My Beautiful (The Beautiful Series) (27 page)

Brooke came to the rescue as she cleared her throat. “So, it’s getting late, and I have a good two-hour drive ahead of me.” She rose to her feet.

I worried about Brooke driving when she looked tired. “Brooke, are you sure you should be driving back this late?” I frowned. “Maybe you should get a room? You’re more than welcome to stay with us at the hotel.”

I realized my mistake as soon as Brooke let out a saucy grin.

“And impose on your parade? Nah, I can drive home.” She laughed.

I blushed. This time, I was careful not to meet Luke’s stare.

“And besides, I’m not directionally challenged, like some people.”

Luke chuckled hard. “Only Lily would miss a turn and end up going two hours in the wrong direction.” He barely finished his sentence as he started rolling with laughter, holding his side.

Kyle raised his eyebrows in question. A small smirk formed, showing off his right dimple.

I waved my hand dismissively. “He’s exaggerating.”

Of course, Brooke had his back. “Oh no, he’s not!” She laughed uncontrollably. “I was at lunch with him when you were reading the highway signs out loud to him.”

Kyle grinned. “No GPS, huh?”

I bit back my own chortle. “It was not funny. I was really, really late for a photo shoot with a prestigious photographer, who was letting me observe him.”

“Well, I hope your photo shoot ended up working out.” Kyle put his arm around me and kissed my cheek. “Don’t worry, beautiful. I have a built-in GPS for the two of us,” he said, tapping the side of his temple with his finger.

“It’s been fun, kids, but it’s time for me to be on my way.” Brooke leaned forward and hugged Luke.

I promised to keep Brooke and Luke updated with Colorado and my moving plans. We planned to all get together one last time before I officially moved to California.

Now that I knew Luke would be okay, it was time to head back to Colorado and wrap up my unfinished business. I would not feel better until it was done.

We each wished Luke a quick recovery, and we said our good-byes for the night.

It would be bittersweet to leave my only two friends that I had allowed into my life in the past three years. I knew they had each come into my life for a reason, and I was forever grateful to call them my friends. But sometimes, I had to take that leap, knowing there were bigger and better things planned out for me in my next journey.

***

Back at the hotel, Kyle and I got ready for bed. In our usual attire, I dressed in a plain tee and panties, and Kyle wore only a pair of pajama pants. As we had agreed in the car, we were planning to leave early in the morning. Together, we then packed up our suitcases. I was utterly amazed at how much stuff I had to bring along when I traveled. And no matter what, it seemed like something was always missing. Since we had left most of it in our suitcases, it took a short time to pack.

Kyle beat me to the bed and plopped down flat on his belly. My eyes gazed over every stretch of skin across his bare back down to the curve of his waist. Without hesitation, I climbed over him and ran my hands along the sides of his spine. His groan of appreciation reverberated up through my palms. It felt so good to be this close after such a long, stressful day.

I massaged my hands back up his back once again, feeling his hard muscles beneath my fingers. Each curve radiated strength as I made my way across to his shoulders.

“Feel good?” I asked softly while my hands continued stroking each toned muscle.

“Oh yeah,” Kyle groaned into the pillow. He turned his head to the side and tucked his forearms under his cheek. “Whenever your hands are on me, it feels way better than good.”

I smiled fondly. “I know the feeling.” I switched to using the pads of my fingertips to gently caress his skin. “When you touch me, the rest of the world seems to slip away.”

He turned onto his back. As I started to slide off, he gripped my thighs and held me in place. I affectionately braced my hands on his warm chest and smiled.

“That only seems fair…considering you have changed my whole world.” His hands came up around my waist before gliding their way up my sides. He pulled me down until his lips were mere inches from mine. “You are my whole world.”

My heart warmed as blood pulsed in my veins with determined force. It felt so intimate to be sitting on a bed in only half our clothing. There was nowhere else I wanted to be.

“Ditto,” I breathed.

His smile was slow and genuine. My breathing sped up as I tried to take him all in. From his gorgeous grins to his pure heart, he was utterly beautiful.

Then, his grin turned naughty. “I will kiss you on one condition,” Kyle said in a small voice.

The beating in my chest was uncontrollable. “Wh-what’s that?” I stuttered, entirely too distracted with his mouth and his eyes.

“I want to take you on a date tomorrow,” he stated, his fingers stroking my cheek tenderly.

“I thought we were leaving tomorrow?” I asked, not understanding his intentions.

“We are.”

When his hands touched me, my mind seemed to malfunction. “Is this a trick question? Because I’m confused.”

“I want to drive to Colorado with you.” Kyle paused, running his fingertips across my collarbone, as he let an adorable boyish grin slip. “A road trip.”

“A road trip?” I raised my eyebrow while contemplating his offer. “Feeling spontaneous, are we?”

“Yup.” He smiled.

“Aren’t we supposed to be grown-ups and be responsible? Shouldn’t we finish what I need to do in Colorado and get back to the daily grind, like working?” I frowned. It sounded so boring.

Kyle let my words fester for a moment, realizing his plan was working. “I’m winning this debate, aren’t I?” He grinned again. “You did all the convincing for me. We can be responsible after our three-day drive.” He paused as if he could sense my reservations.

I craved normalcy, and nothing would be normal until I finished Colorado.

“You need this, Lily. I can tell you’re not ready to go back yet. You’ve had an extremely intense last few days. It will be good for you to regroup and go back with a clear mind.”

Picking my battles, I huffed exasperatedly. “You win.” I contemplated and then added my own stipulation. “On one condition,” I said, pinning him with my gaze.

Kyle let out a deep breath, once again reading my thoughts somehow. It was time. He needed to tell me what he knew. I wanted to know what had him walking on edge all evening.

“Okay,” he murmured. “I knew this was coming.”

“How bad is it?”

His jaw tightened along with every muscle beneath my touch. “Bad,” he answered so softly I almost didn’t hear him.

“Tell me,” I whispered even though I didn’t want to know.

“Luke was jet skiing with a pretty large group on the day of the accident. At some point, he lost control and had a rough fall. Luke only remembers a few parts, not really any details.”

He hesitated, and my mind started guessing his next words.

“The question is…whether it was an accident or if it was intentional.”

I gasped.

“Does that mean…” I stopped, unable to continue. “D-do you think…”

His hand brushed my hair that had fallen free behind my shoulder. “I don’t know for sure, but anything is possible if it was premeditated. The police will investigate it. Remember though, making the connection between different counties takes time, and it doesn’t mean that there is one.”

My eyes became unfocused, and I swayed forward.
It couldn’t be…please don’t let it be connected…be my fault.

Kyle wrapped his arms tightly around my waist and sat up, balancing me. “Stop. This is not your fault.” He hugged me hard. “We’re going to figure this out.”

All I could do was nod.

Kyle wiped my tears with one hand while the other held me firmly in place. Closing the distance, he kissed me with intentions to comfort and soothe. Time stood still as he continued to hold me in the security of his arms. Pulling me tighter into his embrace, he lay back down as I snuggled my cheek into the warmness of his chest.

Tonight, I didn’t want to sleep in my familiar little nook in his side. I wanted to hear his strong, confident heartbeat beneath my ear—reassuring me, surrounding me, and protecting me.

Mondays were supposed to be the worst day of the week, but not today. I was going on my first actual road trip. The only other time I was in a car for a long period of time had been on my trip from Colorado to where I’d ended up in Florida. I wasn’t counting that as a road trip experience though. Even traveling with my family as a kid had been more of a family vacation.

Ready to start the day, I sat up in bed with a smile on my face, but then I noticed that I was completely tangled in covers. I glanced at Kyle and realized he had none. I giggled quietly, feeling like a blanket hog, and then I covered his lower body up to his chest.

Thinking back to all the times when he had woken me up far too early, I decided to snuggle up close and return the favor. I climbed over his sleeping body and laid my chest against his.

While kissing him softly, Kyle stirred and automatically wrapped his arms around my waist, tugging me closer.

“Morning, beautiful girl.” His tone was throaty and rough. “What has you up so early?”

That voice of his was definitely sexy.

“Someone promised me a road trip.” I leaned forward and kissed him. “My first road trip, I might add.” I tilted my head to kiss the base of his throat. “So, I have pretty high expectations.”

“Mmm,” Kyle moaned as I placed another kiss above the last. “I guess I’ll have to make it very memorable then,” he responded with a hooded stare.

His hands cupped the sides of my face and pulled me toward him to close the distance. My lips and tongue mingled with his, stirring me into a heated frenzy in seconds.

“Starting now,” Kyle added as he turned over, taking me with him until I was flat on my back.

My body hummed beneath him as he towered over me. My heart was beating faster from only the sight of him as his eyes bore into mine. A sensual tremor shot down my spine, pooling between my thighs.

Starting at the top, I slowly slid my hands down each of his shoulders with a soft, gentle touch. When I reached his firm pectoral muscles, I lightly used the tip of my nails to make my way down to his taut, toned stomach. Kyle quivered at the sensation as his eyes darkened with adoring lust. My name left his lips in a possessive hoarse tone.

I slowly ran my fingers along the line of his waistband once and then again, teasing him, as I lifted my pelvis off the bed to rub against his hard erection. His control snapped as he shuddered and leaned back to step off the bed.

After shucking his pants and briefs in record speed, he grabbed the back of my knees and pulled me to the edge of the bed. The fast movement made my T-shirt rise, exposing the lower part of my breasts. His eyes burned into my skin with a look of yearning as his hands grazed up my inner thighs.

My lips parted as he leaned forward and ran his mouth up the length of my thigh and then over my cotton panties before he stopped at the hem. His breath was warm on my skin as he parted his lips and licked a trail across the width of the seam, teasing me, until I moaned. Kyle bit the material while using his hands to lift my bottom off the bed. With only his teeth, he pulled until my underwear hit the floor.

Damn, that was hot.

As I thought about reaching for him, he dropped to his knees and used his thumbs to spread me wide. I barely heard a growl leave his throat as I whimpered at the first touch of his warm mouth against my aching flesh.

Kyle’s movements were deliberate with measured, tender strokes along the length of my sex. Every nerve in my abdomen clenched while tingling, wanting more. I was entranced with every sensation and every touch as my lungs strenuously pumped air in and out while I silently begged for more.

His arms gripped around my legs and lifted them up and over his shoulders, allowing him deeper access to thrust his tongue. My back arched off the bed, pushing my sex into his greedy mouth, as I let out a pleasure-filled cry.

My fingers twisted in the bedsheets at my side as my body writhed. I could feel the edge of my release growing closer and closer. Kyle’s hands moved to each side of my waist and slipped beneath to grab my rear end in his firm grasp. He squeezed and kneaded while I rocked my hips into his mouth as his tongue swirled, lapped, and sucked on my clit relentlessly.

All the air left my lungs as my orgasm broke free, spiraling in outward motions from the center of my core. My body felt hot and cold at the same time. I was delirious with pleasure from my release.

Kyle stood to his feet with a look on his face that was absolutely delicious. Desire and need poured off of him in intense waves. His lips glistened with moisture from my sex.

My skin felt flushed and hypersensitive. I was ready for more as he crawled his way back over my body to straddle my waist. I instantly responded to his closeness, anxious to feel his hands on my skin and my hands on him.

Kyle quickly got rid of my shirt. He tossed it on the floor without a backward glance. His gaze dropped to my breasts, lingering and devouring them with his eyes.