My thoughts come to a halt as I scrape the back of my hand over my stubble. “Rebel?” I turn halfway so I can see her.
Layne nods. “I asked her what she thinks of all this, of you.”
My heart beats faster. “What?” I frown and turn further toward her.
“I promised you something, but…” A sigh falls from her lips. "My decisions don’t only affect my life anymore. I asked her about everyday things, about you and what she thought about that.”
I swallow, barely daring to say anything. My heart pounds in my ears as I try to focus on her next words.
“She’s scared, Ky.” Her hand falls on my arm the moment my heart sinks into my shoes. “She’s starting to forget Connor, and she’s afraid she will. She’s afraid you’re going to replace him.”
“I would never do that,” I say, my voice cracking.
“That’s exactly what I told her, too. We watched videos together of Connor and her.” There’s a tremor in Layne’s voice.
My heart aches for her. For Rebel. For both of them. “Layne, I—”
“Shh. She likes you, Ky. She likes it here.”
“I wasn’t going to ask that.”
Her finger slides down, where she places it around my little finger. “When I left, I told you I chose Connor because he was safe.”
A twinge in my stomach follows the thought of that day. Although her choice sounded logical, it did hurt tremendously.Doeshurt tremendously. Still does. “Hm,” I just hum.
“In my mind, he was that in every way. His job, his looks, even the sex. But I did love Connor. Maybe not in the way I should’ve, not like…” She cuts her sentence short and the hope I felt with those last two words drops to my feet. “Rebel’s everything to me, Kyler. Whatever we are…” She points from herself to me and back. “Whatever we become, she’ll always be my top priority.”
I put my hand on the back of her head. “She should be.” Then I pull her to me and kiss her. “That whole story…” I start as I pull away from her. “Was that to say you’re giving us a chance? This. Whatever it is between us?” I sound fucking desperate, because I am. Only for her. “Layne, if you… You’ll destroy me.” The last word crackles, and is barely intelligible.
This time she’s the one who kisses me. “Yes. Yes, I’ll give us a chance.” She immediately presses her mouth back against mine and I eagerly take advantage of it. Detaching myself from her, I pull my shirt over my head. Immediately I bend toward her again, pressing a kiss to her jaw and then her neck. My fingers stroke under the hem of her shirt, then I drag the fabric up to pull the shirt over her head. I rise and in one quick motion, pulldown my jeans and my boxer briefs. Once I’ve stepped out of them, I pull up the comforter.
“Move over,” I mutter and climb into bed next to her.
Immediately I press my mouth to hers again. To her lips, her collarbone, and her breast. I take her nipple between my teeth and slowly swirl my tongue around it. Her breathing becomes more ragged and I bring my mouth to her other breast. My fingers stroking along her neck, between her breasts, further and further down until I stop at the edge of her panties. Teasingly, I brush along the edge before placing my hands on the mattress and leaning over her. My gaze slides over her face, where I find lust and anticipation in her eyes. “You know I would do anything to keep you safe.”
She nods, but I need her to know. So I state it again: “Anything, Layne. You, Rebel…” I cannot put into words what I feel for her. “God, do you understand what I’m saying?” I search her gaze, her face, everything from which I can read anything.
Slowly she nods and the corners of her mouth come up. “I know that, Ky.”
Carefully my mouth spreads into a wide smile. “Yeah?"
Layne nods and I dive on top of her. My tongue strokes her bottom lip, disappearing into her mouth to play with hers. A moan comes from deep within my chest, which stings. She’s the only one I’ve ever felt this for. Everyone else was always just about cumming. My hands wander over her curves and I pull her left leg up to wrap it around my hips.
“I want to be inside you, baby.”
“I thought it would never happen.” She purses her lips, tries to hold back her laughter.
I stare into her eyes and slip my hand between us. My thumb circles her clit and her head tilts back, followed by a moan. Without warning, I thrust inside her and growl.
“Shit, this feels so good,” I say, my voice breaking.
Her fingers stroke my neck, pull me closer, and my lips immediately find hers again. I slowly pull out, then thrust in again. Layne wraps her other leg around my hips as well, making me slide even deeper into her. My heart squeezes painfully as I break the kiss, and look into those dark-brown eyes. The look I find there is the same one I remember from when we were sixteen. It radiates love, but at the same time it gives me so much anxiety.
“Layne…” I brush a lock away from her face and stop moving.
“Shh…” She puts her hand on my cheek and strokes gently. “Don’t talk, just feel.”
But that’s the problem. I feel too much. Carefully I move my hips forward. “I meant what I said,” I whisper. And back out again. “Break.”
