“Go away! I’m busy.”
“Becky?”
“I said, go away!” she shouted. Then something muffled hit thedoor from the inside. Her pillow, no doubt. Kelley fought hard notto smile at her feisty retort. God, he was smitten withher.
“Dinner’s here, love,” he said with a sugar-lacedvoice.
“I’m not hungry,” Becky said, tiptoeing towards the door,holding her belly.
“Yes, you are. It’s your favourite, mushrooms, and sun-driedtomatoes.” He paused to listen. “Extra cheese…” Like clockwork, heheard a distinct tummy rumble and smiled to himself. A half-minutelater and the doorknob turned. The door opened a crack, enough forher peek out at him.
Their eyes metfor a split second before she turned beet red and averted her gaze.She couldn’t even stay mad at him. Not when he looked so repentant.Especially combined with the promise of pizza. In her moment ofweakness, she let her guard down and released the doorknob. Takingadvantage, Kelley pushed forward and entered her bedroom. What hediscovered next, nearly broke his heart.
Drawers andcloset had been emptied. Her big suitcase, the one she’d shown upwith was open on the bedroom floor, filled with her things. On thevery top was the Hello Kitty pyjamas set, folded neatly.
“What’s this all about, Becky?” he asked with his heart in histhroat.
“What does it look like? I’m leaving!” she said, trying veryhard to remain unemotional. “I can’t stay here. You were right. Youwere all right.”
“But you can’t leave. Where will you go?” He turned towardsher.
“Away from here,” she said, unsure. In actuality, she didn’tknow where she’d go, only that she could no longer staythere.
“Why?” he asked, sitting down on the edge of herbed.
“You know why,” she said, hugging her arms aroundherself.
He noddedthoughtfully, resting his elbows on his folded knees, hands underhis chin in prayer position.
“I can’t stay here now,” she said after a few seconds of notknowing what to do with herself.
He stared ather a moment longer, watching her struggle for composure. “You’venothing to be embarrassed about.” It was the best he could do.
“How can you say that? I saw how you reacted. You punchedKeegan!”
“He had it coming,” he said, unbothered.
“That’s not the point!” She literally stamped her foot. “Foryou to hit him means that what he said was really bad. And it was…you know it was. So you see, I can’t stay here now that everyoneknows… what I was doing!”
He continued towatch her, fascinated by this strangely appealing little woman. Tosay that the idea of Becky touching herself wasn’t a complete turnon would be a useless lie. He just wished that it was he who’ddiscovered her in the act instead of Keegan.
“Come here, love,” he said, holding his hand out forher.
“No…”
“Please, come here,” he insisted, refusing to take no for ananswer. When she didn’t budge, he stood up, took one step andtugged her towards him. He sat back down while she stood betweenhis knees, refusing to look at him. “Don’t hide from me, love,” hesaid, watching and waiting for her to acknowledge him.
“Kelley… I can’t,” she said, biting her bottom lip.
“Hey…” He took her hands in his. “You and I have gotten quiteclose, haven’t we?” She nodded, still with eyes averted. “I’d go asfar as to say that we’ve gotten well acquainted with each otherover the last couple of months. I’ve seen you naked, remember?” Heraised his eyebrows and gave her a rueful smile.
“Yes, but… this is different.”
“I know,” he said with a sympathetic pout. He brought herknuckles to his lips. “You’re embarrassed, but you did nothingwrong. What you do in your bed is no one’s business. Yes, I hithim, because he hurt your feelings, not because of what you weredoing.”
Depleted, sheleaned forward and rested her weary head on his. “I just don’tthink I can stand to be in the same room with you all now.”
He couldn’thelp but chuckle just a little. She was adorable in herbashfulness. “Listen, we already knew about it this morning. Youwere fine all day, weren’t you? No one bothered you or teased you.Well except for Keegan, but I promise he won’t anymore. I made sureof that.”
“Really? He told you all this before breakfast?” she said witha worried frown.
“Yes, you see, Keegan initially believed that he’d dreamt youup. He thought we’d appreciate hearing about his nocturnalfantasy.”
“I’m not sure I like Keegan,” she said, absently twirling herfingers through his hair.
“You don’t have to like him,” Kelley said, closing his eyes,slowly falling under the magical spell her fingers were weaving.“I’ll even kick him out if you want.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Becky couldn’t help but smile athim. He was always at the ready to look out for her. Before shecould help it, she placed an exuberant kiss on his nose. He blinkedhis eyes open, pleasantly surprised at her show of affection. Thenbefore he could stop himself, he pulled her in close and kissed herfull on the lips.
For all of asecond, Becky didn’t know what hit her. Then it all became quiteclear. Kelley Keele was kissing her! He was finally kissing her!How many days and nights had she dreamt of this moment? Only thereal thing was far better than she’d ever imagined.
When theirmouths met it was like a million starbursts exploded in every inchof her body. Her heart literally leapt for joy in her chest.
Much to herdelight, Kelley’s lips were gentle yet firm with intent. Hisbreath, cool and minty, his tongue, warm and full of promise. Hetugged at her puffy bottom lip with his teeth, teasing the top onewith his talented tongue. His hands cupped the sides of her head,holding her firmly in place while he seductively explored hermouth.
“Mmm, Kelley…” she moaned, when he moved his lips to just belowher ear, allowing her to catch her breath. Fisting her hands aroundhis hair, she rested her weight against him. She nearly collapsedfrom the sheer pleasure of his hot wet lips on her earlobe, thetiniest of bites, causing her knees to buckle. Thankfully, hisright hand moved to the small of her back in response, supportingher, pressing her closer between his knees.
“Becky… Becky…. Becky,” he whispered between butterfly kissesto the soft sensitive skin on her neck and
