could be a bad idea. For a while, at least.” His words had an unexpected ring of permanency, and he didn’t attempt to pull them back.
“Then what happens now?”
“You go home and get some sleep. Tomorrow morning, after we’re finished feeding, we’ll head over to the shelter together. I’d like to have a look at the stock so we can decide who to bring next. I need someone a little more imposing to really test Zeus.”
Her eyebrows rose at the word stock, and he wasn’t surprised at the exclamation that followed. “You’re still pretty fresh out of a long string of soldiering, so I’ll forgive that impersonal term you used to refer to some of the sweetest dogs in the world, and I’ll agree. But I meant between us.” She pressed her lips together. Her amber eyes were sincere and locked on his.
He traced his thumb over her lower lip, then down her neck, and finally down the length of her sternum. “I like you, and you like me. And we’re going to take this one day at time. Yesterday, I learned that you have hands down the best lips of anyone I’ve ever met. Tonight, we learned that as much as I’d like to be, I can’t be trusted in my sleep. Not now.