I shook my head; his touch was piercing my soul. Too much. Tears, emotions, attraction, annoyance, frustration, all bubbling out.
“Tell me. I’m sorry I wasn’t there before, I really am. I was being an ass.” He pulled his hand in tighter on my shoulder, pulling me in to his chest.
And the gates were opened.
The tears crested my eyes as if they had been held back for years. They flowed not in drops but in rivers, cutting their own path down my cheeks on to his shirt. My shoulders shook slightly, and he just held me in his strong arms, rubbing my back gently.
My hair felt his fingers slowly petting me and it forced the other dam in my eyes to break loose.
I didn’t even know what I was crying for, only that obviously I needed it.
Finally, it slowed. I wiped my sopping wet cheek and for the first time assessed the damage my tears had done to his shirt. It was soaked. I might as well of tossed a soda on him with how wet he was.
I sat up slowly, not wanting to leave his arms. “I’m sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry. I should have,” He paused and reached for my chin.
Before I knew what was happening his lips were pressed against mine. Slowly, but with a fire just under the surface. It was that fire that melted the ice of my resolve. I had never been kissed before, and the small part of me that feared I wouldn’t have any idea how to do it, dissolved away into the soft electric heat that radiated off him.
His fingers found my hair again, and mine instinctively found the back of his neck, reveling in the feel of the soft little brown curls. My other hand slid up his chest, pausing on the wet t-shirt that clung to his pectoral muscles just perfectly. My fingers joined my other hand as his lips left mine, to trail down my throat. My eyes opened slightly, inhaling, trying to breathe.
“Ohhh!” My hands froze and my word broke the magic of the storybook moment. Tyler pulled back, and with it, he broke out connection.
“I’m sorry, I guess I,” his face was flushed, but I didn’t let him finish.
“No, Tyler that was wonderful. No, I,” I looked to the empty hallway again, “Tyler, I just saw your grandpa.”
Chapter Thirteen
Tyler looked behind him. “Wait, are you serious?”
My eyes sparkled; my breathing hitched as my emotions were racing around like a firefly in a jar. “Yes, I opened my eyes, and he was looking at us.”
Tyler blushed deeper, “Oh that’s a bit creepy.”
“No, Tyler that is the first time I have seen anything.” I reached for him. “Come here.”
His lip curled in that little smirk, his dimples flashed, the whole look I couldn’t resist. “Well, if you insist.”
He leans in to kiss me and I dodge him, “No be serious for a minute. I mean just for a minute.” I blushed deeply. My hand went for his shoulder again, and he dodged this time.
“Wait, is this ok? I mean are you healed enough, or are you going to pass out on me.”
I pulled back. “You’re right. Hang on,” I took a deep breath. I centered my soul, which with the flying emotions took more energy than usually. I breathed slowly, calming myself and then placed both feet on the concrete floor. I inhaled and exhaled, trying to slow everything down. Slowly, I reached for Tyler’s shoulder again and opened my eyes.
His eager expression was the only thing that I could see. I squinted my eyes, trying to focus harder, wondering if I could will him into view.
My head started to ache almost immediately.
I dropped my hand. “It isn’t working,” I felt my shoulders fall. “I promise he was there; I wasn’t lying.”
His eyes squinted. “Of course, you weren’t. I believe you.” He smiled.
“What?” my cheeks were flaming red.
He bumped my shoulder. “So, my kiss is so powerful it brought back your gift.” His cocky grin spread across his face.
My blush deepened, “I am sure that is what it was. Or it could be that I am still just a freak, but now I have a short. You know like a bad lamp.”
He took my hand, his fingers felt electric on my skin. “I think you are a perfect lamp,” he wove his fingers through mine. “So, you ok with this?”
I smiled, nodding, “Yeah are you?”
“Very,” he looked down, studying our fingers. “I’m sorry I wasn’t paying attention to how you felt. I honestly have been so consumed with my family stuff that I didn’t even think.”
I didn’t meet his eyes. “It’s ok. It really isn’t that big of a deal.” Ugh, discounting myself, I knew I wasn’t supposed to do that, but it was impossible to not think I had over reacted.
“It really is,” he shook his head. “Mom would kick my ass.”
What an odd time to bring up his mother.
He leaned back on the sofa. “So, can I tell you what is going on?”
I met his eyes and nodded, losing my ability to speak again. “Gramps left the ranch to my parents. My dad has a brother who helps them with things, but bottom line, it is my parents’ ranch. Mom’s older brother hasn’t even been around for years. The ranch is pretty big, and a developer wants to put in a subdivision on part of it. My parents are not really cool with the idea, but have been considering it, if it was only part of it and they had some control on what
