Page 21

21

T he sun was shining, the temperature perfect - not too chilly, but not too warm. Rain had been predicted for the weekend, but somehow a few clouds had passed over them without even a small shower.

Kai and Lulu had arrived at the cabin, thrown their bags inside, and then headed straight outside again to go for a long walk beside the lake. For a grown man, he’d enjoyed simply holding her hand far too much. There was something about being with Lulu out here in nature that felt comfortable and right.

Eventually, they’d climbed into the rowboat and lazily drifted across the smooth surface of the lake. Lulu was reclined against him, her fingers trailing in the chilly water. They didn’t speak much unless it was to point out the shape of a cloud that looked like a bunny or a watering can.

“I’m thinking about getting a dog.”

Her announcement was out of the blue, but from her tone she’d been thinking about the subject for a long time. Longer than they’d been in the rowboat, anyway.

“What kind of dog?” he asked.

“I don’t know. The kind that wouldn’t mind being outside and getting muddy every now and then, but would be fine inside the house, too, and wouldn’t destroy my furniture.”

“You don’t have any particular breed in mind?”

“No, I think I’d go to a shelter or rescue and adopt.”

“That sounds like a nice thing to do. I like dogs.”

It was a funny conversation, and it was clear that Lulu was tiptoeing around whether he would be someone who would like to have a dog around.

Because she wanted him around, too.

“You do?”

“I do,” he confirmed. “When I was a kid, we always had dogs. I missed them when I was at school. When I was home, they slept in my bed. It drove my mom crazy. She said that dogs don’t belong in people’s beds, but I think that they do.”

“Me, too.” There was a long pause before she continued. “Did you like going to boarding school?”

That was an interesting question. Depending on the day and his mood, he might answer it differently.

“Sometimes,” he finally replied. “I liked my friends, and we had a great deal of fun. But I missed having my own room and my dog. I missed my grandpa that I would visit in the summer. If I ever have a kid, I don’t think I’ll send them to boarding school. I got a great education, but I’m not sure it was worth it…the things I missed.”

“I think my parents would have loved to send me to boarding school during my teen years, but we couldn’t afford something like that.”

“There were a fair number of kids that were there because their parents couldn’t deal with them,” Kai conceded. “It always seemed like a copout to me, though. Like they didn’t want the hassle, so they sent them away for four years except for summer and holidays.”

“I don’t know about that,” Lulu said. “If they were anything like me, they probably drove their parents to almost lose their minds.”

This was becoming some sort of broken record. Lulu was constantly down on herself for her wild-child past.

“Can I ask you a question? Just how bad could you have been? No one died. You didn’t die. From what you’ve said there were no drugs involved. You didn’t torture small animals. You were a teenager who wanted to test your boundaries, and you were far more enthusiastic about it than most other kids. That’s not a sin, Lulu. Give yourself a break. You’re not doing five to ten at the state pen.”

Kai was pretty sure he fucked up their wonderful afternoon, because Lulu didn’t reply at all. She simply stared up at the sky until it was time to go back to the cabin.

He’d hurt her somehow, and now he felt like shit. He’d been trying to make her feel better about herself, but he sucked at it. It was just that she was so hard on herself, even now that she wasn’t giving anyone any trouble.

Did her parents or siblings constantly bring it up? Was she stuck in some sort of “family slot” where they wouldn’t let her escape her troublesome past behaviors? She was going to have to hear about them for the rest of her life?

If so? That was bullshit. He’d bet his trust fund that the rest of her family wasn’t any more perfect.

Calm down. You don’t know that’s what’s going on here.

Kai didn’t know, but he had a few suspicions. When they arrived back at the cabin, he stepped away for a few minutes to shoot Henry a text asking about his theory. He was sure Henry would tell him the truth - no sugarcoating.

Here I am trying to fix things for Lulu. She can do that for herself, of course.

Kai wanted her to realize how amazing she was. Every day he marveled at this woman, and yet she didn’t seem to know that while no one was perfect…in his eyes, she was damn close.

Fuck that. You want her to know that you love her. Go ahead and admit it.

It was becoming harder and harder to ignore the elephant in the room. Kai had fallen hard for Lulu, and it didn’t look like there was an escape hatch. He was in. All in. Damn, if it didn’t feel better than anything. Just walking around with her and floating on a stupid lake with her had made him a happy man.

Everything in the world was better now that Lulu was in his life.

“Should we grill the chicken for dinner?” Lulu asked when he came out of the bedroom.

She was bustling around in the kitchen, pulling the items they’d purchased at a nearby store out of the refrigerator and placing them on the counter.

“That sounds good.”

She wasn’t looking him in the eye. She was pretending to be busy, and it was all his fault.

Some people would ignore the rising tension between them until it would eventually fade after some time.

Kai wasn’t one of those people.

He was the type that liked to air out any grievances, bring it all to light, so they could move on from whatever it was. He believed Lulu was like that as well. He was going to find out shortly.

“I’m sorry about earlier,” he said. “It’s none of my fucking business. I just wanted you to know how amazing you are. You are, Lulu. You don’t have to keep paying for your sins when you were younger.”

She froze, and he watched her take a shuddering breath before finally looking up at him.

“I’m sorry, too. It’s just?—”

She broke off, shaking her head as if what she had to say wasn’t worth saying. He was sure that it was.

“It’s just?” he prompted. “What’s on your mind, babe? I’m here. I’m listening. I care.”

Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say, because Lulu burst into tears, her shoulders shaking with sobs. Kai immediately went to her side, and she let him pull her into his arms, rocking her back and forth while they stood in the middle of the tiny kitchen. Eventually, the tears subsided, and Lulu sniffled a bit as she took a step back but not out of his embrace.

“I think I might be going crazy,” Lulu finally said. “I don’t know which way is up these days. I’m so confused. And you shouldn’t have to deal with any of this. You’re too patient by far. I wouldn’t blame you if you took off and ran down the mountain back to town.”

That was the last thing on his mind.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said firmly. “Why don’t we go sit down on the couch, and you can tell me what’s going on. I know you’re upset about Chase and Ben. And Henry. Is there something else?”

The cabin wasn’t large, so it was only a few steps to the living room that was cozy and warm. Kai was planning to light a fire once the sun was down and the temperature dropped. He had visions of them curling up on the overstuffed sofa, sipping wine, and staring at the flickering flames.

“I’m not upset about Chase and Ben anymore. You made a lot of sense about this being between them. I don’t want to be someone who is constantly trying to fix people. Except…”

Her voice trailed off, but Kai knew where this was going.

“You want to fix Henry.”

“Yes,” she sighed. “Sometimes I can see that he’s in so much pain, and there isn’t anything that I can do for him. It hurts me, too.”

“Lulu, you do so much for him,” Kai replied. “You’re his friend. You’re there for him. You care about him. Believe me, that’s more than most people can hope for.”

“He’s hurting himself.”

As far as Kai could see, Henry wasn’t the self-destructive type. He wasn’t racing motorcycles on narrow mountain roads or jumping out of airplanes without a parachute.

“Henry strikes me as a very self-aware person,” Kai replied. “He knows what his actions are doing. He’s actively working on himself. But that’s work he has to do. You can’t do it for him.”

“It’s frustrating,” she said, her lashes still wet with tears. “I don’t like that I can’t make it all better for him.”

“I don’t like that I can’t make you feel better about this either. Now we’re both trying to fix people. We have so much in common.”

That got a watery smile from her, and an elbow in his ribs.

“It’s not just Henry.”

“I figured it was more than that. We can talk about it, if you want to. I don’t want to push.”

“You do want to push,” she retorted.

“Okay, I do want to push you to talk about it. I think it will make you feel better. But I’m not going to do that. We’ll talk about it on your timetable, if at all.”

“Then how about we make dinner? I’m starving,” she declared, wiping her wet cheek with the back of her hand. “How are you on the grill?”

“I’ve got mad skills,” he boasted proudly. “I’m pretty handy when it comes to cutting up veggies, too.”

“I may have to keep you around for dinner prep,” she teased. “My knife skills are abysmal.”

He’d have to take it slow with Lulu. First, she’d let him chop up a few onions, and then maybe she’d trust him with whatever was bothering her so much.

One step at a time.

Lulu and Kai had demolished every bite of dinner and were both in the mood for dessert. When they’d picked up groceries on the way out here, they hadn’t wanted to make anything fussy, so they’d chosen vanilla ice cream, some chocolate sauce, and a can of whipped cream for make-your-own sundaes. She’d also thought about fun sprinkles but eventually had decided to keep things simple.

Lulu rinsed out the dishes while Kai ran a sink full of hot, soapy water for them to soak while they ate their dessert. Since it was only the two of them, and they’d cooked on the grill outside, there weren’t too many of them. They’d be able to quickly get these out of the way before bed.

“Two scoops? Or three?” Kai asked, retrieving two bowls from a cabinet. “And I assume you want both chocolate and whipped cream?”

“Of course, I want both. I’d bathe in chocolate and whipped cream if I could.”

Waggling his eyebrows like a villain in a silent movie, Kai grabbed for the whipped cream can.

“I’m willing if you are.”

“I wouldn’t say no, but we’d make a mess. And I’m not in the mood to clean it up.”

Lulu scooped out the ice cream into the bowls and topped them with the chocolate before adding a flourish of whipped cream. Kai poured a few drops of the chocolate sauce on his finger and then gave it a taste.

“Nice, not too sweet.” He poured out some more, but this time he pressed his finger against her lips. The flavor of dark chocolate burst on her tongue, sweet and bitter at the same time.

If he was going to do something that provocative, he wasn’t going to be disappointed.

Lulu sucked his finger into her mouth and laved it with her tongue, but watching his expression the entire time. His eyes had darkened with need, and desire was stamped on his features.

I think these sundaes might melt by the time we get to them.

Kai must have been of the same mind, because he was tugging at the hem of her t-shirt while she worked on the button and fly of his jeans.

As they shed their clothes, the air in the room crackled with heated anticipation. Lulu grabbed the whipped cream can from Kai's hand and playfully sprayed a dollop on his chest, making him shiver at the cool sensation. She leaned in, her lips and tongue following the trail of sweet cream, leaving a tantalizing path of kisses along his skin. His groan of pleasure was almost her undoing, letting her know that he was enjoying their little game.

Leaning back against the cool granite counter, she silently challenged him to return the favor, presenting her naked body as his canvas. It was strange not to feel even one iota of self-consciousness, but the way Kai was looking at her left no doubt that he was liking what he was seeing.

With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he retaliated by drizzling chocolate sauce on her collarbone, then across her neck, and down between her breasts, watching it drip down slowly. Lulu let out a soft gasp at the contrast of temperatures against her skin, sending a shiver down her spine.

His far-too-clever tongue lapped at the chocolate, sending arrows of pleasure ricocheting through her body and all the way to her curled toes.

As Kai continued to lick chocolate from Lulu's body, he traced intricate patterns on her skin, leaving behind a trail of heated and quivering flesh. The sweet aroma was intoxicating, and Lulu couldn't help but arch her back, offering him more of her naked form to explore.

His eyes locked onto hers, a fire burning deep within them, as if daring her to let go of her inhibitions completely. With a deep breath, she closed her eyes and surrendered herself to the moment, feeling his warm breath on her skin as he continued his slow, deliberate journey.

Lulu's mind spun with sensations; the smooth texture of the granite beneath her back, the coolness of the room against her skin, and most prominently, the way Kai's tongue felt against her body - firm yet gentle, insistent.

When his tongue finally touched her clit, she almost screamed his name loud enough to be heard back in Harper. Her whole body shook with the intensity of her orgasm, her world tilting on its axis. She could only surrender to it, letting it run wild inside of her, twisting her to its will until eventually it ebbed away, leaving her breathless but still ravenous. She needed him inside of her now.

Their gazes locked, his pupils blown wide with desire. He gently moved closer, his hands guiding her legs over his shoulders as he positioned himself at her entrance. The bar of arousal that had taken up residence in her abdomen coiled even more tightly in anticipation.

His cock pressed forward, stretching her walls to accommodate him and rubbing all the sensitive spots inside of her as he pushed into the hilt.

Their bodies, slick with sweat and desire, melded together perfectly as he began to move. His hips rocked in a slow, deliberate rhythm that sent shockwaves of pleasure coursing all the way to her fingertips. The kitchen counter, once a mundane backdrop of their ordinary lives, now served as a stage for their most intimate desires.

Wrapping her legs around his lean waist, Lulu pulled him deeper into her, urging him to go faster. Fuck her harder. Her need for him was overwhelming in a way she’d never experienced before.

Her nails dug into his back as her breath hitched with each thrust. The scent of passion filled the air, mingling with the aroma of chocolate still lingering on their damp flesh.

Their skin slid against each other, creating a symphony of wet sounds that echoed throughout the small kitchen. This was no dainty coming together - clean, neat, and tidy. It was raw and animalistic, a little dirty like real life. They pawed at each other like there was no tomorrow.

Life was uncertain, right? Perhaps they had this moment and this moment only.

Lulu wanted to scream at the top of her lungs to fuck her harder, faster. She wanted to feel him more deeply than she’d ever felt anyone ever before. All she could, however, was chant his name over and over again as she moved closer to her orgasm.

She was so close it was infuriating. She could almost reach out and physically touch her climax, just shimmering right before her eyes.

He leaned down, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered,

"Come for me,” he whispered, his lips brushing against her ear. "Let go."

Lulu's body arched beneath him as she felt the waves of pleasure building up inside her, far more powerful than ever before.

"I need you."

Kai wasted no time. He increased his pace, thrusting deeper and faster into her now. The kitchen counter creaked under their weight, but they paid it no mind. All that mattered was the feeling of his hard body against hers, the way their sweat mingled, and their hearts pounded in unison.

Her orgasm hit her only moments before his own. She clung to him like a life preserver in a storm, the waves coming from all directions and threatening to pull her under with their force. Her vision spun and white lights sparkled in front of her eyes, the pleasure so intense it was almost painful. Yet, she never wanted it to end.

It did, of course, leaving them wrung out, breathless, and giggling at the mess they’d made of the kitchen. The ice cream had melted, whether from the heat of their coupling or the ambient temperature in the room, she couldn’t have said. They were both sticky from sweat, chocolate, and more.

“I love you,” Kai said, pressing soft kisses to her shoulder. “I know I should probably play it cool and pretend, but it’s not who I am. I just love you. Is that okay? You don’t have to say it back or anything.”

If there was ever a perfect moment, it was now with this man. Her heart had sped up even faster at his bold statement, but she was glad that he’d thrown caution to the wind. It wasn’t his usual behavior. He’d told her that himself. But if he could be brave and impetuous, then she could, too.

“I love you,” she said, her voice a mere whisper. “I’m willing to take a chance on us if you are.”

Their kiss sealed the deal. They were a couple. A team. Fools in love.

“I think we need a shower,” Kai chuckled, pressing a chaste kiss to her forehead. “And then we need to clean the kitchen.”

“I would step down from the counter, but I’m pretty sure my legs would give out,” Lulu confessed. “And yes, a scrub down is in order.”

Lulu had given in to spontaneity once again, but she didn’t have the heart to be sorry about it. Not when it was this pleasurable. Besides, no one had been hurt.

No one but she and Kai needed to know.

And she’d never look at a kitchen counter the same again.