Her hands drop from my face, and I instantly miss her caress. She worries her lip between her teeth, and I know she’s nervous. She gulps, and I can almost see the cogs turning in her head as she considers how to say whatever it is she wants to say. I wait her out, not in a rush, letting her speak at her own pace.
“I’ve always loved how careful you are around me. How you ask permission before touching me. Or make slow, deliberate movements so I know what to expect.” The little amber flecks in her hazel eyes flare brightly. “But your touch is soothing to me. More than that. I…I crave it, and I need it, and I don’t want you to hold back anymore.”
I frown, not quite sure I understand the point she’s making. “What are you saying?”
“I want you to touch me freely, K. Whenever you feel like it. If you want to take my hand or wrap your arms around me or run your fingers up and down my arm, then I want you to just do it. Don’t ask permission, and don’t warn me. Do what comes naturally and I—” She gulps again, and a rosy-pink flush stains her delicate cheeks. “I want to be able to touch you too.” Her cheeks flush darker. “I just want to be a normal couple.”
“What about kissing? And other stuff?” I’m ecstatic at this change in direction, but I need to know the boundaries.
“Can we build up to that?”
“Absolutely.” I don’t hesitate to reassure her. And even though I long to kiss the shit out of her and do so many other things, I would wait for eternity if that’s what she needs.
“Just so we’re clear, I want all that with you.” Her eyes turn glassy. “I’m ready to experience that with you.”
Her small hands land on my chest, and I suck in a sharp breath. I can’t believe what she’s saying, because I’ve desired it for far too long. “So, I can casually touch you for now, and we’ll build up to doing more,” I say, wanting to ensure I’ve grasped it correctly.
“There is nothing casual about your touch,” she says, “but yes. That’s what I mean.”
Her eyes drift to my mouth, and I think she’s thinking about kissing me. Electricity sizzles in the space between us, and I know she can feel my cock hardening underneath her. I go to remove her from my lap, but she shakes her head. “Don’t,” she whispers. “I like feeling what I do to you.”
“I want to kiss you so badly right now,” I admit.
“I know,” she whispers, caressing my face again. “But baby steps. And we need to talk. I need to explain before anything goes any further.”
I nod, circling my arms around her shoulders and pulling her close. “I love you, and I’m never letting you go, Sel. Not ever again.”
She doesn’t reply to that, but it’s okay. We’ll have plenty of time to talk later.
15
Keanu
“Sweetheart,” Mom says, beaming at Selena. “We’re so happy to have you here.” Behind her, my dad smiles warmly at me. My grin is so wide it’s threatening to split my face in two.
“We’re going to stay at the cabin,” I say, holding Selena’s hand more firmly.
“It was cleaned recently, but let me ask Lucinda to double-check. Ensure the bed linen is fresh,” Mom says.
“Why don’t we grab some coffee and sit out in the sunroom?” Dad suggests.
“That sounds great,” Selena says, smiling shyly at my dad. Mom kisses me on the cheek, grinning as widely as me, before heading off in search of our new housekeeper.
“You two go sit down, and I’ll make the coffee,” Dad says, heading through the living room en route to the kitchen while I dump our bag underneath the sweeping staircase, leading Selena out the back way to the sunroom.
“I’ll give you a tour after coffee, and then, we can drop off our stuff.”
“Your house is beautiful,” Selena says, glancing all around her.
“Mom has done a full upgrade on the interiors the past couple years. This place has been her testing ground for her interior design business.”
Mom and Mrs. McConaughey, Brad’s mom, set up a new joint venture a few years ago, and it’s thriving. Brad is my brother Kyler’s best friend, but he’s more like a brother, having spent a lot of time in our house from the time they were young.
Mom and Brad’s mom have ambitious plans to expand their business in the next couple years, and I’m happy for them. Mom needs to work. To have something to occupy her brain. And this time, she’s going about it the right way. Employing a skilled team as she builds and grows the business so she’s not working crazy hours or away from home very often.
When she was the majority shareholder and CEO of Kennedy Apparel, she traveled a lot. Both within the US and overseas. Dad was a stay-at-home dad, and we got used to Mom not being around. None of us liked it even though Dad did his best. I was luckier than my brothers because I worked at KA and got to see Mom there. But there are certain times when you need your mother, and there were plenty of occasions when she just wasn’t there.
It caused some issues in our household growing up, and I know Mom feels huge guilt, but things are better now. We all have a much stronger relationship with her, and I love that she’s close by whenever I need her. I also love her for caring about Selena so much. And I don’t need to be a mind reader to know both my parents are delighted to see us here. Together. My parents know Selena has a beautiful heart, and I think Mom’s always known she is the only woman for me.
