The door opened second later.
Kyle, still in his pajama pants and a t-shirt, stared at me with a surprised expression. “Nattie!”
I paused again, my gaze flicking to Alex and Ava on the couch before they returned to his icy blue eyes. “Good morning. We need to talk.”
My words came out shakier than I’d hoped, but they were out.
Kyle’s features pinched as he studied me before he nodded, fear floating in his eyes. “Uhh, yeah. Yes, absolutely. Come in.”
I hurried into the room, afraid I would lose my nerve.
“Yeah, all of you. Come on in.”
“Good morning,” I said to Alex and Ava. “I hope you slept well and everything is satisfactory.”
“Super great, Goldie,” Alex said with a thumbs up. “Thanks.”
I offered him a fleeting smile, my hands clasping and unclasping as Kyle closed the door, and I twisted to face him. “May we speak alone?”
“Yes, of course,” he said, motioning toward his bedroom.
I crossed toward it, followed by Kyle and Stefan.
“Uhh,” Kyle murmured as Stefan closed the door behind us, remaining in the bedroom. “I thought you said alone.”
“I will not leave her alone until you have proven yourself,” Stefan answered.
Kyle furrowed his brow, making a face at the man.
I took his hand in mine, drawing his attention back to me. “Kyle,” I said softly.
He turned back to face me. “Nattie, wait, before you say anything, can I say something?’
“Of course,” I answered.
He shot another annoyed glance over his shoulder at Stefan before he leaned closer to me. “Is it possible for him to leave? This is sort of personal.”
I pressed my lips together, trying to suppress the smile at the cute statement. “He is quite used to it. You can speak freely.”
“It’s just…awkward. You know, I kind of want to tell you how I feel.”
“I will not leave,” Stefan informed him.
I wrinkled my nose, my heart in my throat. “Sorry. You’ll have to just tell me whatever you’d like to say in front of him.”
Kyle’s shoulders slumped a little before he wrapped his hands around my shoulders and guided me a few steps away.
He leaned closer, his icy blue eyes intense as he whispered, “Nattie, I don’t know what you’re here to say, but I just want you to know that you mean more to me than anyone has before. I feela connection to you, and I want to explore that. But I want to do it together, like as a real couple. I don’t want to be someone who you aren’t allowed to be with. And I sort of feel like that may be the case. And if it is…”
His nostrils flared as he huffed out a breath. “Well, I hope it isn’t, because I really like you…no, it’s more than like. I have some pretty big feelings for you. I don’t want to say the other word too soon and freak you out but…it’s those kind of feelings.”
I smiled at him, my hands finding his and squeezing as I pressed my lips against his in a soft kiss.
He pulled back, shooting a worried glance at Stefan over his shoulder.
I pinched his chin between my thumb and forefinger and twisted him to face me. “I feel the same way.”
He grinned at me. “Really?”
