It’s akin to an out-of-body experience.
The more my mind replayed the image of her lying motionless and unconscious, the more my anger over my response time intensified, as did the pain in my chest at the fear of losing her. The scene played behind my closed eyes like a movie on a continuous loop. I realized that those few precious seconds I spent waiting outside the front door could have been the difference between sitting here now and the unimaginable.
If Sheba, who currently had her head resting on Lakelyn’s thigh, hadn’t chosen to go with her earlier over me and, in turn, had she not barked in such a manner alerting me to trouble inside, she might not have been so lucky.
Everything happens for a reason.
“When was the last time you had an allergic reaction like this?”
“It’s been a really long time; I was a teenager.”
“I think this would be an appropriate time to ask where you keep your epi-pen; heaven forbid we ever need it again.”
“It’s in my makeup bag.”
“Please don’t take this wrong, but you should keep it in a more central location.”
“No, you’re right.” She paused and ran her hand through Sheba’s hair as she petted her back. “It’s been so long, and I’m always extra diligent with what I eat and where it comes from.”
“That’s on me, but I will get to the bottom of how this happened. I was very explicit on the phone when I ordered. They assured me there would be zero cross-contamination.”
“Boden, really, it’s fine. Accidents happen. I’m okay.”
“Thank heavens for that.” I pressed my lips to the top of her head.
She distanced herself just enough to angle her gaze up toward mine. The moment our eyes connected, the active storm inside me dissipated, and my feelings of unease finally settled, minus the burning desire for the beauty sitting at my side. That only intensified tenfold as a quiet understanding passed between us. However, that didn’t mean I was any less surprised when she reached up and pulled me toward her by the side of the neck until our mouths brushed.
Teasing.
Feeling.
Seeking.
I held back at first, allowing her to lead. Offering her the opportunity to pull back even if it meant nothing further transpired between us, but once her tongue tangled with mine, there was no more questioning where her head was.
Lakelyn crossed over the line to the side where heated lust and insatiable desire controlled the momentum of her movements, the side I’d been on since meeting her, and it was then that any of the remaining restraint I’d held back broke.
I poured every ounce of my growing feelings for her into the kiss, which was that of pure heaven. Her lips were soft, and her taste was even sweeter like candy. It was a powerful combination I wanted to experience for eternity, and that thought alone had my heart nearly beating outside of my chest.
I kissed her like I was chasing my dreams, and that awareness was on the very forefront of my mind when we later fell asleep, clothed, on the couch, and nestled in each other’s arms like there was no place in the world we’d rather be.
Chapter21
Lakelyn
“Ipromise, you’ve got nothing to worry about, my sister and her husband are super easygoing.” Boden tried settling my nerves again, and while I appreciated the effort, I couldn’t curb my fears.
He didn’t understand why my level of anxiety was through the roof since he’s one of the few people on the planet who doesn’t watch reality television.
I picked up Sheba’s ball and threw it deep into Boden’s perfectly manicured backyard to focus on the things I could control, which meant being present in the moment. The truth behind why I was so guarded was one I’d made willingly and had done so to keep my anxiety at bay. However, the elephant in the room was the more time Boden and I spent together, I risked breaking his trust, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t admit that was weighing heavily on me.
“Set a timer for six minutes,” Boden spoke into his Apple watch after closing the barbeque lid before pulling me up off my chair and cupping the sides of my face. “Kissing you is my new favorite thing.”
Since I’d made my first official move last night, he sure didn’t miss an opportunity to capture my lips, and I couldn’t agree more with him. “I second that.”
His teeth nipped playfully with my bottom lip before his mouth leisurely chartered a path across my jaw to my ear. “I think I’m addicted to you.”
I tipped my head back, exposing the length of my neck for him to lavish. “Do you need to go to a meeting?” I giggled.
