“You know me better than that, Jess. I didn’t go far at all.” I paused and bit my lip. “But I will say this… he is an AMAZING kisser.”
Jessi jumped from the sink with a squeal. “I KNEW IT! Gah, how is it kissing someone with a lip piercing? I’ve always wondered. I bet it’s super-hot.” She fanned herself and I smiled.
“Oh yeah, it’s most definitely hot.” I was getting a little tickle in my belly from the memories of the kisses Kane and I had shared.
“So, do you like him?”
I paused for a second before shyly nodding. “I do, Jess. I don’t know what it is about him but he kinda just gets me.”
“Landon said that he’s never seen Kane behave the way he does when he’s around you. That he has never actually seen Kane show more than a full day’s worth of attention to any girl in general and that Kane isn’t really the relationship type. And I can’t lie, Kels, that scares me a little for you since you’re my best friend and you have never shown this much attention to any guy before. I’m scared that you are going to fall hard and fast and that Kane won’t be there to catch you when you do. Do you think that maybe he might just be a little too good to be true?”
I looked at my friend. I don’t know what I had done to deserve her friendship but she was always there for me. She was there before my whole world came crashing down, she was there after, and she would be there ‘til they laid us both in the ground, side by side with matching tombstones that read best on one, and friends on the other—yeah it was morbid that we had this all planned out, but that was just us.
“I know all about what he used to be like, Jess, but he’s changed. I know it sounds crazy for me to say he has changed when I didn’t even know him before, but he came clean about the stuff he has done and the people he has hurt in the process and I honestly believe him. It couldn’t have been easy for him to admit to me that he used girls for sex at one point.”—I paused—“I really do believe him, Jess. Which is why last night I came clean about my past too.”
Jessi’s eyes widened. “You told him about your mom?”
I nodded.
“Kelsey, that’s such a big deal. I can’t believe you told him about that so soon. You never talk about your mom and what happened.”
“I know, believe me I never expected to do so, but he opened up to me. Telling me about his past. Not only the part about the women but also some stuff about his parents too and it just didn’t feel right not be as open and honest with him as he was with me. I told you, Jessi, I don’t know what it is about him, but I feel so close to him.”
“Kelsey, I’m so glad you have found someone you can connect with. Believe me I truly am—but please, please be careful. I don’t want to see you hurt. I mean Kane’s a big guy and all but if he were to ever hurt my girl do not doubt the fact that I would be all over him like spider monkey.”
I laughed and hugged her. That was my Jessi. She may have been the size of a Chihuahua but she had the attitude of a Pit Bull.
After we got ready, we headed out to grab a quick bite to eat before classes. We were laughing about some crazy story that Jessi had just told me when I looked up and found Kane at the bottom of the stairs to our dorm. He was leaning against his motorcycle with a coffee tray in one hand and a small bag in the other.
“He comes baring gifts. I like him already,” Jessi said as she playfully bumped my hip with hers.
Kane smiled as we approached and held the tray out for Jessi to take.
“I figured you ladies could use some coffee and a couple of muffins this morning,” he said, but he never took his eyes off me. My cheeks were becoming sore from the obscene amount of smiling I had been doing these past few days.
Taking me by surprise, Kane leaned in a placed a slow kiss on my cheek. My eyes shifted to Jessi who mouthed the words “so cute” back to me.
“Well, since I’m feeling a little third wheel-ish here, I’m going to go and see if I can meet up with Landon before class. I’ll see you guys later. Love you, Kels,” Jessi said as she handed me coffee from the tray. She blew me a kiss, then retreated in the other direction.
“Thank you for the coffee. We were just headed out for some before class actually.”
“Well why don’t I walk you to your class while you drink your coffee?”
I nodded and we began the short walk to my first class. Half way there I felt Kane’s hand slide down my arm before he interlaced his fingers with mine. The butterflies erupted in my stomach like a volcano and I suppressed the huge grin on my face with a quick sip of my warm coffee.
The walk to class had seemed a lot shorter than normal, but a lot of that may have had to do with the fact that I wasn’t ready to let go of Kane’s hand yet.
Approaching the door to my class, Kane gave my hand a small tug, pulling me back to him where he immediately covered my mouth with his. I could taste the coffee on his tongue. Best way to have morning coffee…ever!
When the kiss was over, Kane rested his forehead against mine and sighed.
“I had to do that. I couldn’t wait any longer. After the dream I had last night all I could think about doing was getting to you this morning and kissing you.”
“Well that must have been some dream,” I joked.
“You have no idea.” He finally pulled back to look at me.
As I stared into those beautiful gray eyes of his, I couldn’t help but wonder how did I get here? How could someone as attractive and as personable as Kane want anything to do with sheltered and broken me? I didn’t want to dwell on those thoughts too much because I wanted him. I wanted him to want me—but for this to actually be happening was all a little surreal.
One final kiss from Kane and I made my way into class. He waited at the door until I was seated at my desk before sending a sly smile my way. He then slowly backed away from the door, disappearing from my sight. I shook my head trying to clear the thoughts of soft lips and lip rings from my mind, but it was no use. This was going to be a long class.
After class I packed my things up and walked out the door. I was grabbed from behind and let out a yelp, but when the familiar coolness of metal touched my neck, I knew exactly who had me.
“How is it that you always manage to walk me to class and still be waiting for me when class is over?” I asked as I turned in his arms to face him.
He shrugged. “What can I say, my professors love me.”