Loving Rowan (8 page)

“One step at a time. This weekend has just been just a mind-fuck.”

He grinned. “Anything you want. Now, are you going to let me kiss you some more?”

My heart felt as if it would explode as I nodded. Somehow his tongue found its way into my mouth again, though this time I was prepared and kissed him back.

He groaned, pressing his body to mine, and I felt him harden against me. No one had ever made me feel this way. I wanted him between my legs so badly, but I’d just told him I wanted to take it slow.

“Rowan,” he whispered, kissing me again. “I could kiss you all night.”

“I could let you kiss me all night,” I whispered back, grinning.

“You know I have this fantasy of finding every damn freckle on your body.”

I giggled as he kissed my neck. This felt amazing. I’d wanted Andrew to pay attention to me for so long, always putting him first, completely neglecting my own needs. Now Kyle wanted to take care of those needs, the same ones it appeared he’d just woken up.

“You know, we could have sex if you wanted to,” I said.

He froze, pushing himself up to look at me.

“Is that what you really want? Or what you think I want?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. Both?”

“Apart from the fact that this bed is so narrow, and I want to do things to you that might need more space, if it’s going to be your first time it needs to be special.”

I stroked his cheek, his words speaking volumes for the esteem he held me in. He didn’t just want sex, he wanted more. Why hadn’t I seen this before? I’d wasted so much time just being friends when I could have given him my heart.

“Okay,” I whispered, “I have no idea what I’m doing, but I’m sure you’ve worked that out.”

He laughed, kissing me tenderly. “I should go back to my room and let you get some sleep. Before you tempt me into anything more.”

I nodded.

“We can just do what feels right. As much as I would love for us to rut like rabbits right now, we need to be somewhere not under your parents’ roof.”

I sighed. “You’re right. I did say that myself.”

“So, I am going to leave you here with that thought, and go and take care of myself before going to sleep.”

He kissed me on the nose, standing up beside the bed and looking down at me. “I don’t think I’ve jacked off twice in one day since I was a teenager. In fact, I don’t think I’ve done it so much than since I met you. How’s that for a final thought before bed?”

I laughed as he left the room, throwing a pillow a the door. I closed my eyes, unable to believe what had just happened. For the first time in so long, I had stopped thinking of Andrew and Charlie and the miserable time that I’d had. Now I had something to look forward to. Something real.

I
left
Rowan’s room and climbed into my own bed, still thinking of how things had gone. Now she knew how I felt and best of all, wanted to take things further.

She was so fragile, especially after the day’s events. While I wanted to strip that gorgeous dress off her, I had to take baby steps. She had been put through enough by those selfish ‘friends’ of hers, so if it meant taking our time, I would do whatever it took to make her happy.

Normally, I would jump in feet first, but that might be too much for her. Especially with her so recently broken-hearted over this marriage. At least now she could move on.

In the morning, she was at the kitchen table when I made my way down for breakfast. She lit up when I approached, and I leaned over to kiss her softly before sitting down. Her mother had a look on her face that I could only describe as an ‘I told you so’ look.

Rowan rolled her eyes before pouring me a coffee.

“You don’t have to do that, Rowan.”

“I know. I want to.” She smiled at me, and I couldn’t help but grin at the twinkle in her eye. I’d seen her happy, but now she was alive, and I loved that I was responsible for that look. She was finally freed from the crap of her past, and ready to love me.

“Are you two going back today?” Rowan’s father asked.

“Yeah,” she said, “I’ve got work tomorrow, and I didn’t want to take time off in the middle of the project I’m working on.”

“It’s been good to see you, Rowan. You should come home more often.”

“Yes, Dad,” she said, squeezing my thigh under the table.

I fought back the laugh at her bold behaviour. Yesterday, she would never have been so forward. Maybe we wouldn’t take things as slowly as I thought.

“I was surprised you drove down. Would have been faster to fly.”

“Kyle hadn’t been down this way before. We thought we’d take the scenic route.” She reached for another piece of toast, and buttered it before placing it on my plate. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her father raise an eyebrow. Something had changed between us since yesterday, and he knew it.

“We had a good drive down,” I said. “We’re going back a different way. Along the coast.”

He nodded. “I know the road. Perfect day for a drive, too. Travel safely, you two.”

I just smiled at him, not quite prepared to sit down with her father to talk about her future with me. We had to work that out between us first. “I’ll take care of her,” I said, and he nodded, holding eye contact as he did. It was as good as a promise.

W
e left just after lunch
, giving Rowan as much time with her parents as we could before the six-hour drive home. Her parents kissed her goodbye as we left, and her father came around my side of the car to shake my hand.

“She likes you. Just be good to her.”

“I promise,” I said. He shook my hand and took a deep breath, glancing over at Rowan who was talking to her mother. “Kyle, she feels everything, and hides nothing once you know what to look for. You’re the first man outside of Andrew who seems to genuinely care for her, and that means a lot, but she’s precious and more fragile than she seems at times.”

I nodded, not wanting to get into an argument and point out that if anything, I think I cared more for Rowan than Andrew did. Especially after the way she’d been sidelined at the wedding.

“She’s very special to me, Mr Taylor. We’ll just see how things go.”

He seemed happy with that, smiling as I sat in the car. He bent at the open window. “She’s a smart one, just naive at times. All she’s ever really wanted was to be loved.”

“That’s the easy part,” I said before realising what I’d admitted to.

He stood, clearly happy with my response, and I watched as Rowan ran around the car to him for one last hug. She really was so sweet, and the thought of taking her home and being with her made me anxious to leave.

The road was quiet, and with the weather being hot and sunny, we had the windows down to let a gentle breeze blow through the car. Rowan couldn’t stop smiling, and I knew I was the reason behind it. We made small talk about the scenery, the conversation littered with laughter and those shy smiles that did so much for me. Every so often, she’d place her hand over mine on the gear stick, and look at me through those long eyelashes of hers.

“Love you,” I said, and she would grin, her face lighting up at the words I’d held in for so long.

She leaned back in her seat, putting her feet on the dashboard while she played a game on her phone. I reached over, playfully slapping her ankle to tell her to put her feet down.

“Spoil sport,” she said.

“I’m just looking out for your safety, like I promised your father.”

She cocked an eyebrow, twisting her mouth, and I just knew she was dying to ask what else I’d said to him.

“He wanted me to look out for you, Rowan. You know, seeing as we’re together now, and you didn’t really hide it this morning at breakfast.”

The smile crept back across her face, and she blushed. “I’m happy, and I want everyone to know it.”

“We will tell the world, baby. I want everyone to know you’re all mine.” She placed her hand across her mouth to stifle a giggle. “You don’t have to hide how you feel, Rowan. Not with me.”

Rowan leaned over, planting a kiss on my cheek. “I love you too,” she said, nuzzling my face.

“Stop that,” I said with a laugh. “I need the blood to go to my brain in order to drive and not have an accident.”

She giggled, sitting back in her seat, her eyes widening as we drew close to somewhere she clearly recognised. “We used to come here as kids. That road leads to the beach.”

“Do you want to stop and take a look?”

Rowan shook her head. “We used to go there every weekend. Andrew’s parents owned a house not far from the beach, but they sold it years ago. I just want to go home now and get on with my new life. Our new life.” She smiled, resting her head back on the headrest. “I’ll try not to fall asleep this time.”

Despite her words, the gentle curves on the road soon sent her off to sleep, and when we arrived I unpacked the car, gently waking her to take her and her things up to her apartment.

Her eyes were still so heavy, and I helped her into her bedroom where she curled up on the bed, falling back asleep in an instant.

I smiled, pulling the blanket over her and kissing her on the forehead. “Sleep well, gorgeous,” I whispered. “See you at work tomorrow.”

She murmured something in her sleep—I think it was goodbye—and I left for home to spend another night alone. Although now, I knew those nights were numbered.

She loved me.

I
’d told
my father about Rowan and I when I got home, and laughed when he really wasn’t surprised.

“You two have been spending so much time together, it was only a matter of time,” he said, not even looking up from his newspaper.

“And you’re okay with that?”

He looked up at me and smiled. “I don’t think I could stop either of you if I tried. If it causes any issues at work, then we’ll be talking about it again, but if it makes you happy, Kyle, then I’m happy.”

“She’s awesome, Dad, she really is. When you get to know her better you’ll see just how amazing she is.”

“From what I’ve seen of her, I’m sure you’re right. There have been a few bumps, but I’d be sorry to see her go.”

I grinned. That was as close to a blessing as I was going to get from him, but it’d do. He would be concerned about any relationship I entered into after the last one, but this was different; Rowan was different.

After showering, I planted myself on the couch in front of the television. All the travel had tired me out, and I was ready to collapse into my bed, if I didn’t fall asleep where I was.

My phone buzzed after a couple of hours, jolting me from dozing. I yawned, picking it up, and smiling at the text from Rowan.

S
orry I fell asleep
. See you for coffee in the morning?

I
grinned
. If I hadn’t been dead on my feet, I would have gone back over to her place, but I wouldn’t have been much use to her.

S
ure thing
. Have a good sleep. I love you, pretty lady.

I
stood
. Dad was asleep in his recliner chair, his snoring getting louder and louder as he fell deeper into sleep. I covered him with a blanket and headed off to bed. My phone buzzed again.

I
love you too
. Sleep well.

S
miling
, I climbed into my cold bed. Declaring our feelings was a start; now we could build a life together.

I held her heart in the palm of my hand, knowing that the slightest discouragement could shatter it into a million tiny pieces. She was so sensitive, but I would do whatever it took not to break her, ever, not even accidentally.

My head was so full of Rowan, I thought I’d have trouble sleeping, but that turned out not to be a problem after all.

S
he was already
at work when I got there, which wasn’t unusual, but instead of greeting me bright and happy as I’d thought she would, she was looking worried and buried in her computer.

“Hey,” I said.

Rowan looked up, and it took a moment for her to smile. She seemed too distracted to even realise it was me.

“What’s up?” I sat on the other side of her desk and she shook her head.

“Just busy. Your father has asked me to go over all the systems and make sure they’re all working as they should be. It came as a bit of a surprise after everything that’s happened, but I want to do a thorough job, and show him I know what I’m doing.”

I leaned forward. “Rowan, he wouldn’t ask you to do it if he didn’t think you were capable. Despite what’s happened, he does still have faith in you.”

She frowned. “It’s not because we’re together now, is it? I mean, he’s not trying to favour me because of us?”

“That’s not how my father works. If anything, us being together will probably make things more difficult. I think it means he’s worried and does have doubts about what Ross told him. This is a good thing, sweetheart.”

She was chewing her bottom lip, and I raised an eyebrow at what that meant. Usually there were words she didn’t want to say, and I knew I wasn’t going to like it.

“This is going to keep me busy for the next few days. I know we were going to spend time together, but I have to get this done.”

I rolled my eyes. “I think I know you well enough to know that you are going to be focused on this until it’s finished. Maybe I can come around to your place and feel you up while you work? I could even get under the desk right now.”

She laughed loudly, clamping her hand across her mouth at the noise.

“Seriously. I’ll go get you a coffee if you want one, and you get on with it. The sooner you finish, the sooner I get to have my wicked way with you.”

Shaking her head and laughing, she went back to her work, and I left to get her a coffee. Dad was in the staff room when I went in, and he smirked at the sight of me making two cups of coffee.

“And so it begins,” he said, nudging my arm.

“What?”

“Being at Rowan’s beck and call.”

“It’s not like that, it’s …” He laughed, teasing me, and I looked down, shaking my head.

“Well, given that you’ve thrown enough work at her to keep us apart for days, I’m just trying to do something nice for my girlfriend.”

“Girlfriend, huh?” Miriam’s voice came from behind and I picked up the cups to head back to Rowan’s office. There were a few people milling around now, and I knew if I didn’t make a stand the gossip mill would be making stuff up.

“Yes, Miriam. Rowan is my girlfriend. So you don’t have to worry about me hassling her anymore. Turns out she likes it.”

She laughed, and smiled as I walked away. I knew that word would spread pretty fast as I walked past a couple of the sales reps in the hallway. One of them had been very flirtatious with me since I’d been back. She would have heard my words, and maybe now she’d leave me alone.

Despite Rowan being buried in her new project, there was still a spring in my step as I made my way back to her office.

When I passed Ross in the corridor, he was muttering under his breath, scowling as he walked past. “You okay, Ross?” I asked brightly, not really caring about the answer.

He glared at me. “I hear that girl is checking up on me. I suppose you have something to do with it.”

“If ‘that girl’ is Rowan, it has nothing to do with me. Entirely Dad. Maybe he’s realised she’s a lot more capable than you’ve allowed her to demonstrate so far.”

“I didn’t need help for this project, let alone from a girl,” he growled. I was pretty sure the throbbing vein on his forehead was going to pop as he spewed his venom.

“Oh, is that what your problem is? A newly graduated young woman is smarter than you are?” I put on the most innocent face I could as he stormed off. I laughed as he disappeared around the corner. Dad must have really upset him for him to be so open in his disdain for Rowan.

That answered that question, though. He must have not been happy with Dad’s hiring decision. She’d done the work he couldn’t do, and he wanted rid of her. Dad’s decision had thrown him enough to lose the plot. Good job, he deserved it.

If anything I had a bigger smile on my face when I delivered Rowan’s coffee. She looked up, raising an eyebrow at me. “What’s going on?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Because you look like the cat that got the cream. What are you up to?”

“Nothing, pretty lady. Just love you heaps, that’s all.”

She grinned, shaking her head. “I guess I can let you have that one.”

S
he leaned
cross-legged against the doorframe, and I was so focused on what I was doing, I didn’t notice her at first.

“Ahem.” She cleared her throat, grinning as I looked up.

“Hey. What’s up?”

“So I need an excuse to come and visit you now?”

I laughed. “Come here, and I’ll show you how happy I am to see you.

She crossed the room, and I turned back from my desk as she straddled my legs to sit facing me.

“You are very forward today, Miss Taylor,” I said, pulling her down for a kiss.

When we broke apart, her eyes were closed, her face showing the simple peace we both felt being together.

“I finished my report for your father. Just delivered it. Three days of constant work has driven me a bit crazy, but I’m free now.

I hugged her tight. “Well done.”

She shrugged. “I voiced my concerns about a few things. Ross hasn’t screwed up too much yet, but I do worry that he will.”

“It is what it is, sweetheart. If you ask me, he’s jealous of you. Young and talented. You’re destined for bigger things, Rowan, and he’s stuck in his ways.”

She clung on round my neck, and I closed my eyes, just breathing her in. We’d not had many chances for intimate moments since we’d gotten back, and this wasn’t the time or the place, but I didn’t know if I cared.

“Do you want to come to my place tonight?” she said, leaning back again.

“I would love to. As long as you’re not going to fall asleep on me.”

Rowan shook her head. “I worked hard to get the report done so we could relax together. I’ll cook dinner, and we might even open a bottle of wine. Though you’ll have to sort that bit out, as I know nothing about it.”

I laughed. “I think I can manage that.”

She bent her head for another kiss before leaping from my lap.

“Oh, you mean I don’t have to work all afternoon with you sitting there? I was kind of enjoying the view.”

Rowan smiled shyly, rocking side to side. “Maybe you can have more of a view tonight.”

I cocked an eyebrow at her words. “I look forward to it. Have a good afternoon.”

S
he was a great cook
, just like her mother, and I pictured her learning to cook in that big, old, kitchen. Her only frustration was using dry pasta to make her spaghetti dish. Apparently her mother made her own. That didn’t lessen the taste, and the food was infused with basil and oregano, smelling great and tasting amazing.

“You can cook for me any time,” I said, laughing.

“Happy to,” she said proudly.

I reached across the table, grabbing her hand in mine and squeezing. “This is perfect. I love you.”

“I love you too. Sorry I’ve been so busy.”

I laughed. “I know how focused you can get, and I knew once you were finished, you’d be all mine.”

She smiled. “I am.”

When we’d finished eating, she cleared the plates. I could hear water running from the kitchen. I moved behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Washing the dishes.”

I kissed her neck, and she sighed, her body relaxing against mine.

“I just want the kitchen to be tidy,” she grumbled.

“Plenty of time to do that. I want you on the couch with me. We can snuggle while watching TV and see where it leads us.”

Her breathing grew heavier as she leaned back against me.

“Rowan,” I whispered, pulling at her waist until she turned and looked at me. Eye to eye, we looked at each other for a moment, before I leaned forward, grazing her lips with mine.

She nodded, leaving the dishes in the sink and following me into the living room and sitting on the couch. I picked up the remote, flicking through the channels until I found a movie that looked good. Not that we were really going to watch it.

I leaned back, pulling her into my arms and lifting her chin with my finger to look into her eyes. What she couldn’t say with words, I could see in her face. I kissed her, finding her tongue with mine, her body relaxing as our kiss grew more intense.

Laughing softly, I moved to rest my head on the arm of the couch, beckoning her to lie beside me. She pounced, grinning as she snuggled in.

Squeezed together on the couch, this was it, finally she was all mine. I would take her to bed and make her forget anyone else she’d ever looked at sideways. We would be everything to each other, and I would explore that gorgeous body of hers so slowly, she would moan at the thought of my touch.

Her eyes lit up when I stroked the hard nipple through the fabric.

“Kyle,” she whispered, but didn’t move my hand away.

I grinned. “It’s okay, baby. We’ll go as slow or as fast as you want.”

“Slow,” she whispered, rolling on top of me, grinding her pelvis against mine. I was so damn hard, it was a miracle my pants were still in one piece.

“Anything you want.” I kissed her, tasting her tongue. Her body pressed hard against mine, I wanted to savour every inch. Her neck tasted just as good, and she moaned, running her hands down my back as I took tiny nips of her skin.

“God, I want you so bad. Always did,” I murmured.

I felt her jump as the phone rang beside us. “You have got to be kidding me.” I laughed, kissing her on the nose.

A moment of indecision crossed her face. “Rowan, if you need to answer it, just do it. I’m not going anywhere.”

She smiled, reaching for the phone. “Sorry. No one ever calls. It might be important.”

I nuzzled her neck as she rolled off me to answer, before I sat up to watch her.

“Hi, Mum.” She rolled her eyes at me, waving her hand as if trying to speed up the conversation. I went back to her neck, planting kisses up toward her ear as I tried my best to distract her.

She gasped, and I sat back up again. She shook, tears welling in her eyes, and her mouth hung open as she sat in silence, listening to whatever her mother was saying.

“Rowan?”

“I can’t believe it,” she said into the phone. “Not Charlie.”

Now I was worried. Something had happened.

“I’ll be okay. Kyle’s with me. Thanks, Mum.” Her voice shook. She hung up and just stared at the phone.

“Rowan? What’s wrong? What’s happened?”

She looked up at me, her eyes filled with tears. They ran down her face, leaving a trail behind them. I just wanted to kiss them away, but first I needed to know what was causing them.

“Charlie’s dead.” She struggled for breath as she sobbed the words out.

“What?”

“She … she had an asthma attack. A big one. It had been so long. Mum said they got her to the hospital, but it was too late.”

I ran my fingers through my hair. This was unbelievable.

“Shit. Oh, sweetheart, come here.”

She threw her arms around my neck, clinging to me as she sobbed. I held her as tight as I could, stroking her hair as she let it all out. My poor girl; she had already been through so much and now, as she had come out the other side and found happiness with me, she was back in that hole she had dug herself out of.