“Rude.” I tug at the strand of her hair that always escapes to fall forward and curl over her cheek. Tonight, it’s slipped free of the braid she attempted to corral it into after she got ready for bed.
I watched as she brushed her teeth and slapped shit on her face, as she changed into pajamas that are adorable—and have just enough lace to make me hard.
Then again, I’m always hard when it comes to Kylie.
Still, I was fascinated as she combed and put oily stuff on the strands—oil that I’ve only now realized is the faint floral scent I’ve always associated with her.
It’s stronger now.
Distracting.
Almost as much as when I’d watched her massage it into the ends before braiding her hair with instinctive, unhurried motions.
Also almost as much as the smile that fills her face now when she says, “You like the picture Adrian drew for you?”
“You know I do,” I say, tugging at her braid again. “Now spill, Teach.”
“It’s obliquely related,” she grumbles, sitting up and knocking my arm from her shoulders down to her waist. I start stroking light patterns on her hip, and it’s not lost on me either that she’s not scared of me touching her like this.
And in other ways.
I smother my grin and focus. “How?”
“Holly”—her boss—“stopped me after school today, asking that I talk to Adrian’s parents.”
My amusement fades. I don’t like that woman and I don’t like the shit she tried to pull with Adrian. Partly because Blake dealt with that crap all the time, but mostly because Adrian is a good kid and deserves to be in school if he’s able. “About what?”
She explains then sighs and leans down to trace her fingers along my jaw. “Yeah, I think that’s exactly what my face looks like too.”
“She’s a problem.”
“I know she is.” Kylie scowls. “The worst part is I thought she was my friend, and I usually pick better friends. I just can’t believe she wouldn’t try to do better by him, by all the kids.”
“Sometimes money gets in the way.”
“Yeah.”
“So you’re going to do it?”
Her eyes go wide. “How do you know?”
“It’s not just Adrian affected by the cuts in library and counseling hours. It impacts all the students.”
“I wish I could kiss you right now.”
I frown. “Why can’t you?”
“Because kissing could lead to other things”—her eyes flick to my shoulder—“and you need to rest that arm.” Her hand settles on my chest. “And your head.”
“And my stitches?”
A roll of her eyes. “You know what I mean. You were really hurt, Colt. You scared me.” Her bottom lip trembles. “I…you’re the only person, the only man…” Pink on her cheeks, her words fading into silence.
I draw her back down against me. “You’re the only person, only woman…”
“The only woman…what?”
“The same thing as you were going to say, starfire.”
