My Beautiful (The Beautiful Series) (36 page)

He was sweaty and dirty yet hot as hell. I licked my tongue across my bottom lip while my eyes bore into the dark depths of his. Heat filled my cheeks as I realized he knew where my thoughts were. His hand curled around the nape of my neck, tugging me closer, and then his lips brushed against my throat once again.

“I fucking love the feel of your skin,” he rasped against my ear. “It’s so soft, so delicate.” He placed soft kisses down the length of my neck. His lips lingered as if he couldn’t break the contact.

My breathing became deep and uneven, matching Kyle’s. The tension between my thighs increased. I felt as though all my blood was rushing to the center of my core. My hips rocked against him, pleading for more. My body had a mind of its own, and it wanted Kyle. It always wanted Kyle.

“Hold on to me,” he commanded, his voice strained with desire.

His hands went for my shorts, and I lifted my hips to help him as he pulled them off my body with force. I needed him now. I wrapped my legs tightly around his waist until I felt the tip of his thick erection brush along my wet core.

As my sex tried to pull him in, the muscles in his jaw clenched, and he let out a deep breath. His hands tightened over my thighs while his mouth descended on mine urgently. My thighs clenched as I sank into the kiss, caressing my tongue along his. With every kiss, his erection penetrated me slowly, going slightly deeper each time. My delicate tissues squeezed around him, building the pleasure in my core.

Kyle thrust forward, and I rocked along with him, taking me closer to that edge I so desperately wanted to tip over. He groaned deeply as his body shook with pleasure. Each measured stroke made my groin constrict in response. The pressure within my abdomen was building at an increasing speed, and I knew I couldn’t hold back long. His effect on me was overwhelming.

Kyle’s hands cupped the upper part of my thighs, and he lifted me off the counter. My mind was entangled with sensations spiraling out of control. As he stroked precisely along my tender flesh, my orgasm slammed into me. I cried out against his neck as I roughly clasped onto his arms. Light exploded behind my eyes as ecstasy flowed outward from my center.

I barely realized we had entered the bedroom until Kyle gently lowered us to the bed. All the while, his hard length stayed inside me. My eyes landed on his face. This man’s desire and love for me was evident in his eyes.

I could feel his love for me. It was the most precious, exquisite feeling I’d ever experienced. He was healing the broken pieces of my soul. Seeing his pure male satisfaction from pleasing his woman was just plain hot. It made my insides stir and beg for more.

Kyle’s mouth stroked my lips delicately with every touch. As his hands caressed up and down my sides, my nerve endings came alive. My inner muscles clenched around him while he drove into me. I reached for him, wanting to feel his bare skin and muscles beneath my hands.

My breaths came in and out, perfectly in sync with his thrusts. My insides tightened as I felt that familiar pull deep within my gut. I gripped him hard, trying to prolong my release. I wanted to revel in each sensation and feel it intensify.

Kyle’s hands ran possessively down the curve of my waist until they clasped around my hips. A low growl emanated from his throat. “Let go, Lily.”

He tensed above me and then shifted his hips in two perfect circles while keeping his gaze on me. With blood thrumming in my ears, I released my orgasm on a cry. Kyle let out a shiver as he came, slowly pulling in and out to prolong our releases.

He collapsed on top of me, and I closed my eyes, loving the feeling of his bare chest and stomach against mine. My fingertips ran soothingly up to his neck until I touched his hairline. Then, I made the descent to the top of his muscular shoulders.

Kyle moaned against my throat before kissing it. “God, that feels good,” he groaned, snuggling closer to me. “Don’t stop. Ever.”

I chuckled and kissed his shoulder. Our breathing was finally starting to even out, and my post-orgasm brain fog was clearing. Then, reality hit full force.
Dinner!

“Oh my god! What time is it?” I tried to jump up, but the solid chest above me effectively blocked me.

Kyle bit back a grin as I let out a laugh. It was so not funny, but here I was, laughing.

He leaned forward and kissed my forehead. “Jason said everyone would arrive at six, so we still have an hour.” He lifted off the bed and helped me to my feet. “Time to clean up, beautiful.”

He headed to the bathroom, and I followed closely on his heel.

Entering the shower, we bathed in our usual routine of washing each other. In between cleansing, we caressed and embraced each other with small kisses here and there.

After we finished drying off, Kyle walked into the bedroom to dress while I blow-dried my hair. I applied light foundation and blush, wanting to keep my make-up light. I started applying mascara just as Kyle walked back in.

I smiled at his reflection in the mirror.

He kissed my cheek and then tilted his head. “You look beautiful without makeup,” he said kindly.

“It’s a girl thing.” I laughed. “It makes me feel pretty.”

Kyle frowned. “You are pretty.” He swept the hair off my neck and kissed my skin gently. “Even prettier without it.”

I pivoted in his embrace and kissed his soft, sweet lips. “Thank you,” I murmured. Turning to face the mirror again, I went back to applying mascara on my opposing eye.

He laughed softly.

“What’s so funny?” I opened my mouth back into an O-shape to finish my lower lashes.

“Why do you have your mouth opened like that?” Moving behind me, Kyle put his hands on the counter, his arms surrounding me and closing me in.

“Uh…” I shrugged, my back touching his chest. “Habit?”

He bit his lip to keep from chuckling. When I elbowed him in the chest, he broke out into a full belly laugh.

“Get outta here!” I giggled.

He gripped my waist and turned me until I was facing him. His eyes were dancing with pure delight. “Kiss me,” he demanded.

I shook my head, never breaking eye contact.

Kyle’s eyes darkened, heating with challenge. Leaning forward, his lips stopped an inch from mine. I held my breath, not wanting to cave, while my eyes dropped to those full lips that I knew all too well.

“Kiss me,” he demanded again. His tongue came out and made one slow sweep across his bottom lip before he tugged it between his teeth.

Damn, that was sexy.
He was an irresistible force of nature.

My body swayed forward, wanting to feel his lips. I could practically imagine how mine would feel brushing along his. Kyle pulled back just before our mouths touched. I took a tiny step closer, my gaze never leaving those luscious lips. He drew back, his eyes dancing with laughter.

I glared up at him. “Tease,” I accused.

“You should have listened the first time.” He grinned.

He backed up once more with a look of triumph on his eyes.

That just won’t do.
Without so much as another thought, I leaped at him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and then hoisted my legs up to surround his waist. Kyle’s hands automatically held me tightly. He chuckled as he nuzzled into my hair and throat.

“Oh, beautiful girl of mine, what am I going to do with you?” he asked near my ear.

“Love me.” I smiled warmly.

With his lips against my skin, I could feel him smile before he placed a gentle kiss.

“I do.”

I positively melted. “Love me more.”

“Oh, Lily, I do,” he whispered in my ear.

I reached one hand out to lift his jaw and centered his face in front of me. My fingers tenderly ran up and down his cheek while my eyes drank him in. Kyle closed his eyes, absorbing my touch.

This was us.

“Love, and,” I said, my voice gentle but strong, “you and me is all we need.” I sealed my lips over his, languidly kissing him. My heart leaped in my chest. I would never tire of kissing him.

His fervor matched my own. The feeling of being needed and loved in return consumed me. I didn’t know if it was normal to feel my heart beating in my chest as fast as it seemed to with Kyle, but now that I had him, I was never going to give him up. He gave me everything I would ever need out of life.

Only the doorbell ringing could end such a perfect moment. We sighed in unison.

“I’ll get the door,” Kyle offered.

“Okay, just have to finish my mascara,” I replied.

Kyle left the room to greet our guests while I quickly finished in record time.

Everyone arrived at the same time. Aunt Lucie and Uncle Dan hugged us first and then Jason and Damon followed. Their bear hugs never seemed to lessen in magnitude. They all squeezed the air out of me. I didn’t mind though. It made me feel like I was still part of the family. Time could never change what we had once been. Jane and Ted hugged us quickly and went to help Aunt Lucie in the kitchen. Meg and A.J. filled the doorway next. Their warm embrace made me feel like no time had ever passed. My friendships and family relationships had always flowed so easily before. I was relieved and elated to see it still held the same possibilities.

A.J. and Kyle made polite conversation as they headed toward the kitchen. Meg and I followed closely behind.

Halfway down the hall, she slowed, suddenly looking uncomfortable. “Lily…” Meg hesitated. “Can we talk before I leave on Sunday? Just you and me?” she insisted. Her eyes were filled with too many emotions to place.

I was caught off guard. “Of course. I’m not sure how long I’ll be here, but I’ll definitely stay through the weekend.”

“Okay.” Meg nodded. She seemed slightly nervous.

I couldn’t imagine what was bothering her. She was normally so upbeat and easygoing.

“How about tomorrow? We could go out to dinner…just the two of us,” she suggested.

I wasn’t really up for going out, but something was clearly troubling Meg. She was my oldest childhood friend, and I needed to be there for her.

I placed my hand on her shoulder and smiled affectionately. “Of course. Anything you need,” I responded sincerely. “Does around six work for you?”

Meg sighed in relief. “Great, I’ll pick you up at five thirty.”

As I slowly led the way into the kitchen, I felt uneasy, wondering what could be worrying her so much.

When we entered the kitchen, Kyle noticed the shift in my demeanor. He approached me and kissed my cheek. “Everything alright?” he murmured in my ear.

“Of course.” I rubbed my hand on his chest, soothing the worry from his eyes, as I smiled.

From the corner of my eye, I could see Aunt Lucie running around the kitchen like a mad woman. I instantly felt terrible. Kyle and I kicked into gear and helped to prepare the dishes quickly.

After bringing out the trays filled with freshly cut fruits and veggies, everyone congregated on the back patio. Kyle and I went back into the kitchen and grabbed the last two platters of pulled pork and barbeque chicken while Aunt Lucie took the buns and the last of the side dishes.

Now that the food was in the center of the table, we began to fill our plates. Our eyes were definitely larger than our stomachs, but it all looked too good to pass up. I sat down next to Kyle at the far end of the rectangular table. Ted and Jane sat on one side with A.J. and Meg must have been feeling brave to sit in between Jason and Damon on the other side. Aunt Lucie and Uncle Dan took their seats at the head of the table, opposite of Kyle and me.

“So, Meggers,” Jason teased, using Meg’s childhood nickname, “to what do we owe the honor for seeing you twice in one month?”

Kyle whispered in my ear, “Meggers?”

I tilted my head toward him. “Bad nickname that she got stuck with when we were kids. She hates it,” I answered quietly.

He chuckled softly, and we turned our attention back to Jason, who was still prodding for details.

“Do we have a new local boy to beat up?” Jason continued.

Meg rolled her eyes. “If there were one, I surely wouldn’t tell you his name.”

“Ah, come on, Meggers, don’t be like that.” Jason wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “I’ll be nice. How about just a first name?” He paused. “Or an address?”

I laughed, shaking my head. Meg, Annie, and I had fallen for Jason’s charm one too many times, only to be left without a boyfriend and a don’t-mess-with-her sign on our foreheads.

“You would be the last person I would share that information with,” Meg replied dryly. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten how you chased away David in eighth grade.”

Jason let out a laugh. “I did you a favor. He was a total douche bag.”

Meg elbowed Jason in the ribs. He winced dramatically, entertaining everyone at the table. His acting skills were so good that he should have joined theater in high school.

“He was a good-lookin’ boy and very sweet, too,” Aunt Lucie commented.

“He was cute and sweet.” Meg sighed and then turned to face Jason with a death stare. “I thought I was going to marry that boy someday, and you ruined it.”

“Nah, you can do better.”

“Wasn’t he the dude who had big ears?” Damon asked.

Laughter filled the air once again.

“See? I definitely
did you a favor!” Jason grinned. “I saved you from having children with Dumbo ears!”

“Didn’t he have a Pinocchio nose, too?” A.J. tried to hide his smile.

Jason didn’t hold back. He let it all out, chuckling so hard.

“You know, Lily, we should have returned the favor to them by picking on all their girlfriends,” Meg said.

I snorted, unable to help myself. “They would have had to keep a girl long enough for that.”

Aunt Lucie let out a sigh. “Does this mean no grandchildren in the near future?”

Jason’s eyes bugged out. “Whoa, Mom! I’m way too young for that.”

“I second that,” Damon chimed in.

I could see the terror in their eyes.

“Jason would have to actually date first. Then, the thought of marriage would probably make his head spin,” Meg said.

With one arm on the table and the other arm on Meg’s shoulder, Jason pretended to sway. “Did someone say the word
marriage
?”