The light teasing of his lips on hers made her shiver. She tangled her fingers into his thick hair, tightening her grip with a spasm when the light teasing switched to crushing intensity. It was his turn to moan. That short, deep, purring sound made her heart beat out of control. One of his hands slid under her sweater, brushing against the tender, bare skin at the small of her back. She inhaled sharply at his touch, leaning into him. His tongue parted her lips and toyed with the tip of her tongue, traced the inside of her lips before retreating, leaving her wanting more.
This time when he pulled away, he crushed her to him, her cheek pressed against his heaving chest. Her rapid breaths matched his, and his heart beat erratically against her ear. He stroked her hair with a gentle touch, his lips pressed to the top of her head.
They stood that way for several minutes, just breathing in each other’s scent, letting the tidal wave of sensations and emotions ebb.
Blayne slowly leaned away from her and tilted her chin up to stare into her eyes. “Kaylee,” the roughness still in his voice spread warmth up her neck and face, “I think I’m in…” He blinked then cleared his throat. He dropped his hands from around her, then ran them through his hair. “I think we should go check on Mama C.”
The change in his voice and demeanor hinted that that wasn’t what he’d intended to say. What had he been going to say? Kaylee had an idea, but was she ready to hear those words from him?
Kaylee had two classes on Monday morning. Reading through the syllabuses usually caused her great stress—thinking about all the work she’d have to get done that semester. But nothing could penetrate the post-kiss haze that engulfed her, body and soul. Blayne’s lips had been everything she’d imagined all that time she’d spent staring at them. And more.
She sat in the library and absently ran her fingers over her lips, closing her eyes and reliving last night in her mind. After leaving his apartment, they’d gone back to check on Mama C. Even though it was early, she’d been sound asleep. Blayne had kissed Kaylee goodbye after he walked her back to her car. It was a quick, simple kiss, lacking the intensity of earlier—yet it still lit a firestorm of tingling that traveled from her lips to every inch of her wilting body.
The buzzing of her phone stirred her from her trance. She pulled it from her pocket and clicked the “home” button. It was a text from Blayne: Wanna meet for lunch? I have 45 minutes
Forty-five minutes is a long enough time to get more kissing in. Kaylee shook her head, smiling at the thought so unlike her. What had he done to her?
She texted back: Sure! Meet at the student union?
Blayne: Yes see you in a few minutes
Kaylee shoved her syllabuses in her bag then slung it over her shoulder, humming to herself and just barely able to resist the strong urge to skip all the way there. It was going to be great having Blayne work on campus.
Kaylee grabbed a salad and sat across from Blayne at one of the tables nearby. “How was the first night in your new home?”
Blayne finished chewing the bite of his sandwich he’d just taken and swallowed it down with a swig of water before answering. “It was great.” His smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.
Tipping her head to the side as she studied him, Kaylee said, “You don’t seem like it was so great.”
He shrugged. “I mean, it was great to sleep on a bed, in a warm apartment. It was great to take a shower and use the toilet.”
“But…”
Another shrug. “It’s just going to take some getting used to. Being alone. As much as I’ve longed for privacy over the last few years, I forgot how quiet it can be.”
He looked down at his sandwich.
Softly, Kaylee dug a little deeper. “Are you feeling guilty about the others still being out in the cold?”
His lips pressed into a white slash. He pushed his hair back from his forehead, answering without looking at her. “Yeah. Of course I am. Wouldn’t you be?”
The touch of sharpness to his tone stung. Kaylee put her fork down and breathed in to steady her voice. “Yes. I would and do. You have no idea how many times I’ve wished you all could just come and stay in my apartment.”
He finally looked her in the eye, the lines of his face softening along with his voice. “I’m sorry. Of course you would.” He grasped her hand across the table. “You’re one of the best people I’ve ever met, and you don’t deserve to be the object of my irritability.”
She tightened her grip on his hand. “I’ve been thinking. Why can’t I—or we—help them do what you’ve done? Or, since they’re all so young, help them to go back home?”
A sad smile crossed his lips. “Mama C’s been talking to me about that. She has some plans for us.”
“She does, does she?” Kaylee smiled.
“Yep. But I’ll let her tell you about them.” He took a huge bite of his sandwich, a cue that the subject was closed for now.
When they’d both finished eating and thrown away their trash, Blayne took her hand and smiled down at her, a spark of mischief glowing in his eyes. “I have fifteen minutes before I have to be back. Wanna go find a quiet place and talk?”
Kaylee’s mouth twisted as she tried not to smile. The way he said “talk”—she knew that wasn’t what he meant. Her face flushed with warmth, and the tumbling of her insides urged her to answer. “Yes. I know a good place to talk.”
She led him to a quiet corner, hidden from view under a set of stairs. She leaned her back against the wall, her breath quickening when he stepped
