Page 33 of Light in Your Eyes (Romero Brothers #1)

Layla

More days pass, and Kellan has recovered from the flu. I haven't seen him all evening today, so I make my way down to the basement.

It's about time that Kellan has his dinner. I wonder if he has lost track of time.

I push through the door and find him in the boxing ring. As usual, he's practicing alone. There's no one else here. The entire place would be deserted if it weren't because of us.

I step closer toward the ring, watching Kellan. He's doing his martial arts moves so fast, like the wind, and so precise.

He's beautiful, just like his lonely soul. If only he could see it himself.

If only he could let himself be happy again.

Kellan Romero is better than he thinks he is, better than most of the people spending their lives in this place.

It seems that he can feel my movement because he suddenly stops. He turns his body in my direction. "Why didn't you wait in my room?"

A sigh leaves my lips. I don't answer him and walk closer instead.

He grabs the rope at the side of the ring and jumps out of it. I pick up his towel, which is lying at the corner of the ring, and meet him halfway.

"How did you know that it was me?" I ask in a curious tone.

He sighs. "Your footsteps. I know how you walk. I couldn't be mistaken."

I chuckle lightly. Instead of handing him the towel, I help him dry himself with it, starting by patting his face lightly before wiping his upper body gently.

He's full of sweat, but he can't be more beautiful. A blush creeps onto my cheeks as the towel makes contact with his abs.

It seems that he notices my uneasiness because the next thing he does is guide my hands to wrap the towel around his shoulders. Shivers run down my spine as my fingers graze his bare skin.

I'm about to let go of the towel when he prevents me from doing so. He catches my wrists with both hands and secures my arms around his shoulders instead.

I don't know what to do in this awkward position, so I just pat his shoulders lightly.

"I've been wanting to try something," he says, his voice hoarse.

My brows furrow in confusion. "What is it?" I whisper.

He swallows, and I can see that he's nervous. The muscles on his neck move.

He touches my chin with two fingers, startling me. He squints, like he's thinking hard. My heart thumps as his thumb grazes my lower lip.

"Lips," he whispers.

My heart beats even faster. He's studying me and trying to memorize me in his mind.

"Lips," I repeat his word, my lips slightly trembling because of the emotions building up inside me.

I close my eyes and sigh. I can hear his shaky breath when he feels the air from my mouth blowing his thumb.

I feel his fingers move upward, touching my nose.

"Nose," he says, and I can't help the smile curving on my lips.

"Nose," I whisper.

I open my eyes because I want to see his expression. He's staring at me intensely.

When his thumbs reach the area under my tear ducts, he whispers again, "Eyes."

There's no way that I can't hear the pain in his voice. He sounds like he's in agony.

His gray eyes turn glassy. I'm staring into them, and he's staring into mine, but it's only me who can see.

His eyes are the most enchanting and captivating gray. I can stare into them forever and get drowned in them. Gray is my favorite color now. There's no doubt as I think about that.

My vision starts to get blurry with tears. "Eyes." I nod, and that's when a tear drops, falling onto his finger.

It startles him. "Don't cry," he says, wiping away my tear.

I tighten my grip on his shoulders to compose myself, causing his face to draw closer to mine. We're aware of how dangerously close we are to each other, but none of us can pull back.

"Layla, may I..." He stops mid-sentence, sounding like it pains him to utter the next words.

My heart is racing inside my chest. He may what?

"May I kiss your lips?" he asks softly.

The butterflies in my tummy go crazy. I swallow. "Yes." My voice is so small, but I'm sure that he can hear it.

I can't believe that I just said that.

He clears his throat. "I may be bad at it. I haven't done it before."

"I haven't done it either," I say truthfully.

Never had I thought that I would have my first kiss with Kellan Romero.

I can't figure out what he feels about my confession. The more I'm trying to figure out what he's thinking, the more I'm becoming crazy.

Kellan looks extremely nervous too. His face hardens, and I close my eyes. The next thing I feel is his nose touching mine.

I snap my eyes open and suddenly blurt, "Wait."

He immediately holds back.

"If you're worried about what the girl you're going to kiss for the first time looks like, you don't need to think about it at all." I'm blabbering like a mess because of how nervous I am. "Just believe that you're about to kiss the prettiest girl on the planet."

What the hell am I talking about? I instantly regret what I said, but it's too late.

To my amazement, Kellan chuckles softly. My eyes widen. It's the first time I see a smile on his face, and nothing could top what I'm feeling inside.

"My God." I breathe. "You just smiled," I say it like I can't believe my eyes.

It's the first time I saw it.

Kellan looks taken aback too, but then his eyes light up. The light in his eyes — his happiness — is a sight I want to memorize for the rest of my life.

"That's a good thing, isn't it?" The corner of his mouth crooks up in amusement. "I don't think that I ever did it in the past nine years."

His words make my heart swell, and I can only close my eyes when he leans in, brushing his lips against mine.

Our first kiss is tentative. Exploring. Like the first taste of freedom.

"Your lips are so soft." His voice is shaking as he whispers against my mouth.

Kellan is talking like the feeling is too overwhelming for him, but what he should know is that I feel the same thing.

I kiss him back with all my heart. We keep returning each other's kisses for a long minute until he pulls away. My stomach churns. I'm afraid that he doesn't like it enough.

But then, when I open my eyes, I have the answer as to why he suddenly stopped.

"I'm so sorry for denying you at the beginning." He clenches his jaw.

My chest tightens because of my feelings for him as he gives me another round of kisses.