Beautiful Chances (The Beautiful Series) (41 page)

Kyle pulled me into his embrace. He whispered in my ear, “It’s alright, Lily. Let’s go take a breather.” He turned to face my aunt and cousins. “I’m going to take Lily out for some fresh air. Do you have a local store around here where we can pick up some toiletries while we are out?”

Aunt Lucie nodded, sadness and regret reflected across her face. She looked as if she was in pain, too. Her mouth parted, like she had something she wanted to tell me, but then she hesitated. I could not hear anything more right now. I was too overwhelmed.

“There’s a store about four miles east from here. Just go back to the main road, and it will take you straight into town. When you hit the stoplight, take a right, and you can’t miss it,” Jason answered for Aunt Lucie.

“Got it,” Kyle replied. “Thank you. We’ll be back in a couple of hours.”

Jason walked to the picnic table, wrote down his number, and handed the piece of paper to Kyle. “Here. If you need anything, call me.”

Kyle nodded and put the paper in his pocket. “Thanks.”

Kyle and I walked through the convenience store and grabbed a few things that we needed. He was very quiet, leaving me with my thoughts. I could not shake my father out of my mind. I remembered him telling us all about Jason’s little adventure that night when he had gotten home. He had laughed, saying that boys would be boys. My father had been glad that he’d had all the girls and my aunt had had all the boys. He’d thought that it was an interesting way to watch children grow up. He’d probably felt that way because he had a sister.

Back in the car, Kyle was becoming restless, and I had a feeling questions would start at any moment. I could see tension rolling off of him while he fought for keeping his silence. I knew he was trying to give me space.

On the drive back, I looked straight ahead and watched the trees pass by, one at a time. I wasn’t sure if Kyle knew where he was going or not, but I still remembered the roads well enough to get us home. Being born and raised here, it probably wasn’t something I would ever forget.

Kyle’s hand found mine. I looked down at our hands, wishing I could erase that terrible day from my memory.

“Talk to me, Lily.”

I sighed, knowing he was going to make me work my way through these feelings whether I wanted to or not. I found myself wanting to talk because he usually always made me feel better. “I wasn’t prepared to hear about my dad or to hear the sadness in someone else’s voice.” I exhaled heavily and wiped away a tear that had fallen down my cheek.

I turned, facing Kyle, and leaned my head against the headrest as he continued to drive. Hopefully, he would not get us lost.

“That is understandable. You haven’t been around anyone that would talk about him, so it caught you off-guard,” he responded with his eyes still on the road.

I nodded slowly in agreement. “That’s a good way of looking at it. You are so perceptive sometimes,” I teased.

Kyle laughed. “I believe my mother used to say that I was the analytical child and that I always tried to figure out all the possible outcomes of any given situation.”

“That makes sense,” I said, turning my head to look out the window again.

The car was getting hot. Letting go of Kyle’s hand, I turned the air on cool. Looking up to turn the air vents, I got a glimpse of the road we were on. Correction—the
highway
we were on.

My eyes widened in surprise as my pulse exploded into overdrive. “STOP! STOP! GO BACK!” I screamed. I pushed my back against the seat as hard as I could while my eyes blurred with tears.

“Lily, I can’t stop on the highway. What’s wrong?” Kyle asked, trying to keep control and not panic.

I could see the wheels turning in his head as he figured it out. His hand reached out for mine again to comfort me, but it was too late. It would not help for this.

“STOP! Or turn around! Go back!” I cried, becoming completely hysterical as my chest filled with a sharp pain. My lungs felt heavy, and my uneven breaths grew deeper as I gasped for air. My whole body began trembling as the spot came into view.

I barely noticed when Kyle had parked until he pulled me onto his lap. We were parked well off to the side of the highway where cars could not see us or hit us.

“I’m so sorry, Lily,” Kyle said.

He stroked the nape of my neck and back as I cried against him. I squeezed my knees around the sides of his waist as I wrapped my arms around his neck.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered again.

Huge sobs shook my body while all the memories flooded my mind.

I cried for my beautiful, sweet loving Mom, who had always made time for us and had told me she loved me every day. She’d had one of the kindest hearts I had ever known. I missed her so much.

I cried for my father, who had been the greatest man I had ever known. Every day, he’d wanted to be a part of my life, asking me how my day went and what I did. He had been my hero, growing up.

I cried for my loving sister, who had been my best friend. We could tell each other anything. I sobbed for the life and experiences that she had yet to live. She would never get the chance to fall in love and get married, make a home and a family, have children to love and raise them into adults. She had been a caring, kindhearted soul. She had been my other half.

I cried for my family…that I had lost. I cried because I wanted them back and because I knew that would never be possible.

I cried until I could not physically cry anymore.

It felt like an eternity had passed by the time my body started to settle. One last sob rocketed through me as my chest trembled.

“Please stop crying, Lily,” Kyle pleaded affectionately as he caressed my cheek with the backs of his fingers, trying to soothe me. “You are breaking my heart.” His voice was filled with anguish. He sighed. “Not being able to help you or take away your pain is the single worst part.” He lowered his head as he winced.

His tender words, repeating over and over in my mind, had stirred a deep yearning inside my chest. My stomach fluttered with that familiar butterfly sensation.

“Kyle, you do help me. I would still be sitting in my cottage, being a hermit, if it weren’t for you. You have given me hope that I can live a full life again someday.” My voice was hoarse and dry from crying, but I didn’t care.

Not needing any more of his gentle words, I kissed him passionately. Kyle and I could communicate so much emotion, feelings, and intensity with our bodies. Instantly, I wanted the diversion. I wanted to forget, forget the deep pain and emptiness that consumed me. His kiss was calming and gentle as if he were trying to mend my broken heart. My kisses were taking and demanding—needing everything he was giving, wanting to forget the heartache that was yet to come. His touch seemed to fill my soul, filling and healing it, with such loving compassion. I cradled his jaw and brought his body closer against mine. I was so grateful to have met someone so genuine, thoughtful, and loving.

His erection stirred as he pulled back. “Not here, Lily. You’re upset. Let’s get you home.” His breathing was uneven as he looked into my eyes. His control was balancing on a thin wire.

I closed my eyes while shaking my head, and then I rocked my hips against him. “I need you…now.” My voice cracked with vulnerability. “Make me forget.” Not waiting for his answer, I kissed him again, so he couldn’t deny me.

Surrendering, he groaned into my mouth. “I can’t ever seem to say
no
to you.”

Kyle grabbed my hips, and he moved aside my panties. I was thanking my girlie side for wearing a skirt today to visit my family. He lifted me, and my hands worked quickly to free his erection from his pants. My insides were already writhing with need. Our risky atmosphere made it that much more exciting.

Kyle impaled me in one hard, deep stroke. I cried out.

Oh god! Yes! This is what I needed.

Together, we moaned in unison. Kyle gritted his teeth, and his chest heaved up and down. I could hear his heavy breathing. It turned me on even more to watch him feel what I was feeling.

My breathing turned erratic as he lifted me and tightened his fingers around my waist before pulling me down again, filling me and stretching me back up. My body surrendered to his, and I dropped my forehead until we were touching skin on skin as an intense shudder worked its way up my spine. His slow, delicious strokes had my skin burning and my body craving release.

Kyle tilted his head back and looked into eyes with such intensity and affection…along with what looked to be more unspoken words. He was holding something back for some reason, and I wasn’t sure if that was for his benefit or mine.

I dug my hands into his arms and snuggled into the curve of his neck.

He murmured sweet words into my ear, “I’m never letting you go, Lily. You are mine.”

With that, we both let go.

As we held each other in my aunt’s purple-wallpapered bedroom that night, I thought about how some people might not like to feel claimed by a man who had a possessive nature. For me though, after losing everyone that I had loved, it felt really good to be claimed.

It meant I wasn’t alone anymore.

I woke up, disoriented, in bed. After blinking a few times, my eyes focused on that funky purple wallpaper again, and I instantly remembered where I was. I sighed.

Kyle was awake next to me, typing away on his laptop. “Good morning, beautiful.” He leaned over and kissed me.

“Morning,” I grunted sleepily. “What time is it?”

“Almost noon.”

“Noon!” I said, completely mortified.

Kyle laughed. “Afraid so. You are the definition of Sleeping Beauty,” he teased playfully before he kissed my ruffled bedhead.

“I’m surprised I could even sleep with you pounding away on your laptop.”

“You didn’t even move.” His eyebrows rose in wonder. “You sleep like the dead.”

I smiled and let out a laugh at his ridiculousness. “I think you’ve already mentioned that before.”

“There’s my beautiful girl,” Kyle said in a raw voice as he gently tucked my hair behind my ear, making my insides melt into a heaping puddle as he referred to my smile. “And I only speak the truth.”

He set his laptop on the end table, and then he pounced. He kissed me feverishly, and a husky rumble emanated from his chest, doing a wicked number on my insides.

I pulled away, gasping for air. “We
cannot
have sex in my aunt’s house!” I hissed on a whisper before laughing. My hand quickly covered my mouth.

“I bet an orgasm would change your mind.” His words hung in the air as he paused before giving me one of his sexy-as-all-get-out grins.

“Oh no.” I shook my head. “You are too loud.”

“Me?” he asked, bewildered. “Yesterday, I believe it was you who screamed out, ‘Oh god!’ and ‘Yes!’ Would you like me to repeat more?” His voice was low and so sexy in that tone.

My mouth gaped open. “I thought I only screamed that in my head,” I said, wishing I had more self-preservation. Those damn sensations always seemed to take over my body without warning.

Kyle tilted his head back, rolling with laughter. “I believe I warned you about how unaware you are of your surroundings and actions when you are otherwise engaged. Of course, I could also remind you of how you look when you have an orgasm, too.”